 | The Captives |  |
SCENE IV.
Enter PHILOCRATES.Phil.
Behold me here:
Command me what you will: say, what's your pleasure?
Heg.
This fellow tells me, that he sold my son
At Ælis to your father for six Minæ.
Phil.
(to Stal.)
How long was this ago?
Stal.
Near twenty years.
Phil.
He says what is not true.
Stal.
Or you or I do.—
Your father gave you, when a child, a slave
Of four years old for your own use and service.
Phil.
What was his name?—If what you say is true,
Tell me his name.
Stal.
His name was Pægnium
But afterwards you call'd him Tyndarus.
Phil.
How came I not to recollect you?
Stal.
'Tis
The usual way with folks not to remember
Or know the man, whose favour is worth nothing.
Phil.
Tell me,—that slave, you sold unto my father,
336
This old man's son?
Heg.
Lives he?
Stal.
I had the money,
I car'd for nothing more.
Heg.
What says Philocrates?
Phil.
That he, this very Tyndarus, is your son,
The proofs shew.—He was brought up from a boy
With me a boy in modesty and virtue
Even to manhood.
Heg.
If ye speak the truth,
I am indeed both happy and unhappy.
I am unhappy, if he is my son,
That I have us'd severity towards him.
Ah me! I've treated him with less affection,
And with more cruelty than it behoved me.
It grieves me, I have wrought him so much harm:—
Would it had ne'er been done!—But see, he comes,
Accoutred little suiting to his virtues.
| The Captives | |