It has long been suspected that the 'Bacchides', a play by Plautus, was a Latin adaptation of the 'Dis Exapaton' by Menander; the most famous line in Menander's play ( fragment 4 ) is quoted verbatim in the 'Bacchides'. The discovery of a papyrus fragment containing some short passages from the 'Dis Exapaton' now enables us to make a direct comparison between the two plays. The Greek text of Menander can be found on the poesia latina website.
A thorough discussion of the corresponding passages in the two plays is available online in German: E. Lefèvre, "Menander, Dis exapaton 6-113 und Plautus, Baccides 500-561" ( download PDF ). In the translations below, links have been inserted in each play to the corresponding passage in the other play; but note that two sections of dialogue in Menander (lines 31-90) have been entirely omitted by Plautus.
It is tempting - though perhaps misleading - to assume that the rest of Menander's play proceeded along much the same lines as the 'Bacchides' of Plautus. A summary of the 'Bacchides' is shown below, along with a list of the characters in the play. Plautus often changed the names of Menander's characters for his own plays; but for convenience, if the name of a character in the 'Dis Exapaton' is unknown, the name of Plautus' character is used in the translation below.
. . .
PHILOXENOS.
10 Then you summon him . . . and warn him face to face, and save him and the whole household of your friends. Lydos, let us go off.
LYDOS.
But if you leave me too . . .
PHILOXENOS.
Let us go off. He himself is sufficient.
LYDOS.
Go for him, Sostratos. Harass him totally. For he shames all of us who love him.
SOSTRATOS.
He is far gone already. With (?) a blow, she will hold him fast. "You first caught Sostratos." 20 Now she will deny it, I am certain. For she is keen, and all the gods will be present. Indeed, do not . . . By Zeus! She is evil, indeed evil. Come back Sostratos. She will persuade you as well. . . . as a slave. Then let her try to persuade me, when I am empty-handed and have nothing. [I will give] the gold to my father. For she will stop enticing me when she perceives, as the saying goes, that she is telling [a tale to a corpse. But] now it is necessary [that I go to] 30 him . . .
. . .
. . .
NIKOBOULOS.
. . . and he gave it to you . . . with the interest
SOSTRATOS.
. . . I saw him. 50 Do not accuse . . . an honest friend. . . I am coming, to bring it for you.
NIKOBOULOS.
[Give] the money to me quickly, son.
SOSTRATOS.
[I will hand it] over to you; do not believe that tale. [For no one] anchored near nor made a plot.
NIKOBOULOS.
You did not deposit the money with Theotimos?
SOSTRATOS.
Why "with Theotimos" ? He guarded it, having received it himself; he kept it safe and . . . the livelihood, father.
NIKOBOULOS.
He is very honest; he thought of something (?). What then did Syros want?
SOSTRATOS.
Let it be. Come with me and take the money.
NIKOBOULOS.
You aren't playing around?
SOSTRATOS.
60 Come with me and take it.
NIKOBOULOS.
Then I will come with you. Only give it to me, and you will have treated me well, just as is right. Why quarrel with you before I receive it? That is most advantageous of all.
{ Choral Interlude ; then SOSTRATOS and NIKOBOULOS re-enter }
SOSTRATOS.
What do you mean? Because he {Syros} got the money from your friend, do you consider him quite blameless?
NIKOBOULOS.
Indeed I do.
SOSTRATOS.
Still more, he even pleases you?
NIKOBOULOS.
Still more - yes, Sostratos.
. . .
[SOSTRATOS.]
So [he's] not guilty of what has been done?
. . .
[SOSTRATOS.]
82 . . . under my control . . .
NIKOBOULOS.
But even though you did get the money - as I said, don't trust him.
SOSTRATOS.
. . .
NIKOBOULOS.
If Syros stood beside me now and said the sun was shining, I should think that it
was dark and night had come. He's an unbridled cheat!
SOSTRATOS.
Then, father, doesn't this apply to me: 'If you are good, your father will deny
you nothing'? But please, grant me my wish.
NIKOBOULOS.
I will go towards the market, to attend to this matter. 90 The other task is given for you to do.
SOSTRATOS.
And indeed I would like to see my beautiful and good lady rushing forth to entice me, and expecting to get all the money which I'm bringing. "For he brings it, and by the gods, as generously as anyone. And it's what I deserve." She is doing fine, and she is clearly revealed to be the sort which I thought. I pity poor foolish Moschos. Although I am angry about these things, 100 yet I do not consider him to blame for what has happened. I blame her, that most reckless of women.
MOSCHOS.
He has heard that I am here, so where on earth is he? Greetings, Sostratos.
SOSTRATOS.
And greetings to you.
MOSCHOS.
Why are you downcast and sullen? Tell me. And why that look of weeping? Have you not found some new misfortune here?
SOSTRATOS.
Yes.
MOSCHOS.
Will you not tell me?
SOSTRATOS.
In there, of course, Moschos.
MOSCHOS.
How?
[SOSTRATOS.]
In the time before, [you claimed to be my?] friend, and this is the first way that you have wronged me.
MOSCHOS.
110 I have wronged you? May this not be, Sostratos.
SOSTRATOS.
I did not think it possible either.
MOSCHOS.
What are you saying?
. . .
The English translation is adapted from the translation by H.T. Riley, modernised in many places. The Latin text can be found on the poesia latina website.
MNESILOCHUS
You are wrong, Lydus; I know the whole affair, just as it is. You are blaming Pistoclerus without justification, when he is innocent. For he is carefully doing a favour for his friend and companion, his sincere well-wisher. Neither is he himself in love, nor should you suppose him so.
LYDUS
Is it necessary for him carefully to perform the favour for his friend in this fashion - for himself, sitting down, to hold a girl in his lap who is kissing him? Is there no other way for him to carry out the favour entrusted to him except to keep on 480 placing his hand upon Bacchis' breasts, and never withdrawing his lips from hers? But I'm ashamed to make mention of the other things which I have seen him do; when, in my presence, I saw him put his hand underneath the clothes of Bacchis to feel her body, and yet he was not at all ashamed. What need of words is there? My pupil, your friend, his son { Philoxenus' } , is ruined. For I say that he is ruined, since his modesty is completely lost. What need of words is there? If I had been willing to wait just a little longer, to have a better opportunity of viewing him, I should then, I think, have seen more than would have been proper for me to see, and for him to do.
MNESILOCHUS
My friend, you have destroyed me. Should I not punish this woman with death? 490 If not, I would prefer to perish in some dreadful fashion. Isn't it true, that it's impossible for you to know who is faithful to yourself, or whom you should trust?
LYDUS { to PHILOXENUS }
Don't you see how much he grieves that your son, his friend, has been corrupted? and how he is afflicted with sorrow?
PHILOXENUS
Mnesilochus, I beg this of you, that you will influence his feelings and his disposition. Preserve him as a friend for yourself as well as a son for me.
MNESILOCHUS
That's what I want to do.
LYDUS { to PHILOXENUS }
It would be much better for you to leave me here too along with him.
PHILOXENUS
He is able to manage this by himself.
LYDUS { to Mnesilochus }
Rebuke the man thoroughly - he disgraces me, yourself as his friend, and others, by his excesses.
PHILOXENUS { to Mnesilochus }
I leave all responsibility for this to you. Lydus, follow me this way.
LYDUS
I am following you.
{ Exeunt PHILOXENUS and LYDUS. }
MNESILOCHUS
500 Which of the two now I should think to be my greater enemy, my companion or Bacchis, I do not know. Has she chosen him in preference? Let her keep him, that would be best. Surely, she has done this to her own loss. For never let any one trust my sacred oath, if I don't by abundant means - assuredly love her. I'll make her see that she has got hold of a person who can't be fooled with. But I'll go home now and pilfer something from - my father. I will force her into such straits, that beggary shall be the lot of - my father. But can I really now possess my wits, and is my mind unimpaired, 510 when I am babbling here in this fashion about what has happened? It seems that I'm in love; indeed I know for sure that I am. But still, I'd rather outdo a beggar in begging, rather than see that she should grow richer out of my money, even by the weight of a single feather. Never, by god, while I am alive, shall she make a laughing-stock of me. For I have made up my mind to pay down all the gold at once to my father. Let her therefore fawn on me, needy and penniless as I am, at a time, when it shall profit her not a whit more than if she were telling tales to a dead man at his tomb. Beyond a doubt, 520 it is my fixed decision to give the gold up to my father. At the same time, I'll ask my father that, for my sake, he won't hurt Chrysalus, nor censure him at all on my account with respect to the gold which Chrysalus deceived him about. For it's only right that I should look after the man, who has told this falsehood for my sake. { To an ATTENDANT } Come, follow me.
{ Exit MNESILOCHUS. Enter PISTOCLERUS }
PISTOCLERUS { speaking to BACCHIS }
Before everything else, Bacchis, I will attend to what you ask me, that I search out Mnesilochus, and bring him, together with myself, to you. But I cannot understand, if my messenger has reached him, what it is that delays him. I'll go into his house here, and see if he happens to be at home.
{ Enter MNESILOCHUS }
MNESILOCHUS
530 I've handed over all the gold to my father. Now I wish that this fair one, who is so scornful of me, would meet me, when I am penniless. With what great difficulty did my father grant me a pardon for Chrysalus! But I prevailed on him at last, that he wouldn't be at all angry with him.
PISTOCLERUS { apart }
Isn't this my friend?
MNESILOCHUS { apart }
Isn't this my foe that I see?
PISTOCLERUS
For sure it's him.
MNESILOCHUS
Yes, it's him.
PISTOCLERUS
I'll step up and go to meet him. { Aloud } Greetings to you, Mnesilochus!
MNESILOCHUS
Hello.
PISTOCLERUS
As you are arrived safe from abroad, we should have a a dinner.
MNESILOCHUS
I don't want a dinner - it would stir my bile.
PISTOCLERUS
Has any trouble met you on your arrival?
MNESILOCHUS
Yes, and a very grievous one.
PISTOCLERUS
Who caused the trouble?
MNESILOCHUS
A person who up to now I had supposed to be my friend.
PISTOCLERUS
540 There are many men of that character and type, who, although you think them to be friends, are found to be false in their deceitfulness, energetic in their talking, slothful in their actions, and weak in their faith. They envy everyone who enjoys prosperity; but through their own indolence, they plainly ensure that no envy is directed against themselves.
MNESILOCHUS
By god, you certainly understand their ways most thoroughly. But still their bad disposition brings them another misfortune : they are the friends of no one, while they themselves are at odds with each other; and while they are deceiving themselves, in their foolishness they imagine that they are deceiving others. This is the sort of man whom I supposed to be as much a friend to me as I am to myself. 550 But he, so far as he could, has taken all care to do whatever harm he could towards me, and to take all my resources for himself.
PISTOCLERUS
He must be a really bad man.
MNESILOCHUS
In my opinion, yes.
PISTOCLERUS
Please, do tell me who it is.
MNESILOCHUS
He lives on good terms with yourself. If that were not so, I would ask you to do him whatever harm you could do.
PISTOCLERUS
Only tell me the person, whoever he is. I will do him an injury, some way or other; if I don't, you can call me the greatest of cowards.
MNESILOCHUS
He's a bad man, but he's also your friend.
PISTOCLERUS
So much the more, then, tell me who he is. The friendship of a worthless person is of no value to me.
MNESILOCHUS
It seems, then, that I cannot avoid disclosing to you his name. 560 Pistoclerus, you have utterly ruined me, your friend.
PISTOCLERUS
How so?
MNESILOCHUS
How so? Did I not send you a letter from Ephesus, asking you to search out my mistress?
PISTOCLERUS
I admit that you did; and I have found her.
MNESILOCHUS
What then? Were there no other courtesans in Athens, with whom you could form an affair, instead of the girl whom I had asked you to keep safe for me? Why did you have to make love to her yourself, and betray me?
PISTOCLERUS
Are you in your senses?
MNESILOCHUS
I have found out the whole affair from your tutor; don't deny it. You have ruined me.
PISTOCLERUS
Why are you still assailing me with these baseless accusations?
MNESILOCHUS
Because - you're in love with Bacchis.
PISTOCLERUS
But look, there are two women called Bacchis living in this house.
MNESILOCHUS
What, two?
PISTOCLERUS
Yes, and the two are sisters.
MNESILOCHUS
Now you are talking nonsense, and you know it.
PISTOCLERUS
570 In sum, if you persist in having so little confidence in me, then I'll put you on my shoulders, and carry you into their house.
MNESILOCHUS
Well, I'll go; but wait a moment.
PISTOCLERUS
I will not wait, and I cannot allow you to hold me under a false suspicion.
MNESILOCHUS
I will follow you then.
{ Exeunt into house. }
| Menander | Plautus | |
| - | BACCHIS 1 | courtesan of Athens |
| - | BOY | servant of Cleomachus |
| - | BACCHIS 2 | sister of Bacchis 1; a courtesan arriving from Samos |
| SOSTRATOS | PISTOCLERUS | young man of Athens, in love with Bacchis 1 |
| LYDOS | LYDUS | slave of Philoxenus and tutor of Pistoclerus |
| SYROS | CHRYSALUS | slave of Mnesilochus and Nicobulus |
| ?? | NICOBULUS | old man of Athens |
| MOSCHOS | MNESILOCHUS | son of Nicobulus |
| ?? | PHILOXENUS | old man of Athens; father of Pistoclerus |
| - | PARASITE | attendant of Cleomachus |
| - | ARTAMO | slave; steward of Nicobulus |
| - | CLEOMACHUS | a soldier |
This summary of the complicated plot of Plautus' play is taken from H.J. Rose, "Handbook of Latin Literature", p. 44.
The scene is set in Athens. Mnesilochus and Pistoclerus are friends; the former has been sent by his father to Ephesus on business. He has written to Pistoclerus to do what he can to get his mistress, Bacchis, free from a soldier who has hired her for the year. Pistoclerus, in carrying out this commission, falls in love with Bacchis' sister, who has the same name as herself. Mnesilochus' slave Chrysalus, returning with his master from abroad, has prepared a plausible tale to deceive the former's father, Nicobulus, into thinking that the greater part of a large sum of money, which his son was to fetch from Ephesus, has had to be left there, and therefore into going abroad himself to fetch it back. But Mnesilochus, hearing of Pistoclerus' love affair and confusing the two sisters, thinks his Bacchis unfaithful and his friend treacherous, and in consequence hands over the whole of the money to his father. Soon after, he learns the true state of affairs, and Chrysalus is once more pressed into service. Trading on his bad reputation with the old man, he suffers the news to be forced from him that Mnesilochus is in deadly peril; Mnesilochus is the lover of a married woman, and her husband has found it out. Nicobulus is easily persuaded to part with 200 gold philippi, which is represented to him as the price of the husband's refraining from killing the seducer; but it is really the fee which was to be returned to Bacchis' soldier-lover if she refuses to leave Athens with him. Another ruse extracts another 200 philippi from Nicobulus; but when he and Philoxenus, the good-natured father of Pistoclerus, find out the whole matter, the two women wheedle them into a reconciliation, and the play ends with general merry-making.
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