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
Ugh! how it does rankle to have let Chrysalus get out of my
reach as he has to-day.
_Chrys._
Salvos sum, iratus est senex. nunc est mihi
adeundi ad hominem tempus.
(_in low tone_) Saved! The old fellow’s angry. Now is the
time to approach him.
_Nic._
Quis loquitur prope?
atque his quidem, opinor, Chrysalust.
(_aside_) Who’s that speaking near here? (_seeing Chrysalus_)
Yes, it’s actually Chrysalus, I do believe.
_Chrys._
Accessero.
(_aside_) At him now! (_approaches_)
_Nic._
Bone serve, salve. quid fit? quam mox navigo
in Ephesum, ut aurum repetam ab Theotimo domum?
taces? per omnis deos adiuro, ut ni meum
gnatum tam amem atque ei facta cupiam quae is velit,
ut tua iam virgis latera lacerentur probe 779-780
ferratusque in pistrino aetatem conteras.
omnia rescivi scelera ex Mnesilocho tua.
Ah! my good servant, how goes it? How soon shall I sail to
Ephesus to bring home the gold from Theotimus? Silent, eh?
(_more savagely_) I swear to heaven if I didn’t love my son
so, if I wasn’t anxious to gratify his wishes, those flanks
of yours would be torn to ribbons with rods this instant and
you should wear out your days in fetters in the mill. I have
heard about your rascality from Mnesilochus--everything.
_Chrys._
Men criminatust? optimest: ego sum malus,
ego sum sacer, scelestus. specta rem modo;
ego verbum faciam nullum.
(_affecting indignation_) He’s accused me, me? Very fine
indeed! I’m the one that’s bad, I’m the cursed criminal!
(_significantly_) You just keep your eyes open; that’s all
I have to say.
_Nic._
Etiam, carnufex,
minitare?
What? Threatening, you hangdog?
_Chrys._
Nosces tu illum actutum qualis sit.
nunc has tabellas ferre me iussit tibi.
orabat, quod istic esset scriptum ut fieret.
You’ll shortly know what sort he is. He ordered me to bring
this letter to you now. Begged you to do what’s written
there.
_Nic._
Cedo.
Give it here.
_Chrys._
Nosce signum.
(_obeying_) Take notice of the seal.
_Nic._
Novi. ubi ipse est?
(_seeing it is intact_) Yes, yes. Where is my son himself?
_Chrys._
Nescio.
nil iam me oportet scire. oblitus sum omnia. 790
scio me esse servom. nescio etiam id quod scio.
nunc ab trasenna his turdus lumbricum petit;
pendebit hodie pulcre, ita intendi tenus.
(_surlily_) Don’t know. The proper thing for me now is to
know nothing. I’ve forgotten everything. I know I’m a slave.
I don’t even know what I do know. (_aside_) Now our thrush
here is after the worm in my trap; he’ll soon be hung up
handsomely, the way I’ve set the noose.
_Nic._
Mane dum parumper; iam exeo ad te, Chrysale.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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