§633Satín parva rés est volúptatum in víta atque in aétate agúnda §634praequám quod moléstum est? ita cuíque comparátum est in aétate hominum;
Is the pleasure in life and in passing our lifetime not small enough compared to what is troublesome?
§635ita dívis est plácitum, volúptatem ut maéror comés consequátur: §636quin íncommodí plus malíque ilico ádsit, boní si optigít quid.
So it has been arranged for everyone in human life; so it has pleased the gods, that sorrow follows pleasure as a companion: indeed, more of trouble and evil is immediately at hand if any good has occurred.
§637nam ego íd nunc expérior domo átque ipsa dé me sció, cui volúptas §638parúmper datást, dum virí mei míhi potéstas vidéndi fuit §639noctem únam modo; átque is repénte abiit á me hinc ánte lucem.
For I now experience this at home and know it from my own case, to whom pleasure was given for a brief moment, while I had the power of seeing my husband for just one night; and he suddenly departed from me hence before dawn.
§640sola híc mihi nunc vídeor, quia ílle hinc abést quem ego amó praeter omnes.
Now I seem to myself to be alone here, because he is absent from here, whom I love above all others.
§641plus aégri ex ábitu virí, quam ex advéntu volúptatis cépi.
I received more pain from my husband's departure than pleasure from his arrival.
sed hóc me beát §642saltém, quom perduéllis vicít et domúm laudis cómpos revénit: §643id sólacio est.
But this makes me happy at least, that he has conquered the enemy and has returned home possessed of praise: that is a consolation.
§644absít, dum modó laude párta §645domúm recipiát se; feram ét perferam úsque §646abitum éius ánimo forti átque offirmáto, id módo si mercédis §647datúr mi, ut meús victor vír belli clúeat.
Let him be away, provided that, with praise won, he returns home; I will bear and even endure to the end his departure with a brave and resolute heart, if only this reward is given to me, that my husband may be celebrated as a victor in war.
§648satis mi esse ducam.
I shall deem it enough for me.
§648bvirtús praemium ést optimúm; §649virtús omnibús rebus ánteit profécto: §650libértas salús vita rés et paréntes, patria ét prognáti §651tutántur, servántur: §652virtús omnia ín sese habét, omnia ádsunt §653bona quém penest vírtus.
Virtue is the best reward; virtue indeed goes before all things: liberty, safety, life, property, parents, country, and children are protected and preserved by it: virtue has all things within itself, all good things are present to him who possesses virtue.
§654Édepol me uxori éxoptatum crédo adventurúm domum, §655quae me amat, quam contra amo, praesertim re gesta bene, §656victis hostibus: quos nemo posse superari ratust, §657eos auspicio meo atque ductu primo coetu vicimus.
By Pollux, I believe I shall arrive home much desired by my wife, who loves me, whom in return I love, especially since things went well, with the enemy conquered: whom no one thought could be overcome, we conquered them under my omen and leadership at the first clash.
§658certe enim méd illi expectatum optato venturum scio.
For surely I know that I will come to her expected and longed for.
§659Quid? me non rere expectatum amicae venturum meae?
What? Do you not think that I will come expected to my sweetheart?
§660Meus vir hic quidem est.
Here is my husband indeed.
§660bSéquere hac tu me.
Follow me this way.
But why is he returning who just now said he was in a hurry?
§662atque id se volt experiri, suom abitum ut desiderem?
Is he testing me on purpose and does he want to try this, to see if I miss his departure?
§663ecastor med haud invita se domum recipit suam.
By Castor, not against my will does he return to his home.
§664Amphitruo, redire ad navem meliust nos.
Amphitruo, it is better for us to return to the ship.
§664bQua gratia?
For what reason?
§665Quia domi daturus nemo est prandium advenientibus.
Because no one at home is going to give lunch to those who arrive.
§666Qui tibi nunc istuc in mentemst?
How does that come into your mind now?
§666bQuia enim sero advenimus.
Because we have arrived late.
§667Qui?
Why?
§667bQuia Alcumenam ante aedis stare saturam intellego.
Because I perceive Alcumena standing before the house full.
§668Gravidam ego illanc hic reliqui quóm abeo.
I left her pregnant when I departed from here.
§668bEi perii miser.
Woe is me, I am ruined!
§669Quid tibi est?
What is the matter with you?
§669bAd aquam praebendam commodum adveni domum, §670decumo post mense, ut rationem te putare intellego.
I have arrived home just in time to provide water, in the tenth month, as I perceive you are calculating.
§671Bono animo es.
Be of good heart.
§671bScin quam bono animo sim? si situlam cepero,
Do you know how good my heart is?
§672numquam edepol tu mihi divini creduis post hunc diem, §673ní ego illi puteo, si occepso, ánimam omnem intertraxero.
If I take up the bucket, never, by Pollux, believe me in anything sacred after this day, unless I shall have drawn out all the breath from that well if I begin.
§674Sequere hac me modo; alium ego isti rei allegabo, ne time.
Just follow me this way; I will assign another to that matter, do not fear.
§675Magis nunc me meum officium facere, si huic eam advorsum, arbitror.
Now I think I am doing my duty more if I go to meet him.
§676Amphitruo uxorem salutat laetus speratam suam, §677quam omnium Thebis vir unam esse optimam diiudicat, §678quamque adeo cives Thebani vero rumiferant probam.
Amphitruo, joyful, greets his longed-for wife, whom he judges to be the one best woman in all Thebes, and whom indeed the citizens of Thebes report to be truly virtuous.
§679valuistin usque? exspectatun advenio?
Have you been well all along? Do I arrive expected?
§679bHaud vidi magis.
Never was anyone more so!
§680exspectatum eum salutat magis haud quicquam quam canem.
She greets him as expected no more than she would a dog.
§681Et quom te †gravidam et quom te pulchre plenam aspicio, gaudeo.
And when I see you pregnant and beautifully full, I rejoice.
§682Obsecro ecastor, quid tu me deridiculi gratia §683sic salutas atque appellas, quasi dudum non videris §684quasique nunc primum recipias te domum huc ex hostibus?
I beseech you, by Castor, why do you greet and address me in this mocking manner, as if you had not seen me just now, and as if you were now returning home here for the first time from the enemy?
§686Immo equidem te nisi nunc hodie nusquam vidi gentium.
On the contrary, indeed, I have never seen you anywhere today except now.
§687Cur negas?
Why do you deny it?
§687bQuia vera didici dicere.
Because I have learned to speak the truth.
He does not do what is right who unlearns what he has learned.
an periclitamini
Or are you testing me?