Where should I say you are setting out for out of doors at this time of night, with that garb and with this retinue, Phaedromus?
§3Quo Venus Cupidoque imperat, suadet Amor: §4si media nox est sive est prima vespera, §5si status condictus cum hoste intercedit dies, §6tamen est eundum quo imperant ingratiis.
Whither Venus and Cupid command, and Love persuades: whether it is midnight or the first part of evening, even if a set day agreed upon with an enemy intervenes, still one must go whither they command, even against one's will.
But at last, at last— You are troublesome to me at last.
That indeed is neither fine nor memorable: you yourself are a servant to yourself, and though elegant, you light your own candle.
Should I not carry what is gathered by the labor of little bees, springing from my sweet, sweet honey?
§12Nam quo te dicam ego ire?
For where should I say you are going?
§13bSi rogitem, quid respondeas?
If I should ask, what would you answer?
§14Hoc Aesculapi fanum est.
This is the temple of Aesculapius.
§14bPlus iam anno scio.
I have known that for more than a year now.
§15Huic proxumum illud ostiumst oculissimum.
Next to this is that door, the dearest of all to my eyes.
§16salve, valuistin? §16bOstium occlusissimum, §17caruitne febris te herí vel nudiustertius §18et heri cenavistine? §18bDeridesne me?
"Hail, have you been well?" A most tightly closed door, "did a fever leave you yesterday or the day before, and did you dine yesterday?" Are you mocking me?
§19Quid tu ergo, insane, rogitas valeatne ostium?
Why then, madman, do you ask if the door is well?
§20Bellissimum hercle vidi et taciturnissimum, §21numquam ullum verbum muttit: cum aperitur tacet, §22cum ílla noctu clanculum ad me exit, tacet.
By Hercules, I have seen it as the most beautiful and most silent thing, it never mutters a single word: when it is opened it is silent, when she secretly comes out to me at night, it is silent.
Are you doing or attempting to do some deed, Phaedromus, that is unworthy of you or of your family?
Are you laying snares for some chaste woman, or one who ought to be chaste?
§27bEgo item volo.
I wish the same.
Always direct your love in this way, if you are wise, lest if the people should know what you love, it should be a disgrace to you.
§30semper curato ne sis intestabilis.
Always take care that you do not become a man of no credit.
§32Quid istúc est verbi?
What kind of word is that?
That you should walk cautiously on your path: love what you love with witnesses present.
§33Quin leno hic habitat.
But a procurer lives here.
No one prevents or forbids you from here to buy what is openly for sale, if you have the money.
§35nemo ire quemquam publica prohibet via; §36dum ne per fundum saeptum facias semitam, §37dum ted abstineas nupta, vidua, virgine, §38iuventúte et pueris liberis, ama quid lubet.
No one forbids anyone to travel on the public road; as long as you do not make a path through a fenced estate, as long as you abstain from a married woman, a widow, a virgin, youths, and freeborn boys, love what you please.
§39Lenonis hae sunt aedes.
These are the house of the procurer.
§39bMale istis evenat.
May it go badly for them.
§40Qui?
Why?
§40bQuia scelestam servitutem serviunt.
Because they serve a wicked servitude.
§41Obloquere.
Speak up.
§41bFiat maxume.
By all means, let it be done.
§41cEtiam taces?
Are you still not silent?
§42Nempe obloqui me iusseras.
Indeed, you had ordered me to speak up.
§42bAt nunc veto.
But now I forbid it.
§43sed ita uti occepi dicere: ei ancillula est.
But as I began to say: he has a young slave-girl.
§44Nempe huic lenoni qui hic habitat?
Indeed, this procurer who lives here?
§44bRecte tenes.
You grasp it correctly.
§45Minus fórmidabo, ne excidat.
I shall fear less lest it slip my mind.
§45bOdiosus es.
You are annoying.
§46eam vólt meretricem facere.
He wants to make her a courtesan.
éa me deperit, §47ego autem cum illa facere nolo mutuom.
She is dying of love for me, but I do not want to have a mutual relation with her.
§48Quid ita?
Why so?
§48bQuia proprium facio: amo pariter simul.
Because I make her my own: I love her equally at the same time.
§49Malus clándestinus est amor, damnumst merum.
Clandestine love is bad, it is sheer loss.
§50Est hercle ita ut tu dicis.
By Hercules, it is just as you say.
§50bIamne ea fert iugum?
Is she already bearing the yoke?
She is as chaste towards me as if she were my sister, unless she is somewhat unchaste in kissing.
Always know this, flame is very close to smoke; nothing can be burned by smoke, but it can by flame.
He who wants to eat the kernel from the nut breaks the nut: he who wants to lie down clears the path with kisses.
§57At illa ést pudica neque dum cubitat cum viris.
But she is chaste and does not yet sleep with men.
§58Credam, pudor si cuiquam lenoni siet.
I would believe it, if there were any shame in any procurer.
§59Immo ut illam censes? ut quaeque illi occasiost,
Nay, how do you think she is?
§60subripere se ad me; ubi savium oppegit, fugit.
As often as she has an opportunity, she steals away to me; when she has pressed a kiss, she flees.
This happens because this procurer, the one who lies sick in the temple of Aesculapius, tortures me.
§62bQuid est?
What is it?
§63Alias me poscit pro illa triginta minas, §64alias talentum magnum; neque quicquam queo §65aequi bonique ab eo impetrare.
Sometimes he demands thirty minae from me for her, sometimes a great talent; nor can I obtain anything fair and good from him.
You are unjust, who demand from him what belongs to no procurer.
Now I have sent my parasite from here to Caria to ask for money as a loan from my friend.
§69quod si non affert, quo me vortam nescio.
If he does not bring it, I do not know where to turn.
§70Si deos salutas, dextrovorsum censeo.
If you salute the gods, I recommend turning to the right.
Now this is the altar of Venus before their doors; I have vowed to offer a breakfast to Venus.
§73Quid? tu te pones Veneri ieientaculo?
What? Will you offer yourself as a breakfast to Venus?
§74Me, te atque hosce omnis.
Myself, you, and all these here.
§74bTum tu Venerem vomere vis.
Then you want Venus to vomit.
§75Cedo, puere, sinum.
Give me the vessel, boy.