§74postremo id magno in populo † mulier hominibus, §75re placida atque otiosa, victis hostibus: §76amare oportet omnes qui quod dent habent.
Finally, in this great people, †...†, when affairs are peaceful and quiet, and the enemies are conquered: it is fitting for all who have something to give, to be in love.
§77nam mihi haec méretrix quae hic habet, Phronesium, §78suom nómen omne ex pectore exmovit meo, §78aphronesim, nam phronesis est sapientia.
For this courtesan Phronesium, who lives here, has completely removed her own name from my breast, "phronesis", for "phronesis" is wisdom.
§79nam me fuisse huic fateor summum atque intumum, §80quod amantis multo pessimum est pecuniae; §81eadem postquam alium repperit qui plus daret, §82damnosiorem, † mihi exinde immovit loco, §83quem antehác odiosum sibi esse memorabat mala, §84Babyloniensem militem.
For I confess that I was the highest and most intimate with her, which is by far the worst thing for a lover's money; after that same woman found another who would give more, a more ruinous one, she then moved me from my place, for the sake of him whom the wicked woman used to say was hateful to her, the Babylonian soldier.
is nunc dicitur §85venturus peregre; eo nunc commenta est dolum: §86peperisse simulat sese, ut me extrudat foras §87atque ut cum solo pergraecetur milite; §88eum esse simulat militem puero patrem.
He is now said to be coming from abroad; therefore she has now devised a trick: she pretends that she has given birth, so that she may thrust me out of doors and that she may feast in the Greek fashion with the soldier alone; she pretends that that soldier is the father to the boy.
§88aeum istí suppositum puerum opinor pessumae.
I think that a substitute boy has been supplied to her by that most wicked woman.
§89mihi verba retur dare se? án me censuit
Does she think she is deceiving me?
§90celare se potesse, gravida si foret?
Or did she believe she could conceal it from me, if she were pregnant?
For I arrived in Athens from Lemnos only the day before yesterday, whither I had been as an envoy from here with a public commission.
But indeed, here is her maidservant, Astaphium; with her too I have had dealings.
§95Ad fores auscultate atque adservate aedis, §96ne quis adventor gravior abaetat quam adveniat, §97neu, qui manus attulerit steriles intro ad nos, §98gravidas foras exportet.
Listen at the doors and watch the house, lest any visitor should go away heavier than he arrived, nor lest he who brought empty hands into our house should carry them out full.
novi ego hominum mores; §99ita nunc adulescentes morati sunt: quini §100aut seni adveniunt ad scorta congerrones; §101consulta sunt consilia: quando intro advenerunt, §102oenús eorum aliqui oscúlum amicae usque oggerít, dum illi agant ceterí cleptae; §103sin vídent quempiam se adsérvare, obludiánt qui custodem óblectent §104per ióculum et ludum; dé nostro saepe édunt: quod fartorés, faciunt.
I know the ways of men; thus the young men are behaved nowadays: five or six companions come together to the courtesans; their plans are already consulted: when they have come inside, one of them keeps thrusting kisses on the mistress, while the other thieves do their work; but if they see someone watching them, they play tricks to amuse the guard through joke and play; they often eat of our store: as fatteners do.
§105fit pól hoc, et pars spectátorum scitís pol haec vos me haud méntiri, §106†ibi sibus pugnae et vírtuti de praédonibus praedám capere. §107_110at ecástor nos rursúm lepide referímus gratiam furíbus nostris: §111nam ipsí vident cum eorum ággerimus bona atque étiam ultro ipsi aggerúnt ad nos.
By Pollux, this happens, and a part of you spectators know, by Pollux, that I am not lying, †... to capture booty from the plunderers.† But by Castor, we in turn delightfully return the favor to our thieves: for they themselves see when we heap up their goods, and even of their own accord they bring them to us.
She certainly beats me with those words, for I have carried my goods here.
§114Commémini, iam pol ego eúmpse ad nos, si dómi erit, mecum addúcam.
I remember, by Pollux, I will now bring him himself along with me to our house, if he is at home.
§115Heus, máne dum, Astaphium, príus quam abis.
Hey, wait a moment, Astaphium, before you go.
§116Quí revocat?
Who calls me back?
§116bScies: réspice huc.
You shall know: look back here.
§116cQuis est?
Who is it?
§117Vobís qui multa bóna esse volt.
One who wishes many good things to be to you.
§117bDato, si ésse vis.
Give them, if you wish them to be.
§118Fáxo erunt.
I will make it so they are.
réspice huc modo.
Just look here.
§120Péssuma, mane.
You wicked girl, stay.
§121Óptume, odio es.
Most excellent sir, you are hateful.
§122Díniarchusne íllic est? átque is est.
Is that Diniarchus there? And indeed it is.
§123Sálva sis.
Greetings to you.
§123bÉt tu.
And to you.
§124Fer cóntra manum et paritér gradere.
Give me your hand and walk with me.
§125Tuis sérvio atque audiens sum ímperiis.
I serve and am obedient to your commands.
§126Quid agís?
How are you?
§126bValeo et validúm teneo.
I am well, and I keep a strong one.
§127péregre quoniam ádvenis, céna detur.
since you arrive from abroad, let dinner be given.
§128Bene dícis benignequé vocas, Astáphium.
You speak well and invite kindly, Astaphium.
§129bEas.
You may go.
sed quíd ais?
But what do you say?
§129cQuid vis?
What do you want?
§130Dic quó iter inceptás; quis est quem arcéssis?
Tell me where you are heading; who is it you are fetching?
§130bArchilínem
Archilis...
†... the midwife.† You are a wicked woman; you smell of the discipline whence you come.
§132manifesto mendaci, mala, teneo te.
In an obvious lie, you wicked girl, I hold you.
§132bQuid iam, amabo?
Why so, please?
§133Quia te adducturam huc dixeras eumpse, non eampse; §134nunc mulier facta est iam ex viro: mala es praestrigiatrix.
Because you said you would bring "him himself" here, not "her herself"; now a woman has already been made out of a man: you are a wicked juggler.
§135sed tandem eloquere, quis is homost, Astaphium? novos amator?
But pray speak out, who is that man, Astaphium? A new lover?
§136Nimis otiosum te arbitror hominem esse.
I think you are an excessively idle man.
§136bQui arbitrare?
Why do you think so?
§137Quia tuo vestimento et cibo alienis rebus curas.
Because with your own clothing and food you care about other people's business.
§138Vos mihi dedistis otium.
You have given me leisure.
§138bQui, amabo?
How so, please?
§138cEgo expedibo.
I will explain.
§139rem perdidi apud vos, vos meum negotium abstulistis.
I ruined my wealth with you, you took away my business.
§140si rem servassem, fuit ubi negotiosus essem.
if I had saved my wealth, there would be a place where I might be busy.
§141An tu te Veneris publicum aut Amoris alia lege
Or do you think that you farm the tax of Venus or of Love under some other law...