I bid the most excellent spectators welcome, who value trust (Fides) most highly, and you too, O Fides.
If I have spoken the truth, give me a clear sign, so that I may know right from the start that you are favorable to me.
§5qui utuntur vino vetere sapientis puto §6et qui libenter veteres spectant fabulas; §7atque antiqua opera et verba cum vobis placent, §8aequom est placere ante alias veteres fabulas: §9nam nunc novae quae prodeunt comoediae §10multo sunt nequiores quam nummi novi.
Those who drink old wine I consider wise, and those who gladly watch old plays; and since ancient works and words please you, it is fitting that old plays should please you above all others: for the new comedies that come out now are much more worthless than new coins.
§11nos postquam populi rumore intelleximus §12studiose expetere vos Plautinas fabulas, §13antiquam éius edimus comoediam, §14quam vos probastis qui estis in senioribus; §15nam iuniorum qui sunt non norunt, scio; §16verum ut cognoscant dabimus operam sedulo.
Since we understood from the rumor of the people that you eagerly seek Plautine plays, we are producing an old comedy of his, which you approved of, those of you who are among the elders; for those who are among the younger do not know it, I know; but we will strive diligently so that they may come to know it.
§17haec cum primum acta est, vicit omnis fabulas.
When this was first performed, it surpassed all other plays.
In that season was the flower of poets, who have now departed hence to the common place.
§20sed tamen absentes prosunt pro praesentibus.
But yet, though absent, they are of service in place of the present.
I wish you all to be greatly entreated, that you kindly give your attention to our company.
§23eicite ex animo curam atque alienum aes §24ne quis formidet flagitatorem suom: §25ludi sunt, ludus datus est argentariis; §26tranquillum est, Alcedonia sunt circum forum: §27ratione utuntur, ludis poscunt neminem, §28secundum ludos reddunt autem nemini.
Cast out care and debt from your minds, lest anyone dread his dunning creditor: it is the games, a holiday has been given to the bankers; it is tranquil, Halcyon days are around the forum: they use reason, they demand from no one during the games, and indeed, after the games, they pay back to no one.
If your ears are vacant, turn your attention hither: I wish to give you the name of this comedy.
This comedy is called Clerumenoe in Greek, and in Latin Sortientes.
Deiphilus wrote this in Greek, and after that, once again anew, Plautus with his barking name put it into Latin.
Here lives an old married man; he has a son, who lives together with his father in that house.
§37est éi quidam servos, qui in morbo cubat, §38immo hercle vero in lecto, ne quid mentiar; §39is servos, sed abhinc annos factum est sedecim, §40quom conspicatust primulo crepusculo §41puellam exponi.
He has a certain slave, who lies sick in bed, nay, by Hercules, in a couch indeed, lest I tell any lie; this slave—but it happened sixteen years ago— when he saw at the very first twilight a girl being exposed.
adít extemplo ad mulierem §42quae illam exponebat, orat ut eam det sibi: §43exorat, aufert; detulit recta domum, §44dat erae suae, orat ut eam curet, educet.
He goes immediately to the woman who was exposing her, and begs her to give the girl to him: he wins her over, takes her away, and carried her straight home; he gives her to his mistress, and begs her to care for her and bring her up.
The mistress did so, and brought her up with great industry, just as if she were born of herself, not much otherwise.
§47postquam ea adolevit ad eam aetatem, ut viris §48placere posset, eam puellam hic senex §49amat efflictim, et item contra filius.
After she grew up to that age when she could please men, this old man fell desperately in love with this girl, and likewise, in turn, his son.
§50nunc sibi utérque contra legiones parat, §51paterque filiusque, clam alter alterum: §52pater adlegavit vilicum, qui posceret §53sibi istánc uxorem: is sperat, si ei sit data, §54sibi fore paratas clam uxorem excubias foris; §55filius is autem armigerum adlegavit suom, §56qui sibi eam uxorem poscat: scit, si id impetret, §57futurum quod amat intra praesepis suas.
Now each of them is preparing forces against the other, both father and son, secretly from one another: the father has commissioned his bailiff to ask for this girl as a wife for himself; he hopes, if she is given to him, that a watch will be prepared for him outside, secretly from his wife; but the son, in turn, has commissioned his armor-bearer to ask for her as a wife for himself; he knows, if he should obtain this, that what he loves will be within his own stalls.
The old man's wife perceived that her husband was devoting himself to love, therefore she agrees in union with her son.
§60ille autem postquam filium sensit suom §61eandem illam amare et esse ímpedimento sibi, §62hinc adulescentem peregre ablegavit pater; §63sciens ei mater dat operam absenti tamen.
But after he perceived that his son loved the very same girl and was an obstacle to him, the father sent the young man away abroad from here; yet the mother, knowing this, works on behalf of him who is absent.
§64is, ne exspectetis, hodie in hac comoedia §65in urbem non redibit: Plautus noluit, §66pontem interrupit, quí erat ei in itinere.
As for him, lest you expect him, today in this comedy he will not return to the city: Plautus did not wish it, and broke down the bridge that was on his journey.
There are some here who, I believe, are now saying to one another: "Pray, by Hercules, what is this?
§69servin uxorem ducent aut poscent sibi?
A slave marriage?
§70novom attulerunt, quod fit nusquam gentium.
Will slaves marry wives or ask for them for themselves?
” §71at ego aio id fieri in Graecia et Carthagini, §72et hic in nostra terra † in Apulia; §73maioreque opere ibi serviles nuptiae §74quam liberales etiam curari solent; §75id ni fit, mecum pignus si quis volt dato §76in urnam mulsi, Poenus dum iudex siet §77vel Graecus adeo, vel mea causa Apulus.
They have brought in a novelty, which happens nowhere in the world." But I say that this happens in Greece and in Carthage, and here in our land, in Apulia; and that there, slave marriages are cared for with greater effort than even those of free citizens; if this is not so, let anyone who wishes lay a wager with me for a jar of honey-wine, as long as a Carthaginian is the judge, or even a Greek, or for my sake, an Apulian.
§78quid nunc? nihil agitis? sentio, nemo sitit.
What now? Are you doing nothing? I perceive, no one is thirsty.