T. Maccius Plautus, Trinummus, ed. Friedrich Leo, 3.3

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729

Megaronides

Vt mihi rem narras, Callicles, nullo modo

potest fíeri prosus quin dos detur virgini.
730

Callicles

Namque hercle honeste fieri ferme non potest,

ut eam perpetiar ire in matrimonium

sine dote, quom eius rem penes me habeam domi.

Megaronides

Parata dos domist; nisi expectare vis,

ut eam sine dote frater nuptum conlocet.
735

post adeas tute Philtonem et dotem dare

te ei dicas, facere id eius ob amícitiam patris.

verum hoc ego vereor, ne istaec pollicitatio

te in crimen populo ponat atque infamiam;

non temere dicant te benignum virgini:
740

datam tibi dotem, ei quam dares, eius a patre,

ex ea largiri te illi, neque ita ut sit data

columem te sistere illi, et detraxe autument.

nunc si opperiri vis adventum Charmidi,

perlongumst: huic ducendi interea abscesserit
745

lubido; atque ea condicio huic vel primaria est.

Callicles

Nam hercle omnia istaec veniunt in mentem mihi.

vide si hóc utibile magis atque in rem deputas,

ut adeam Lesbonicum, edoceam ut res se habet.

sed ut égo nunc adulescenti thensaurum indicem
750

indomito, pleno amoris ac lasciviae?

minime, minime hercle vero. nam certo scio,

locum quoque illum omnem, ubi situst, comederit;

quem fodere metuo, sonitum ne ille exaudiat

neu rem ipsam indaget, dotem dare si dixerim.
755

Megaronides

Quo pacto ergo igitur clam dos depromi potest?

Callicles

Dum occasio ei rei reperiatur, interim

ab amico alicunde mutuom argentum rogem.

Megaronides

Potin est ab amico alicunde exorari?

Callicles

Potest.

Megaronides

Gerrae. ne tu illud verbum actutum inveneris:
760

mihi quidem hercle non est quod dem mutuom.

Callicles

Malim hercle ut verum dicas, quam ut des mutuom.

Megaronides

Sed vide consilium, si placet.

Callicles

Quid consilist?

Megaronides

Scitum, ut ego opinor, consilium inveni.

Callicles

Quid est?

Megaronides

Homo cónducatur aliquis iam, quantum potest,
765

quasi sit peregrinus.

Callicles

Quid is scit facere postea?

Megaronides

ignota facie, quae hic non visitata sit;

mendacilocum aliquem

Callicles

Quid is scit facere postea?

Megaronides

falsidicum, confidentem.
770

Callicles

Quid tum postea?

Megaronides

Is homo exornetur graphice in peregrinum modum;

quasi ad adulescentem a patre ex Seleucia

veniat, salutem ei nuntiet verbis patris:

illum bene gerere rem et valere et vivere,

et eum rediturum actutum; ferat epistulas

duas, éas nos consignemus, quasi sint a patre:
775

det alteram illi, álteram dicat tibi

dare sese velle.

Callicles

Perge porro dicere.

Megaronides

Seque aurum ferre virgini dotem a patre

dicat patremque id iussisse aurum tibi dare.

tenes iam?
780

Callicles

Propemodo, atque ausculto perlubens.

Megaronides

Tum tú igitur demum adulescenti aurum dabis,

ubi erit locata virgo in matrimonium.

Callicles

Scite hercle sane.

Megaronides

Hoc, ubi thensaurum effoderis,

suspicionem ab adulescente amoveris:

censebit aurum esse a patre allatum tibi,
785

tu de thensauro sumes.

Callicles

Satis scite et probe;

quamquam hoc me aetatis sycophantari pudet.

sed epistulas quando opsignatas adferet,

sed quom opsignatas attulerit epistulas

nonne arbitraris eum adulescentem anuli

paterni signum novisse?
790

Megaronides

Etiam tu taces?

sescentae ad eam rem causae possunt conligi:

illum quem habuit perdidit, alium post fecit novom.†

iam si opsignatas non feret, dici hoc potest,

apud pórtitorem eas resignatas sibi

inspectasque esse. in huius modi negotio
795

diem sermone terere segnities merast:

quam vis sermones possunt longi texier.

abi ad thensaurum iam confestim clanculum,

servos ancillas amove. atque audin?

Callicles

Quid est?

Megaronides

Vxorem quoque eampse hanc rem uti celes face,
800

nam pol tacere numquam quicquamst quod queat.

quid nunc stas? quin tu hinc amoves et te moves?

aperi, deprome inde auri ad hanc rem quod sat est,

continuo operíto denuo; sed clanculum,

sicut praecepi; cunctos exturba aedibus.
805

Callicles

Ita faciam.

Megaronides

At énim nimis lóngo sermone utimur,

diem conficimus quod iam properatost opus.

nihil est de signo quod vereare; me vide:

lepida est illa caúsa, ut commemoravi, dicere

apud pórtitores esse inspectas. denique
810

diei tempus non vides? quid illúm putas,

natura illa atque ingenio? iam dudum ebriust.

quidvis probare poterit; tum, quod maxumumst,

adferre, non petere hinc se dicet.

Callicles

Iam sat est.

Megaronides

Ego sycophantam iam conduco de foro
815

epistulasque iam consignabo duas,

eumque húc ad adulescentem meditatum probe

mittam.

Callicles

Eo ego igitur intro ad officium meum.

tu istuc age.—

Megaronides

Actum reddam nugacissume.—

Trinummus. 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

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

Translations (1)

Trinummus: The Three Pieces of Money Perseus (Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 1. Riley, Henry Thomas, translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1912.) — 3.3 focus

729 (Enter MEGARONIDES and CALLICLES.)

MEGARONIDES

According as you relate the matter to me, Callicles, it really can by no means

be but that a portion must be given to the girl.
730

CALLICLES

Why, troth, it would hardly be honestly done on my part, if I were to allow her to contract a marriage without a portion, when I have her property in my possession at home.

MEGARONIDES

A portion is ready at your house; unless you like to wait

until her brother has disposed of her in marriage without a portion. After that, you might go to Philto yourself, and might say that you present her with a portion, and that you do it on account of your intimacy with her father. But I dread this, lest that offer might bring you into crimination and disgrace with the public.
735

They would say that you were so kind to the girl not without some good reason; that the dowry which you presented her was given you by her father; they would think that you were portioning her out of that, and that you had not kept it safe for her just as it was given, and that you had withheld some part. Now, if you wish to await the return of Charmides,
740

the time is very long; meanwhile, the inclination to marry her may leave this Lysiteles; this proposal, too, is quite a first-rate one for her.
745

CALLICLES

All these very same things suggest themselves to my mind.

MEGARONIDES

Consider if you think this more feasible and more to the purpose: go to the young man himself, and tell him how the matter really stands.

CALLICLES

Should I now discover the treasure to a young man, ill-regulated, and brimful of passion and of wantonness? No, faith, most assuredly, by no means. For I know, beyond a doubt, that he would devour even all that spot where it is buried. I fear to dig for it, lest he should hear the noise;
750

lest, too, he might trace out the matter itself, if I should say I will give her a portion.
755

MEGARONIDES

By what method, then, can the portion be secretly taken out?

CALLICLES

Until an opportunity can be found for that business, I would, in the meanwhile, ask for a loan of the money from some friend or other.

MEGARONIDES

Can it be obtained from some friend or other?

CALLICLES

It can.

MEGARONIDES

Nonsense; you’ll certainly meet with this answer at once: O, upon my faith, I really have not anything that I can lend you.
760

CALLICLES

Troth, I would rather they would tell me the truth than lend me the money with a bad grace.

MEGARONIDES

But consider this plan, if it pleases you.

CALLICLES

What is the plan?

MEGARONIDES

I have found out a clever plan, as I think.

CALLICLES

What is it?

MEGARONIDES

Let some person, now, be hired,
765

of an appearance as much unknown as possible, such as has not been often seen.

Let this person be dressed up to the life after a foreign fashion, just as though he were a foreigner.

CALLICLES

What is he to understand that he must do after that?

MEGARONIDES

It is necessary for him to be some lying,

deceiving, impudent fellow—a lounger from the Forum.
770

CALLICLES

And what then, after that?

MEGARONIDES

Let him come to the young man as though from Seleucia, from his father; let him pronounce his salutation to him in the words of his father, say that he is prospering in business, and is alive and well, and that he will be shortly coming back again. Let him bring two letters;

let us seal these, as though they are from his father. Let him give the one to him, and let him say that he wishes to give the other to yourself.
775

CALLICLES

Go on, and tell me still further.

MEGARONIDES

Let him say that he is bringing some gold as a marriage-portion from her father for the girl, and that his father has requested him to deliver it to you.

Do you understand me now?
780

CALLICLES

Pretty nearly; and I listen with great satisfaction.

MEGARONIDES

Then, in consequence, you will finally give the gold to the young man when the girl shall be given in marriage.

CALLICLES

Troth, ’tis very cleverly contrived.

MEGARONIDES

By this means, when you have dug up the treasure, you will have removed all cause for suspicion from the young man.

He will think that the gold has been brought to you from his father; whereas, you will be taking it from the treasure.
785

CALLICLES

Very cleverly and fairly contrived; although I am ashamed, at this time of life, for me to be playing a double part. But when he shall bring the letters sealed, don’t you suppose that the young man will then

recollect the impression of his father’s signet¹?
790

MEGARONIDES

Will you be silent now? Reasons innumerable may be found for that circumstance. That which he used to have he has lost, and he has since had another new one made. Then, if he should bring them not sealed at all, this might be said,—that they had been unsealed for him by the custom-house officers²,

and had been examined. On matters of this kind, however, ’tis mere idleness to spend the day in talk; although a long discussion might be spun out. Go now, at once, privately to the treasure; send to a distance the men-servants and the maids; and—do you hear?
795

CALLICLES

What is it?

MEGARONIDES

Take care that you conceal this matter from that same wife of yours as well; for, i’ faith, there is never any subject which they can be silent upon. Why are you standing now? Why don’t you take yourself off hence, and bestir yourself? Open the treasure, take thence as much gold as is requisite for this purpose; at once close it up again, but secretly,
800

as I have enjoined you; turn all out of the house.
805

CALLICLES

I will do so.

MEGARONIDES

But, really, we are continuing too long a discourse; we are wasting the day, whereas there is need now of all expedition. There is nothing for you to fear about the seal; trust me for that. This is a clever excuse to give, as I mentioned,

that they have been looked at by the officers. In fine, don’t you see the time of day? What do you think of him being of such a nature and disposition? He is drunk already; anything you like may be proved for him. Besides, what is the greatest point of all, this person will say that he brings, and not that he applies for, money.
810

CALLICLES

Now, that’s enough.

MEGARONIDES

I am now going to hire a sharper³ from the Forum, and then I will seal the two letters; and I’ll send him thither (pointing to the house of CHARMIDES), well tutored in his part, to this young man.
815

CALLICLES

I am going in-doors then to my duty in consequence. Do you see about this matter.

MEGARONIDES

I’ll take care it’s done in the very cleverest style.

(Exeunt.)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Megaronides Vt mihi rem narras, Callicles, nullo modo potest fíeri prosus quin dos detur virgini. 730

Callicles Namque hercle honeste fieri ferme non potest, ut eam perpetiar ire in matrimonium sine dote, quom eius rem penes me habeam domi.

Megaronides Quo pacto ergo igitur clam dos depromi potest?

Callicles Dum occasio ei rei reperiatur, interim ab amico alicunde mutuom argentum rogem.

Megaronides Potin est ab amico alicunde exorari?

Callicles Potest.

Megaronides Gerrae. ne tu illud verbum actutum inveneris: 760 mihi quidem hercle non est quod dem mutuom.

Callicles Malim hercle ut verum dicas, quam ut des mutuom.

Megaronides Sed vide consilium, si placet.

Callicles Quid consilist?

Megaronides Scitum, ut ego opinor, consilium inveni.

Callicles Quid est?

Megaronides Homo cónducatur aliquis iam, quantum potest, 765 quasi sit peregrinus.

Callicles Quid is scit facere postea?

Megaronides ignota facie, quae hic non visitata sit; mendacilocum aliquem

Callicles Quid is scit facere postea?

Megaronides falsidicum, confidentem. 770

Callicles Quid tum postea?

Callicles Perge porro dicere.

Megaronides Seque aurum ferre virgini dotem a patre dicat patremque id iussisse aurum tibi dare. tenes iam? 780

Callicles Propemodo, atque ausculto perlubens.

Megaronides Tum tú igitur demum adulescenti aurum dabis, ubi erit locata virgo in matrimonium.

Callicles Scite hercle sane.

Megaronides Hoc, ubi thensaurum effoderis, suspicionem ab adulescente amoveris: censebit aurum esse a patre allatum tibi, 785 tu de thensauro sumes.

Callicles Satis scite et probe; quamquam hoc me aetatis sycophantari pudet. sed epistulas quando opsignatas adferet, sed quom opsignatas attulerit epistulas nonne arbitraris eum adulescentem anuli paterni signum novisse? 790

Callicles Quid est?

Megaronides Vxorem quoque eampse hanc rem uti celes face, 800 nam pol tacere numquam quicquamst quod queat. quid nunc stas? quin tu hinc amoves et te moves? aperi, deprome inde auri ad hanc rem quod sat est, continuo operíto denuo; sed clanculum, sicut praecepi; cunctos exturba aedibus. 805

Callicles Ita faciam.

Callicles Iam sat est.

Megaronides Ego sycophantam iam conduco de foro 815 epistulasque iam consignabo duas, eumque húc ad adulescentem meditatum probe mittam.

Callicles Eo ego igitur intro ad officium meum. tu istuc age.—

Megaronides Actum reddam nugacissume.—

Current edition Perseus

MEGARONIDES According as you relate the matter to me, Callicles, it really can by no means be but that a portion must be given to the girl. 730

CALLICLES Why, troth, it would hardly be honestly done on my part, if I were to allow her to contract a marriage without a portion, when I have her property in my possession at home.

CALLICLES All these very same things suggest themselves to my mind.

MEGARONIDES Consider if you think this more feasible and more to the purpose: go to the young man himself, and tell him how the matter really stands.

MEGARONIDES By what method, then, can the portion be secretly taken out?

CALLICLES Until an opportunity can be found for that business, I would, in the meanwhile, ask for a loan of the money from some friend or other.

MEGARONIDES Can it be obtained from some friend or other?

CALLICLES It can.

MEGARONIDES Nonsense; you’ll certainly meet with this answer at once: O, upon my faith, I really have not anything that I can lend you. 760

CALLICLES Troth, I would rather they would tell me the truth than lend me the money with a bad grace.

MEGARONIDES But consider this plan, if it pleases you.

CALLICLES What is the plan?

MEGARONIDES I have found out a clever plan, as I think.

CALLICLES What is it?

MEGARONIDES Let some person, now, be hired, 765 of an appearance as much unknown as possible, such as has not been often seen. Let this person be dressed up to the life after a foreign fashion, just as though he were a foreigner.

CALLICLES What is he to understand that he must do after that?

MEGARONIDES It is necessary for him to be some lying, deceiving, impudent fellow—a lounger from the Forum. 770

CALLICLES And what then, after that?

CALLICLES Go on, and tell me still further.

MEGARONIDES Let him say that he is bringing some gold as a marriage-portion from her father for the girl, and that his father has requested him to deliver it to you. Do you understand me now? 780

CALLICLES Pretty nearly; and I listen with great satisfaction.

MEGARONIDES Then, in consequence, you will finally give the gold to the young man when the girl shall be given in marriage.

CALLICLES Troth, ’tis very cleverly contrived.

MEGARONIDES By this means, when you have dug up the treasure, you will have removed all cause for suspicion from the young man. He will think that the gold has been brought to you from his father; whereas, you will be taking it from the treasure. 785

CALLICLES Very cleverly and fairly contrived; although I am ashamed, at this time of life, for me to be playing a double part. But when he shall bring the letters sealed, don’t you suppose that the young man will then recollect the impression of his father’s signet 1 ? 790

CALLICLES What is it?

CALLICLES I will do so.

CALLICLES Now, that’s enough.

MEGARONIDES I am now going to hire a sharper 3 from the Forum, and then I will seal the two letters; and I’ll send him thither (pointing to the house of CHARMIDES), well tutored in his part, to this young man. 815

CALLICLES I am going in-doors then to my duty in consequence. Do you see about this matter.

MEGARONIDES I’ll take care it’s done in the very cleverest style. (Exeunt.)

Stable identifiers

Megaronides

Vt mihi rem narras, Callicles, nullo modo

potest fíeri prosus quin dos detur virgini.
730

Callicles

Namque hercle honeste fieri ferme non potest,

ut eam perpetiar ire in matrimonium

sine dote, quom eius rem penes me habeam domi.

Megaronides

Quo pacto ergo igitur clam dos depromi potest?

Callicles

Dum occasio ei rei reperiatur, interim

ab amico alicunde mutuom argentum rogem.

Megaronides

Potin est ab amico alicunde exorari?

Callicles

Potest.

Megaronides

Gerrae. ne tu illud verbum actutum inveneris:
760

mihi quidem hercle non est quod dem mutuom.

Callicles

Malim hercle ut verum dicas, quam ut des mutuom.

Megaronides

Sed vide consilium, si placet.

Callicles

Quid consilist?

Megaronides

Scitum, ut ego opinor, consilium inveni.

Callicles

Quid est?

Megaronides

Homo cónducatur aliquis iam, quantum potest,
765

quasi sit peregrinus.

Callicles

Quid is scit facere postea?

Megaronides

ignota facie, quae hic non visitata sit;

mendacilocum aliquem

Callicles

Quid is scit facere postea?

Megaronides

falsidicum, confidentem.
770

Callicles

Quid tum postea?

Callicles

Perge porro dicere.

Megaronides

Seque aurum ferre virgini dotem a patre

dicat patremque id iussisse aurum tibi dare.

tenes iam?
780

Callicles

Propemodo, atque ausculto perlubens.

Megaronides

Tum tú igitur demum adulescenti aurum dabis,

ubi erit locata virgo in matrimonium.

Callicles

Scite hercle sane.

Megaronides

Hoc, ubi thensaurum effoderis,

suspicionem ab adulescente amoveris:

censebit aurum esse a patre allatum tibi,
785

tu de thensauro sumes.

Callicles

Satis scite et probe;

quamquam hoc me aetatis sycophantari pudet.

sed epistulas quando opsignatas adferet,

sed quom opsignatas attulerit epistulas

nonne arbitraris eum adulescentem anuli

paterni signum novisse?
790

Callicles

Quid est?

Megaronides

Vxorem quoque eampse hanc rem uti celes face,
800

nam pol tacere numquam quicquamst quod queat.

quid nunc stas? quin tu hinc amoves et te moves?

aperi, deprome inde auri ad hanc rem quod sat est,

continuo operíto denuo; sed clanculum,

sicut praecepi; cunctos exturba aedibus.
805

Callicles

Ita faciam.

Callicles

Iam sat est.

Megaronides

Ego sycophantam iam conduco de foro
815

epistulasque iam consignabo duas,

eumque húc ad adulescentem meditatum probe

mittam.

Callicles

Eo ego igitur intro ad officium meum.

tu istuc age.—

Megaronides

Actum reddam nugacissume.—

MEGARONIDES

According as you relate the matter to me, Callicles, it really can by no means

be but that a portion must be given to the girl.
730

CALLICLES

Why, troth, it would hardly be honestly done on my part, if I were to allow her to contract a marriage without a portion, when I have her property in my possession at home.

CALLICLES

All these very same things suggest themselves to my mind.

MEGARONIDES

Consider if you think this more feasible and more to the purpose: go to the young man himself, and tell him how the matter really stands.

MEGARONIDES

By what method, then, can the portion be secretly taken out?

CALLICLES

Until an opportunity can be found for that business, I would, in the meanwhile, ask for a loan of the money from some friend or other.

MEGARONIDES

Can it be obtained from some friend or other?

CALLICLES

It can.

MEGARONIDES

Nonsense; you’ll certainly meet with this answer at once: O, upon my faith, I really have not anything that I can lend you.
760

CALLICLES

Troth, I would rather they would tell me the truth than lend me the money with a bad grace.

MEGARONIDES

But consider this plan, if it pleases you.

CALLICLES

What is the plan?

MEGARONIDES

I have found out a clever plan, as I think.

CALLICLES

What is it?

MEGARONIDES

Let some person, now, be hired,
765

of an appearance as much unknown as possible, such as has not been often seen.

Let this person be dressed up to the life after a foreign fashion, just as though he were a foreigner.

CALLICLES

What is he to understand that he must do after that?

MEGARONIDES

It is necessary for him to be some lying,

deceiving, impudent fellow—a lounger from the Forum.
770

CALLICLES

And what then, after that?

CALLICLES

Go on, and tell me still further.

MEGARONIDES

Let him say that he is bringing some gold as a marriage-portion from her father for the girl, and that his father has requested him to deliver it to you.

Do you understand me now?
780

CALLICLES

Pretty nearly; and I listen with great satisfaction.

MEGARONIDES

Then, in consequence, you will finally give the gold to the young man when the girl shall be given in marriage.

CALLICLES

Troth, ’tis very cleverly contrived.

MEGARONIDES

By this means, when you have dug up the treasure, you will have removed all cause for suspicion from the young man.

He will think that the gold has been brought to you from his father; whereas, you will be taking it from the treasure.
785

CALLICLES

Very cleverly and fairly contrived; although I am ashamed, at this time of life, for me to be playing a double part. But when he shall bring the letters sealed, don’t you suppose that the young man will then

recollect the impression of his father’s signet¹?
790

CALLICLES

What is it?

CALLICLES

I will do so.

CALLICLES

Now, that’s enough.

MEGARONIDES

I am now going to hire a sharper³ from the Forum, and then I will seal the two letters; and I’ll send him thither (pointing to the house of CHARMIDES), well tutored in his part, to this young man.
815

CALLICLES

I am going in-doors then to my duty in consequence. Do you see about this matter.

MEGARONIDES

I’ll take care it’s done in the very cleverest style.

(Exeunt.)