T. Maccius Plautus, Rudens, ed. Friedrich Leo, 1.4

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220

Ampelisca

Quid míhi meliust, quid mágis in remst, quam a córpore vitam ut sécludam?
220

ita mále vivo atque ita míhi multae in pectóre sunt curae exánimales.

ita rés se habent: vitae haú parco, perdidí spem qua me obléctabam.

omnía iam circumcúrsavi atque omníbus latebris perréptavi

quaerére conservam, vóce oculis auríbus ut pervestígarem.

neque eam úsquam invenio néque quo eam neque quá quaeram consúltumst,
225

neque quém rogitem respónsorem quemquam ínterea convénio,

neque mágis solae terraé solae sunt quam haéc loca atque hae regiónes;

neque sí vivit, eam víva umquam quin ínveniam desístam.

Palaestra

Quóianam vox míhi prope hic sonat?

Ampelisca

Pértimui, quis híc loquitur prope?
230

Palaestra

Spés bona, obsecro, súbventa mihi,

éxime ex hóc miseram metu.

Ampelisca

Cérto vox múliebris aúris tetigít meas.

Palaestra

Múlier est, múliebris vóx mi ad aurís venit.

num Ámpelisca óbsecro est?
235

Ampelisca

Tén, Palaestra, aúdio?

Palaestra

Quín voco, ut me aúdiat, nómine illám suo?

Ámpelisca.

Ampelisca

Hém quis est?

Palaestra

Ego, Palaestra

Ampelisca

Díc ubi es?

Palaestra

Pól ego nunc ín malis plúrimis.

Ampelisca

Sócia sum, néc minor párs meast quam tua.

séd videre éxpeto té.
240

Palaestra

Mihi es aémula.

Ampelisca

Cónsequamúr gradu vócem. ubi es?

Palaestra

Écce me.

áccede ad me átque adi cóntra.

Ampelisca

Fit sédulo.

Palaestra

Cédo manum.

Ampelisca

Áccipe.

Palaestra

Díc, vivisne? óbsecro.

Ampelisca

Tú facis mé quidem ut vívere núnc velim,

quóm mihi té licet tángere. ut víx mihi
245

crédo ego hoc, té tenere. óbsecro, ampléctere,

spés mea. ut me ómnium iám laborúm levas.

Palaestra

Óccupas praéloqui quaé mea orátiost.

núnc abire hínc decet nós.

Ampelisca

Quo, amabo, íbimus?

Palaestra

Lítus hoc pérsequamúr.
250

Ampelisca

Sequor quó lubet.

sícine hic cum úvida véste grassábimur?

Palaestra

Hóc quod est, íd necessárium est pérpeti.

séd quid hoc, óbsecro, est?

Ampelisca

Quid?

Palaestra

Víden, amabo,

fanum videsne hóc?

Ampelisca

Vbi est?

Palaestra

Ad déxteram.

Ampelisca

Videó decorum dís locum vidérier.
255

Palaestra

Haud lónge abesse opórtet homines hínc, ita hic lepidúst locus.

quísquis est deus, véneror ut nos éx hac aerumna éximat,

míseras inopis aérumnosas út aliquo auxilio ádiuvet.

Rudens. 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

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

Translations (1)

Rudens, or The Fisherman's Rope Perseus (Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 2. Riley, Henry Thomas, translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1913.) — 1.4 focus

220 (Enter AMPELISCA, at a distance, on the other side of the stage, in a similar condition.)

AMPELISCA

(to herself.)

What is there better for me, what more to my advantage, than to shut out life from my body? So wretched am I in my existence, and so many deadening cares are there in my breast; so despicable is my lot; I care not for my life; I have lost the hope with which I used to comfort myself. All places have I now rambled about, and through each covert spot have I crawled along, to seek my fellow-slave with voice, eyes, ears, that I might trace her out.
220

And still I find her nowhere, nor have I yet determined whither to go, nor where to seek her, nor, in the meantime, do I find any person here to give me an answer, of whom I might make enquiry. No place, too, is there on earth more solitary than are these spots and this locality. And yet, if she lives, never while I exist will I cease before I discover her alive.
225

PALAESTRA

(aloud.)

Whose voice is it that sounds close by me here?

AMPELISCA

(starting.)

I am alarmed. Who’s speaking near me?
230

PALAESTRA

Prithee, kind Hope, do come to my aid.

AMPELISCA

It’s a woman: a woman’s voice reaches my ears.

Will you not rescue wretched me from this alarm?

PALAESTRA

Surely a woman’s voice reached my ears.

Prithee is it Ampelisca?
235

AMPELISCA

Is it you, Palaestra, that I hear?

PALAESTRA

But why don’t I call her by her own name, that she may hear me? (With a loud voice.) Ampelisca!

AMPELISCA

Ha! who’s that?

PALAESTRA

’Tis I.

AMPELISCA

Is it Palaestra?¹

PALAESTRA

It is.

AMPELISCA

Tell me where² you are.

PALAESTRA

Troth, I’m now in the midst of a multitude of woes.

AMPELISCA

I am your partner; and no less is my own share than yours.

But I long to see you.
240

PALAESTRA

In that wish you are my rival.

AMPELISCA

Let’s follow our voices with our steps; where are you?

PALAESTRA

See, here am I. Step onward towards me, and come straight on to meet me.

AMPELISCA

I’m doing so with care.

(They meet in front of the stage.)

PALAESTRA

Give me your hand.

AMPELISCA

Take it.

PALAESTRA

Are you still alive? Prithee, tell me.

AMPELISCA

You, indeed, make me now wish to live,

since I’m empowered to touch you. How hardly can I persuade myself of this, that I am holding you. Prithee, do embrace me (they embrace), my only hope; how you are now easing me of all my woes.
245

PALAESTRA

You are beforehand with me in using expressions which belong to me. Now it befits us to be going hence.

AMPELISCA

Prithee, whither shall we go?

PALAESTRA

Let’s keep along this sea-shore.
250
(Pointing to the shore.)

AMPELISCA

Wherever you please, I’ll follow.

PALAESTRA

Shall we go along thus with our wet clothing?

AMPELISCA

That which exists, the same must of necessity be borne. (Looking up at the Temple.) But, pray, what’s this?

PALAESTRA

What is it?

AMPELISCA

Prithee, don’t you see this Temple?

(Pointing towards it.)

PALAESTRA

Where is it?

AMPELISCA

On the right hand.

PALAESTRA

I seem to be looking at a place becoming the Divinities.
255

AMPELISCA

There must be people not far hence; it is so delightful a spot. Whoever the God is, I pray him to relieve us from these troubles, and to succour us females, wretched, helpless, and in distress.

(They advance towards the Temple, and kneel down before it.)

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Palaestra Quóianam vox míhi prope hic sonat?

Ampelisca Pértimui, quis híc loquitur prope? 230

Palaestra Spés bona, obsecro, súbventa mihi, éxime ex hóc miseram metu.

Ampelisca Cérto vox múliebris aúris tetigít meas.

Palaestra Múlier est, múliebris vóx mi ad aurís venit. num Ámpelisca óbsecro est? 235

Ampelisca Tén, Palaestra, aúdio?

Palaestra Quín voco, ut me aúdiat, nómine illám suo? Ámpelisca.

Ampelisca Hém quis est?

Palaestra Ego, Palaestra

Ampelisca Díc ubi es?

Palaestra Pól ego nunc ín malis plúrimis.

Ampelisca Sócia sum, néc minor párs meast quam tua. séd videre éxpeto té. 240

Palaestra Mihi es aémula.

Ampelisca Cónsequamúr gradu vócem. ubi es?

Palaestra Écce me. áccede ad me átque adi cóntra.

Ampelisca Fit sédulo.

Palaestra Cédo manum.

Ampelisca Áccipe.

Palaestra Díc, vivisne? óbsecro.

Ampelisca Tú facis mé quidem ut vívere núnc velim, quóm mihi té licet tángere. ut víx mihi 245 crédo ego hoc, té tenere. óbsecro, ampléctere, spés mea. ut me ómnium iám laborúm levas.

Palaestra Óccupas praéloqui quaé mea orátiost. núnc abire hínc decet nós.

Ampelisca Quo, amabo, íbimus?

Palaestra Lítus hoc pérsequamúr. 250

Ampelisca Sequor quó lubet. sícine hic cum úvida véste grassábimur?

Palaestra Hóc quod est, íd necessárium est pérpeti. séd quid hoc, óbsecro, est?

Ampelisca Quid?

Palaestra Víden, amabo, fanum videsne hóc?

Ampelisca Vbi est?

Palaestra Ad déxteram.

Ampelisca Videó decorum dís locum vidérier. 255

Palaestra Haud lónge abesse opórtet homines hínc, ita hic lepidúst locus. quísquis est deus, véneror ut nos éx hac aerumna éximat, míseras inopis aérumnosas út aliquo auxilio ádiuvet.

Current edition Perseus

PALAESTRA (aloud.) Whose voice is it that sounds close by me here?

AMPELISCA (starting.) I am alarmed. Who’s speaking near me? 230

PALAESTRA Prithee, kind Hope, do come to my aid.

AMPELISCA It’s a woman: a woman’s voice reaches my ears. Will you not rescue wretched me from this alarm?

PALAESTRA Surely a woman’s voice reached my ears. Prithee is it Ampelisca? 235

AMPELISCA Is it you, Palaestra, that I hear?

PALAESTRA But why don’t I call her by her own name, that she may hear me? (With a loud voice.) Ampelisca!

AMPELISCA Ha! who’s that?

PALAESTRA ’Tis I.

AMPELISCA Is it Palaestra? 1

PALAESTRA It is.

AMPELISCA Tell me where 2 you are.

PALAESTRA Troth, I’m now in the midst of a multitude of woes.

AMPELISCA I am your partner; and no less is my own share than yours. But I long to see you. 240

PALAESTRA In that wish you are my rival.

AMPELISCA Let’s follow our voices with our steps; where are you?

PALAESTRA See, here am I. Step onward towards me, and come straight on to meet me.

AMPELISCA I’m doing so with care. (They meet in front of the stage.)

PALAESTRA Give me your hand.

AMPELISCA Take it.

PALAESTRA Are you still alive? Prithee, tell me.

AMPELISCA You, indeed, make me now wish to live, since I’m empowered to touch you. How hardly can I persuade myself of this, that I am holding you. Prithee, do embrace me (they embrace), my only hope; how you are now easing me of all my woes. 245

PALAESTRA You are beforehand with me in using expressions which belong to me. Now it befits us to be going hence.

AMPELISCA Prithee, whither shall we go?

PALAESTRA Let’s keep along this sea-shore. 250 (Pointing to the shore.)

AMPELISCA Wherever you please, I’ll follow.

PALAESTRA Shall we go along thus with our wet clothing?

AMPELISCA That which exists, the same must of necessity be borne. (Looking up at the Temple.) But, pray, what’s this?

PALAESTRA What is it?

AMPELISCA Prithee, don’t you see this Temple? (Pointing towards it.)

PALAESTRA Where is it?

AMPELISCA On the right hand.

PALAESTRA I seem to be looking at a place becoming the Divinities. 255

AMPELISCA There must be people not far hence; it is so delightful a spot. Whoever the God is, I pray him to relieve us from these troubles, and to succour us females, wretched, helpless, and in distress. (They advance towards the Temple, and kneel down before it.)

Stable identifiers

Palaestra

Quóianam vox míhi prope hic sonat?

Ampelisca

Pértimui, quis híc loquitur prope?
230

Palaestra

Spés bona, obsecro, súbventa mihi,

éxime ex hóc miseram metu.

Ampelisca

Cérto vox múliebris aúris tetigít meas.

Palaestra

Múlier est, múliebris vóx mi ad aurís venit.

num Ámpelisca óbsecro est?
235

Ampelisca

Tén, Palaestra, aúdio?

Palaestra

Quín voco, ut me aúdiat, nómine illám suo?

Ámpelisca.

Ampelisca

Hém quis est?

Palaestra

Ego, Palaestra

Ampelisca

Díc ubi es?

Palaestra

Pól ego nunc ín malis plúrimis.

Ampelisca

Sócia sum, néc minor párs meast quam tua.

séd videre éxpeto té.
240

Palaestra

Mihi es aémula.

Ampelisca

Cónsequamúr gradu vócem. ubi es?

Palaestra

Écce me.

áccede ad me átque adi cóntra.

Ampelisca

Fit sédulo.

Palaestra

Cédo manum.

Ampelisca

Áccipe.

Palaestra

Díc, vivisne? óbsecro.

Ampelisca

Tú facis mé quidem ut vívere núnc velim,

quóm mihi té licet tángere. ut víx mihi
245

crédo ego hoc, té tenere. óbsecro, ampléctere,

spés mea. ut me ómnium iám laborúm levas.

Palaestra

Óccupas praéloqui quaé mea orátiost.

núnc abire hínc decet nós.

Ampelisca

Quo, amabo, íbimus?

Palaestra

Lítus hoc pérsequamúr.
250

Ampelisca

Sequor quó lubet.

sícine hic cum úvida véste grassábimur?

Palaestra

Hóc quod est, íd necessárium est pérpeti.

séd quid hoc, óbsecro, est?

Ampelisca

Quid?

Palaestra

Víden, amabo,

fanum videsne hóc?

Ampelisca

Vbi est?

Palaestra

Ad déxteram.

Ampelisca

Videó decorum dís locum vidérier.
255

Palaestra

Haud lónge abesse opórtet homines hínc, ita hic lepidúst locus.

quísquis est deus, véneror ut nos éx hac aerumna éximat,

míseras inopis aérumnosas út aliquo auxilio ádiuvet.

PALAESTRA

(aloud.)

Whose voice is it that sounds close by me here?

AMPELISCA

(starting.)

I am alarmed. Who’s speaking near me?
230

PALAESTRA

Prithee, kind Hope, do come to my aid.

AMPELISCA

It’s a woman: a woman’s voice reaches my ears.

Will you not rescue wretched me from this alarm?

PALAESTRA

Surely a woman’s voice reached my ears.

Prithee is it Ampelisca?
235

AMPELISCA

Is it you, Palaestra, that I hear?

PALAESTRA

But why don’t I call her by her own name, that she may hear me? (With a loud voice.) Ampelisca!

AMPELISCA

Ha! who’s that?

PALAESTRA

’Tis I.

AMPELISCA

Is it Palaestra?¹

PALAESTRA

It is.

AMPELISCA

Tell me where² you are.

PALAESTRA

Troth, I’m now in the midst of a multitude of woes.

AMPELISCA

I am your partner; and no less is my own share than yours.

But I long to see you.
240

PALAESTRA

In that wish you are my rival.

AMPELISCA

Let’s follow our voices with our steps; where are you?

PALAESTRA

See, here am I. Step onward towards me, and come straight on to meet me.

AMPELISCA

I’m doing so with care.

(They meet in front of the stage.)

PALAESTRA

Give me your hand.

AMPELISCA

Take it.

PALAESTRA

Are you still alive? Prithee, tell me.

AMPELISCA

You, indeed, make me now wish to live,

since I’m empowered to touch you. How hardly can I persuade myself of this, that I am holding you. Prithee, do embrace me (they embrace), my only hope; how you are now easing me of all my woes.
245

PALAESTRA

You are beforehand with me in using expressions which belong to me. Now it befits us to be going hence.

AMPELISCA

Prithee, whither shall we go?

PALAESTRA

Let’s keep along this sea-shore.
250
(Pointing to the shore.)

AMPELISCA

Wherever you please, I’ll follow.

PALAESTRA

Shall we go along thus with our wet clothing?

AMPELISCA

That which exists, the same must of necessity be borne. (Looking up at the Temple.) But, pray, what’s this?

PALAESTRA

What is it?

AMPELISCA

Prithee, don’t you see this Temple?

(Pointing towards it.)

PALAESTRA

Where is it?

AMPELISCA

On the right hand.

PALAESTRA

I seem to be looking at a place becoming the Divinities.
255

AMPELISCA

There must be people not far hence; it is so delightful a spot. Whoever the God is, I pray him to relieve us from these troubles, and to succour us females, wretched, helpless, and in distress.

(They advance towards the Temple, and kneel down before it.)