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

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504

Agorastocles

Íta me di ament, tardo amico nihil est quicquam inaequius,

praesertim homini amanti, qui quidquid agit properat omnia.
505

sicut ego hos duco advocatos, homines spissigradissimos,

tardiores quam corbitae sunt in tranquillo mari.

atque equidem hercle dedita opera amicos fugitavi senes:

scibam aetate tardiores, metui meo amori moram.

nequiquam hos procos mi elegi loripedis, tardissimos.
510

quin si ituri hodie estis, ite, aut ite hinc in malam crucem.

sicine oportet ire amicos homini amanti operam datum?

nam iste quidem gradus succretust cribro pollinario,

nisi cum pedicis condidicistis istoc grassari gradu.

Advocati

Heus tu, quamquam nos videmur tibi plebeii et pauperes,
515

si nec recte dicis nobis, dives de summo loco,

divitem audacter solemus mactare infortunio.

nec tibi nos obnoxii sumus istuc, quid tu ames aut oderis:

quom argentum pro capite dedimus, nostrum dedimus, non tuom;

liberos nos esse oportet. nos te nihili pendimus,
520

ne tuo nos amori servos tuos esse addictos censeas.

liberos homines per urbem modico magis par est gradu

ire, servile esse duco festinantem currere.

praesertim in re populi placida atque interfectis hostibus

non decet tumultuari. sed si properabas magis,
525

pridie nos te advocatos huc duxisse oportuit.

ne tu opinere, haud quisquam hodie nostrum curret per vias,

neque nos populus pro cerritis insectabit lapidibus.

Agorastocles

At si ad prandium me in aedem vos dixissem ducere,

vinceretis cervom cursu vel gralatorem gradu;
530

nunc vos quia mihi advocatos dixi et testis ducere,

podagrosi estis ac vicistis cochleam tarditudine.

Advocati

An vero non iusta causa est, quor curratur celeriter

ubi bibas, edas de alieno quantum velis usque ad fatim,

quod tu invitus numquam reddas domino, de quoio ederis?
535

sed tamen cum eo cum quiqui, quamquam sumus pauperculi,

est domi quod edimus, ne nos tam contemptim conteras.

quidquid est pauxillulum illuc, nostrum id omne, non tuomst,

neque nos quemquam flagitamus neque nos quisquam flagitat.

tua causa nemo nostrorumst suos rupturus ramites.
540

Agorastocles

Nimis iracundi estis: equidem haec vobis dixi per iocum.

Advocati

Per iocum itidem dictum habeto quae nos tibi respondimus.

Agorastocles

Obsecro hercle, operam celocem hanc mihi, ne corbitam date;

attrepidate saltem, nam vos adproperare haud postulo.

Advocati

Si quid tu placide otioseque agere vis, operam damus;
545

si properas, cursores meliust te advocatos ducere.

Agorastocles

Scitis rem, narravi vobis quod vestra opera mi opus siet,

de lenone hoc, qui me amantem ludificatur tam diu,

ei paratae ut sint insidiae de auro et de servo meo.

Advocati

Omnia istaec scimus iam nos, si hi spectatores sciant;
550

horunc hic nunc causa haec agitur spectatorum fabula:

hos te satius est docere, ut, quando agas, quid agas sciant.

nos tu ne curassis: scimus rem omnem, quippe omnes simul

didicimus tecum una, ut respondere possemus tibi.

Agorastocles

Ita profecto est. sed agite igitur, ut sciam vos scire rem,
555

expedite et mihi quae vobis dudum dixi dicite.

Advocati

Itane? temptas an sciamus? non meminisse nos ratu's ratus es,

quo modo trecentos Philippos Collybisco vilico

dederis, quos deferret huc ad lenonem inimicum tuom,

isque sé ut assimularet peregrinum esse aliunde ex alio oppido?
560

ubi is detulerit, tu eo quaesitum servom advenies tuom

cum pecunia.

Agorastocles

Meministis memoriter, servastis me.

Advocati

Ille negabit: Milphionem quaeri censebit tuom;

id duplicabit omne furtum. leno addicetur tibi.

ad eam rem nos esse testis vis tibi.
565

Agorastocles

Tenetis rem.

Advocati

Vix quidem hercle, íta pauxilla est, digitulis primoribus.

Agorastocles

Hoc cito et cursim est agendum. propera iam quantum potest.

Advocati

Bene vale igitur. te advocatos meliust celeris ducere;

tardi sumus nos.

Agorastocles

Optime itis, pessime hercle dicitis.

quin etiam deciderint vobis femina ín talos velim.
570

Advocati

At edepol nos tibi in lumbos linguam atque oculos in solum.

Agorastocles

Heia, hau vostrumst iracundos esse, quod dixi ioco.

Advocati

Nec tuom quidem est amicis per iocum iniuste loqui.

Agorastocles

Mittite istaec. quid velim vos, scitis.

Advocati

Callemus probe:

lenonem ut periurum perdas, id studes.
575

Agorastocles

Tenetis rem.

euge, opportune egrediuntur Milphio una et vilicus.

basilice exornatus incedit et fabre ad fallaciam.

Poenulus. 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

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

Translations (1)

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

504 (Enter AGORASTOCLES, and several ASSISTANTS walking behind him.)

AGORASTOCLES

So may the Deities love me, there’s nothing more annoying than a tardy friend,

especially to a man in love, who’s in a hurry in everything that he does; just as I’m leading on these assistants, fellows of most crawling step; they are more slow than merchant-ships in a calm sea. And upon my faith, I really did on purpose wave my aged friends; I knew they were too slow through their years; I apprehended delay to my passion;
505

in vain I selected for myself these young fellows on their preferment, timber-legged, most tardy chaps. Well (turning round to them.) if you are going to come to-day, get on, or get off hence to utter perdition! Is this the way it befits friends to give their assistance to a person in love? Why sure, this pace was bolted through a fine floursieve¹; unless you have been practising in fetters to creep along thus with this step.
510

ADVOCATI

Hark you! although we seem to you of the commonalty and poor, if you don’t speak us fair, you rich man of highest rank, we are in the habit of boldly playing the mischief with the rich man; we are under no engagement to you, about what it is that you love or hate. When we paid money for our freedom², we paid our own, not yours;
515

it’s right that we should be under no restraint. We value you at nought; don’t you fancy that we’ve been made over as slaves to your passion. It’s proper for free men to go through the city at a moderate pace; I deem it like a slave to be running along in a bustle. Especially when the state is at peace and the enemies are slain,
520

it is not decent to make a tumult. But if you were for making greater haste, you ought to have brought us here as assistants the day before. Don’t you fancy it—not any one of us will this day be running through the streets, nor yet shall the people pelt us with stones for madmen.
525

AGORASTOCLES

But if I had said that I was taking you to a Temple³ to breakfast,

you would have surpassed a stag in speed, or a man on stilts in your steps. Now, because I have said that I am taking you as my assistants and witnesses, you are gouty, and in the slowness of your pace have been outdoing the snail.
530

ADVOCATI

Why, really, is there not good cause for running swiftly, where you are to drink and eat at another man’s expense as much as you please, until you are full,

what you need never return against your will to your host, at whose expense you have been eating? But still,in some way or other, although we are poor men, we have at home something to eat; don’t you browbeat us in such a contemptuous way. Whatever that very little is, that little of ours is all at home; we neither dun any one ourselves, nor does any one dun us.
535

Not one of us is going to burst the veins of his lungs for your sake.
540

AGORASTOCLES

You are too warm; really, I said this to you in joke.

ADVOCATI

Consider it said in joke as well what we have said to you in answer.

AGORASTOCLES

Troth now, prithee, do give me this aid of yours like a fly-boat, not a merchant-ship. Do hobble along at least, for I do not ask you to hurry.

ADVOCATI

If you wish to do anything quietly and leisurely, we lend our aid; if you are in a hurry, it would be better for you to hire runners⁴ as your assistants.
545

AGORASTOCLES

You understand (the matter I’ve informed you of), that I have need of your assistance with regard to this Procurer, who has so long trifled with me in my amour; that a scheme is to be planned against him about the gold and. my servant.

ADVOCATI

All that we know already, if these Spectators know. For the sake of these Spectators it is that this Play is now being acted. ’Twere better for you to inform them, that when you do anything, they may know what it is you are doing. Don’t you trouble about us; we know the whole matter; since we all learnt it together in company with yourself, so that we can answer you.
550

AGORASTOCLES

Such really is the fact; but come, that I may be sure then that you know it, repeat the matter at length, and tell me what I told you just now.
555

ADVOCATI

Are you trying in this way whether we know? Do you suppose we don’t remember how you have given three hundred Philippeans to Collybiscus your bailiff, for him to bring here to the Procurer, your enemy,

and to pretend that he is a foreigner from a distance, from another city? When he has brought them, you’ll go there to seek your servant together with the money.
560

AGORASTOCLES

You remember it by heart; you have saved me.

ADVOCATI

He’ll be for denying it; he’ll suppose your Milphio is being looked for. He’ll have to pay double all the money stolen; the Procurer will be adjudged to you.

In this matter you wish us to be your witnesses.
565

AGORASTOCLES

You’ve got the matter fast.

ADVOCATI

I’ faith, hardly with the tips⁵ of our fingers, indeed; it is so very small a one.

AGORASTOCLES

This must be done quickly and with expedition. Make as much haste, then, as you can.

ADVOCATI

(moving as though going.)

Kindly fare you well, then; it’s better for you to provide some active assistants, we are but slow ones.

AGORASTOCLES

You move very well⁶. (Aside.) But very badly do you speak me, faith.

(Aloud.) Moreover, I could wish your thighs to fall down into your ankles.
570

ADVOCATI

And, i’ faith, we that your tongue had fallen into your loins, and your eyes upon the ground.

AGORASTOCLES

Heyday! it’s not for you to be angry at what I said in joke.

ADVOCATI

Nor for you, indeed, to be speaking ill to your friends in joke.

AGORASTOCLES

Drop this. What I want to do, you understand.

ADVOCATI

We know full well:

to undo the perjured Procurer, it’s that you wish.
575

AGORASTOCLES

You’ve got the matter right. See, Milphio and the bailiff are opportunely coming out together. He’s coming rigged out like a nobleman, and appropriately, for the plot.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Agorastocles At si ad prandium me in aedem vos dixissem ducere, vinceretis cervom cursu vel gralatorem gradu; 530 nunc vos quia mihi advocatos dixi et testis ducere, podagrosi estis ac vicistis cochleam tarditudine.

Agorastocles Nimis iracundi estis: equidem haec vobis dixi per iocum.

Advocati Per iocum itidem dictum habeto quae nos tibi respondimus.

Agorastocles Obsecro hercle, operam celocem hanc mihi, ne corbitam date; attrepidate saltem, nam vos adproperare haud postulo.

Advocati Si quid tu placide otioseque agere vis, operam damus; 545 si properas, cursores meliust te advocatos ducere.

Agorastocles Scitis rem, narravi vobis quod vestra opera mi opus siet, de lenone hoc, qui me amantem ludificatur tam diu, ei paratae ut sint insidiae de auro et de servo meo.

Advocati Omnia istaec scimus iam nos, si hi spectatores sciant; 550 horunc hic nunc causa haec agitur spectatorum fabula: hos te satius est docere, ut, quando agas, quid agas sciant. nos tu ne curassis: scimus rem omnem, quippe omnes simul didicimus tecum una, ut respondere possemus tibi.

Agorastocles Ita profecto est. sed agite igitur, ut sciam vos scire rem, 555 expedite et mihi quae vobis dudum dixi dicite.

Agorastocles Meministis memoriter, servastis me.

Advocati Ille negabit: Milphionem quaeri censebit tuom; id duplicabit omne furtum. leno addicetur tibi. ad eam rem nos esse testis vis tibi. 565

Agorastocles Tenetis rem.

Advocati Vix quidem hercle, íta pauxilla est, digitulis primoribus.

Agorastocles Hoc cito et cursim est agendum. propera iam quantum potest.

Advocati Bene vale igitur. te advocatos meliust celeris ducere; tardi sumus nos.

Agorastocles Optime itis, pessime hercle dicitis. quin etiam deciderint vobis femina ín talos velim. 570

Advocati At edepol nos tibi in lumbos linguam atque oculos in solum.

Agorastocles Heia, hau vostrumst iracundos esse, quod dixi ioco.

Advocati Nec tuom quidem est amicis per iocum iniuste loqui.

Agorastocles Mittite istaec. quid velim vos, scitis.

Advocati Callemus probe: lenonem ut periurum perdas, id studes. 575

Agorastocles Tenetis rem. euge, opportune egrediuntur Milphio una et vilicus. basilice exornatus incedit et fabre ad fallaciam.

Current edition Perseus

AGORASTOCLES You are too warm; really, I said this to you in joke.

ADVOCATI Consider it said in joke as well what we have said to you in answer.

AGORASTOCLES Troth now, prithee, do give me this aid of yours like a fly-boat, not a merchant-ship. Do hobble along at least, for I do not ask you to hurry.

ADVOCATI If you wish to do anything quietly and leisurely, we lend our aid; if you are in a hurry, it would be better for you to hire runners 4 as your assistants. 545

AGORASTOCLES You understand (the matter I’ve informed you of), that I have need of your assistance with regard to this Procurer, who has so long trifled with me in my amour; that a scheme is to be planned against him about the gold and. my servant.

AGORASTOCLES Such really is the fact; but come, that I may be sure then that you know it, repeat the matter at length, and tell me what I told you just now. 555

AGORASTOCLES You remember it by heart; you have saved me.

ADVOCATI He’ll be for denying it; he’ll suppose your Milphio is being looked for. He’ll have to pay double all the money stolen; the Procurer will be adjudged to you. In this matter you wish us to be your witnesses. 565

AGORASTOCLES You’ve got the matter fast.

ADVOCATI I’ faith, hardly with the tips 5 of our fingers, indeed; it is so very small a one.

AGORASTOCLES This must be done quickly and with expedition. Make as much haste, then, as you can.

ADVOCATI (moving as though going.) Kindly fare you well, then; it’s better for you to provide some active assistants, we are but slow ones.

AGORASTOCLES You move very well 6 . (Aside.) But very badly do you speak me, faith. (Aloud.) Moreover, I could wish your thighs to fall down into your ankles. 570

ADVOCATI And, i’ faith, we that your tongue had fallen into your loins, and your eyes upon the ground.

AGORASTOCLES Heyday! it’s not for you to be angry at what I said in joke.

ADVOCATI Nor for you, indeed, to be speaking ill to your friends in joke.

AGORASTOCLES Drop this. What I want to do, you understand.

ADVOCATI We know full well: to undo the perjured Procurer, it’s that you wish. 575

AGORASTOCLES You’ve got the matter right. See, Milphio and the bailiff are opportunely coming out together. He’s coming rigged out like a nobleman, and appropriately, for the plot.

Stable identifiers

Agorastocles

At si ad prandium me in aedem vos dixissem ducere,

vinceretis cervom cursu vel gralatorem gradu;
530

nunc vos quia mihi advocatos dixi et testis ducere,

podagrosi estis ac vicistis cochleam tarditudine.

Agorastocles

Nimis iracundi estis: equidem haec vobis dixi per iocum.

Advocati

Per iocum itidem dictum habeto quae nos tibi respondimus.

Agorastocles

Obsecro hercle, operam celocem hanc mihi, ne corbitam date;

attrepidate saltem, nam vos adproperare haud postulo.

Advocati

Si quid tu placide otioseque agere vis, operam damus;
545

si properas, cursores meliust te advocatos ducere.

Agorastocles

Scitis rem, narravi vobis quod vestra opera mi opus siet,

de lenone hoc, qui me amantem ludificatur tam diu,

ei paratae ut sint insidiae de auro et de servo meo.

Advocati

Omnia istaec scimus iam nos, si hi spectatores sciant;
550

horunc hic nunc causa haec agitur spectatorum fabula:

hos te satius est docere, ut, quando agas, quid agas sciant.

nos tu ne curassis: scimus rem omnem, quippe omnes simul

didicimus tecum una, ut respondere possemus tibi.

Agorastocles

Ita profecto est. sed agite igitur, ut sciam vos scire rem,
555

expedite et mihi quae vobis dudum dixi dicite.

Agorastocles

Meministis memoriter, servastis me.

Advocati

Ille negabit: Milphionem quaeri censebit tuom;

id duplicabit omne furtum. leno addicetur tibi.

ad eam rem nos esse testis vis tibi.
565

Agorastocles

Tenetis rem.

Advocati

Vix quidem hercle, íta pauxilla est, digitulis primoribus.

Agorastocles

Hoc cito et cursim est agendum. propera iam quantum potest.

Advocati

Bene vale igitur. te advocatos meliust celeris ducere;

tardi sumus nos.

Agorastocles

Optime itis, pessime hercle dicitis.

quin etiam deciderint vobis femina ín talos velim.
570

Advocati

At edepol nos tibi in lumbos linguam atque oculos in solum.

Agorastocles

Heia, hau vostrumst iracundos esse, quod dixi ioco.

Advocati

Nec tuom quidem est amicis per iocum iniuste loqui.

Agorastocles

Mittite istaec. quid velim vos, scitis.

Advocati

Callemus probe:

lenonem ut periurum perdas, id studes.
575

Agorastocles

Tenetis rem.

euge, opportune egrediuntur Milphio una et vilicus.

basilice exornatus incedit et fabre ad fallaciam.

AGORASTOCLES

You are too warm; really, I said this to you in joke.

ADVOCATI

Consider it said in joke as well what we have said to you in answer.

AGORASTOCLES

Troth now, prithee, do give me this aid of yours like a fly-boat, not a merchant-ship. Do hobble along at least, for I do not ask you to hurry.

ADVOCATI

If you wish to do anything quietly and leisurely, we lend our aid; if you are in a hurry, it would be better for you to hire runners⁴ as your assistants.
545

AGORASTOCLES

You understand (the matter I’ve informed you of), that I have need of your assistance with regard to this Procurer, who has so long trifled with me in my amour; that a scheme is to be planned against him about the gold and. my servant.

AGORASTOCLES

Such really is the fact; but come, that I may be sure then that you know it, repeat the matter at length, and tell me what I told you just now.
555

AGORASTOCLES

You remember it by heart; you have saved me.

ADVOCATI

He’ll be for denying it; he’ll suppose your Milphio is being looked for. He’ll have to pay double all the money stolen; the Procurer will be adjudged to you.

In this matter you wish us to be your witnesses.
565

AGORASTOCLES

You’ve got the matter fast.

ADVOCATI

I’ faith, hardly with the tips⁵ of our fingers, indeed; it is so very small a one.

AGORASTOCLES

This must be done quickly and with expedition. Make as much haste, then, as you can.

ADVOCATI

(moving as though going.)

Kindly fare you well, then; it’s better for you to provide some active assistants, we are but slow ones.

AGORASTOCLES

You move very well⁶. (Aside.) But very badly do you speak me, faith.

(Aloud.) Moreover, I could wish your thighs to fall down into your ankles.
570

ADVOCATI

And, i’ faith, we that your tongue had fallen into your loins, and your eyes upon the ground.

AGORASTOCLES

Heyday! it’s not for you to be angry at what I said in joke.

ADVOCATI

Nor for you, indeed, to be speaking ill to your friends in joke.

AGORASTOCLES

Drop this. What I want to do, you understand.

ADVOCATI

We know full well:

to undo the perjured Procurer, it’s that you wish.
575

AGORASTOCLES

You’ve got the matter right. See, Milphio and the bailiff are opportunely coming out together. He’s coming rigged out like a nobleman, and appropriately, for the plot.