Amphitryo, Asinaria, Aulularia, Bacchides, Captivi | Page 8

depromar ad flagrum, nec causam liceat dicere mihi, neque in ero quicquam auxili nec quisquam sit quin me malo omnes esse dignum deputent.
ENTER Sosia, LANTERN IN HAND.
(stopping and peering around timorously) Whoa€?s a bolder man, a more audacious man than I am--know all about the young bloods and their capers, I do, yet here I am strolling around all alone at this time of night! (_seems to hear something and jumps_) What if the police should lock me up in jail? To-morrow I should be taken out of that preserve closet and get served--to a ropea€?s end; and not a word would they let me say for myself,[C] and not a bit of help could I get from master, and there wouldna€?t be a soul but what would reckon I deserved a hiding.
[Footnote C: Being a slave]
ita quasi incudem me miserum homines octo validi caedant: 159-160 ita peregre adveniens hospitio publicitus accipiar. 161-162 haec eri immodestia coegit, me qui hoc noctis a portu ingratiis excitavit. nonne idem hoc luci me mittere potuit?
Those eight strong wardens would pound my poor carcass just as if I was an anvil: that is how I should be entertained on coming home from abroad--a public reception. (disgustedly) Ita€?s mastera€?s impatience forced me into this, routing me out from the harbour at this time of night, against my will. Might have sent me on the same errand by daylight, mightna€?t he?
opulento homini hoc servitus dura est, hoc magis miser est divitis servos noctesque diesque assiduo satis superque est, quod facto aut dicto adeost opus, quietus ne sis.
This is where it comes hard slaving it for a nabob, this is where a plutocrata€?s servant is worse off--night and day therea€?s work enough and more for him, no end, always something to be done, yes, or said, so that you cana€?t rest.
ipse dominus dives, operis et laboris expers, 170 quodcumque homini accidit libere, posse retur: aequom esse putat, non reputat laboris quid sit[10] (172) ergo in servitute expetunt multa iniqua: (174) habendum et ferundum hoc onust cum labore.
And your plutocrat of a master, that never does a handsturn of work himself, takes it for granted that any whim that comes into a mana€?s head can be gratified: yes, he counts that the fair thing, and never takes account of how much the work is. Ah, I tell you, therea€?s a great deal of injustice this slavery lets you in for: youa€?ve got to take your load and carry it, and that is work.
Mer.
Satius me queri illo modo servitutem: hodie qui fuerim liber, cum nunc potivit pater servitutis, his qui verna natus est queritur.
(aside) It would be more in order for Mercury to do some of this grumbling about menial station--was free this very day, and now his father has made a slave of him. Ita€?s this fellow, a born drudge, that is grumbling.
Sos.
Sum vero verna verbero: num numero mi in mentem fuit, 180 dis advenientem gratias pro meritis agere atque alloqui? ne illi edepol si merito meo referre studeant gratiam, aliquem hominem allegent qui mihi advenienti os occillet probe, quoniam bene quae in me fecerunt ingrata ea habui atque inrita.
(frightened again) I need a drubbing, I do, drudge that I am. I was not too quick, was I, to think of addressing the gods and giving a€?em due thanks on my arrival? Oh Lord! if they took a notion to pay me back my dues, theya€?d commission some one to mash my face for me in fine shape on my arrival, now that I havena€?t appreciated the good turns theya€?ve done me and have let a€?em go for nothing. (makes sure he is safe)
Mer.
Facit ille quod volgo haud solent, ut quid se sit dignum sciat.
(aside) Rather uncommon that,--his knowing what he deserves to get.
Sos.
Quod numquam opinatus fui neque alius quisquam civium sibi eventurum, id contigit, ut salvi poteremur domi. victores victis hostibus legiones reveniunt domum, duello exstincto maximo atque internecatis hostibus.
What I never dreamed would happen nor anyone else on our side, either, has happened, and here we are safe and sound. (magnificently) Our legions come back victorious, our foes vanquished, a mighty contest concluded and our enemies massacred to a man.
quod multa Thebano poplo acerba obiecit funera, 190 id vi et virtute militum victum atque expugnatum oppidum est imperio atque auspicio eri mei Amphitruonis maxime. praeda atque agro adoriaque adfecit populares suos regique Thebano Creoni regnum stabilivit suom.
The town that has brought an untimely death to many a Theban citizen has been crushed and captured by the strength and valour of our soldiery, aye, and chiefly under the command and auspices of my own master, Amphitryon. He has furnished forth his countrymen with booty and land and fame, and fixed King Creon firm upon his Theban throne.
me a portu praemisit domum, ut haec nuntiem uxori suae, ut