Amphitryo, Asinaria, Aulularia, Bacchides, Captivi: Amphitryon, The Comedy of Asses, The Pot of Gold, The Two; Bacchises, The CaptivesPlautus, Titus Maccius
General
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
(_aside, wryly_) To judge from his remarks, I must take care
he doesn’t knock the nutcrackers out of my jaws. (_aloud_)
All right, I’ll tell him about this, and it will be at your
risk. (_turns to go_)
_Pistoc._
Quid ais tu?
See here! (_advancing_)
_Par._
Ego istuc illi dicam.
(_backing away_) I’ll tell him what you say.
_Pistoc._
Dic mihi, 600
quis tu es?
Tell me this, who are you?
_Par._
Illius sum integumentum corporis.
(_impressively_) I am the Captain’s corporal integument.
_Pistoc._
Nequam esse oportet cui tu integumentum improbu’s.
A sorry specimen he must be to have a rascal like you for an
integument!
_Par._
Sufflatus ille huc veniet.
He’ll be coming here swelling with rage.
_Pistoc._
Dirrumptum velim.
I hope he bursts.
_Par._
Numquid vis?
(_going_) Anything more I can do?
_Pistoc._
Abeas. celeriter factost opus.
Yes, get out! And you need to be quick about it.
(_advancing_)
_Par._
Vale, dentifrangibule.
(_running_) Farewell, Sir Toothcracker.
_Pistoc._
Et tu, integumentum, vale.
in eum nunc haec res venit locum, ut quid consili
dem meo sodali super amica nesciam,
qui iratus renumeravit omne aurum patri,
neque nummus ullust qui reddatur militi.
sed huc concedam, nam concrepuerunt fores. 610
Mnesilochus eccum maestus progreditur foras.
The same to yourself, Sir Integument. [EXIT _Parasite._]
Now matters have come to the point where I don’t know how
to advise my chum about his mistress, what with his getting
angry and counting out all the gold to his father, and not
a penny left to pay the Captain. (_listening_) But I’ll step
aside here: (_does so_) the door creaked. Ah, there’s our
woebegone Mnesilochus coming out.
IV. 3.
Scene 3.
ENTER _Mnesilochus_ FROM _Bacchis’s_ HOUSE.
_Mnes._
Petulans, protervo iracundo animo, indomito incogitato,
sine modo et modestia sum, sine bono iure atque honore,
incredibilis imposque animi, inamabilis inlepidus vivo,
malevolente ingenio natus. postremo id mi est quod volo
ego esse aliis. credibile hoc est?
nequior nemost neque indignior quoi
di bene faciant neque quem quisquam
homo aut amet aut adeat.
A hasty fool, a reckless, passionate, uncontrollable,
unthinking fool without method and moderation, that’s what I
am--a creature without any sense of right and honour,
distrustful, hotheaded, loveless, graceless, crabbed and
born crabbed! Yes, yes, I’m everything that I wish some one
else was! Is this credible? There’s not a viler man alive, a
man more unworthy of heaven’s kindness, of having a mortal
soul love him or come near him!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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