ΟΝΕΣΙΜΟΣ

ἐκεῖνο δ’ οὐ λέγεις, ὅτι

ἐλευθέρα γίνῃ σύ· τοῦ γὰρ παιδίου

μητέρα σε νομίσας λύσετ’ εὐθὺς δηλαδή.540

 

ΑΒΡΟΤΟΝΟΝ

οὐκ οἶδα· βουλοίμην δ’ ἄν.

 

ΟΝΕΣΙΜΟΣ

οὐ γὰρ οἶσθα σύ;

ἀλλ’ ἦ χάρις τις, Ἁβρότονον, τούτων ἐμοί;

 

ΑΒΡΟΤΟΝΟΝ

νὴ τὼ θεώ, πάντων γ’ ἐμαυτῇ σ’ αἴτιον

ἡγήσομαι τούτων.

 

ΟΝΕΣΙΜΟΣ

ἐὰν δὲ μηκέτι

ζητῇς ἐκείνην ἐξεπίτηδες, ἀλλ’ ἐᾷς545

παρακρουσαμένη με, πῶς τὸ τοιοῦθ’ ἕξει;

 

ΑΒΡΟΤΟΝΟΝ

τάλαν,

τίνος ἕνεκεν; παίδων ἐπιθυμεῖν σοι δοκῶ;

ἐλευθέρα μόνον γενοίμην, ὦ θεοί.

τοῦτον λάβοιμι μισθὸν ἐκ τούτων.

 

ΟΝΕΣΙΜΟΣ

λάβοις.

 

ΑΒΡΟΤΟΝΟΝ

οὐκοῦν συναρέσκει σοι;550

 

ΟΝΕΣΙΜΟΣ

συναρέσκει διαφόρως·

ἂν γὰρ κακοηθεύσῃ, μαχοῦμαί σοι τότε·

δυνήσομαι γάρ. ἐν δὲ τῷ παρόντι νῦν

ἴδωμεν εἰ τοῦτ’ ἐστίν.

 

ΑΒΡΟΤΟΝΟΝ

οὐκοῦν συνδοκεῖ;

 

ΟΝΕΣΙΜΟΣ

μάλιστα.

 

ΑΒΡΟΤΟΝΟΝ

τὸν δακτύλιον ἀποδίδου ταχύ.

 

ΟΝΕΣΙΜΟΣ

λάμβανε.555

 

ΑΒΡΟΤΟΝΟΝ

φίλη Πειθοῖ, παροῦσα σύμμαχος

πόει κατορθοῦν τοὺς λόγους οὓς ἂν λέγω.

    539 γίνῃ: > γίγνομαι, 2nd sing. aor. subj. mid.

    546 τοιοῦθ’: = τοιοῦτο

    554 ἀποδίδου: > ἀποδίδωμι, 2nd sing. pres. imper. mid.

    555 Πειθοῖ: vocative, HABROTONON briefly prays for the ability to be persuasive in her upcoming performance.

    παιδίον -ου τό: little child, young child

    δηλαδή: quite clearly

    νὴ τὼ θεώ: “by the two goddesses,” an oath associated specifically with women and probably referring to Demeter and Persephone

    μηκέτι: no more, no longer

    ἐξεπίτηδες: on purpose

    παρακρούω παρακρούσω παρέκρουσα: to mislead, deceive

    τάλας, τάλαινα, τάλαν: sorry, wretched

    ἐπιθυμέω: to long for, desire (+ gen.)

    μισθός -οῦ ὁ: reward, payment

    συναρέσκω: to please

    διαφόρως: excellently, immensely

    κακοηθεύομαι: to deceive

    συνδοκέω: to approve, agree

    δακτύλιος -ου ὁ: ring, signet

    Πειθώ -οῦς ἡ: Persuasion (personified)

    κατορθόω: to keep straight, succeed

    ONESIMOS

    (a little suspicious)

    There’s one thing you didn’t mention, that you’ll get your freedom… because evidently if he thinks that you are the (540) mother of the child, he’ll free you. 

     

    HABROTONON

    (guarded)

    Well, I don’t know about that, it’d be nice of course…

     

    ONESIMOS

    You don’t know? Hah! What am I going to get in all of this? Any thanks for me, Habrotonon?

     

    HABROTONON

    By the goddess, of course I hold you responsible for all of this!

     

    ONESIMOS

    (at first pleased, then realizes that could be disastrous)

    And what if you stop (545) looking for that girl on purpose, you’re just going to screw me over? How could you do that, huh?

     

    HABROTONON

    Wretched, miserable me! Why would I do that? Do I really seem like I want children to you? I only want to be free, gods! That’s the only payment I want to take away from all of this.

     

    ONESIMOS

    I hope you do.

     

    HABROTONON

    So, it pleases you then? You like the plan?

     

    ONESIMOS

    (supportive but nervous)

    It’s definitely pleasing – but I swear, if you trick me, I will fight you – trust me, you do not want to fight me – But for now, let’s just see if he’s the father.

     

    HABROTONON

    It’s agreed, then?

     

    ONESIMOS

    Absolutely!

     

    HABROTONON

    Quickly,

    (holding out her hand)

    give me the ring.

     

    ONESIMOS

    (handing it over)

    (555) Take it.

     

    HABROTONON

    (to the audience)

    Dear Persuasion, here standing beside me, make the words which I speak successful!

     

    (exits to CHAIRESTRATOS’ house)

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    Suggested Citation

    Marie Plunkett, Menander: Epitrepontes (The Arbitration). Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2022. ISBN: 978-1-947822-19-1. https://dcc.dickinson.edu/menander-epitrepontes/538-556