§1Crédo egó miserám §1afuísse Penelopam, §2sorór, suo ex animo, §2aquae tám diu vidua §3viró suo caruit; §3anam nós eius ánimum §4de nóstris factis nóscimus, quarúm viri hinc ápsunt, §5quorúmque nos negótiis apséntum, ita ut aéquom est, §6sollícitae noctes ét dies, sorór, sumus sémper.
I believe, sister, that Penelope was miserable from the bottom of her heart, who for so long, as a widow, was deprived of her husband; for we know her feeling from our own experiences, we whose husbands are absent from here, and for whose affairs while they are away, as is only right, we are always anxious night and day, sister.
It is right that we do our duty, and we do not do it any more than duty (pietas) admonishes us.
But sit down here a moment, sister: I want to speak many things with you about my husband's affair.
§10bSalvéne, amabo?
Are they well, pray?
§11Speró quidem et volo; sed hóc, soror, crúcior, §12patrém tuom meúmque adeo, unice qui unus † §13civíbus ex omnibus probús perhibetur, §14eúm nunc improbi viri ófficio uti, §15virís qui tantas apséntibus nóstris §16facit íniurias immérito §17nosque áb eis abducére volt.
I hope so indeed and wish it; but by this, sister, I am tortured, that your father and indeed mine, who alone among all the citizens is uniquely reported to be honorable, is now acting the part of a wicked man, who does such great injuries undeservedly to our absent husbands and wants to take us away from them.
These things weary me of life, sister; these are a grief and decay to me.
§20Ne lácruma, soror, neu túo id animo §21fac quod tíbi tuos pater faceré minatur: §22spes ést eum melius fácturum.
Do not weep, sister, nor let your mind do that which your father threatens to do to you: there is hope that he will act better.
§23novi égo illum: ioculo istaec dicit, §24neque illé sibi mereat Pérsarum §25montís, qui esse aurei pérhibentur, §26ut istúc faciat quod tú metuis.
I know him: he says those things in jest; nor would he purchase for himself the mountains of the Persians, which are said to be of gold, to do that which you fear.
Yet if he should do so, it is by no means fitting to be angry, nor will that happen undeservedly.
For since our husbands departed from home, this is the third year.
§30bIta út memoras.
Just as you say.
§31Quom ipsi ínterea vivánt, valeant, §32ubi sínt, quid agant, ecquíd agant, §33neque párticipant nos, néque redeunt.
While they themselves in the meantime live and are well, where they are, what they are doing, whether they are doing anything at all, they neither share with us nor return.
Are you grieving, sister, because they do not cultivate their duty while you do yours?
§36bIta pol.
So indeed, by Pollux.
Be silent, please, and take care that I do not hear that from you hereafter.
§38bNam quíd iam?
Why so now?
Because, by Pollux, in my mind it is right for every wise person to cultivate and do their own duty.
§41quam ob rem égo te hoc, soror, tametsi és maior, §42moneo, út tuom memineris ófficium: §43etsi ílli improbi sint átque aliter §44nobís faciant quam aequómst, tam pol §45ne quíd magis simus omnibus obníxe opibus §46nostrum ófficium meminísse decet.
Therefore I, sister, although you are older, advise you of this, to remember your duty: even if they should be wicked and act toward us otherwise than is right, still, by Pollux, it is fitting for us to do nothing more than to remember our duty with all our might.
§47Placet; táceo.
Agreed; I am silent.
§47bAt memineris fácito.
But make sure you remember.
§48Nolo égo, soror, me credi esse immemorem viri, §49neque ille éos honores, mihi quos habuit, perdidit; §50nam pol mihi grata acceptaque eiust benignitas.
I do not wish, sister, to be believed to be unmindful of my husband, nor has he lost those honors which he held for me; for indeed his kindness is pleasing and acceptable to me.
§51et me quidem haec condicio nunc non paenitet, §52neque est cur studeam has nuptias mutarier; §53verum postremo in patris potestate est situm: §54faciendum id nobis quod parentes imperant.
And indeed I do not regret this present condition now, nor is there any reason why I should strive for this marriage to be changed; but in the end, it is situated in the power of our father: we must do what our parents command.
I know, and in thinking of it I am increased in grief, for he has now almost shown his opinion.
§58Quí manet ut moneatur semper servos homo officium suom §59nec voluntáte id facere meminit, servos is habitu hau probust.
An individual slave who always waits to be admonished about his duty and does not remember to do it of his own accord, that slave is by no means approved in his conduct.
§60vos meministis quot kalendis petere demensum cibum: §61qui minus méministis quod opus sit facto facere in aedibus?
You remember on every Kalends to demand your measured allowance of food; why do you less remember to do what is necessary to be done in the house?
§62iam quidem in súo quicqué loco nisi erit mihi situm supellectilis, §63quom ego revortar, vos monimentis commonefaciam bubulis.
Indeed soon, unless every piece of furniture is placed in its own spot for me, when I return, I will remind you with bovine memorials.
§64non homines habitare mecum mi hic videntur, sed sues.
It seems to me that not men are living here with me, but swine.
§65facite sultis, nitidae ut aedes meae sint, quom redeam domum.
Take care, please, that my house is shining clean when I return home.
§66iam ego domi adero: ad meam maiorem filiam inviso modo; §67siquis me quaéret, inde vocátote aliqui; aut iam egomet hic ero.
Soon I will be at home: I am just going to visit my older daughter; if anyone seeks me, summon me from there, some of you; or else I will be here myself soon.
§68Quid agimus, soror, si óffirmabit pater adversum nos?
What do we do, sister, if father stands firm against us?
It is necessary for us to endure what he does, whose power can do more.
§70exorando, haud adversando sumendam operam censeo: §71gratiam per si petimus, spero áb eo impetrassere; §72adversari sine dedecore et scelere summo haud possumus,
I think we should apply our efforts by entreating, not by opposing: if we seek through favor, I hope to obtain our request from him; we cannot oppose him without disgrace and the greatest wickedness.