(Enter SILENIUM, GYMNASIUM, and PROCURESS, from the house of SILENIUM.SILENIUM:Inasmuch as hitherto I have loved you, and have deemed you to be my friend, my dear Gymnasium, and your mother as well; so have you shown it to me this day, both you and she. If you had been my own sister, how more you two could possibly have held me in esteemI know not; but, according as is my way of thinking, I conceive it could not possibly be, such ready assistance, all other things laid aside, have you given me. For this reason do I love you, and for it a vast obligation have you both conferred upon me.
Selenivm:Cum ego ántehac te amávi et mi amícam esse crévi,mea Gýmnasium, et mátrem tuám, tum id mihi hódieapéruistis, tu átque haec: sorór si mea ésses,qui mágis potuerítis mihi honórem ire habitum,néscio, nisi, ut meus est animus, fieri non posse arbitror;íta omnibus relictis rebus mihi frequentem operam dedistis.éo ego vos amo ét eo á me magnam iniistis gratiam.
GYMNASIUM:I’ faith, at such a price as this, indeed, it’s easy for us to give you our attendance and to do you good offices;
Gymnasivm:Pol isto quidem nos pretio facile est frequentaretibi utilisque habere:
so handsomely and so elegantly have you entertained us at breakfast at your house, as we shall ever remember.
ita in prándio nos lepide ác nitideaccépisti apúd te, ut sempér meminerímus.
SILENIUM:It has been done with hearty good will by me, and will be done, to get those things which I shall think you are desirous of.
Selenivm:Lubénti edepol ánimo factum ét fiet á me,quae vós arbitrábor velle, éa ut expetéssam.
A PROCURESS:As the man said, who was borne by a prospering breeze on a calm sea:“I rejoice that we came to you;” in such a delightful manner have we been here this day received; nor except in the management, was there anything there at your house but what pleased me.
Lena:Quód ille dixit, quí secundo vénto vectus ést tranquilló mari,véntum gaudeo—écastor ad téd, ita hodie híc acceptaé sumussuávibus modis,néc nisi disciplina apud te fuit quicquam ibi quin mihi placeret.
SILENIUM:How so, prithee?
Selenivm:Quid ita, amabo?
A PROCURESS:Too seldom did the servant give me something to drink, and, as it was, it clouded the colour of the wine.
Lena:Raro nimium dabat quod biberem, id merum infuscabat.
GYMNASIUM:Pray, is that becoming to be mentioned here?
Gymnasivm:Amábo, hicine ístud decét?
A PROCURESS:It’s both right and proper; there’s no other person here.
Lena:Iusque fásque est:nemo álienus híc est.
SILENIUM:With reason do I love you both, who esteem and honor me.
Selenivm:Meritó vostro amó vos,quía me colitis et mágni facitis.
A PROCURESS:I’ faith, my dear Silenium, it befits this class to be kindly disposed among themselves, and carefully to keep up friendships,when you see these matrons of elevated rank, born of the noblest families, how they value friendship, and how carefully they keep it united between themselves. If we do that same thing, if we imitate the same example, still as it is, with difficulty do we exist with their extreme dislike. Of their own enjoyments they would have us to be in want,in resources of our own they would have us not to possess any power, and to stand in need of them in all matters, that we may be their humble servants. If you wait upon them, you’d rather be giving your room than your company. So very kind are they before the world to our class; in private, if ever there’s the opportunity,underhandedly they pour cold water upon us. They declare that we are in the habit of having commerce with their husbands; they say that we are their supplanters; they attempt to crush us. Because we are the free daughters of slaves, both I and your mother, we became Courtesans; she brought up yourself, and I this girl (pointing to GYMNASIUM),by chance-fathers. Nor yet for the sake of vanity have I driven her to the calling of a Courtesan, but that I mightn’t starve.
Lena:Decet pol, mea Selenium,hunc ésse ordiném benevoléntis intér sebéneque amicitia útier,ubi istás videas summó genere natás, summatis mátronas,ut amícitiam colunt átque ut eam iunctám bene habent intér se.si idem istúd nos faciamús, si idém imitémur, itá tamen víx vivimúscum invídia summa. suárum opum nos vólunt esse indigéntes.nostrá copiá nil volúnt nos potéssesuíque omniúm rerum nós indigére,út sibi simus súpplices.éas si ádeas, abitum quam aditum malis, ita nostro ordinipalám blandiúntur, clam, si óccasio usquam est,aquám frigidám subdolé suffúndunt.virís cum suís praedicánt nos solére,suás paelicés esse aiúnt, eunt depréssum.quia nós libertinaé sumus, et ego ét tua mater, ámbaemeretrices fuimus: illa te, ego hanc mihi educaviex patribus conventiciis. neque ego hanc superbiaicausa pepuli ad meretricium quaestum, nisi ut ne ésurirem.
SILENIUM:But it had been better to give her in marriage to a husband in preference.
Selenivm:At satius fuerat eam viro dare nuptum potius.
A PROCURESS:Heyday, now! Surely, faith, she’s married to a husband every day; she has both been married to one to-day, she’ll be marrying again to-night. I’ve never allowed her to go to bed a widow.
Lena:Heia,haec quidem ecastor cottidie viro núbit, nupsitque hodie,nubet mox noctu: numquam ego hanc viduam cubare sivi.
For if she weren’t to be marrying, the household would perish with doleful famine.
nam si haec non nubat, lugubri fame familia pereat.
GYMNASIUM:It behoves me, mother, to be just as you wish I should be.
Gymnasivm:Necesse est, quo tu me modo voles esse, ita esse, mater.
A PROCURESS:I’ troth, I don’t regret it, if you will prove such as you say you’ll be; for if, indeed, you shall be such as I intend, you’ll never be a Hecale in your old age, and you’ll ever keep that same tender age which you now have,and you’ll prove a loss to many and a profit to myself full oft, without any outlay of my own.
Lena:Ecastor haud me paenitet, si ut dicis ita futura es.nam si quidem ita eris ut volo, numquam senecta fiessemperque istam quam nunc habes aetatulam optinebis,multisque damno et mihi lucro siné meo saepe eris sumptu.
GYMNASIUM:May the Gods grant it.
Gymnasivm:Di faxint.
A PROCURESS:Without your own energies, the Gods cannot possibly do anything in this.
Lena:Sine opera tua di horunc nil facere possunt.
GYMNASIUM:I’ faith, for my own part, I’ll zealously devote my energies to it. But what mean you amid this conversation, apple of my eye, my own Silenium? (never did I see you more sad); prithee, do tell me, why does mirth so shun you?
Gymnasivm:Equidem hercle addam operam sedulo; sed tu aufer istaec verba.meus oculus, mea Selenium, numquam ego te tristioremvidi esse. quid, cedo, te obsecro tam abhorret hilaritudo?
And you are not so neat as you usually are. (SILENIUM sighs.) Do look at that, please, how deep a sigh she heaved. You are pale too. Tell us both what’s the matter with you, and in what you want our aid; so that we may know. Prithee, don’t by your tears be causing me anxiety.
neque munda adaeque es, ut soles (hoc sis vide, ut petivitsuspiritum alte) et pallida es. eloquere utrumque nobis,et quid tibi est et quid velis nostram operam, ut nos sciamus.noli, obsecro, lacrumis tuis mi exercitum imperare.
SILENIUM:My dear Gymnasium, I’m sadly affected; I feel ill, I am shockingly distrest;
Selenivm:Méd excrucio, mea Gymnasium: male mihi est, male maceror;
I am pained in spirits, I feel pain in my eyes, I am in pain from faintness. What shall I say, but that my own folly drives me to sadness?
doleo ab animo, doleo ab oculis, doleo ab aegritudine.quid dicam, nisi stultitia mea me in maerorem rapi?
GYMNASIUM:Take you care, then, that you have your folly entombed in that very same place from which it takes its rise.
Gymnasivm:Indidem unde oritur facito ut facias stultitiam sepelibilem.
SILENIUM:What shall I do?
Selenivm:Quid faciam?
GYMNASIUM:Hide it in darkness, in the very deepest recesses of your breast. Take you care and have it so, that you yourself are alone sensible of your own folly, without any other witnesses.
Gymnasivm:In latebras abscondas pectore penitissimo.tuam stultitiam sola facito ut scías sine aliis arbitris.
SILENIUM:But I’ve got the heart-ache.
Selenivm:At mihi cordolium est.
GYMNASIUM:Why so? For what reason have you the heartache, prithee, tell me, a thing that I neither have, nor any other woman whatever, according as the men say?
Gymnasivm:Quid? id unde est tibi cor? commemora obsecro;quod neque ego habeo neque quisquam alia mulier, ut perhibent viri.
SILENIUM:If there’s any heart to feel pain, it does feel pain; but if there isn’t, still this pains me here.(Pointing to her left-side.)
Selenivm:Siquid est quod doleát, dolet; si aútem non est—tamen hoc hic dolet.
A PROCURESS:This woman’s in love.GYMNASIUM:Come now, to begin to be in love, is it bitter, prithee?
Gymnasivm:Amat haec mulier.Selenivm:Eho an amare occipere amarum est, obsecro?
A PROCURESS:Why, troth, love is most fruitful both in honey and in gall;
Gymnasivm:Namque ecastor Amor et melle et felle est fecundissimus;
inasmuch as it produces sweetness in a mere taste, but causes bitterness even to repletion.
gustui dat dulce, amarum ad satietatem usque oggerit.
SILENIUM:Of that character is the malady that afflicts me, my dear Gymnasium.
Selenivm:Ad istam faciem est morbus, qui me, mea Gymnasium, macerat.
GYMNASIUM:Love is full of treachery.
Gymnasivm:Perfidiosus est Amor.
SILENIUM:He’s taking his spoils of me, then.
Selenivm:Ergo in mé peculatum facit.
GYMNASIUM:Be of good courage, you’ll get the better of this malady.
Gymnasivm:Bono animo es, erit isti morbo melius.
SILENIUM:I trust it will be so, if the physician comes that can administer the medicine to this malady.
Selenivm:Confidam fore,si medicus veniat qui huic morbo facere medicinam potest.
GYMNASIUM:He will come.
Gymnasivm:Veniet.
SILENIUM:A hard expression is that to one in love, “He will come,” unless he does come. But by my own fault and foolishness, am I, wretched creature, more afflicted, because for him alone have I longed for myself, with whom to pass my life.
Selenivm:Spissum istuc amanti est verbum, veniet, nisi venit.sed ego mea culpa et stultitia peius misera maceror,quom ego illum unum mi exoptavi, quicum aetatem degerem.
A PROCURESS:That is more suitable to a married woman, my dear Silenium, to love but one, and with him to pass her life, to whom she has once been married;
Lena:Matronae magis cónducibilest istuc, mea Selenium,unum amare et cúm eo aetatem exigere quoi nuptast semel.
but, indeed, a Courtesan is most like a flourishing city; she cannot alone increase her fortunes without a multitude of men.
verum enim méretrix fortunati est oppidi simillima:non potest suam rem obtinere sola sine multis viris.
SILENIUM:I want you to give heed to this matter; the thing on account of which you have been sent for to me, I’ll disclose. Now, my mother, because I don’t wish myself to be called a Courtesan, complied with my desire; in that matter she indulged myself who have been obedient to her;to allow me to live with him alone whom I so ardently loved.
Selenivm:Hoc volo agatis. qua accersitae causa ad me estis, eloquar.nam mea mater, quia ego nolo me meretricem dicier,obsecutast de ea re, gessit morem morigerae mihi,ut me, quém ego amarem graviter, sineret cúm eo vivere.
A PROCURESS:I’ faith, she acted foolishly. But look, have you ever kept company with any man?
Lena:Stulte ecastor fecit. sed tu enumquam cum quiquam viroconsuevisti?
SILENIUM:With no one, indeed, except Alcesimarchus; nor has any other person whatever committed an infringement on my chastity.
Selenivm:Nisi quidem cum Alcesimarcho, nemine,neque pudícitiam meam mi álius quisquam imminuit.
A PROCURESS:Prithee, by what means did this man gain your good graces?
Lena:Obsecro,quó is homo insinuavit pacto se ad te?
SILENIUM:At the festival of Bacchusmy mother took me to see the procession. While I was returning home, from a secret look-out he secretly traced me even to the door; after that, he insinuated himself into the friendship of my mother and myself as well, by endearments, presents, and gifts.
Selenivm:Per Dionysiamater pompam me spectatum duxit. dum redeo domum,conspicillo consecutust clanculum me usque ad fores.inde in amicitiam insinuavit cum matre et mecum simulblanditiis, muneribus, donis.
A PROCURESS:I should like a man of that sort to be offered me. How I’d work him.
Lena:Mihi istunc vellem hominem dari,ut ego illum vorsarem!
SILENIUM:What need is there of words? Through intercourse, I on the other hand began to love him, and he myself.
Selenivm:Quid opust verbis? consuetudinecoepi amare contra ego illum, et ille me.
A PROCURESS:O my dear Silenium—!SILENIUM:What’s the matter?A PROCURESS:You ought to pretend to be in love; for if you fall in love at once, you’ll be much better consulting the interests of him whom you love than your own.
Lena:O mea Selenium,adsimulare amare oportet. nam si ames, extempulomelius illi multo, quém ames, consulas quam rei tuae.
SILENIUM:But in solemn form he took an oath before my mother that he would take me as his wife. Now, another woman is about to be taken home by him,a Lemnian lady, his relation, who is living here hard by (pointing to DEMIPHO’S house); for his father has compelled him. Now my mother is enraged with me, because I didn’t return home to her, when I came to know of this matter, that he was about to take another as his wife.
Selenivm:At ille conceptis iuravit verbis apud matrem meam,me uxorem ducturum esse: ei nunc alia ducendast domum,sua cognata Lemniensis, quae habitat hic in proxumo.nam eúm pater eius subégit. nunc mea mater iratast mihi,quia non redierim domum ad se, postquam hanc rem resciverim,eum uxorem ducturum esse aliam.
A PROCURESS:Nothing’s unfair in love.
Lena:Nihil amori iniuriumst.
SILENIUM:Now, I entreat you that you’ll let her (pointing to GYMNASIUM) be here only for the next three days,and keep house for me; for I’ve been sent for to my mother’s house.
Selenivm:Nunc te amabo ut hanc hic ⟨unum⟩ triduom hoc solum sinasesse et hic servare apud me. nam ad matrem accersita sum.
A PROCURESS:Although this will be a troublesome three days for me, and you’ll be causing me a loss, I’ll do so.
Lena:Quamquam istud mihi erit molestum triduom, et damnum dabis,faciam.
SILENIUM:You act kindly and like a friend. But you, my dear Gymnasium, if in my absence Alcesimarchus shall come, don’t you chide him roughly; however he has deserved of myself, still he has my affections;but, prithee, act gently, so that you mayn’t say anything that may cause him pain. Take the keys (giving them to her); if you have need to take out anything for use, take it out. I wish to go—
Selenivm:Facis benigne et amice. sed tu, Gymnasium mea,si me absente Alcesimarchus veniet, nolito acritereum inclámare (utut erga me est meritus, mihi cordi est tamen),sed, amabo, tranquille: ne quid, quod illi doleat, dixeris.accipias clavis: si quid opus tibi erit prompto, promito.ego volo ire.
GYMNASIUM:(weeping.) How you have drawn tears from me.
Gymnasivm:Vt mi excivisti lacrimas.
SILENIUM:My dear Gymnasium, kindly, farewell.
Selenivm:Gymnasium mea,bene vale.
GYMNASIUM:Take care of yourself, there’s a dear. Prithee, will you go in this dishabille?(Pointing to her dress.)
Gymnasivm:Cura te, amabo. sicine immunda, obsecro,ibis?
SILENIUM:It’s right that such neglect should attend upon my prospects thus disarranged.
Selenivm:Immundas fortunas aequom est squalorem sequi.
GYMNASIUM:At least do lift up that outer garment.
Gymnasivm:Amiculum hoc sustolle saltem.
SILENIUM:Let it be dragged, while I myself am being dragged down.
Selenivm:Sine trahi, cum egomet trahor.
GYMNASIUM:Since so it pleases you, fare you well and prosper.
Gymnasivm:Quando ita tibi lubet, vale atque salve.
SILENIUM:If I could, I would.(Exit.)
Selenivm:Si possim, velim.—
GYMNASIUM:Mother, do you wish anything of me, before I go indoors? Upon my faith, to me she does seem to be in love.
Gymnasivm:Numquid me vis, mater, intro quin eam? ecastor mihivisa amare.
A PROCURESS:For this reason, then, it is, that I’m repeatedly dinning it into your ears, not to be in love with any man. Go in-doors.
Lena:Istoc ergo auris graviter obtundo tuas,ne quem ames. abi intro.
GYMNASIUM:Do you wish anything of me?
Gymnasivm:Numquid me vis?
A PROCURESS:That you may fare well.
Lena:Vt valeas.
GYMNASIUM:Fare you well.(GYMNASIUM goes into the house of SILENTIUM.) (The PROCURESS, alone.)
Gymnasivm:Vale.—
A PROCURESS:(to the AUDIENCE.) It’s the same fault with myself as with a great part of us women who are following this calling; who, as soon as ever we have got our load of food, are forthwith full of talk; more than is enough do we say.Why, myself now, inasmuch as I’m filled to my heart’s content, and because I’ve charged myself quite full of the choicest of wine, it pleases me to use my tongue more at freedom; to my misfortune I can’t keep silent on that which it were necessary to be silent upon.
Lena:Idem míhi magnae quod parti est vitium mulierumquae hunc quaestum facimus: quae ubi saburratae sumus,largiloquae extemplo sumus, plus loquimur quam sat est.
But once upon a time, that girl, who has gone hence in tears, from a lane I carried off a little child exposed.
nam ego illanc olim, quae hinc flens abiit, parvolampuellám proiectam ex angiportu sustuli.
There is here a certain youth, of the highest rank;his father, of a very high family, is living at Sicyon;he is dying desperately in love for this young woman, who has just. now gone hence in tears; on the other hand, she is smitten with love.
[adulescens quidam hic est adprime nobilis][quin ego nunc quia sum onusta mea ex sententia][quiaque adeo me complevi flore Liberi,][magis líbera uti lingua conlibitum est mihi,][tacere nequeo misera quod tacito usus est.][Sicyone, summo genere; ei vivit pater.][is amore misere hanc deperit mulierculam,][quae hinc modo flens abiit. contra amore eum haec deperit.]
I made a present of her to my friend, this Courtesan: who had often made mention of it to methat somewhere I must find for her a boy or a girl, just born, that she herself might pass it off as her own. As soon as ever the opportunity befell me, I immediately granted her request in that which she had asked of me.
eam meae ego amicae dono huic meretrici dedi,quae saepe mecum mentionem fecerat,puerum aut puellam alicunde ut reperirem sibi,recens natum, eapse quod sibi supponeret.ubi mihi potestas primum evenit, ilicofeci eius ei quod me oravit copiam.
After she had received this female child from me, at onceshe was brought to bed of the same female child which she had received from me, without the aid of a midwife and without pain, just as other women bring forth, who seek a trouble to themselves; but she said that her lover was a foreigner, and that by reason of that circumstance she was palming it off.
postquam eam puellam á me accepit, ilicoeandem puellam peperit quam a me acceperat,sine obstetricis opera et sine doloribus,item ut aliae pariunt, quae malum quaerunt sibi.nam amatorem aibat esse peregrinum sibisuppositionemque eius facere gratia.
This, we two alone are aware of, I who gave the child to her, and she who received it from me; (to the AUDIENCE) except yourselves, indeed. Thus was this affair managed; if any occasion should arise, I wish you to remember this circumstance. I’m off home.(Exit.) (Enter the GOD OF HELP, who speaks the PROLOGUE.)THE GOD OF HELP:(To the AUDIENCE.) This old woman is both a much-talker and a much-tippler.
id duae nos solae scimus: ego quae illi dediet illa quae a me accepit, praeter vos quidem.haec sic res gesta est. si quid usus venerit,meminisse ego hanc rem vos volo. ego abeo domum.—Avxilivm:Vtrumque haec, et multiloqua et multibiba, est anus.
Isn’t it the fact that she has hardly left room to a Divinity for him to speak, so much has she forestalled him in talking about the substitution of this girl? But if she had held her tongue, still I was about to mention it—a God, who could do it better; for my name is Help. Now (to the AUDIENCE) lend your attention,that I may clearly explain this plot to you. Some time since, at Sicyon, there was the Festival of Bacchus; a merchant of Lemnos came hither to the games, and he, an ungovernable young man, ravished a maiden in the dark, in the street, at the dead of night.
satin víx reliquit deo quod loqueretur loci,itá properavit de puellae proloquisuppositione. quod si tacuisset, tamenego eram dicturus, deus, qui poteram planius.nam mihi Auxilio est nomen. nunc operam date,ut ego argumentum hoc vobis plane perputem.fuere Sicyoni iam diu Dionysia.mercator venit huc ad ludos Lemnius,isque hic compressit virginem, adulescentulus,⟨vi⟩, vinulentus multa nocte in via.
He, as he knew that he was deserving of a heavy punishment, at once found shelter with his heels, and made off for Lemnos, where he then lived. She whom he had ravished, the ninth ensuing month completed, brought forth a daughter here. Since she did not know the person guilty of this deed, who he was,she made the servant of her father partaker of her counsels, and gave to that servant the child to be exposed to death. He exposed it; this woman took up the child; that servant, who had exposed it, secretly took note whither or to what house she carried away the child.
is ubi malam rem scit se meruisse, ilicopedibus perfugium peperit, in Lemnum aufugit,ubi habitabat tum. ílla quam compresseratdecumo post mense exacto hic peperit filiam.quoniam reum eius facti nescit qui siet,paternum servom sui participat consili,dat eam puellam ei servo exponendam ad necem.is eam proiecit. haec puellam sustulit.ille clam óbservavit servos ⟨qui eam proiecerat⟩quo aut quas in aedis haec puellam deferat.
As you have heard her own self confess, she gave this child to the Courtesan Melaenis; and she brought her up as being her own daughter, honestly and virtuously. But then, this Lemnian married a neighbour there, his relation, for his wife.
ut eampse vos audistis confiterier,dat eam puellam meretrici Melaenidi,eaque educavit eam sibi pro filiabene ac pudice. tum illic autem Lemniuspropinquam uxorem duxit, cognatam suam.
She departed this life; there she was compliant to her husband. After he had performed the due obsequies to his wife, at once he removed hither; here he married for his wife that same woman whom formerly, when a maid, he ravished. When he understood that it was she whom he had ravished,she told him that, in consequence of the violation, she had brought forth a daughter, and had at once given her to a servant to be exposed. He forthwith ordered this same servant to make enquiries, if anyhow he could discover who had taken it up. Now to that taskis the servant always assiduously devoting his attention, if he can find out that Courtesan, whom formerly, when he himself exposed her, he from his hidingplace had seen take her up. Now, what remains unpaid, I wish to discharge, that my name may be struck out, so that I mayn’t remain a debtor.
ea diem suom obiit, facta morigera est viro.post⟨quam⟩ ille uxori iusta fecit, ilicohuc commigravit; duxit uxorem hic sibieandem quam olim virginem hic compresserat,et eam cognoscit esse, quam compresserat;illa illi dicit, eius se ex iniuriapeperisse gnatam átque eam se servo ilicodedisse exponendam. ille extemplo servolumiubet illum eundem persequi, si qua queatreperire quae sustulerit. ei rei nunc suamoperam usque assiduo servos dat, si possietmeretricem illam invenire, quam olim tollere,cum ipse exponebat, ex insidiis viderat.nunc quod relicuom restat volo persolvere,ut expungatur nomen, ne quid debeam.
A young man is here at Sicyon, his father is alive; with affection he distractedly dotes upon this exposed girl, who just now went hence in tears unto her mother; and she loves him in return, which is the most delightful love of all. As human matters go, nothing is granted for everlasting:
adulescens hic est Sicyoni, ei vivit pater;is amore proiecticiam illam deperitquae dudum flens hinc abiit ad matrem suam,et illa hunc contra, qui est amor suavissimus.ut sunt humana, nihil est perpetuom datum.
the father is wishful to give the young man a wife. When the mother came to know of this, she ordered her to be sent for home. Thus have these matters come to pass. Kindly fare you well, and conquer by inborn valour, as you have done before; defend your allies, both ancient ones and new;increase resources by your righteous laws; destroy your foes; laud and laurels gather; that, conquered by you, the Pœni may suffer the penalty.(Exit.) (Enter ALCESIMARCHUS and MELAENIS.)ALCESIMARCHUS:I do believe that Love was the first to invent torture among mankind. This conjecture do I form from myself at home, not to go seek it out of doors;I, who surpass all men, exceed them in the pangs of my feelings. I’m tossed, tormented, agitated, goaded, whirled on the wheel of love in my misery, I’m deprived of sensation, carried one way, carried another way, I’m torn and rent asunder; such clouded faculties of mind have I,where I am, there I am not; where I am not, there my thoughts are; to such a degree have I now all kinds of feelings in me; what I like, then all at once I like not the same; so much does love trifle with me changing my mind,drive me, pursue, desire, and seize for itself, retain, trepan, and promise; what it gives, it gives not; it deludes me; what this moment it has persuaded me, it now dissuades me from; what it has dissuaded me from, it now points out to me that same.
pater adulescenti dare volt uxorem; hoc ubimater rescivit, iussit accersi eam domum.haec sic res gesta est. bene valete et vincitevirtute vera, quod fecistis antidhac;servate vostros socios, veteres et novos,augete auxilia vostra iustis legibus,perdite perduelles, parite laudem et lauream,ut vobis victi Poeni poenas sufferant.—Alcesimarchvs:Credo égo Amorem primum ápud homines carníficinam comméntum.hanc égo de me coniécturam domi fácio, ni foris quaéram,qui omnés homines supero [atque] ántideo cruciábilitatibus ánimi.iactór [crucior] agitor stimulór, versorin amóris rota, miser éxanimor,feror dífferor distrahor díripior,ita núbilam mentem animi hábeo.ubi sum, íbi non sum, úbi non sum, íbist animus,ita mi ómnia sunt ingénia;quod lúbet, non lubet iam id cóntinuo,ita me Amor lassum animi lúdificat,fugat, ágit, appetit, raptát, retinet,lactát, largitur: quód dat non dat; déludit:modo quód suasit, ⟨id⟩ díssuadet,quod díssuasit, id osténtat.
After the manner of the sea is it experienced by me; so much does it distract my enamoured feelings; and only in that, in my misery, I do not sink utterly, is there any evil removed from me thus ruined;
maritúmis moribus mecum experiturita méum frangit amantem ánimum;neque, nísi quia miser non eó pessum,mihi úlla abest perdito pérmities.
in such a way has my father detained me these six days running in the country, at his house there; nor has it been allowed me in the meantime to visit my mistress. Isn’t this dreadful to relate?MELAENIS:Are you joking for this reason, because you’ve got another wife engaged, a rich lady of Lemnos? Have her then! We are neither of a family so great as you are, nor is our wealth so substantial as yours; but stillI have no fears that any one will impeach our oath; you then, if you shall feel any pain, will know for what reason you do feel pain.
ita páter apud villam détinuitme hos diés sex ruri cóntinuos,neque lícitum interea est méam amicam visére …estne hóc miserum memorátu?…nudiussextus(Alcesimarchvs):Pótine tu homo facinus facere strenuom?(Servvs):Aliorum affatim estqui faciant. sane ego me nolo fortem perhiberi virum.…Alcesimarchvs:Quia vivo.Servvs:Facile id quidem edepol possum, si tu vis.Alcesimarchvs:Volo.Servvs:At enim ne tu exponas pugno os metuo in imperio meo.Alcesimarchvs:Numquam edepol faciam.Servvs:Fidem da.Alcesimarchvs:Do, non facturum esse me.sed ego primum, tot qui ab amica abesse potuerim dies,sum nihili.Servvs:Nihili hercle vero es.Alcesimarchvs:… perdite,quae me amaret contra.Servvs:Dignus hercle es infortunio.Alcesimarchvs:Ei me ⟨tot tam⟩ acerba facere in corde.Servvs:Frugi nunquam eris.Alcesimarchvs:Praesertim quae coniurasset mecum et firmasset fidem,Servvs:Neque deos neque homines aequom est facere tibi posthac bene.Alcesimarchvs:Quae esset aetatem exactura mecum in matrimonio,Servvs:Compedes te capere oportet neque eas unquam ponere.Alcesimarchvs:Quae mihi esset commendata et meae fidei concredita,Servvs:Hercle te verberibus multum caedi oportere arbitror.Alcesimarchvs:Quae mellillam me vocare et suavium solitast suom.Servvs:Ob istuc unum verbum dignu's dignus es, deciens qui furcam feras.Alcesimarchvs:Egomet laetor. sed quid auctor nunc mihi es?Servvs:Dicam tibi:Supplicium illi des, suspendas te, ne tibi suscenseat.Alcesimarchvs:Quian …Servvs:Quid tu ergo … te manuleo…(Alcesimarchvs):Quid si amo? …(Tertia):… est amor… atque illam quam ⟨te⟩ amare intellego… si conclusos vos ⟨me⟩ habere in carcere… amoris noctesque et diesni emórtuos …mihi nunquam quisquam …(Tertia):Immo maxumus.nam quí amant stulte atque inmodeste atque inprobe… ne ament.…(Alcesimarchvs):… ubi tu es?Servvs:Ecce me.Alcesimarchvs:I, adfer mihi arma ét loricam adducito.Servvs:Loricam adducam?Alcesimarchvs:I, curre, equom adfer.Servvs:Hercle hic insanit miser.Alcesimarchvs:Abi atque hastatos multos, multos velites,multos cum multis—nil moror precario.ubi sunt quae iussi?Servvs:Sanus hic non est satis.Tertia:Ab anu esse credo nocitum, cum illaec sic facit.Servvs:Vtrum deliras, quaeso, an astans somnias,qui equom me adferre iúbes, loricam adducere,multos hastatos, post id multos velites,multos cum multis? haec tu pervorsariomihi fabulatu's fabulatus es.Alcesimarchvs:Dixin égo istaec, obsecro?Servvs:Modó quidem hercle haec dixisti.Alcesimarchvs:Non praesens quidem.Servvs:Praestigiator, siquidem hic non es atque ades.Tertia:Video ego te Amoris valde tactum toxico,adulescens; eo te magis volo monitum.Alcesimarchvs:Mone.Tertia:Cave sís cum Amore tu unquam bellum sumpseris.Alcesimarchvs:Quid faciam?Tertia:Ad matrem eius devenias domum,expurges, iures, ores blande per precemeamque exores ne tibi suscenseat.Alcesimarchvs:Expurigabo hercle omnia ad raucam ravim.…Senex:…prohibét divitiis máximis, dóte áltili atque opíma.…muliérculam exornatulam. … quidem hercle scita.quamquam vetus cantherius sum, etiam nunc, ut ego opinor,adhinnire equolam possum ego hanc, si detur sola soli.Gymnasivm:Nimis opportune mi evenit rediisse Alcesimarchum;nam sola nulla invitior solet esse.Senex:Me vocato,ne sola sis: ego tecum ⟨ero, volo⟩ ego agere, ut tú agas aliquid.Gymnasivm:Nimis lépide exconcinnavit hasce aedis Alcesimarchus.Senex:Vt quo⟨m Ven⟩us adgreditur, ⟨place⟩t; lepidumst amare semper.Gymnasivm:Venerem meram haec aedes olent, quia amator expolivit.Senex:Non modo ipsa lepidast, commode quoque hercle fabulatur.sed cum dicta huius intérpretor, haec herclest, ut ego opinor,meum quaé corrumpit filium. suspiciost eam esse,utpote quam nunquam viderim; de opinione credo.nam hasce aedis conductas habet meus gnatus, haec ubi astat:hoc hanc eam esse opiniost; nam haec illum nominavit.quid si adeam atque appellem. mali damnique inlecebra, salve.Gymnasivm:… vapulabis.Senex:… volo apud te.…Gymnasivm:Intro abeo,nam méretricem astare in via solam prostibuli sanest.…Gymnasivm:quid vis.Senex:Volo éx te scire quidquid est …quid ego usquam male feci tibi ⟨aut meu⟩s quisquam, id edisserta,quam ob rem me meumque filium quom ⟨matr⟩e remque nostramhabes pérditui et praedatui?Gymnasivm:Miser errat, ut ego dixi.lepidast materies, ludam ego hunc, nam occasio videtur.potin operam inique equidem malam ⟨ut ne⟩ des innocenti?Senex:Sed ⟨obsecro⟩ te, nullusnest tibi amator alius quisquam,nisi meus modo unus filius?Gymnasivm:Quem quidem ego amem, alius nemo est.Senex:At ego …Gymnasivm:Nil moror: damno sunt tui mihi similes.Senex:Quid …(Gymnasivm):isne est id arbitratus?…(Gymasivm):datoresnegotioli bellissimi senices soletis esse. ……Lena:Me respondere postulas? iniurium est.stipulari semper me ultro oportet a viris,eum quaestum facio, nil viris promittere.…siquidem ímperes pro copia, pro recula…Lena:Quin is, si itura es? nimium is vegrandi gradu.Gymnasivm:Pol ad cubituram, mater, magis sum exercitafere quam ad cursuram. eo sum tardiuscula.… meminere officium suom.ita mustulentus ventus nares attigit.capillo scisso atque excissatis auribusquae quasi carnificis angiporta purigans…non quasi nunc haec sunt hic, limaces, lividae,febriculosae, miserae amicae, ósseae,diobolares, schoeniculae, miraculae,cum extritis talis, cum todillis crusculis…Selenivm:Molestus es.Alcesimarchvs:Meae issula sua ⟨aede⟩s egent. ad me ⟨sine ducam⟩.Selenivm:Aufer manum.Alcesimarchvs:Germana mea sororcula.Selenivm:Repudio te fraterculum.Alcesimarchvs:Tum tu igitur, mea matercula.Melaenis:Repudio te † fraterculum.Alcesimarchvs:Opsecro teSelenivm:Valeas.Alcesimarchvs:Vt sinasSelenivm:Nil moror.Alcesimarchvs:Expurigare me.Selenivm:…Alcesimarchvs:Sine dicám.Melaenis:Satis sapit mihi tuis periuriis.… at nunc non potest.Alcesimarchvs:Supplicium polliceri volo.Selenivm:At mi aps te accipere non libet.Alcesimarchvs:Em omniapatior iure infelix.Selenivm:Volup est neque tis misereri decet.quamquam hominem …verba dare …non illa … qui frangant foedera… eos …(unknown):…(Selenivm):dabis.—Alcesimarchvs:At egó nec do néque te amíttam hodie, nisi quaé volo tecúm loquidas mihi operam.Melaenis:Pótin ut mihi molestus ne sis?Alcesimarchvs:Quin id est nomen mihi,omnes mortales vocant molestum. …… obsecro.Melaenis:At frustra obsecras.…quia sine omni …Alcesimarchvs:Daboius iurandum. …Melaenis:At ego nunc ⟨ab⟩ illo mihi ⟨caveo⟩ iure iurando tuo;similest ius iurandum amantum quasi ius confusicium.Alcesimarchvs:Nescia ……(Melaenis):nugas agis.…Alcesimarchvs:Supplicium dabo …quo modo ego ……(Melaenis):quia es nactus novam,quae … quaedam quasi tu nescias.…Alcesimarchvs:Di deaeque illam perdant † pariter.… umquam, si hoc fallo.Melaenis:Nil moror… falsum fallis, eo te … ignorat fides.postremo, si mihi dedisses verba, deis numquam dares.Alcesimarchvs:Quin equidem illam ducam uxorem.Melaenis:Ducas, si …nunc hoc si tibi commodumst, quae …Alcesimarchvs:Instruxi illi aurum atque vestem.(Melaenis):…siquidem amabas, … illi instrui.sed sino. iam hoc mihi responde quod ⟨ego⟩ te rogavero:instruxisti …tibi ita ut voluisti …(Alcesimarchvs):quod volo.Melaenis:Eo facetu's facetus es quia tibi aliast sponsa locuples Lemnia.habeas. neque nos factione tanta quanta tu sumusneque opes nostrae tam sunt validae quam tuae; verum tamenhau metuo ne ius iurandum nostrum quisquam culpitet:tu iam, si quid tibi dolebit, scies qua doleat gratia.