§408ab Therapontigono Platagidoro milite.
From the soldier Therapontigonus Platagidorus.
By Pollux, I know the name, for while writing that name I filled four whole wax tablets.
§411sed quid Lyconem quaeris?
But why do you seek Lyco?
I was commanded to bring these tablets to him.
§412bQuis tu homo es?
Who are you?
§413Libertus illius, quem omnes Summanum vocant.
The freedman of him whom everyone calls Summanus.
§414Summane, salve.
Greetings, Summanus.
qui Summanu's? fac sciam.
Why are you called Summanus? Let me know.
Because when I fall asleep drunk, I wet (summano) my clothes; for that reason everyone calls me Summanus.
It is better for you to seek lodging elsewhere; with me, indeed, there is no place for a Summanus.
§419sed istúm quem quaeris ego sum.
But I am the very one whom you seek.
§420bEgo sum.
I am.
Therapontigonus ordered me to give you heartiest greetings, and ordered me to give you these tablets.
§422bMihin?
To me?
§422cIta.
Yes.
§423cape, signum nosce.
Take them, recognize the seal.
nostin?
Do you know it?
§423bQuidni noverim?
Why shouldn't I know it?
§424clupeatus elephantum ubi machaera dissicit.
Where a shield-bearing man cleaves an elephant with a sabre.
He had ordered me to entreat you that you do indeed what is written there, if you wished his favor.
§427Concede, inspiciam quid sit scriptum.
Step aside, let me inspect what is written.
By all means, as you wish, provided that I carry away from you what I seek.
§429“Miles Lyconi ín Epidauro hospiti §430suo Thérapontigonus Platagidorus plurimam §431salutem dicit. ” §431bMeus hic est, hamum vorat.
“The soldier Therapontigonus Platagidorus sends heartiest greetings to Lyco, his host in Epidauros.” (Aside) This fellow is mine, he's taking the bait.
§432“Tecum oro et quaeso, qui has tabellas adferet §433tibi, ut ei detur quam istic emi virginem, §434quod te praesente isti egi teque interprete, §435et aurum et vestem.
“I beg and entreat you, that the girl whom I bought there, as well as the gold and clothing, be given to him who brings these tablets to you, which transaction I made in your presence and with you as intermediary.
iam scis ut convenerit: §436argentum des lenoni, is huic det virginem. ”
You already know how it was agreed: give the money to the pimp, let him give the girl to this man.” Where is he himself?
§437ubi ipsus? cur non venit?
Why didn't he come?
§437bEgo dicam tibi: §438quia nudiusquartus venimus in Cariam §439ex India; ibi nunc statuam volt dare auream §440solidam faciundam ex auro Philippo, quae siet §441septempedalis, factis monumentum suis.
I will tell you: because three days ago we came into Caria from India; there he now wants to have a solid golden statue made of Philippeant gold, which is to be seven feet high, as a monument to his exploits.
§442Quam ob rem istuc?
Why that?
§442bDicam.
I will tell you.
quia enim Persas, Paphlagones, §443Sinopes, Arabes, Cares, Cretanos, Syros, §444Rhodiam atque Lyciam, Perediam et Perbibesiam, §445Centauromachiam et Classiam Vnomammiam, §446† Libyamque oram omnem Conterebromniam, §447dimidiam partem nationum usque omnium §448subegit solus intra viginti dies.
For because he, all by himself, subdued the Persians, Paphlagonians, Sinopians, Arabs, Carians, Cretans, Syrians, Rhodia and Lycia, Peredia and Perbibesia, Centauromachia and Classia Unomammia, and the whole coast of Libya Conterebromnia, up to a half part of all nations within twenty days.
§449Vah.
Wow!
§449bQuid mirare?
Why are you amazed?
§449cQuia enim in cavea si forent §450conclusi, ítidem ut pulli gallinacei, §451ita non potuere uno anno circumirier.
Because even if they were shut up in a coop just like chickens, they couldn't have been rounded up in one year.
§452credo hercle te esse ab illo, ita nugas blatis.
By Hercules, I believe you are from him, you babble such nonsense!
§453Immo etiam porro, si vis, dicam.
No, even further, if you wish, I will tell you.
§453bNil moror.
No need.
§454sequere hac, te absolvam qua advenisti gratia.
Follow me this way, I will discharge you for the sake of which you came.
§455atque eccum video.
And look, I see him.
leno, salve.
Pimp, greetings!
§455bDi te ament.
May the gods love you.
§456Quid hoc quod ad te venio?
What about this that I come to you for?
§456bDicas quid velis.
Say what you want.
§457Argentum accipias, cum illo mittas virginem.
Accept the money, send the maiden with him.
§458Quid quod iuratus sum?
What about the fact that I have sworn an oath?
What does it matter to you, as long as you get the money?
§459_460aQui monet quasi adiuvat.
He who advises is as good as helping.
§461sequimini.
Follow me.
Pimp, take care that there is no delay on your part for me.— By Pollux, Phaedromus has delightfully found this delightful trickster!
§463halapantam an sycophantam mágis esse dicam nescio.
Whether I should call him a grand rascal or a sycophant, I do not know.
§464ornamenta quae locavi metuo ut possim recipere; §465quamquam cum istoc mihi negoti nihil est: ipsi Phaedromo §466credidi; tamen asservabo.
I fear that I may not be able to get back the costumes which I let out; although I have no business with that fellow; I trusted Phaedromus himself; still, I will keep watch.
sed dum hic egreditur foras, §467commonstrabo, quo in quemque hominem facile inveniatis loco, §468ne nimio opere sumat operam si quem conventum velit, §469vel vitiosum vel sine vitio, vel probum vel improbum.
But while he is coming out, I will point out in what place you may easily find each kind of man, lest anyone should take too much trouble if he wishes to meet someone, whether vicious or without vice, whether honest or dishonest.
§470qui periurum convenire volt hominem ito in comitium; §471qui mendacem et gloriosum, ápud Cloacinae sacrum, §472ditis damnosos maritos sub basilica quaerito.
He who wants to meet a perjured man, let him go to the Comitium; he who wants to meet a liar and a braggart, let him go to the shrine of Cloacina; look for wealthy, spendthrift husbands under the Basilica.
§473ibidem erunt scorta exoleta quique stipulari solent, §474symbolarum collatores apud forum piscarium.
In the same place there will be worn-out harlots and those who are accustomed to bargain; contributors to picnics at the Fish Market.
§475in foro infimo boni homines atque dites ambulant, §476in medio propter canalem, ibi ostentatores meri; §477confidentes garrulique et malevoli supera lacum, §478qui alteri de nihilo audacter dicunt contumeliam §479et qui ipsi sat habent quod in se possit vere dicier.
In the lower Forum, honest and wealthy men walk about, in the middle, near the gutter, there are mere show-offs; bold, talkative, and malevolent men above the Lake, who boldly speak insults to another for nothing, and who themselves have plenty that could truly be said against them.
§480sub veteribus, ibi sunt qui dant quique accipiunt faenore.
Under the Old Shops, there are those who lend and those who take money at interest.
§481pone aedem Castoris, ibi sunt subito quibus credas male.
Behind the Temple of Castor, there are those whom you would suddenly be wrong to trust.
§482in Tusco vico, ibi sunt homines qui ipsi sese venditant,
In the Tuscan Street, there are men who offer themselves for sale,