Читать книгу Yale Classics - Roman Classical Literature - Луций Анней Сенека - Страница 13

At this point there is a gap in the MSS. Only a few lines have been preserved. Leo outlines the lost part as follows: After Mercury has had sufficient amusement with Amphitryon, the disturbance calls Alcmena from within. She has a dispute with her husband—Jupiter had left her earlier so that he might offer sacrifice—and shuts him out of the house. Perhaps Amphitryon went away to summon friends to aid him: at any rate, Sosia appears with Blepharo and gets a bad welcome from his master, despite Blepharo's patronage, and then escapes. Jupiter comes out of the house. Husband and lover abuse each other vigorously and a scuffle ensues. Blepharo is appealed to by Amphitryon, only to be made ridiculous by Jupiter.

Amph.	Amph.
At ego te cruce et cruciatu mactabo, mastigia.	But I'll make you an offering of torture and torment, you whipping post.
Mer.	Mer.
Erus Amphitruost occupatus.	The master, Amphitryon, is busy.
Mer.	Mer.
III (XV LG) abiendi nunc tibi etiam occasiost.	—— now you still have a chance to leave.
Mer.	Mer.
IV (III) Optimo iure infringatur aula cineris in caput.	It would serve you right to have a pot of ashes broken on your head.
Mer.	Mer.
V (IV) Ne tu postules matulam unam tibi aquae infundi in caput	You would certainly ask to have one jar of water emptied on your head.
Mer.	Mer.
VI (VII) Larvatu's edepol hominem miserum medicum quaerita.	Bewitched! Dear, dear! poor man! Look for a doctor.
Alc.	Alc.
VII (XI) Exiuravisti te mihi dixe per iocum.	You swore solemnly that you said it to me in fun.
Alc.	Alc.
VIII (XII) Quaeso advenienti morbo medicari iube tu certe aut larvatus aut cerritus es.	For mercy's sake have this disease treated at the outset; you surely are bewitched or crazed.
Alc.	Alc.
IX (XIII) Nisi hoc ita factum est, proinde ut factum esse autumo, non causam dico quin vero insimules probri.	If this did not take place just as I state, you have every right to accuse me of unchastity.
Amph.	Amph.
X (XVI) Cuius? quae me absente corpus volgavit suom.	Whose? A woman that prostituted herself in my absence!
Amph.	Amph.
XI (V) Quid minitabas te facturum, si istas pepulissem fores?	What were you threatening to do, if I pounded on that door?
Amph.	Amph.
XII (VI) Ibi scrobes ecfodito tu plus sexagenos in die.	There dig more than sixty ditches a day.
Amph.	Amph.
XIII (XVII) Noli pessimo precari	Don't intercede for an utter rascal.
Bleph.	Bleph.
XIV (XVIII) animam comprime	—— save your breath.
Iup.	Jup.
XV (IX) Manifestum hunc optorto collo teneo furem flagiti	I have him by the scruff of the neck, an outrageous thief caught in the act.
Amph.	Amph.
XVI (X) Immo ego hunc, Thebani cives, qui domi uxorem meam impudicitia impedivit, teneo, thensaurum stupri	No, no, Theban citizens, I have him, the monster of lust who has brought disgrace on my wife at home.
Amph.	Amph.
XVII (VIII) Nilne te pudet, sceleste, populi in conspectum ingredi?	Aren't you at all ashamed, you villain, to come out into public sight?
Amph.	Amph.
XVIII (XIX) clandestino.	—— clandestinely.
Amph. sive Iup.	Amph. or Iup.
XIX (XIV) Qui nequeas nostrorum uter sit Amphitruo decernere.	You who are unable to decide which of us is Amphitryon.

IV. 3.Table of Contents	Scene 3.Table of Contents
Bleph.	Bleph.
Vos inter vos partite; ego abeo, mihi negotium est; neque ego umquam usquam tanta mira me vidisse censeo.	(disgustedly) You must untangle your own selves: I'm going: I have an engagement. (aside) Never did I see such marvels anywhere, I do believe. (turns to go)
Amph.	Amph.
Blepharo, quaeso ut advocatus mi adsis neve abeas.	Blepharo! Stand by me, for mercy's sake, and be my assistant: don't go!
Bleph.	Bleph.
Vale. quid opust me advocato, qui utri sim advocatus nescio?	Good-bye. What's the use of my being an assistant when I don't know which to be it to? [exit Blepharo.
Iup.	Jup.
Intro ego hinc eo. Alcumena parturit.	(aside) I'm going inside myself: Alcmena's delivery is at hand. [exit Jupiter into house, unseen by Amphitryon.
Amph.	Amph.
Perii miser. quid ego faciam, quem advocati iam atque amici deserunt? numquam edepol me inultus istic ludificabit, quisquis est; nam iam ad regem recta me ducam resque ut facta est eloquar.25 ego pol illum ulciscar hodie Thessalum veneficum, qui pervorse perturbavit familiae mentem meae. sed ubi illest? intro edepol abiit, credo ad uxorem meam.	(wildly) Heavens! oh, Heavens! What shall I do now when assistants and friends desert me? By the Lord, that villain shall never make game of me and escape, whoever he is! I'll go straight to the king this moment and tell him all as it happened. I swear I'll have my revenge this day on that Thessalian sorcerer who has turned the wits of my household topsy-turvy. (looking around) Where is he, though? Good God! He's gone inside—to my wife, no doubt!
qui me Thebis alter vivit miserior? quid nunc agam? quem omnes mortales ignorant et ludificant ut lubet. certumst, intro rumpam in aedis: ubi quemque hominem aspexero, si ancillam seu servom sive uxorem sive adulterum seu patrem sive avom videbo, obtruncabo in aedibus. neque me Iuppiter neque di omnes id prohibebunt, si volent, quin sic faciam ut constitui. pergam in aedis nunciam.	Oh, of all miserable men in Thebes! What shall I do now? Disowned and humbugged by every mortal soul to suit their humour! (pause) My mind's made up—I'll burst into the house, and every human creature there I set my eyes on, maid or man, wife or paramour, father or grandfather, I'll cut them down in my halls! And not the will of Jupiter and all the gods shall stop my doing as I've determined! I'll in this minute! (he rushes toward door: a peal of thunder: he falls to ground motionless)

ACTVS VTable of Contents	ACT VTable of Contents
	(Half an hour has elapsed.) enter Bromia from house, in a panic.
Brom.	Brom.
Spes atque opes vitae meae iacent sepultae in pectore, neque ullast confidentia iam in corde, quin amiserim; ita mihi videntur omnia, mare terra caelum, consequi, iam ut opprimar, ut enicer. me miseram, quid agam nescio.	Oh, my hopes and chances of getting out of this alive are dead and buried inside of me! There's not a thing left to keep my courage up now! The way everything—sea, land, sky—does seem set on crushing me, killing me off this instant! Oh dear, oh dear! What to do I don't know.
ita tanta mira in aedibus sunt facta. vae miserae mihi, animo malest, aquam velim. corrupta sum atque absumpta sum. caput dolet, neque audio, nec oculis prospicio satis, nec me miserior femina est neque ulla videatur magis.	Such amazing things as did happen in there! Oh, poor me! I feel faint. Oh, for some water! I'm a wreck, I'm all done up. My head's splitting, and I can't hear or see right, either. There isn't a wretcheder woman on earth, or one that could seem so, either.
ita erae meae hodie contigit. nam ubi parturit, deos sibi invocat, strepitus, crepitus, sonitus, tonitrus: ut subito, ut propere, ut valide tonuit! ubi quisque institerat, concidit crepitu. ibi nescio quis maxuma voce exclamat: "Alcumena, adest auxilium, ne time:et tibi et tuis propitius caeli cultor advenit. exsurgite" inquit "qui terrore meo occidistis prae metu."	The experience mistress did have this day! As soon as her time comes she calls on the gods to help her, and there's a grumbling and rumbling and smashing and crashing—what a crash, so sudden and quick and heavy it was! Every one fell flat where he stood at the peal. And then some one or other called out in a mighty voice: "Alcmena, help is at hand: be not afraid. To thee and thine the sovereign of the skies comes in kindliness. Rise," he said, "ye who have fallen in terror, from dread of me."
ut iacui, exsurgo. ardere censui aedis, ita tum confulgebant. ibi me inclamat Alcumena; iam ea res me horrore adficit, erilis praevertit metus: accurro, ut sciscam quid velit. atque illam geminos filios pueros peperisse conspicor; neque nostrum quisquam sensimus, quom peperit, neque providimus.	Having dropped, I got on my feet: I thought the house was afire, the way it was all lit up then. Just then Alcmena calls for me to come. I was trembling already at what happened, but fear of mistress prevailed, and up I run to find out what she wants. And there I see she has given birth to twins, boys, and not a soul of us noticed when it happened, or is ready for it!
sed quid hoc? quis hic est senex, qui ante aedis nostras sic iacet?numnam hunc percussit Iuppiter? credo edepol, nam, pro Iuppiter, sepultust quasi sit mortuos. ibo et cognoscam, quisquis est. Amphitruo hic quidem est erus meus. Amphitruo.	(sees prostrate Amphitryon) But what's this? Who's this old man lying like this in front of our house? Why, can it be he's struck by lightning? Why, mercy me, I do believe so! For, good gracious, he's as completely disposed of as if he was a corpse! I'll go find out, whoever it is. (approaches) It's Amphitryon! It's my master! (calling) Amphitryon!
Amph.	Amph.
Perii.	(feebly) Heaven help me!
Brom.	Brom.
Surge.	Get up, sir.
Amph.	Amph.
Interii.	I'm dead!
Brom.	Brom.
Cedo manum.	Give me your hand, sir. (takes it)
Amph.	Amph.
Quis me tenet?	Who has hold of me?
Brom.	Brom.
Tua Bromia ancilla.	Your servant maid, sir, Bromia.
Amph.	Amph.
Totus timeo, ita me increpuit Iuppiter. nec secus est, quasi si ab Acherunte veniam. sed quid tu foras egressa es?	I'm paralysed with fear! Oh, Jove, what a bolt! I feel as if I were getting back—from the next world. (he gets up) But what made you come out?
Brom.	Brom.
Eadem nos formido timidas terrore impulit in aedibus, tu ubi habitas. nimia mira vidi. vae mihi, Amphitruo, ita mihi animus etiam nunc abest.	We poor women were struck with the same terror in this house of yours, sir. I've seen the most amazing things! Oh deary me, master, I'm just clean dazed even now!
Amph.	Amph.
Agedum expedi: scin me tuom esse erum Amphitruonem?	Come, come, quick, tell me—do you know me for your master, Amphitryon?
Brom.	Brom.
Scio.	Surely, sir.
Amph.	Amph.
Vide etiam nunc.	Here, look, look again!
Brom.	Brom.
Scio.	(obeying) Surely, sir.
Amph.	Amph.
Haec sola sanam mentem gestat meorum familiarium.	(half aside) She's the only one of my household that has any sanity about her.
Brom.	Brom.
Immo omnes sani sunt profecto.	Oh no, sir, they're all sane, of course they are.
Amph.	Amph.
At me uxor insanum facit suis foedis factis.	Well, my wife had driven me insane with her infamous actions!
Brom.	Brom.
At ego faciam, tu idem ut aliter praedices, Amphitruo, piam et pudicam esse tuam uxorem ut scias. de ea re signa atque argumenta paucis verbis eloquar. omnium primum: Alcumena geminos peperit filios.	(warmly) Well, I'll make you change that tune, sir, your very own self, and make you realize that your wife is a pious, honest woman, sir. I'll soon give you signs and proofs of that. First of all, she has given birth to twin sons.
Amph.	Amph.
Ain tu, geminos?	What's that—twins?
Brom.	Brom.
Geminos.	Twins.
Amph.	Amph.
Di me servant.	The gods are with me!
Brom.	Brom.
Sine me dicere, ut scias tibi tuaeque uxori decs esse omnis propitios.	Let me go on, so that you may know all the gods mean well by you and your wife, sir.
Amph.	Amph.
Loquere.	Yes, yes.
Brom.	Brom.
Postquam parturire hodie uxor occepit tua, ubi utero exorti dolores, ut solent puerperae invocat deos immortales, ut sibi auxilium ferant, manibus puris, capite operto. ibi continuo contonat sonitu maxumo; aedes primo ruere rebamur tuas. aedes totae confulgebant tuae, quasi essent aureae.	After she began to feel near her time to-day and her pains were setting in, she called on the immortal gods to help her—as women do, sir, in labour—with clean washed hands and covered head. She had no sooner begun than there was a frightful thunder clap. At first we thought your house was tumbling down: your whole house was shining, sir, just as if it was gold.
Amph.	Amph.
Quaeso absolvito hinc me extemplo, quando satis deluseris. quid fit deinde?	For heaven's sake hurry up and don't keep me on tenterhooks! I have had enough of your trifling! What happened next?
Brom.	Brom.
Dum haec aguntur, interea uxorem tuam neque gementem neque plorantem nostrum quisquam audivimus; ita profecto sine dolore peperit.	While this was going on, not one of us heard your wife groan or whimper a bit, sir, the whole time: that's how she bore those boys, sir—never a pang, that's plain.
Amph.	Amph.
Iam istuc gaudeo, utut erga me merita est.	(heartily) Well now, I'm glad of that, no matter what her behaviour to me has been.
Brom.	Brom.
Mitte ista atque haec quae dicam accipe. postquam peperit, pueros lavere iussit nos. occepimus. sed puer ille quem ego lavi, ut magnust et multum valet! neque eum quisquam colligare quivit incunabulis.	Do let that be, sir, and listen. After they were born she told us to bathe them. We began. But that boy I bathed! How big and strong he was! Not a soul of us could wrap him in his swaddling clothes.
Amph.	Amph.
Nimia mira memoras; si istaec vera sunt, divinitus non metuo quin meae uxori latae suppetiae sient.	A most astounding story! If it be true, there's no doubt that my wife received divine aid.
Brom.	Brom.
Magis iam faxo mira dices. postquam in cunas conditust, devolant angues iubati deorsum in impluvium duo maximi: continuo extollunt ambo capita.	You'll call this more astounding still, sir, I warrant you. After he was tucked in his cradle, two enormous crested serpents came slipping down into the fountain basin: the next second both of them were lifting up their heads.
Amph.	Amph.
Ei mihi.	Heavens and earth!
Brom.	Brom.
Ne pave. sed angues occulis omnis cirumvisere. postquam pueros conspicati, pergunt ad cunas citi. ego cunas recessim rursum vorsum trahere et ducere, metuens pueris, mihi formidans; tantoque angues acrius persequi. postquam conspexit angues ille alter puer, citus e cunis exilit, facit recta in anguis impetum: alterum altera prehendit eos manu perniciter.	Don't be scared. Well, the serpents glared around at all of us. As soon as they spied the boys they made for the cradles like a flash. I backed away, fearful for the boys and frightened for myself, pulling and hauling the cradles along after me with the serpents a-chasing us all the angrier. The minute that boy I was telling of sets eyes on the serpents he's up and out of that cradle in a trice, rushing straight for 'em and grabbing 'em one in each hand quick as a wink.
Amph.	Amph.
Mira memoras, nimis formidolosum facinus praedicas; nam mihi horror membra misero percipit dictis tuis. quid fit deinde? porro loquere.	Astounding! Astounding! A perfectly horrifying tale! Mercy on us! why, your very words palsy me! What then? Go on, go on!
Brom.	Brom.
Puer ambo angues enicat. dum haec aguntur, voce clara exclamat uxorem tuam—	The boy chokes both serpents to death. While this is going on, in a clear voice he calls out the name of your wife—
Amph.	Amph.
Quis homo?	Who does?
Brom.	Brom.
Summus imperator divom atque hominum Iuppiter. is se dixit cum Alcumena clam consuetum cubitibus, eumque filium suom esse qui illos angues vicerit; alterum tuom esse dixit puerum.	The almighty ruler of gods and men, Jupiter. He said that he himself had secretly shared Alcmena's bed and that that was his son who had crushed the serpents: the other one, he said, was your own child.
Amph.	Amph.
Pol me haud paenitet, si licet boni dimidium mihi dividere cum Iove. abi domum, iube vasa pura actutum adornari mihi, ut Iovis supremi multis hostiis pacem expetam.	Well, well, well! I make no complaint at being permitted to have Jove as partner in my blessings. In with you, girl! Have sacrificial vessels made ready for me instantly so that I may seek the favour of omnipotent Jove with ample offerings. [exit Bromia.
ego Teresiam coniectorem advocabo et consulam quid faciundum censeat; simul hanc rem ut facta est eloquar. sed quid hoc? quam valide tonuit. di, obsecro vostram fidem.	I'll summon Tiresias the prophet and consult with him as to what he thinks should be done, and at the same time tell him all that's happened, (thunder) But what's this? That awful thunder peal! Heaven preserve us!

V. 2.Table of Contents	Scene 2.Table of Contents
	Jupiter appears above.
Iup.	Jup.
Bono animo es, adsum auxilio, Amphitruo, tibi et tuis: nihil est quod timeas. hariolos, haruspices mitte omnes; quae futura et quae facta eloquar, multo adeo melius quam illi, quom sum Iuppiter. primum omnium Alcumenae usuram corporis cepi, et concubitu gravidam feci filio.	Be of good cheer. I am here with aid, Amphitryon, for thee and thine. Thou hast naught to fear. Seers, soothsayers—have none of them. I will make known to thee future and past alike, and better far than they, moreover, for I am Jupiter. First of all, then, I took thy Alcmena to myself and by me she was made a mother.
tu gravidam item fecisti, cum in exercitum profectu's: uno partu duos peperit simul. eorum alter, nostro qui est susceptus semine, suis factis te immortali adficiet gloria. tu cum Alcumena uxore antiquam in gratiam redi: haud promeruit quam ob rem vitio vorteres; mea vi subactast facere. ego in caelum migro.	By thee too was she with child when thou didst go forth to war: at one birth she bore them both. The one begotten of my seed shall win thee undying glory by his works. Live again in fond concord as of old with thy wife Alcmena: she has done naught to merit thy reproach: my power was on her. I now depart to heaven. [exit Jupiter.

V. 3.Table of Contents	Scene 3.Table of Contents
Amph.	Amph.
Faciam ita ut iubes et te oro, promissa ut serves tua, ibo ad uxorem intro, missum facio Teresiam senem.	(reverently) Thy will shall be done: and keep thy word with me, I beg thee. (after a pause) I'll in and see my wife! No more of old Tiresias!
nunc, spectatores, Iovis summi causa clare plaudite.	(to the audience) Now, spectators, for the sake of Jove almighty, give us some loud applause. [exit.

1 None of the Arguments prefixed to the plays is by Plautus. Their date is disputed, the acrostics having been written during the first century B.C., perhaps, the non acrostics later.

A Actors might be whipped on occasion.

B An allusion to some play in which Jupiter appeared in time to save some situation.

2 Corrupt (Leo): Alcumena MSS: illa Bothe.

C Being a slave.

3 The genuineness of the Prologues of these plays has long been a moot question. The tendency of the more recent investigators has been to hold that all were, at least in part, written by Plautus himself.

D Mercury was the patron god of roguery.

4 Leo brackets following v., 14:

lucrum ut perenne vobis semper suppetat.

5 Corrupt (Leo): affero MSS: fero Acidalius, followed by Lindsay and others.

6 Leo assumes lacuna here.

7 architectust Pareus: architectus MSS. Lambinus suggests that the actor who took the part of Jupiter may have been a builder.

8 Corrupt (Leo): illi MSS: ille illi Ussing, followed by Lindsay.

9 Leo brackets following v., 93: praeterea certo prodit in tragoedia.

10 Leo brackets following v., 173: nec aequom anne iniquom imperet cogitabit.

11 vicimus vi MSS: Leo brackets vicimus.

12 Corrupt (Leo): "Convertitur pro convertit," Nonius 480.

13 Corrupt (Leo): neme esse MSS: among the many emendations is sane (Palmer).

14 Leo brackets following v., 401: qui cum Amphitruone hinc una ieram in exercitum.

15 Leo brackets following v., 489-90:

et ne in suspicione ponatur stupri et clandestina ut celetur consuetio.

16 Corrupt (Leo): si non id ita J.

17 Leo notes slight lacuna here: mirum MSS: mirum mirum Spengel.

18 Leo brackets following v., 629-632:

sed vide ex navi efferantur quae imperavi iam omnia.

Sos.

Et memor sum et diligens, ut quae imperes comparcant;

non ego cum vino simitu ebibi imperium tuom.

Amph.

Vtinam di faxint, infecta dicta re eveniant tua.

19 Corrupt (Leo): quom te gravidam MSS: quom gravidam Pylades.

20 Leo brackets following v., 685: atque me nunc proinde appellas quasi multo post videris?

21 enim verbis probas Lachmann: probas vel proba's Lindsay: in verbis probas MSS.

22 Leo notes lacuna here. Ita ingenium MSS: Ita ingeni ingenium Seyffert, followed by Lindsay.

23 Corrupt (Leo): duxero MSS: adsero Leo.

24 Leo notes lacuna here and suggests is a Mercurio impransus.

25 Corrupt (Leo): nam iam MSS: iam Gruter.