§1Qui amáns egens ingressus est princeps in Amoris vias, §2superávit aerumnis suis aerumnas Herculi.
He who, being in love and in want, has first entered upon the paths of Love, has surpassed the labors of Hercules with his own labors.
§3nam cúm leone, cum éxcetra, cum cérvo, cum apro Aetólico, §4cum avibús Stymphalicís, cum Antaeo déluctari mávelim, §5quam cúm Amore: ita fio miser quaerendo argento mutuo, §6nec quicquam nisi
non est
sciunt mihi respondere quos rogo.
For I would rather wrestle with a lion, with a hydra, with a stag, with the Aetolian boar, with the Stymphalian birds, with Antaeus, than with Love. I am made so miserable by seeking borrowed money, and those whom I ask know how to answer me nothing but "there is none."
§7Qui eró suo servíre volt bene sérvos servitútem, §8ne illum edepol multa in pectore suo conlocare oportet, §9quae eró placere cénseat praesénti atque apsentí suo.
A slave who wishes to serve his master well in his servitude, by Pollux, he must store up many things in his breast which he thinks will please his master, whether present or absent.
§10ego neque lubenter servio neque satis sum ero ex sententia, §11sed quasi lippo oculo me érus meus manum apstinere hau quit tamen, §12quin mi imperet, quin me suis negotiis praefulciat.
I neither serve willingly, nor am I sufficiently to my master's liking, but just like a blear eye, my master cannot keep his hand off me, but he must command me, but he must prop me up with his business.
§13Quís illic est qui cóntra me astat?
Who is that standing opposite me?
§13bQuís hic est qui sic cóntra me astat?
Who is this standing thus opposite me?
§14Similis est Sagaristionis.
He looks like Sagaristio.
§14bToxilus híc quidem meus amicust.
Surely this is my friend Toxilus.
§15Ís est profecto.
It is he, indeed.
§15bEum esse opinor.
I think it is he.
§15cCongrediar.
I will go up to him.
§15dContra adgredibor.
I will go to meet him.
§16O Sagaristio, di ament te.
O Sagaristio, may the gods love you.
§16bO Toxilé, dabunt di quae exoptes.
O Toxilus, may the gods grant what you desire.
§17út vales?
How are you?
§17bÚt queo.
As well as I can.
§17cQuíd agitur?
What's going on?
§17dVívitur.
One lives.
§18Sátin ergo ex sententia?
Is it then quite to your mind?
§18bSi eveniunt quae exopto, satis.
If what I desire happens, quite.
§19Nimis stúlte amicis utere.
You treat your friends too foolishly.
§19bQuid iam?
Why so?
§19cImperare oportet.
You ought to command them.
§20Mihi quidem tu iám eras mortuos, quia non te visitabam.
To me indeed you were already dead, because I did not visit you.
For a little more than a year I was iron-bound at the mills, a flogged tribune.
§23Vetus iam ístaec militiast tua.
That is already an old military service of yours.
§23bSatin tu úsque valuisti?
Have you been quite well all along?
§23cHau probe.
Not very well.
§24Ergo edepol palles.
Therefore, by Pollux, you are pale.
I have been wounded in the battle of Venus: Cupid has pierced my heart with an arrow.
§25bIam servi hic amant?
Do slaves now fall in love here?
What should I do? Should I oppose the gods? Should I wage war with them like the Titans, whom I cannot match?
§28Vide modo, ulmeae catapultae tuom ne transfigant latus.
Just see to it that elmen catapults do not pierce your side.
§29Básilice ágito eleútheria.
I am celebrating the festival of freedom in a kingly fashion.
§29aQuíd iam?
Why so?
§29abQuia erus peregri est.
Because my master is abroad.
If you can bear to enjoy yourself, come: you shall live with me, you shall be received with kingly fare.
§32Váh, iam scapulae pruriunt, quia te ístaec audivi loqui.
Ah, my shoulder-blades are already itching because I heard you say those things.
§33Sed hoc me únum excruciat.
But this one thing tortures me.
§33bQuidnam id est?
What on earth is it?
Today is the final day, whether my mistress is to be free, or to serve in everlasting servitude.
§34abQuid núnc vis ergo?
What do you want now, then?
§35Fácere amicum tibi me potis es sempiternum.
You can make me your everlasting friend.
§35bQuem ad modum?
In what way?
§36Út mihi des nummos sescentos, quós pro capite illius pendam, §37quós continuo tibi reponam in hoc tríduo, aut quadriduo.
That you give me six hundred nummi, which I may pay for her freedom, which I will repay to you immediately within three or four days.
§38age fí benignus, subveni.
Come, be kind, help me.
§39Qua cónfidentia rogare tu á med argentum tantum audes, §40ímpudens? quin si egomet totus véneam, vix recipi potis est §41quód tu me rogas; nam tú aquam a púmice nunc póstulas, §42qui ípsus sitiat.
With what assurance do you dare to ask so much money from me, impudent fellow? Why, if I were to be sold entirely, what you ask of me could hardly be realized; for you are now asking water from a pumice stone, which itself is thirsty.
§42bSicine hoc te mihi fácere?
Is it thus that you treat me?
§42cQuid faciam?
What should I do?
§42dRogas?
Do you ask?
§43alicúnde exora mutuom.
Entreat a loan from somewhere.
§43bTu fác idem quod rogas me.
You do the same that you ask of me.
§44Quaesivi, nusquam repperi.
I have searched, and found it nowhere.
§44bQuaeram equidem, si quis credat.
I will indeed search, if anyone will trust me.
§45Nempe habeo in mundo.
Indeed, I have it in prospect.
If I had it at home, I would promise it at once: it is my way to act diligently.
§46bQuidquid erit, recipe te ad me.
Whatever happens, return to me.
§47quaeré tamen, ego item sedulo.
Still, do search; I will do the same diligently.
§47bSi quid erit, te faciam ut scias.
If anything comes up, I will let you know.
I entreat and entreat you again, give me your faithful assistance in this.
§48abAh, odio me énicas.
Ah, you are killing me with annoyance.
§49Amóris vitio, non meo, nunc tibi morologus fio.
By the fault of Love, not mine, I am now talking like a fool to you.
But, by Pollux, I will depart from you. — Are you going already? A good walk to you.
§51sed recipe quam primum potes, cave fúas mi in quaestione.
But return as soon as you can; take care that I do not have to search for you.
§52usque ero domi, dum excoxero lenoni malam rem magnam. — §53Veterem atque antiquom quaestum maiorum meum §54servo atque obtineo et magna cum cura colo.
I will be at home all the time, until I have cooked up a great mischief for the pimp. — The old and ancient trade of my ancestors I preserve and maintain and cultivate with great care.
§55nam numquam quisquam meorum maiorum fuit, §56quin parasitando paverint ventres suos: §57patér, avos, proavos, abavos, atavos, tritavos
For there was never any of my ancestors but that they fed their bellies by playing the parasite: father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, great-great-great-grandfather, great-great-great-great-grandfather.