Amphitryo, Asinaria, Aulularia, Bacchides, Captivi: Amphitryon, The Comedy of Asses, The Pot of Gold, The Two; Bacchises, The CaptivesPlautus, Titus Maccius
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Amphitryo, Asinaria, Aulularia, Bacchides, Captivi: Amphitryon, The Comedy of Asses, The Pot of Gold, The Two; Bacchises, The Captives
Plautus, Titus Maccius
Latin drama (Comedy); Latin drama (Comedy) -- Translations into English
(_self-complacently_) This is the way for a good servant
to act, the way I do: no thinking master’s orders are a
botheration and nuisance. I tell you what, if a servant
wants to give satisfaction, he’d just better make it a case
of master first and man second. Even if he should fall
asleep, he ought to do it with an eye on the fact that he’s
a servant.
erile[14] imperium ediscat, ut quod frons velit oculi sciant; (599)
quod iubeat citis quadrigis citius properet persequi. 600
qui ea curabit, abstinebit censione bubula,
nec sua opera rediget umquam in splendorem compedes.
He’s got to know his master’s inclinations like a book, so
that he can read his wishes in his face. And as for orders,
he must push ’em through faster than a fast four-in-hand. If
a chap minds all this, he won’t be paying taxes on rawhide,
or ever spend his time polishing a ball and chain with his
ankles.
nunc erus meus amat filiam huius Euclionis pauperis;
eam ero nunc renuntiatum est nuptum huic Megadoro dari.
is speculatum huc misit me, ut quae fierent fieret particeps.
nunc sine omni suspicione in ara hic adsidam sacra;
hinc ego et huc et illuc potero quid agant arbitrarier.
Now the fact is, master’s in love with the daughter of poor
old Euclio here; and he’s just got word she’s going to be
married to Megadorus there. So he’s sent me over to keep
my eyes peeled and report on operations. I’ll just settle
down alongside this sacred altar (_does so_) and no one’ll
suspect me. I can inspect proceedings at both houses from
here.
IV. 2.
Scene 2.
ENTER _Euclio_ WITHOUT SEEING _Strobilus._
_Eucl._
Tu modo cave quoiquam indicassis aurum meum esse istic, Fides:
non metuo ne quisquam inveniat, ita probe in latebris situmst.
edepol ne illic pulchram praedam agat, si quis illam invenerit 610
aulam onustam auri; verum id te quaeso ut prohibessis, Fides.
(_plaintively_) Only be sure you don’t let anyone know
my gold is there. Faith: no fear of anyone finding it, not
after the lovely way I tucked it in that dark nook,
(_pauses_) Oh my God, what a beautiful haul he would get,
if anyone should find it--a pot just crammed with gold! For
mercy’s sake, though, Faith, don’t let him!
nunc lavabo, ut rem divinam faciam, ne affinem morer
quin ubi accersat meam extemplo filiam ducat domum.
vide, Fides, etiam atque etiam nunc, salvam ut aulam abs te auferam:
tuae fide concredidi aurum, in tuo loco et fano est situm.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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