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Plautus · Truculentus §316-383

Diniarchus's Regret and Reunion with Phronesium

Passage 6 of 16 · Latin

Summary

Diniarchus enters as Astaphium exits; he regrets wasting his wealth but is instantly captivated by the beauty of Phronesium, who has just finished bathing. After an affectionate reunion, Diniarchus inquires about her suspicious activities during his absence.

§316tam esse tristem posse.
that he could be so grumpy.
at pol ero benevolens visust suo.
But, by Pollux, he seemed well-disposed to his master.
§317verum ego illúm, quamquam violentust, spero inmutari pote §318blandimentis, oramentis, ceteris meretriciis; §319vidi equom ex indomito domitum fieri atque alias beluas.
But I hope that he, although he is violent, can be changed by flattery, finery, and other courtesans' arts; I have seen a horse become tame from being wild, and other beasts too.
§320nunc ad eram revidebo.
Now I will go back to see my mistress.
sed eccum ódium progreditur meum.
But look, my nuisance is coming forward.
§321tristis exit.
He comes out sad.
haud convenit etiam hic dum Phronesium.
I have not yet met Phronesium here.
§322Piscis ego credo, qui usque dum vivont lavant, §323minus diú lavare quam haec lavat Phronesium.
I believe that fish, which wash themselves as long as they live, wash for less time than this Phronesium washes.
§324si proinde amentur, mulieres diu quam lavant, §325omnes amantes balneatores sient.
If women were loved in proportion to how long they wash, all lovers would have to be bath-keepers.
§326Non quis parumper durare opperirier?
Can't you bear to wait for a little while?
§327Quin hercle lassus iam sum durando miser: §328mihi quoque prae lassitudine opus est ut lavem.
Indeed, by Hercules, I am already wretchedly tired of waiting: from weariness I also need to wash.
§329sed obsecro hercle, Astaphium, i intro ac nuntia §330me adesse, ut properet suade, iam ut satis laverit.
But I entreat you, by Hercules, Astaphium, go inside and announce that I am here; urge her to hurry, as she has washed enough by now.
§331Licet.
Very well.
§331bAudin etiam?
Are you still listening?
§331cQuid vis?
What do you want?
§331dDi me perduint,
May the gods destroy me, who called you back.
§332qui te revocavi. non tibi dicebam i modo?
Didn't I just tell you to go?
§333Quidnam revocabas? improbu's nihilique homo:
Why on earth did you call me back?
§334tute tibi mille passum peperisti moram.
You are a wicked and worthless man; you yourself have brought upon yourself a delay of a thousand paces.
§335Sed quid haec hic autem tam diu ante aedis stetit?
But why, moreover, did she stand here for so long before the house?
§336nescio quem praestolata est; credo, militem.
She was waiting for someone; I believe, the soldier.
§337illum student iam; quasi volturii triduo §338prius praédivinant, quo die esuri sient: §339illum inhiant omnes, illi est animus omnibus; §340me nemo magis respiciet, ubi is huc venerit, §341quasi abhinc ducentos annos fuerim mortuos.
They are eager for him now; just as vultures foreknow three days beforehand on what day they are going to be hungry; they all gape for him, the mind of all is on him; no one will look back at me any more, when he comes here, as if I had been dead two hundred years ago.
§342ut rem servare suave est! vae misero mihi,
How sweet it is to preserve one's property!
§343post factum flector, qui antepartum perdidi.
Woe to wretched me, I change my mind after the deed, I who lost what was acquired before.
§344verum nunc si qua mi obtigerit hereditas §345magna atque luculenta, nunc postquam scio §346dulce atque amarum quid sit ex pecunia, §347ita ego íllam edepol servem itaque parce victitem, §348ut—nulla faxim cis dies paucos siet; §349ego istós, qui nunc me culpant, confutaverim.
But now, if any great and splendid inheritance should fall to me, now after I know what sweet and bitter come from money, by Pollux, I would preserve it and live so sparingly, that— I would make sure there is none of it left within a few days; I would silence those who now find fault with me.
§350sed aestuosas sentio aperiri fores, §351quae obsorbent quidquid venit intra pessulos.
But I feel the burning doors opening, which swallow up whatever comes within the bolts.
§352Num tibi nam, amabo, ianua est mordax mea, §353quo intro ire metuas, mea voluptas?
Surely, my love, my door is not biting to you, so that you are afraid to go inside, my pleasure?
§353bVer vide, §354ut tota floret, ut olet, ut nitide nitet.
See the Spring, how she blooms all over, how she smells, how brightly she shines.
§355Quid tam inficetu's, Lemno adveniens qui tuae §356non des amicae, Diniarche, savium?
Why are you so impolite, Diniarchus, coming from Lemnos and not giving a kiss to your girlfriend?
§357Vah, vapulo hercle ego nunc, atque adeo male.
Ah, by Hercules, I am beaten now, and very badly too.
§358Quo te avortisti?
Why did you turn away?
§358bSalva sis, Phronesium.
Greetings, Phronesium.
§359Salve.
Greetings.
hicine hodie cenas, salvos cum advenis?
Will you dine here today, since you have arrived safe?
§360Promisi.
I have promised.
§360bVbi cenabis?
Where will you dine?
§360cVbi tu iusseris.
Where you command.
§361Hic me lubente facies.
Here, making me happy, you will do so.
§361bEdepol me magis.
By Pollux, myself even more so.
§362nempe tú eris hodie mecum, mea Phronesium?
Surely you will be with me today, my Phronesium?
§363Velim, si fieri possit.
I would like to, if it could be done.
§363bCedo soleas mihi, §364properate, auferte mensam.
Give me my sandals, hurry, take away the table.
§364bAmabo, sanun es?
Please, are you sane?
§365Non edepol bibere possum iam, ita animo malest.
By Pollux, I cannot drink now, so sick am I at heart.
§366Mane, aliquid fiet, né abi.
Stay, something will be arranged, don't go.
§366bAh, aspersisti aquam.
Ah, you have sprinkled water.
§367iam rediit animus.
Now my spirit has returned.
deme soleas, cedo bibam.
Take off my sandals, give me to drink.
§368Idem es mecastor qui soles. sed dic mihi,
By Castor, you are the same as you always are.
§369benene ambulatumst?
But tell me, was it a good journey?
§369bHuc quidem hercle ad te bene, §370quia tui videndi copia est.
Indeed, by Hercules, to this place to you it was good, because there is an opportunity of seeing you.
§370bComplectere.
Embrace me.
§371Lubens.
Gladly.
heia, hoc est melle dulci dulcius.
Ah, this is sweeter than sweet honey.
§372hoc tuis fortunis, Iuppiter, praestant meae.
My fortunes, Jupiter, excel yours.
§373Dan savium?
Do you give me a kiss?
§373bImmo vel decem.
Nay, even ten.
§373cEm istoc pauper es: §374semper plus pollicere quam ego abs te postulo.
There, by that you are poor; you always promise more than I ask of you.
§375Vtinam a principio reí item parsisses meae §376ut nunc reparcis saviis.
Would that from the beginning you had spared my property in the same way as you now spare your kisses.
§376bSi quid tibi §377compendi facere possim, factum edepol velim.
If I could make any saving for you, by Pollux, I would wish it done.
§378Iam lauta es?
Are you washed now?
§378bIam pol mihi quidem atque oculis meis.
Indeed, by Pollux, to myself and to my eyes.
§379num tibi sordere videor?
Do I seem dirty to you?
§379bNon pol mihi quidem; §380verum tempestas, memini, quondam etiam fuit, §381cum inter nos sordebamus alter de altero.
Indeed, by Pollux, not to me; but I remember there was also once a time when we seemed dirty to one another.
§382sed quid ego facinus audivi adveniens tuom, §383quod tu hic me absente novi negoti gesseris?
But what deed of yours did I hear of on my arrival, what new business you have carried on here in my absence?

Notes

  1. §321haud convenit etiam hic dum Phronesium — Although the manuscript reading 'convenit' can be interpreted as an impersonal verb ('it is not fitting/convenient'), this translation follows the common emendation to 'conveni' (first-person perfect, 'I have not met'), meaning 'I have not yet met Phronesium here.' 'hic dum' (or 'hicdum') is an adverbial expression meaning 'yet here'.
  2. §343antepartum — A combination of the preposition 'ante' and the noun 'partus' (what has been acquired). In this context, it contains a double-edged comical regret over his wastefulness: either 'I who lost it before it was even acquired' or 'I who lost what had been previously acquired.'
  3. §347-348ita ego íllam edepol servem itaque parce victitem, ut—nulla faxim cis dies paucos siet — The 'ita... ut...' construction initially sets up an expectation of a positive result ('I would preserve it and live so sparingly that...'), but is humorously subverted in the 'ut' clause by the punchline: '...that I would make sure none of it is left within a few days!' This self-irony highlights his irrepressible spendthrift nature.
  4. §375-376utinam a principio reí item parsisses meae ut nunc reparcis saviis — The verbs 'parco' and 'reparco' govern the dative (or ablative) case, meaning 'to spare, be saving of.' While Phronesium generously offers even ten kisses, Diniarchus ironically contrasts this with his ruined wealth, wishing she had spared his money from the beginning just as she is now 'sparing' (i.e., treating gently/lavishing) him with her kisses.

Cite this passage

Plautus, Truculentus §316-383. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0119.phi020.humanitext-lat2:316-383

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

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