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CALLICLES
What noise is this that I hear before my house? CHARMIDES
O Callicles! O Callicles! O Callicles! to what sort of friend have I entrusted my property? CALLICLES
To one good, and faithful, and trusty, and of strict integrity. Health to you, and I rejoice that you have arrived safe and sound1. ... CHARMIDES
How, health to me? Troth, I have no patience with such health. This I wish to know; how have you kept your trust, who, without my knowledge, have utterly destroyed my property and my children that I entrusted to you and committed to your charge when going hence abroad? CALLICLES
I don't think that it is fair, when you don't understand the matter, to censure your old friend with harsh words. For you are both mistaken and you are doing me a very great injustice. CHARMIDES
Have you not bought this house which you came out of just now, and driven thence my son Lesbonicus? Is this so as I say, or is it not? Answer me. CALLICLES
I myself did buy the house; I bought it that I might keep it for you. And without that it would have happened that your son would have sold it to another person; and then you would have lost both it and that treasure together, which, concealed there, you had entrusted to my charge. See, I restore it safe to you; for you did I buy it, not for myself. CHARMIDES
Prithee, what do you say? By my trust in Gods and men, you make me suddenly to be quite ashamed of my error in speaking unkindly to my friend in return for his services. CALLICLES
How, then; do you now think that I am trusty and faithful?] CHARMIDES
I do think so,, if all these matters are so as you relate them. But what means2 this garb of yours? CALLICLES
I'll tell you. I was digging up the treasure indoors, as a marriage-portion to be given to your daughter. But I will relate to you both this and the rest in the house. Follow me. CHARMIDES
Stasimus. STASIMUS
Well! CHARMIDES
Run with all haste to the Piræus3, and make but one run of it. There you will at once see the ship, on board of which I was carried hither. Bid Sagario take care that the things are brought which I enjoined him, and do you go together with them. The duty has been already paid4 to the custom-house officer. STASIMUS
I make no delay. CHARMIDES
Get you gone with all speed; and be back directly. STASIMUS
I am both there and here in an instant. CALLICLES
to CHARMIDES. Do you follow me this way indoors. CHARMIDES
I follow. (Exeunt CALLICLES and CHARMIDES into the house.) STASIMUS
This man alone has remained a firm friend to my master; nor has he allowed his mind to swerve from unshaken fidelity, although I believe that he has undergone many troubles, by reason of the property and the children of my master. Still, this person, as I suspect, alone has maintained his fidelity. (Exit.)
1 Safe and sound: The lines after this, enclosed in brackets, are supplied by Ritschel in Latin verse, to supply the "lacuna" here, where it is clear that some part of the play has been lost. They are cleverly composed, and do great credit to his ingenuity.
2 But what means: As he has been interrupted while digging up the treasure, it is probable that he has run out with his sleeves tucked up. and perhaps with the spade in his hand, which causes Charmides to make the present inquiry.
3 The Piræus: -- The Piræus was the main harbour of Athens, with which it was connected by long walls.
4 Been already paid: -- Among the Romans, merchandise which a person brought with him from abroad for his own use was in general exempt from "portorium," or import duty; but this was not the case if it belonged rather to the luxuries than the necessaries of life.
The Comedies of Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley. London. G. Bell and Sons. 1912.
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