ΟΝΕΣΙΜΟΣ

μάγειρον βραδύτερον

οὐδεὶς ἑόρακε· τηνικαῦτ’ ἐχθὲς πάλαι

ἔπινον.

 

ΣΥΡΟΣ

οὑτοσὶ μὲν εἶναι φαίνεται

ἀλεκτρυών τις καὶ μάλα στριφνός· λαβέ.385

τουτὶ δὲ διάλιθόν τι. πέλεκυς οὑτοσί.

 

ΟΝΕΣΙΜΟΣ

τί ταῦτα;

 

ΣΥΡΟΣ

ὑπόχρυσος δακτύλιός τις οὑτοσί,

αὐτὸς σιδηροῦς· γλύμμα ταῦρος ἢ τράγος·

οὐκ ἂν διαγνοίην· Κλεόστρατος δέ τις

ἐστὶν ὁ ποήσας, ὡς λέγει τὰ γράμματα.390

 

ΟΝΕΣΙΜΟΣ

ἐπίδειξον.

 

ΣΥΡΟΣ

ἤν. σὺ δ’ εἶ τίς;

 

ΟΝΕΣΙΜΟΣ

οὗτός ἐστι.

 

ΣΥΡΟΣ

τίς;

 

ΟΝΕΣΙΜΟΣ

ὁ δακτύλιος.

 

ΣΥΡΟΣ

ὁ ποῖος; οὐ γὰρ μανθάνω.

 

ΟΝΕΣΙΜΟΣ

τοῦ δεσπότου τοὐμοῦ Χαρισίου.

 

ΣΥΡΟΣ

χολᾷς.

 

ΟΝΕΣΙΜΟΣ

ὃν ἀπώλεσεν.

 

ΣΥΡΟΣ

τὸν δακτύλιον θές, ἄθλιε.

τὸν ἡμέτερόν σοι θῶ; πόθεν δ’ αὐτὸν λαβὼν395

ἔχεις;

 

ΣΥΡΟΣ

Ἄπολλον καὶ θεοί, δεινοῦ κακοῦ.

οἷον ἀποσῶσαι χρήματ’ ἐστὶν ὀρφανοῦ

παιδός. ὁ προσελθὼν εὐθὺς ἁρπάζειν βλέπει.

τὸν δακτύλιον θές, φημί.

 

ΟΝΕΣΙΜΟΣ

προσπαίζεις ἐμοί;

τοῦ δεσπότου ’στι, νὴ τὸν Ἀπόλλω καὶ θεούς.400

 

ΣΥΡΟΣ

ἀποσφαγείην πρότερον ἂν δήπουθεν ἢ

τούτῳ τι καθυφείμην. ἄραρε, δικάσομαι

ἅπασι καθ’ ἕνα. παιδίου ’στιν, οὐκ ἐμά. —

στρεπτόν τι τουτί· λαβὲ σύ. πορφυρᾶ πτέρυξ.

εἴσω δὲ πάραγε. —σὺ δὲ τί μοι λέγεις;405

 

ΟΝΕΣΙΜΟΣ

ἐγώ;

Χαρισίου ’στιν οὑτοσί· τοῦτόν ποτε

μεθύων ἀπώλεσ’, ὡς ἔφη.

 

ΣΥΡΟΣ

Χαιρεστράτου

εἴμ’ οἰκέτης. ἢ σῷζε τοῦτον ἀσφαλῶς,

ἤ μοι δός, ἵν’ ἐγώ σοι παρέχω σῶν.

 

ΟΝΕΣΙΜΟΣ

βούλομαι

αὐτὸς φυλάττειν.410

 

ΣΥΡΟΣ

οὐδὲ ἕν μοι διαφέρει·

εἰς ταὐτὸ γὰρ παράγομεν, ὡς ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ,

δεῦρ’ ἀμφότεροι.

 

ΟΝΕΣΙΜΟΣ

νυνὶ μὲν οὖν συνάγουσι καὶ

οὐκ ἔστιν εὔκαιρον τὸ μηνύειν ἴσως

αὐτῷ περὶ τούτων, αὔριον δέ.

 

ΣΥΡΟΣ

καταμενῶ,

αὔριον ὅτῳ βούλεσθ’ ἐπιτρέπειν ἑνὶ λόγῳ415

ἕτοιμος. οὐδὲ νῦν κακῶς ἀπήλλαχα.

πάντων δ’ ἀμελήσανθ’, ὡς ἔοικε, δεῖ δίκας

μελετᾶν· διὰ τουτὶ πάντα νυνὶ σῴζεται.

 

ΧΟΡΟΥ

    ONESIMOS now enters the stage from the house of CHAIRESTRATOS (where CHARISIOS is staying, instead of his own home). SYROS and his wife have remained on stage.

     

    382: ONESIMOS is complaining, perhaps to the audience, about a chef, who is inside the house, not on stage.

    383 τηνικαῦτ’: = τηνικαῦτα

    384-387: SYROS is identifying the various items that were left with the baby. οὑτοσὶ: = οὗτος + deictic (“pointing”) iota (“this here…”)

    390 ποήσας: = ποιήσας

    394 and 399 θές: > τίθημι, 2nd sing. aor. imper. act.

    395 θῶ: > τίθημι, 1st sing. aor. subj. act. “Why should I…?”

    396 δεινοῦ κακοῦ: “What an astounding pain!” (genitive of exclamation, Goodell 509c, CGCG 38.50)

    401 ἀποσφαγείην: > ἀποσφάττω, 1 sing. aor. opt. pass. “I’d cut my throat!” καθυφείμην: > καθυφίημι, 1 sing. aor. opt. mid. “I’d surrender!”

    404 τουτί: = τοῦτο + deictic (“pointing”) iota (“this here…”). In line 404, SYROS addresses his wife, but in 405 he addresses ONESIMOS.

    406 ‘στιν: = ἐστιν. οὑτοσὶ: = οὗτος + deictic (“pointing”) iota (“this here…”)

    407 ἀπώλεσ’: = ἀπώλεσε

    416 ἀπήλλαχα: > ἀπολλάττω, 1st sing. perf. indic. act.

    μάγειρος -ου ὁ: cook

    βραδύς -εῖα -ύ: slow

    τηνικαῦτα: at that time, then

    ἐχθές: yesterday

    πάλαι: long ago, already

    ἀλεκτρυών -όνος ὁ: cock

    στριφνός -ή -όν: firm, tough, solid

    διάλιθος -ον: set with precious stones

    πέλεκυς -εως ὁ: battle-axe

    ὑπόχρυσος -ον: gold on the outside

    δακτύλιος -ου ὁ: ring, signet

    σίδηρος -ου ὁ: iron

    γλύμμα -ατος τό: engraved figure, signet

    ταῦρος -ου  ὁ: bull

    τράγος -ου ὁ: he-goat

    διαγιγνώσκω διαγνώσομαι διέγνων: to discern, perceive

    ἐπιδείκνυμι ἐπιδείξω ἐπέδειξα: to examine

    δακτύλιος -ου ὁ: ring, signet

    χολάω: to rage, rave

    δακτύλιος -ου ὁ: ring, signet

    ἄθλιος -α -ον: unhappy, miserable

    πόθεν: from where

    Ἄπολλον καὶ θεοί: “by Apollo and the gods!”

    ἀποσῴζω < ἀποσώσω ἀπέσωσα: to save, preserve

    ὀρφανός -ή -όν: orphan

    προσέρχομαι προσελεύσομαι προσῆλθον: to visit, come in

    ἁρπάζω: to snatch away, carry off

    δακτύλιος -ου ὁ: ring, signet

    προσπαίζω: to play

    νὴ τὸν Ἀπόλλω καὶ θεούς: “by Apollo and the gods!”

    ἀποσφάττω: to cut the throat of

    δήπουθεν: perhaps, doubtless

    καθυφίημι: to give up, surrender

    ἄραρε: “it’s settled”

    δικάζω: to bring a legal case, sue

    παιδίον -ου τό: little child, young child

    στρεπτός -οῦ ὁ: collar of twisted or linked metal

    πορφύρα -ας ἡ: murex, purple dye

    πτέρυξ -υγος ἡ: cover

    παράγω: to lead, go

    μεθύω: to be drunk

    οἰκέτης -ου ὁ: household slave

    ἀσφαλής< -ές: steadfast, safe

    παράγω: to lead, go

    συνάγω: to gather together

    εὔκαιρος -ον: well-timed, seasonable

    μηνύω: to reveal

    αὔριον: tomorrow

    καταμένω: to stay, wait

    αὔριον: tomorrow

    ἐπιτρέπω: to turn to

    ἑτοῖμος -ον: ready, prepared

    ἀπολλάττω: to depart

    ἀμελέω ἀμελήσω ἠμέλησα: to neglect, give up

    μελετάω: to practice, pursue

    ONESIMOS

    (complaining to the audience)

    I swear there’s never been a slower, more abominable, jerk of a cook than him! This time yesterday they were already well into their drinks! I mean, c’mon, everyone knows chefs are just the worst – they’re arrogant assholes, you can ask anyone – but this guy! Oh, this guy is the worst!

     

    SYROS

    (oblivious of ONESIMSOS),

    holding up a “trinket”)

    This one looks to be a… (385) chicken?

    (weighing it in his hands)

    and very solid! Here, take it

    (SYROS’ WIFE puts it into her pocket).

    Oh! And this one

    (pulling out a second)

    is set with gems!

    (pulling out a third, giddy with excitement)

    A battle-axe!

     

    ONESIMOS

    (noticing SYROS’ excitement)

    What’s going on over there?

     

    SYROS

    (pulling out a ring)

    And here’s a gold ring! (bites it) Ah, see (shows the wife) it’s actually iron underneath! But what’s it engraved with? I can’t quite make it out, a bull maybe? Or a … goat? Well if I’m reading that right, it says it was made by some (390) … Kleostratos?

     

    ONESIMOS

    (more and more agitated as SYROS was describing the ring)

    Let me see that!

    (snatches the ring)

     

    SYROS

    (turning to ONESIMOS)

    Hold on, who are you?

     

    ONESIMOS

    This is it!

     

    SYROS

    (bewildered)

    What?

     

    ONESIMOS

    The ring!

     

    SYROS

    What ring? I don’t understand!

     

    ONESIMOS

    My master’s! Charisios’!

     

    SYROS

    You’re mad!

     

    ONESIMOS

    The ring he lost!

     

    SYROS

    Hand over the ring, you pathetic wretch!

     

    ONESIMIOS

    (disbelief)

    (395) Hand it over to you? But where did you get it from?

     

    SYROS

    (to the audience)

    Apollo and all the gods! This is a thankless job, saving the things of an orphan child! Straightaway this man comes up and snatches them away without so much as an introduction!

    (to ONESIMOS)

    I’ll have none of this!

    (holds out his hand expectantly)

    the ring, sir!

     

    ONESIMOS

    (staring at SYROS as if he’s the stupidest man alive)

    Phoebus Apollo, you have got to be kidding me. (400) This is my master’s!

     

    SYROS

    (to the audience)

    I would rather slit my own throat than surrender anything to this pompous fool! I’ll sue each and every person here if that’s what it takes!

    (to ONESIMOS, absorbed in examining the ring)

    It’s the child’s, not mine…

    (sighs exasperatedly and hurries through the rest of the bag)

    here, quick take this – a collar of some sort and wrapping for the baby

    (shoves them into the WIFE’s pocket)

    – (405) now hurry inside!

    (turns back to ONESIMOS, ready to start up another arbitration)

    Now, what is it you were saying?

     

    ONESIMOS

    Me? I told you, this ring belongs to Charisios, he lost it one night after a few too many (mimes drinking to the audience) or at least that’s what he said.

     

    SYROS

    (disappointed)

    Oh… I myself am under the patronage of Chairestratos. Well,

    (haughty sniff)

    either see to its safe keeping yourself or give it back into my custody so I can keep it safe.

     

    ONESIMOS

    (distrusting)

    (410) I think I’ll keep an eye on it myself

     

    SYROS

    (feigning indifference)

    Well it makes no difference to me, as it seems we’re both headed to the same place

    (gestures for ONESIMOS to enter first)

     

    ONESIMOS

    (lingering outside hesitantly, suddenly nervous)

    Ah well

    (clears throat)

    they’ve all just gathered and … well it doesn’t really feel like a good time to reveal something so… well, perhaps it’s just ill-timed and tomorrow would be better!

     

    SYROS

    (seeing ONESIMOS’ doubt, Syros begins to regain confidence, considers for a moment, looking ONESIMOS up and down)

    (415) I can wait until tomorrow. I’ll be ready for any deliberation with any trustee you care to name!

    (to the audience, almost giddy)

    Hah! I ought to give up all my life’s work and become a lawyer! Everything’s saved!

     

    END ACT 2

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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/382-418