Captivi: The Captives (852-875)

You will have more opportunity, Ergasilus, here at my house, of talking about these things than of eating them.

Do you suppose that I’m saying this on my own account?

You will neither be eating nothing here to-day, nor yet much more than usual, so don’t you be mistaken.

Do you then bring an appetite to my house for your every-day fare.

Why, I’ll so manage it, that you yourself shall wish to be profuse, though I myself should desire you not.

What, I?

Yes, you.

Then you are my master.

Yes, and a kindly disposed one. Do you wish me to make you happy?

Certainly I would, rather than miserable.

Give me your hand.

Here is my hand.

All the Gods are blessing you.

I don’t feel it so.

Why, you are not in a quickset hedge[*], therefore you don’t feel it; but order the vessels, in a clean state, to be got for you forthwith in readiness for the sacrifice, and one lamb to be brought here with all haste, a fat one.

Why?

That you may offer sacrifice

To which one of the Gods?

To myself, i’ faith, for now am I your supreme Jupiter. I likewise am your salvation, your fortune, your life, your delight, your joy.

Do you at once, then, make this Divinity propitious to you by cramming him.

You seem to me to be hungry.

For myself am I hungry, and not for you.

I readily allow of it at your own good will.

I believe you; from a boy[*] you were in the habit—

May Jupiter and the Gods confound you.

I’ troth, ‘tis fair that for my news you should return me thanks; such great happiness do I now bring you from the harbour.

Now you are flattering me.

Begone, you simpleton; you have arrived behind time, too late.

If I had come sooner, then for that reason you might rather have said that. Now, receive this joyous news of me which I bring you; for at the harbour I just now saw your son Philopolemus in the common fly-boat, alive, safe and sound, and likewise there that other young man together with him,

and Stalagmus your slave, who fled from your house, who stole from you your little son, the child of four years old.