§58quasi mures semper edere alienum cibum, §59neque edacitate eos quisquam poterat vincere; §60atque eis cognómentum erat durís Capitonibus.
Just like mice, they were always eating other people's food, and no one could beat them in greediness; and they had the nickname of the hard-headed Capitones.
§61unde égo hunc quaestum optineo et maiorum locum.
From them I inherit this profession and the position of my ancestors.
§62neque quadrupulari me volo, neque enim decet §63sine meo periclo ire aliena ereptum bona, §64neque illí qui faciunt mihi placent. planen loquor?
And I do not want to be an informer, nor indeed is it fitting to go and snatch other people's property without any risk of my own, nor do those who do so please me. Am I speaking clearly?
§65nam publicae rei causa quicumque id facit §66magis quám sui quaesti, animus induci potest, §67eum esse civem ét fidelem ét bonum.
For whoever does this for the sake of the public weal rather than for his own gain, one can be persuaded that he is a loyal and good citizen.
§68sed §68asi legirupam qui damnet, det in publicum §69dimidium; atque etiam in ea lege adscribier: §70ubi quadrupulator quempiam iniexit manum, §71tantidem ille illi rursus iniciat manum, §72ut aequa parti prodeant ad tris viros: §73si id fiat, ne isti faxim nusquam appareant, §74qui hic albo rete áliena oppugnant bona.
But if anyone convicts a lawbreaker, let him pay to the public treasury a half; and let it also be written in that law: whenever an informer lays hands on anyone, let that person in turn lay hands on him for the same amount, so that they may go before the Triumvirs on equal terms: if that were done, I warrant those fellows would never appear anywhere, who here attack other people's property with a white net.
But am I a fool to care for public affairs, when there are magistrates whose duty it is to care for them?
§77nunc huc intro ibo, visam hesternas reliquias, §78quieríntne recte necne, num afuerit febris, §79opertaen fuerint, ne quis obreptaverit.
Now I will go in here, to see yesterday's leftovers, whether they have rested well or not, whether the fever has gone, whether they were covered up, lest anyone should have crept in.
§80sed aperiuntur aedes, remorandust gradus.
But the door is opening, I must slow my step.
I have found out the whole business, how the pimp with his own money is to make her his free woman today.
§83sed eccúm parasitum, quoius mi auxilio est opus.
But look, there is the parasite, whose help I need.
§84simulabo quasi non videam: ita alliciam virum.
I will pretend not to see him: thus I will entice the man.
Take care of things there and make haste more quickly, so that there may be no delay for me when I come inside.
§87commisce mulsum, struthea † coluthequam appara, §88bene ut in scutris concaleat, et calamum inice.
Mix the honey-wine, prepare the quince and [coluthea], so that it may warm up well in the dishes, and throw in the sweet cane.
§89iam pól ille hic aderit, credo, congerro meus.
By Pollux, he will be here soon, I believe, my companion.
§90Me dicit, euge.
He is speaking of me, excellent!
I believe he will soon be here, well washed from the baths.
§91bVt ordine omnem rem tenet.
How well he keeps everything in order.
See that the macaroni and the choice cuts are well soaked, lest you give them to me undercooked.
§93bRem loquitur meram.
He speaks the absolute truth.
§94nihili sunt crudae, nisi quas madidas gluttias; §95tum nisi cremore crassost ius collyricum, §96nihilist, macrum illud epicrocum pellucidum: §97quasi †iuream esse ius decet collyricum.
They are worth nothing raw, unless you swallow them well soaked; then, unless the macaroni broth is thick with cream, it is worth nothing, that thin, transparent, saffron-colored stuff: macaroni broth ought to be like [iurea].
§98nolo in vesicam quod eat, in ventrem volo.
I don't want what goes into the bladder, I want what goes into the belly.
§99Prope me hic nescio quis loquitur.
Someone or other is speaking here near me.
O my earthly Jupiter, your fellow-feaster addresses you.
§101O Saturio, opportune advenisti mihi.
O Saturio, you have come opportunely for me.
By Pollux, you are telling a lie, and it does not become you: for I come hungry, I do not come full.
§104At edes, nam iam intus ventris fumant focula.
But you shall eat, for inside the little hearths for the belly are already smoking.
§105calefieri iussi reliquias.
I have ordered the leftovers to be warmed up.
Indeed, it is right for ham to be served cold the next day.
§107Ita fieri iussi.
I ordered it to be done so.
§107bEcquid hallecis?
Is there any fish-sauce?
§107cVah, rogas?
Ah, you ask?
§108Sapis múltum ad genium.
You are very wise in pleasing your appetite.
But you, do you remember at all, master, what matter I made mention of to you yesterday?
I remember: that the lamprey and the conger-eel should not be warmed up; for they are devoured much better cold.
§112sed quid cessamus proelium committere?
But why do we delay to join battle?
§113dum mane est, omnis esse mortalis decet.
While it is morning, it is fitting for all mortals to eat.
§114Nimis paéne manest.
It is almost too early.
The business which you begin in the morning goes well the whole day.
§116Quaeso animum advorte hoc. iám heri narravi tibi §117tecumque oravi, ut nummos sescentos mihi §118dares utendos mutuos.
Please pay attention to this. I already told you yesterday and begged you to give me six hundred nummi as a loan for my use.
I remember and I know, both that you begged me and that I had nothing to give.
§120nihili parasitus est, cui árgentum domi est: §121lubido extemplo coeperest convivium, §122tuburcinari de suo, si quid domi est.
A parasite who has money at home is worth nothing: immediately a desire begins to have a feast, to devour from his own, if there is anything at home.
§123cynicum esse egentem oportet parasitum probe: §124ampullam, strigilem, scaphium, soccos, pallium, §125marsuppium habeat, inibi paullum praesidi, §126qui familiarem suam vitam oblectet modo.
A parasite ought to be a thoroughly needy Cynic: let him have an oil-flask, a strigil, a bowl, slippers, a cloak, a purse, and in it a little reserve, just enough to delight his private life.
I no longer want money: give me your daughter to use.
§128bNumquam edepol cuiquam etiam utendam dedi.
By Pollux, I have never yet given her to anyone to use.
§129Non ad istuc quod tu insimulas.
Not for that which you suspect.
§129bQuid eam vis?
What do you want her for?
§129cScies.
You'll soon find out.
§130quia forma lepida et liberali est.
Because she is of a charming and genteel appearance.
§130bRes itast.
That is indeed the case.
§131Hic leno neque te novit neque gnatam tuam.
This pimp knows neither you nor your daughter.
How should anyone know me, except the one who provides food?
hoc tu mihi reperire argentum potes.
That is so. By this means you can find the money for me.
§134Cupio hercle.
By Hercules, I desire to.