T. Maccius Plautus, Mercator, ed. Friedrich Leo, 3.1

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499

Lysimachvs

Amíce amico operam dedi: vicinus quod rogavit,

hoc emi mercimonium. mea es tu, sequere sane.
500

ne plora: nimis stulte facis, oculos corrumpis tales.

quin tibi quidem quod rideas magis est, quam ut lamentere.

Pasicompsa

Amabo ecastor, mi senex, eloquere—

Lysimachvs

Exquire quidvis.

Pasicompsa

Cur emeris me.

Lysimachvs

Tene ego? ut quod imperetur facias,

item quod tu mihi si imperes, ego faciam.
505

Pasicompsa

Facere certumst

pro copia et sapientia quae te velle arbitrabor.

Lysimachvs

Laboriosi nil tibi quicquam operis imperabo.

Pasicompsa

Namque edepol equidem, mi senex, non didici baiolare

nec pecua ruri pascere nec pueros nutricare.

Lysimachvs

Bona si esse vis, bene erit tibi.
510

Pasicompsa

Tum pol ego perii misera.

Lysimachvs

Qui?

Pasicompsa

Quia illim unde huc advecta sum, malis bene esse solitumst.

Lysimachvs

Quasi dicas nullam mulierem bonam esse.

Pasicompsa

Haud equidem dico,

nec mos meust ut praedicem quod ego omnis scire credam.

Lysimachvs

Oratio edepol pluris est huius quam quanti haec emptast.

rogare hoc unum te volo.
515

Pasicompsa

Roganti respondebo.

Lysimachvs

Quid ais tu? quid nomen tibi dicam esse?

Pasicompsa

Pasicompsae.

Lysimachvs

Ex forma nomen inditumst. sed quid ais, Pasicompsa?

possin tu, si usus venerit, subtemen tenue nere?

Pasicompsa

Possum.

Lysimachvs

Si tenue scis, scio te uberius posse nere.

Pasicompsa

De lanificio neminem metuo, una aetate quae sit.
520

Lysimachvs

Bonam hercle te et frugi arbitror, matura iam † inde aetate

quom scis facere officium tuom, mulier.

Pasicompsa

Pol docta didici.

operam accusari non sinam meam.

Lysimachvs

Em istaec hercle res est.

ovem tibi eccillam dabo, natam annos sexaginta,

peculiarem.
525

Pasicompsa

Mi senex, tam vetulam?

Lysimachvs

Generis graecist;

eam si curabis, perbonast, tondetur nimium scite.

Pasicompsa

Honoris causa quidquid est quod dabitur gratum habebo.

Lysimachvs

Nunc, mulier, ne tu frustra sis, mea non es, ne arbitrere.

Pasicompsa

Dic igitur quaeso, quoia sum?

Lysimachvs

Tuo ero redempta es rursum;

ego te redemi, ílle mecum oravit.
530

Pasicompsa

Animus rediit,

si mecum servatur fides.

Lysimachvs

Bono animo es, liberabit

ille te homo: ita edepol deperit, atque hodie primum vidit.

Pasicompsa

Ecastor iam bienniumst, quom mecum rem coëpit.

nunc, quando amicum te scio esse illius, indicabo.

Lysimachvs

Quid ais tu? iam bienniumst, quom tecum rém habet?
535

Pasicompsa

Certo;

et intér nos coniuravimus, ego cum illo et ille mecum:

ego cum viro et ílle cum muliere, nisi cum illo aut ille mecum,

neuter stupri causa caput limaret.

Lysimachvs

Di immortales,

etiam cum uxore non cubet?

Pasicompsa

Amabo, án maritust?

neque est neque erit.

Lysimachvs

Nolim quidem. homo hercle periuravit.

Pasicompsa

Nullum adulescentem plus amo.
540

Lysimachvs

Puer est ille quidem, stulta.

nam illi quidem hau sane diust quom dentes exciderunt.

Pasicompsa

Quid, dentes?

Lysimachvs

Nihil est. sequere sis. hunc me diem unum oravit

ut apud me praehiberem locum, ideo quia uxor rurist.—

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.) — 3.1 focus

499 (Enter LYSIMACHUS, with PASICOMPSA, weeping.)

LYSIMACHUS

(to himself.)

I’ve lent my assistance to my friend in a friendly manner; this piece of goods, which my neighbour requested me, I’ve purchased. (Turning to PASICOMPSA.) You are my own; then follow me.

Don’t weep. You are acting very foolishly; spoiling such eyes. Why, really you have more reason to laugh than to be crying.

PASICOMPSA

In the name of heaven, prithee, my good old gentleman, do tell me—

LYSIMACHUS

Ask me what you please.

PASICOMPSA

Why have you bought me?

LYSIMACHUS

What, I, bought you? For you to do what you are bidden;

in like manner what you bid me, I’ll do.
505

PASICOMPSA

I am determined, to the best of my ability and skill, to do what I shall think you desire.

LYSIMACHUS

I shall bid you do nothing of laborious work.

PASICOMPSA

Why, really, for my part, my good old gentleman, I haven’t learnt, i’ faith, to carry burdens, or to feed cattle at the farm, or to nurse children.

LYSIMACHUS

If you choose to be a good girl, it shall be well for you.
510

PASICOMPSA

Then, i’ faith, to my sorrow, I’m undone.

LYSIMACHUS

Why so?

PASICOMPSA

Because in the place from which I have been conveyed hither, it used to be well with the worthless¹.

LYSIMACHUS

(aside.)

By my troth, her talk alone is worth more than the sum that she was purchased at.

(To PASICOMPSA.)

As though you would say that no woman is good.

PASICOMPSA

Indeed I don’t say so; nor is it my way, to say a thing which I believe all people are acquainted with.

LYSIMACHUS

I want to ask this one thing of you.
515

PASICOMPSA

I’ll answer you when you ask.

LYSIMACHUS

What say you now? What am I to say your name is?

PASICOMPSA

Pasicompsa.

LYSIMACHUS

The name was given you from your good looks². But what say you, Pasicompsa? Can you, if occasion should arise, spin a fine woof?

PASICOMPSA

I can.

LYSIMACHUS

If you know how to do a fine one, I’m sure you can spin a coarser one.

PASICOMPSA

For spinning, I fear no woman that’s of the same age.
520

LYSIMACHUS

Upon my faith, I take it that you are good and industrious, since, young woman, now that you are grown up, you know how to do your duty.

PASICOMPSA

I’ faith, I learned it from a skilful mistress. I won’t let my work be called in question.

LYSIMACHUS

Well, thus the matter stands, i’ faith. Look now, I’ll give you a sheep for your own, one sixty years old.

PASICOMPSA

My good old gentleman, one so old as that?

LYSIMACHUS

It’s of the Grecian breed. If you take care of it, it is a very good one; it is shorn very easily.

PASICOMPSA

For the sake of the compliment, whatever it is that shall be given me, I shall receive it with thanks.

LYSIMACHUS

Now, damsel, that you mayn’t be mistaken, you are not mine; so don’t think it.

PASICOMPSA

Prithee, tell me, then, whose I am?

LYSIMACHUS

You’ve been bought back for your own master.

I’ve bought you back for him³; he requested me to do so.
530

PASICOMPSA

My spirits have returned, if good faith is kept with me.

LYSIMACHUS

Be of good courage; this person will give you your liberty. I’ troth, he did so dote upon you this day as soon as ever he had seen you.

PASICOMPSA

I’ faith, it’s now two years since he commenced his connexion with me. Now, as I’m sure that you are a friend of his, I’ll disclose it.

LYSIMACHUS

How say you? Is it now two years since he formed the connexion with you?
535

PASICOMPSA

Certainly, it is; and we agreed, on oath, between ourselves, I with him, and he with me, that I would never have intercourse with any man except himself, nor he with any woman except myself.

LYSIMACHUS

Immortal Gods! Isn’t he even to sleep with his wife?

PASICOMPSA

Prithee, is he a married man? He neither is nor will he be.

LYSIMACHUS

Indeed, I wish he wasn’t. I’ faith, the fellow has been committing perjury.

PASICOMPSA

No young man do I more ardently love.
540

LYSIMACHUS

Why, really he’s a child, you simpleton; for, in fact, it’s not so very long a time since his teeth fell out.

PASICOMPSA

What? His teeth?

LYSIMACHUS

It’s no matter? Follow me this way, please; he requested that I would find you room for one day in my house, since my wife is away in the country.

(He goes into his house, followed by PASICOMPSA.)

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Lysimachvs Amíce amico operam dedi: vicinus quod rogavit, hoc emi mercimonium. mea es tu, sequere sane. 500 ne plora: nimis stulte facis, oculos corrumpis tales. quin tibi quidem quod rideas magis est, quam ut lamentere.

Pasicompsa Amabo ecastor, mi senex, eloquere—

Lysimachvs Exquire quidvis.

Pasicompsa Cur emeris me.

Lysimachvs Tene ego? ut quod imperetur facias, item quod tu mihi si imperes, ego faciam. 505

Pasicompsa Facere certumst pro copia et sapientia quae te velle arbitrabor.

Lysimachvs Laboriosi nil tibi quicquam operis imperabo.

Pasicompsa Namque edepol equidem, mi senex, non didici baiolare nec pecua ruri pascere nec pueros nutricare.

Lysimachvs Bona si esse vis, bene erit tibi. 510

Pasicompsa Tum pol ego perii misera.

Lysimachvs Qui?

Pasicompsa Quia illim unde huc advecta sum, malis bene esse solitumst.

Lysimachvs Quasi dicas nullam mulierem bonam esse.

Pasicompsa Haud equidem dico, nec mos meust ut praedicem quod ego omnis scire credam.

Lysimachvs Oratio edepol pluris est huius quam quanti haec emptast. rogare hoc unum te volo. 515

Pasicompsa Roganti respondebo.

Lysimachvs Quid ais tu? quid nomen tibi dicam esse?

Pasicompsa Pasicompsae.

Lysimachvs Ex forma nomen inditumst. sed quid ais, Pasicompsa? possin tu, si usus venerit, subtemen tenue nere?

Pasicompsa Possum.

Lysimachvs Si tenue scis, scio te uberius posse nere.

Pasicompsa De lanificio neminem metuo, una aetate quae sit. 520

Lysimachvs Bonam hercle te et frugi arbitror, matura iam † inde aetate quom scis facere officium tuom, mulier.

Pasicompsa Pol docta didici. operam accusari non sinam meam.

Lysimachvs Em istaec hercle res est. ovem tibi eccillam dabo, natam annos sexaginta, peculiarem. 525

Pasicompsa Mi senex, tam vetulam?

Lysimachvs Generis graecist; eam si curabis, perbonast, tondetur nimium scite.

Pasicompsa Honoris causa quidquid est quod dabitur gratum habebo.

Lysimachvs Nunc, mulier, ne tu frustra sis, mea non es, ne arbitrere.

Pasicompsa Dic igitur quaeso, quoia sum?

Lysimachvs Tuo ero redempta es rursum; ego te redemi, ílle mecum oravit. 530

Pasicompsa Animus rediit, si mecum servatur fides.

Lysimachvs Bono animo es, liberabit ille te homo: ita edepol deperit, atque hodie primum vidit.

Pasicompsa Ecastor iam bienniumst, quom mecum rem coëpit. nunc, quando amicum te scio esse illius, indicabo.

Lysimachvs Quid ais tu? iam bienniumst, quom tecum rém habet? 535

Pasicompsa Certo; et intér nos coniuravimus, ego cum illo et ille mecum: ego cum viro et ílle cum muliere, nisi cum illo aut ille mecum, neuter stupri causa caput limaret.

Lysimachvs Di immortales, etiam cum uxore non cubet?

Pasicompsa Amabo, án maritust? neque est neque erit.

Lysimachvs Nolim quidem. homo hercle periuravit.

Pasicompsa Nullum adulescentem plus amo. 540

Lysimachvs Puer est ille quidem, stulta. nam illi quidem hau sane diust quom dentes exciderunt.

Pasicompsa Quid, dentes?

Lysimachvs Nihil est. sequere sis. hunc me diem unum oravit ut apud me praehiberem locum, ideo quia uxor rurist.—

Current edition Perseus

PASICOMPSA In the name of heaven, prithee, my good old gentleman, do tell me—

LYSIMACHUS Ask me what you please.

PASICOMPSA Why have you bought me?

LYSIMACHUS What, I, bought you? For you to do what you are bidden; in like manner what you bid me, I’ll do. 505

PASICOMPSA I am determined, to the best of my ability and skill, to do what I shall think you desire.

LYSIMACHUS I shall bid you do nothing of laborious work.

PASICOMPSA Why, really, for my part, my good old gentleman, I haven’t learnt, i’ faith, to carry burdens, or to feed cattle at the farm, or to nurse children.

LYSIMACHUS If you choose to be a good girl, it shall be well for you. 510

PASICOMPSA Then, i’ faith, to my sorrow, I’m undone.

LYSIMACHUS Why so?

PASICOMPSA Because in the place from which I have been conveyed hither, it used to be well with the worthless 1 .

LYSIMACHUS (aside.) By my troth, her talk alone is worth more than the sum that she was purchased at. (To PASICOMPSA.) As though you would say that no woman is good.

PASICOMPSA Indeed I don’t say so; nor is it my way, to say a thing which I believe all people are acquainted with.

LYSIMACHUS I want to ask this one thing of you. 515

PASICOMPSA I’ll answer you when you ask.

LYSIMACHUS What say you now? What am I to say your name is?

PASICOMPSA Pasicompsa.

LYSIMACHUS The name was given you from your good looks 2 . But what say you, Pasicompsa? Can you, if occasion should arise, spin a fine woof?

PASICOMPSA I can.

LYSIMACHUS If you know how to do a fine one, I’m sure you can spin a coarser one.

PASICOMPSA For spinning, I fear no woman that’s of the same age. 520

LYSIMACHUS Upon my faith, I take it that you are good and industrious, since, young woman, now that you are grown up, you know how to do your duty.

PASICOMPSA I’ faith, I learned it from a skilful mistress. I won’t let my work be called in question.

LYSIMACHUS Well, thus the matter stands, i’ faith. Look now, I’ll give you a sheep for your own, one sixty years old.

PASICOMPSA My good old gentleman, one so old as that?

LYSIMACHUS It’s of the Grecian breed. If you take care of it, it is a very good one; it is shorn very easily.

PASICOMPSA For the sake of the compliment, whatever it is that shall be given me, I shall receive it with thanks.

LYSIMACHUS Now, damsel, that you mayn’t be mistaken, you are not mine; so don’t think it.

PASICOMPSA Prithee, tell me, then, whose I am?

LYSIMACHUS You’ve been bought back for your own master. I’ve bought you back for him 3 ; he requested me to do so. 530

PASICOMPSA My spirits have returned, if good faith is kept with me.

LYSIMACHUS Be of good courage; this person will give you your liberty. I’ troth, he did so dote upon you this day as soon as ever he had seen you.

PASICOMPSA I’ faith, it’s now two years since he commenced his connexion with me. Now, as I’m sure that you are a friend of his, I’ll disclose it.

LYSIMACHUS How say you? Is it now two years since he formed the connexion with you? 535

Lysimachvs

Amíce amico operam dedi: vicinus quod rogavit,

hoc emi mercimonium. mea es tu, sequere sane.
500

ne plora: nimis stulte facis, oculos corrumpis tales.

quin tibi quidem quod rideas magis est, quam ut lamentere.

Pasicompsa

Amabo ecastor, mi senex, eloquere—

Lysimachvs

Exquire quidvis.

Pasicompsa

Cur emeris me.

Lysimachvs

Tene ego? ut quod imperetur facias,

item quod tu mihi si imperes, ego faciam.
505

Pasicompsa

Facere certumst

pro copia et sapientia quae te velle arbitrabor.

Lysimachvs

Laboriosi nil tibi quicquam operis imperabo.

Pasicompsa

Namque edepol equidem, mi senex, non didici baiolare

nec pecua ruri pascere nec pueros nutricare.

Lysimachvs

Bona si esse vis, bene erit tibi.
510

Pasicompsa

Tum pol ego perii misera.

Lysimachvs

Qui?

Pasicompsa

Quia illim unde huc advecta sum, malis bene esse solitumst.

Lysimachvs

Quasi dicas nullam mulierem bonam esse.

Pasicompsa

Haud equidem dico,

nec mos meust ut praedicem quod ego omnis scire credam.

Lysimachvs

Oratio edepol pluris est huius quam quanti haec emptast.

rogare hoc unum te volo.
515

Pasicompsa

Roganti respondebo.

Lysimachvs

Quid ais tu? quid nomen tibi dicam esse?

Pasicompsa

Pasicompsae.

Lysimachvs

Ex forma nomen inditumst. sed quid ais, Pasicompsa?

possin tu, si usus venerit, subtemen tenue nere?

Pasicompsa

Possum.

Lysimachvs

Si tenue scis, scio te uberius posse nere.

Pasicompsa

De lanificio neminem metuo, una aetate quae sit.
520

Lysimachvs

Bonam hercle te et frugi arbitror, matura iam † inde aetate

quom scis facere officium tuom, mulier.

Pasicompsa

Pol docta didici.

operam accusari non sinam meam.

Lysimachvs

Em istaec hercle res est.

ovem tibi eccillam dabo, natam annos sexaginta,

peculiarem.
525

Pasicompsa

Mi senex, tam vetulam?

Lysimachvs

Generis graecist;

eam si curabis, perbonast, tondetur nimium scite.

Pasicompsa

Honoris causa quidquid est quod dabitur gratum habebo.

Lysimachvs

Nunc, mulier, ne tu frustra sis, mea non es, ne arbitrere.

Pasicompsa

Dic igitur quaeso, quoia sum?

Lysimachvs

Tuo ero redempta es rursum;

ego te redemi, ílle mecum oravit.
530

Pasicompsa

Animus rediit,

si mecum servatur fides.

Lysimachvs

Bono animo es, liberabit

ille te homo: ita edepol deperit, atque hodie primum vidit.

Pasicompsa

Ecastor iam bienniumst, quom mecum rem coëpit.

nunc, quando amicum te scio esse illius, indicabo.

Lysimachvs

Quid ais tu? iam bienniumst, quom tecum rém habet?
535

Pasicompsa

Certo;

et intér nos coniuravimus, ego cum illo et ille mecum:

ego cum viro et ílle cum muliere, nisi cum illo aut ille mecum,

neuter stupri causa caput limaret.

Lysimachvs

Di immortales,

etiam cum uxore non cubet?

Pasicompsa

Amabo, án maritust?

neque est neque erit.

Lysimachvs

Nolim quidem. homo hercle periuravit.

Pasicompsa

Nullum adulescentem plus amo.
540

Lysimachvs

Puer est ille quidem, stulta.

nam illi quidem hau sane diust quom dentes exciderunt.

Pasicompsa

Quid, dentes?

Lysimachvs

Nihil est. sequere sis. hunc me diem unum oravit

ut apud me praehiberem locum, ideo quia uxor rurist.—

PASICOMPSA

In the name of heaven, prithee, my good old gentleman, do tell me—

LYSIMACHUS

Ask me what you please.

PASICOMPSA

Why have you bought me?

LYSIMACHUS

What, I, bought you? For you to do what you are bidden;

in like manner what you bid me, I’ll do.
505

PASICOMPSA

I am determined, to the best of my ability and skill, to do what I shall think you desire.

LYSIMACHUS

I shall bid you do nothing of laborious work.

PASICOMPSA

Why, really, for my part, my good old gentleman, I haven’t learnt, i’ faith, to carry burdens, or to feed cattle at the farm, or to nurse children.

LYSIMACHUS

If you choose to be a good girl, it shall be well for you.
510

PASICOMPSA

Then, i’ faith, to my sorrow, I’m undone.

LYSIMACHUS

Why so?

PASICOMPSA

Because in the place from which I have been conveyed hither, it used to be well with the worthless¹.

LYSIMACHUS

(aside.)

By my troth, her talk alone is worth more than the sum that she was purchased at.

(To PASICOMPSA.)

As though you would say that no woman is good.

PASICOMPSA

Indeed I don’t say so; nor is it my way, to say a thing which I believe all people are acquainted with.

LYSIMACHUS

I want to ask this one thing of you.
515

PASICOMPSA

I’ll answer you when you ask.

LYSIMACHUS

What say you now? What am I to say your name is?

PASICOMPSA

Pasicompsa.

LYSIMACHUS

The name was given you from your good looks². But what say you, Pasicompsa? Can you, if occasion should arise, spin a fine woof?

PASICOMPSA

I can.

LYSIMACHUS

If you know how to do a fine one, I’m sure you can spin a coarser one.

PASICOMPSA

For spinning, I fear no woman that’s of the same age.
520

LYSIMACHUS

Upon my faith, I take it that you are good and industrious, since, young woman, now that you are grown up, you know how to do your duty.

PASICOMPSA

I’ faith, I learned it from a skilful mistress. I won’t let my work be called in question.

LYSIMACHUS

Well, thus the matter stands, i’ faith. Look now, I’ll give you a sheep for your own, one sixty years old.

PASICOMPSA

My good old gentleman, one so old as that?

LYSIMACHUS

It’s of the Grecian breed. If you take care of it, it is a very good one; it is shorn very easily.

PASICOMPSA

For the sake of the compliment, whatever it is that shall be given me, I shall receive it with thanks.

LYSIMACHUS

Now, damsel, that you mayn’t be mistaken, you are not mine; so don’t think it.

PASICOMPSA

Prithee, tell me, then, whose I am?

LYSIMACHUS

You’ve been bought back for your own master.

I’ve bought you back for him³; he requested me to do so.
530

PASICOMPSA

My spirits have returned, if good faith is kept with me.

LYSIMACHUS

Be of good courage; this person will give you your liberty. I’ troth, he did so dote upon you this day as soon as ever he had seen you.

PASICOMPSA

I’ faith, it’s now two years since he commenced his connexion with me. Now, as I’m sure that you are a friend of his, I’ll disclose it.

LYSIMACHUS

How say you? Is it now two years since he formed the connexion with you?
535

PASICOMPSA

Certainly, it is; and we agreed, on oath, between ourselves, I with him, and he with me, that I would never have intercourse with any man except himself, nor he with any woman except myself.

LYSIMACHUS

Immortal Gods! Isn’t he even to sleep with his wife?

PASICOMPSA

Prithee, is he a married man? He neither is nor will he be.