Lucius Seneca - Yale Required Reading - Collected Works (Vol. 2)

Syr. ( speaking to Æschinus 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?

San. I never saw a dispute on more unequal terms 37than the one that has happened to-day between us; I, with being thumped, he, with beating me, were both of us quite tired.

Syr. Your own fault.

San. What could I do?

Syr. You ought to have yielded to the young man.

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

Syr. 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 38of your right, and had humored the young man, that he would not repay you with interest?

San. I do not pay ready money for hope.

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

San. 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.

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

San. ( aside. ) Hah!

Syr. 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.

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

Syr. ( aside. ) He is alarmed. I’ve brought the fellow into a fix.

San. ( aside. ) Oh, what villainy!—Just look at that; how he has nicked me in the very joint. 39Several women have been purchased, and other things as well, for me to take to Cyprus. 40If 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.

Syr. Have you by this reckoned 41up what you calculate will be your profits?

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

Syr. ( 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 minæ 42from some quarter or other.

San. 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.

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

San. 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.

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

San. What about what I was asking you?

Syr. Stay a little.

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Enter Ctesipho , at the other side of the stage.

Ctes. 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.

Syr. O Ctesipho!

Ctes. O Syrus, where is Æschinus?

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

Ctes. ( speaking joyously. ) Ha!

Syr. What’s the matter?

Ctes. 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?

Syr. Stay, stay; ’tis Æschinus himself coming out.

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Enter Æschinus , from the house of Micio .

Æsch. Where is that villain?

San. ( aside. ) He’s looking for me. 43Is he bringing any thing with him ? Confusion! I don’t see any thing.

Æsch. ( to Ctesipho. ) Ha! well met; you are the very man I was looking for. How goes it, Ctesipho? All is safe: away then with your melancholy.

Ctes. By my troth, I certainly will away with it, when I have such a brother as you. O my dear Æschinus! O my brother! Alas! I am unwilling to praise you any more to your face, lest you should think I do so rather for flattery than through gratitude.

Æsch. Go to, you simpleton! as though we didn’t by this time understand each other, Ctesipho. This grieves me, that we knew of it almost too late, and that the matter had come to such a pass, that if all mankind had wished they could not possibly have assisted you.

Ctes. I felt ashamed.

Æsch. Pooh! that is folly, not shame; about such a trifling matter to be almost flying the country! 44’Tis shocking to be mentioned; I pray the Gods may forbid it!

Ctes. I did wrong.

Æsch. ( in a lower voice. ) What says Sannio to us at last?

Syr. He is pacified at last.

Æsch. I’ll go to the Forum to pay him off; you, Ctesipho, step in-doors to her.

San. ( aside to Syrus. ) Syrus, do urge the matter .

Syr. ( to Æschinus. ) Let us be off, for he is in haste for Cyprus. 45

San. Not particularly so; although still, I’m stopping here doing nothing at all.

Syr. It shall be paid, don’t fear.

San. But he is to pay it all.

Syr. He shall pay it all; only hold your tongue and follow us this way.

San. I’ll follow.

Ctes. ( as Syrus is going. ) Harkye, harkye, Syrus.

Syr. ( turning back. ) Well now, what is it?

Ctes. ( aside. ) Pray do discharge that most abominable fellow as soon as possible; for fear, in case he should become more angry, by some means or other this matter should reach my father, and then I should be ruined forever.

Syr. That shall not happen, be of good heart; meanwhile enjoy yourself in-doors with her, and onder the couches 46to be spread for us, and the other things to be got ready. As soon as this business is settled, I shall come home with the provisions.