§128mi auctores ita sunt amici, ut vos hinc abducam domum.
My friends advise me in such a way that I should lead you away from here to my home.
§129At enim nos, quarum res agitur, aliter auctores sumus.
But indeed we, whose business is at stake, advise otherwise.
§130nam aut olim, nisi tibi placebant, non datas oportuit, §131aut nunc non aequomst abduci, pater, illisce apsentibus.
For either formerly, if they did not please you, we ought not to have been given to them, or now it is not just for us to be led away, father, while they are absent.
§132Vosne ego patiar cum mendicis nuptas me vivo viris?
Am I to suffer you, while I am alive, to remain married to beggar husbands?
§133Placet ille meus mihi mendicus: suos rex reginae placet.
My beggar is pleasing to me; her own king is pleasing to a queen.
§134idem animust in paupertate qui olim in divitiis fuit:
The same mind is in poverty that formerly was in riches.
§136non tu me argento dedisti, opinor, nuptum, sed viro.
You did not, I think, give me in marriage to money, but to a husband.
§137Quid illos exspectatis, quí abhinc iam abierunt triennium?
Why do you wait for those who have already departed from here three years ago?
§138quin vos capitis condicionem ex pessuma primariam?
Why do you not choose an excellent marriage proposal instead of the worst situation?
§139Stultitiast, pater, venatum ducere invitas canes.
It is foolishness, father, to lead unwilling dogs to hunt.
§140hostis est uxor, invita quae viro nuptum datur.
A wife who is given in marriage to a husband against her will is an enemy.
§141Certumne est neutram vostrarum persequi imperium patris?
Is it determined that neither of you will follow your father's command?
§142Persequimur, nam quo dedisti nuptum, abire nolumus.
We do follow it, for we do not wish to depart from where you gave us in marriage.
§143Bene valete.
Fare you well.
ibo atque amicis vostra consilia eloquar.
I will go and relate your decisions to my friends.
§144Probiores credo arbitrabunt, si probis narraveris.
I believe they will think us more upright, if you relate it to upright men.
§145Curate igitur familiarem rem ut potestis.
Take care then of your household affairs as best you can.
Very well, now you please us, since you direct us rightly; now we will listen to you.
§147nunc, soror, abeamus intro.
Now, sister, let us go inside.
§147bÍmmo intervisam domum.
Nay, I will go look after my house.
§148si a viro tibi forte veniet nuntius, facito ut sciam.
If by chance a messenger comes to you from your husband, make sure I know.
— §149Neque ego te celabo, neque tu me celassis quod scias.
Neither will I conceal anything from you, nor must you conceal from me what you know.
Hey, Crocotium, go, summon the parasite Gelasimus here, bring him with you; for indeed I want to send him to the harbor, if by chance any ship from Asia has arrived yesterday or today.
nam illum ecastor mittere ad portum volo, §152si quae forte ex Asia navis heri aut hodie venerit. §153nam dies totos apud pórtum servos unus assidet; §154sed tamen volo intervisi.
For one servant sits by the harbor all day long; but still I want it to be inspected.
propera atque actutum redi.
Hasten and return immediately.
I suspect that Hunger was my mother, for since I was born, I have never been full.
§157neque quisquam melius referet matri gratiam §158neque rettulit, quam ego refero meae matri Fami.
And no one will return gratitude to a mother better, nor has returned it, as I return it to my mother Hunger.
For she carried me in her womb for ten months, but I have been carrying her in my womb for more than ten years.
§161atque illa puerum me gestavit parvolum, §162quo minus laboris cepisse illam existumo: §163ego non pauxillulam in utero gesto famem, §164verum hercle multo maximam et gravissimam;
And she carried me as a very small boy, on which account I think she undertook less labor; I do not carry a tiny hunger in my womb, but indeed by far the greatest and heaviest.
Pains of the womb arise for me daily, but I cannot give birth to my mother, nor do I know what to do.
§167atque auditavi saepe hoc volgo dicier, §168solere elephantum gravidam perpetuos decem §169esse annos; eius ex sémine haec certost fames, §170nam iam complures annos utero haeret meo.
And I have often heard this commonly said, that a pregnant elephant is accustomed to be for ten whole years; from its seed this hunger is certainly born, for now for several years it has been clinging to my womb.
§171nunc si ridiculum hominem quaerat quispiam, §172venalis ego sum cum ornamentis omnibus; §173inanimentis explementum quaerito.
Now, if anyone should look for a funny man, I am for sale with all my trappings; I am seeking a filling for my empty parts.
My father gave me the name Gelasimus when I was little, because even from a tiny boy I was funny.
† §176propter pauperiem hoc adeo nomen repperi, §177eo quía paupertas fecit ridiculus forem; §178nam illa artis omnis perdocet, ubi quem attigit.
On account of poverty I obtained this very name, for this reason, because poverty made me funny; for she thoroughly teaches all arts, when she has touched anyone.
My father said that I was born during a high price of grain; on that account, I believe, I hunger more sharply now.
But to our race this kindness has been returned: I am accustomed to refuse no one, if anyone invites me to eat.
§183oratio una interiit hominum pessume, §184atque optuma hercle meo animo et scitissuma, §185qua ante utebantur: “véni illo ad cenam, sic face, §186promitte vero, ne gravare.
One speech of men has perished most miserably, and indeed, in my mind, the best and most sensible one, which they used before: “Come thither to dinner, do so, promise indeed, do not be reluctant.
est commodum?
Is it convenient?
§187volo inquam fieri, non amittam quin eas. ” §188nunc reppererunt iam ei verbo vicarium §189(nihili quidem hercle verbumst ac vilissimum): §190vocem te ad cenam, nisi egomet cenem foris. §191ei hércle ego verbo lumbos diffractos velim, §192ni vere perierit, si cenassit domi.
I want it, I say, to happen, I will not let you go unless you go.” Now they have already found a substitute for that word (indeed, by Hercules, it is a worthless and most vile word): “I would invite you to dinner, unless I myself were dining out.” Indeed, by Hercules, I would wish the loins of that word to be broken, unless he should truly perish, if he should dine at home.