Adelphi; or, The Brothers (157-256)

SANNIO

I beseech you, fellow-citizens, do give aid to a miserable and innocent man; do assist the distressed.

AESCHINUS

to the GIIL. Be quiet, and now then stand here just where you are. Why do you look back? There's no danger; he shall never touch you while I am here.

SANNIO

I'll have her, in spite of all.

AESCHINUS

Though he is a villain, he'll not risk, to-day, getting a second beating.

SANNIO

Hear me, Aeschinus, that you may not say that you were in ignorance of my calling; I am a Procurer.

[*]

AESCHINUS

I know it.

SANNIO

And of as high a character as any one ever was. When you shall be excusing yourself by-and-by, how that you wish this injury had not been done me, I shall not value it this snapping his fingers. Depend upon it, I'll prosecute my rights; and you shall never pay with words for the evil that you have done me in deed. I know those ways of yours: "I wish it hadn't happened; I'll take my oath that you did not deserve this injustice;" while I myself have been treated in a disgraceful manner.

AESCHINUS

to PARMENO. Go first with all dispatch and open the door. PARMENO opens the door.

SANNIO

But you will avail nothing by this.

AESCHINUS

To the GIRL. Now then, step in.

SANNIO

coming between. But I'll not let her.

AESCHINUS

Step this way, Parmeno; you are gone too far that way; here pointing, stand close by him; there, that's what I want. Now then, take care you don't move your eyes in any direction from mine, that there may be no delay if I give you the sign, to your fist being instantly planted in his jaws.

SANNIO

I'd have him then try that.

AESCHINUS

to PARMENO. Now then, observe me.

PARMENO

to SANNIO. Let go the woman. Strikes him.

SANNIO

Oh! scandalous deed!

AESCHINUS

He shall repeat it, if you don't take care. PARMENO strikes him again.

SANNIO

Oh shocking!

AESCHINUS

to PARMENO. I didn't give the sign; but still make your mistakes on that side in preference. Now then, go. PARMENO goes with the MUSIC-GIRL into MICIO'S house.

SANNIO

What is the meaning of this? Have you the sway here, Aeschinus?

AESCHINUS

If I had it, you should be exalted for your deserts.

SANNIO

What business have you with me?

AESCHINUS

None.

SANNIO

How then, do you know who I am?

AESCHINUS

I don't want to.

SANNIO

Have I touched any thing of yours?

AESCHINUS

If you had touched it, you'd have got a drubbing.

SANNIO

What greater right then have you to take my property, for which I paid my money? Answer me that.

AESCHINUS

It were better for you not to be making a disturbance here before the house; for if you persist in being impertinent, you shall be dragged in at once, and there you shall be lashed to death with whips.

SANNIO

A free man, with whips?

AESCHINUS

So it shall be.

SANNIO

Oh, you shameless fellow! Is this the place where they say there is equal liberty for all?

AESCHINUS

If you have now raved enough, Procurer, now then listen, if you please.

SANNIO

Why, is it I that have been raving, or you against me?

AESCHINUS

Leave alone all that, and come to the point.

SANNIO

What point? Where am I to come to?

AESCHINUS

Are you willing now that I should say something that concerns you?

SANNIO

With all my heart, only so it be something that's fair.

AESCHINUS

Very fine! a Procurer wishing me not to say what's unfair.

SANNIO

I am a Procurer,

[*] I confess it-the common bane of youth—a perjurer, a public nuisance; still, no injury has befallen you from me.

AESCHINUS

Why, faith, that remains to come—

SANNIO

Pray, Aeschinus, do come back to the point at which you set out.

AESCHINUS

You bought her for twenty nine; and may your bargain never thrive! That sum shall be given for her.

SANNIO

What if I don't choose to sell her to you? Will you compel me?

AESCHINUS

By no means.

SANNIO

I was afraid you would.

AESCHINUS

Neither do I think that a woman can be sold who is free; for I claim her by action of freedom.

[*] Now consider which you choose; take the money, or prepare yourself for the action. Think of it, Procurer, till I return. [*] He goes into the house of MICIO.

SANNIO

to himself. O supreme Jupiter! I do by no means wonder that men run mad through ill usage. He has dragged me out of my house, beaten me, taken my property away against my will, and has given me, unfortunate wretch, more than five hundred blows. In return for all this ill usage he demands the girl to be made over to him for just the same price at which she was bought. But however, since he has so well deserved of me, be it so: he demands what is his due. Very well, I consent then, provided he only gives the money. But I suspect this; when I have said that I will sell her for so much, he'll be getting witnesses forthwith that I have sold her.

[*] As to getting the money, it's all a dream. Call again by and by; come back to-morrow. I could bear with that too, hard as it is, if he would only pay it. But I consider this to be the fact; when you take up this trade, you must brook and bear in silence the affronts of these young fellows. However, no one will pay me; it's in vain for me to be reckoning upon that.

SYRUS

speaking to AECHINUS within. Say no more; I myself will arrange with him; I'll make him glad to take the money at once, and say besides that he has been fairly dealt with. Addressing SANNIO. Sannio, how is this, that I hear you have been having some dispute or other with my master?

SANNIO

I never saw a dispute on more unequal terms

[*] than the one that has happened to-day between us; I, with being thumped, he, with beating me, were both of us quite tired.

SYRUS

Your own fault.

SANNIO

What could I do?

SYRUS

You ought to have yielded to the young man.

SANNIO

How could I more so, when to-day I have even afforded my face to his blows?

SYRUS

Well—are you aware of what I tell you? To slight money on some occasions is sometimes the surest gain. What!—were you afraid, you greatest simpleton alive, if you had parted with ever so little

[*] of your right, and had humored the young man, that he would not repay you with interest?

SANNIO

I do not pay ready money for hope.

SYRUS

Then you'll never make a fortune. Get out with you, Sannio; you don't know how to take in mankind.

SANNIO

I believe that to be the better plan—but I was never so cunning as not, whenever I was able to get it, to prefer getting ready money.

SYRUS

Come, come, I know your spirit; as if twenty minae were any thing at all to you in comparison to obliging him; besides, they say that you are setting out for Cyprus—

SANNIO

(aside.) Hah!

SYRUS

That you have been buying up many things to take thither; and that the vessel is hired. This I know, your mind is in suspense; however, when you return thence, I hope you'll settle the matter.

SANNIO

Not a foot do stir: Heavens! I'm undone! Aside. It was upon this hope they devised their project.

SYRUS

aside. He is alarmed. I've brought the fellow into a fix.

SANNIO

aside. Oh, what villainy!—Just look at that; how he has nicked me in the very joint.

[*] Several women have been purchased, and other things as well, for me to take to Cyprus. [*] If I don't get there to the fair, my loss will, be very great. Then if I postpone this business, and settle it when I come back from there, it will be of no use; the matter will be quite forgotten. "Come at last?" they'll say. "Why did you delay it? Where have you been?" So that I had better lose it altogether than either stay here so long, or be suing for it then.

SYRUS

Have you by this reckoned

[*] up what you calculate will be your profits?

SANNIO

Is this honorable of him? Ought Aeschinus to attempt this? Ought he to endeavor to take her away from me by downright violence?

SYRUS

aside. He gives ground. To SANNIO. I have this one proposal to make; see if you fully approve of it. Rather than you should run the risk, Sannio, of getting or losing the whole, halve it. He will manage to scrape together ten minae

[*] from some quarter or other.

SANNIO

Ah me! unfortunate wretch, I am now in danger of even losing part of the principal. Has he no shame? He has loosened all my teeth; my head, too, is full of bumps with his cuffs; and would he defraud me as well? I shall go nowhere.

SYRUS

Just as you please. Have you any thing more to say before I go?

SANNIO

Why yes, Syrus, i' faith, I have this to request. Whatever the matters that are past, rather than go to law, let what is my own be returned me; at least, Syrus, the sum she cost me. I know that you have not hitherto made trial of my friendship; you will have no occasion to say that I am unmindful or ungrateful.

SYRUS

I'll do the best I can. But I see Ctesipho; he's in high spirits about his mistress.

SANNIO

What about what I was asking you?

SYRUS

Stay a little.

CTESIPHO

From any man, when you stand in need of it, you are glad to receive a service; but of a truth it is doubly acceptable, if he does you a kindness who ought to do so. O brother, brother, how can I sufficiently commend you? This I am quite sure of; I can never speak of you in such high terms but that your deserts will surpass it. For I am of opinion that I possess this one thing in especial beyond all others, a brother than whom no individual is more highly endowed with the highest qualities.

SYRUS

O Ctesipho!

CTESIPHO

O Syrus, where is Aeschinus?

SYRUS

Why, look—he's at home, waiting for you.

CTESIPHO

speaking joyously. Ha!

SYRUS

What's the matter?

CTESIPHO

What's the matter? 'Tis through him, Syrus, that I am now alive—generous creature! Has he not deemed every thing of secondary importance to himself in comparison with my happiness? The reproach, the discredit, my own amour and imprudence, he has taken upon himself. There can be nothing beyond this; but what means that noise at the door?

SYRUS

Stay, stay; 'tis Aeschinus himself coming out.