Mercator, or The Merchant (939-964)

I’ll still go on to seek her. Now I’ve got to Chalcis;

I see there my former host at Zacynthus; I tell him why I’ve come thither; I make enquiry if he has heard say who has brought her thither, who has got possession of her.

Why don’t you cease that nonsense, and step with me this way in-doors?

My host answered that figs grew, not bad ones, at Zacynthus.

He didn’t say false there.

But he says that he has heard about my mistress, that she’s here at Athens.

Really, this Zacynthian is quite a Calchas[*].

I get aboard ship, and start at once. I’m now at home; now I’ve returned from banishment. My friend, Eutychus (turning towards him), greetings to you! How have you been? How are my parents? Are they well? Do you come to my mother, you say—you invite me kindly; you speak politely. At your house to-morrow; for the present at home.

So it is proper; so it ought to be done.

How now? What are you dreaming about? This man’s not in his senses.

Why don’t you, as a friend, make haste to cure me then?

Follow me, please.

I’m following.

Softly, pray; you are treading on my heels. Don’t you hear me?

I’ve heard you for some time past.

I want a reconciliation to be made between my father and mother; for now she’s in a passion—

Only do go on.

About that woman—

Only do go on.

Therefore take care—

Nay, but do go on then; I’ll make her as mild as Juno is when she’s kind to Jupiter.

[Demipho[*], this saying of the wise, I think you have often heard, Pleasure is the bait for misfortune; because, by it, not less are men aught than are fishes with the hook Although aged people fly from it, still you don’t pay that regard to your old age: since it hasn’t even withdrawn love from you, but has forced you to it even more vehemently. Wherefore it utterly confounds yourself and your understanding and your mind, and dazzles your eyesight. Myself too have you brought into great trouble, and I know not what to do,

Lysimachus, this is the will of the Gods, not of men. If you reflect upon this with yourself, you will be of opinion that you are not doing right, in censuring so heavily a person your friend and the sharer of your secrets.]

As though you yourself had never done anything like this action.

By heavens, never. I took care not to do anything: wretch that I am, I am scarcely alive; for my wife is lying all in a ferment about her.

But I’ll undertake to clear you, so that she mayn’t be angry.

Follow me—but I see my son coming out.

I’ll go to my father, that he may know my mother’s wrath is appeased. I’ll return just now.

The beginning pleases me. (Going up to EUTYCHUS.) What are you about? How goes it, Eutychus?

Extremely opportunely have you both met me.