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
Why, if I should mention all the other things that go to
bolster up a belly, it would be a waste of time. I must off
this minute to perform my official duties and pass judgment
on bacon and help out hams that are still untried and in
suspense. [EXIT INTO HOUSE, HURRIEDLY: UPROAR WITHIN.
IV. 4.
Scene 4.
ENTER _Page_, ANGRY AND EXCITED, FROM _Hegio’s_ HOUSE.
_Puer_
_Page_
Diespiter te dique, Ergasile, perdant et ventrem tuom,
parasitosque omnis, et qui posthac cenam parasitis dabit. 910
clades, calamitasque, intemperies modo in nostram advenit domum.
quasi lupus esuriens ille metui ne in me faceret impetum.
(_shaking his fist at door_) May all the powers of heaven
destroy you, Ergasilus, and that belly of yours and all
parasites and anyone that gives a parasite a meal hereafter!
Disaster, devastation, a tornado, has just fallen on our
house. I was afraid he’d jump at my throat like a ravening
wolf!
ubi[24] voltus esurientis vidi, eius extimescebam impetum
nimisque hercle ego illum male formidabam. ita frendebat dentibus.
adveniens deturbavit totum cum carne carnarium:
arripuit gladium, praetruncavit tribus tegoribus glandia;
aulas calicesque omnes confregit, nisi quae modiales erant.
As soon as I saw that ravenous look of his I almost died for
fear he’d make a rush at me-- Lord, how he did scare me, how
he kept grinding his teeth! In he came and tugged down the
meat, rack and all--grabbed a knife and lopped the choice
bits off three necks of pork--and smashed every pot and
tureen that didn’t hold a peck or more!
cocum percontabatur, possentne seriae fervescere.
cellas refregit omnis intus reclusitque armarium.
adservate istunc, sultis, servi. ego ibo, ut conveniam senem.
dicam ut sibi penum alium adornet, siquidem sese uti volet; 920
nam hic quidem, ut adornat, aut iam nihil est aut iam nihil erit.
Kept asking the cook if he couldn’t possibly use the big
pickle vats to boil things in! Broke into all the cupboards
and raided the pantry! (_shouting to those within_) Hi,
boys! watch him, will you! I’m going to find the old man.
I’ll tell him, so that he can get in more victuals for
himself, that is if he wants any for his own use: for to
judge from the way this fellow is getting ’em out here,
there’s nothing left now, or won’t be long. [EXIT.
ACTVS V
ACT V
(_Half an hour has elapsed._)
ENTER _Hegio_, _Philopolemus_, _Philocrates_, AND
_Stalagmus._
_Hegio_
Iovi disque ago gratias merito magnas,
quom reducem tuo te patri reddiderunt
quomque ex miseriis plurimis me exemerunt,
quae adhuc te carens dum hic[25] fui sustentabam,
quomque hunc conspicor in potestate nostra,
quomque huius reperta est fides firma nobis.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account