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

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329

Satvrio

Quae res bene vortat mi et tibi et ventri meo

perennitatique adeo huic, perpetuo cibus
330

ut mihi supersit, suppetat, superstitet:

sequere hac, mea gnata, me, cum dis volentibus.

quoi rei opera detur scis, tenes, intellegis;

communicavi tecum consilia omnia.

ea causa ad hoc exemplum te exornavi ego.
335

venibis tu hodie, virgo.

Virgo

Amabo, mi pater,

quamquam libenter escis alienis studes,

tuin véntris causa filiam vendas tuam?

Satvrio

Mirum quin regis Phílippi causa aut Attali

te potius vendam quam mea, quae sis mea.
340

Virgo

Vtrum tú pro ancilla mé habes an pro filia?

Satvrio

Vtrum hercle magis in ventris rem videbitur.

meum, opino, imperiumst in te, non in me tibi.

Virgo

Tua istaéc potestas est, pater. verum tamen,

quamquam res nostrae sunt, pater, pauperculae,
345

modice et modeste meliust vitam vivere;

nam ad paupertatem si admigrant infamiae,

gravior paupertas fit, fides sublestior.

Satvrio

Enim véro odiosa es.

Virgo

Non sum, neque me esse arbitror,

quom parva natu recte praecipio patri.
350

nam inimici famam non ita ut natast ferunt.

Satvrio

Ferant eantque maximam malam crucem;

neque ego ínimicitias omnes pluris existimo,

quam mensa inanis nunc si apponatur mihi.

Virgo

Patér, hominum immortalis est infamia;
355

etiam tum vivit, cum esse credas mortuam.

Satvrio

Quid? metuis, ne te vendam?

Virgo

Non metuo, pater.

verum insimulari nolo.

Satvrio

At nequiquam nevis.

meo modo istuc potius fiet quam tuo

fiat. quae hae res sunt?
360

Virgo

Cogita hoc verbum, pater:

erus sí minatus est malum servo suo,

tametsi íd futurum non est, ubi captumst flagrum,

dum tunicas ponit, quanta adficitur miseria!

ego nunc quod non futurumst formido tamen.

Satvrio

Virgo atque mulier nulla erit quin sit mala,
365

quae praeter sapiet quam placet parentibus.

Virgo

Virgo atque mulier nulla erit quin sit mala,

quae reticet, si quid fieri pervorse videt.

Satvrio

Malo cavere meliust te.

Virgo

At si non licet

cavere, quid agam? nám ego tibi cautum volo.
370

Satvrio

Malusne égo sum?

Virgo

Non es, neque me dignumst dicere,

verum ei rei operam do, ne alii dicant, quibus licet.

Satvrio

Dicat quod quisque volt; ego de hac sententia

non demovebor.

Virgo

At, meo sí liceat modo,

sapienter potius facias quam stulte.
375

Satvrio

Lubet.

Virgo

Lubere per me tibi licere intellego;

verum lubere hau lubeat, sí liceat mihi.

Satvrio

Futura es dicto oboediens an non patri?

Virgo

Futura.

Satvrio

Scis iam tibi quae praecepi?

Virgo

Omnia.

Satvrio

Et ut surrupta fueris?
380

Virgo

Docte calleo.

Satvrio

Et qui parentes fuerint?

Virgo

Habeo in memoria.

necessitate me mala ut fiam facis.

verum videto, me ubi voles nuptum dare,

ne haec fama faciat repudiosas nuptias.

Satvrio

Tace, stúlta. non tu nunc hominum mores vides?
385

quoivis modi hic cum mala fama facile nubitur:

dum dos sit, nullum vitium vitio vortitur.

Virgo

Ergo istuc facito ut veniat in mentem tibi,

me esse indotatam.

Satvrio

Cave sis tu istuc dixeris.

pol deum virtute dicam et maiorum meum,
390

ne te indotatam dicas, quoi dos sit domi:

librorum eccillum hábeo plenum soracum.

si hoc adcurassis lepide, cui rei operam damus,

dabuntur dotis tibi inde sescenti logi,

atque Attici omnes; nullum Siculum acceperis:
395

cum hac dote poteris vel mendico nubere.

Virgo

Quin tu me ducis, si quo ducturu's ducturus es, pater?

vel tu me vende vel face quid tibi lubet.

Satvrio

Bonum aequomque oras. sequere hac.—

Virgo

Dicto sum audiens.—

Persa. T. Maccius Plautus. ed. Friedrich Leo. Berlin. 1896.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

Persa (Latin) (Plautus. Plauti Comoediae, Volume 2. Leo, Friedrich, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1896.)

Translations (1)

Persa, or The Persian Perseus (Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 2. Riley, Henry Thomas, translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1913.) — 3.1 focus

329 (Enter SATURIO and his DAUGHTER¹, in the habit of a PERSIAN.)

SATURIO

May this same matter turn out well for me, and for yourself, and for my stomach,

and for everlasting victuals for it as well for all time to come; that I may have more than enough, a superfluity, and that it may outlast me. Follow me this way, my daughter, with the Gods’ good leave. The matter to which we are to give our attention, you know, you remember, you understand; to you I have communicated all my designs.
330

For that reason have I dressed you out after this fashion; young woman, to-day you are to be sold.
335

DAUGHTER

Prithee, my dear father, although you do eagerly long for victuals at another’s cost, are you for the sake of your appetite going to sell your own daughter?

SATURIO

It is a wonder, indeed, if I don’t sell you, who are my own, for the sake of King Philip or Attalus², rather than my own.

DAUGHTER

Whether do you regard me as your slave or as your daughter?

SATURIO

I’ faith, that of the two which shall appear most for the interest of my stomach; it’s my authority over you, I suppose, not yours over me.

DAUGHTER

This power is yours, father; but still,

although our circumstances are but very limited, it’s better to pass our lives with frugality and moderation; for if disgrace is added to poverty, poverty will be more unendurable, our character more frail.
345

SATURIO

Why really you are impertinent.

DAUGHTER

I am not, nor do I think that I am,

when, though of youthful age, I give good advice to my father. For enemies carry about slander not in the form in which it took its rise.
350

SATURIO

Let them carry it about, and let them go to utter and extreme perdition. I don’t value all their enmities any more than if an empty table were now set before me.

DAUGHTER

Father, the scandal of men is everlasting; even then does it survive, when you would suppose it to be dead.
355

SATURIO

What? Are you afraid lest I should sell you?

DAUGHTER

I am not afraid of that, father; but I wish you not to pretend to do so.

SATURIO

Then it’s in vain you wish me not; this shall be done rather after my own fashion than yours.

DAUGHTER

Shall be done!³

SATURIO

What is the matter, now?
360

DAUGHTER

Father, reflect upon these words: if a master has threatened punishment to a slave, although it is not intended to be, still, when the whip is taken up, while he is taking off his tunics, with what an amount of misery is he afflicted. Now, that which is not to be, I’m still in fear of.

SATURIO

Damsel or woman none will there ever be, but what she must be good for nothing, who is too wise to be giving satisfaction to her parents.
365

DAUGHTER

Damsel and woman none can there be, but what she must be good for nothing, who holds her peace if she sees anything going on wrong.

SATURIO

’Twere better for you to beware of a mischief.

DAUGHTER

But if I cannot

beware, what am I to do? For it’s as to yourself I wish to beware.
370

SATURIO

What, am I a mischief?

DAUGHTER

You are not, nor is it becoming for me to say so; but for this purpose am I using my endeavours, that others may not say so who have that liberty.

SATURIO

Let each one say what he pleases; from this purpose I shall not be moved.

DAUGHTER

But, could it be after my own way,

you would be acting prudently, rather than foolishly.
375

SATURIO

It is my pleasure.

DAUGHTER

I know that I must let it be your pleasure so far as I’m concerned; but it should not please you to be your pleasure, if I had my way.

SATURIO

Are you going to be obedient to your father’s orders, or not?

DAUGHTER

To be obedient.

SATURIO

Do you know then what I instructed you?

DAUGHTER

Everything.

SATURIO

Both this, how you were stolen?
380

DAUGHTER

I understand it perfectly well.

SATURIO

And who your parents were?

DAUGHTER

I keep it in my memory. You cause me of necessity to be artful; but take you care, when you wish to give me in marriage, that this story doesn’t cause the match to be given up.

SATURIO

Hold your tongue, simpleton. Do you not see the customs of people now-a-days, that marriage is easily effected here with a reputation of any kind? So long as there’s a marriage-portion, no fault is reckoned as a fault.
385

DAUGHTER

Then take you care, and let this occur to your thoughts, that I am without a fortune.

SATURIO

Take you care, please, how you say that.

By my faith, through the merits of the Gods and of my ancestors I’ll say it, you must not say that you are without a fortune, who have a marriage-portion at home. Why look, I’ve got a whole carriage-full⁴ of books at home. If you carefully give your attention to this matter in which we are exerting ourselves, six hundred bon-mots shall be given you out of them as a fortune,
390

all Attic ones⁵, too; you shall not receive a single Sicilian one. With this for a fortune, you might safely marry a beggar even⁶.
395

DAUGHTER

Why, then, don’t you take me, father, if you are going to take me anywhere? Either do you sell me, or do with me what you please.

SATURIO

You ask what’s fair and right. Follow me this way.

DAUGHTER

I’m obedient to your command.

(They go into the house, to TOXILUS.)

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Virgo Amabo, mi pater, quamquam libenter escis alienis studes, tuin véntris causa filiam vendas tuam?

Satvrio Mirum quin regis Phílippi causa aut Attali te potius vendam quam mea, quae sis mea. 340

Virgo Vtrum tú pro ancilla mé habes an pro filia?

Satvrio Vtrum hercle magis in ventris rem videbitur. meum, opino, imperiumst in te, non in me tibi.

Virgo Tua istaéc potestas est, pater. verum tamen, quamquam res nostrae sunt, pater, pauperculae, 345 modice et modeste meliust vitam vivere; nam ad paupertatem si admigrant infamiae, gravior paupertas fit, fides sublestior.

Satvrio Enim véro odiosa es.

Virgo Non sum, neque me esse arbitror, quom parva natu recte praecipio patri. 350 nam inimici famam non ita ut natast ferunt.

Satvrio Ferant eantque maximam malam crucem; neque ego ínimicitias omnes pluris existimo, quam mensa inanis nunc si apponatur mihi.

Virgo Patér, hominum immortalis est infamia; 355 etiam tum vivit, cum esse credas mortuam.

Satvrio Quid? metuis, ne te vendam?

Virgo Non metuo, pater. verum insimulari nolo.

Satvrio At nequiquam nevis. meo modo istuc potius fiet quam tuo fiat. quae hae res sunt? 360

Virgo Cogita hoc verbum, pater: erus sí minatus est malum servo suo, tametsi íd futurum non est, ubi captumst flagrum, dum tunicas ponit, quanta adficitur miseria! ego nunc quod non futurumst formido tamen.

Satvrio Virgo atque mulier nulla erit quin sit mala, 365 quae praeter sapiet quam placet parentibus.

Virgo Virgo atque mulier nulla erit quin sit mala, quae reticet, si quid fieri pervorse videt.

Satvrio Malo cavere meliust te.

Virgo At si non licet cavere, quid agam? nám ego tibi cautum volo. 370

Satvrio Malusne égo sum?

Virgo Non es, neque me dignumst dicere, verum ei rei operam do, ne alii dicant, quibus licet.

Satvrio Dicat quod quisque volt; ego de hac sententia non demovebor.

Virgo At, meo sí liceat modo, sapienter potius facias quam stulte. 375

Satvrio Lubet.

Virgo Lubere per me tibi licere intellego; verum lubere hau lubeat, sí liceat mihi.

Satvrio Futura es dicto oboediens an non patri?

Virgo Futura.

Satvrio Scis iam tibi quae praecepi?

Virgo Omnia.

Satvrio Et ut surrupta fueris? 380

Virgo Docte calleo.

Satvrio Et qui parentes fuerint?

Virgo Habeo in memoria. necessitate me mala ut fiam facis. verum videto, me ubi voles nuptum dare, ne haec fama faciat repudiosas nuptias.

Satvrio Tace, stúlta. non tu nunc hominum mores vides? 385 quoivis modi hic cum mala fama facile nubitur: dum dos sit, nullum vitium vitio vortitur.

Virgo Ergo istuc facito ut veniat in mentem tibi, me esse indotatam.

Virgo Quin tu me ducis, si quo ducturu's ducturus es, pater? vel tu me vende vel face quid tibi lubet.

Satvrio Bonum aequomque oras. sequere hac.—

Virgo Dicto sum audiens.—

Current edition Perseus

DAUGHTER Prithee, my dear father, although you do eagerly long for victuals at another’s cost, are you for the sake of your appetite going to sell your own daughter?

SATURIO It is a wonder, indeed, if I don’t sell you, who are my own, for the sake of King Philip or Attalus 2 , rather than my own.

DAUGHTER Whether do you regard me as your slave or as your daughter?

SATURIO I’ faith, that of the two which shall appear most for the interest of my stomach; it’s my authority over you, I suppose, not yours over me.

DAUGHTER This power is yours, father; but still, although our circumstances are but very limited, it’s better to pass our lives with frugality and moderation; for if disgrace is added to poverty, poverty will be more unendurable, our character more frail. 345

SATURIO Why really you are impertinent.

DAUGHTER I am not, nor do I think that I am, when, though of youthful age, I give good advice to my father. For enemies carry about slander not in the form in which it took its rise. 350

SATURIO Let them carry it about, and let them go to utter and extreme perdition. I don’t value all their enmities any more than if an empty table were now set before me.

DAUGHTER Father, the scandal of men is everlasting; even then does it survive, when you would suppose it to be dead. 355

SATURIO What? Are you afraid lest I should sell you?

DAUGHTER I am not afraid of that, father; but I wish you not to pretend to do so.

SATURIO Then it’s in vain you wish me not; this shall be done rather after my own fashion than yours.

DAUGHTER Shall be done! 3

SATURIO What is the matter, now? 360

DAUGHTER Father, reflect upon these words: if a master has threatened punishment to a slave, although it is not intended to be, still, when the whip is taken up, while he is taking off his tunics, with what an amount of misery is he afflicted. Now, that which is not to be, I’m still in fear of.

SATURIO Damsel or woman none will there ever be, but what she must be good for nothing, who is too wise to be giving satisfaction to her parents. 365

DAUGHTER Damsel and woman none can there be, but what she must be good for nothing, who holds her peace if she sees anything going on wrong.

SATURIO ’Twere better for you to beware of a mischief.

DAUGHTER But if I cannot beware, what am I to do? For it’s as to yourself I wish to beware. 370

SATURIO What, am I a mischief?

DAUGHTER You are not, nor is it becoming for me to say so; but for this purpose am I using my endeavours, that others may not say so who have that liberty.

SATURIO Let each one say what he pleases; from this purpose I shall not be moved.

DAUGHTER But, could it be after my own way, you would be acting prudently, rather than foolishly. 375

SATURIO It is my pleasure.

DAUGHTER I know that I must let it be your pleasure so far as I’m concerned; but it should not please you to be your pleasure, if I had my way.

SATURIO Are you going to be obedient to your father’s orders, or not?

DAUGHTER To be obedient.

SATURIO Do you know then what I instructed you?

DAUGHTER Everything.

SATURIO Both this, how you were stolen? 380

DAUGHTER I understand it perfectly well.

SATURIO And who your parents were?

DAUGHTER I keep it in my memory. You cause me of necessity to be artful; but take you care, when you wish to give me in marriage, that this story doesn’t cause the match to be given up.

SATURIO Hold your tongue, simpleton. Do you not see the customs of people now-a-days, that marriage is easily effected here with a reputation of any kind? So long as there’s a marriage-portion, no fault is reckoned as a fault. 385

DAUGHTER Then take you care, and let this occur to your thoughts, that I am without a fortune.

DAUGHTER Why, then, don’t you take me, father, if you are going to take me anywhere? Either do you sell me, or do with me what you please.

SATURIO You ask what’s fair and right. Follow me this way.

DAUGHTER I’m obedient to your command. (They go into the house, to TOXILUS.)

Stable identifiers

Virgo

Amabo, mi pater,

quamquam libenter escis alienis studes,

tuin véntris causa filiam vendas tuam?

Satvrio

Mirum quin regis Phílippi causa aut Attali

te potius vendam quam mea, quae sis mea.
340

Virgo

Vtrum tú pro ancilla mé habes an pro filia?

Satvrio

Vtrum hercle magis in ventris rem videbitur.

meum, opino, imperiumst in te, non in me tibi.

Virgo

Tua istaéc potestas est, pater. verum tamen,

quamquam res nostrae sunt, pater, pauperculae,
345

modice et modeste meliust vitam vivere;

nam ad paupertatem si admigrant infamiae,

gravior paupertas fit, fides sublestior.

Satvrio

Enim véro odiosa es.

Virgo

Non sum, neque me esse arbitror,

quom parva natu recte praecipio patri.
350

nam inimici famam non ita ut natast ferunt.

Satvrio

Ferant eantque maximam malam crucem;

neque ego ínimicitias omnes pluris existimo,

quam mensa inanis nunc si apponatur mihi.

Virgo

Patér, hominum immortalis est infamia;
355

etiam tum vivit, cum esse credas mortuam.

Satvrio

Quid? metuis, ne te vendam?

Virgo

Non metuo, pater.

verum insimulari nolo.

Satvrio

At nequiquam nevis.

meo modo istuc potius fiet quam tuo

fiat. quae hae res sunt?
360

Virgo

Cogita hoc verbum, pater:

erus sí minatus est malum servo suo,

tametsi íd futurum non est, ubi captumst flagrum,

dum tunicas ponit, quanta adficitur miseria!

ego nunc quod non futurumst formido tamen.

Satvrio

Virgo atque mulier nulla erit quin sit mala,
365

quae praeter sapiet quam placet parentibus.

Virgo

Virgo atque mulier nulla erit quin sit mala,

quae reticet, si quid fieri pervorse videt.

Satvrio

Malo cavere meliust te.

Virgo

At si non licet

cavere, quid agam? nám ego tibi cautum volo.
370

Satvrio

Malusne égo sum?

Virgo

Non es, neque me dignumst dicere,

verum ei rei operam do, ne alii dicant, quibus licet.

Satvrio

Dicat quod quisque volt; ego de hac sententia

non demovebor.

Virgo

At, meo sí liceat modo,

sapienter potius facias quam stulte.
375

Satvrio

Lubet.

Virgo

Lubere per me tibi licere intellego;

verum lubere hau lubeat, sí liceat mihi.

Satvrio

Futura es dicto oboediens an non patri?

Virgo

Futura.

Satvrio

Scis iam tibi quae praecepi?

Virgo

Omnia.

Satvrio

Et ut surrupta fueris?
380

Virgo

Docte calleo.

Satvrio

Et qui parentes fuerint?

Virgo

Habeo in memoria.

necessitate me mala ut fiam facis.

verum videto, me ubi voles nuptum dare,

ne haec fama faciat repudiosas nuptias.

Satvrio

Tace, stúlta. non tu nunc hominum mores vides?
385

quoivis modi hic cum mala fama facile nubitur:

dum dos sit, nullum vitium vitio vortitur.

Virgo

Ergo istuc facito ut veniat in mentem tibi,

me esse indotatam.

Virgo

Quin tu me ducis, si quo ducturu's ducturus es, pater?

vel tu me vende vel face quid tibi lubet.

Satvrio

Bonum aequomque oras. sequere hac.—

Virgo

Dicto sum audiens.—

DAUGHTER

Prithee, my dear father, although you do eagerly long for victuals at another’s cost, are you for the sake of your appetite going to sell your own daughter?

SATURIO

It is a wonder, indeed, if I don’t sell you, who are my own, for the sake of King Philip or Attalus², rather than my own.

DAUGHTER

Whether do you regard me as your slave or as your daughter?

SATURIO

I’ faith, that of the two which shall appear most for the interest of my stomach; it’s my authority over you, I suppose, not yours over me.

DAUGHTER

This power is yours, father; but still,

although our circumstances are but very limited, it’s better to pass our lives with frugality and moderation; for if disgrace is added to poverty, poverty will be more unendurable, our character more frail.
345

SATURIO

Why really you are impertinent.

DAUGHTER

I am not, nor do I think that I am,

when, though of youthful age, I give good advice to my father. For enemies carry about slander not in the form in which it took its rise.
350

SATURIO

Let them carry it about, and let them go to utter and extreme perdition. I don’t value all their enmities any more than if an empty table were now set before me.

DAUGHTER

Father, the scandal of men is everlasting; even then does it survive, when you would suppose it to be dead.
355

SATURIO

What? Are you afraid lest I should sell you?

DAUGHTER

I am not afraid of that, father; but I wish you not to pretend to do so.

SATURIO

Then it’s in vain you wish me not; this shall be done rather after my own fashion than yours.

DAUGHTER

Shall be done!³

SATURIO

What is the matter, now?
360

DAUGHTER

Father, reflect upon these words: if a master has threatened punishment to a slave, although it is not intended to be, still, when the whip is taken up, while he is taking off his tunics, with what an amount of misery is he afflicted. Now, that which is not to be, I’m still in fear of.

SATURIO

Damsel or woman none will there ever be, but what she must be good for nothing, who is too wise to be giving satisfaction to her parents.
365

DAUGHTER

Damsel and woman none can there be, but what she must be good for nothing, who holds her peace if she sees anything going on wrong.

SATURIO

’Twere better for you to beware of a mischief.

DAUGHTER

But if I cannot

beware, what am I to do? For it’s as to yourself I wish to beware.
370

SATURIO

What, am I a mischief?

DAUGHTER

You are not, nor is it becoming for me to say so; but for this purpose am I using my endeavours, that others may not say so who have that liberty.

SATURIO

Let each one say what he pleases; from this purpose I shall not be moved.

DAUGHTER

But, could it be after my own way,

you would be acting prudently, rather than foolishly.
375

SATURIO

It is my pleasure.

DAUGHTER

I know that I must let it be your pleasure so far as I’m concerned; but it should not please you to be your pleasure, if I had my way.

SATURIO

Are you going to be obedient to your father’s orders, or not?

DAUGHTER

To be obedient.

SATURIO

Do you know then what I instructed you?

DAUGHTER

Everything.

SATURIO

Both this, how you were stolen?
380

DAUGHTER

I understand it perfectly well.

SATURIO

And who your parents were?

DAUGHTER

I keep it in my memory. You cause me of necessity to be artful; but take you care, when you wish to give me in marriage, that this story doesn’t cause the match to be given up.

SATURIO

Hold your tongue, simpleton. Do you not see the customs of people now-a-days, that marriage is easily effected here with a reputation of any kind? So long as there’s a marriage-portion, no fault is reckoned as a fault.
385

DAUGHTER

Then take you care, and let this occur to your thoughts, that I am without a fortune.

DAUGHTER

Why, then, don’t you take me, father, if you are going to take me anywhere? Either do you sell me, or do with me what you please.

SATURIO

You ask what’s fair and right. Follow me this way.

DAUGHTER

I’m obedient to your command.

(They go into the house, to TOXILUS.)