meum nummum in tuum talentum pignus da. That is to say Lay your Talent against my Sesterce 187 Pounds to nigh two Pence this was to shew the difference between Masters and Slaves This Translation keeps to the Design and Pleasantry of Epidicus e'n as well as the other Scene the Ninth Pag. 124. l. 1. You needn't beg so heartily c. Periphanes speaks this to the Persons within whom Epidicus had employ'd to plead for him If any of our modern Poets had had the management of this Place they wou'd undoubtedly have brought Stratippocles Thelestis Philippa and Thesprion on to the Stage but the Ancients had another tast and were wonderful careful to avoid any thing that look'd like Confusion sometimes too scrupulously in this case as ours too often offend the other way Therefore a just Medium ought to be exactly observ'd Scene the Tenth Pag. 125. l. 1. Here 's a rare Rogue then one who has gain'd his Freedom by his Cunning. Hic is homo est qui libertatem malitia invenit sua Here perhaps it may be thought that Vice appears triumphant I grant it wou'd upon our Stage if this were acted but the Romans were of another Opinion in these Cases and they took a peculiar pleasure in seeing a witty Slave cheat a covetous old Fellow and the Ingenuity of the Action was often thought sufficient amends for the Knavery of it I shall conclude all with this Remark upon the whole That the Acts cou'd never have been more naturally divided The First contains the Arrival of Stratippocles and the opening of the Subject the second Epidicus's Knaveries the third his success in his Knaveries the fourth the discovery of 'em and the fifth the knowledge of Thelestis and his recovery from the danger of ' em And in the management of all this not one Actor appears upon the Stage without a necessary Pretext of Business there The End of the Remarks upon Epidicus RUDENS Dramatis Personae MEN. Demones an old decay'd Gentleman of Athens now living at Cyrene Pleusidippus a young Athenian Gentleman now of Cyrene in love with Palestra Labrax a Villanous Slave-Merchant of Cyrene Charmides his Boarder a wheedling Parisite Trachalio Servant to Pleusidippus Sceparnio Servants to Demones Gripus Turbalio Sparax Fishermen of Cyrene WOMEN Ptolemocratia Priestess of Venus Palestra A young Gentlewoman in love with Pleusidippus now belonging to Labrax Ampelisca her Companion belonging to Labrax MUTES Three Gentlemen Servants Attendants c. SCENE By the Sea-side in a Village nigh Cyrene with many Rocks and Cliffs at the further end of the Stage On one side appears Cyrene at a distance on the other Demones ' s House and a Temple of Venus with a Court before it and in it an Altar Besides some scatter'd Houses at a distance TIME About Eight or Nine Hours beginning at Five or Six a Clock in the Morning PROLOGUE Spoken by Arcturus Gallants YE must know I dwell i' the Celestial Palaces above a Subject o' that mighty God who shakes all Nations Seas and Earth I 'm a bright and shining Constellation as ye see me Arcturus by Title one who ne'r fail'd to keep regular Hours both here and in Heaven In the Night-time I twinkle i' the Sky and among the Gods when day comes I converse wi' Mortals as the rest o' the Constellations do who ha' the same Commission from above Jove the Grand Monarch of Heaven and Earth every day disperses us through all Countries t'inspect th' Actions Manners Religion and Fidelity o' Mortals that the Goddess o' Riches may reward 'em as they deserve When e'r we meet wi' Fellows who hire Knights o' the Post in Law-Sutes and Rascals who for swear themselves in Chancery we return their Names in writing to Jove who each day is inform'd of all whom the Gallows groans for He knows each Man that 's perjur'd or bribes his Iudge to gain his Cause upo ' which he brings it about i' th' upper Court and sets a severer Fine upon his Head than the loss of his Cause wou'd ha' come to The Names o' the good Men he keeps in a Book by it self Now these Rogues fool themselves with a fancy that a lusty Present and a Sacrifice will make amends for all but they lose their Labour and Cost too For Jove accepts not the Prayers of perjur'd Villains But the Prayers of an honest Man 's heard a thousand times sooner than of one o' these Rascals Therefore good Gentlemen let m' advise ye you who are honest indeed and have always been good and true-hearted ne'r to recede from your Principles that so you may ha' the Comfort of ' em Now Gentlemen I 'm ready to wait upon ye and tell ye th' Argument o' the Play First then Diphilus calls this City Cyrene Here dwells Demones in the Field in a Neighbouring Village by the Sea-side a good honest well-meaning old Gentleman forc'd to leave Athens and take up here 'T was no ill Prank that drove him from his Country but his Generosity to others prov'd so injurious to himself as it ruin'd his Estate at last Sometime since he had a little Daughter who was kidnapp'd away and sold to a Villanous Slave-Merchant who brought her home to Cyrene Now it seems a young Gentleman o' this City and formerly of Athens by chance spies this Girl coming from the Musick-School and immediately is stricken with her goes strait to the Merchant bargains with him to have her for threescore and fifteen Pounds gives him earnest and swears him to Fidelity Now this Son of a Whore like the rest of his Gang valuing neither Promise nor Oath goes immediately to a Banker of his a Sicilian of Agrigentium an old Rascal as ill as himself and a publick Bane to the City This Man he wheedles with the huge Commendations o' this Girls Beauty and others he had with him so gets him to go over with him to Sicily For says he there the People are mightily given to their Pleasures and Women are their best Commodity so you may get an Estate in a little time Upo ' which a Ship is prepar'd underhand the Merchant claps all his Effect on board and flams off the young Gentleman who bought this Girl with a pretence he was going to perform a Vow to Venus This Temple here is the Place where he has invited the Spark to Dinner He immediately gets on board and carries off Bag and Baggage The Gentleman upon hearing o' this News goes strait to the Haven and there finds the Ship got clear off from the Shore I seeing the Girl thus forc'd away resolv'd at once to save her and ruin the Rascal Therefore I stirr'd up the blustring Winds and swell'd th' Oceans Waves For Arcturus is the most turbulent Constellation i' th' Heavens outragious when rising but more outragious sitting At present both Merchant and Guest are thrown upon a Rock which split their Ship in pieces This Girl I told y' of and another with her
before my House If I catch him I 'll sacrifice his Soul to the Teleboan Ghosts He comes forward Nothing goes well wi' me to day I left Blepharon and Socia to hunt up my Cozen Naucrates him I can't find high nor low and t'other two I 've quite lost O here they are I 'll go to 'em to know how Matters stand Soc. O Mr. Blepharon that 's my Master that comes from the House 't is this is the Sorcerer Ble. Bless me what do I see This isn't He but th' Other And if this be Amphitryon troth that can't unless he be double Iup. Here 's Blepharon and Socia together I 'll begin with them first They meet Are ye come at last Socia I begin t' have a Stomach Soc. to Belpharon Didn't I tell ye this was the Sorcerer Amp. No that 's he my Theban Neighbours that has corrupted my Wife and heap'd Dishonour upo ' my Head Soc. to Iupiter My Lord your Stomach may be empty but I 'm sure I 'm come wi' my Belly full o' Cuffs Amp. Still i' that Humour Rascal Soc. to Amphitryon Get ye to the Devil ye damn'd Sorcerer Amp. Call me Sorcerer Slave Strikes him Iup. How dare you ha' th' Insolence to beat my Servants Amp. Thine Iup. Yes Mine Amp. You lye Sir Iup. Go in Socia and hasten the Dinner while I make an Example o' this Fellow Soc. I go Sir To himself going off I fancy th' Enterview between This-Amphitryon and That-Amphitryon will be just as civil as that between I-Socia and Me-Socia Well the time they 're squabbling abroad I 'll in and ransack the Kitchin lick all the Platters clean and suck my sweet Face with all the Liquor I can find Exit Socia SCENE VII Jupiter Amphitryon and Blepharon Iup. Dare ye gi' me the Lye Amp. Yes that I dare thou cursed Corrupter o' my Family Iup. For that Affront I 'll throatle ye Takes him by the Collar Amp. striking at him Oh oh Iup. You shou'd ha' had more Forecast then Amp. struggling Help good Blepharon Ble. They 're so alike I can't tell which side to take but I 'll part the Fray as well as I can Pray One-Amphitryon don't murder Tother Amphitryon Good now let go Iup. Call ye him Amphitryon Ble. Why not He was formerly single now he 's become double Tho' indeed you 're the Man he 's still the Person therefore pray let go Iup. letting go Well then But in earnest d' ye take him for Amphitryon Ble. Faith both of ye Amp. Heavens bless me Where got ye that Shape o' mine Aside But I 'll pump him Are you Amphitryon Iup. Are you he that deny 't Amp. I am since there 's ne're another Amphitryon in all Thebes Iup. But me I grant ye and Blepharon be you Judge Ble. I 'll clear the Business by Tokens if I can Do you answer first then To Amphitryon Amp. With all my heart Ble. What Orders did ye gi' me before the Battel wi' the Taphians Amp. When the Vessel was ready not to part from the Stern a moment Iup. Because if our Army were routed I might secure m' own Retreat Amp. I order'd ye besides t' have an Eye to the great Bag o' money I left wi' ye Iup. How much Ble. Hold a little Sir that 's a Question for me to ask Do you know the Sum Iup. Yes it amounted to fifty Attick Talents Ble. Right to a Farthing How many pieces of Gold were there To Amphitryon Amp. Two thousand Iup. And twice as many Brass Ble. You 've both nick'd it Certainly one o' ye must ha' been enclos'd i' the Bag. Iup. But observe Sir to clear all this right hand slew Pterelas I receiv'd his Spoils his Drinking-Cup I had in a Casket I gave 't my Wife and this day did I bath with her sacrifice with her and lye with her Amp. That Word stabs me I 'm almost distracted I sleep and dream wi' my Eyes open and perish wi' my Health and Senses about me Certainly I am that Amphitryon Gorgophon's Grand-child General o' the Thebans Creon's Friend Conqueror of the Teleboans o' th' Acarnanians and Taphians and by my Courage slew their King There I made Cephalus Governour the great Dâ—…oneus's Son and Iup. There by my Valour defeated those Ravagers who had kill'd Electryon and my Wife's Brothers wasted Achaia Etolia and Phocis and scour'd th' Ionian Egean and Cretian Seas from their Privateers Amp. Bless me I can't believe my self he has so hit upon every Punctilio What say you Blepharon Ble. There 's one Proof behind if that be made out ye must certainly be double Iup. O you mean the Scar o' my right Arm caus'd by the Wound Pterelas ga' me Ble. The same Amp. Well thought on Iup. D' ye see look here Uncovers his Arm. Ble. Uncover both o' ye that I may see Amphitryon uncovers Iup. We have now look Ble. Heavens what do I see Both mark'd i' the same Arm i' the same Place and exactly with the same Scar a little reddish just like a late Wound The Proofs are equal the Determination unfix'd and I can go no further You two must decide the Bus'ness between both for my Affairs call me away Never did I see such a strange sight i' my born days Amp. Good Blepharon don't leave me in distress but be my Counsellor a while Ble. Adieu What signifies a Counsellor when he knows not which side to plead of Iup. I 'll go in Alcmena cries out Exeunt Blepharon and Jupiter severally SCENE VIII Amphitryon alone Ruin'd for ever Abandon'd by my Friends and and Counsellors But by Heaven this damn'd Impostor sha'n't abuse me unreveng'd whoe'er he be I 'll immediately to the King and acquaint him with the whole Bus'ness As I hope to live I 'll severely punish this Hellish Sorcerer who has play'd such villanous Tricks wi' my whole Family Looking round about him But where is he O' my Soul gone in and I believe to my Wife Did Thebes e'er produce a greater Wretch What Course can I take All the World deny me and make a Mock o' me as they please 'T is fix'd at last I 'll break in upon 'em and the first living Creature I meet whether Maid or Man Wife or Stallion nay Father or Grandfather I 'll murder upo ' the Spot Tho' mighty Iove and all the Gods shou'd interpose I 'd perfect my Design Now I 'll enter the House He goes to the Door it thunders he shakes and falls into a Swoon The End of the Fourth Act. It Thunders and Lightens between the Acts. ACT V. SCENE I. Enter Bromia in a great Fright Amphitryon in a Swoon upon the Stage Bro. ALL my Hopes and Means o' Safety are fled and I 've nothing to support my drooping Spirits since all Things even Seas Earth and Heaven seem to conspire t'overwhelm and ruin me Mercy upo ' me What shall I do I 've seen so many Prodigies within O wretched ready to swoon O for a little Water
my Heart chills and faints away my Head akeâ—… my Ears and Eyes fail me and I 'm the saddest shiftless Creature upon Earth such strange Things befell my Lady For when she was going of her Labour she invok'd the Gods Lord what Voices and Noises what Clashes and Flashes how suddenly how frequently how terribly it thunder'd Every Soul fell flat at the Greatness o' the Claps At the same time a mighty Voice was heard crying Alcmena Succour's at hand shake off all dread the great King of Heaven 's come to you and your Family's Protection Rise all who fell at the terror o' my Voice At that I got up and the House appeared so very bright that methought 't was all in Flames My Lady she call'd me which râ—…is'd new Fears suspecting her Safety I went in all haste to know her Pleasure where I found her happily deliver'd o' two Boys and that without the least Suspicion or Knowledge of any of us But what 's here What old Gentleman 's this who lies before our Door Is he Thunder-struck by Iupiter Really I believe 't is so Bless me he seems dead I 'll go find who ' t is O 't is my Lord Amphitryon She stirs him My Lord SCENE II. Amphitryon comes out of his Swoon Amp. stirring a little Alas Bro. Rise Sir Amp. Ruin'd Bro. Gi' me your hand my Lord. She takes hold of him Amp. looking up Who 's that Bro. Your Maid Bromia Amp. rising up I tremble all over Iove has so stunn'd me I 'm just as tho I had been at Hell Why came y' out Bro. We poor Souls were in as great a Fright as you we saw so many Prodigies within Doors Alas my Lord I ha'n't yet recover'd my Senses Amp. Come let 's talk wi' ye Do you indeed know me for your Master Amphitryon Bro. Yes Sir Amp. See that you be certain of 't Bro. I am Amp. She 's th' only unmad Person'o ' my Family Bro. Indeed my Lord we 're none of us mad Amp. I 'm sure my Wifes base Disloyalty has made me so Bro. I 'll soon change your Opinion i' that point my Lord and in few Words shew ye most apparent Proofs and Tokens of both your Lady's Goodness and Fidelity First you must know she 's brought to bed o' two Boys Amp. How o' two Boys More concernedly Bro. Yes Sir Amp. Heavens be favourable Bro. Let me speak and I 'll tell ye how tender the Gods ha' been o' your Lady and the whole Family Amp. Speak then Bro. When my Lady began to go of her Labour and perceiv'd th' Approach o' th' usual Pains with her Hands wash'd and Head cover'd she implor'd th' Assistance o' the Gods Immediately it thunder'd so dreadfully we first thought the whole House wou'd ha' fallen Then every thing shin'd so gloriously as if they were made o' Gold Amp. Pray ease me a little now you 've deceiv'd me enough What follow'd Bro. I' the mean time your Lady was deliver'd and truly without any Pains for not a Groan or the least Complaint was heard to come from her Amp. I 'm glad o' that whate'er she has deserv'd at my Hands Bro. Those things apart and hear the rest After her Delivery she gave us both the Children to wash We took 'em and the Boy that sell to my share was so big and withal so vastly strong that we cou'dn't bind him in his Blankets Amp. These are Wonders indeed if all be true I do not question my Wifes particular Assistance from above Bro. You 'll say there are greater behind After he was laid in his Cradle two hugeous great Serpents came rolling down the Water-Spout into the Chamber both rearing up their Heads Amp. Lack a day Bro. You needn't fear any thing The Serpents casting their Eyes about and spying the Children immediately made for the Cradles Upon this I drew 'em up and down backwards and forwards terribly afraid o' the Children and my self too they pursu'd 'em so fiercely When the Child I told y'of saw this he immediately started out of his Cradle fell furiously upon 'em and suddenly grasping each Serpent in his Hand Amp. 'T is wonderful strange This is such a dreadful Business as sets me a shaking all over But what 's next Proceed Bro. He destroy'd both the Serpents at once In the mean time my Lady was call'd with a loud Voice by Amp. Whom Bro. Iove the great King of Heaven and Earth who openly declar'd he had layn wi' my Lady i' your Absence and how that very Child who slew the Serpents was his th' other yours Amp. In good troth I like this well enough to be Sharer wi' Iove himself in his good Fortunes Go in and get all the Vessels ready for a Sacrifice quickly that I may thank him for his Favours with a great many Victims Exit Bromia SCENE III. Amphitryon alone I 'll immediately to the Divine Tiresias consult him in what 's fittest to be done and tell him the whole Business from the Beginning to the Ending He is going off and it thunders again But what 's the meaning o' this tho How dreadfully it thunders Heavens bless me SCENE IV. Jupiter descends in a Machine in his own proper Shape Iup. Courage Prince Amphitryon I 'm come at last to calm all yours and your Families Troubles Shake off all Fears Enquire nothing o' Divines and Prophets for I great Iove can better tell of past and future Things than they First I enjoy'd Alcmena by which she prov'd wi' Child you had left her wi' Child too when you went into the Campaign of which two she is brought to bed at once That one that sprung from me by his renown'd Acts shall gain immortal Honour As for Alcmena receive her to your former Favour She has n't deserv'd the least Reproach you gave her for she cou'dn't resist my Power Now I 'll return to Heaven Jupiter ascends SCENE V. Amphitryon alone I 'll obey your great Commands and humbly beg the Performance o' your Promises I 'll now to my Wife and let old Tiresias alone He turns to the Spectators Gallants for Honour's Sake and Great Iove's Cause We hope you 'll crown us with one loud Applause Exit Amphitryon The End of Amphitryon REMARKS UPON AMPHITRYON THE Subject of this Play is the most single that can possibly be it being only the Birth of Hercules and likewise the most noble of all the Comedies of the Ancients not only for the bringing forth of such a Hero but also for its Attendance by no less than two Gods and with Thunders and Lightnings This Subject tho' great is naturally very barren especially if compared with many others but this makes the Poet's Art appear still greater in finding Incidents sufficient for a whole Play when he had so little matter to work upon and in the natural Management of those he is admirable The PROLOGUE THE Prologue is spoken by Mercury not only because he was the most proper Person to say and relate