T. Maccius Plautus, Menaechmi, ed. Friedrich Leo, 5.7

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990

Senex

Pér ego vobis deos atque homines dico, ut imperium meum
990

sapienter habeatis curae, quae imperavi atque impero:

facite illic homo iam in medicinam ablatus sublimen siet,

nisi quidem vos vostra crura aut latera nihili penditis.

cave quisquam, quod illíc minitetur, vostrum flocci fecerit.

quid státis? quid dubitátis? iam sublímen raptum opórtuit.
995

ego ibo ad medicum: praesto ero illi, cum venietis.

Menaechmvs

Occidi,

quid hoc ést negoti? quid illisce homines ad me currunt, opsecro?

quid voltis vos? quid quaeritatis? quid me circumsistitis?

quo rapitis me? quo fertis me? perii, opsecro vestram fidem,

Epidamnienses, subvenite, cives. quin me mittitis?
1000

Messenio

Pro di immortales, obsecro, quid ego oculis aspicio meis?

erum meum indignissime nescio qui sublimen ferunt.

Menaechmvs

Ecquis suppetias mihi audet ferre?

Messenio

Ego, ere, audacissime.

o facinus indignum et malum, Epidamnii cives, erum

meum hic in pacato oppido luci deripier in via,
1005

qui liber ad vos venerit.

mittite istunc.

Menaechmvs

Obsecro te, quisquis es, operam mihi ut des,

neu sinas in me insignite fieri tantam iniuriam.

Messenio

Immo et operam dabo et defendam et subvenibo sedulo.

numquam te patiar perire, me perirest aequius.
1010

eripe oculum ísti, ab umero qui tenet, ere, te obsecro.

hisce ego iam sementem in ore faciam pugnosque obseram.

maximo hodie malo hercle vostro ístunc fertis. mittite.

Menaechmvs

Teneo ego huic oculum.

Messenio

Face ut oculi locus in capite appareat.

vos scelesti, vos rapacis, vos praedones.
1015

Lorarii

Periimus.

obsecro hercle.

Messenio

Mittite ergo.

Menaechmvs

Quid me vobis tactiost?

pecte pugnis.

Messenio

Agite abite, fugite hinc in malam crucem.

em tibi etiam: quia postremus cedis, hoc praemi feres.

nimis bene ora commetavi atque ex mea sententia.

edepol, ere, ne tibi suppetias temperi adveni modo.
1020

Menaechmvs

At tibi di semper, adulescens, quisquis es, faciant bene.

nam absque te esset, hodie numquam ad solem occasum viverem.

Messenio

Ergo edepol, si recte facias, ere, med emittas manu.

Menaechmvs

Liberem ego te?

Messenio

Verum, quandoquidem, ere, te servavi.

Menaechmvs

Quid est?

adulescens, erras.
1025

Messenio

Quid, erro?

Menaechmvs

Per Iovem adiuro patrem,

med erum tuom non esse.

Messenio

Non taces?

Menaechmvs

Non mentior;

nec meus servos úmquam tale fecit quale tu mihi.

Messenio

Sic sine igitur, si tuom négas me ésse, abire liberum.

Menaechmvs

Mea quidem hercle causa liber esto atque ito quo voles.

Messenio

Nempe iubes?
1030

Menaechmvs

Iubeo hercle, si quid imperi est in te mihi.

Messenio

Salve, mi patrone. cum tu liber es, Messenio,

gaudeo. credo hercle vobis. sed, patrone, te obsecro,

ne minus imperes mihí quam cum tuos servos fui.

apud ted habitabo et quando ibis, una tecum ibo domum.

Menaechmvs

Minime.
1035

Messenio

Nunc ibo in tabernam, vasa atque argentum tibi

referam. recte est obsignatum in vidulo marsuppium

cum viatico: id tibí iam huc adferam.

Menaechmvs

Adfer strenue.

Messenio

Salvom tibi ita ut mihi dedisti reddibo. hic me mane.—

Menaechmvs

Nimia mira mihi quidem hodie exorta sunt miris modis:

alii me negant eum esse qui sum, atque excludunt foras
1040

vel ille qui se petere argentum modo, qui servom se meum

esse aiebat, meus servator, quem ego modo emisi manu;

is ait se mihi allaturum cum argento marsuppium:

id si attulerit, dicam ut a me ábeat liber quo volet,

ne tum, quando sanus factus sit, a me argentum petat.
1045

socer et medicus me insanire aiebant. quid sit, mira sunt.

haec nihilo esse mihi videntur setius quam somnia.

nunc ibo intro ad hanc meretricem, quamquam suscenset mihi,

si possum exorare ut pallam reddat, quam referam domum.—

Menaechmi. 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

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

Translations (1)

Menaechmi, or The Twin Brothers Perseus (Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 1. Riley, Henry Thomas, translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1912.) — 5.7 focus

990 (Enter the OLD MAN, with SERVANTS.)

OLD MAN

(to the SERVANTS.)

By Gods and men, I tell you prudently to pay regard to my commands, as to what I have commanded and do command. Take care that this person is carried at once upon your shoulders to the surgery, unless, indeed, you set no value upon your legs or your sides. Take care each of you to regard at a straw whatever threats he shall utter.
990

What are you standing for? Why are you hesitating? By this you ought to have had him carried off on your shoulders. I’ll go to the Doctor; I’ll be there ready when you shall come. (Exit. The SERVANTS gather around MENAECHMUS.)
995

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

I’m undone. What business is this? Why are these men running towards me, pray? What do you want? What do you seek? Why do you stand around me? (They seize and drag him.) Whither are you dragging me? Whither are you carrying me? I’m undone. I entreat your assistance,

citizens, men of Epidamnus, come and help me. (To the men.) Why don’t you let me go?
1000

MESSENIO

(running towards them.)

O ye immortal Gods, I beseech you, what do I behold with my eyes? Some fellows, I know not who, are most disgracefully carrying off my master upon their shoulders.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

Who is it that ventures to bring me aid?

MESSENIO

I, master, and right boldly. (Aloud.) O shameful and scandalous deed, citizens of Epidamnus, for my master,

here in a town enjoying peace, to be carried off, in daylight, in the street, who came to you a free man. Let him go.
1005

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

Prithee, whoever you are, do lend me your aid, and don’t suffer so great an outrage to be signally committed against me.

MESSENIO

Aye, I’ll give you my aid, and I’ll defend you, and zealously succour you. I’ll never let you come to harm; ’tis fitter that I myself should come to harm.

I’ll now make a sowing on the faces of these fellows, and there I’ll plant my fists. I’ faith, you’re carrying this person off this day at your own extreme hazard. Let him go. (He lays about him.)
1010

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

(fighting with them.)

I’ve got hold of this fellow’s eye.

MESSENIO

Make the socket of his eye be seen in his head.

You rascals! you villains! you robbers!
1015

THE SERVANTS

(severally.)

We are undone. Troth, now, prithee, do—

MESSENIO

Let him go then.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

What business have you to touch me? Thump them with your fists.

MESSENIO

Come, begone, fly hence to utter perdition with you. (Three run away.) Here’s for you, too (giving the fourth one a punch); because you are the last to yield, you shall have this for a reward. (They all disappear.) Right well have I marked his face, and quite to my liking.

Troth, now, master, I really did come to your help just now in the nick of time.
1020

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

And may the Gods, young man, whoever you are, ever bless you. For, had it not been for you, I should never have survived this day until sunset.

MESSENIO

By my troth, then, master, if you do right, you will give me my freedom.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

I, give you your freedom?

MESSENIO

Doubtless: since, master, I have saved you.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

How’s this?

Young man, you are mistaken.
1025

MESSENIO

How, mistaken?

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

By father Jove, I solemnly swear that I am not your master.

MESSENIO

Will you not hold your peace?

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

I’m telling no lie; nor did any servant of mine ever do such a thing as you have done for me.

MESSENIO

In that case, then, let me go free, if you deny that I am your servant.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

By my faith, so far, indeed, as I’m concerned, be free, and go where you like.

MESSENIO

That is, you order me to do so?
1030

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

I’ faith, I do order you, if I have aught of authority over you.

MESSENIO

Save you, my patron. Since you seriously give me my freedom,

I rejoice.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

I’ faith, I really do believe you.¹

MESSENIO

But, my patron, I do entreat you² that you won’t command me any the less now than when I was your servant. With you will I dwell, and when you go I’ll go home together with you. Wait for me here;

I’ll now go to the inn, and bring back the luggage and the money for you. The purse, with the money for our journey, is fast sealed up in the wallet; I’ll bring it just now here to you.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

Bring it carefully.

MESSENIO

I’ll give it back safe to you just as you gave it to me. Do you wait for me here.

(Exit MESSENIO.)

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

Very wonderful things have really happened this day to me in wonderful ways.

Some deny that I am he who I am, and shut me out of doors; others say that I am he who I am not, and will have it that they are my servants. He for instance, who said that he was going for the money, to whom I gave his freedom just now. Since he says that he will bring me a purse with money, if he does bring it³, I’ll say that he may go free from me where he pleases,
1040

lest at a time when he shall have come to his senses he should ask the money of me. My father-in-law and the Doctor were saying that I am mad. Whatever it is, it is a wonderful affair. These things appear to me not at all otherwise than dreams. Now I’ll go in the house to this Courtesan, although she is angry with me; if I can prevail upon her to restore the mantle for me to take back home. (He goes into EROTIUM’S house.)
1045

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Menaechmvs Occidi, quid hoc ést negoti? quid illisce homines ad me currunt, opsecro? quid voltis vos? quid quaeritatis? quid me circumsistitis? quo rapitis me? quo fertis me? perii, opsecro vestram fidem, Epidamnienses, subvenite, cives. quin me mittitis? 1000

Messenio Pro di immortales, obsecro, quid ego oculis aspicio meis? erum meum indignissime nescio qui sublimen ferunt.

Menaechmvs Ecquis suppetias mihi audet ferre?

Messenio Ego, ere, audacissime. o facinus indignum et malum, Epidamnii cives, erum meum hic in pacato oppido luci deripier in via, 1005 qui liber ad vos venerit. mittite istunc.

Menaechmvs Obsecro te, quisquis es, operam mihi ut des, neu sinas in me insignite fieri tantam iniuriam.

Messenio Immo et operam dabo et defendam et subvenibo sedulo. numquam te patiar perire, me perirest aequius. 1010 eripe oculum ísti, ab umero qui tenet, ere, te obsecro. hisce ego iam sementem in ore faciam pugnosque obseram. maximo hodie malo hercle vostro ístunc fertis. mittite.

Menaechmvs Teneo ego huic oculum.

Messenio Face ut oculi locus in capite appareat. vos scelesti, vos rapacis, vos praedones. 1015

Lorarii Periimus. obsecro hercle.

Messenio Mittite ergo.

Menaechmvs Quid me vobis tactiost? pecte pugnis.

Messenio Agite abite, fugite hinc in malam crucem. em tibi etiam: quia postremus cedis, hoc praemi feres. nimis bene ora commetavi atque ex mea sententia. edepol, ere, ne tibi suppetias temperi adveni modo. 1020

Menaechmvs At tibi di semper, adulescens, quisquis es, faciant bene. nam absque te esset, hodie numquam ad solem occasum viverem.

Messenio Ergo edepol, si recte facias, ere, med emittas manu.

Menaechmvs Liberem ego te?

Messenio Verum, quandoquidem, ere, te servavi.

Menaechmvs Quid est? adulescens, erras. 1025

Messenio Quid, erro?

Menaechmvs Per Iovem adiuro patrem, med erum tuom non esse.

Messenio Non taces?

Menaechmvs Non mentior; nec meus servos úmquam tale fecit quale tu mihi.

Messenio Sic sine igitur, si tuom négas me ésse, abire liberum.

Menaechmvs Mea quidem hercle causa liber esto atque ito quo voles.

Messenio Nempe iubes? 1030

Menaechmvs Iubeo hercle, si quid imperi est in te mihi.

Messenio Salve, mi patrone. cum tu liber es, Messenio, gaudeo. credo hercle vobis. sed, patrone, te obsecro, ne minus imperes mihí quam cum tuos servos fui. apud ted habitabo et quando ibis, una tecum ibo domum.

Menaechmvs Minime. 1035

Messenio Nunc ibo in tabernam, vasa atque argentum tibi referam. recte est obsignatum in vidulo marsuppium cum viatico: id tibí iam huc adferam.

Menaechmvs Adfer strenue.

Messenio Salvom tibi ita ut mihi dedisti reddibo. hic me mane.—

Current edition Perseus

MESSENIO (running towards them.) O ye immortal Gods, I beseech you, what do I behold with my eyes? Some fellows, I know not who, are most disgracefully carrying off my master upon their shoulders.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Who is it that ventures to bring me aid?

MESSENIO I, master, and right boldly. (Aloud.) O shameful and scandalous deed, citizens of Epidamnus, for my master, here in a town enjoying peace, to be carried off, in daylight, in the street, who came to you a free man. Let him go. 1005

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Prithee, whoever you are, do lend me your aid, and don’t suffer so great an outrage to be signally committed against me.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. (fighting with them.) I’ve got hold of this fellow’s eye.

MESSENIO Make the socket of his eye be seen in his head. You rascals! you villains! you robbers! 1015

THE SERVANTS (severally.) We are undone. Troth, now, prithee, do—

MESSENIO Let him go then.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. What business have you to touch me? Thump them with your fists.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. And may the Gods, young man, whoever you are, ever bless you. For, had it not been for you, I should never have survived this day until sunset.

MESSENIO By my troth, then, master, if you do right, you will give me my freedom.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. I, give you your freedom?

MESSENIO Doubtless: since, master, I have saved you.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. How’s this? Young man, you are mistaken. 1025

MESSENIO How, mistaken?

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. By father Jove, I solemnly swear that I am not your master.

MESSENIO Will you not hold your peace?

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. I’m telling no lie; nor did any servant of mine ever do such a thing as you have done for me.

MESSENIO In that case, then, let me go free, if you deny that I am your servant.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. By my faith, so far, indeed, as I’m concerned, be free, and go where you like.

MESSENIO That is, you order me to do so? 1030

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. I’ faith, I do order you, if I have aught of authority over you.

MESSENIO Save you, my patron. Since you seriously give me my freedom, I rejoice.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. I’ faith, I really do believe you. 1

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Bring it carefully.

MESSENIO I’ll give it back safe to you just as you gave it to me. Do you wait for me here. (Exit MESSENIO.)

Stable identifiers

Menaechmvs

Occidi,

quid hoc ést negoti? quid illisce homines ad me currunt, opsecro?

quid voltis vos? quid quaeritatis? quid me circumsistitis?

quo rapitis me? quo fertis me? perii, opsecro vestram fidem,

Epidamnienses, subvenite, cives. quin me mittitis?
1000

Messenio

Pro di immortales, obsecro, quid ego oculis aspicio meis?

erum meum indignissime nescio qui sublimen ferunt.

Menaechmvs

Ecquis suppetias mihi audet ferre?

Messenio

Ego, ere, audacissime.

o facinus indignum et malum, Epidamnii cives, erum

meum hic in pacato oppido luci deripier in via,
1005

qui liber ad vos venerit.

mittite istunc.

Menaechmvs

Obsecro te, quisquis es, operam mihi ut des,

neu sinas in me insignite fieri tantam iniuriam.

Messenio

Immo et operam dabo et defendam et subvenibo sedulo.

numquam te patiar perire, me perirest aequius.
1010

eripe oculum ísti, ab umero qui tenet, ere, te obsecro.

hisce ego iam sementem in ore faciam pugnosque obseram.

maximo hodie malo hercle vostro ístunc fertis. mittite.

Menaechmvs

Teneo ego huic oculum.

Messenio

Face ut oculi locus in capite appareat.

vos scelesti, vos rapacis, vos praedones.
1015

Lorarii

Periimus.

obsecro hercle.

Messenio

Mittite ergo.

Menaechmvs

Quid me vobis tactiost?

pecte pugnis.

Messenio

Agite abite, fugite hinc in malam crucem.

em tibi etiam: quia postremus cedis, hoc praemi feres.

nimis bene ora commetavi atque ex mea sententia.

edepol, ere, ne tibi suppetias temperi adveni modo.
1020

Menaechmvs

At tibi di semper, adulescens, quisquis es, faciant bene.

nam absque te esset, hodie numquam ad solem occasum viverem.

Messenio

Ergo edepol, si recte facias, ere, med emittas manu.

Menaechmvs

Liberem ego te?

Messenio

Verum, quandoquidem, ere, te servavi.

Menaechmvs

Quid est?

adulescens, erras.
1025

Messenio

Quid, erro?

Menaechmvs

Per Iovem adiuro patrem,

med erum tuom non esse.

Messenio

Non taces?

Menaechmvs

Non mentior;

nec meus servos úmquam tale fecit quale tu mihi.

Messenio

Sic sine igitur, si tuom négas me ésse, abire liberum.

Menaechmvs

Mea quidem hercle causa liber esto atque ito quo voles.

Messenio

Nempe iubes?
1030

Menaechmvs

Iubeo hercle, si quid imperi est in te mihi.

Messenio

Salve, mi patrone. cum tu liber es, Messenio,

gaudeo. credo hercle vobis. sed, patrone, te obsecro,

ne minus imperes mihí quam cum tuos servos fui.

apud ted habitabo et quando ibis, una tecum ibo domum.

Menaechmvs

Minime.
1035

Messenio

Nunc ibo in tabernam, vasa atque argentum tibi

referam. recte est obsignatum in vidulo marsuppium

cum viatico: id tibí iam huc adferam.

Menaechmvs

Adfer strenue.

Messenio

Salvom tibi ita ut mihi dedisti reddibo. hic me mane.—

MESSENIO

(running towards them.)

O ye immortal Gods, I beseech you, what do I behold with my eyes? Some fellows, I know not who, are most disgracefully carrying off my master upon their shoulders.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

Who is it that ventures to bring me aid?

MESSENIO

I, master, and right boldly. (Aloud.) O shameful and scandalous deed, citizens of Epidamnus, for my master,

here in a town enjoying peace, to be carried off, in daylight, in the street, who came to you a free man. Let him go.
1005

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

Prithee, whoever you are, do lend me your aid, and don’t suffer so great an outrage to be signally committed against me.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

(fighting with them.)

I’ve got hold of this fellow’s eye.

MESSENIO

Make the socket of his eye be seen in his head.

You rascals! you villains! you robbers!
1015

THE SERVANTS

(severally.)

We are undone. Troth, now, prithee, do—

MESSENIO

Let him go then.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

What business have you to touch me? Thump them with your fists.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

And may the Gods, young man, whoever you are, ever bless you. For, had it not been for you, I should never have survived this day until sunset.

MESSENIO

By my troth, then, master, if you do right, you will give me my freedom.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

I, give you your freedom?

MESSENIO

Doubtless: since, master, I have saved you.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

How’s this?

Young man, you are mistaken.
1025

MESSENIO

How, mistaken?

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

By father Jove, I solemnly swear that I am not your master.

MESSENIO

Will you not hold your peace?

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

I’m telling no lie; nor did any servant of mine ever do such a thing as you have done for me.

MESSENIO

In that case, then, let me go free, if you deny that I am your servant.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

By my faith, so far, indeed, as I’m concerned, be free, and go where you like.

MESSENIO

That is, you order me to do so?
1030

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

I’ faith, I do order you, if I have aught of authority over you.

MESSENIO

Save you, my patron. Since you seriously give me my freedom,

I rejoice.

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

I’ faith, I really do believe you.¹

MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.

Bring it carefully.

MESSENIO

I’ll give it back safe to you just as you gave it to me. Do you wait for me here.

(Exit MESSENIO.)