University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Enter HEGIO speaking to those within.
When I'm inform'd of what I want to know,
I shall come in again.—Where are those captives,
I order'd to be brought before the house?

Phil.
Chain'd as we are, and wall'd in by our keepers,
You have provided, that we shall not fail
To answer to your call.

Heg.
The greatest care
Is scarce enough to guard against deceit;
And the most cautious, even when he thinks
He's most upon his guard, is often trick'd.—
But have I not just cause to watch you well,
When I have bought you with so large a sum?

Phil.
'Twould not be right in us to blame you for it;
Nor, should occasion offer to escape,
Would it be right in you to censure us,
That we made use of it.

Heg.
As you are here,
So in your country is my son confin'd.

Phil.
What! is your son a captive?—

Heg.
Yes, he is.

Phil.
We are not then, it seems, the only cowards.

Heg.
(To Phil. supposing him Servant to Tynd.)
Come nearer this way—something I would know
In private of you,—and in which affair
You must adhere to truth.

Phil.
In what I know
I'll do it, Sir; and should you ask me ought
I do not know, I'll own my ignorance.

Tynd.
(Aside.)
Now is the old man in the barber's shop,
Philocrates holds in his hand the razor,
Nor has he put a cloth on, to prevent
Fouling his cloaths; but whether he's about
To shave him close, or trim him through a comb,
I know not: if he rightly play his part,
He'll take off skin and all.

Heg.
Which would you chuse?
To be a slave, or have your freedom? tell me.

Phil.
That I prefer, which nearest is to good,
And farthest off from evil:—though, I own,
My servitude was little grievous to me;—
They treated me the same as their own child.

Tynd.
(Aside.)
Bravo!—I would not give a talent now
To purchase even Thales the Milesian;—
A very oaf in wisdom match'd with this man.—
How cleverly does he adapt his phrase
To suit a slave's condition.

Heg.
Of what family
Is this Philocrates?

Phil.
The Polyplusian,—
A potent and most honourable house!

Heg.
What honours held he in his country?

Phil.
High ones,
Such as the chief men can alone attain to.

Heg.
Seeing his rank's so noble, as you say,
What is his substance?

Phil.
As to that, the old one
Is very warm.

Heg.
His father's living then?

Phil.
We left him so, when we departed thence;
But whether he is now alive or no,
You must ask further of the nether regions.

Tynd.
(Aside.)
So—all is right,—he's not content with lying,
But reasons like a wise man.

Heg.
What's his name?

Phil.
Thesaurochrysonicochrysides.

Heg.
A name bestowed upon him for his wealth!

Phil.
Nay, rather for his avarice and extortion.—
His real name was Theodoromedes.

Heg.
How say you?—Is his father covetous?

Phil.
Very.—To let you more into his character,—
In sacrificing to his houshold Genius
He uses nothing but vile Samian vessels,
For fear the God should steal them:—mark by this,
What trust he puts in others.

Heg.
Come you this way.—
(Aside.)
What further information I require,
I'll learn from him.
(Adressing Tyndarus as Philocrates.)
Philocrates, your servant
Has acted as behoves an honest fellow.—
I've learn'd of him your family:—he has own'd it:—
Do you the same; 'twill turn to your advantage,—
If you confess what, be assur'd, I know
From him already.

Tynd.
Sir, he did his duty,
When he confess'd the truth to you,—although
I would have fain conceal'd from you my state,
My family, and my means.—But now alas!
Since I have lost my country and my freedom,
Can I suppose it right, that he should dread
Me before you? The pow'r of war has sunk
My fortunes to a level with his own.—
Time was, he dar'd not to offend in word,
Though now he may in deed.—Do you not mark,
How Fortune moulds and fashions human beings,
Just as she pleases? Me, who once was free,
She has made a slave, from highest thrown me down
To lowest state:—Accustom'd to command,
I now abide the bidding of another.—
Yet if my master bear him with like sway,
As when myself did lord it over mine,
I have no dread, that his authority
Will deal or harshly or unjustly with me.—
So far I wish'd you to be made acquainted,
If peradventure you dislike it not.

Heg.
Speak on, and boldly.

Tynd.
I ere this was free
As your own son.—Him has the pow'r of war
Depriv'd of liberty, as it has me.
He in my country is a slave,—as now
I am a slave in this.—There is indeed
A God, that hears and sees whate'er we do:—
As you respect me, so will He respect
Your lost son.—To the well-deserving, good
Will happen, to the ill-deserving ill.—
Think, that my father feels the want of me,
As much as you do of your son.

Heg.
I know it.—
But say, will you subscribe to the account
Your servant gave?

Tynd.
My father's rich, I own,
My family is noble;—but, I pray you,
Let not the thought of these my riches bend
Your mind to sordid avarice, lest my father,
Though I'm his only child, should deem it fitter
I were your slave, cloath'd, pamper'd at your cost,
Than beg my bread in my own country, where
It were a foul disgrace.

Heg.
Thanks to the Gods,
And to my ancestors, I'm rich enough.—
Nor do I hold, that every kind of gain
Is always serviceable.—Gain, I know,
Has render'd many great.—But there are times,
When loss should be preferr'd to gain.—I hate it,
'Tis my aversion, money:—many a man
Has it enticed oft-times to wrong.—But now
Attend to me, that you may know my mind.
My son's a captive and a slave of Ælis:—
If you restore him to me, I require
No other recompense;—I'll send you back,
You and your servant:—on no other terms
Can you go hence.

Tynd.
You ask what's right and just,—
Thou best of men!—But is your son a servant
Or of the public, or some private person?

Heg.
A private—of Menarchus a physician.

Phil.
O 'tis His father's client;—and success
Pours down upon you, like an hasty shower.

Heg.
Find means then to redeem my son.

Tynd.
I'll find them.—
But I must ask you—

Heg.
Ask me what you will,
I'll do't,—if to that purpose.

Tynd.
Hear, and judge.—
I do not ask you, till your son's return
To grant me a dismission; but, I pray you,
Give me my slave, a price set on his head,
That I may send him forthwith to my father,
To work your son's redemption.

Heg.
I'd dispatch
Some other rather, when there is a truce,
Your father to confer with, who may bear
Any commands you shall entrust him with.

Tynd.
'Twould be in vain to send a stranger to him:—
You'd lose your labour:—Send my servant:—he'll
Compleat the whole, as soon as he arrives.
A man more faithful you can never send,
Nor one my father sooner would rely on,
More to his mind, nor to whose care and confidence
He'd sooner trust your son.—Then never fear:
At my own peril will I prove his faith,
Relying on his nature, since he knows
I've borne me with benevolence towards him.

Heg.
Well—I'll dispatch him, if you will,—your word
Pawn'd for his valuation.

Tynd.
Prithee do,
And let him be dismiss'd without delay.

Heg.
Can you shew reason, if he don't return,
Why you should not pay twenty Minæ for him?

Tynd.
No surely: I agree.

Heg.
Take off his chains,—
And take them off from both.

Tynd.
May all the Gods
Grant all your wishes! since that you have deign'd
To treat me with such favour, and releas'd me
From my vile bonds:—I scarce can think it irksome
To have my neck free from this galling collar.

Hrg.
The favours we confer on honest souls
Teem with returns of service to the giver.—
But now, if you'd dispatch him hence, acquaint him,
Give him your orders, and forthwith instruct him
What you would have him say unto your father.—
Shall I then call him to you?

Tynd.
Do, Sir,—call him.

(Hegio calls Philocrates, who advances.)