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
And your plutocrat of a master, that never does a handsturn
of work himself, takes it for granted that any whim that
comes into a man’s head can be gratified: yes, he counts
that the fair thing, and never takes account of how much
the work is. Ah, I tell you, there’s a great deal of
injustice this slavery lets you in for: you’ve got to take
your load and carry it, and that is work.
_Mer._
Satius me queri illo modo servitutem:
hodie qui fuerim liber,
cum nunc potivit pater servitutis,
his qui verna natus est queritur.
(_aside_) It would be more in order for Mercury to do some
of this grumbling about menial station--was free this very
day, and now his father has made a slave of him. It’s this
fellow, a born drudge, that is grumbling.
_Sos._
Sum vero verna verbero: num numero mi in mentem fuit, 180
dis advenientem gratias pro meritis agere atque alloqui?
ne illi edepol si merito meo referre studeant gratiam,
aliquem hominem allegent qui mihi advenienti os occillet probe,
quoniam bene quae in me fecerunt ingrata ea habui atque inrita.
(_frightened again_) I need a drubbing, I do, drudge
that I am. I was not too quick, was I, to think of
addressing the gods and giving ’em due thanks on my arrival?
Oh Lord! if they took a notion to pay me back my dues,
they’d commission some one to mash my face for me in fine
shape on my arrival, now that I haven’t appreciated the good
turns they’ve done me and have let ’em go for nothing.
(_makes sure he is safe_)
_Mer._
Facit ille quod volgo haud solent, ut quid se sit dignum sciat.
(_aside_) Rather uncommon that,--his knowing what he
deserves to get.
_Sos._
Quod numquam opinatus fui neque alius quisquam civium
sibi eventurum, id contigit, ut salvi poteremur domi.
victores victis hostibus legiones reveniunt domum,
duello exstincto maximo atque internecatis hostibus.
What I never dreamed would happen nor anyone else on our
side, either, has happened, and here we are safe and sound.
(_magnificently_) Our legions come back victorious, our
foes vanquished, a mighty contest concluded and our enemies
massacred to a man.
quod multa Thebano poplo acerba obiecit funera, 190
id vi et virtute militum victum atque expugnatum oppidum est
imperio atque auspicio eri mei Amphitruonis maxime.
praeda atque agro adoriaque adfecit populares suos
regique Thebano Creoni regnum stabilivit suom.
The town that has brought an untimely death to many a
Theban citizen has been crushed and captured by the strength
and valour of our soldiery, aye, and chiefly under the
command and auspices of my own master, Amphitryon. He has
furnished forth his countrymen with booty and land and fame,
and fixed King Creon firm upon his Theban throne.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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