Lucius Seneca - Yale Classics - Roman Classical Literature

Mic. Again angry, Demea?

Dem. Won’t you believe me? Do I demand him back whom I have intrusted? I am concerned for him; I am not a stranger in blood; if I do interpose—well, well, I have done. You desire me to concern myself for one of them ,—I do concern myself; and I give thanks to the Gods, he is just as I would have him; that fellow of yours will find it out at a future day: I don’t wish to say any thing more harsh against him.

Exit.

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Micio alone.

Mic. These things are 30not nothing at all, nor yet all just as he says; still they do give me some uneasiness; but I was unwilling to show him that I took them amiss, for he is such a man; when I would pacify him, I steadily oppose and resist him ; and in spite of it he hardly puts up with it like other men; but if I were to inflame, or even to humor his anger, I should certainly be as mad as himself. And yet Æschinus has done me some injustice in this affair. What courtesan has he not intrigued with? Or to which of them has he not made some present? At last, he recently told me that he wished to take a wife, 31I suppose he was just then tired of them all. I was in hopes that the warmth of youth had now subsided; I was delighted. But look now , he is at it again; however, I am determined to know it, whatever it is, and to go meet the fellow, if he is at the Forum.

Exit.

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Enter Æschinus and Parmeno with the Music-Girl , followed by Sannio and a crowd of people.

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

Æsch. ( to the Girl. ) 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.

San. I’ll have her, in spite of all.

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

San. Hear me, Aeschinus, that you may not say that you were in ignorance of my calling; I am a Procurer. 32

Æsch. I know it.

San. 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.

Æsch. ( to Parmeno. ) Go first with all dispatch and open the door.

Parmeno opens the door.

San. But you will avail nothing by this.

Æsch. ( To the Girl. ) Now then, step in.

San. ( coming between. ) But I’ll not let her.

Æsch. 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.

San. I’d have him then try that.

Æsch. ( to Parmeno. ) Now then, observe me.

Par. ( to Sannio. ) Let go the woman. ( Strikes him. )

San. Oh! scandalous deed!

Æsch. He shall repeat it, if you don’t take care. ( Parmeno strikes him again. )

San. Oh shocking!

Æsch. ( 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.

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

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

San. What business have you with me?

Æsch. None.

San. How then, do you know who I am?

Æsch. I don’t want to.

San. Have I touched any thing of yours?

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

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

Æsch. 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.

San. A free man, with whips?

Æsch. So it shall be.

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

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

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

Æsch. Leave alone all that, and come to the point.

San. What point? Where am I to come to?

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

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

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

San. I am a Procurer, 33I confess it—the common bane of youth—a perjurer, a public nuisance; still, no injury has befallen you from me.

Æsch. Why, faith, that remains to come——

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

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

San. What if I don’t choose to sell her to you? Will you compel me?

Æsch. By no means.

San. I was afraid you would.

Æsch. Neither do I think that a woman can be sold who is free; for I claim her by action of freedom. 34Now consider which you choose; take the money, or prepare yourself for the action. Think of it, Procurer, till I return. 35

He goes into the house of Micio .

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Sannio alone.

San. ( 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. 36As 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.

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Enter Syrus , from the house of Micio .