T. Maccius Plautus, Truculentus, ed. Friedrich Leo, 2.4

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352

Phronesivm

Num tibi nam, amabo, ianua est mordax mea,

quo intro ire metuas, mea voluptas?

Diniarchvs

Ver vide,

ut tota floret, ut olet, ut nitide nitet.

Phronesivm

Quid tam inficetu's inficetus es, Lemno adveniens qui tuae
355

non des amicae, Diniarche, savium?

Diniarchvs

Vah, vapulo hercle ego nunc, atque adeo male.

Phronesivm

Quo te avortisti?

Diniarchvs

Salva sis, Phronesium.

Phronesivm

Salve. hicine hodie cenas, salvos cum advenis?

Diniarchvs

Promisi.
360

Phronesivm

Vbi cenabis?

Diniarchvs

Vbi tu iusseris.

Phronesivm

Hic me lubente facies.

Diniarchvs

Edepol me magis.

nempe tú eris hodie mecum, mea Phronesium?

Phronesivm

Velim, si fieri possit.

Diniarchvs

Cedo soleas mihi,

properate, auferte mensam.

Phronesivm

Amabo, sanun es?

Diniarchvs

Non edepol bibere possum iam, ita animo malest.
365

Phronesivm

Mane, aliquid fiet, né abi.

Diniarchvs

Ah, aspersisti aquam.

iam rediit animus. deme soleas, cedo bibam.

Phronesivm

Idem es mecastor qui soles. sed dic mihi,

benene ambulatumst?

Diniarchvs

Huc quidem hercle ad te bene,

quia tui videndi copia est.
370

Phronesivm

Complectere.

Diniarchvs

Lubens. heia, hoc est melle dulci dulcius.

hoc tuis fortunis, Iuppiter, praestant meae.

Phronesivm

Dan savium?

Diniarchvs

Immo vel decem.

Phronesivm

Em istoc pauper es:

semper plus pollicere quam ego abs te postulo.

Diniarchvs

Vtinam a principio reí item parsisses meae
375

ut nunc reparcis saviis.

Phronesivm

Si quid tibi

compendi facere possim, factum edepol velim.

Diniarchvs

Iam lauta es?

Phronesivm

Iam pol mihi quidem atque oculis meis.

num tibi sordere videor?

Diniarchvs

Non pol mihi quidem;

verum tempestas, memini, quondam etiam fuit,
380

cum inter nos sordebamus alter de altero.

sed quid ego facinus audivi adveniens tuom,

quod tu hic me absente novi negoti gesseris?

Phronesivm

Quid id est?

Diniarchvs

Primumdum, cum tu es aucta liberis

cumque bene provenisti salva, gaudeo.
385

Phronesivm

Concedite hinc vos intro atque operite ostium.

tu nunc superstes solus sermoni meo es.

tibi mea consilia summa semper credidi.

equidem neque peperi puerum neque praegnas fui;

verum adsimulavi me esse praegnatem: haud nego.
390

Diniarchvs

Quem propter, o mea vita?

Phronesivm

Propter militem

Babyloniensem, qui quasi uxorem sibi

me habebat anno, dum hic fuit.

Diniarchvs

Ego senseram.

sed quid istuc? cui rei te adsimulare retulit?

Phronesivm

Vt esset aliquis laqueus et redimiculum,
395

reversionem ut ad me faceret denuo.

nunc huc remisit nuper ad me epistulam,

sese experturum quanti sese penderem:

si quod peperissem id non necarem ac tollerem,

bona sua med habiturum omnia esse.
400

Diniarchvs

Ausculto lubens.

quid denique agitis?

Phronesivm

Mater ancillas iubet,

quoniam iam decimus mensis adventat prope,

aliam aliorsum ire, praemandare et quaerere

puerum aut puellam, qui supponatur mihi.

quid multa verba faciam? tonstricem Suram
405

novisti nostram, quae mercedem sese habet?†

Diniarchvs

Novi.

Phronesivm

Haec ut opera circumit, per familias,

puerum vestigat; clanculum ad me detulit,

datum sibi esse dixit.

Diniarchvs

O mercis malae.

eum núnc non illa peperit, quae peperit prior,
410

sed tu posterior.

Phronesivm

Ordine omnem rem tenes.

nunc ut praemisit nuntium miles mihi,

non multo post hic aderit.

Diniarchvs

Nunc tu te interim

quasi pro puerpera hic procuras?

Phronesivm

Quippini,

ubi sine labore res geri pulcre potest?
415

ad suom quemque aequom est quaestum ésse callidum.

Diniarchvs

Quid me futurum est, quando miles venerit?

relictusne abs te vivam?

Phronesivm

Vbi illud quod volo

habebo ab illo, facile inveniam quo modo

divortium et discordiam inter nos parem:
420

post id ego totum tecum, mea voluptas, usque ero

assiduo.

Diniarchvs

Immo hercle vero accubuo mavelim.

Phronesivm

quin Dis hodie sacruficare pro puero volo,

quinto die quod fieri oportet.

Diniarchvs

Censeo.

Phronesivm

Non audes aliquid mihi dare munusculum?
425

Diniarchvs

Lucrum hercle videor facere mi, voluptas mea,

ubi quippiam me poscis.

Phronesivm

At ego, ubi abstuli.

Diniarchvs

Iam faxo hic aderit. servolum huc mittam meum.

Phronesivm

Sic facito.

Diniarchvs

Quidquid attulerit, boni consulas.

Phronesivm

Ecastor munus te curaturum scio,
430

ut cuius me nón paeniteat mittatur mihi.

Diniarchvs

Num quippiam aliud me vis?

Phronesivm

Vt quando otium

tibi sit ad me revisas, et valeas.—

Diniarchvs

Vale.

pro di immortales, non amantis mulieris,

sed sociae únanimantis, fidentis fuit
435

officium facere quod modo haec fecit mihi,

suppositionem pueri quae mihi credidit,

germanae quod sorori non credit soror.

ostendit sese iam mihi medullitus:

scio mi ínfidelem numquam, dum vivat, fore.
440

egone illam ut non amem? egone illi ut non bene velim?

me potius non amabo quam huic desit amor.

ego istí non munus mittam? iam † modo ex hoc loco

iubebo ad istam quinque deferri minas,

praeterea obsonari una dumtaxat mina.
445

multo illi potius bene erit quae bene volt mihi,

quam mihi, qui mihimet omnia facio mala.—

Truculentus. 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

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

Translations (1)

Truculentus, or The Churl Perseus (Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 2. Riley, Henry Thomas, translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1913.) — 2.4 focus

352 (Enter PHRONESIUM, from her house.)

PHRONESIUM

Please now, is my door apt to bite¹, that you are afraid to come in, my love?

DINARCHUS

(aside.)

Behold the spring! How all blooming it is! how fragrantly does it smell! how brightly does it shine.

PHRONESIUM

Why so ill-mannered, as not, on your arrival from Lemnos ², to give a kiss to your mistress, my Dinarchus?
355

DINARCHUS

(aside.)

O dear, by my troth, I’m being punished now, and most terribly—

PHRONESIUM

Why do you turn yourself away?

DINARCHUS

My greetings to you, Phronesium.

PHRONESIUM

Greetings to you as well. Will you dine here to-day, as you’ve arrived in safety?

DINARCHUS

I’m engaged.
360

PHRONESIUM

Where will you dine then?

DINARCHUS

Wherever you request me; here.

PHRONESIUM

You’ll give me pleasure by doing so.

(They take their places at a collation spread before the house.)

DINARCHUS

I’ troth, myself still more. You’ll give me your company to-day, I suppose, my Phronesium?

PHRONESIUM

If it could possibly be done, I would.

DINARCHUS

Give me my shoes³ then—make haste, remove the table.

PHRONESIUM

Are you in your senses, pray?

DINARCHUS

By heavens, I cannot drink now; so sick at heart am I.
365

PHRONESIUM

Stay; something shall be done. Don’t go.

DINARCHUS

Ah, you’ve refreshed me with cold water! My senses have now returned. Take off my shoes⁴; give me something to drink.

PHRONESIUM

By my faith, you are just the same that you used to be. But tell me, have you sped successfully?

DINARCHUS

I’ troth, successfully enough, indeed, hither to you, inasmuch as I enjoy the opportunity of seeing you.

PHRONESIUM

Embrace me then.

DINARCHUS

With pleasure. (He embraces her.) Oh, this is honey sweeter than sweet honey. In this, Jove, my fortune does exceed thine own!

PHRONESIUM

Won’t you give me a kiss?

DINARCHUS

Aye, ten even.

(Kisses her.)

PHRONESIUM

You are not niggardly in that. You promise more than I ask of you.

(Turns away her head.)

DINARCHUS

I only wish that from the first I had been as sparing of my property, as you are now thrifty of your kisses.
375

PHRONESIUM

If I could possibly cause you any saving, i’ troth, I could wish it done.

DINARCHUS

Have you bathed then?

PHRONESIUM

I’ troth, indeed I have then, to my own satisfaction and that of my eyes. Do I seem to be loathsome to you?

DINARCHUS

I’ faith, not to myself indeed;

but I remember that there was once a time when between ourselves we were loathsome⁵, the one to the other. But what doing of yours is this I’ve heard upon my arrival? What new matter have you been scheming here in my absence?
380

PHRONESIUM

Why, what is it?

DINARCHUS

In the first place, that you’ve been blessed with children,

and that you’ve safely got over it, I’m delighted.
385

PHRONESIUM

(to some ATTENDANTS near the door.)

Go you away from there into the house, and shut the door. (They go in, and shut the door.) You now alone are left to be present at my communication; to you I’ve ever entrusted my designs. For my own part, I’ve neither had any child nor have I been pregnant;

but I’ve pretended that I was pregnant; I wasn’t though.
390

DINARCHUS

For what reason, O my life?

PHRONESIUM

On account of a Babylonian Captain, who kept me as though his wife for a year, while he was here.

DINARCHUS

That I knew. But what means this? For what purpose was your design in pretending this?

PHRONESIUM

That there might be a certain bond and tie⁶ for him to be returning to me again. Now he has lately sent me a letter hither, that he’ll make trial how much I value him. If I should raise and bring up the child which I should bear,
395

that then I should have all his property.
400

DINARCHUS

I listen with pleasure. In fine, what is it you are contriving?

PHRONESIUM

My mother ordered the servant-maids, since now the tenth month is arriving close at hand, each to go in some different direction, to seek out and bespeak a boy or a girl, to be passed off as my own.

Why need I make many words? You know Syra , the female hair-dresser⁷, who now lives hard by our house?
405

DINARCHUS

I know her.

PHRONESIUM

She, with the utmost care, went about among the families, and secretly found out a child, and brought it to me. She said it was given to her.

DINARCHUS

O shocking traffic!

She then hasn’t borne this child who at first did bear it, but you who come afterwards.
410

PHRONESIUM

You have the whole matter in its order. Now, as the Captain has sent a message before to me, he’ll be here no long time hence.

DINARCHUS

Now, in the mean time, you are treating yourself here as though one who had just lain in?

PHRONESIUM

Why not,

when, without trouble, the matter can be nicely managed? It’s proper that every one should be alive at his own trade.
415

DINARCHUS

What’s to become of me when the Captain comes? Forsaken, can I live without you?

PHRONESIUM

When I’ve got from him that which I want, I shall easily find a way how

to create discord and a separation between us; after that, my delight, I shall be always at your side.
420

DINARCHUS

Aye, faith, but I’d rather it were at my couch⁸.

PHRONESIUM

Moreover, I wish to sacrifice to-day to the Deities for the child, on this the fifth day⁹, as is proper to be done.

DINARCHUS

I think you ought.

PHRONESIUM

Can’t you venture to give me some trifling present?
425

DINARCHUS

Upon my faith, my delight, I seem to be making a gain for myself when you ask anything of me.

PHRONESIUM

(aside.)

And I, when I’ve got it.

DINARCHUS

I’ll take care it shall be here just now. I’ll send my servant hither.

PHRONESIUM

Do so.

DINARCHUS

But whatever it shall be, do take it in good part.

PHRONESIUM

I troth, I’m sure that you’ll give all attention to your present, of which I shan’t be ashamed so long as you send it to me.
430

DINARCHUS

Do you wish anything else of me?

PHRONESIUM

That, when you have leisure, you’ll come again to see me.

DINARCHUS

Fare you well.¹⁰

PHRONESIUM

Farewell.

(Goes into her house.)

DINARCHUS

(to himself.)

O immortal Gods! ’twere the part not of a woman in love,

but of a partner of kindred feelings and confiding, to do what she just now has done for me, in disclosing to me the palming of the child upon the Captain,—a thing that a sister entrusts not to her own born sister. She discloses herself now to me from her very soul,
435

that she will never prove faithless to me so long as she exists. Ought I not to love her? Ought I not to wish her well? I’ll rather not love myself, than that love should be wanting for her. Shall I not send her a present? This instant, then, I’ll order five minae to be brought to her from my house,
440

besides catering to the amount of a mina at least. Much rather shall kindness be shown to her who wishes kindly to me, than to myself, who do every mischief to myself.
445
(Exit.)

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Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Phronesivm Num tibi nam, amabo, ianua est mordax mea, quo intro ire metuas, mea voluptas?

Diniarchvs Ver vide, ut tota floret, ut olet, ut nitide nitet.

Phronesivm Quid tam inficetu's inficetus es, Lemno adveniens qui tuae 355 non des amicae, Diniarche, savium?

Diniarchvs Vah, vapulo hercle ego nunc, atque adeo male.

Phronesivm Quo te avortisti?

Diniarchvs Salva sis, Phronesium.

Phronesivm Salve. hicine hodie cenas, salvos cum advenis?

Diniarchvs Promisi. 360

Phronesivm Vbi cenabis?

Diniarchvs Vbi tu iusseris.

Phronesivm Hic me lubente facies.

Diniarchvs Edepol me magis. nempe tú eris hodie mecum, mea Phronesium?

Phronesivm Velim, si fieri possit.

Diniarchvs Cedo soleas mihi, properate, auferte mensam.

Phronesivm Amabo, sanun es?

Diniarchvs Non edepol bibere possum iam, ita animo malest. 365

Phronesivm Mane, aliquid fiet, né abi.

Diniarchvs Ah, aspersisti aquam. iam rediit animus. deme soleas, cedo bibam.

Phronesivm Idem es mecastor qui soles. sed dic mihi, benene ambulatumst?

Diniarchvs Huc quidem hercle ad te bene, quia tui videndi copia est. 370

Phronesivm Complectere.

Diniarchvs Lubens. heia, hoc est melle dulci dulcius. hoc tuis fortunis, Iuppiter, praestant meae.

Phronesivm Dan savium?

Diniarchvs Immo vel decem.

Phronesivm Em istoc pauper es: semper plus pollicere quam ego abs te postulo.

Diniarchvs Vtinam a principio reí item parsisses meae 375 ut nunc reparcis saviis.

Phronesivm Si quid tibi compendi facere possim, factum edepol velim.

Diniarchvs Iam lauta es?

Phronesivm Iam pol mihi quidem atque oculis meis. num tibi sordere videor?

Diniarchvs Non pol mihi quidem; verum tempestas, memini, quondam etiam fuit, 380 cum inter nos sordebamus alter de altero. sed quid ego facinus audivi adveniens tuom, quod tu hic me absente novi negoti gesseris?

Phronesivm Quid id est?

Diniarchvs Primumdum, cum tu es aucta liberis cumque bene provenisti salva, gaudeo. 385

Phronesivm Concedite hinc vos intro atque operite ostium. tu nunc superstes solus sermoni meo es. tibi mea consilia summa semper credidi. equidem neque peperi puerum neque praegnas fui; verum adsimulavi me esse praegnatem: haud nego. 390

Diniarchvs Quem propter, o mea vita?

Phronesivm Propter militem Babyloniensem, qui quasi uxorem sibi me habebat anno, dum hic fuit.

Diniarchvs Ego senseram. sed quid istuc? cui rei te adsimulare retulit?

Phronesivm Vt esset aliquis laqueus et redimiculum, 395 reversionem ut ad me faceret denuo. nunc huc remisit nuper ad me epistulam, sese experturum quanti sese penderem: si quod peperissem id non necarem ac tollerem, bona sua med habiturum omnia esse. 400

Diniarchvs Ausculto lubens. quid denique agitis?

Phronesivm Mater ancillas iubet, quoniam iam decimus mensis adventat prope, aliam aliorsum ire, praemandare et quaerere puerum aut puellam, qui supponatur mihi. quid multa verba faciam? tonstricem Suram 405 novisti nostram, quae mercedem sese habet?†

Diniarchvs Novi.

Phronesivm Haec ut opera circumit, per familias, puerum vestigat; clanculum ad me detulit, datum sibi esse dixit.

Diniarchvs O mercis malae. eum núnc non illa peperit, quae peperit prior, 410 sed tu posterior.

Phronesivm Ordine omnem rem tenes. nunc ut praemisit nuntium miles mihi, non multo post hic aderit.

Diniarchvs Nunc tu te interim quasi pro puerpera hic procuras?

Phronesivm Quippini, ubi sine labore res geri pulcre potest? 415 ad suom quemque aequom est quaestum ésse callidum.

Diniarchvs Quid me futurum est, quando miles venerit? relictusne abs te vivam?

Phronesivm Vbi illud quod volo habebo ab illo, facile inveniam quo modo divortium et discordiam inter nos parem: 420 post id ego totum tecum, mea voluptas, usque ero assiduo.

Diniarchvs Immo hercle vero accubuo mavelim.

Phronesivm quin Dis hodie sacruficare pro puero volo, quinto die quod fieri oportet.

Diniarchvs Censeo.

Phronesivm Non audes aliquid mihi dare munusculum? 425

Diniarchvs Lucrum hercle videor facere mi, voluptas mea, ubi quippiam me poscis.

Phronesivm At ego, ubi abstuli.

Diniarchvs Iam faxo hic aderit. servolum huc mittam meum.

Phronesivm Sic facito.

Diniarchvs Quidquid attulerit, boni consulas.

Phronesivm Ecastor munus te curaturum scio, 430 ut cuius me nón paeniteat mittatur mihi.

Diniarchvs Num quippiam aliud me vis?

Phronesivm Vt quando otium tibi sit ad me revisas, et valeas.—

Current edition Perseus

PHRONESIUM Please now, is my door apt to bite 1 , that you are afraid to come in, my love?

DINARCHUS (aside.) Behold the spring! How all blooming it is! how fragrantly does it smell! how brightly does it shine.

PHRONESIUM Why so ill-mannered, as not, on your arrival from Lemnos 2 , to give a kiss to your mistress, my Dinarchus? 355

DINARCHUS (aside.) O dear, by my troth, I’m being punished now, and most terribly—

PHRONESIUM Why do you turn yourself away?

DINARCHUS My greetings to you, Phronesium.

PHRONESIUM Greetings to you as well. Will you dine here to-day, as you’ve arrived in safety?

DINARCHUS I’m engaged. 360

PHRONESIUM Where will you dine then?

DINARCHUS Wherever you request me; here.

PHRONESIUM You’ll give me pleasure by doing so. (They take their places at a collation spread before the house.)

DINARCHUS I’ troth, myself still more. You’ll give me your company to-day, I suppose, my Phronesium?

PHRONESIUM If it could possibly be done, I would.

DINARCHUS Give me my shoes 3 then—make haste, remove the table.

PHRONESIUM Are you in your senses, pray?

DINARCHUS By heavens, I cannot drink now; so sick at heart am I. 365

PHRONESIUM Stay; something shall be done. Don’t go.

DINARCHUS Ah, you’ve refreshed me with cold water! My senses have now returned. Take off my shoes 4 ; give me something to drink.

Phronesivm

Num tibi nam, amabo, ianua est mordax mea,

quo intro ire metuas, mea voluptas?

Diniarchvs

Ver vide,

ut tota floret, ut olet, ut nitide nitet.

Phronesivm

Quid tam inficetu's inficetus es, Lemno adveniens qui tuae
355

non des amicae, Diniarche, savium?

Diniarchvs

Vah, vapulo hercle ego nunc, atque adeo male.

Phronesivm

Quo te avortisti?

Diniarchvs

Salva sis, Phronesium.

Phronesivm

Salve. hicine hodie cenas, salvos cum advenis?

Diniarchvs

Promisi.
360

Phronesivm

Vbi cenabis?

Diniarchvs

Vbi tu iusseris.

Phronesivm

Hic me lubente facies.

Diniarchvs

Edepol me magis.

nempe tú eris hodie mecum, mea Phronesium?

Phronesivm

Velim, si fieri possit.

Diniarchvs

Cedo soleas mihi,

properate, auferte mensam.

Phronesivm

Amabo, sanun es?

Diniarchvs

Non edepol bibere possum iam, ita animo malest.
365

Phronesivm

Mane, aliquid fiet, né abi.

Diniarchvs

Ah, aspersisti aquam.

iam rediit animus. deme soleas, cedo bibam.

Phronesivm

Idem es mecastor qui soles. sed dic mihi,

benene ambulatumst?

Diniarchvs

Huc quidem hercle ad te bene,

quia tui videndi copia est.
370

Phronesivm

Complectere.

Diniarchvs

Lubens. heia, hoc est melle dulci dulcius.

hoc tuis fortunis, Iuppiter, praestant meae.

Phronesivm

Dan savium?

Diniarchvs

Immo vel decem.

Phronesivm

Em istoc pauper es:

semper plus pollicere quam ego abs te postulo.

Diniarchvs

Vtinam a principio reí item parsisses meae
375

ut nunc reparcis saviis.

Phronesivm

Si quid tibi

compendi facere possim, factum edepol velim.

Diniarchvs

Iam lauta es?

Phronesivm

Iam pol mihi quidem atque oculis meis.

num tibi sordere videor?

Diniarchvs

Non pol mihi quidem;

verum tempestas, memini, quondam etiam fuit,
380

cum inter nos sordebamus alter de altero.

sed quid ego facinus audivi adveniens tuom,

quod tu hic me absente novi negoti gesseris?

Phronesivm

Quid id est?

Diniarchvs

Primumdum, cum tu es aucta liberis

cumque bene provenisti salva, gaudeo.
385

Phronesivm

Concedite hinc vos intro atque operite ostium.

tu nunc superstes solus sermoni meo es.

tibi mea consilia summa semper credidi.

equidem neque peperi puerum neque praegnas fui;

verum adsimulavi me esse praegnatem: haud nego.
390

Diniarchvs

Quem propter, o mea vita?

Phronesivm

Propter militem

Babyloniensem, qui quasi uxorem sibi

me habebat anno, dum hic fuit.

Diniarchvs

Ego senseram.

sed quid istuc? cui rei te adsimulare retulit?

Phronesivm

Vt esset aliquis laqueus et redimiculum,
395

reversionem ut ad me faceret denuo.

nunc huc remisit nuper ad me epistulam,

sese experturum quanti sese penderem:

si quod peperissem id non necarem ac tollerem,

bona sua med habiturum omnia esse.
400

Diniarchvs

Ausculto lubens.

quid denique agitis?

Phronesivm

Mater ancillas iubet,

quoniam iam decimus mensis adventat prope,

aliam aliorsum ire, praemandare et quaerere

puerum aut puellam, qui supponatur mihi.

quid multa verba faciam? tonstricem Suram
405

novisti nostram, quae mercedem sese habet?†

Diniarchvs

Novi.

Phronesivm

Haec ut opera circumit, per familias,

puerum vestigat; clanculum ad me detulit,

datum sibi esse dixit.

Diniarchvs

O mercis malae.

eum núnc non illa peperit, quae peperit prior,
410

sed tu posterior.

Phronesivm

Ordine omnem rem tenes.

nunc ut praemisit nuntium miles mihi,

non multo post hic aderit.

Diniarchvs

Nunc tu te interim

quasi pro puerpera hic procuras?

Phronesivm

Quippini,

ubi sine labore res geri pulcre potest?
415

ad suom quemque aequom est quaestum ésse callidum.

Diniarchvs

Quid me futurum est, quando miles venerit?

relictusne abs te vivam?

Phronesivm

Vbi illud quod volo

habebo ab illo, facile inveniam quo modo

divortium et discordiam inter nos parem:
420

post id ego totum tecum, mea voluptas, usque ero

assiduo.

Diniarchvs

Immo hercle vero accubuo mavelim.

Phronesivm

quin Dis hodie sacruficare pro puero volo,

quinto die quod fieri oportet.

Diniarchvs

Censeo.

Phronesivm

Non audes aliquid mihi dare munusculum?
425

Diniarchvs

Lucrum hercle videor facere mi, voluptas mea,

ubi quippiam me poscis.

Phronesivm

At ego, ubi abstuli.

Diniarchvs

Iam faxo hic aderit. servolum huc mittam meum.

Phronesivm

Sic facito.

Diniarchvs

Quidquid attulerit, boni consulas.

Phronesivm

Ecastor munus te curaturum scio,
430

ut cuius me nón paeniteat mittatur mihi.

Diniarchvs

Num quippiam aliud me vis?

Phronesivm

Vt quando otium

tibi sit ad me revisas, et valeas.—

PHRONESIUM

Please now, is my door apt to bite¹, that you are afraid to come in, my love?

DINARCHUS

(aside.)

Behold the spring! How all blooming it is! how fragrantly does it smell! how brightly does it shine.

PHRONESIUM

Why so ill-mannered, as not, on your arrival from Lemnos ², to give a kiss to your mistress, my Dinarchus?
355

DINARCHUS

(aside.)

O dear, by my troth, I’m being punished now, and most terribly—

PHRONESIUM

Why do you turn yourself away?

DINARCHUS

My greetings to you, Phronesium.

PHRONESIUM

Greetings to you as well. Will you dine here to-day, as you’ve arrived in safety?

DINARCHUS

I’m engaged.
360

PHRONESIUM

Where will you dine then?

DINARCHUS

Wherever you request me; here.

PHRONESIUM

You’ll give me pleasure by doing so.

(They take their places at a collation spread before the house.)

DINARCHUS

I’ troth, myself still more. You’ll give me your company to-day, I suppose, my Phronesium?

PHRONESIUM

If it could possibly be done, I would.

DINARCHUS

Give me my shoes³ then—make haste, remove the table.

PHRONESIUM

Are you in your senses, pray?

DINARCHUS

By heavens, I cannot drink now; so sick at heart am I.
365

PHRONESIUM

Stay; something shall be done. Don’t go.

DINARCHUS

Ah, you’ve refreshed me with cold water! My senses have now returned. Take off my shoes⁴; give me something to drink.

PHRONESIUM

By my faith, you are just the same that you used to be. But tell me, have you sped successfully?

DINARCHUS

I’ troth, successfully enough, indeed, hither to you, inasmuch as I enjoy the opportunity of seeing you.

PHRONESIUM

Embrace me then.