T. Maccius Plautus, Epidicus, ed. Friedrich Leo, 1.1

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Epidicvs

Heús, adulescens.
1

Thesprio

Quís properantem mé reprehendit pállio?

Epidicvs

Familiaris.

Thesprio

Fateor, nam odio es nimium familiariter.

Epidicvs

Réspice vero, Thésprio.

Thesprio

Oh,

Epidicumne ego conspicor?

Epidicvs

Satis recte oculis uteris.
5

Thesprio

Salve.

Epidicvs

Di dent quae velis.

veníre salvom gaudeo.

Thesprio

Quid ceterum?

Epidicvs

Quod eo adsolet:

cena tibi dabitur.

Thesprio

Spondeo.

Epidicvs

Quid?

Thesprio

Me accepturum, si dabis.

Epidicvs

Quid tú agis? ut vales? exemplum adesse intellego. euge,

córpulentior videre atque habitior.
10

Thesprio

Huic gratia.

Epidicvs

Quám quidem te iam diu

perdidisse oportuit.

Thesprio

Mínus iam furtificus sum quam antehac.

Epidicvs

Quid ita?

Thesprio

Rapio propalam.

Epidicvs

Di immortales te infelicent, ut tu es gradibus grandibus.

nam út apud portum te conspexi, curriculo occepi sequi:

vix adipiscendi potestas modo fuit.
15

Thesprio

Scurra es.

Epidicvs

Scio

te esse equidem hominem militarem.

Thesprio

Audacter quam vis dicito.

quid ais? perpetuen valuisti?

Epidicvs

Varie.

Thesprio

Qui varie valent,

capreáginum hominum nón placet mihi néque pantherinúm genus.

Epidicvs

Quid tíbi vis dicam nisi quod est? ut illaé res? responde.

Thesprio

Probe.

Epidicvs

Quid erílis noster filius?
20

Thesprio

Valet púgilice atque athletice.

Epidicvs

Voluptábilem mihi nuntium tuo advéntu adportas, Thesprio.

sed ubíst is?

Thesprio

Advenit simul.

Epidicvs

Vbi is ergo est? nisi si in vidulo

aut si in mellina attulisti.

Thesprio

Di te perdant.

Epidicvs

Te volo—

percóntari: operam da, ópera reddetúr tibi.

Thesprio

Ius dícis.
25

Epidicvs

Me decet.

Thesprio

Iam tu autem nobis praeturam geris?

Epidicvs

Quem díces digniorem esse hominem hódie Athenis alterum?

Thesprio

At únum a praetura tua,

Epídice, abest.

Epidicvs

Quidnam?

Thesprio

Scies:

lictores duo, duo ulmei

fasces virgarum.

Epidicvs

Vae tibi.

sed quíd ais?

Thesprio

Quid rogas?

Epidicvs

Vbi árma sunt Stratíppocli?

Thesprio

Pól illa ad hostis transfugerunt.
30

Epidicvs

Armane?

Thesprio

Atque equidem cito.

Epidicvs

Sérione dicis tu?

Thesprio

Sério, inquam: hostes habent.

Epidicvs

Édepol facinus improbum.

Thesprio

At iam ante alii fecerunt idem.

erit illi illa res honori.

Epidicvs

Qui?

Thesprio

Quia ante aliis fuit.

Mulciber, credo, arma fecit quaé habuit Stratippocles:

travolaverunt ad hostis.
35

Epidicvs

Tum ille prognatus Theti

sine perdat: alia apportabunt éi Nerei filiae.

id módo videndum est, ut materies suppetat scutariis,

si in singulis stipendiis is ad hostis exuvias dabit.

Thesprio

Supersede istis rebus iam.

Epidicvs

Tu ipse, ubi lubet, finem face.

Thesprio

Desiste percontarier.
40

Epidicvs

Loquere ipse: ubist Stratippocles?

Thesprio

Est causa qua causa simul mecum ire veritust.

Epidicvs

Quidnam id est?

Thesprio

Patrem videre se nevolt etiam nunc.

Epidicvs

Quapropter?

Thesprio

Scies.

quia forma lepida et liberali captivam adulescentulam

dé praeda mercatust.

Epidicvs

Quid ego ex te audio?

Thesprio

Hoc quod fabulor.

Epidicvs

Cúr eam emit?
45

Thesprio

Animi causa.

Epidicvs

Quót illic homo animos habet?

nam cérto, prius quam hinc ád legionem abiít domo,

ipsús mandavit mi, áb lenone ut fídicina,

quam amábat, emeretúr sibi. id ei ímpetratum réddidi.

Thesprio

Vtcúmque in alto ventust, Epidice, exim velum vortitur.

Epidicvs

Vaé misero mihí, male perdidit me.
50

Thesprio

Quíd istuc? quidnam est?

Epidicvs

Quid istanc quam emit, quanti eam emit?

Thesprio

Vili.

Epidicvs

Haud istuc te rogo.

Thesprio

Quid ígitur?

Epidicvs

Quot minis?

Thesprio

Tot: quadraginta minis.

íd adeo argentum ab danista apud Thébas sumpsit faenore,

in dies minasque argenti singulas nummis.

Epidicvs

Papae.

Thesprio

Ét is danista advenit una cúm eo, qui argentum petit.
55

Epidicvs

Di immortales, ut ego interii basilice.

Thesprio

Quid iam? aut quid est,

Epídice?

Epidicvs

Perdidit me.

Thesprio

Quís?

Epidicvs

Ille qui arma pérdidit.

Thesprio

Nam quíd ita?

Epidicvs

Quia cottidie ipse ad me ab legione epistulas

mittebat—sed taceam optumum est,

plus scire satiust quam loqui servom hominem. ea sapientia est.
60

Thesprio

Néscio edepol quid tu timidus es, trepidas, Epidice, ita voltum tuom†

videór videre commeruisse hic me absente in te aliquid mali.

Epidicvs

Potin út molestus ne sies?

Thesprio

Abeo.

Epidicvs

Asta, abire hinc non sinam.

Thesprio

Quíd nunc me retinés?

Epidicvs

Amatne ístam quam emit de praeda?

Thesprio

Rogas?

deperit.
65

Epidicvs

Detegetur corium de tergo meo. †

Thesprio

Plusque amat quam te umquam amavit.

Epidicvs

Iuppiter te perduit.

Thesprio

Mítte nunciam, nam ílle me vetuit domum

venire, ad Chaeribulum iussit huc in proxumum;

íbi manere iussit, eo venturust ipsus.

Epidicvs

Quid ita?

Thesprio

Dicam:

quía patrem prius convenire se non volt neque conspicari,
70

quám id argentum, quod debetur pro illa, denumeraverit.

Epidicvs

Eú edepol res turbulentas.

Thesprio

Mitte me ut eam nunciam.

Epidicvs

Haécine ubi scibit senex,

púppis pereunda est probe.

Thesprio

Quíd istuc ad me attinet,
75

quó tu intereas modo?

Epidicvs

Quía perire solus nolo, te cupio perire mecum,

benevolens cum benevolente.

Thesprio

Abi ín malam rem maxumam a me

cum ístac condicione.

Epidicvs

I sane, siquidem festinas magis.

Thesprio

Numquam hominem quemquam conveni, unde abierim lubentius.—
80

Epidicvs

Illic hinc abiit. solus nunc es. quo in loco haec res sit vides,

Epidice: nisi quid tibi in tete auxili est, absumptus es.

tantae in te impendent ruinae: nisi suffulcis firmiter,

non potes subsistere, itaque in te inruont montes mali.

néque ego nunc quó modo
85

me éxpeditum ex impedito faciam, consilium placet.

égo miser pérpuli

meís dolis senem, ut censeret suam sese emere filiam:

ís suo fílio

fídicinam emit, quam ipse amat, quam ábiens mandavit mihi.
90

sí sibi nunc álteram

áb legione adduxit animi causa, corium perdidi.

nam úbi senex sénserit

síbi data esse verba, virgis dorsum despoliet meum.

át enim tu praecave.

át enim—bat enim, nihil est istuc. plane hoc corruptumst caput.
95

néquam homo es, Epidice.

quí lubidost male loqui?

quía tu tete deseris.

quíd faciam? mén rogas?

tu quidem antehac aliis solebas dare consilia mutua.

aliquid aliqua reperiundumst. sed ego cesso ire obviam
100

adulescenti, ut quid negoti sit sciam. atque ipse illic est.

tristis est. cum Chaeribulo incedit aequali suo.

huc concedam, orationem unde horum placide persequar.

Epidicus. T. Maccius Plautus. ed. Friedrich Leo. Berlin. 1895.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

Epidicus (Latin) (Plautus. Plauti Comoediae, Volume 1. Leo, Friedrich, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1895.)

Translations (1)

Epidicus, or The Fortunate Discovery Perseus (Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 2. Riley, Henry Thomas, translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1913.) — 1.1 focus

1 (Enter THESPRIO, followed by EPIDICUS.¹

EPIDICUS

(pulling THESPRIO by the cloak.)

Harkye! young man.
1

THESPRIO

Who pulls me by the cloak, when thus in haste?

EPIDICUS

An intimate.

THESPRIO

I confess it; for with your annoyance you are too intimate.

EPIDICUS

But do look back, Thesprio!

THESPRIO

(looking round.)

What? Is it Epidicus that I see?

EPIDICUS

Why surely you’ve the use of your eyes.
5

THESPRIO

Greetings to you.

EPIDICUS

May the Gods grant what you desire. I’m glad that you’ve got here safe.

THESPRIO

What besides?

EPIDICUS

According to the usage, a dinner shall be given you².

THESPRIO

I agree.

EPIDICUS

What to do?

THESPRIO

That I’ll accept it, if you offer it.

EPIDICUS

How are you? Fare you as you could wish?

THESPRIO

The proof’s before you.³

EPIDICUS

Marvellous!⁴ You seem quite plump and hearty.
10

THESPRIO

(pointing to his left hand.)

Thanks to this.

EPIDICUS

Which, indeed, you ought to have parted with⁵ long ago.

THESPRIO

I’m less of a pilferer now than formerly.

EPIDICUS

How so?

THESPRIO

I rob above-board⁶.

EPIDICUS

May the immortal Gods confound you, with what huge strides you do walk! for when I caught sight of you at the harbour, I began to run at a rapid pace;

I was hardly able to overtake you just now.
15

THESPRIO

You are a town wit.

EPIDICUS

I know that you, on the other hand, are a military gentleman.

THESPRIO

Speak out as boldly as you please.

EPIDICUS

How say you? Have you been well all along?

THESPRIO

In a varied way.

EPIDICUS

Those who are well in a varied way⁷, a race of men of the goat kind or of the panther kind, don’t please me.

THESPRIO

What do you wish me to tell you but that which is fact?

EPIDICUS

To answer to these things⁸ fairly;

how’s our master’s son? Is he well?
20

THESPRIO

Stout as a boxer and an athlete.

EPIDICUS

You’ve brought me joyous tidings on your arrival. But where is he?

THESPRIO

I came here together with him.

EPIDICUS

Where is he then? Unless, perchance, you’ve brought him in your wallet, or, perhaps, in your knapsack.

THESPRIO

May the Gods confound you!

EPIDICUS

I want to make enquiries of you. Lend me your attention; attention shall be lent you in return.

THESPRIO

You say what’s law⁹.
25

EPIDICUS

It becomes me to do so.

THESPRIO

But why now are you acting the Praetor over us?

EPIDICUS

What other person in Athens will you say is more deserving of it than I?

THESPRIO

But still, Epidicus, one thing is wanting for your Praetorship.

EPIDICUS

What, pray?

THESPRIO

You shall know; two lictors¹⁰ two osier bundles of twigs—

EPIDICUS

(shaking his fist at him.)

Woe unto you! But how say you—?

THESPRIO

What is it you ask?

EPIDICUS

Where are the arms¹¹ of Stratippocles?

THESPRIO

I’ faith, they’ve gone over to the enemy.
30

EPIDICUS

What, his arms?

THESPRIO

Aye, and quickly too.

EPIDICUS

Do you say that seriously?

THESPRIO

Seriously I say it; the enemy have got them.

EPIDICUS

By my troth, a disgraceful affair.

THESPRIO

Still, before now, other persons have done the same. This affair will turn out to his honor¹².

EPIDICUS

How so?

THESPRIO

Because it has been so to others before.

EPIDICUS

Mulciber, I suppose, made the arms which Stratippocles had;

they flew over to the enemy¹³.
35

THESPRIO

Why, then, e’en let this son of Thetis lose them; the daughters of Nereus will bring him others.

EPIDICUS

Only this must be looked to, that material may be found for the armourers, if in each campaign he yields a spoil to the enemy.

THESPRIO

Have done now with these matters.

EPIDICUS

You yourself make an end of them when you please.

THESPRIO

Cease your enquiries then.
40

EPIDICUS

Say, where is Stratippocles himself?

THESPRIO

There is a reason, for which reason he has been afraid to come together with me.

EPIDICUS

Pray, what is it?

THESPRIO

He doesn’t wish to see his father as yet.

EPIDICUS

For what reason?

THESPRIO

You shall hear; because he has purchased out of the spoil a young female captive of charming and genteel figure.

EPIDICUS

What is it I hear from you?

THESPRIO

That which I’m telling you.

EPIDICUS

Why has he purchased her?
45

THESPRIO

To please his fancy.

EPIDICUS

How many fancies has this man? For assuredly, before he went away from home to the army, he himself commissioned me, that a music-girl whom he was in love with should be purchased of a Procurer for him. That I have managed to accomplish for him.

THESPRIO

Whichever way the wind is at sea, Epidicus, in that direction the sail is shifted.

EPIDICUS

Woe unto wretched me! He has utterly undone me!
50

THESPRIO

What’s the meaning of this? What’s the matter, pray?

EPIDICUS

Well now—she whom he has bought, at what sum has he purchased her?

THESPRIO

A very little.

EPIDICUS

That I don’t ask you.

THESPRIO

What then?

EPIDICUS

For how many minae?

THESPRIO

(holding up all his fingers four times.)

For so many.

EPIDICUS

¹⁴ Forty minae?

THESPRIO

For that purpose, he borrowed the money on interest of a Banker at Thebes, at a didrachm for each silver mina per day.

EPIDICUS

Surprising!

THESPRIO

This Banker, too, has come together with him, and is dunning for his money.
55

EPIDICUS

Immortal Gods! now I’m fairly done for!

THESPRIO

Why so, or.what’s the matter, Epidicus?

EPIDICUS

He has proved my ruin!

THESPRIO

Who?

EPIDICUS

Who? He who lost his arms.

THESPRIO

But why so?

EPIDICUS

Because he himself was every day sending me letters from the army—but I shall hold my tongue; it’s best to do so.

It’s best for a man in servitude to know more than he says; that’s true wisdom.
60

THESPRIO

On my faith, I don’t understand why you are alarmed. You are frightened, Epidicus; I see it by your countenance. You seem here, in my absence, to have got into some scrape or other.

EPIDICUS

Can’t you cease annoying me?

THESPRIO

I’ll be off.

(Moves as if going.)

EPIDICUS

Stand still; I’ll not let you go from here.

(Holds him.)

THESPRIO

Why do you hold me back?

EPIDICUS

Is he in love with her whom he has purchased out of the spoil?

THESPRIO

Do you ask me?

He dotes to death upon her.
65

EPIDICUS

The hide will be stripped from off my back.

THESPRIO

He loves her, too, more than ever he loved you.

EPIDICUS

May Jupiter confound you!

THESPRIO

Let me go now; for he has forbidden me to go to our house; he ordered me to come here (pointing to the house) to our neighbour’s, Chaeribulus; there he bade me wait; he’s about to come there himself.

EPIDICUS

Why so?

THESPRIO

I’ll tell you;

because he doesn’t wish to meet with or see his father, before he has paid down this money which is owing for her.
70

EPIDICUS

O dear! an involved business, i’ faith.

THESPRIO

Do let go of me, that I may now be off forthwith.

EPIDICUS

When the old gentleman knows this, our ship will fairly founder.

THESPRIO

What matters it to me in what way you come to your end?
75

EPIDICUS

Because I don’t wish to perish alone; I’d like you to perish with me, well-wisher with well-wisher.

THESPRIO

(tearing himself away from EPIDICUS.)

Away with you from me to utter and extreme perdition with those terms of yours!

EPIDICUS

Be off, then, if you are in great haste about anything.

THESPRIO

(aside.)

I never met with any person from whom I parted with greater pleasure.
80
(Goes into the house of CHAERIBULUS.)

EPIDICUS

(to himself.)

He’s gone away from here; you are now alone. In what plight this matter is, you now see, Epidicus. Unless you have some resources in your own self, you are done for. Ruination so great is impending over you—unless you support yourself stoutly, you cannot hold up; to such a degree are mountains of misfortune threatening to tumble on you.

Neither does any plan just now please me by means of which to find myself disengaged from my entanglement. To my misfortune, by my trickeries I have forced the old man to imagine that he was making purchase of his own daughter; whereas he has bought for his own son
85

a music-girl whom he was fond of, and whom on his departure he commissioned me about. He now, to please his fancy, has brought another one from the army. I’ve lost my hide, for when the old man finds out that he has been played tricks with, he’ll be flaying my back with twigs. But still, do you take all precautions.
90
(He stands still and thinKs.)

That’s of no use! clearly this head of mine is addled! You are a worthless fellow, Epidicus. (In another tone.) What pleasure have you in being abusive? Because you are forsaking yourself. What am I to do? Do you ask me the question? Why you yourself, in former days, were wont to lend advice to others.
95

Well, well; something must be found out. But why delay to go meet the young man, that I may know how the matter stands? And here he is himself. He is in a grave mood. He’s coming with Chaeribulus, his year’s-mate. I’ll step aside here, whence at my leisure I’ll follow their discourse.
100
(He steps aside.)

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Epidicvs Heús, adulescens. 1

Thesprio Quís properantem mé reprehendit pállio?

Epidicvs Familiaris.

Thesprio Fateor, nam odio es nimium familiariter.

Epidicvs Réspice vero, Thésprio.

Thesprio Oh, Epidicumne ego conspicor?

Epidicvs Satis recte oculis uteris. 5

Thesprio Salve.

Epidicvs Di dent quae velis. veníre salvom gaudeo.

Thesprio Quid ceterum?

Epidicvs Quod eo adsolet: cena tibi dabitur.

Thesprio Spondeo.

Epidicvs Quid?

Thesprio Me accepturum, si dabis.

Epidicvs Quid tú agis? ut vales? exemplum adesse intellego. euge, córpulentior videre atque habitior. 10

Thesprio Huic gratia.

Epidicvs Quám quidem te iam diu perdidisse oportuit.

Thesprio Mínus iam furtificus sum quam antehac.

Epidicvs Quid ita?

Thesprio Rapio propalam.

Epidicvs Di immortales te infelicent, ut tu es gradibus grandibus. nam út apud portum te conspexi, curriculo occepi sequi: vix adipiscendi potestas modo fuit. 15

Thesprio Scurra es.

Epidicvs Scio te esse equidem hominem militarem.

Thesprio Audacter quam vis dicito. quid ais? perpetuen valuisti?

Epidicvs Varie.

Thesprio Qui varie valent, capreáginum hominum nón placet mihi néque pantherinúm genus.

Epidicvs Quid tíbi vis dicam nisi quod est? ut illaé res? responde.

Thesprio Probe.

Epidicvs Quid erílis noster filius? 20

Thesprio Valet púgilice atque athletice.

Epidicvs Voluptábilem mihi nuntium tuo advéntu adportas, Thesprio. sed ubíst is?

Thesprio Advenit simul.

Epidicvs Vbi is ergo est? nisi si in vidulo aut si in mellina attulisti.

Thesprio Di te perdant.

Epidicvs Te volo— percóntari: operam da, ópera reddetúr tibi.

Thesprio Ius dícis. 25

Epidicvs Me decet.

Thesprio Iam tu autem nobis praeturam geris?

Epidicvs Quem díces digniorem esse hominem hódie Athenis alterum?

Thesprio At únum a praetura tua, Epídice, abest.

Epidicvs Quidnam?

Thesprio Scies: lictores duo, duo ulmei fasces virgarum.

Epidicvs Vae tibi. sed quíd ais?

Thesprio Quid rogas?

Epidicvs Vbi árma sunt Stratíppocli?

Thesprio Pól illa ad hostis transfugerunt. 30

Epidicvs Armane?

Thesprio Atque equidem cito.

Epidicvs Sérione dicis tu?

Thesprio Sério, inquam: hostes habent.

Epidicvs Édepol facinus improbum.

Thesprio At iam ante alii fecerunt idem. erit illi illa res honori.

Epidicvs Qui?

Thesprio Quia ante aliis fuit. Mulciber, credo, arma fecit quaé habuit Stratippocles: travolaverunt ad hostis. 35

Epidicvs Tum ille prognatus Theti sine perdat: alia apportabunt éi Nerei filiae. id módo videndum est, ut materies suppetat scutariis, si in singulis stipendiis is ad hostis exuvias dabit.

Thesprio Supersede istis rebus iam.

Epidicvs Tu ipse, ubi lubet, finem face.

Thesprio Desiste percontarier. 40

Epidicvs Loquere ipse: ubist Stratippocles?

Thesprio Est causa qua causa simul mecum ire veritust.

Epidicvs Quidnam id est?

Thesprio Patrem videre se nevolt etiam nunc.

Epidicvs Quapropter?

Thesprio Scies. quia forma lepida et liberali captivam adulescentulam dé praeda mercatust.

Epidicvs Quid ego ex te audio?

Thesprio Hoc quod fabulor.

Epidicvs Cúr eam emit? 45

Thesprio Animi causa.

Epidicvs Quót illic homo animos habet? nam cérto, prius quam hinc ád legionem abiít domo, ipsús mandavit mi, áb lenone ut fídicina, quam amábat, emeretúr sibi. id ei ímpetratum réddidi.

Thesprio Vtcúmque in alto ventust, Epidice, exim velum vortitur.

Epidicvs Vaé misero mihí, male perdidit me. 50

Thesprio Quíd istuc? quidnam est?

Epidicvs Quid istanc quam emit, quanti eam emit?

Thesprio Vili.

Epidicvs Haud istuc te rogo.

Thesprio Quid ígitur?

Epidicvs Quot minis?

Thesprio Tot: quadraginta minis. íd adeo argentum ab danista apud Thébas sumpsit faenore, in dies minasque argenti singulas nummis.

Epidicvs

Heús, adulescens.
1

Thesprio

Quís properantem mé reprehendit pállio?

Epidicvs

Familiaris.

Thesprio

Fateor, nam odio es nimium familiariter.

Epidicvs

Réspice vero, Thésprio.

Thesprio

Oh,

Epidicumne ego conspicor?

Epidicvs

Satis recte oculis uteris.
5

Thesprio

Salve.

Epidicvs

Di dent quae velis.

veníre salvom gaudeo.

Thesprio

Quid ceterum?

Epidicvs

Quod eo adsolet:

cena tibi dabitur.

Thesprio

Spondeo.

Epidicvs

Quid?

Thesprio

Me accepturum, si dabis.

Epidicvs

Quid tú agis? ut vales? exemplum adesse intellego. euge,

córpulentior videre atque habitior.
10

Thesprio

Huic gratia.

Epidicvs

Quám quidem te iam diu

perdidisse oportuit.

Thesprio

Mínus iam furtificus sum quam antehac.

Epidicvs

Quid ita?

Thesprio

Rapio propalam.

Epidicvs

Di immortales te infelicent, ut tu es gradibus grandibus.

nam út apud portum te conspexi, curriculo occepi sequi:

vix adipiscendi potestas modo fuit.
15

Thesprio

Scurra es.

Epidicvs

Scio

te esse equidem hominem militarem.

Thesprio

Audacter quam vis dicito.

quid ais? perpetuen valuisti?

Epidicvs

Varie.

Thesprio

Qui varie valent,

capreáginum hominum nón placet mihi néque pantherinúm genus.

Epidicvs

Quid tíbi vis dicam nisi quod est? ut illaé res? responde.

Thesprio

Probe.

Epidicvs

Quid erílis noster filius?
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Thesprio

Valet púgilice atque athletice.

Epidicvs

Voluptábilem mihi nuntium tuo advéntu adportas, Thesprio.

sed ubíst is?

Thesprio

Advenit simul.

Epidicvs

Vbi is ergo est? nisi si in vidulo

aut si in mellina attulisti.

Thesprio

Di te perdant.

Epidicvs

Te volo—

percóntari: operam da, ópera reddetúr tibi.

Thesprio

Ius dícis.
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Epidicvs

Me decet.

Thesprio

Iam tu autem nobis praeturam geris?

Epidicvs

Quem díces digniorem esse hominem hódie Athenis alterum?

Thesprio

At únum a praetura tua,

Epídice, abest.

Epidicvs

Quidnam?

Thesprio

Scies:

lictores duo, duo ulmei

fasces virgarum.

Epidicvs

Vae tibi.

sed quíd ais?

Thesprio

Quid rogas?

Epidicvs

Vbi árma sunt Stratíppocli?

Thesprio

Pól illa ad hostis transfugerunt.
30

Epidicvs

Armane?

Thesprio

Atque equidem cito.

Epidicvs

Sérione dicis tu?

Thesprio

Sério, inquam: hostes habent.

Epidicvs

Édepol facinus improbum.

Thesprio

At iam ante alii fecerunt idem.

erit illi illa res honori.

Epidicvs

Qui?

Thesprio

Quia ante aliis fuit.

Mulciber, credo, arma fecit quaé habuit Stratippocles:

travolaverunt ad hostis.
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Epidicvs

Tum ille prognatus Theti

sine perdat: alia apportabunt éi Nerei filiae.

id módo videndum est, ut materies suppetat scutariis,

si in singulis stipendiis is ad hostis exuvias dabit.

Thesprio

Supersede istis rebus iam.

Epidicvs

Tu ipse, ubi lubet, finem face.

Thesprio

Desiste percontarier.
40

Epidicvs

Loquere ipse: ubist Stratippocles?

Thesprio

Est causa qua causa simul mecum ire veritust.

Epidicvs

Quidnam id est?

Thesprio

Patrem videre se nevolt etiam nunc.

Epidicvs

Quapropter?

Thesprio

Scies.

quia forma lepida et liberali captivam adulescentulam

dé praeda mercatust.

Epidicvs

Quid ego ex te audio?

Thesprio

Hoc quod fabulor.

Epidicvs

Cúr eam emit?
45

Thesprio

Animi causa.

Epidicvs

Quót illic homo animos habet?

nam cérto, prius quam hinc ád legionem abiít domo,

ipsús mandavit mi, áb lenone ut fídicina,

quam amábat, emeretúr sibi. id ei ímpetratum réddidi.

Thesprio

Vtcúmque in alto ventust, Epidice, exim velum vortitur.

Epidicvs

Vaé misero mihí, male perdidit me.
50

Thesprio

Quíd istuc? quidnam est?

Epidicvs

Quid istanc quam emit, quanti eam emit?

Thesprio

Vili.

Epidicvs

Haud istuc te rogo.

Thesprio

Quid ígitur?

Epidicvs

Quot minis?

Thesprio

Tot: quadraginta minis.

íd adeo argentum ab danista apud Thébas sumpsit faenore,

in dies minasque argenti singulas nummis.

Epidicvs

Papae.

Thesprio

Ét is danista advenit una cúm eo, qui argentum petit.
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