ACT II

    ENTER FROM Hegio’s HOUSE Overseers AND Slaves WITH
    Philocrates AND Tyndarus IN FETTERS:  THE TWO HAVE
    EXCHANGED CLOTHES

Lor.
    Over.

Si di immortales id voluerunt, vos hanc aerumnam exsequi, decet id pati animo aequo:  si id facietis, levior labos erit. domi fuistis, credo, liberi:  nunc servitus si evenit, ei vos morigerari mos bonust et erili imperio eamque ingeniis vostris lenem reddere. indigna digna habenda sunt, erus quae facit.

(to captives, patronizingly) Seeing it’s the will of Heaven you’re in this box, the thing for you to do is to take it calmly:  do that, and you won’t have such a hard time of it.  At home you were free men, I suppose:  since you happen to be slaves at present, it’s a good idea to accept the situation and a master’s orders gracefully, and make things easy to bear by taking ’em the proper way.  Anything a master does is right, no matter how wrong it is.

Captivi

  Oh oh oh. 200

      (protestingly) Oh-h-h-h!

Lor.
    Over.

  Eiulatione haud opus est, oculis haud[5] lacrimantibus: 
  in re mala animo si bono utare, adiuvat.

      There’s no need of howling or crying.  It helps to take bad
      things well.

Tynd.

  At nos pudet, quia cum catenis sumus.

      But to be in chains—­we feel disgraced!

Lor.
    Over.

  At pigeat postea
  nostrum erum, si vos eximat vinculis,
  aut solutos sinat, quos argento emerit.

      But it’s disgusted our master would feel later on, if he
      took the chains off, or let you loose, when he’s paid money
      for you.

Tynd.

  Quid a nobis metuit? scimus nos
  nostrum officium quod est, si solutos sinat.

      What has he to fear from us?  We realise what our duty is, if
      he should let us loose.

Lor.
    Over.

  At fugam fingitis:  sentio quam rem agitis.

      Ah yes, you’re planning to run for it!  I see what’s afoot.

Philocr.

  Nos fugiamus? quo fugiamus?

      Run—­we?  Where should we run to?

Lor.
    Over.

  In patriam.

      Home.

Philocr.

  Apage, haud nos id deceat.
  fugitivos imitari.

      Get out!  The idea of our acting like runaway slaves!

Lor.
    Over.

  Immo edepol, si erit occasio, haud dehortor. 210

      Lord! why not?  I’m not saying you shouldn’t, if you get the
      chance.

Tynd.