The Captivi and the Mostellaria, Plautus
The Captivi and the Mostellaria
Plautus
Category: Drama
Genres: Humor,Satire
Level 11.233:51 h
The Captivi and the Mostellaria are two ancient Roman plays written by the playwright Plautus. The Captivi tells the story of two young Athenian men who are captured by pirates and sold into slavery in a foreign land. The play explores themes of love, loyalty, and freedom as the two captives struggle to find a way back to their homeland. The Mostellaria, on the other hand, is a comedy about a young man who discovers that his father has been keeping a beautiful young woman hidden away in his house. The play follows the young man's attempts to outwit his father and win the love of the woman. Both plays are considered classics of Roman literature and have been studied and performed for centuries. They provide valuable insights into ancient Roman society and culture, as well as timeless themes of human nature that continue to resonate with audiences today.

The Captivi and the Mostellaria

by
Titus Maccius Plautus

Literally Translated with Notes by Henry Thomas Riley, B. A.

The Captivi and the Mostellaria

The Captivi

Dramatis Personae

HEGIO, an Aetolian, father of PHILOPOLEMUS.
PHILOCRATES, an Elean, captive in Aetolia.
TYNDARUS, his servant.
ARISTOPHONTES, an Elean, captive in Aetolia.
PHILOPOLEMUS, an Aetolian, captive in Elis.
ERGASILUS, a Parasite.
STALAGMUS, the servant of HEGIO.
A SLAVE of HEGIO.
A LAD, the same.

Scene. — A place in Aetolia.

The Subject

HEGIO, a wealthy native of Aetolia, had two sons, one of which was stolen by a slave when four years old, and being carried away to Elis, was sold there; the father being unable for many years to learn what has become of him. A war having commenced between the Eleans and the Aetolians, PHILOPOLEMUS, the other son of HEGIO, is taken prisoner by the Eleans. The Aetolians having taken many Elean prisoners, HEGIO commences to traffic in captives, with the view of thereby redeeming his son from the Eleans, in exchange for some prisoner of rank. At this conjuncture the Play commences. Among the captives whom HEGIO has purchased, PHILOCRATES is one, having been taken prisoner, together with his servant, TYNDARUS. With the object of deceiving HEGIO, PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS change their clothes, and having exchanged names as well, PHILOCRATES pretends to be the servant of TYNDARUS. HEGIO being desirous to procure the exchange of his son, PHILOCRATES (in the character of the servant of his fellow-captive) is sent to Elis for that purpose. After his departure, ARISTOPHONTES, another captive, accidentally puts HEGIO in the way of discovering the manner in which he has been deceived. On this, the old man, losing all hope of obtaining the liberation of his son, sends TYNDARUS in chains to the stone-quarries. Shortly after, PHILOCRATES returns, and brings with him PHILOPOLEMUS, the son of HEGIO, and STALAGMUS, the runaway slave, that had stolen his other son. It is then discovered that STALAGMUS had sold the child to the father of PHILOCRATES, and that he is no other than TYNDARUS, the slave; on which, TYNDARUS is sent for, and is informed that he is the lost son of HEGIO. STALAGMUS is then condemned to the chains from which TYNDARUS is liberated.

The Acrostic Argument

[Supposed to have been written by Priscian the Grammarian.]

One son of HEGIO has been made prisoner (Captus) in battle. A runaway slave has sold the other (Alium) when four years old. The father (Pater)traffics in Elean captives, only (Tantum) desirous that he may recover his son, and (Et) among these he buys his son that was formerly lost. He (Is), his clothes and his name changed with his master, causes that (Ut) he is lost to HEGIO; and he himself is punished. And (Et) he brings back the captive and the runaway together, through whose information (Indicio) he discovers his other son.

The Prologue

These two captives (pointing to PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS), whom you see standing here, are standing here because — they are both standing, and are not sitting. That I am saying this truly, you are my witnesses. The old man, who lives here (pointing to HEGIO’s house), is HEGIO — his father (pointing to TYNDARUS). But under what circumstances he is the slave of his own father, that I will here explain to you, if you give attention. This old man had two sons; a slave stole one child when four years old, and flying hence, he sold him in Elis, to the father of this captive (pointing to PHILOCRATES). Now, do you understand this? Very good. I’ faith, that man at a distance there (pointing) says, no. Come nearer then. If there isn’t room for you to sit down, there is for you to walk; since you’d be compelling an actor to bawl like a beggar. I’m not going to burst myself for your sake, so don’t you be mistaken. You who are enabled by your means to pay your taxes, listen to the rest; I care not to be in debt to another. This runaway slave, as I said before, sold his young master, whom, when he fled, he had carried off, to this one’s father. He, after he bought him, gave him as his own private slave to this son of his, because they were of about the same age. He is now the slave at home of his own father, nor does his father know it. Verily, the Gods do treat us men just like footballs. You hear the manner now how he lost one son. Afterwards, the Aetolians are waging war with the people of Elis, and, as happens in warfare, the other son is taken prisoner. The physician Menarchus buys him there in Elis. On this, this HEGIO begins to traffic in Elean captives, if, perchance, he may be able to find one to change for that captive son of his. He knows not that this one who is in his house is his own son. And as he heard yesterday that an Elean knight of very high rank and very high family was taken prisoner, he has spared no expense to rescue his son. In order that he may more easily bring him back home, he buys both of these of the Quaestors out of the spoil.

Now they, between themselves, have contrived this plan, that, by means of it, the servant may send away hence his master home. And therefore among themselves they change their garments and their names. He, there (pointing), is called PHILOCRATES; this one (pointing), TYNDARUS; he this day assumes the character of this one, this one of him. And this one to-day will cleverly carry out this plot, and cause his master to gain his liberty; and by the same means he will save his own brother, and without knowing it, will cause him to return back a free man to his own country to his father, just as often now, on many occasions, a person has done more good unknowingly than knowingly. But unconsciously, by their devices, they have so planned and devised their plot, and have so contrived it by their design, that this one is living in servitude with his own father. And thus now, in ignorance, he is the slave of his own father. What poor creatures are men, when I reflect upon it! This plot will be performed by us — a play for your entertainment. But there is, besides, a thing which, in a few words, I would wish to inform you of. Really, it will be worth your while to give your attention to this play. ’Tis not composed in the hackneyed style, nor yet like other plays, nor are there in it any ribald lines unfit for utterance: here is neither the perjured procurer, nor the artful courtesan, nor yet the braggart captain. Don’t you be afraid because I’ve said that there’s war between the Aetolians and the Eleans. There (pointing), at a distance, beyond the scenes, the battles will be fought. For this were almost impossible for a Comic establishment, that we should at a moment attempt to be acting Tragedy. If, therefore, any one is looking for a battle, let him commence the quarrel; if he shall find an adversary more powerful, I’ll cause him to be the spectator of a battle that isn’t pleasant to him, so that hereafter he shall hate to be a spectator of them all. I now retire. Fare ye well, at home, most upright judges, and in warfare most valiant combatants.

Act I.
Scene I

Enter ERGASILUS.

ERG. The young men have given me the name of “the mistress,” for this reason, because invocated I am wont to attend at the banquet. I know that buffoons say that this is absurdly said, but I affirm that it is rightly said. For at the banquet the lover, when he throws the dice, invokes his mistress. Is she then invocated, or is she not? She is, most clearly. But, i’ faith, we Parasites with better reason are so called, whom no person ever either invites or invokes, and who, like mice, are always eating the victuals of another person. When business is laid aside, when people repair to the country, at that same moment is business laid aside for our teeth. Just as, when it is hot weather, snails lie hidden in secret, and live upon their own juices, if the dew doesn’t fall; so, when business is laid aside, do Parasites lie hidden in retirement, and miserably live upon their own juices, while in the country the persons are rusticating whom they sponge upon. When business is laid aside, we Parasites are greyhounds; when business recommences, like mastiffs, we are annoying-like and very troublesome-like.

And here, indeed, unless, i’faith, any Parasite is able to endure cuffs with the fist, and pots to be broken about his head, why he may e’en go with his wallet outside the Trigeminian Gate. That this may prove my lot, there is some danger. For since my patron has fallen into the hands of the enemy — (such warfare are the Aetolians now waging with the Eleans; for this is Aetolia; this PHILOPOLEMUS has been made captive in Elis, the son of this old man HEGIO who lives here (pointing to the house) — a house which to me is a house of woe, and which so oft as I look upon, I weep). Now, for the sake of his son, has he commenced this dishonorable traffic, very much against his own inclination. He buys up men that have been made captives, if perchance he may be able to find some one for whom to gain his son in exchange. An object which I really do much desire that he may gain, for unless he finds him, there’s nowhere for me to find myself. I have no hopes in the young men; they are all too fond of themselves. He, in fine, is a youth with the old-fashioned manners, whose countenance I never rendered cheerful without a return. His father is worthily matched, as endowed with like manners. Now I’ll go to him; — but his door is opening, the door from which full oft I’ve sallied forth drunk with excess of cheer. (He stands aside.)

Scene II.
Enter, from His House, Hegio and a Slave

HEG. Now, give attention you, if you please. Those two captives whom I purchased yesterday of the Quaestors out of the spoil, put upon them chains of light weight; take off those greater ones with which they are bound. Permit them to walk, if they wish, out of doors, or if in-doors, but so that they are watched with the greatest care. A captive at liberty is like a bird that’s wild; if opportunity is once given for escaping, ’tis enough; after that, you can never catch him.

SLAVE. Doubtless we all are free men more willingly than we live the life of slaves.

HEG. You, indeed, don’t seem to think so.

SLAVE. If I have nothing to give, should you like me to give myself to flight?

HEG. If you do so give yourself, I shall at once have something to be giving to you.

SLAVE. I’ll make myself just like the wild bird you were telling of.

HEG. ’Tis just as you say; for if you do so, I’ll be giving you to the cage. But enough of prating; take you care of what I’ve ordered, and be off. (The SLAVE goes into the house.) I’ll away to my brother’s, to my other captives; I’ll go see whether they’ve been making any disturbance last night. From there I shall forthwith betake myself home again.

ERG. (apart). It grieves me that this unhappy old man is following the trade of a slave-dealer, by reason of the misfortune of his son. But, if by any means he can be brought back here, I could even endure for him to become an executioner.

HEG. (overhearing him). Who is it that’s speaking?

ERG. ’Tis I, who am pining at your affliction, growing thin, waxing old, and shockingly wasting away. Wretched man that I am, I’m but skin and bone through leanness; nor does anything ever do me good that I eat at home; even that ever so little which I taste out of doors, the same refreshes me.

HEG. ERGASILUS, save you!

ERG. (crying). May the Gods kindly bless you, HEGIO!

HEG. Don’t weep.

ERG. Must I not weep for him? Must I not weep for such a young man?

HEG. I’ve always known you to be a friend to my son, and I have understood him to be so to you.

ERG. Then at last do we men know our blessings, when we have lost those things which we once had in our power. I, since your son fell into the power of the enemy, knowing by experience of what value he was, now feel his loss.

HEG. Since you, who are no relation, bear his misfortune so much amiss, what is it likely that I, a father, should do, whose only son he is?

ERG. I, no relation to him? He, no relation to me? Oh, HEGIO! Never do say that, nor come to such a belief. To you he is an only child, but to me he is even more only than an only one.

HEG. I commend you, in that you consider the affliction of your friend your own affliction. Now be of good heart.

ERG. (crying). O dear!

HEG. (half-aside). ’Tis this afflicts him, that the army for guttling is now disbanded. Meanwhile, have you found no one to command for you the army that you mentioned as disbanded?

ERG. What do you think? All to whom it used to fall are in the habit of declining that province since your son PHILOPOLEMUS was taken prisoner.

HEG. I’ faith, ’tisn’t to be wondered at, that they are in the habit of declining that province. You have necessity for numerous troops, and those of numerous kinds. Well, first you have need of the Bakerians. Of these Bakerians there are several kinds. You have need of Roll-makerians, you hare need too of Confectionerians, you have need of Poultererians, you have need of Beccaficorians; besides all the maritime forces are necessary for you.

ERG. How the greatest geniuses do frequently lie concealed! How great a general now is this private individual!

HEG. Only have good courage; for I trust that in a few days I shall bring him back home. For see now; there’s a captive here, a young man of Elis, born of a very high family, and of very great wealth; I trust that it will come to pass that I shall get my son in exchange for him.

ERG. May the Gods and Goddesses grant it so!

HEG. But are you invited out anywhere to dinner?

ERG. Nowhere that I know of. But, pray, why do you ask me?

HEG. Because this is my birthday; for that reason I’d like you to be invited to dinner at my house.

ERG. ’Tis kindly said.

HEG. But if you can be content to eat a very little —

ERG. Aye, even ever so little; for on such fare as that do, I enjoy myself every day at home.

HEG. Come, then, please, set yourself up for sale.