Bacchides (play)
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Bacchides is a Latin play by the early Roman playwright Titus Maccius Plautus. The title has been translated as The Bacchises, and the plot revolves around the misunderstandings surrounding two sisters, each called Bacchis, who work in a local house of ill-repute.
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[edit] Plot summary
[edit] Short synopsis [1]
Two young friends, Mnesilochus and Pistoclerus, have fallen in love with two sisters, and both are prostitutes named Bacchis. Mnesilochus's Bacchis has been hired for a year by Cleomachus. In order to get the money to buy her release Mnesilochus asks Chrysalus, the clever slave, to extort money from Nicobulus (a common recipe in Greek and Roman comedies). Chyrsalus succeeds in getting two hundred coins from the old man but then Pistoclerus announces his love for Bacchis. Mnesilochus, not knowing that there is more than one Bacchis, hands back the money to his father and reveals the whole deception and Chrysalus's part in it. Then the truth comes out – There are two Bacchises and Pistoclerus loves the other Bacchis! In despair Mnesilochus returns to Chrysalus and begs him to try and get money from Nicobulus again. Chrysalus agrees and tricks Nicobulus out of his money by saying that Mnesilochus is in trouble because he has fallen in love with a soldier's wife. He claims that the only way to get Mnesilochus out of trouble is to pay the soldier. Nicobulus falls for the trick and gives over the money. Soon he finds out that he has been deceived, and with Philoxenus he storms the brothel. Nicobulus demands his son and gold back. Bacchis offers the old man half of his gold back if he comes in. Philoxenus and Nicobulus soon give into Bacchis and her sister. They enter the brothel.
[edit] Long synopsis [1]
The play begins with Bacchis and her slave cleaning the brothel in preparation of her sister's arrival from Samos. Pistoclerus comes onto stage. He has been searching Athens for Bacchis's sister on behalf of Mnesilochus. Unbeknownst to him, the slave of Cleomachus had found Bacchis first and demanded that she either render the year's service that his master had paid for or give back the gold. Bacchis then seduces Pistoclerus and he promises to protect her when Cleomachus comes looking for Bacchis's sister. Pistoclerus then goes to the local market to buy supplies for the brothel while his slave and tutor, Lydus, unsuccessfully tries to dissuade him from becoming involved with a prostitute.
In the next scene, Chrysalus returns from Epheus from where he and Mnesilochus have brought back a large sum of money for Nicobulus. Chrysalus meets Pistoclerus in the road and learns that Bacchis's sister has been found. He devises a plan to cheat Nicobulus of his money so that Mnesilochus can buy the sister from Cleomachus. Chrysalus tells Nicobulus that both he and Mnesilochus were compelled to leave the gold in Ephesus. Thus, while Nicobulus goes to Ephesus, Mnesilochus will be able to purchase the sister. Lydus, however, shouts to Pistoclerus through the brothel door that he is going to reveal the plan to Philoxenus. Mnesilochus comes onstage. He has learned that Pistoclerus has found the sister and that Chrysalus is planning to get money for him from his father. Lydus leads Philoxenus to the brothel to show him what his son is doing. Philoxenus is not as concerned about his son's behavior as Lydus would like him to be. They meet Mnesilochus, who is led by Lydus to believe that Pistoclerus and the sister are cheating on him behind his back. Mnesilochus, angered over this apparent betrayal of his love, decides to give the gold back to his father.
Pistoclerus exits the brothel and encounters Mnesilochus. After Mnesilochus gives the gold back to his father, he confronts Pistoclerus about his betrayal. Pistoclerus takes his friend to the brothel to prove that there are two women named Bacchis. Then the Parasite of Cleomachus, knocks on the door of the brothel to demand payment for the soldier. Pistoclerus tells him to go away. Mnesilochus bemoans his mistreatment of Pistoclerus and his current situation of being unable to buy the Sister from Cleomachus. He then begs Chrysalus to help trick Nicobulus again in order to obtain the money to purchase Bacchis's sister. Chrysalus refuses at first because he isn't sure whether he can do it. Mnesilochus then tells Chrysalus that Nicobulus doesn't believe anything Chrysalus says -- providing Chrysalus with the stratagem he needs to deceive Nicobulus. Mnesilochus needs 200 coins for the Bacchis, so Chrysalus promises to get him the money needed and concocts a plan. Then, in an extended metaphor, Chrysalus then describes attacking the old man as if he were a city under siege. Chrysalus then dictates a letter which Mnesilochus is to give to his father "revealing" a new plot by Chysalus to defraud him of yet more money and suggesting that the old man have the offending slave tied up. Taking the letter at face value, Nicobulus follows the letter's instructions whereupon Chrysalus begins dropping several well-placed hints alluding to the relationship between Mnesilochus and Bacchis. Taking the bait, Nicobulus demands more information and Chrysalus "reveals" that Mnesilochus's son is in danger. Chrysalus is untied and leads the old man to see his wayward son with one of the Bacchises.
Cleomachus enteres and is not pleased to see that Mnesilochus has been enjoying the company of his Bacchis. While Cleomachus spews a verbal tirade of threats against both Bacchis and Mnesilochus, the clever Chrysalus used the opportunity to convince Nicobulus that Cleomachus is actually the Bacchis' husband. Horrified, Nicobulus begs Chrysalus to make a deal with Cleomachus before his son can come to any harm from the furious supposed husband. Chrysalus further ingratiates himself to Nicobulus by denouncing Cleomachus and his lifestyle. In the next scene Philoxenus enters the empty stage and begins to lament how his son has strayed away and been too profligate. Nicobulus then enters, unaware that Philoxenus is also present. Nicobulus cries over his misfortune and curses Chrysalus (at this point he knows that Bacchis was not the wife of Clemochus and that he has been deceived). When the two men become aware of each other's company, Nicobulus reveals to Philoxenus that both their sons are cavorting with prostitutes. They decide to go to the brothel and rescue their sons. When the old men arrive at the brothel, Bacchis and her sister exchange insults and smart remarks with them. These exchanges are Plautine humor at its best and may be as funny to a modern audience as they were to Plautus':
BACCH. Quid hoc est negoti nam, amabo? quis has huc ovis adegit?
NIC. Ovis nos vocant pessumae.
SOROR/ Pastor harum dormit, quom haec eunt sic a pecu balitantes.
BACCH. At pol nitent, haud sordidae videntur ambae.
SOR. Attonsae hae quidem ambae usque sunt.
PHIL. Vt videntur deridere nos.
NIC. Sine suo usque arbitratu.
BACCH. Rerin ter in anno tu has tonsitari?
SOR. Pol hodie altera iam bis detonsa certo est.
BACCH. Vetulae sunt, ~ thimiame.
SOR. At bonas fuisse credo.
BACCH. Viden limulis, obsecro, ut intuentur?
SOR. Ecastor sine omni arbitror malitia esse.
PHIL. Merito hoc nobis fit, qui quidem huc venerimus.
BACCH. Cogantur quidem intro.
SOR. Haud scio quid eo opus sit, quae nec lac nec lanam ullam habent. sic sine astent. exsolvere quanti fuere, omnis fructus iam illis decidit. non vides, ut palantes solae liberae grassentur? quin aetate credo esse mutas: ne balant quidem, quom a pecu cetero absunt. stultae atque haud malae videntur.
SOR. Revortamur intro, soror.
NIC. Ilico ambae manete: haec oves volunt vos.
SOR. Prodigium hoc quidemst: humana nos voce appellant oves.
SOR. Revortamur intro, soror.
NIC. Ilico ambae manete: haec oves volunt vos.
SOR. Prodigium hoc quidemst: humana nos voce appellant oves.
(v.ii.1121-1141)
Bacch. (to sister after surveying them) Mercy me, dear, what does this mean? Who drove these sheep here?
Nic. (to Philoxenus) They're calling us sheep, the sluts!
Soror Their shepherd must be taking a nap, to let them straggle off from the flock this way, bleating.
Bacch. My goodness, though! They are sleek! they seem to be quite spick and span, both of them.
Soror. Yes, you see they've both been ever so well shorn.
Phil. (to Nicobulus) Hm! They seem to be making fun of us.
Nic. (sourly) Let them go as far as they like.
Bacch. Do you suppose they are generally sheared three times a year?
Soror. Goodness me! that other one (indicating Nicobulus) has been shorn twice this very day for certain.
Bacch. They're both rather woolless old — (with a sly glance at her sister) customers.
Soror. But they used to be good ones, I do believe.
Bacch. For heaven's sake, do you see the little sidelong glances they're casting at us?
Soror. Oh well, I don't think they mean anything naughty by it.
Phil. (to Nicobulus) This serves us right for coming here!
Bacch. They really ought to be pushed inside.
Soror. I don't see any use in that, they haven't any milk, or wool either. Let them stand still as they are. They've been worked to their full value; all the fruit has dropped off of them already. Don't you see how they straggle along aimlessly, alone, untended? Why, I do believe they're dumb with age; they don't even bleat at being away from the rest of the flock. They seem perfectly harmless—just silly. Let's go back inside, sister.
Nic. Stay where you are, both of you: these sheep want you.
Soror. Dear, dear, miraculous! The sheep are addressing us, quite as if they were human!
(trans., Paul Nixon, Harvard University Press, 1916)
The sisters then converse privately and decide to seduce the old men in order to calm them down. During all this Philoxenus has been eyeing the sister of Bacchis and shares this with Nicobulus, who rebukes Philoxenus with Pol vero ista mala et tu nihili, 'Good Lord! She certainly is a bad one, and you are an ass' (v.ii.1164, trans., Nixon). He goes on to chastise Philoxenus for claiming to be in love at such an old age. Philoxenus nevertheless says that he can no longer scold his son or Mnesilochus, and he begs Bacchis's sister to take him inside. Nicobulus, on the other hand, remains steadfast in his anger and demands his gold back. Bacchis agrees to return half if he goes inside with her. Philoxenus thinks this is a good deal and suggests Nicobulus accept, which only enrages him further. Bacchis gives Nicobulus some advice:
Non tibi venit in mentem, amabo, si dum vivas tibi bene facias tam pol id quidem esse haud perlonginquom, neque, si hoc hodie amissis, post in morte eventurum esse umquam? (v.ii.1194-95a)
My dear man, doesn't it occur to you that, supposing you do enjoy yourself all your life, this life is very, very short, after all, — good gracious, yes! — and that if you let this chance slip, it won't come again when you're dead, ever? (trans., Nixon)
Nicobulus then gives in and joins his sons in the brothel. The play ends with a rebuke of the foolishness of old men who were themselves foolish when they were young.
[edit] Characters in Bacchides
- Bacchis - a prostitute. There are two prostitutes with this name which causes confusion for their lovers and laughs for the audience. Bacchis means "Bacchant" (a female worshiper of Bacchus, the wine god).
- Slave - of Bacchis.
- Pistoclerus - a young man, friend of Mnesliochus, son of Philoxenus, lover of a Bacchis.
- Boy - of the soldier.
- Sister (soror) - of Bacchis the prostitute, her name is also Bacchis, always referred to as sister.
- Lydus - a tutor to Pistoclerus.
- Chrysalus - slave of Nicobulus, meaning "goldie".
- Nicobulus - wealthy old man, father of Mnesilochus, ironically means "victorious in consul"/
- Mnesilochus - a young man, friend of Pistoclerus, son of Nicobulus, lover of a Bacchis.
- Philoxenus - old man (and father of Pistoclerus).
- Parasite - of the soldier.
- Artamo - a flogger, slave of Nicobulus.
- Cleomachus - the soldier, means "glorious fighter".
[edit] Key themes
The play includes Plautus’ frequent theme of clever servants outwitting their supposed superiors, with Chrysalus deceiving Nicobulus on more than one occasion.
[edit] Etymology
Several of the characters names are significant. Nicobulus ironically means Victorious in counsel, Chrysalus means Goldie, Cleomachus means Glorious fighter, and Bacchis means Bacchant, a female worshipper of Bacchus, god of wine. [2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Plot summary written by Latin IV students, Montgomery High School, New Jersey
- ^ Jones, P.V., and Sidwell, K.C. 1986. Reading Latin. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-28623-9 (paperback)
