1832.] The Captives, of Plautus, 151 



The unsuspicious Hegio gives ready credence to the ingenious fig- 

 ment of Tyndarus, and follows his advice by ordering the slaves to 

 remove Aristophontes from his presence. Aristophontes, infuriated to 

 the last degree at the abominable effrontery of Tyndarus, almost too full 

 of rage to give vent to his real feelings, and, to undeceive their common 

 master, breaks out in these words : 



How say you, rascal ! that I am mad, and sought 

 To kill my father and my mother, and have often 

 Fits of epilepsy come upon me, 

 Which make me foam at mouth ? 



HEGIO. Be not dismayed. Many under this disease 

 Have laboured, and spitting has recovered them. 



TYND. I know to some at Elis it has proved 

 Of special use. 



ARIST. And will you credit him 



HEG. I credit him ! In what ? 



ARIST. That I am mad ! 



TYND. See how he eyes you with a furious aspect ! 

 'Twere best retire. 'Tis, Hegio, as I said : 

 His frenzy grows upon him, take you care. 



HEG. True, when he called you Tyndarus, I thought 

 That he indeed was mad. 



TYND. Nay, but sometimes 

 He knows not his own name, nor who he is. 



HEG. He said you were his friend. 



TYND. 1 never saw him ; 

 Alcmaeon, and Orestes, and Lycurgus,* 

 Are just as much my friends as he is, Hegio. 



ARIST. How, rascal ! do you dare bespeak me ill ? 

 Do I not know you ? 



HEG. By my troth, 'tis plain 

 You know him not, when for Philocrates 

 You call him Tyndarus : you are a stranger 

 To him you see, and mention him you see not. 



ARIST. 'Tis he pretends himself the man he is not, 

 Nor owns himself the man he is. 



TYND. (Ironice). Yes, to be sure, you'll get the better of me, 

 In reputation for veracity. 



ARIST. You, as it seems, my truth will overpower 

 With falsehood. 



Aristophanes now finding it impossible to extort a confession from 

 Tyndarus by any other means, determines to put the question to him 

 point blanc, and continues 



Look me in the face now. 

 TYND. Well. 



ARIST. Do you deny that you are Tyndarus ? 

 TYND. I tell you, Ideny it. 



ARIST. And do you say 

 You are Philocrates ? 



TYND. I say, I am. 



ARIST. (to Hegio). And you, do you believe him ? 

 HEG. More than you, 

 Or than myself. The man you say he is, 

 Set out this day for Elis to his father. 







* These were three noted madmen ; of whom the two first became insane from 

 having killed their mother. 



