T. Maccius Plautus, Mercator, ed. Friedrich Leo, 3.2

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544

Demipho

Tandem impetravi ut egomet me corrumperem:

emptast amica clam uxorem et clam filium.
545

certumst, antiqua recolam et servibo mihi.

decurso spatio breve quod vitae relicuomst

voluptáte, vino et amore delectavero.

nam hanc se bene habere aetatem nimiost aequius.

adulescens quom sis, tum quom est sanguis integer,
550

rei tuae quaerundae convenit operam dare;

demum igitur quom sis iam senex, tum in otium

te conloces, dum potes ames: id iam lucrumst

quod vivis. hoc ut dico, factis persequar.

interea tamen huc intro ad me invisam domum:
555

uxor me exspectat iam dudum esuriens domi;

iam iurgio enicabit, si intro rediero.

verum hercle postremo, utut est, non ibo tamen,

sed hunc vicinum prius conveniam quam domum

redeam; ut mihi aedis aliquas conducat volo,
560

ubi habitet istaec mulier. atque eccum it foras.

Mercator. 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

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

Translations (1)

Mercator, or The Merchant Perseus (Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 2. Riley, Henry Thomas, translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1913.) — 3.2 focus

544 (Enter DEMIPHO.)

DEMIPHO

(to himself.)

At last I’ve managed to ruin myself;

a mistress has been purchased for me without the knowledge of my wife and son. I’m resolved on it; I’ll have recourse again to former habits and enjoy myself. In my allotment of existence, almost now run through, the little that there remains of life, I’ll cheer up with pleasure, wine, and love. For it’s quite proper for this time of life to enjoy itself.
545

When you are young, then, when the blood is fresh, it’s right to devote your exertions to acquiring your fortune; and then when at last, you are an old man, you may set yourself at your ease; drink, and be amorous; this, the fact that you are living, is now so much profit. This, as I say, I’ll carry out in deed.
550
(Turning to his house.)

Meanwhile, however, I’ll take a look in-doors here at my house; my wife has been some time expecting me at home quite hungry: now, she’ll be worrying me to death with her scolding, if I go in-doors. But, in fine, whatever comes of it, i’ faith, I’ll not go, but I’ll first meet this neighbour of mine before I return home;
555

I want him to hire some house for me, where this damsel may dwell. And, see, he’s coming out of doors.
560

T. Maccius Plautus Mercator 3.2

ed. Friedrich Leo

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