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Plautus · Curculio §337-407b

The Theft of the Ring and Lycon's Encounter

Passage 6 of 11 · Latin

Summary

Curculio relates how he met a soldier in Caria and stole his signet ring by getting him drunk during a game of dice. Meanwhile, Lycon the banker reflects on his finances and encounters the soldier's one-eyed messenger Harpax near the temple of Aesculapius.

§337med illo frustra advenisse. forte aspicio militem.
med illo frustra advenisse. forte aspicio militem. that I had come there in vain. By chance I spy a soldier.
§338aggredior hominem, saluto adveniens. salve inquit mihi, §339prendit dexteram, seducit, rogat quid veniam Cariam; §340dico me illo advenisse animi causa.
aggredior hominem, saluto adveniens. salve inquit mihi, I approach the man, I greet him as I arrive. "Greetings," he says to me, prendit dexteram, seducit, rogat quid veniam Cariam; takes my right hand, leads me aside, asks why I come to Caria; dico me illo advenisse animi causa. ibi me interrogat, I say that I came there for pleasure.
ibi me interrogat, §341ecquem in Epidauro Lyconem tarpezitam noverim.
There he asks me ecquem in Epidauro Lyconem tarpezitam noverim. whether I know any Lyco, a banker in Epidauros.
§342dico me novisse. quid? lenonem Cappadocem? annuo §343visitasse. sed quid eum vis? “quia de illo emi virginem §344triginta minis, vestem, aurum; et pro ís decem coáccedunt minae. ” §345dédisti tu argentum? inquam.
dico me novisse. quid? lenonem Cappadocem? annuo I say I know him. "What about the pimp Cappadox?" I nod visitasse. sed quid eum vis? “quia de illo emi virginem to having visited him. "But what do you want with him?" "Because I bought a maiden from him triginta minis, vestem, aurum; et pro ís decem coáccedunt minae.” for thirty minae, her clothing, her gold; and for those an additional ten minae are added." dédisti tu argentum? inquam. “ímmo ápud trapezitam situm est "Did you pay the money?" I say.
“ímmo ápud trapezitam situm est §346illum quem dixi Lyconem, atque ei mandavi, qui anulo §347meo tabellas obsignatas attulisset, ut daret §348operam, ut mulierem a lenone cum auro et veste abduceret. ” §349postquam hoc mihi narravit, abeo ab illo.
"No, it is deposited with the banker," illum quem dixi Lyconem, atque ei mandavi, qui anulo "that Lyco I mentioned, and I instructed him, that whoever" meo tabellas obsignatas attulisset, ut daret "sealed tablets of mine should bring, he should take care" operam, ut mulierem a lenone cum auro et veste abduceret.” "to let him take away the woman from the pimp with the gold and clothing." postquam hoc mihi narravit, abeo ab illo. revocat me ilico, After he told me this, I go away from him.
revocat me ilico, §350vocat me ad cenam; religio fuit, denegare nolui.
He recalls me on the spot, vocat me ad cenam; religio fuit, denegare nolui. invites me to dinner; it was a religious duty, I did not want to refuse.
§351quid si abeamus ac décumbamus? inquit.
quid si abeamus ac décumbamus? inquit. consilium placet: "What if we go and recline at table?" he says.
consilium placet: §352neque diem decet morari, neque nocti nocerier.
The plan pleases me: neque diem decet morari, neque nocti nocerier. it is not fitting to delay the day, nor to do harm to the night.
§353omnis res paratast . et nos, quibus paratum est, assumus. §354postquam cenati atque appoti, talos poscit síbi in manum, §355provocat me in aleam, ut ego ludam: pono pallium; §356ille suom amiculum opposivit, invocat Planesium.
omnis res paratast. et nos, quibus paratum est, assumus. Everything is ready. "And we, for whom it is prepared, are present." postquam cenati atque appoti, talos poscit síbi in manum, After we dined and drank well, he demands the dice into his hand, provocat me in aleam, ut ego ludam: pono pallium; challenges me to a game, so that I play: I stake my cloak; ille suom amiculum opposivit, invocat Planesium. he staked his mantle against it, and invokes Planesium.
§357Meosne amores?
Meosne amores? My love?
§357bTace parumper. iacit volturios quattuor.
Tace parumper. iacit volturios quattuor. Be silent a moment. He throws four vultures.
§358talos arripio, invoco almam meam nutricem Hérculem, §359iacto basilicum; propino magnum poclum: ille ebibit, §360caput deponit, condormiscit.
talos arripio, invoco almam meam nutricem Hérculem, I snatch the dice, invoke my nourishing nurse Hercules, iacto basilicum; propino magnum poclum: ille ebibit, throw a king's throw; I pledge him a large cup: he drinks it off, caput deponit, condormiscit. ego ei subduco anulum, drops his head, falls fast asleep.
ego ei subduco anulum, §361deduco pedes de lecto clam, ne miles sentiat.
I steal the ring from him, deduco pedes de lecto clam, ne miles sentiat. slip my feet off the couch secretly, lest the soldier perceive it.
§362rogant me servi quó eam: dico me ire quo saturi solent.
rogant me servi quó eam: dico me ire quo saturi solent. The slaves ask me where I am going: I say I am going where the full are wont to go.
§363ostium ubi conspexi, exinde me ilico protinam dedi.
ostium ubi conspexi, exinde me ilico protinam dedi. When I saw the door, from there I immediately took myself straight away.
§364Laudo.
Laudo. I praise you.
§364bLaudato quando illud quod cupis effecero.
Laudato quando illud quod cupis effecero. Praise me when I have accomplished that which you desire.
§365eamus nunc intro, ut tabellas consignemus.
eamus nunc intro, ut tabellas consignemus. Let us go inside now, so that we may seal the tablets.
§365bNum moror?
Num moror? Am I delaying?
§366Atque aliquid prius obstrudamus, pernam, sumen, glandium, §367haec sunt ventris stabilimenta, pane et assa bubula, §368poculum grande, aula magna, ut satis consilia suppetant.
Atque aliquid prius obstrudamus, pernam, sumen, glandium, And let us first stuff something down, ham, sow's udder, kernel, haec sunt ventris stabilimenta, pane et assa bubula, these are the stabilizers of the belly, with bread and roasted beef, poculum grande, aula magna, ut satis consilia suppetant. a large cup, a big jar, so that plans may be sufficiently supplied.
§369tu tabellas consignato, híc ministrabit, égo edam.
tu tabellas consignato, híc ministrabit, égo edam. You seal the tablets, this man here will serve, I will eat.
§370dicam quem ad modum conscribas. sequere me hac intro.
dicam quem ad modum conscribas. sequere me hac intro. I will tell you how you should write. Follow me inside this way.
§370bSequor. — §371Beatus videor: subduxi ratiunculam, §372quantum aeris mihi sit quantumque alieni siet:
Sequor.— I follow.— Beatus videor: subduxi ratiunculam, I seem to be well off: I have calculated a little account, quantum aeris mihi sit quantumque alieni siet: how much money I have and how much debt there is: dives sum, si non reddo eis quibus debeo.
§373dives sum, si non reddo eis quibus debeo.
I am rich, if I do not pay back those to whom I owe.
§375verum hercle vero cum belle recogito, §376si magis me instabunt, ad praetorem sufferam.
verum hercle vero cum belle recogito, But by Hercules, truly, when I reflect nicely, si magis me instabunt, ad praetorem sufferam. if they press me more, I will carry the matter to the praetor.
§380qui homo mature quaesivit pecuniam, §381nisi eam mature parsit, mature esurit.
qui homo mature quaesivit pecuniam, A man who has sought money early, nisi eam mature parsit, mature esurit. unless he saves it early, hungers early.
§382cupio aliquem emere puerum, qui usurarius §383nunc mihi quaeratur. usus est pecunia.
cupio aliquem emere puerum, qui usurarius I desire to buy some slave boy, who as a source of interest nunc mihi quaeratur. usus est pecunia. should be sought by me now. There is need of money.
§384Nil tu me saturum monueris. memini et scio.
Nil tu me saturum monueris. memini et scio. You need not advise me when I am full. I remember and I know.
§385ego hoc effectum lepide tibi tradam. tace.
ego hoc effectum lepide tibi tradam. tace. I will deliver this to you elegantly accomplished. Be silent.
§386edepol ne ego hic med intus explevi probe, §387et quidem reliqui in ventre cellae uni locum, §388ubi reliquiarum reliquias reconderem.
edepol ne ego hic med intus explevi probe, By Pollux, indeed I have filled myself up properly inside, et quidem reliqui in ventre cellae uni locum, and indeed I left room for one cell in my belly, ubi reliquiarum reliquias reconderem. where I might store away the leftovers of the leftovers.
§389quis hic est qui operto capite Aesculapium
quis hic est qui operto capite Aesculapium Who is this who with covered head greets Aesculapius?
§390salutat? attat, quem quaerebam. sequere me.
salutat? attat, quem quaerebam. sequere me. Aha! The very one I was looking for. Follow me.
§391simulabo quasi non noverim. heus tu, te volo.
simulabo quasi non noverim. heus tu, te volo. I will pretend as if I do not know him. Hey you, I want you.
§392Vnocule, salve.
Vnocule, salve. One-eye, greetings.
§392bQuaeso, deridesne me?
Quaeso, deridesne me? Pray, are you mocking me?
§393De Coclitum prosapia te esse arbitror, §394nam ei sunt unoculi.
De Coclitum prosapia te esse arbitror, I think you are of the stock of the Coclites, nam ei sunt unoculi. for they are one-eyed.
§394bCatapulta hoc ictum est mihi §395apud Sicyonem.
Catapulta hoc ictum est mihi This was struck by a catapult for me apud Sicyonem. at Sicyon.
§395bNam quid id refert mea, §396an aula quassa cum cinere effossus siet?
Nam quid id refert mea, For what does it matter to me, an aula quassa cum cinere effossus siet? whether it was gouged out by a broken jar with ashes?
§397Superstitiosus hic quidem est, véra praedicat; §398nam illaec catapultae ád me crebro commeant.
Superstitiosus hic quidem est, véra praedicat; This man indeed is prophetic, he speaks the truth; nam illaec catapultae ád me crebro commeant. for those catapults frequently fly at me.
§399adulescens, ob rem publicam hoc intus mihi §400quod insigne habeo, quaeso ne me incomities.
adulescens, ob rem publicam hoc intus mihi Young man, it is on account of the public interest that this in me, quod insigne habeo, quaeso ne me incomities. mark which I have, pray do not insult me.
§401Licetne ínforare, si incomitiare non licet?
Licetne ínforare, si incomitiare non licet? Is it allowed to "inforare" if it is not allowed to "incomitiare"?
§402Non inforabis me quidem, nec mihi placet §403tuom profecto nec forum nec comitium.
Non inforabis me quidem, nec mihi placet You will not "inforare" me indeed, nor does it please me, tuom profecto nec forum nec comitium. truly, neither your forum nor your comitium.
§404sed hunc, quem quaero, commonstrare si potes, §405inibis a me solidam et grandem gratiam.
sed hunc, quem quaerebam, commonstrare si potes, But if you can point out this man whom I seek, inibis a me solidam et grandem gratiam. you will enter into solid and great gratitude from me.
§406Lyconem quaero tarpezitam.
Lyconem quaero tarpezitam. I am looking for Lyco the banker.
§406bDic mihi, §407quid eum nunc quaeris? aut cuiati's?
Dic mihi, Tell me, quid eum nunc quaeris? aut cuiati's? why do you seek him now? Or of what country are you?
§407bEloquar.
Eloquar. I will speak.

Notes

  1. 337med — An archaic accusative (or ablative) form of the pronoun me, functioning here as the subject accusative of the infinitive advenisse.
  2. 341noverim — Perfect subjunctive in an indirect question introduced by ecquem, following the historical present main verb interrogat.
  3. 343visitasse — An accusative with infinitive construction dependent on annuo (I nod/agree), with the subject pronoun me omitted.
  4. 347attulisset — Pluperfect subjunctive representing a future perfect action from a past perspective, in sequence of tenses with the main verb mandavi.
  5. 352nocerier — An archaic form of the present passive infinitive (normally noceri), used here impersonally with the dative nocti.
  6. 362quo saturi solent — An elliptical phrase omitting a verb of motion like ire, meaning "where the full are accustomed to go," euphemistically referring to the latrine.
  7. 400incomities — A Plautine coinage derived from comitium, used with ne to form a prohibition, meaning "to obstruct in public (as in the assembly)" or "to insult."
  8. 401inforare — A wordplay based on forum, constructed to mirror incomitiare. It suggests "to transact business in the forum" while carrying a vulgar double meaning "to pierce, bore a hole."

Cite this passage

Plautus, Curculio §337-407b. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0119.phi008.humanitext-lat2:337-407b

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