by Plautus
STRATOPHANES
Look upon me then. Take this presenting the money , with which to satisfy these necessities.
PHRONESIUM
taking it . Give it me, although it’s very little.
STRATOPHANES
Whatever you shall order, shall be given at your demand. Give me a kiss now. Tries to kiss her.
PHRONESIUM
Leave me alone, I say! You are a nuisance!
STRATOPHANES
aside . It’s no use, I’m not loved by her; the day wears apace. More than ten pounds of silver have I lost in this short time by reason of my passion.
PHRONESIUM
giving the money to ASTAPHIUM . Take this, and carry it away in-doors. ASTAPHIUM carries it in. Enter STRABAX, from the house.
STRABAX
to himself . Where in the world is my mistress? I get on with no business, either in the country or here, at this rate; I’m spoiling with mouldiness, I’m grown so dreadfully numbed with lying waiting here upon the couch. But look, I perceive her. Hallo! sweetheart, what are you about?
STRATOPHANES
What fellow is that?
PHRONESIUM
One that, upon my honor, I love far more than yourself.
STRATOPHANES
Than myself? In what way?
PHRONESIUM
Why, this way, that you are not to be troublesome to me. Moves as if going.
STRATOPHANES
Are you going now, after you’ve got the gold?
PHRONESIUM
What you’ve given me, I’ve put away in-doors.
STRABAX
Come here, sweetheart; I’ve got something to say to you.
PHRONESIUM
Why, I was just coming to you.
STRABAX
To me, my charmer?
PHRONESIUM
In serious truth, i’ faith.
STRABAX
Although I seem a simpleton to you, I like myself to have a bit of recreation. For pretty though you are, you are so to your own loss, unless I amuse myself a bit with you.
PHRONESIUM
Should you like me to embrace you and give you a kiss?
STRABAX
Do whatever you like, I’ll deem it agreable. She kisses him.
STRATOPHANES
What, shall I suffer her to be embracing other men before my eyes? I’ faith, ‘twere better that I were dead. Woman, take your hands off of him, unless, perhaps, by this sword of mine, won from the enemy, you wish yourself and him to die. Flourishing his sword.
PHRONESIUM
There’s no use in “badinage,” Captain. If you want yourself to be loved, with gold, Stratophanes, not with iron, may you prevent him from loving me.
STRATOPHANES
How, the plague, are you pretty or witty, to be fond of a fellow of that description?
PHRONESIUM
aside, to STRATOPHANES . Don’t it come to your recollection what an actor once said upon the stage? “ All people have an eye to their profit, and are not over delicate.”
STRATOPHANES
That you could possibly caress this fellow, so dirty and foul!
PHRONESIUM
Although he is dirty, although he is foul, still, he’s pretty to me.
STRATOPHANES
Didn’t I give you some gold?
PHRONESIUM
To me? You gave money for the child’s food.
STRABAX
Now, if you hope to have her, another mina of gold is requisite.
STRATOPHANES
A sore mishap upon these people, and a weighty one!
STRABAX
By all means, keep that by way of provision for your own journey.
STRATOPHANES
What does she owe you?
STRABAX
Three things.
STRATOPHANES
What, pray?
STRABAX
Perfumes, her favours, and kisses.
PHRONESIUM
apart . He answers him like for like. To STRATOPHANES. But now, at all events, if you do love me, do you give me some little trifle from your most abundant treasures.
STRATOPHANES
Do say, there’s a dear, what it is that I’m to give you; only say. If I have it left, you shall have it.
PHRONESIUM
Mere kickshaws you’re talking about. Be off, be off. STRABAX kisses her.
STRATOPHANES
I’ve considered this over with myself. My good sir, take you care, will you, that she don’t inflict a wound upon you, whose teeth are made of iron. She’s allowing access to her to all in common. You take your hand off of her.
STRABAX
striking him . Then, by my troth, do you take that, with a hearty punch, warlike man!
STRATOPHANES
I’ve given her gold.
STRABAX
And I, silver.
STRATOPHANES
And I a mantle and a purple garment.
STRABAX
And I, sheep and wool; and many other things that she shall ask for I’ll give. ‘Twere better for you to contest it with me with minæ than with menaces.
PHRONESIUM
Upon my faith you are a funny mortal, my Strabax. Prithee, do proceed —— Aside. A fool and a madman are contending for their ruin; I’m all right.
STRATOPHANES
Come, younker, do you offer something first.
STRABAX
Why no; do you squander first, and come to ruin.
STRATOPHANES
to PHRONESIUM . Well, here’s a talent of silver for you. It’s in Philippean coins. Take it for yourself.
PHRONESIUM
taking the money . So much the better. Be one of our family, but live at your own expense.
STRATOPHANES
to STRABAX . Where is that which you are going to give? Open your purse-strings.
PHRONESIUM
That’s a challenge.
STRATOPHANES
to STRABAX . What are you afraid of?
STRABAX
You are from abroad. I live here points to his FATHER’S house . I am afraid.
STRATOPHANES
I am not. Walk off, then.
STRABAX
I’m bringing her some sheep fastened in a purse to my neck.
STRATOPHANES
Because I gave that, how I did flounder the fellow.
STRABAX
Why no, indeed, it’s I, who am going to give.
PHRONESIUM
to STRATOPHANES . Come in-doors now, prithee, and to STRABAX do you then stay with me here.
STRATOPHANES
You will give me your company then?
STRABAX
to PHRONESIUM . What say you?
PHRONESIUM
What?
STRABAX
What do you say? What, with this fellow? Am I to be postponed?
STRATOPHANES
I have made my present.
PHRONESIUM
to STRATOPHANES . You have given; pointing to STRABAX he’s going to give just now; the one I’ve got, the other I expect. But each of the two shall be indulged to his heart’s content.
STRABAX
So be it. As I see the matter stands, that must be taken that’s offered.
STRATOPHANES
Indeed, I shall assuredly not be letting you take possession of my couch.
PHRONESIUM
aside . I’ faith, I’ve cleverly netted them, and quite to my satisfaction. To the AUDIENCE. And as I see my affairs successfully managed, yours likewise would I successfully manage. I’ll caress you in reality. If you are disposed to be doing anything, take care, will you, and let me know at once. For the sake of Venus, applaud; this Play is in her honor. Spectators, kindly farewell; grant applause, and then rise up.
The Latin Texts
The Theatre of Marcellus, the sole surviving theatre of Rome, was built in the closing years of the Roman Republic. At the theatre, locals and visitors alike were able to wat
ch performances of drama and song.
Roman mosaic depicting actors and an aulos player; House of the Tragic Poet, Pompeii
LIST OF LATIN TEXTS
In this section of the eBook, readers can view the original Latin texts of Plautus’ plays. You may wish to Bookmark this page for future reference.
CONTENTS
AMPHITRYON
ASINARIA
AULULARIA
BACCHIDES
CAPTIVI
CASINA
CISTELLARIA
CURCULIO
EPIDICUS
MENAECHMI
MERCATOR
MILES GLORIOSUS
MOSTELLARIA
PERSA
POENULUS
PSEUDOLUS
RUDENS
STICHUS
TRINUMMUS
TRUCULENTUS
Source text: Maccius Plautus. Plauti Comoediae. F. Leo. Berlin. Weidmann. 1895. With thanks to the Pegasus Digital Library.
AMPHITRYON
CONTENTS
ACT I.
ACT II.
ACT III.
ACT IV.
ACT V.
ACT I.
Mercvrivs
Vt vos in vostris voltis mercimoniis
emundis vendundisque me laetum lucris
adficere atque adiuvare in rebus omnibus
et ut res rationesque vostrorum omnium
5 bene me expedire voltis peregrique et domi
bonoque atque amplo auctare perpetuo lucro
quasque incepistis res quasque inceptabitis,
et uti bonis vos vostrosque omnis nuntiis
me adficere voltis, ea adferam, ea uti nuntiem
10 quae maxime in rem vostram communem sient
(nam vos quidem id iam scitis concessum et datum
mi esse ab dis aliis, nuntiis praesim et lucro):
haec ut me voltis adprobare adnitier,
lucrum ut perenne vobis semper suppetat
15 ita huic facietis fabulae silentium
itaque aequi et iusti hic eritis omnes arbitri.
Nunc cuius iussu venio et quam ob rem venerim
dicam simulque ipse eloquar nomen meum.
Iovis iússu venio, nomen Mercurio est mihi.
20 pater huc me misit ad vos oratum meus,
tam etsi, pro imperio vobis quod dictum foret,
scibat facturos, quippe qui intellexerat
vereri vos se et metuere, ita ut aequom est Iovem;
verum profecto hoc petere me precario
25 a vobis iussit, leniter, dictis bonis.
etenim ille, cuius huc iussu venio, Iuppiter
non minus quam vostrum quivis formidat malum:
humana matre natus, humano patre,
mirari non est aequom, sibi si praetimet;
30 atque ego quoque etiam, qui Iovis sum filius,
contagione mei patris metuo malum.
propterea pace advenio et pacem ad vos affero:†
iustam rem et facilem esse oratam a vobis volo,
nam iusta ab iustis iustus sum orator datus.
35 nam iniusta ab iustis impetrari non decet,
iusta autem ab iniustis petere insipientia est;
quippe illi iniqui ius ignorant neque tenent.
nunc iam huc animum omnes quae loquar advortite.
debetis velle quae velimus: meruimus
40 et ego et pater de vobis et re publica;
nam quid ego memorem (ut alios in tragoediis
vidi, Neptunum Virtutem Victoriam
Martem Bellonam, commemorare quae bona
vobis fecissent) quis bene factis meus pater,
45 deorum regnator ... architectus omnibus?
sed mos numquam illi fuit patri meo,†
ut exprobraret quod bonis faceret boni;
gratum arbitratur esse id a vobis sibi
meritoque vobis bona se facere quae facit.
50 Nunc quam rem oratum huc veni primum proloquar,
post argumentum huius eloquar tragoediae.
quid? contraxistis frontem, quia tragoediam
dixi futuram hanc? deus sum, commutavero.
eandem hánc, si voltis, faciam ex tragoedia
55 comoedia ut sit omnibus isdem vorsibus.
utrum sit an non voltis? sed ego stultior,
quasi nesciam vos velle, qui divos siem.
teneo quid animi vostri super hac re siet:
faciam ut commixta sit: sit tragicomoedia.
60 nam me perpetuo facere ut sit comoedia,
reges quo veniant et di, non par arbitror.
quid igitur? quoniam hic servos quoque partes habet,
faciam sit, proinde ut dixi, tragicomoedia.
nunc hoc me orare a vobis iussit Iuppiter,
65 ut conquaestores singula in subsellia
eant per totam caveam spectatoribus,
si cui favitores delegatos viderint,
ut is in cavea pignus capiantur togae;
sive quí ambissint palmam histrionibus
70 sive cuíquam artifici, si per scriptas litteras
sive qui ípse ambissit seu per internuntium,
sive adeo aediles perfidiose cui duint,
sirempse legem iussit esse Iuppiter,
quasi mágistratum sibi alterive ambiverit.
75 virtute dixit vos victores vivere,
non ambitione neque perfidia: qui minus
eadem histrioni sit lex quae summo viro?
virtute ambire oportet, non favitoribus.
sat habet favitorum semper qui recte facit,
80 si illis fides est quibus est ea res in manu.
hoc quoque etiam mihi pater in mandatis dedit,
ut conquaestores fierent histrionibus:
qui sibi mandasset delegati ut plauderent
quive quo placeret alter fecisset minus,
85 eius órnamenta et corium uti conciderent.
mirari nolim vos, quapropter Iuppiter
nunc histriones curet; ne miremini:
ipse hanc acturust Iuppiter comoediam.
quid? admirati estis? quasi vero novom
90 nunc proferatur, Ióvem facere histrioniam;
etiam, histriones anno cum in proscaenio hic
Iovem invocarunt, venit, auxilio is fuit.
praeterea certo prodit in tragoedia.
hanc fabulam, inquam, hic Iuppiter hodie ipse aget,
95 et ego una cum illo. nunc vos animum advortite,
dum huius argumentum éloquar comoediae.
Haec urbs est Thebae. in illisce habitat aedibus
Amphitruo, natus Argis ex Argo patre,
quicum Alcumena est nupta, Electri filia.
100 is nunc Amphitruo praefectust legionibus,
nam cum Telobois bellum est Thebano poplo.
is prius quam hinc abiit ipsemet in exercitum,
gravidam Alcumenam úxorem fecit suam.
nam ego vos novisse credo iam ut sit páter meus,
105 quam liber harum rerum multarum siet
quantusque amator sit quod complacitum est semel.
is amare occepit Alcumenam clam virum
usuramque eius corporis cepit sibi,
et gravidam fecit is eam compressu suo.
110 nunc de Alcumena ut rem teneatis rectius,
utrimque est gravida, et ex viro et ex summo Iove.
et meus pater nunc intus hic cum illa cubat,
et haec ob eam rem nox est facta longior,
dum cum illa quacum volt voluptatem capit;
115 sed ita adsimulavit se, quasi Amphitruo siet.
nunc ne hunc ornatum vos meum admiremini,
quod ego huc processi sic cum servili schema:
veterem atque antiquam rem novam ad vos proferam,
propterea ornatus in novom incessi modum.
120 nam méus pater intus núnc est eccum Iuppiter;
in Amphitruonis vertit sese imaginem
omnesque eum esse censent servi qui vident:
ita versipellem se facit quando lubet.
&nb
sp; ego servi sumpsi Sosiae mi imaginem,
125 qui cum Amphitruone abiit hinc in exercitum,
ut praeservire amanti meo possem patri
atque ut ne, qui essem, familiares quaererent,
versari crebro hic cum viderent me domi;
nunc, cum esse credent servom et conservom suom,
130 haud quisquam quaeret qui siem aut quid venerim.
pater nunc intus suo animo morem gerit:
cubat complexus cuius cupiens maxime est;
quae illi ad legionem facta sunt memorat pater
meus Alcumenae: ílla illum censet virum
135 suom esse, quae cum moecho est. ibi nunc meus pater
memorat, legiones hostium ut fugaverit,
quo pacto sit donis donatus plurimis.
ea dona, quae illic Amphitruoni sunt data,
abstulimus: facile meus pater quod volt facit.
140 nunc hodie Amphitruo veniet huc ab exercitu
et servos, cuius ego hanc feró imaginem.
nunc internosse ut nos possitis facilius,
ego has habebo úsque in petaso pinnulas;
tum meo patri autem torulus inerit aureus
145 sub petaso: id signum Amphitruoni non erit.
ea signa nemo hórum familiarium
videre poterit: verum vos videbitis.
sed Amphitruonis illic est servos Sosia:
a portu illíc nunc cum lanterna ádvenit.
150 abigam iam ego illum advenientem ab aedibus.
adeste: erit operae pretium híc spectantibus
Iovem et Mercurium facere hístrioniam.
Sosia
Qui me álter est audácior homo aút qui confidéntior,
iuventútis mores qui sciam, qui hoc noctis solus ambulem?
155 quid faciam nunc, si tres viri me in carcerem compegerint?
inde crás quasi e promptaria cella depromar ad flagrum,
nec causam liceat dicere mihi, néque in ero quicquam auxili
nec quisquam sit quin me malo omnes esse dignum deputent.
íta quasi incudém me miserum hómines octo válidi caedant:
160 ita peregre adveniens hospitio publicitus accipiar.
haéc eri immodéstia
coegit, me qui hoc noctis a portu ingratiis excitavit.
nonne ídem hoc luci me míttere potuit?
opulénto homini hoc servitús dura est,
165 hoc mágis miser est divítis servos:
nóctesque diésque assiduó satis superque est
quód facto aut dícto adeost ópus, quietus ne sis.