Poenulus, or The Young Carthaginian (914-985)

But really it’s of no use, unless this is done while it is warm.

You are right in your advice,

and so it shall be done.

There’s excellent material, if you provide an excellent workman.

Can’t you hold your tongue?

I’ll hold my tongue and be off.

A grand opportunity you’ve made for me. (SYNCERASTUS goes into the house of LYCUS.) He’s gone from here. The immortal Gods do will my master to be preserved, and this Procurer utterly ruined; a mischief so great is impending upon him. Is it not the fact, before one weapon has been launched, then another presses upon him?

I’ll go in-doors, that I may recount these matters to my master. For if I were to call him out hither before the house, and, what you’ve (to the AUDIENCE) just heard, if I were now here to repeat the same, it would be folly. I’d rather in-doors be an annoyance to my master singly, than be so here to all of you. Immortal Gods, what misfortunes, what great calamities do this day await this Procurer. But now there’s no reason why I should delay.

This business is resolved upon; no pausing is allowed; for both this must be cleverly managed, which has just now been entrusted to me, and that plan as well which was formed at home must be attended to. If there’s any delay, he who sends me a heavy mischance will be acting rightly. Now I’ll off in-doors; until my master comes from the Forum, I’ll wait at home.

Hyth alonim [*] vualonuth sicorathi si ma com sith, Chi mach chumyth mumys tyal mictibariim ischi, Lipho canet luth bynuthi ad aedin bynuthii. Birnarob syllo homalonin uby misyrthoho Bythym mothym noctothii velech Antidasmachon.

Yssidele berim thyfel yth chylys chon, tern, lyphul Uth bynim ysdibut thinno cuth ru Agorastocles Ythe manet ihy ⋯ chyrsae lycoch sith naso Byuni id chil luhili gerbylim lasibit thym Bodyalyth herayn nyn nuys lym moncoth lusim.

[Exalonim volanus succuratim mistim Atticum esse Concubitum a bello cutim beant lalacant chona Enus es huiec silec panesse Athidamascon Alem ⋯ induberte felono ⋯ buthume Celtum comucro lueni, at enim avoso uber Bent hyach Aristoclem et se te aneche nasoctelia Elicos alemus [in] duberter mi comps vespiti Aodeanee lictor bodes jussum limnicolus.]

Do you say, Milphio, that Syncerastus told you that both of these women were freeborn, and stolen away from Carthage?

I do say so; and if you were willing to act wisely, you’d at once assert their liberty by an action on their freedom.

For it’s a disgrace to you for you to allow your own country-people to be slaves before your eyes, who were free women at home.

O ye immortal Gods, I do entreat your aid! What speech is this that my ears devour! Surely the words of these persons are made of chalk;

how have they cleansed away all the dark spots of woe from me!

If you’ve got witnesses of this matter, I’ll do as you bid me.

Why speak you to me about witnesses? Why don’t you stoutly insist upon it? Some way or other, Fortune will be your assistant.

It’s much more easy to begin a thing than to bring it about.

But what bird is this[*], pray, that’s coming hither with the tunic on? Is he from the baths[*], I wonder, enveloped in his cloak?

I’ faith, the countenance is surely Carthaginian.

The man’s a Gugga[*]. I’ faith, he certainly has got some ancient and antiquated servants.

How do you know?

Don’t you see the fellows following, loaded with luggage?

And, as I fancy, they’ve got no fingers on their hands.

Why so?

Why, because they go with their rings in their ears[*].

I’ll approach them, and address them in the Punic language: if they answer, I’ll continue to speak in the Punic tongue if not, then I’ll adapt my language to their usage.

How say you, do you still remember anything of the Punic language?