Rudens, or The Fisherman's Rope (1165b-1214b)

She may be for me, indeed. (To TRACHALIO.) May all the Gods confound you who this day saw me with your eyes, and myself as well for a blockhead, who didn’t look about a hundred times first to see that no one was watching me, before I drew the net out of the water.

Next, there’s a little knife of silver, and two little hands linked together, and

then a little sow.

Nay, then, go and be hanged, you with your little sow and with your little pigs.

There’s also a golden drop[*], which my father presented to me upon my birthday.

Undoubtedly there is; but I cannot restrain myself any longer from embracing you. My daughter, blessings on you; I am that father who begot you; I am Daemones, and see, your mother Daedalis is in the house here (pointing to his cottage).

Blessings on you, my unlooked-for father.

Blessings on you; how joyously do I embrace you.

’Tis a pleasure to me, inasmuch as this falls to your lot from your feelings of affection.

Come then, Trachalio, if you can, bring that wallet into the house.

See the villany of Gripus; inasmuch, Gripus, as this matter has turned out unfortunately for you, I congratulate you.

Come, then, let’s go, my daughter, to your mother,

who will be better able to enquire of you into this matter from proofs; who had you more in her hands, and is more thoroughly acquainted with your tokens.

Let’s all go hence in-doors, since we are giving our common aid.

Follow me, Ampelisca.

That the Gods favour you, it is a pleasure to me.

Am I not a blockhead of a fellow, to have this day fished up that wallet?

Or, when I had fished it up, not to have hidden it somewhere in a secret spot? By my troth, I guessed that it would be a troublesome booty for me, because it fell to me in such troublous weather. I’ faith, I guess that there’s plenty of gold and silver there. What is there better for me than to be off hence in-doors and secretly hang myself—

at least for a little time, until this vexation passes away from me?

O ye immortal Gods, what person is there more fortunate than I, who unexpectedly have discovered my daughter? Isn’t it the fact, that if the Gods will a blessing to befall any person, that longed-for pleasure by some means or other, falls to the lot[*] of the virtuous?

I this day, a thing that I never hoped for nor yet believed, have unexpectedly discovered my daughter, and I shall bestow her upon a respectable young man of noble family, an Athenian, and my kinsman. For that reason I wish him to be fetched hither to me as soon as possible,

and I’ve requested my servant to come out here, that he may go to the Forum. Still, I’m surprised at it that he isn’t yet come out. I think I’ll go to the door. (Opens the door, and looks in.) What do I behold? Embracing her, my wife is clasping my daughter around her neck. Her caressing is really almost too foolish and sickening.

’Twere better, wife, for an end to be made at last of your kissing; and make all ready that I may perform a sacrifice, when I come in-doors, in honor of the household Gods, inasmuch as they have increased our family. At home I have lambs and swine for sacred use. But why, ladies, are you detaining that Trachalio? Oh, I see he’s coming out of doors, very seasonably.

Wheresoever he shall be, I’ll seek Plesidippus out at once, and bring him together with me to you.

Tell him how this matter has fallen out about my daughter. Request him to leave other occupations and to come here.

Very well[*]

Tell him that I’ll give him my daughter for a wife.

Very well.

And that I knew his father, and that he is a relation of my own.

Very well.