They are of a plot not so very different, but yet they are composed with a different style and language.
What was suitable for the Andrian from the Perinthian, he confesses that he transferred and used as his own.
Those men find fault with this deed; and on this point they argue, that plays ought not to be contaminated.
§17Faciuntne intelligendo ut nihil intelligant.
Do they not, by pretending to understand, manage to understand nothing?
§18Qui quum hunc accusant Naevium, Plautum, Ennium §19Accusant, quos hic noster auctores habet: §20Quorum aemulari exoptat negligentiam §21Potius, quam istorum obscuram diligentiam.
For when they accuse him, they accuse Naevius, Plautus, and Ennius, whom our poet has as his authorities: whose carelessness he prefers to emulate, rather than the obscure diligence of those critics.
Henceforth I warn them to keep quiet and cease slandering, lest they come to know their own misdeeds.
§24Favete, adeste aequo animo, et rem cognoscite, §25Ut pernoscatis, ecquid spei sit reliquum, §26Posthac quas faciet de integro comoedias, §27Spectandae an exigendae sint vobis prius.
Give your favor, attend with an impartial mind, and learn the matter, so that you may thoroughly discern whether any hope remains, concerning the comedies which he will write from scratch hereafter, whether they should be watched or rather driven off the stage by you beforehand.
§28Vos istaec intro auferte: abite.
You take those things inside: begone.
Sosia, §29Adesdum: paucis te volo.
Sosia, come here a moment: I want a few words with you.
Consider it said: namely, that these things should be properly taken care of.
§30bImmo aliud.
No, something else.
What is it that my skill could effect for you further in this?
§32Nihil istac opus est arte ad hanc rem quam paro: §33Sed iis quas semper in te intellexi sitas, §34Fide et taciturnitate.
There is no need for that skill of yours in this matter which I am preparing: but rather those qualities which I have always known to reside in you, loyalty and silence.
§34bExspecto quid velis.
I am waiting to hear what you wish.
§35Ego postquam te emi, a parvulo ut semper tibi §36Apud me iusta et clemens fuerit servitus §37Scis: feci e servo ut esses libertus mihi.
Ever since I bought you, you know how, from a small child, your servitude with me has always been just and mild: you know; I made you a freedman from being my slave.
§38Propterea quod servibas liberaliter.
Because you served me with a liberal spirit.
§39Quod habui summum pretium, persolvi tibi.
The highest reward I had, I paid to you.
§40In memoria habeo.
I keep it in mind.
§40bHaud muto factum.
I do not regret my deed.
§40cGaudeo §41Si tibi quid feci aut facio quod placet, Simo, §42Et gratum id fuisse advorsum te habeo gratiam.
I am glad if I have done or am doing anything that pleases you, Simo, and I am grateful that this has been acceptable to you.
But this is painful to me; for that reminding of yours is like a reproach to one forgetful of a benefit.
§45Quin tu uno verbo dic quid est quod me velis.
Why do you not rather say in a single word what it is you want of me?
I will do so: first of all I declare to you in this matter; these nuptials, which you believe to be real, are not real.
§48Cur simulas igitur?
Why do you pretend, then?
§48bRem omnem a principio audies; §49Eo pacto et gnati vitam, et consilium meum §50Cognosces, et quid facere in hac re te velim.
You shall hear the whole matter from the beginning; in that way you will learn both my son’s life, and my plan, and what I want you to do in this matter.
§51Nam is postquam excessit ex ephebis, Sosia, §52Liberius vivendi fuit potestas: nam antea §53Qui scire posses, aut ingenium noscere, §54Dum aetas, metus, magister, prohibebant?
For after he had passed from youth, Sosia, there was greater opportunity for living more freely: for before that, how could you know or discern his character, while age, fear, and a master were preventing it?
§54bIta est.
That is true.
§55Quod plerique omnes faciunt adolescentuli, §56Ut animum ad aliquod studium adiungant, aut equos §57Alere aut canes ad venandum, aut ad philosophos: §58Horum ille nihil egregie praeter caetera §59Studebat: et tamen omnia haec mediocriter.
What almost all young men do, directing their mind to some pursuit, either to breed horses, or dogs for hunting, or to philosophers: he pursued none of these especially beyond the rest, and yet he pursued all of these moderately.
§60Gaudebam.
I was pleased.
§60bNon iniuria: nam id arbitror §61Apprime in vita esse utile ut ne quid nimis. §62Sic vita erat: facile omnes perferre ac pati §63Cum quibus erat cunque una: iis sese dedere: §64Eorum obsequi studiis: advorsus nemini: §65Nunquam praeponens se illis: ita facillime §66Sine invidia laudem invenias et amicos pares.
Not without reason; for I think that is especially useful in life, namely, that there be "nothing in excess." Such was his life: to easily bear and endure all with whomsoever he was together: to devote himself to them: to comply with their pursuits: to be opposed to no one: never preferring himself to them: in this way you would very easily, without envy, find praise and acquire friends.
He established his life wisely: for in these times obsequiousness begets friends, truth begets hatred.
§69Interea mulier quaedam abhinc triennium §70Ex Andro commigravit huc viciniae, §71Inopia et cognatorum negligentia §72Coacta, egregia forma atque aetate integra.
Meanwhile, three years ago, a certain woman migrated from Andros here to this neighborhood, compelled by poverty and the neglect of her relatives, possessing remarkable beauty and in the prime of her youth.
§73Hei vereor ne quid Andria apportet mali.
Alas, I fear lest the Andrian woman bring some trouble.
At first she spent her life modestly, sparingly and hard, seeking a livelihood with wool and loom.
§76Sed postquam amans accessit, pretium pollicens, §77Unus et item alter, ita ut ingenium est omnium §78Hominum a labore proclive ad libidinem, §79Accepit conditionem, dein quaestum occipit.
But after a lover approached, promising a price, one and then another, just as is the nature of all men, prone from labor to lust, she accepted the offer, and then began the trade.
Those who then happened to love her, as usually happens, brought my son there with them that he might be together with them.
§82Egomet continuo mecum,
Certe captus est, §83Habet. Observabam mane illorum servulos §84Venientes aut abeuntes: rogitabam,
Heus puer, §85Dic sodes, quis heri Chrysidem habuit?
Nam Andriae §86Illi id erat nomen.
I immediately said to myself: "He is certainly caught; he has got it." I watched their little servants in the morning, coming or going: I kept asking, "Hey boy, tell me, please, who had Chrysis yesterday?" For of the Andrian woman that was the name.