Plautus Asinaria A Grammatical Commentar

Plautus’ Asinaria
A Grammatical Commentary for Students
© John Porter
University of Saskatchewan
2019
A Work in Progress!
Last Revised: 6/16/19 (formatting)

Dedicated to Ann, Jules, and Kate
Table of Contents
Preliminary Note v
User’s Note viii
Introduction to The Asinaria 1
Text of Asinaria 7
Grammatical Commentary on Asinaria 31
Editions, Translations, and Commentaries 31
Frequently Cited Lexical/Grammatical Aids Available On-line or in pdf Format 32
Other Lexical/Grammatical Aids 32
General Introductions to/Studies of Plautus 33
The Stage of Plautus 33
Interpretations of Asinaria 33
Authorship 33
Title 33
Greek Original 34
Date 35
Principal Manuscripts 36
Dramatis Personae 36
Mute Characters 38
Other Important Characters (mentioned but never appearing on stage) 38
The Assignment of Roles 39
Setting 40
GRAMMATICAL COMMENTARY 44
Appendix I: Principal Differences from the Text of de Melo 185
Appendix II: Mapping Asinaria: Entrances and Exits in the Play 186
Common Features of Plautus’ Language 188
A Brief Introduction to the Language of Plautus (by Bret Mulligan, Haverford College) 190
Overview of Select Grammatical Terms and Constructions; Figures of Speech 193
Metrical Matters 208
Meters Employed in Asinaria 208
Glossary of Metrical Terms 210
General Notes on Plautine Resolutions and Substitutions 212
Ictus and Accent: Some General Reflections 214
The Performance of Latin Verse: Further Resources 217
Some Particular Features of Plautus’ Prosody 218
Some Commonly Cited Metrical Features (“Laws”) 221
The Meters of Plautus’ Asinaria: Sample Passages 222
Sigla 222
Iambic Senarii (Acrostic Metrical Hypothesis and Asin. 1-59) 222
Iambic Septenarii (Asin. 381-406) 225
Iambic Octonarii (Asin. 830-50) 226
Trochaic Septenarii (Asin. 138-52) 227
Abbreviations 228
Bibliography 232
Illustrations 241
Latin-English Glossary 251
Notice:
This material is the copyrighted property of the authors and should not be reproduced
in any format without their express written permission.
Preliminary Note
The Asinaria (“Comedy of the Asses”) deserves to be better known than it is. While it cannot claim to be
Plautus’ greatest play, it displays a number of interesting features, particularly in its treatment of stock
scenes and characters, and offers some truly hilarious moments. From the point of view of the beginning
Latin student, it has the additional virtue of presenting a relatively straightforward text, with few lyrical
passages (only one, in fact, of the most rudimentary form) and relatively few textual difficulties to sort
through. It is, in effect, boiled-down Plautus.
This edition is intended to assist senior students who are reading Plautus for the first time. It is very much a
bare-bones commentary that focuses on the play itself. Thus I have omitted the standard general
introduction to Plautus, his times, Roman comedy, the stage of Plautus, etc., useful accounts of which are
available in a variety of sources (some of which I point to in my initial bibliographic notice). The emphasis
is on getting students into the text itself by providing them with a detailed account of grammatical
constructions, forms, and idioms in a manner that will help them to translate the play and, at the same time,
develop their ability to read Latin accurately and analytically. It strives, in particular, to help its readers
become familiar with Plautine diction, orthography, and word-order, and to encourage the use of a
grammar (in this case, Allen and Greenough) in the study of a Latin text.1 A general introduction to the
meters of the play is provided as well, but with the knowledge that helping students to develop a firm
command of that subject requires a great deal more than I present here.
The same holds for the historical features of Plautus’ language: where I will quite happily refer to a
particular form as the “archaic” equivalent of a form with which the student is familiar, or claim that such-
and-such a form “equals” a form that he/she memorized in first-year Latin, the more advanced
commentaries set out a much more complex, and interesting, picture; I have generally ignored such issues,
or settled for a reference to a more detailed discussion in de Melo 2007a or elsewhere. And while I give due
attention to the differences between Plautus’ syntax and that of the standard classical prose authors, I
attempt, where possible, to make sense of Plautus’ language in terms that recall the basic rules and concepts
that the student learned in first- and second-year Latin.
Throughout, I have attempted to habituate students — in a useful way, I hope — to some of the technical
language employed in scholarly discussions of, e.g., grammar, syntax, and metrics. My intention in this is
not to display “a love to parts,” but to supply students with skills and resources that they will find useful as
1
I have also included references to the relevant sections of Lindsay and (more sparingly) Bennett passim: dated as
those works are, and difficult for the modern student to work through, the material they bring together and the analyses
they offer remain quite useful.
v
they proceed farther in their studies and begin to delve into scholarly treatments of such matters in more
detail.
The notes privilege those sources that are available on line, in some fashion, and that are therefore
accessible to anyone with an Internet connection and/or mobile device that can employ apps. They also, to
a certain extent, attempt to privilege sources in English over those in other languages. Thus, e.g., I try to
cite Lewis and Short much more commonly than the Oxford Latin Dictionary, and (on basic points of
syntax) Gray more often than Hurka. In a similar vein, I attempt to highlight more recent scholarly studies
of Plautus, in English, in the hope of encouraging students to explore recent work in the field, but have
often been led to cite older works, many in other languages,2 in order to direct more advanced students to
useful resources and/or provide a sense of the history of a specific issue.
The text employed here follows de Melo in most respects, with the occasional divergence (App. I). The
general discussions of Plautus’ language and meters that follow the commentary draw extensively on the
work of others and make no claim to originality. Particular thanks are owed to Professor Bret Mulligan of
Haverford College for permission to include his quite useful overview of characteristic features of Plautus’
language. But I have also incorporated a good amount of material in these sections from Gray’s
commentary (now in the public domain) and relied heavily on the work of MacCary and Willcock,
Halporn, Hammond, et al. The glossary relies heavily on the on-line edition of Lewis and Short cited in the
commentary and on Whitaker’s WORDS application.
This is, in the end, a commentary that its readers should quickly outgrow: the majority of those students
who are ready to approach Plautus are, in fact, unlikely to need assistance with all of the grammatical
constructions that it documents. But, in the desire to reach the broadest possible audience, and not being
able to predict what sections of the text a reader might choose to examine, I have attempted to be consistent
in my approach throughout and to foster, even in the more advanced students, an appreciation of the need
to be cognizant of the grammatical structures that inform even relatively straightforward passages. Where I
have erred in this regard, it is in an attempt to avoid that age-old complaint that one hears in regard to every
student commentary: that the commentator has remarked on everything in a particular passage except the
question that the student needed answered.3
Two points should be addressed in particular:
2
Citations of scholarly works in languages other than English are marked with a ◉. (Not included in this category:
standard commentaries and reference works cited by author’s name alone or via an abbreviation.)
3
I cannot say just how old this complaint might be, but it certainly reaches back to Donne’s day: “he’impaires / His
writings, and (unwatch’d) leaves out, ses heires / As slily’as any Commenter goes by / Hard words, or sense” (Satyre 2,
lines 97-100).
vi
1) In the commentary, I frequently present Plautus’ words rearranged into a simplified prosaic word
order, in the belief that this in itself will solve many of the questions that might have stumped my
readers. This method has been criticized of late as distancing the student from the text, but I have
never understood this criticism. Both as a student and now as a practicing academic, I have never
studied a text by reading it only once: one gets to know a text, and an author, by rereading
passages many times, each time with a slightly different and (one hopes) more sophisticated sense
of the various nuances. A more prosaic word-order allows first-time readers who have mastered
the essentials of Latin to puzzle out the meaning of a passage while still engaging directly with
Plautus’ words and thinking in Latin. It also provides them with a direct means of contrasting
Plautus’ word-order with that of standard or, in some cases, Anglicized prose, and to begin to
develop a conscious awareness of the typical sorts of dislocations that he employs, and of their
poetic/rhetorical effect. Not every reader will benefit from this type of assistance, or require it, but
this points to one of the first truths that we learn as language instructors: each individual
experiences language differently, with different degrees of sophistication, and learns in ways
suited to their mental landscape. Those readers who simply wish to know whether, e.g., animo is
dative or ablative, and why, can skip the initial rephrasing to find such information in the
subsequent grammatical analysis.
2) For the sake of economy of reference, I have retained the traditional division into acts and scenes.
I do this in full awareness that such divisions impose a structure on the play that is not necessarily
related to Plautus’ dramatic conception (◉Deufert 2002: 217-21) or the original audience’s
experience of the work in performance.4 It is much easier, however, to allude to “II.iv” than to
“the scene at lines 407ff.,” while a reference to “407ff.” tout court is ambiguous and continuous
references to “407-503” ponderous. I have rejected the more recent trend to number all of the
scenes sequentially (I-XIV) for a similar reason: unlike the older division into acts and scenes, this
newer system provides no mental “map” of the action and thus is much less useful in a general
discussion. Few of us lecture on line 5,879 of Homer’s Iliad; I would argue for the same
indulgence for Plautus.
Finally, I wish to thank the many people who have provided help and advice over the years: Toph Marshall
and Niall Slater, for their useful comments on matters in the introduction and, in particular, those having to
do with staging; students in my LATN 400 classes, who test-drove a prototype; and, above all, my family,
for putting up with the hours I was absent or (worse) home but struggling to make sense of Plautus’ Latin
and my own prose.
4
See, however, p. 39xx and ad 828-29; cf. Porter 2016.
vii
User’s Note
This commentary has four principal purposes, the last two of which set it somewhat apart from other
commentaries of this sort.
In the first instance, it is intended to help students to translate Plautus’ play and appreciate its particular
features, as well as some of the puzzles that it presents.
It also focuses on assisting students who are new to Plautus to become familiar with the peculiar features of
his Latin, and with the particular challenges involved in translating a comic dramatic text.
In addition, it aims to encourage students to consciously articulate the grammatical structures of passages
that they are translating. It takes many years to develop an intuitive feel for Latin, and even then the main
recourse for any reader, when faced with a challenging passage, is to strip it down to its basic components.
For newer readers, this ability to recognize and weigh the different syntactical possibilities presented by a
passage is essential, and can only be acquired by constant and assiduous practice. One does not translate the
Latin subjunctive, for example by having a “feel” for how it works, but by developing a rigorously
mastered understanding of the various ways and the particular contexts in which it is employed, and the
appropriate prompts for which to look. The same holds for the deployment of the acc. + inf. construction,
the various uses of the ablative case, and so forth. The commentary urges students to slow down and
consciously note when and how different grammatical constructions are employed, even in instances where
they are not likely to cause confusion.
Finally, the commentary encourages students to become familiar with the use of a standard Latin grammar
(Allen and Greenough). The ability to employ a Latin grammar is an acquired skill. One first has to be able
to find the information that one is seeking, then decipher just what the grammar is saying. My hope is that
my readers will regularly turn to the discussion of particular points in A&G and thereby develop a detailed
familiarity both with the general layout of that text (which adopts a format that is standard for many Greek
and Latin grammars) and the peculiar argot of Latin grammars — and that they will do this for grammatical
points that seem familiar as well as those that are more challenging. (The best way to learn to read a
grammar is to consult it on points that you understand. This is often a good way, as well, of expanding your
comprehension of points that you thought familiar.) The goal is to produce a reader who knows what
information such a grammar has to offer, and how to find and decipher it — and one whose overall Latinity
has benefitted as a result.
There is, however, more than one method by which to think your way into various constructions, and the
discussion in A&G will not always map cleanly onto the conceptual framework employed in today’s
typical first-year Latin text. To provide some basic assistance, I have included a brief overview of select
viii
grammatical terms and constructions, as well as figures of speech, to help readers review some basic
elements of Latin syntax and expression that are of particular importance.5
‘Quis leget haec?’— Vel duo vel nemo. I am well aware that the above approach will not be to everyone’s
taste, and of how often I treat of matters that will be of use only to the beginning student. Many of my
readers will find much here to skip over, while many instructors are likely to find my labeling of
constructions hide-bound, superfluous, or insufficiently precise. As students, we encounter various ways of
approaching the study of Latin, in the different instructors with whom we study and the different texts we
employ. My hope is that this commentary will add to that repertoire in providing my readers with a
particular perspective and assisting them to develop a specific set of skills and habits on which they can
build in their future studies.
5
The relevant constructions and figures are flagged in the commentary via an asterisk (*).
ix
General Introduction
Introduction to The Asinaria
The plot of Asinaria follows a familiar arc, but introduces a number of surprising twists along the way. A young
Athenian of respectable family but limited financial resources (Argyrippus) has fallen in love with a youthful prostitute
next door named Philaenium who loves him in return but lives under the control of a ruthless lena (procuress) named
Cleareta. The latter leases out her “daughter’s” company according to a first-to-pay, first-served principle — a practice
that threatens the happiness of the young couple, particularly when a rival lover (Diabolus) appears on the scene. As
often in these plays, Argyrippus enjoys the support of a loyal but devious household slave (Libanus) who has promised
to assist him in bilking his father Demaenetus of the twenty minae necessary to purchase exclusive access to
Philaenium’s company for one year.
As the play opens, Libanus is confronted by Demaenetus, who has been told of his son’s love-affair and Libanus’
promise. Rather than opposing the scheme, Demaenetus voices his enthusiastic support, noting that he would rather be
loved by his son than feared, and recalling that his own father had assisted him in such affairs when he was young.
Unfortunately, Demaenetus himself lacks the required resources. As it turns out, his wife Artemona (whom he married
for her imposing dowry) keeps strict control over the household finances through her personal slave Saurea, leaving
Demaenetus — who is clearly intimidated by his wife’s authority — in much the same position as his son. Demaenetus
encourages Libanus to find some way to supply Argyrippus with the necessary funds and the two part company.
There follows an angry confrontation between a young man and Cleareta. The young man opens with a comic aria (the
play’s only lyrical passage) in which he complains bitterly of having raised Cleareta and her daughter out of poverty
through his earlier patronage, only to find himself scorned now that he is out of pocket. Cleareta responds by setting out
the heartlessly mercantile principles according to which the procuress first attracts her clients and then bleeds them dry
(Rosivach 1998). Where the young man invokes aristocratic notions of mutual obligation and reciprocity, Cleareta
makes it clear that gratitude and friendly feelings can spell only ruin for a lena: the daily bills that she has to pay compel
her to operate according to a stringent rule of cash-for-services. Having obtained a general promise that he can count on
Philaenium’s company if he is the first to present the required sum, the young man departs for the forum, hoping to dun
his friends for the money.
The manuscript tradition identifies this young man as Argyrippus, but most editors now assign these scenes to
Argyrippus’ rival, Diabolus. (A similar confusion in the characters’ identities can be found in the scene heading for
IV.ii.) This staging results in a certain awkwardness, in that there has been no mention of a rival for Philaenium’s favors
prior to this character’s entrance, but it is possible that the actor’s attire helped to identify him from the start as the
dissolute impoverished lover rather than the lovelorn son (note lines 128-29). The scene presents challenges on either
reading (Lowe 1992): that no firm consensus has been achieved speaks to the curiously undigested nature of the play
(below).
1 Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019)

Libanus returns and confesses that he has made no progress in devising a scheme to aid his young master. His fellow
slave Leonida enters to report that, while in town, he has met a young foreigner (designated simply as “Merchant” in the
cast-list) who has just now come to Athens in order to pay Demaenetus’ steward Saurea for a set of donkeys that the
young man’s master purchased some time earlier. As luck would have it, the amount owed is precisely that being
demanded by Cleareta. The quick-thinking Leonida has told the young man that he himself is Saurea and arranged to
meet him at Demaenetus’ house, where his identity can be confirmed. The two slaves quickly work up a scheme to
deceive the young man while keeping him away from the actual Saurea.
There follows an interesting example of Plautine metatheater, as Leonida plays the high-handed steward (atriensis) to
Libanus’ servile lackey, the goal being to convince the young foreigner that he can safely entrust to this “Saurea” the
funds that he has been charged to deliver (Slater 2000). Leonida’s haughty display of aristocratic arrogance and
contemptuous disregard for wealth results in one of the funniest scenes in the play and anticipates the comic luxury of
Trimalchio’s household (Petronius, Satyrica 30). Unfortunately, the performance goes for naught, as the stolid young
countryman refuses to surrender the funds to anyone but Demaenetus himself. The three depart for the forum, where
Demaenetus awaits, having already been informed of the young man’s arrival.
Philaenium and Cleareta enter. Cleareta rebukes her daughter for bestowing her attentions upon a young man of no
means, and warns her of the fate that awaits the courtesan who fails to enrich herself while youth and beauty are her
allies. Philaenium displays a clear understanding of the nature of her trade, but argues that, since it is through her efforts
that their household remains solvent, she should be allowed to bestow her affections as she pleases. The two return
inside, having reached no resolution.
Libanus and Leonida enter in a joyous mood and celebrate their success in extracting the twenty minae from the young
messenger. They praise Demaenetus for his own role in the deception and engage in a lengthy — and typically
Plautine — exchange of comic insults. At this point a mournful Argyrippus and Philaenium enter and undertake a
lugubrious farewell, with Argyrippus declaring his intention of killing himself if he is to lose his beloved. The two
slaves reveal that they are in possession of the required funds, which, they suggest, they might be willing to share if
approached in the proper spirit. Philaenium is compelled to employ her professional charms to cajole each slave in turn,
while Argyrippus must humble himself before each, most notably in allowing Libanus to ride him about like a horse. At
length Libanus hands over the bag of money and announces the terms on which Demaenetus is willing to aid his son:
Argyrippus is to allow his father to enjoy the first night with Philaenium. In his delight at having won his beloved,
Argyrippus readily agrees, and the couple enter Cleareta’s establishment, where Demaenetus awaits them.
Diabolus arrives, attended by a professional hanger-on (parasite). He has been successful in acquiring the necessary
funds and has had his companion draw up a detailed contract dictating the terms of Philaenium’s service. The parasite
reads the latter out at length (Scafuro 2003-2004). The scene offers a brilliant portrayal of the dim-witted and obsessive
Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019) 2

lover, anticipating several of the tropes of later Roman love elegy but also figures such as Shakespeare’s Andrew
Aguecheek (Twelfth Night). The terms of the contract having been finalized, the two enter Cleareta’s establishment.
After a brief interlude, the pair return onto the stage. Diabolus has found Philaenium partying with Demaenetus and
Argyrippus, and has been mocked at length by Demaenetus for having lost out in the race for Philaenium’s attentions.
Enraged, he sends his parasite to inform Demaenetus’ wife of her husband’s doings and departs angrily for home.
Demaenetus, Argyrippus, and Philaenium come on stage and, assisted by mute attendants, assume their places at an
elaborate drinking party (convivium). As Demaenetus begins to address his erotic attentions to Philaenium, he rebukes
Argyrippus for putting on a sour face, reminding him that it is the responsibility of a dutiful son to display a proper
reverence and modesty (verecundia) toward his father.
Demaenetus’ wife Artemona comes out of her house, led by the parasite. She expresses shock at the news of her
husband’s shameful behavior, and outrage at the thought that, rather than attending to business in the forum, he has been
spending his time with harlots — and as a result has been too fatigued to attend to his husbandly duties at home. The
fact that he is also involving their son in such shenanigans is an equal source of outrage.
Artemona and the parasite eavesdrop as Demaenetus plays dice and drinks while flirting with Philaenium and casting a
series of mocking insults against his wife. After a number of angry asides, Artemona finally bursts in among the
revelers. The parasite takes this opportunity to depart, expressing a hope that he can arrange for Diabolus to share
Philaenium’s services with Argyrippus — and thereby ensure the continuation of his own meal-ticket. The timorous
Demaenetus attempts to placate his wife, undercut all the while by Argyrippus’ protestations of his own disapproval of
his father’s behavior, and by Philaenium’s coy allusions to the amorous advances with which Demaenetus has been
courting her. Artemona sends her husband packing, while Argyrippus and Philaenium retire into Cleareta’s house to
enjoy their triumph.
The play was condemned by early modern critics for the immorality of Demaenetus’ scheme, as well as for the various
dislocations in the plot — in particular, the alleged inconsistency in the portrayal of Philaenium and her relationship
with Argyrippus (below). There are other curious features as well, most notably:
• the entrance of Diabolus — of whose existence the audience has had no prior notice — at 127, or (should that
character be identified as Argyrippus) inconsistencies in the portrayal of the youthful male lover
• the elaborate scheme to deceive the messenger, which lacks a proper rationale. The clever schemes of Plautus’
slaves are frequently much less ingenious than advertised, but they generally have a point. In this instance, the
slaves needed only to have taken the young man to meet Demaenetus (as they do, in the end); as Konstan notes,
there is no need for Demaenetus to have joined in the ruse involving the false Saurea (580-84).

• the sudden modification, at 732-36, in Demaenetus’ motives for aiding his son, which is announced with no
previous preparation6
• the failure to account for the characters’ off-stage movements (especially Argyrippus’ entrance with Philaenium
from Cleareta’s establishment at line 591) and the inadequate treatment of off-stage spaces (see, however,
Rosivach 1970)
Such features have traditionally been taken as evidence of an early date (below p. 37xx), but it is tempting to see here
the product of an author who is working in the later stages of the Roman comic tradition and presenting a series of riffs
on well-established conventions (cf. ◉Vogt-Spira 1991, Webster 1970, ◉Woytek 1982, Hurka 59-61).7 Thus
Demaenetus is suddenly transformed, without warning, from the sympathetic father who is still spritely enough to recall
what it is to be young (a combination of such figures as the Callipho of Plautus’ Pseudolus and the Periplectomenus of
his Miles Gloriosus) to the randy elderly lover (senex amator) familiar from Casina and Mercator. Philaenium is cast as
the loving ingénue (found in the Silenium of Plautus’ Cistellaria and the Glycerium of Terence’s Andria), but, when
dealing with her mother and, still more, in the final scene, assumes the role of the experienced courtesan (recalling, e.g.,
the Gymnasium of Cistellaria) — who the parasite can assume will service both Argyrippus and Diabolus concurrently
(Lowe 1992). Argyrippus is both the naively devoted lover and the young rake, who mocks his father in the final scene
before retiring to enjoy the delights of his courtesan paramour.8 Added to these are the superb takes on other well-
established types: the ruthlessly mercantile procuress, the dissolute rich lover, the studiously mocking hanger-on. Most
interesting of all, perhaps, is Artemona, who is not merely the battle-ax of a wife, to be derided and avoided (as, e.g., in
Plautus’ Menaechmi or Mostellaria 690-710),9 but a vibrant and powerful figure who (virtually without parallel in New
Comedy) is allowed to express her own sexual frustrations as a wife (870-74: cf. 812-13): the resulting gender
inversions — that inform the portrayal of Demaenetus’ household passim — along with the attendant distortions of
traditional Roman moral values, are a highlight of the play (Konstan 1978, ◉Woytek 1982).10
6
Attempts to find parallels for such a shift in Grk. New Comedy are far from convincing: e.g., Hurka ad 735-36.
7 ◉Traina 1954: 195-99 makes a similar case for Demophilus, whom he presents as adapting various themes and conventions
associated with Menandrian comedy.

8
Cf. the report of Leonida at 267-71.
9
Cf. the overview of wives’ roles in Moore 2012a: 243 n. 3 and Fantham 2015.
10
In evaluating the treatment of Artemona it is useful to consider a character such as Shakespeare’s Adriana in The Comedy of
Errors. There too we find a stock figure who in many ways accords with the standard image of the shrewish wife, but who
nonetheless is permitted in some degree to transcend the limitations imposed by that role. (For a more nuanced reading, see Traill
2015: 221-22.)

The features cited above suggest an author less interested in offering a sustained dramatic experience than a set of
virtuoso turns. Despite its strengths, the play is more to be admired for its parts than for its overall construction. When
compared to a work such as Casina (with which it shares many elements), Asinaria has something of the feel of sketch
comedy.11 Given our ignorance regarding the Greek original (below pp. 36-37xx), certainty is impossible, but, as
constructed, Asinaria seems much more at home in the context of the Roman ludi than the Athenian Dionysia (Little
1938, ◉Vogt-Spira 1991). This is not to deny, however, that the play lacks sophistication in its overall plan, the
treatment of specific characters, and its elaboration of select themes (Porter 2016).
11
Cf., e.g., Gratwick 2001: 47 (who calls the play “a reductive spoof on various Menandrian themes”) and ◉Traina 1954: 177 n. 4
(re condemnations of the play’s structure by early 20th-C. critics) and 185 (re perceived inconsistencies of characterization). See,
further, R.L. Hunter 1985: 62 and ◉Reichel 2000; contrast Traina (op. cit., who presents phps. the best case for coherence, albeit in a
Menandrian guise) and Lowe 1992: 157-59. Particularly useful studies of the play’s themes and dramatic strategies can be found in
Konstan 1983: 47-56, Slater 2013: 45-56, and Porter 2016.


T. MACCI PLAVTI ASINARIA12
SIGLA
<> text inserted by modern editors
[] interpolated text
† † corrupted text / locus desperatus
*** gap in text
| hiatus
— exit
PERSONAE
LIBANVS SERVVS
DEMAENETVS SENEX
DIABOLVS ADVLESCENS
CLEARETA LENA
LEONIDA SERVVS
MERCATOR
PHILAENIVM MERETRIX
ARGYRIPPVS ADVLESCENS
PARASITVS
ARTEMONA MATRONA
ARGVMENTVM
Amanti argento filio auxiliarier

Sub imperio vivens volt senex uxorio.
Itaque ob asinos relatum pretium Saureae
Numerari iussit servolo Leonidae.
Ad amicam id fertur. cedit noctem filius. 5
Rivalis13 amens ob praereptam mulierem
Is rem omnem uxori per parasitum nuntiat.
Accurrit uxor ac virum e lustris rapit.
PROLOGVS
hoc agite sultis, spectatores, nunciam,
quae quidem mihi atque vobis res vortat bene
12
The following text follows de Melo closely, but with the occasional deviation (App. I). It makes no claim to providing a
definitive scholarly edition of the play but does opt for one side or the other in a particular controversy from time to time. No
attempt has been made to produce a critical apparatus, but I do occasionally provide some sense of alternate readings in a
footnote.
13
Riumus/Rivinus codd.

Prologue
gregique huic et dominis14 atque conductoribus.

face nunciam tu, praeco, omnem auritum poplum.
age nunc reside, cave modo ne gratiis. 5
nunc quid processerim huc et quid mi voluerim
dicam: ut sciretis nomen huius fabulae;
nam quod ad argumentum attinet, sane breve est.
nunc quod me dixi velle vobis dicere
dicam: | huic nomen Graece Onago15 est fabulae; 10
Demophilus scripsit, Maccus16 vortit barbare;
Asinariam volt esse, si per vos licet.
inest lepos ludusque in hac comoedia,
ridicula res est. date benigne operam mihi,
ut vos, [item] <ut> alias,17 pariter nunc Mars adiuvet. — 15
I.i LIBANVS DEMAENETVS
LIBANVS
sicut tuom vis unicum gnatum tuae
superesse vitae sospitem et superstitem,
ita ted optestor per senectutem tuam
perque illam quam tu metuis uxorem tuam:
si quid med erga | hodie falsum dixeris, 20
ut tibi superstes uxor aetatem siet
atque illa viva vivos ut pestem oppetas.
DEMAENETVS per Dium Fidium quaeris: iurato mihi
video necesse esse eloqui quicquid roges.
ita me opstinate aggressu’s ut non audeam 25
profecto percontanti quin promam omnia.18
proinde actutum istuc quid sit quod scire expetis
eloquere: ut ipse scibo, te faciam ut scias.
LIB. dic opsecro hercle serio quod te rogem,
cave mi mendaci quicquam. DEM. quin tu ergo rogas? 30
LIB. num me illuc ducis ubi lapis lapidem terit?
DEM. quid istuc est? aut ubi istuc est terrarum loci?
LIB. [ubi flent nequam homines qui polentam pinsitant,]19
apud fustitudinas, ferricrepinas insulas,
ubi vivos homines mortui incursant boves. 35
DEM. modo pol percepi, Libane, quid istuc sit loci:
ubi fit polenta, te fortasse dicere. LIB. ah,
neque hercle ego istuc dico nec dictum volo,
14
domino Camerarius
15
Onagro BD
16
Maccius Ritschl, Deufert
17
ut vos, item ut alias Guiet ut vos, ut alias Leo/Lindsay ita vos, ut alias Palmer at vos, ut item alias Havet
18
25-26 secl. Leo
19
secl. Ritschl

I.i
teque opsecro hercle ut quae locutu’s despuas.

DEM. fiat, geratur mos tibi. LIB. age, age usque exscrea. 40
DEM. etiamne? LIB. age quaeso hercle usque ex penitis faucibus.
etiam amplius. DEM. nam quo usque? LIB. usque ad mortem volo.
DEM. cave sis malam rem. LIB. uxoris dico, non tuam.
DEM. dono te ob istuc dictum ut expers sis metu. 44-45
LIB. di tibi dent quaequomque optes. DEM. redde operam mihi.
quor hoc ego ex te quaeram? aut quor miniter tibi
propterea quod me non scientem feceris?
aut quor postremo filio suscenseam,
patres ut faciunt ceteri? LIB. quid istuc novi est? 50
demiror quid sit et quo evadat sum in metu.
DEM. equidem scio iam filius quod amet meus
istanc meretricem e proxumo Philaenium.
estne hoc ut dico, Libane? LIB. rectam instas viam.
ea res est. sed eum morbus invasit gravis. 55
DEM. quid morbi est? LIB. quia non suppetunt dictis data.
DEM. tune es adiutor nunc amanti filio?
LIB. sum vero, et alter noster est Leonida.
DEM. bene hercle facitis, [et] a me initis gratiam.
verum meam uxorem, Libane, nescis qualis sit? 60
LIB. tu primus sentis, nos tamen in pretio sumus.
DEM. fateor eam esse importunam atque incommodam.
LIB. posterius istuc dicis quam credo tibi.
DEM. omnes parentes, Libane, liberis20 suis,
qui mi auscultabunt, facient obsequentiam21 65
quipp’ qui mage amico utantur gnato et benevolo.
atque ego me id facere studeo, volo amari a meis;
volo me patris mei similem, qui causa mea
nauclerico ipse ornatu per fallaciam
quam amabam abduxit ab lenone mulierem; 70
nec puduit eum id aetatis sycophantias
struere et beneficiis me emere gnatum suom sibi.
eos me decretum est persequi mores patris.
nam me hodie oravit Argyrippus filius
uti sibi | amanti facerem argenti copiam; 75
et id ego percupio opsequi gnato meo:
volo amori †obsecutum† illius, volo amet me patrem.22
quamquam illum mater arte contenteque habet,
patres ut consueverunt: ego mitto omnia haec.
praesertim quom is me dignum quoi concrederet 80
habuit, me habere honorem eius ingenio decet;
quom me adiit, ut pudentem gnatum aequom est patrem,
cupio esse amicae quod det argentum suae.
LIB. cupis id quod cupere te nequiquam intellego.
dotalem servom Sauream | uxor tua 85
adduxit, quoi plus in manu sit quam tibi.
20
liberius Gratwick
21
obsequellam codd. obsequeliam Gratwick
22
secl. Fleckeisen amari obseculum Gratwick

I.i
DEM. argentum accepi, dote imperium vendidi.

nunc verba in pauca conferam quid te velim.
viginti iam usust filio argenti minis:
face id ut paratum iam sit. LIB. unde gentium? 90
DEM. me defrudato. LIB. maxumas nugas agis:
nudo detrahere vestimenta me iubes.
defrudem te ego? age sis tu, sine pennis vola.23
ten ego defrudem, quoi ipsi nihil est in manu
nisi quid tu porro uxorem defrudaveris? 95
DEM. qua me, qua uxorem, qua tu servom Sauream
potes, circumduce. aufer; promitto tibi
non offuturum, si | id hodie effeceris.
LIB. iubeas una opera me piscari in aere,
venari autem †rete iaculo† in medio mari.24 100
DEM. tibi optionem sumito Leonidam,
fabricare quidvis, quidvis comminiscere:
perficito | argentum hodie ut habeat filius
amicae quod det. LIB. quid ais tu, Demaenete?
<DEM.> quid <vis?> LIB. si forte in insidias devenero, 105
tun redimes me, si me hostes interceperint?
DEM. redimam. LIB. tum tu igitur aliud cura quidlubet.
eo ego ad forum, nisi quid vis. DEM. i, bene ambula.
atque audin etiam? | LIB. ecce. DEM. si quid te volam,
ubi eris? LIB. ubiquomque lubitum erit animo meo. 110
profecto nemo est quem iam dehinc metuam mihi
ne quid nocere possit, quom tu mi tua
oratione omnem animum ostendisti tuom.
quin te quoque ipsum facio hau magni, si hoc patro.
pergam quo occepi atque ibi consilia exordiar. 115
<DEM.> audin tu? apud Archibulum ego ero argentarium.
LIB. nempe in foro? DEM. ibi, si quid opus fuerit. LIB. meminero. —
<DEM.> non esse servos peior hoc quisquam potest
nec magis vorsutus nec quo ab caveas aegrius.
eidem homini, si quid recte curatum velis, 120
mandes: moriri sese misere mavolet
quam non perfectum reddat quod promiserit.
nam ego illuc argentum tam paratum filio
scio esse quam me hunc scipionem contui.
sed quid ego cesso ire ad forum quo inceperam? 125
<ibo> atque ibi manebo apud argentarium.25 —
23
secl. Fleckeisen
24
rete et iaculo Hurka reti autem iaculo venari de Melo
25
secl. Goetz & Loewe

I.i
I.ii DIABOLUS 26
DIABOLUS sicine hoc fit? foras aedibus me eici?

promerenti optume hoccin preti redditur?
bene merenti mala es, male merenti bona es;
at malo cum tuo, nam iam | ex hoc loco 130
ibo ego ad trisviros vostraque ibi nomina
faxo erunt, capitis te perdam ego et filiam,
perlecebrae, permities, 133
adulescentum exitium. 133a
nam mare haud est mare, vos mare acerrumum;
nam in mari repperi, | hic elavi bonis. 135
ingrata atque irrita esse omnia intellego
quae dedi et quod bene feci, at posthac tibi
male quod potero facere faciam, meritoque id faciam tuo.
ego pol te redigam eodem unde orta es, ad egestatis terminos,
ego edepol te faciam ut quae sis nunc et quae fueris scias. 140
quae prius quam istam adii atque amans ego animum meum | isti dedi,
sordido vitam oblectabas pane in pannis inopia,
atque ea si erant, magnas habebas omnibus dis gratias;
eadem nunc, quom est melius, me quoius opera est ignoras mala.
reddam ego te ex fera fame mansuetem,27 me specta modo. 145
nam isti quid suscenseam ipsi? nihil est, nil quicquam meret;
tuo facit iussu, tuo imperio paret: mater tu, eadem era es.
te ego | ulciscar, te ego | ut digna es perdam atque ut de me meres.
at scelesta viden ut ne id quidem me dignum esse existumat
quem | adeat, quem colloquatur, quoique irato supplicet? 150
atque eccam illecebra exit tandem; opinor hic ante ostium
meo modo loquar quae volam, quoniam intus non licitum est mihi.
I.iii CLEARETA DIABOLUS28
CLEARETA unum quodque istorum verbum nummis Philippis aureis

non potest auferre hinc a me si quis emptor venerit;
nec recte quae tu in nos dicis, aurum atque argentum merum est: 155
fixus hic apud nos est animus tuos clavo Cupidinis.
remigio veloque quantum poteris festina et fuge:
quam magis te in altum capessis, tam aestus te in portum refert.
DIAB. ego pol istum portitorem privabo portorio;
ego te dehinc ut merita es de me et mea re tractare exsequar, 160
quom tu med ut meritus sum non tractas <quom>que eicis domo.
26
DIABOLUS Havet ARGYRIPPUS codd.
27
mansuetam codd.
28
DIAB Havet ARGYR codd.

I.iii
CLEAR. magis istuc percipimus lingua dici quam factis fore.

DIAB. solus solitudine ego ted atque ab egestate apstuli;
solus si ductem, referre gratiam numquam potes.
CLEAR. solus ductato, si semper solus quae poscam dabis; 165
semper tibi promissum habeto hac lege, dum superes datis.
DIAB. qui modus dandi? nam numquam tu quidem expleri potes;
modo quom accepisti, haud multo post aliquid quod poscas paras.
CLEAR. quid modi est ductando, amando? numquamne expleri potes?
modo remisisti, continuo iam ut remittam ad te rogas. 170
DIAB. dedi equidem quod mecum egisti. CLEAR. et tibi ego misi mulierem:
par pari datum hostimentum est, opera pro pecunia.
DIAB. male agis mecum. CLEAR. quid me accusas, si facio officium meum?
nam nec fictum usquam est nec pictum nec scriptum in poematis
ubi lena bene agat cum quiquam amante quae frugi esse volt. 175
<DIAB.> mihi quidem te parcere aequom est tandem, ut tibi durem diu.
<CLEAR.> non tu scis? quae amanti parcet, eadem sibi parcet parum.
quasi piscis itidem est amator lenae: nequam est nisi recens;
is habet sucum, is suavitatem, eum quovis pacto condias
vel patinarium vel assum, vorses quo pacto lubet: 180
is dare volt, is se aliquid posci, nam ibi de pleno promitur;
neque ille scit quid det, quid damni faciat: illi rei studet.
volt placere sese amicae, volt mihi, volt pedisequae,
volt famulis, volt etiam ancillis; et quoque catulo meo
subblanditur novos amator, se ut quom videat gaudeat. 185
vera dico: ad suom quemque hominem quaestum esse aequom est callidum.
DIAB. perdidici istaec esse vera damno cum magno meo.
CLEAR. si ecastor nunc habeas quod des, alia verba praehibeas;
nunc quia nil habes, maledictis te eam ductare postulas.
DIAB. non meum est. CLEAR. nec meum quidem edepol ad te ut mittam gratiis. 190
verum aetatis atque honoris gratia hoc fiet tui,
quia nobis lucro fuisti potius quam decori tibi:
si mihi dantur duo talenta argenti numerata in manum,
hanc tibi noctem honoris causa gratiis dono dabo.
DIAB. quid si non est? CLEAR. tibi non esse credam, illa alio ibit tamen. 195
DIAB. ubi illaec quae dedi ante? CLEAR. abusa. nam si ea durarent mihi,
mulier mitteretur ad te, numquam quicquam poscerem.
diem, aquam, solem, lunam, noctem, | haec argento non emo:
cetera quae volumus uti Graeca mercamur fide.
quom a pistore panem petimus, vinum ex oenopolio, 200
si aes habent, dant mercem: eadem nos discipulina utimur.
semper oculatae manus sunt nostrae, credunt quod vident.
vetus est: “nihili coactiost”29 … scis quoius. non dico amplius.
DIAB. aliam nunc mi orationem despoliato praedicas,
longe aliam, inquam, <iniqua,> praebes nunc atque olim quom dabam,30 205
aliam atque olim quom illiciebas me ad te blande ac benedice.
tum mi aedes quoque arridebant quom ad te veniebam tuae;
me unice unum ex omnibus te atque illam amare aibas mihi;
ubi quid dederam, quasi columbae pulli in ore ambae meo
usque eratis, meo de studio studia erant vostra omnia, 210
29
coctiost Camerarius
30
secl. Fleckeisen

I.iii
usque adhaerebatis: quod ego iusseram, quod volueram

faciebatis, quod nolebam ac votueram, de industria
fugiebatis, nec conari id facere audebatis prius.
nunc nec quid velim nec nolim facitis magni, pessumae.
CLEAR. non tu scis? hic noster quaestus aucupi simillimust. 215
auceps quando concinnavit aream, offundit cibum;
[aves] assuescunt: necesse est facere sumptum qui quaerit lucrum;
saepe edunt: semel si captae sunt, rem solvont aucupi.
itidem hic apud nos: aedes nobis area est, auceps sum ego, 219-220
esca est meretrix, lectus illex est, amatores aves;
bene salutando consuescunt, compellando blanditer,
osculando, oratione vinnula, venustula.
si papillam pertractavit, haud <id> est ab re aucupis;
savium si sumpsit, sumere eum licet sine retibus. 225
haecin te esse oblitum in ludo qui fuisti tam diu.
DIAB. tua ista culpa est, quae discipulum semidoctum aps te amoves.
CLEAR. remeato audacter, mercedem si | eris nactus: nunc abi.
DIAB. mane, mane, audi. dic, quid me aequom censes pro illa tibi dare,
annum hunc ne cum quiquam alio sit? CLEAR. tene? viginti minas; 230
atque ea lege: si alius ad me prius attulerit, tu vale.
DIAB. at ego est etiam prius quam abis quod volo loqui. CLEAR. dic quod lubet.
DIAB. non omnino iam perii, est relicuom quo peream magis.
habeo unde istuc tibi quod poscis dem; sed in leges meas
dabo, uti scire possis, perpetuom annum hunc mihi uti serviat 235
nec quemquam interea alium ammittat prorsus quam me ad se virum.
CLEAR. quin, si tu voles, domi servi qui sunt castrabo viros.
postremo ut voles nos esse, syngraphum facito afferas;
ut voles, ut tibi lubebit, nobis legem imponito:
modo tecum una argentum afferto, facile patiar cetera. 240
portitorum simillumae sunt ianuae lenoniae:
si affers, tum patent, si non est quod des, aedes non patent. —
<DIAB.> interii si non invenio ego illas viginti minas,
et profecto, nisi illud perdo argentum, pereundum est mihi.
nunc pergam ad forum atque experiar opibus, omni copia, 245
supplicabo, exopsecrabo ut quemque amicum videro,
dignos, indignos adire atque experiri31 † certum est mihi,
nam si mutuas non potero, certum est sumam faenore. —
II.i LIBANVS
LIBANVS hercle vero, Libane, nunc te meliust expergiscier

atque argento comparando fingere fallaciam. 250
iam diu est factum quom discesti ab ero atque abiisti ad forum.
[igitur inveniundo argento ut fingeres fallaciam.]32
ibi tu ad hoc diei tempus dormitasti in otio.
quin tu aps te socordiam omnem reice et segnitiem amove
atque ad ingenium vetus vorsutum recipe te tuom. 255
31
experi[ri] Skutsch
32
secl. Leo/Havet

I.iii
serva erum, cave tu | idem faxis alii quod servi solent,

qui | ad eri fraudationem callidum ingenium gerunt.
unde sumam? quem intervortam? quo hanc celocem conferam?
impetritum, inauguratum est: quovis ammittunt aves,
picus et cornix [est] ab laeva, corvos, parra ab dextera 260
consuadent; certum hercle est vostram consequi sententiam.
sed quid hoc quod picus ulmum tundit? hau temerarium est.
certe hercle ego quantum ex augurio eius pici intellego,
aut mihi in mundo sunt virgae aut atriensi Saureae.
sed quid illuc quod exanimatus currit huc Leonida? 265
metuo quod33 illic opscaevavit meae falsae fallaciae.
II.ii LEONIDA LIBANVS
LEONIDA ubi ego nunc Libanum requiram aut familiarem filium,

ut ego illos lubentiores faciam quam Lubentia est?
maxumam praedam et triumphum is affero adventu meo.
quando mecum pariter potant, pariter scortari solent, 270
hanc quidem quam nactus praedam pariter cum illis partiam.
LIB. illic homo aedis compilavit, more si fecit suo.
vae illi qui tam indiligenter opservavit ianuam.
LEON. aetatem velim servire, Libanum ut conveniam modo.
LIB. mea quidem hercle liber opera numquam fies ocius. 275
LEON. etiam de tergo ducentas plagas praegnatis dabo.
LIB. largitur peculium, omnem in tergo thesaurum gerit.
LEON. nam si occasioni huic tempus sese supterduxerit,
numquam edepol quadrigis albis indipiscet postea;
erum | in opsidione linquet, inimicum animos auxerit. 280
sed si mecum occasionem opprimere hanc quae obvenit studet,
maxumas opimitates, gaudio effertissumas
suis eris ille una mecum pariet, gnatoque et patri,
adeo ut aetatem ambo ambobus nobis sint obnoxii,
nostro devincti beneficio. LIB. vinctos nescioquos ait; 285
non placet: metuo in commune ne quam fraudem frausus sit.
LEON. perii ego oppido nisi Libanum invenio iam, ubiubi est gentium.
LIB. illic homo socium ad malam rem quaerit quem adiungat sibi.
non placet: pro monstro extemplo est quando qui sudat tremit.
LEON. sed quid ego hic properans concesso pedibus, lingua largior? 290
quin ego hanc iubeo tacere, quae loquens lacerat diem?
LIB. edepol hominem | infelicem, qui patronam comprimat.
nam si quid sceleste fecit, lingua pro illo peiierat.
LEON. approperabo, ne post tempus praedae praesidium parem.
LIB. quae illaec praeda est? ibo advorsum atque electabo, quicquid est. 295
iubeo te salvere voce summa, quoad vires valent.
LEON. gymnasium flagri, salveto. LIB. quid agis, custos carceris?
LEON. o catenarum colone. LIB. o virgarum lascivia.
LEON. quot pondo ted esse censes nudum? LIB. non edepol scio.
33
quom Ussing

II.ii
LEON. scibam ego te nescire, at pol ego qui ted expendi scio: 300
nudus vinctus centum pondo es, quando pendes per pedes.
LIB. quo argumento istuc? LEON. ego dicam, quo argumento et quo modo.
ad pedes quando adligatum est aequom centumpondium,
ubi manus manicae complexae sunt atque adductae ad trabem,
nec dependes nec propendes … quin malus nequamque sis. 305
LIB. vae tibi. | LEON. hoc testamento Servitus legat tibi.
LIB. verbivelitationem fieri compendi volo.
quid istuc est negoti? LEON. certum est credere. LIB. audacter licet.
<LEON.> sis amanti subvenire familiari filio,
tantum adest boni improviso, verum commixtum malo, 310
omnes de nobis carnuficum concelebrabuntur dies.
Libane, nunc audacia usust nobis inventa et dolis.
tantum facinus modo ego inveni, ut nos dicamur duo
omnium dignissumi esse quo cruciatus confluant.
LIB. ergo mirabar quod dudum scapulae gestibant mihi, 315
hariolari quae occeperunt sibi | esse in mundo malum.
quicquid est, eloquere. LEON. magna est praeda cum magno malo.
LIB. si quidem omnes coniurati cruciamenta conferant,
habeo opinor familiarem34 … tergum, ne quaeram foris.
LEON. si istam firmitudinem animi | optines, salvi sumus. 320
LIB. quin si tergo res solvenda est, rapere cupio publicum:
pernegabo atque obdurabo, peiierabo denique.
LEON. em istaec virtus est, quando usust qui malum fert fortiter;
fortiter malum qui patitur, idem post patitur bonum.
LIB. quin rem actutum edisseris? cupio malum nanciscier. 325
LEON. placide ergo unumquicquid rogita, ut acquiescam. non vides
me ex cursura anhelitum etiam ducere? LIB. age age, mansero
tuo arbitratu, vel adeo usque dum peris. LEON. ubinam est erus?
LIB. maior apud forum est, minor hic est intus. LEON. iam satis est mihi.
LIB. tum igitur tu dives es factus? LEON. mitte ridicularia. 330
LIB. mitto. istuc <× ‒> quod affers aures exspectant meae.35
LEON. animum advorte, ut aeque mecum | haec scias. LIB. taceo. LEON. beas.
meministine asinos Arcadicos mercatori Pelleo
nostrum vendere atriensem? LIB. memini. quid tum postea? 334-335
LEON. em | ergo is argentum huc remisit quod daretur Saureae
pro | asinis. adulescens venit modo, qui id argentum attulit.
LIB. ubi is homo est? LEON. iam devorandum censes, si conspexeris?
LIB. ita enim vero. sed tamen tu nempe eos asinos praedicas
vetulos, claudos, quibus subtritae ad femina iam | erant ungulae? 340
LEON. ipsos, qui tibi subvectabant rure huc virgas ulmeas.
LIB. teneo, atque idem te hinc vexerunt vinctum rus. LEON. memor es probe.
verum in tonstrina ut sedebam, me infit percontarier
ecquem filium Stratonis noverim Demaenetum.
dico me novisse extemplo et me eius servom praedico 345
esse, et aedis demonstravi nostras. LIB. quid tum postea?
LEON. ait se ob asinos ferre argentum | atriensi Saureae,
34
familiare codd.
35
<Libane>. LIB. mitto. de Melo istuc <× ‒> Danese

II.ii
viginti minas, sed eum se non nosse hominem qui siet,

ipsum vero se novisse callide Demaenetum.
quoniam ille elocutus haec sic … LIB. quid tum? LEON. ausculta ergo, scies. 350
extemplo facio facetum me atque magnuficum virum,
dico med esse atriensem. sic hoc respondit mihi:
“ego pol Sauream non novi nec qua facie sit scio.
te non aequom est suscensere. si | erum vis Demaenetum,
quem | ego novi, adduce: argentum non morabor quin feras.” 355
ego me dixi erum adducturum et me domi praesto fore;
ille in balineas iturust, inde huc veniet postea.
quid nunc consili captandum censes? dice. LIB. em | istuc ago
quo modo argento intervortam et adventorem et Sauream.
iam hoc opus est †exasceatum†;36 nam si ille argentum prius 360
hospes huc affert, continuo nos ambo exclusi sumus.
nam me hodie senex seduxit solum seorsum ab aedibus,
mihi tibique interminatust nos futuros ulmeos,
ni | hodie Argyrippo argenti | essent viginti minae;
iussit vel nos atriensem vel nos uxorem suam 365
defrudare, dixit sese | operam promiscam37 dare.
nunc tu abi ad forum ad erum et narra haec ut nos acturi sumus:
te ex Leonida futurum esse atriensem Sauream,
dum argentum afferat mercator pro | asinis. LEON. faciam ut iubes.
LIB. ego illum interea hic oblectabo, prius si forte advenerit. 370
LEON. quid ais? LIB. quid vis? LEON. pugno malam si tibi percussero,
mox quom imitabor Sauream, caveto ne suscenseas.
LIB. hercle vero tu cavebis ne me attingas, si sapis,
ne | hodie malo cum auspicio nomen commutaveris.
LEON. quaeso, aequo animo patitor. LIB. patitor tu | item quom ego te referiam. 375
LEON. dico ut usust fieri. LIB. dico hercle ego quoque ut facturus sum.
LEON. ne nega. LIB. quin promitto, inquam, hostire contra ut merueris.
LEON. ego abeo, tu iam, scio, patiere. sed quis hic est? is est,
ille est ipsus. iam ego recurro | huc. tu hunc interea hic tene.
volo seni narrare. — LIB. quin tuom officium facis ergo ac fugis? 380
II.iii MERCATOR LIBANVS
MERCATOR ut demonstratae sunt mihi, | hasce aedis esse oportet

Demaenetus ubi dicitur habitare. i, puere, pulta
atque atriensem Sauream, si est intus, evocato huc.
LIB. quis nostras sic frangit fores? ohe, inquam, si quid audis.
MERC. nemo etiam tetigit. sanun es? LIB. at censebam attigisse 385
propterea huc quia habebas iter. nolo ego fores conservas
meas a te verberarier. sane ego sum amicus nostris [aedibus].
MERC. pol hau periclum est cardines ne foribus effringantur,
36
exasceato Acidalius
37
promissam codd.

II.ii
si | istoc exemplo omnibus qui quaerunt respondebis.

LIB. ita haec morata est ianua: | extemplo ianitorem 390
clamat, procul si quem videt ire ad se calcitronem.
sed quid venis? quid quaeritas? MERC. Demaenetum volebam.
LIB. si sit domi, dicam tibi. MERC. quid eius atriensis?
LIB. nihilo mage intus est. MERC. ubi est? LIB. ad tonsorem ire dixit.
MERC. quom venisset, post non redit?38 LIB. non edepol. quid volebas? 395
MERC. argenti viginti minas, si adesset, accepisset.
LIB. qui pro istuc? MERC. asinos vendidit Pellaeo mercatori
mercatu. LIB. scio. tu id nunc refers? iam hic credo eum affuturum.
MERC. qua facie voster Saurea est? si is est, iam scire potero.
LIB. macilentis malis, rufulus aliquantum, ventriosus, 400
truculentis oculis, commoda statura, tristi fronte.
MERC. non potuit pictor rectius describere eius formam.
LIB. atque hercle ipsum adeo contuor, quassanti capite incedit.
quisque obviam huic occesserit irato, vapulabit.
MERC. siquidem hercle Aeacidinis minis animisque expletus cedit, 405
si med iratus tetigerit, iratus vapulabit.
II.iv LEONIDA MERCATOR LIBANVS
LEONIDA quid hoc sit negoti neminem meum dictum magni facere?
Libanum in tonstrinam ut iusseram venire, is nullus venit.
ne ille edepol tergo et cruribus consuluit hau decore.
MERC. nimis imperiosust. LIB. vae mihi. | LEON. hodie salvere iussi 410
Libanum libertum? iam manu | emissu’s? <LIB.> opsecro te.
<LEON.> ne tu hercle cum magno malo mihi obviam occessisti.
quor non venisti, ut iusseram, in tonstrinam? LIB. hic me moratust.
LEON. siquidem hercle nunc summum Iovem te dicas detinuisse
atque is precator assiet, malam rem effugies numquam. 415
tu, verbero, imperium meum contempsisti? LIB. perii, hospes.
MERC. quaeso hercle noli, Saurea, mea causa hunc verberare.
LEON. utinam nunc stimulus in manu mihi sit … MERC. quiesce quaeso.
LEON. … qui latera conteram tua, quae occalluere plagis.
apscede ac sine me hunc perdere, qui semper me ira incendit, 420
quoi numquam unam rem me licet semel praecipere furi,
quin centiens eadem imperem atque ogganniam, itaque iam hercle
clamore ac stomacho non queo labori suppeditare.
iussin, sceleste, ab ianua | hoc stercus hinc auferri?
iussin columnis deici | operas araneorum? 425
iussin in splendorem dari bullas has foribus nostris?
nihil est: tamquam si claudus sim, cum fusti est ambulandum.
quia triduom hoc unum modo foro operam assiduam dedo,
dum reperiam qui quaeritet argentum in faenus, hic vos
dormitis interea domi atque erus in hara, haud aedibus, habitat. 430
em | ergo hoc tibi. LIB. hospes, te opsecro, defende. MERC. Saurea, oro
mea causa ut mittas. LEON. eho, ecquis pro vectura olivi
38
conveni. sed post non redit? Ussing

II.iv
rem solvit? LIB. solvit. LEON. quoi datum est? LIB. Sticho vicario ipsi
tuo. LEON. vah, delenire apparas, scio mi vicarium esse,
neque eo esse servom in aedibus | eri qui sit pluris quam ille est. 435
sed vina quae | heri vendidi vinario Exaerambo …
iam pro | is satis fecit Sticho? LIB. fecisse satis opinor,
nam vidi huc ipsum adducere trapezitam Exaerambum.
LEON. sic dedero. prius quae credidi, vix anno post exegi;
nunc sat agit: adducit domum | etiam ultro et scribit nummos. 440
Dromo mercedem rettulit? LIB. dimidio minus opinor.
LEON. quid relicuom? LIB. aibat reddere quom extemplo redditum esset;
nam retineri, ut quod sit sibi | operis locatum efficeret.
LEON. scyphos quos utendos dedi Philodamo, rettulitne?
LIB. non etiam. | LEON. hem non? si velis, da, commoda homini amico. 445
MERC. perii hercle, iam hic me abegerit suo odio. LIB. heus iam satis tu.
audin quae loquitur? LEON. audio et quiesco. MERC. tandem, opinor,
conticuit. nunc adeam optumum est, prius quam incipit tinnire.
quam mox mi operam das? LEON. ehem, optume. quam dudum tu advenisti?
non hercle te provideram (quaeso, ne vitio vortas), 450
ita iracundia opstitit oculis. MERC. non mirum factum est.
sed si domi est, Demaenetum volebam. LEON. negat esse intus.
verum istuc argentum tamen mihi si vis denumerare,
repromittam istoc nomine solutam rem futuram.
MERC. sic potius ut Demaeneto tibi ero praesente reddam. 455
LIB. erus istunc novit atque erum hic. MERC. ero huic praesente reddam.
LIB. da modo meo periculo, rem salvam ego exhibebo;
nam si sciat noster senex fidem non esse huic habitam,
suscenseat, quoi | omnium rerum ipsus semper credit.
LEON. non magni pendo. ne duit, si non volt. sic sine astet. 460
LIB. da, inquam. vah, formido miser ne hic me tibi arbitretur
suasisse sibi ne crederes. da, quaeso, ac ne formida:
salvom hercle erit. MERC. credam fore, dum quidem in manu ipse habebo.
peregrinus ego sum, Sauream non novi. LIB. at nosce sane.
MERC. sit, non sit, non edepol scio. si is est, eum esse oportet. 465
ego certe me incerto scio hoc daturum nemini homini.
LEON. hercle istum di omnes perduint. verbo cave supplicassis.
ferox est viginti minas meas tractare sese.
nemo accipit, te aufer domum, apscede hinc, molestus ne sis.
MERC. nimis iracunde. non decet superbum esse hominem servom. 470
LEON. malo hercle iam magno tuo, ni isti nec recte dicis.
LIB. impure, nihili. non vides irasci? LEON. perge porro.
LIB. flagitium | hominis. da, opsecro, argentum huic, ne male loquatur.
MERC. malum hercle vobis quaeritis. LEON. crura hercle diffringentur,
ni istum impudicum percies. LIB. perii hercle. age, impudice, 475
sceleste, non audes mihi scelesto subvenire?
LEON. pergin precari pessumo? MERC. quae res? tun libero homini
male servos loquere? LEON. vapula. MERC. id quidem tibi hercle fiet
ut vapules, Demaenetum simul ac conspexero hodie.
[in ius voco te. LEON. non eo. MERC. non is? memento. LEON. memini. 480
MERC. dabitur pol supplicium mihi de tergo vostro. LEON. vae te.
tibi quidem de nobis, carnufex, detur supplicium? MERC. atque etiam

II.iv
pro dictis vostris maledicis poenae pendentur mi hodie.]39

LEON. quid, verbero? ain tu, furcifer? erum nos[met] fugitare censes? 484-485
i nunciam ad erum, quo vocas, iam dudum quo volebas.
MERC. nunc demum? tamen numquam hinc feres argenti nummum, nisi me
dare iusserit Demaenetus. LEON. ita facito, age ambula ergo.
tu contumeliam alteri facias, tibi non dicatur?
tam ego homo sum quam tu. MERC. scilicet. ita res est. <LEON.> sequere hac ergo. 490
praefiscini hoc nunc dixerim: nemo etiam me accusavit
merito meo, nec me alter est Athenis hodie quisquam
quoi credi recte aeque putent. MERC. fortassis. sed tamen me
numquam hodie induces ut tibi credam hoc argentum ignoto.
lupus est homo homini, non homo, quom qualis sit non novit. 495
LEON. iam nunc secunda mihi facis. scibam huic te capitulo hodie
facturum satis pro iniuria; quamquam ego sum sordidatus,
frugi tamen sum, nec potest peculium enumerari.
MERC. fortasse. | LEON. etiam [nunc dico] Periphanes Rhodo mercator dives
apsente ero solus mihi talentum argenti soli 500
adnumeravit et credidit mihi, neque deceptust in eo.
MERC. fortasse. LEON. atque etiam tu quoque ipse, si esses percontatus
me ex aliis, scio pol crederes nunc quod fers. — MERC. haud negassim. —
III.i CLEARETA PHILAENIVM
CLEARETA nequeone ego ted interdictis facere mansuetem40 meis?

an ita tu es animata ut qui expers matris imperio sies? 505
PHILAENIVM ubi piem Pietatem, si istoc more moratam tibi
postulem placere, mater, mihi quo pacto praecipis?
CLEAR. an decorum est advorsari meis te praeceptis? <PHIL.> quid est?
CLEAR. hoccine est pietatem colere, imperium matris minuere?
PHIL. nec quae recte faciunt culpo nec quae delinquont amo. 510
CLEAR. satis dicacula es amatrix. PHIL. mater, is quaestus mihi est:
lingua poscit, corpus quaerit, animus orat, res monet.
CLEAR. ego te volui castigare, tu mi accusatrix ades.
PHIL. neque edepol te accuso neque id me facere fas existumo.
verum ego meas queror fortunas, quom illo quem | amo prohibeor. 515
CLEAR. ecqua pars orationis de die dabitur mihi?
PHIL. et meam partem loquendi | et tuam trado tibi;
ad loquendum atque ad tacendum tute habeas portisculum.
quin pol si reposivi remum, sola ego in casteria
ubi quiesco, omnis familiae causa consistit tibi. 520
CLEAR. quid ais tu, quam ego unam vidi mulierem audacissumam?
quotiens te votui Argyrippum filium Demaeneti
compellare aut contrectare, colloquive aut contui?
quid dedit? quid iussit ad nos deportari? an tu tibi
verba blanda esse aurum rere, dicta docta pro datis? 525
ultro amas, ultro expetessis, ultro ad te accersi iubes.
39
480-83 secl. Ussing
40
mansuetam codd.

III.i
illos qui dant eos derides; qui deludunt deperis.

an te id exspectare oportet, si quis promittat tibi
te facturum divitem, si mater moriatur sua?
ecastor [nobis] periclum magnum [et] familiae portenditur, 530
dum eius exspectamus mortem, ne nos moriamur fame.
nunc adeo nisi mi huc argenti | affert viginti minas,
ne ille ecastor hinc trudetur largus lacrumarum foras.
hic dies summust <quo est> apud me | inopiae excusatio.
PHIL. patiar, si cibo carere me iubes, mater mea. 535
CLEAR. non voto ted amare qui dant quoia amentur gratia.
PHIL. quid si hic animus occupatust, mater, quid faciam? mone. CLEAR. em,
meum caput contemples, si quidem ex re consultas tua.
PHIL. etiam | opilio qui pascit, mater, alienas ovis, 539-540
aliquam habet peculiarem qui spem soletur suam.
sine me amare unum Argyrippum | animi causa, quem volo.
CLEAR. intro abi, nam te quidem edepol nihil est impudentius. —
PHIL. audientem dicto, mater, produxisti filiam. —
III.ii LIBANVS LEONIDA
LIBANVS Perfidiae laudes gratiasque habemus merito magnas, 545

quom nostris sycophantiis, dolis astutiisque,
scapularum confidentia, virtute †ulmorum†41 freti
* * *
qui advorsum stimulos, lamminas, crucesque compedesque,
nervos, catenas, carceres, numellas, pedicas, boias, 550
inductoresque acerrumos gnarosque nostri tergi,
[qui saepe ante in nostras scapulas cicatrices indiderunt,]
* * *
eae nunc legiones, copiae | exercitusque eorum
vi pugnando periuriis nostris fugae potiti. 555
id virtute huius collegai42 meaque comitate
factum est. qui me est vir fortior ad sufferundas plagas?
LEONIDA edepol virtutes qui tuas non possis collaudare
sicut ego possim, quae domi duellique male fecisti.
ne illa edepol pro merito [nunc] tuo memorari multa possunt: 560
ubi fidentem fraudaveris, ubi ero infidelis fueris,
ubi verbis conceptis sciens lubenter peiieraris,
ubi parietes perfoderis, in furto ubi sis prehensus,
ubi saepe causam dixeris pendens advorsus octo
artutos,43 audacis viros, valentis virgatores. 565
LIB. fateor profecto ut praedicas, Leonida, esse vera:
verum edepol ne etiam tua quoque malefacta iterari multa
et vero possunt: ubi sciens fideli infidus fueris,
41
ulnorum Nonius
42
collegae codd.
43
†astutos† Danese

III.ii
ubi prensus in furto sies manufesto et verberatus,

ubi peiieraris, ubi sacro manus sis ammolitus, 570
ubi eris damno, molestiae et dedecori saepe fueris,
ubi creditum quod sit tibi datum esse pernegaris,
ubi amicae quam | amico tuo fueris magis fidelis,44
ubi saepe ad languorem tua duritia dederis octo
validos lictores, ulmeis affectos lentis virgis. 575
num male relata est gratia? ut collegam collaudavi?
LEON. ut meque teque maxume atque ingenio nostro decuit.
LIB. iam omitte istaec, hoc quod rogo responde. LEON. rogita quid vis.45
LIB. argenti vinginti minas habesne? | LEON. hariolare.
edepol senem Demaenetum lepidum fuisse nobis: 580
ut assimulabat Sauream med esse quam facete.
nimis aegre risum contini, | ubi hospitem inclamavit,
quod se<se> apsente mihi fidem | habere noluisset.
ut memoriter me Sauream vocabat atriensem.
LIB. manedum. LEON. quid est? LIB. Philaenium estne haec quae intus exit atque 585
una Argyrippus? LEON. opprime os, is est. subauscultemus.
LIB. lacrumantem lacinia tenet lacrumans. quidnam esse dicam?
taciti auscultemus. LEON. attatae, modo hercle in mentem venit,
nimis vellem habere perticam. LIB. quoi rei? LEON. qui verberarem
asinos, si forte occeperint clamare hinc ex crumina. 590
III.iii ARGYRIPPVS PHILAENIVM LIBANVS LEONIDA
ARGYRIPPVS quor me retentas? PHILAENIVM quia tui | amans abeuntis egeo.

ARGYR. vale <vale>. PHIL. aliquanto amplius valerem, si hic maneres.
ARGYR. salve. PHIL. salvere me iubes, quoi tu abiens offers morbum?
ARGYR. mater supremum46 mihi tua dixit, domum ire iussit.
PHIL. acerbum funus filiae faciet, si te carendum est. 595
LIB. homo hercle hinc exclusust foras. LEON. ita res est. ARGYR. mitte quaeso.
PHIL. quo nunc abis? quin tu hic manes? ARGYR. nox, si voles, manebo.
LIB. audin hunc opera ut largus est nocturna? nunc enim esse
negotiosum interdius videlicet Solonem,
leges ut conscribat quibus se populus teneat. gerrae. 600
qui sese parere apparent huius legibus, profecto
numquam bonae frugi sient, dies noctesque potent.
LEON. ne iste hercle ab ista non pedem discedat, si licessit,
qui nunc festinat atque ab hac minatur sese abire.
LIB. sermoni iam finem face tuo, huius sermonem accipiam. 605
ARGYR. vale. PHIL. quo properas? ARGYR. bene vale: | apud Orcum te videbo.
nam equidem me iam quantum potest a vita abiudicabo.
PHIL. quor tu, opsecro, immerito meo me morti dedere optas?
44
571-73 secl. Hurka
45
quod vis BJE, followed by Hurka
46
supremum codd. supremam Turnebus

III.iii
ARGYR. ego te? quam si | intellegam deficere vita, iam ipse

vitam meam tibi largiar et de mea ad tuam addam. 610
PHIL. quor ergo minitaris mihi te vitam esse amissurum?
nam quid me facturam putas, si istuc quod dicis faxis?
[mihi] certum est efficere in me omnia | eadem quae tu in te faxis.
ARGYR. oh melle dulci dulcior [mihi] tu es. PHIL. certe enim tu vita es mi.
complectere. ARGYR. facio lubens. PHIL. utinam sic efferamur. 615
LEON. o Libane, uti miser est homo qui amat. LIB. immo hercle vero
qui pendet multo est miserior. LEON. scio qui periclum feci.
circumsistamus, alter hinc, hinc alter appellemus.
ere, salve. sed num fumus est haec mulier quam amplexare?
ARGYR. quidum? LEON. quia oculi sunt tibi lacrumantes, eo rogavi. 620
ARGYR. patronus qui vobis fuit futurus, perdidistis.
LEON. equidem hercle nullum perdidi, | ideo quia numquam ullum habui.
LIB. Philaenium, salve. PHIL. dabunt di quae velitis vobis.
LIB. noctem tuam et vini cadum velim, si optata fiant.
ARGYR. verbum cave faxis, verbero. LIB. tibi equidem, non mihi opto. 625
ARGYR. tum tu igitur loquere quod lubet. LIB. hunc hercle verberare.
LEON. quisnam istuc accredat tibi, cinaede calamistrate?
tun verberes, qui pro cibo | habeas te verberari?
ARGYR. ut vostrae fortunae meis praecedunt, Libane, longe,
qui | hodie numquam ad vesperum vivam. LIB. quapropter, quaeso? 630
ARGYR. quia ego hanc amo et haec med amat, huic quod dem nusquam quicquam est,
hinc med amantem ex aedibus deiecit huius mater.
argenti viginti minae med ad mortem appulerunt,
quas hodie adulescens Diabolus ipsi daturus dixit,
ut hanc ne quoquam mitteret nisi ad se hunc annum totum. 635
videtin viginti minae quid pollent quidve possunt?
ill’ qui illas perdit salvos est, ego qui non perdo pereo.
LIB. iam dedit argentum? ARGYR. non dedit. LIB. bono animo es, ne formida.
LEON. secede huc, Libane, te volo. LIB. si quid vis. ARGYR. opsecro vos,
eadem istac opera suaviust complexos fabulari. 640
LIB. non omnia eadem aeque omnibus, ere, suavia esse scito:
vobis est suave amantibus complexos fabulari,
ego complexum huius nil moror, meum autem hic aspernatur.
proinde istud facias ipse quod faciamus nobis suades.
ARGYR. ego vero, et quidem edepol lubens. interea, si videtur, 645
concedite istuc. LEON. vin erum deludi? LIB. dignust sane.
LEON. vin faciam ut te47 Philaenium praesente hoc amplexetur?
LIB. cupio hercle. LEON. sequere hac. ARGYR. ecquid est salutis? satis locuti.
LEON. auscultate atque operam date et mea dicta devorate.
primum omnium servos tuos nos esse non negamus; 650
sed tibi si viginti minae | argenti proferentur,
quo nos vocabis nomine? ARGYR. libertos. LEON. non patronos?
ARGYR. id potius. LEON. viginti minae | hic insunt in crumina,
has ego, si vis, <nunc> tibi dabo. ARGYR. di te servassint semper,
custos erilis, decus popli, thesaurus copiarum, 655
salus †interioris corporis†48 amorisque imperator.
47
me codd. te Loman
48
interior corporis Bothe

III.iii
hic pone, hic istam colloca cruminam in collo plane.

LEON. nolo ego te, qui | erus sis, mihi | onus istuc sustinere.
ARGYR. quin tu labore liberas te atque istam imponis in me?
LEON. ego baiulabo, tu, ut decet dominum, ante me ito inanis. 660
ARGYR. quid nunc? <LEON.> quid est? <ARGYR.> quin tradis huc cruminam pressatum umerum?
<LEON.> hanc, quoi daturu’s hanc, iube petere atque orare mecum.
nam istuc proclive est quo iubes me plane collocare.
PHIL. da, meus ocellus, mea rosa, mi | anime, mea voluptas,
Leonida, argentum mihi, ne nos diiunge amantis. 665
LEON. dic me igitur tuom passerculum, gallinam, coturnicem,
agnellum, haedillum me tuom dic esse vel vitellum,
prehende auriculis, compara labella cum labellis.
ARGYR. ten osculetur, verbero? LEON. quam vero indignum visum est?
atqui pol hodie non feres, ni genua confricantur. 670
ARGYR. quidvis egestas imperat: fricentur. dan quod oro?
PHIL. age, mi Leonida, opsecro, fer amanti ero salutem,
redime istoc beneficio te ab hoc, et tibi eme hunc isto argento.
LEON. nimis bella es atque amabilis, et si hoc meum esset, hodie
numquam me orares quin darem: | illum te orare meliust, 675
illic hanc mi servandam dedit. i sane bella belle.
cape hoc sis, Libane. ARGYR. furcifer, etiam me delusisti?
LEON. numquam hercle facerem, genua ni tam nequiter fricares.
age sis tu in partem nunciam hunc delude atque amplexare hanc.
LIB. taceas, me spectes. ARGYR. quin ad hunc, Philaenium, aggredimur, 680
virum quidem pol optumum et non similem furis huius?
LIB. inambulandum est: nunc mihi vicissim supplicabunt.
ARGYR. quaeso hercle, Libane, sis erum tuis factis sospitari,
da mi istas viginti minas. vides me amantem egere.
LIB. videbitur. factum volo. redito huc conticinno. 685
nunc istanc tantisper iube petere atque orare mecum.
PHIL. amandone exorarier vis ted an osculando?
LIB. enim vero utrumque. PHIL. ergo, opsecro, et tu utrumque nostrum serva.
ARGYR. o Libane, mi patrone, mi trade istuc. magis decorum est
libertum potius quam patronum onus in via portare. 690
PHIL. mi Libane, ocellus aureus, donum decusque amoris,
amabo, faciam quod voles, da istuc argentum nobis.
LIB. dic igitur med aneticulam, columbam vel catellum,
hirundinem, monerulam, passerculum putillum,
fac proserpentem bestiam me, duplicem ut habeam linguam, 695
circumda torquem brachiis, meum collum circumplecte.
ARGYR. ten complectatur, carnufex? LIB. quam vero indignus videor?
ne istuc nequiquam dixeris in me tam indignum dictum,
vehes pol hodie me, si quidem hoc argentum ferre speres.
ARGYR. ten ego veham? LIB. tun hoc feras <hinc> argentum aliter a me? 700
ARGYR. perii hercle. si verum quidem et decorum erum vehere servom,
inscende. LIB. sic isti solent superbi subdomari.
asta igitur, ut consuetus es puer olim. scin ut dicam?
em sic. abi, laudo, nec te equo magis est equos ullus sapiens.
ARGYR. inscende actutum. LIB. ego fecero. hem quid istuc est? ut tu incedis? 705
|
demam hercle iam de hordeo, tolutim ni badizas.
ARGYR. amabo, Libane, iam sat est. LIB. numquam hercle hodie exorabis.
nam iam calcari quadrupedo | agitabo advorsum clivom,

III.iii
postidea ad pistores dabo, | ut ibi cruciere currens.

asta ut descendam nunciam in proclivi, quamquam nequam es. 710
ARGYR. quid nunc, amabo? quoniam, ut est lubitum, nos delusistis,
datisne argentum? LIB. si quidem mi statuam et aram statuis
atque ut deo mi hic immolas bovem: nam ego tibi Salus sum.
LEON. etiam tu, ere, istunc amoves aps te atque me ipse aggredere
atque illa sibi quae hic iusserat mi statuis supplicasque? 715
ARGYR. quem te autem divom nominem? LEON. Fortunam, atque Opsequentem.
ARGYR. iam istoc es melior. LIB. an quid est [olim] homini Salute melius?
ARGYR. licet laudem Fortunam, tamen ut ne Salutem culpem.
PHIL. ecastor ambae sunt bonae. ARGYR. sciam ubi boni quid dederint.
LEON. opta id quod ut contingat tibi vis. ARGYR. quid si optaro? LEON. eveniet. 720
|
ARGYR. opto annum hunc perpetuom mihi huius operas. LEON. impetrasti.
ARGYR. ain vero? LEON. certe inquam. LIB. ad me adi vicissim atque experire.
exopta id quod vis maxume tibi evenire: fiet.
ARGYR. quid ego aliud exoptem amplius nisi illud quoius inopia est,
viginti argenti commodas minas, huius quas dem matri? 725
LIB. dabuntur, animo sis bono face, exoptata optingent.
ARGYR. ut consuevere, homines Salus frustratur et Fortuna.
LEON. ego caput huic argento fui <tibi> hodie reperiundo.
LIB. ego pes fui. ARGYR. quin nec caput nec pes sermoni apparet.
nec quid dicatis scire nec me quor ludatis possum. 730
|
LIB. satis iam delusum censeo. nunc rem ut est eloquamur.
animum, Argyrippe, advorte sis. pater nos ferre hoc iussit
argentum ad te. | ARGYR. ut temperi opportuneque attulistis.
LIB. hic inerunt viginti minae bonae, mala opera partae;
has tibi nos pactis legibus dare iussit. ARGYR. quid id est, quaeso? 735
LIB. noctem huius et cenam sibi ut dares. ARGYR. iube advenire, quaeso:
meritissumo eius quae volet faciemus, qui hosce amores
nostros dispulsos compulit. <LEON. patierin, Argyrippe,>
patrem hanc amplexari tuom? | ARGYR. haec faciet facile ut patiar.
Leonida, curre opsecro, patrem huc orato ut veniat. 740
LEON. iam dudum est intus. ARGYR. hac quidem non venit. LEON. angiporto
illac per hortum circum iit clam, ne quis se videret
huc ire familiarium: ne uxor resciscat metuit.
de argento si mater tua sciat ut sit factum … | ARGYR. heia,
bene dicite. <LIB.> ite intro cito. — <ARGYR.> valete. — LEON. et vos amate. — 745
IV.i DIABOLVS PARASITVS
DIABOLVS agedum istum ostende quem conscripsti syngraphum

inter me et amicam et lenam. leges pellege.
nam tu poeta es prorsus ad eam rem unicus.
PARASITVS horrescet faxo lena, leges quom audiet.
DIAB. age, quaeso, mi hercle translege. PAR. audin? DIAB. audio. 750
PAR. “Diabolus Glauci filius Clearetae
lenae dedit dono argenti viginti minas,
Philaenium ut secum esset noctes et dies
hunc annum totum.” DIAB. nec cum quiquam alio quidem.

IV.i
PAR. addone? DIAB. adde, et scribas vide plane et probe. 755

PAR. “alienum | hominem | intro mittat neminem.
quod illa aut amicum | aut patronum nominet,
aut quod illa amica<e suae> amatorem praedicet,
fores occlusae | omnibus sint nisi tibi.
in foribus scribat occupatam | esse se. 760
aut quod illa dicat peregre allatam epistulam,
ne epistula quidem | ulla sit in aedibus
nec cerata adeo tabula; et si qua inutilis
pictura sit, eam vendat: ni in quadriduo
abalienarit, quo aps te argentum acceperit, 765
tuos arbitratus sit, comburas, si velis,
ne illi sit cera ubi facere possit litteras.
vocet convivam neminem illa, tu voces;
ad eorum ne quem | oculos adiciat suos.
si quem alium aspexit, caeca continuo siet. 770
tecum una postea aeque pocla potitet:
aps ted accipiat, tibi propinet, tu bibas,
ne illa minus aut plus quam tu sapiat.” DIAB. satis placet.
PAR. “suspiciones omnis ab se segreget.
neque illaec ulli pede pedem | homini premat, 775
quom surgat: nec <quom> in lectum inscendat proxumum,
nec quom descendat inde, det quoiquam manum:
spectandum ne quoi | anulum det nec roget.
talos ne quoiquam | homini ammoveat nisi tibi.
quom iaciat, ‘te’ ne dicat: nomen nominet. 780
deam invocet sibi quam lubebit propitiam,
deum nullum; si magis religiosa fuerit,
tibi dicat: tu pro illa ores ut sit propitius.
neque illa ulli homini nutet, nictet, annuat.
post si lucerna exstincta sit, ne quid sui 785
membri commoveat quicquam in tenebris.” DIAB. optume est.
ita scilicet facturam. verum in cubiculo —
deme istuc — equidem illam moveri gestio.
nolo illam habere causam et votitam dicere.
PAR. scio, captiones metuis. DIAB. verum. PAR. ergo ut iubes 790
tollam. DIAB. quidni? PAR. audi relicua. DIAB. loquere, audio.
PAR. “neque ullum verbum faciat perplexabile,
neque ulla lingua sciat loqui nisi Attica.
fort’ si tussire occepsit, ne sic tussiat
ut quoiquam linguam in tussiendo proserat. 795
quod illa autem simulet quasi gravedo profluat,
hoc ne sic faciat: tu labellum apstergeas
potius quam quoiquam savium faciat palam.
nec mater lena ad vinum accedat interim,
neque ulli verbo male dicat. si dixerit, 800
haec multa ei esto, vino viginti dies
ut careat.” DIAB. pulchre scripsti. scitum syngraphum.
PAR. “tum si coronas, serta, unguenta iusserit
ancillam ferre Veneri | aut Cupidini,
tuos servos servet Venerine eas det an viro. 805

IV.i
si forte pure velle habere dixerit,

tot noctes reddat spurcas quot pure habuerit.”
haec sunt non nugae, non enim mortualia.
DIAB. placent profecto leges. sequere intro. — PAR. sequor. —
IV.ii DIABOLVS PARASITVS
DIAB. sequere hac. egone haec patiar aut taceam? emori 810
me malim quam haec non eius uxori indicem.
ain tu? apud amicam munus adulescentuli
fungare, uxori excuses te et dicas senem?
praeripias scortum amanti atque argentum obicias
lenae? suppiles clam domi uxorem tuam? 815
suspendam potius me quam tacita haec tu auferas.
iam quidem hercle ad illam hinc ibo, quam tu propediem,
nisi quidem illa ante occupassit te, effliges scio,
luxuriae sumptus suppeditare ut possies.
PAR. ego sic faciundum censeo: me honestiust 820
quam te palam hanc rem facere, ne illa existumet
amoris causa percitum id fecisse te
magis quam sua causa. DIAB. at pol qui dixti rectius.
tu ergo fac ut illi turbas, litis concias,
cum suo sibi gnato unam ad amicam de die 825
potare, illam expilare. <PAR.> iam <iam>. ne mone.49
ego istuc curabo. — | DIAB. at ego te opperiar domi. —
V.i ARGYRIPPVS DEMAENETVS [PHILAENIUM]
ARGYRIPPVS age decumbamus sis, pater. DEMAENETVS ut iusseris,

mi gnate, ita fiet. ARGYR. pueri, mensam apponite.50
DEM. numquidnam tibi molestum est, gnate mi, si haec nunc mecum accubat? 830
ARGYR. pietas, pater, oculis dolorem prohibet. quamquam ego istanc amo,
possum equidem inducere animum ne aegre patiar quia tecum accubat.
DEM. decet verecundum esse adulescentem, Argyrippe. ARGYR. edepol, pater,
merito tuo facere possum. DEM. age ergo, hoc agitemus convivium
vino ut sermone suavi. nolo ego metui, amari mavolo, 835
mi gnate, me aps te. ARGYR. pol ego utrumque facio, ut aequom est filium.
DEM. credam istuc, si esse te hilarum videro. ARGYR. an tu [ess’] me tristem putas?
DEM. putem ego, quem videam aeque esse maestum ut quasi dies si dicta sit?
ARGYR. ne dixis istuc. DEM. ne sic fueris: ilico ego non dixero. 839-840
|
ARGYR. em aspecta: rideo. DEM. utinam male qui mihi volunt sic rideant.
ARGYR. scio equidem quam ob rem me, pater, tu tristem credas nunc tibi:
quia istaec est tecum. atque ego quidem hercle ut verum tibi dicam, pater,
ea res me male habet; at non eo quia tibi non cupiam quae velis;
49
iam emone codd. expilare <narra>. <PAR.> ne mone. Leo
50
828-29 secl. Weise

V.i
verum istam amo. aliam tecum esse equidem facile possum perpeti. 845
DEM. at ego hanc volo. ARGYR. ergo sunt quae exoptas: mihi quae ego exoptem volo.
DEM. unum hunc diem perpetere, quoniam tibi potestatem dedi
cum hac annum ut esses, atque amanti argenti feci copiam.
ARGYR. em | istoc me facto tibi devinxti. DEM. quin te ergo hilarum das mihi? 849-850
V.ii ARTEMONA PARASITVS ARGYRIPPVS DEMAENETVS PHILAENIVM
ARTEMONA ain tu meum virum hic potare, | opsecro, cum filio

et ad amicam detulisse argenti viginti minas
meoque filio sciente id facere flagitium patrem?
PARASITVS nec divini nec mi humani posthac quicquam accreduas,
Artemona, si huius rei me ess’ mendacem inveneris. 855
ART. at scelesta ego praeter alios meum virum †frugi†51 rata,
siccum, frugi, continentem, amantem uxoris maxume.
PAR. at nunc dehinc scito illum ante omnis minimi mortalem preti,
madidum, nihili, incontinentem atque osorem uxoris suae.
ART. pol ni istaec vera essent, numquam faceret ea quae nunc facit.52 860
PAR. ego quoque hercle illum antehac hominem semper sum frugi ratus,
verum hoc facto sese ostendit, qui quidem cum filio
potet una atque una amicam ductet, decrepitus senex.
ART. hoc ecastor est quod ille it ad cenam cottidie.
ait sese ire ad Archidemum, Chaeream, Chaerestratum, 865
Cliniam, Chremem, Cratinum, Diniam, Demosthenem:
is apud scortum corruptelae est liberis, lustris studet.
PAR. quin tu illum iubes ancillas rapere sublimem domum?
ART. tace modo. ne illum mecastor miserum habebo. PAR. ego istuc scio,
ita fore illi — dum quidem cum illo nupta eris. ART. ego censeo 870
eum etiam hominem <aut> in senatu dare operam aut cluentibus,
ibi labore delassatum noctem totam stertere;
ille opere53 foris faciendo lassus noctu <ad me> advenit;
fundum alienum arat, incultum familiarem deserit.
is etiam corruptus porro suom corrumpit filium. 875
PAR. sequere hac me modo, iam faxo ipsum hominem manufesto opprimas.
ART. nihil ecastor est quod facere mavelim. PAR. manedum. ART. quid est?
PAR. possis, si forte accubantem tuom virum conspexeris
cum corona amplexum amicam, si videas, cognoscere?
ART. possum ecastor. PAR. em tibi hominem. ART. perii. PAR. paullisper mane. 880
aucupemus ex insidiis clanculum quam rem gerant.
ARGYR. quid modi, pater, amplexando facies? DEM. fateor, gnate mi …
ARGYR. quid fatere? DEM. me ex amore | huius corruptum oppido.
PAR. audin quid ait? ART. audio. DEM. egon ut non domo uxori meae
surrupiam in deliciis pallam quam habet atque ad te deferam? 885
non edepol conduci possum vita uxoris annua.
51
fueram dub. Leo frui Bertini
52
857-60 secl. Della Corte
53
operi Lindsay

V.ii
PAR. censen tu illum hodie primum ire | assuetum esse in ganeum?

ART. ille ecastor suppilabat me, quod ancillas meas
suspicabar atque insontis miseras cruciabam. ARGYR. pater,
iube dari vinum; iam dudum factum est quom primum bibi. 890
DEM. da, puere, ab summo. age tu interibi ab infumo da savium.
ART. perii misera, ut osculatur carnufex, capuli decus.
DEM. edepol animam suaviorem aliquanto quam uxoris meae.
PHILAENIUM dic amabo, an foetet anima | uxoris tuae? DEM. nauteam
bibere malim, si necessum sit, quam illam oscularier. 895
ART. ain tandem? edepol ne tu istuc cum malo magno tuo
dixisti in me. sine, revenias modo domum, faxo ut scias
quid pericli sit dotatae uxori vitium dicere.
PHIL. miser ecastor es. ART. ecastor dignus est. ARGYR. quid ais, pater?
ecquid matrem amas? DEM. egone illam? nunc amo, quia non adest. 900
|
ARGYR. quid quom adest? DEM. periisse cupio. PAR. amat homo hic te, ut praedicat.
ART. ne illa ecastor faenerato funditat: nam si domum
redierit hodie, osculando ego ulciscar potissumum.
ARGYR. iace, pater, talos, ut porro nos iaciamus. DEM. maxume.
te, Philaenium, mihi atque uxoris mortem. hoc Venerium est. 905
pueri, plaudite et mi ob iactum cantharo mulsum date.
ART. non queo durare. PAR. si non didicisti fulloniam,
non mirandum est, <Artemona>; in oculos invadi optumum est.
ART. ego pol vivam et tu istaec hodie cum tuo magno malo
invocasti. | PAR. ecquis currit pollinctorem accersere? 910
ARGYR. mater, salve. ART. sat salutis. PAR. mortuost Demaenetus.
tempus est subducere hinc me; pulchre hoc gliscit proelium.
ibo ad Diabolum, mandata dicam facta ut voluerit,
atque interea ut decumbamus suadebo, hi dum litigant.
poste demum huc cras adducam ad lenam, ut viginti minas 915
ei det, in partem hac amanti ut liceat ei potirier.
Argyrippus exorari spero poterit ut sinat
sese alternas cum illo noctes hac frui. nam ni impetro,
regem perdidi: ex amore tantum est homini incendium. —
ART. quid tibi hunc receptio ad te est meum virum? PHIL. pol me quidem 920
miseram | odio | enicavit. ART. surge, amator, i domum.
DEM. nullus sum. ART. immo es, ne nega, omnium <hominum> pol nequissumus.
at etiam cubat cuculus. surge, amator, i domum.
DEM. vae mihi. ART. vera hariolare. surge, amator, i domum.
DEM. apscede ergo paullulum istuc. ART. surge, amator, i domum. 925
DEM. iam opsecro, uxor … ART. nunc uxorem me esse meministi tuam?
modo, quom dicta in me ingerebas, odium, non uxor, eram.
DEM. totus perii. ART. quid tandem? anima foetetne uxoris tuae?
DEM. murram olet. ART. iam surrupuisti pallam quam scorto dares?
PHIL. ecastor qui surrupturum pallam promisit tibi. 930
DEM. non taces? ARGYR. ego dissuadebam, mater. ART. bellum filium.
istoscin patrem aequom est mores liberis largirier?
nilne te pudet? DEM. pol, si aliud nil sit, tui me, uxor, pudet.
ART. cano capite te cuculum | uxor ex lustris rapit.
DEM. non licet manere (cena coquitur) dum cenem modo? 935
ART. ecastor cenabis hodie, ut dignus es, magnum malum.
DEM. male cubandum est: iudicatum me uxor abducit domum.
ARGYR. dicebam, pater, tibi ne matri consuleres male.

V.ii
PHIL. de palla memento, amabo. DEM. iuben hanc hinc apscedere?

ART. i domum. PHIL. da savium etiam prius quam abitis. DEM. i in crucem.54 940
PHIL. immo intus potius. sequere hac me, mi anime. | ARGYR. ego vero sequor.
EPILOGUS
GREX hic senex si quid clam uxorem suo animo fecit volup,
nec novom nec mirum fecit nec secus quam alii solent;
nec quisquam est tam ingenio duro nec tam firmo pectore
quin ubi quicque occasionis sit sibi faciat bene. 945
nunc si voltis deprecari | huic seni ne vapulet,
remur impetrari posse, plausum si clarum datis.
54
940 post 941 codd.

Commentary: Introduction
Grammatical Commentary
[Note: many of the explications of particular words or constructions that are presented in the following
notes derive from the on-line Lewis & Short, A Latin Dicitonary, or from William Whitaker’s
WORDS app.]55
[Asterisks (*) flag constructions, terms, and figures of speech discussed in the grammatical or metrical
appendices. A related symbol (◉) marks citations of scholarly works in languages other than
English.56]
Editions, Translations, and Commentaries57
[Note: for the latest and most thorough scholarly discussion of the play, consult Hurka. Those with
Italian will find that Bertini’s student edition is still quite helpful.]
de Melo, W., ed. and tr. Plautus I: Amphitryon, The Comedy of Asses, The Pot of Gold, The Two
Bacchises, The Captives. Cambridge, Mass. and London, 2011. [de Melo]
http://www.loebclassics.com/view/plautus-comedy_asses/2011/pb_LCL060.141.xml
Hurka, F. Die Asinaria des Plautus: Einleitung und Kommentar. Munich, 2010. [Hurka]
http://books.openedition.org/chbeck/1365?format=toc
Henderson, J., tr. and comm. Plautus: Asinaria. The One about the Asses. Madison, 2006.
Danese, R.M., ed. Titus Maccius Plautus: Asinaria. Sarsina and Urbino, 2004. [Danese]
[Text: https://www.academia.edu/255265/Asinaria ]
Bertini, F., ed. Plauti Asinaria cum commentario exegetico. Genoa, 1968a. [Bertini]
Bertini, F., ed. Plauto: Asinaria. Padua, 1968b. [student edition]
Ernout, A., ed. and tr. Plaute, I. 2nd ed. Paris, 1961.
Havet, L., and A. Freté, eds. and trs. Pseudo-Plaute: Le prix des ânes (Asinaria). Paris, 1925.
[Havet/Freté] https://archive.org/details/pseudoplautelepr00plau
Nixon, P., ed. and tr. Plautus I: Amphitruo, Asinaria, Aulularia, Bacchides, Captivi. London and New
York, 1916. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16564/16564-h/16564-h.htm#Asinaria
Lindsay, W.M., ed. T. Macci Plauti comoediae, I. Oxford, 1904.
https://archive.org/details/tmacciplauticomo01plauuoft
55
Lewis and Short: http://perseus.uchicago.edu/Reference/lewisandshort.html WORDS by William Whitaker:
http://users.erols.com/whitaker/words.htm
56
Not included in this category: standard commentaries and reference works cited by author’s name alone or via an
abbreviation.
57
For a more complete listing of editions and commentaries, see Hurka 309-11.

Gray, J.H., ed. and comm. T. Macci Plauti Asinaria. Cambridge, 1894. [Gray]
http://www.archive.org/details/asinariafromtext00plauuoft
Frequently Cited Lexical/Grammatical Aids Available On-line or in pdf Format
de Melo, W.D.C. The Early Latin Verb System: Archaic Forms in Plautus, Terence, and Beyond. Oxford
and New York, 2007a.
http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199209026.001.0001/acprof-
9780199209026-miscMatter-1
Gildersleeve, B.L., and G. Lodge. Gildersleeve’s Latin Grammar. London and New York, 1895. [G&L,
cited by section]
http://archive.org/details/gildersleeveslat00gilduoft
Greenough, J.B., J.H. Allen, et al. Allen and Greenough’s New Latin Grammar. Mineola, 2006. [A&G,
cited by section]
http://perseus.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/navigate.pl?NewPerseusMonographs.1
http://archive.org/details/allengreenoughsn00alleiala
Lewis, C.T., and C. Short. A Latin Dictionary. Oxford, 1879. [L&S]
http://perseus.uchicago.edu/Reference/lewisandshort.html
Lindsay, W.M. Syntax of Plautus. Oxford, 1907. [Lindsay, cited by page]
http://www.archive.org/details/syntaxofplautus00linduoft
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0070
Whitaker, W. WORDS.
http://archives.nd.edu/words.html
http://archives.nd.edu/whitaker/words.htm [app]
Woodcock, E.C. A New Latin Syntax. London, 1959. [Woodcock, cited by section]
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.32106010985098
Other Lexical/Grammatical Aids
Bennett, C.E. Syntax of Early Latin: I: The Verb (Boston, 1910); II: The Cases (Boston, 1914).
Glare, P.G.W., ed. Oxford Latin Dictionary. Oxford and New York, 1982. [OLD]
Leumann, M., J.B. Hofmann, and A. Szantyr. Lateinische Grammatik. Munich, 1977. [LHS]
Lodge, G. Lexicon Plautinum. Stuttgart, 1924-1933.
Maniet, A. Plautus, Asinaria: index verborum, lexiques inverses, relevés lexicaux et grammaticaux.
Hildesheim and New York, 1992.
Rotheimer, J. De enuntiatis conditionalibus Plautinis. Göttingen, 1876.
Smith R.U. A Glossary of Terms in Grammar, Rhetoric, and Prosody for Readers of Greek and Latin: A
Vade Mecum. Mundelein, 2011.

General Introductions to/Studies of Plautus
Fraenkel 2007 (first published in 1922), Duckworth 1994 (first published in 1952), Segal 1987 (first
published in 1968), Konstan 1983 , Slater 2000 (first published in 1985), Anderson 1993, Moore 1998b,
McCarthy 2000, Marshall 2006, Sharrock 2009, Manuwald 2011, Gunderson 2015.
The Stage of Plautus
In addition to the works cited above, recent general introductions to the Roman stage can be found in
Boyle 2006: 3-23, McDonald/Walton 2007, Moore 2012a and 2012b, Fontaine/Scafuro 2014, Moodie
2015: 1-19. On the broader cultural background, see Feeney 2016.
Interpretations of Asinaria
◉Havet 1905, Hough 1937, Webster 1970: 253-57, Konstan 1978 (revised in Konstan 1983: 47-56),
◉Woytek 1982: 65-75, Slater 2000: 45-56 (first published in 1985), ◉Vogt-Spira 1991, Lowe 1992 and
◉1999, Rosivach 1998: 63-66, ◉Danese 1999, ◉Antonsen-Resch 2004: 20-30, Barber 2011: 72-81, 125-26,
139-41, ◉Lefèvre 2014b, Porter 2016.
Authorship
The current scholarly consensus assigns this play to P., but that has not always been the case. See
Havet/Freté v-xxxvi and liii-lxii, who point to a number of allegedly distinctive features in the author’s
language and use of meters, and present a not very convincing case for an unknown late-2nd C. author
writing under the pseudonym “Maccus,” who is to be distinguished from Maccius (i.e., P.): cf. ad 11.
◉Reichel 2000 has revived this theory based on inconcinnites of plot and characterization, arguing that our
play represents a late 2nd-C. pastiche.
Title
There is little in P.’s play to explain the title of the Greek original (Onagos [Ὀνᾱγός] — The Ass-driver).58
The only potential candidate in P.’s play for such a character is the unnamed Mercator who appears in
58
The original title as cited would seem to be in a non-Attic dialect (Ὀνᾱγός, as opposed to the Attic Ὀνηγός), but this point
is disputed (◉Björck 1950: 292 n. 1, ◉Vogt-Spira 1991: 29: it is difficult to decide the issue given that there is no other attestation
of the term prior to the Byzantine period); no other citation of such a play exists. (The older view that the Greek title was
Ὄναγρος [The Wild Ass — attested by BD] is now generally rejected — see, however, Fraenkel 2007: 324 n. 37, ◉Traina 1954:
177-85 and 188, ◉Della Corte 1961: 38-41, Fontaine 2005, Hurka ad 9-10. The animals mentioned in our play [333-42, 347, 369,
397-98] are plural in number and, while valuable due to their breeding (see ad 333 and 340), nowhere said to be wild: despite the
generally superior quality of the readings in BD, the more obscure title would seem the more likely.)

II.iii-iv, whose precise identity is never defined but whose role offers little justification for considering
him the title character.59 Nor is it easy to derive the Greek title from the scene (III.iii) where the young
master is compelled to be driven about like a beast of burden.60 One would like to think that the title
Asinaria (Fabula) (“Play having to do with asses”) might allude to the various dolts and blockheads
featured in our work (L&S s.v. asinus II),61 but this is difficult to establish and is at odds with the practice
employed in naming other plays.62 Most likely the title simply alludes to a central feature of the plot: the
diverting of funds that derive from the selling of a set of asses. In that sense, the title reflects the prominent
role of the moneybag in II.iii-iv and III.ii-iii.63
Greek Original
Lines 10-11 inform us that the Greek original on which this play is based was entitled, The Ass-driver
(above); they then go on to note that, Demophilus scripsit, Maccus vortit barbare (“Demophilus wrote it;
Maccus has translated it for us barbarians”). We have no other reference to a Greek playwright by the
name Demophilus: the relevance of the fragmentary inscription IG II2 2325 to this question is now
discounted (Millis/Olson 2012), while attempts to emend Demophilus in line 11 to Diphilus or
Deinolochus have proven unconvincing. As a result, we can say very little about the authorship the Greek
original or its nature.64 ◉Vogt-Spira (1991) highlights the anomaly of Art.’s financial independence in
59
For more on the identity of Merc., see below (“Dramatis Personae”).
60
E.g., ◉Schwarz 1936: 876-77, Marshall 2006: 164 n. 9 and 242-43; cf. below ad 709. The fact that the only comparison
presented in our text alludes to a horse (704) offers a particular difficulty: cf. under “Dramatis Personae” below, on the name
Argyrippus.
61
Cf. Fontaine 2014: 517 (The Jackass Affair) and Henderson 2006: 210-11, who suggests that the true “donkey-driver”
might well be Artemona.
62
Lilja 1965: 33 notes that the only slang use of the term in P. suggests stubbornness as much as stupidity (Pseud. 136); cf.
Stewart 2012: 169 and n. 46, who emphasizes the donkey’s slave-like subordination and exposure to being beaten. ◉Traina 1954:
188, by contrast, emphasizes the donkey’s association with Priapus and finds therein not only a rationale for the two titles
(Ὄναγρος/Asinaria: cf. n. 3) but confirmation of what he regards as the play’s central theme (the amorous folly of Argyr. and
Dem.).
63
Cf. 588-90 and ad 590. Note the titles Aulularia, Cistellaria, Mostellaria, and see A&G 254.2, G&L 189.45. Henderson
2006: 219 n. 5 follows earlier comm. in noting that Asina and Asinius are recorded as the titles of Atellan farces. As Henderson
also remarks, the title Asinaria could be taken to mean, “play about an asinarius (donkey-driver)”: it is possible that the reference
to a Greek original entitled Ὀνᾱγός represents a misguided later attempt to manufacture a Grk. source, employing Trin. 19 as a
model. (Such a view must regard the extant prologue as post-Plautine.)
64
See, however, ◉Woytek 1982: 65-79, who suggests grounds for maintaining that Asin. and Pers. derive from works
composed by the same Grk. author.

arguing that Asin. is an original composition of P. for which no specific Greek model existed:65 the
reference to Demophilus’ play (on this view, likely an obscure Greek South Italian farce that provides P.
with nothing more than its title) is included solely as a nod to convention, in order to endow P.’s work
with an appropriate pedigree.66
Date
There is little evidence on which to argue for the date of either the Greek original or P.’s adaptation. The
best guess would seem to be that Demophilus’ play dates to somewhere in the first half of the 3rd century
BC.67 Many argue that weaknesses in the treatment of plot and character, as well as limitations in the
handling of meter (e.g., the limited use of lyric)68 and the scant use of Greek loan-words,69 locate Asin.
early in P.’s œuvre: the period ca. 212-205 is often cited, but on no very compelling evidence.70
65
Many have felt that Vogt-Spira exaggerates this anomaly, particularly in the realm of comedy: see, e.g., Brown 1995: 680-
81 and below ad 85. A detailed critique is presented by ◉Antonsen-Resch 2004: 25-30.
66
On the citation of Grk. originals in P.’s prologues, see McElduff 2013: 70-71. ◉Reichel 2000, followed by ◉Auhagen 2009:
201-02, also challenges the notion of a Greek original for our play: see above re “Authorship.” Hough 1937 attempts to
distinguish those sections of P.’s play that derive from Demophilus’ original, on the one hand, from those modeled after an
unnamed “Diabolus play” on the other (cf. Hurka 46 n. 284). Complicating matters still further is the possibility that the text
bears traces of modifications that derive from later productions of the play (retractatio), although such theories are less in vogue
these days: see ◉Della Corte 1961 and 1967: 291-316, and, e.g., below ad 109-15/116-26, 252, 856, 894-906. Much recent
criticism has shifted the emphasis away from the question of sources onto the undeniable “Romanness” of P.’s actual
productions: see the useful remarks of Dutsch/James/Konstan 2015: 9 n. 13.
67
Edmonds 1961: III.A 244 n. e discusses the historical and social circumstances assumed in the Plautine adaptation, arguing
for 287 BC; cf. ◉Traina 1954: 195-99, Webster 1970: 253-57, ◉Woytek 1982: 68-69, R.L. Hunter 1985: 62, and ◉Reichel 2000 on
the derivative features in the play’s treatment of plot and character. See further Hurka 59-61. Few would now accept ◉Leo’s
suggestion (1908: 62) of a late third/early second-century date; see, however, Webster 1970: 99 and 253, ◉Woytek 1982: 65-75
(esp. 74), K.-A. s.v. “Demophilus.” Cf. ◉Lefèvre 2014c.
68
Duckworth 1994: 375-80, Anderson 1993:121-22. Moore 2012a: 188 notes the prominence of accompanied verse in the
play, particularly the unparalleled fondness for iambic septenarii, which define two of the grandly comic sequences (II.iii-iv and
III.ii-iii) and constitute more than one third of the lines in the play. Havet/Freté x detect oddities in the treatment of this meter
(below: “Metrical Matters”), which, along with the author’s fondness for this form, they regard as evidence for a post-Plautine
date.
69
Maltby 1995: 36 and 41; Hurka 27.
70 ◉Enk 1932: 1.29-33 argues for particularly close ties to Merc.: cf. ◉Schutter 1952: 87 n. 2 (comparing Merc. 137/Asin. 326;
Merc. 907/Asin. 720; Merc. 744/Asin. 628 Merc. 407/Asin. 784; note as well the similar treatment of iambic octonarii in those
two works — below: “Metrical Matters”). Hurka 28 finds connections to Miles (206/5 BC) and (36-37) Pers. (with ◉Woytek
1982: 65-79). A telling historical allusion has been detected in line 307 (cf. Livy 26.4.4-9 and Men. 778, Rud. 525): see, however,
my remarks ad loc. The assertion that 123-24 must allude to the presence of a member of the Scipio family in the theater is not to
be taken seriously, nor can a specific Scipio be identified with certainty: cf. below ad loc. See also ad 101 (optionem), 200 (a

Principal Manuscripts71
B = cod. Palatinus Vaticanus 1615 (10th/11th century)
D = cod. Vaticanus 3870 (10th century)
E = cod. Ambrosianus I 257 inf. (12th century)
J = cod. Londiniensis (12th century)
F = cod. Lipsiensis (15th century)
Itali = Renaissance humanist tradition [esp. the editio princeps by Merula (Venice, 1472)]
Dramatis Personae72
Argyrippus (Ἀργύριππος) — the youthful son of Demaenetus, who has fallen in love with Philaenium, the
young prostitute next door: a comic name73 (“Silver-horse” — cf. the common “Chrysippus”); alludes
to the scene where, for the sake of cash (argentum), the young man is compelled to give his slave a
piggy-back ride (699ff.). Also phps. a nod to his extravagance? (Cf. the comic “Pheidippus” [“Thrifty-
horse”] of Aristophanes’ Clouds.) Gray cites the Stratippocles of Epidicus as a similarly comic
coinage.74
Artemōna (Ἀρτεµώνη) — wife of Demaenetus: derived from the common masc. name Ἀρτέµων.75 Likely
selected for the association with the austere (and chaste) Artemis.76
pistore panem petimus), and 333 (mercatori Pelleo). Further: Hurka 27-28 and ad 499-500; for earlier discussions, Buck 1940: 8,
21, 30-36, and 76-77, ◉Schutter 1952: 14-20, ◉Della Corte 1961: 31.
71
See de Melo 2011: civ-cxii, Stockert 2014: 680-83. For a useful general discussion of the transmission of P.’s plays, see
Fortson 2008: 10-13.
72
On the derivation of the Grk. names of P.’s characters, see ◉Schmidt 1902, ◉Lefèvre 2014b: 613.
73
There was a city in Apulia (southern Italy) named Argyrippa. Otherwise the name seems to be unattested.
74
Cf. Duckworth 1994: 348, Hurka ad 699.
75 ◉Schmidt 1902: 178. Ἀρτεµώ and Ἀρτεµωνίς are attested names; there is no attestation of the form Ἀρτεµώνη. Cf. Hurka
ad 854-55.
76
Cf. Benoist 1872: 4: Artemona exemplar est viraginis coram qua cetera (sic) trepidant, vir, liberi, ancillae. Similarly
Henderson 2006: 210: “No doubt Ἀρτεµώνη is a vengeful ‘Artemis’ who always gets her man.”

Cleāreta (Κλεηράτη) — lena (bawd) and mother77 of Philaenium: comic name, given the nature of the
character: “She who is desirous of renown” (κλέος + ἐρατο-).78
Dēmaenetus (Δηµαίνετος) — father of Argyrippus and husband of Artemona: a fairly common proper
name (“Praised by the people”), used here to comic effect (see 856-57, 870-71)79
Diabolus (Διάβολος) — youthful rival for the services of Philaenium. A comic/descriptive name:
“Slanderer,” “Informer.”80 Like Argyrippus’ name, it points both to the character’s nature and to a key
scene in which he plays a role (IV.ii).81
Leōnida (Λεωνίδης/Λεωνίδας)82 — slave of Demaenetus: an aristocratic name (“Son of Leon”/“Lion-
son”), shared by the famous Spartan king who led the Greek forces at Thermopylae. Unique, and
comically overblown, as a servile name in New Comedy: cf. Gray ad 401, Hurka ad 57-58.83
Libanus (Λίβανος) — slave of Demaenetus: a slave name, denoting Syrian origin (“Frankincense-tree”)84
Mercātor: young man sent by the Merchant to pay for the asses that were sold to him by Saurea; never
named in the play. (The use of the appellation “Mercator” in the mss. to designate lines spoken by this
individual is confusing: that designation belongs more properly to the Macedonian merchant whose
interests he represents [333, 397]. In the play the Merchant’s agent is for the most part alluded to in
more general terms, as adulescens [337] or hospes [361, 416, 431, 582] — but cf. 369.)85 As Hurka
77
It was common for female brothel-keepers, at least as they are presented in our forensic and literary sources, to pose as the
mother of their “girls”: Cohen 2015: 140-42. Cf., however, Fantham 2004: 226-30, Strong 2012, Cohen 2015: 145-53.
78
I follow ◉Schmidt 1902: 360-61, who compares the inverse forms Ἐρατοκλῆς, Ἐρατοκλέα, Ἐρατόκλεια. (Note the
masculine Κλεήρατος, attested twice.) For the humorous inaptness of the name, cf. the bawd Nicarete of [Demosth.] 59.18. The
name Κλεαρέτη/Κλεαρέτα (“She who is renowned for virtue”) is attested in the inscriptional record, as is a masc. form,
Κλεάρετος/Κλεαρέτας. This derivation does not account for the long second syllable of the Plautine form, however. Danese and
Hurka (ad 751-54) follow Camerarius in arguing for the form Cleaereta (with some support from the mss.; cf. Grk. Κλεαίρετος,
attested only once, in the masc.). Cleāreta would then represent a Latinized version of this latter form, with –ā- replacing –ae-: cf.
Lorenz 1876: 53. If the latter derivation is correct, the name means, “She who would acquire renown” (κλέος + αἱρεῖν).
79
Cf. Duckworth 1994: 348, Hurka 104-05.
80
The name does appear once in the epigraphic record: CIL 6091 (◉Solin 2003: 757).
81
As ◉Schmidt 1902: 186 notes, this character-type provides the titles for plays by Nicostratus and Apollodorus of Carystus.
See further Hurka ad 634-35 and my introduction to I.ii.
82
For Λεωνίδης/Λεωνίδας —> Leonides/Leonidas (G&L 65) —> Leonida, cf. the relationship betw. Grk. ποιητής and
Latin poeta, Grk. ναύτης and Latin nauta. Cf. ad 740 and see Hurka ad 57-58.
83
A work entitled Leonides is attributed to Antiphanes. A relation of Alexander the Great by this name, charged with tutoring
him in his youth, was later noted for having had a baleful effect upon his character: Quint. Inst. Or. 1.1.9. Ussing 1875: 349
suggests a connection with the aristocratic belligerence displayed by Leon. in II.iv (citing truculentis oculis at 401).
84
Cf. Hurka ad 36-37a. Barber 2011: 75 and n. 9 detects an association with libet, citing line 110. See, further, ad 627.
85
In the heading for II.iv, this character is listed simply as “Chlamydatus” — i.e., character dressed in a chlamys (the Greek
travelling cloak, commonly worn with a broad-brimmed sun-hat [petasos]: ill. 1): Lindsay 1904: 96 n. For depictions of such
characters in a theatrical context, see Green 1996 re (older) messengers on the Grk. tragic stage.

indicates (ad 347-48), he is freeborn (477) and might well be imagined to be the unnamed Merchant’s
son. (Sons are frequently sent on such missions in Greek and Roman comedy: e.g., Men. Dis. Ex.; P.
Bacch., Merc.; Ter. Hec.)
Parasītus: the hanger-on (parasite) of Diabolus; never named in the play
Philaenium (Φιλαίνιον) — young prostitute with whom Argyrippus has fallen in love: a professional
name (“Sweetiekins”); a fairly common prostitute name in Greek epigram, but rare otherwise.86 Dimin.
of Philaenis, itself most likely a dimin. of φίλαινα (“sweety”).87
Mute Characters
II.iii — slave-attendant of Merc. (382)

V.i and ii — slaves attending at the convivium of Dem., Argyr., and Phil. (829, 891, 906)
Other Important Characters (mentioned but never appearing on stage)
Saurea (Σαυρέας): head slave (atriensis) of Demaenetus’ household, but property of Artemona and
brought into the house as part of her dowry. Derivation: variant of Σαυρίας, from σαῦρος/σαύρα
(“lizard” or, in an obscene sense, “prick”). For a possible humorous play upon the former, see Oliphant
1910.88
Merchant: unnamed purchaser of a number of asses, which were sold to him by Saurea. From Pella (in
Macedonia). Cf. above re the character Mercator.
86
Cf., however, the freedwoman Philaenio of CIL 19212 (◉Solin 2003: 1.162). See further Hurka ad 52-53.
87
Tsantsanoglou 1973: 192: “It is very likely … that Φιλαινίς is not a compound of φίλος [“dear, beloved” or (in
compounds) “-lover”] and αἶνος [“story, tale, praise”], but the diminutive of φίλαινα, a feminine of φίλος, attested only from
medieval Greek and interpreted by Ducange (s.v. φίλενα) as ‘amasia, amica, ἑταίρα, παλλακίς.’ It is from this word that the
modern Greek φιλαινάδα, ‘girl-friend, sweet-heart’ derives.” One suspects, however, that the typical audience-member assumed
a (humorous) association with αἶνος, yielding the sense “Lover of praise” or (Bertini and earlier scholars, citing 511) “Chatty,”
“Garrulous.” (Cf. the masc. name Φιλαίνιος.) The more common name Philaenis comes to be associated with transgressive
sexuality through the (fictional) female author of a 4th/3rd-century pornographic treatise on the various sexual positions (◉Vessey
1976, Parker 1992, McClure 2003: 84, Boehringer 2015).
88
Cf. Hurka ad 84-86, 373-74. The relevance of Leningrad inv. B-1661 (Apulian bell-krater, ca. 380-370 BC: ill. 2) to the
portrayal of Saur.’s role in Dem.’s household is questionable (Webster 1948: 26 and 1970: 254, ◉Vogt-Spira 1991: 30-31; cf.
Storey 2011: 3.426).

The Assignment of Roles
One of the interesting features of this work is its lack of an obvious starring role.89 The clever slave
Libanus can scarcely be said to dominate the play, and he must share the function of the servus callidus —
along with a good deal of the comic “bits” — with his fellow slave Leonida, who assumes the role of the
comic rogue.90 Leonida is given one of the three high comic scenes in the play (his impersonation of
Saurea in II.iv), and shares in a second (the tormenting of Argyrippus and Philaenium in III.iii), but, on the
whole, the principal roles in this play, and their comic potential, are all fairly evenly weighted — phps. a
reminiscence of a general practice in the production of Atellan farce?
A related issue concerns the number of actors required to put the play on stage. It is not altogether certain
whether the tradition in which P. is composing required actors to assume multiple roles through the use of
masks, but that is the working assumption, for a variety of reasons.91 P. generally flouts the practice of the
Greek comic stage, however, which employed only three or (occasionally) four actors with speaking roles:
Asin. requires a minimum of five speaking actors (V.ii).92 With the insertion of musical interludes at key
points, two economical role divisions would be:
Scheme 1
Actor 1 —Dem, Leon
Actor 2 — Lib, Par
Actor 3 — Art, Clear, Merc
Actor 4 — Argyr, Diab93
Actor 5 — Phil
Scheme 2
Actor 1 — Art, Diab, Leon
Actor 2 — Dem, Merc
Actor 3 — Lib, Par
89
On this issue more generally, see Marshall 2006: 114-20.
90
Contrast, e.g., the relative weight of the roles of Pseudolus and Simia in Pseud.
91
Cf. Duckworth 1994: 94-98, Marshall 2006 (esp. chaps. 2 and 3); see most recently Csapo 2014: 56-64 (on the Greek
tradition) and Petrides 2014b: 433-41. On the question of masks, cf. ad 796 and 841.
92
If one assumes a continuous production, without the introduction of musical interludes betw. acts (cf. below and ad 828-
29), that number increases to six (transition from III.iii to IV.i). As noted above, additional mute performers are required to
represent Merc.’s attendant in II.iii and the slaves who set out and attend at the convivium in V.i.
93 ◉Bader 1970: 114 raises the distant possibility that the confusion betw. Argyr. and Dem. in the scene headings at 127 and
810 might stem from the use of a Greek letter to indicate that both of those characters were to be played by the same actor.

Actor 4 — Argyr, Clear

Actor 5 — Phil94
Given the kinetic nature of P.’s works, the circumstances under which his plays were produced,95 and the
fact that the Roman comic stage (unlike the Greek) did not incorporate a tradition of choral performance,
there are reasonable grounds for arguing that P. presented a continuous performance where possible, with
no formal act divisions (which would have allowed his audience to stray) but with musical interludes as
necessary.96 Asin. does not readily support this position, however. If we assume a relatively small troupe
of masked performers, such an interlude is required at line 745 of our play (conclusion of Act III) in order
to furnish the actors with the opportunity for a costume change; depending on the rationale employed in
assigning roles, similar interludes could well have been required at 503 and 827 (conclusion of Acts II and
IV). A further interlude was likely necessary at 809 (conclusion of IV.i) in order to accommodate the
rather curious staging: see the introduction to IV.ii. Thus it is quite possible that the original production of
Asin. required musical interludes at three of the four act-breaks indicated in our mss., with an additional
interlude in the course of Act IV; it is, in any case, worth noting how often the junctures indicated in our
text by act-breaks are also the sites that pose the greatest challenges for the deployment of roles.97
Setting98
The stage presents two houses: that of Demaenetus (to the audience’s left, on the side of Wing A), and that
of Clearata, Philaenium’s mother (to the audience’s right, on the side of Wing B).
94
See, further, Kurrelmeyer 1932: 53-55. The first scheme focuses principally on as broad as possible a distribution of parts
among the top four actors, with a certain attention to continuity of “type”; the second obviates the need for breaks at the
conclusion of Acts II and IV (see esp. ad 828-29) and allows for a much quicker transition betw. Acts III and IV (Appendix II:
“Mapping Asinaria: entrances and exits in the play”). The prologue and epilogue would presumably have been performed by the
lead actor, appearing before the audience without his mask: see my introductory remarks ad locc.
95
Beacham 1991: 38-40, Moore 1998b: 9-10, Marshall 2006: 31-48, 73-82; note, however, the caveats in Parker 1996: 592-
604.
96
The ancient testimonia are provided by Lowe 1983: 442 n. 68 (cf. 444-45); see, further, Lowe 1983: 442-45 and 2004,
Hunter 1985: 37-38, Moore 2012a: 17-19. (The act divisions that appear in our mss. were inserted in the early 16th C.) The one
sure use of a musical interlude to cover an act division presented in the ms. tradition is Pseud. 573a, but consider, e.g., the
transition betw. Amph. III.iv and IV.i (lines 1005-08, with Christenson 2000: 12 and 14-15).
97
The alternative, of course, is to assume a larger troupe or the splitting of individual roles betw. two or more actors, either of
which would obviate the need for any interludes except (possibly) at the conclusion of IV.i. This would entail a reevaluation of
our understanding of both the actors’ craft and the general atmosphere of the performance.
98
For a detailed discussion, see Rambo 1915: 416, Rosivach 1970: 446-49, Hurka 29 and ad 378b-79, 380. Cf. App. II below:
“Mapping Asinaria: entrances and exits in the play.”

The tradition of associating the right wing with access to the forum and the left with the countryside or
harbor has assumed a more nuanced form in recent criticism, which pays closer attention to dramatic
continuity, the language of staging, and the significance of off-stage spaces. In this play, in particular,
attempts to abide by the ancient convention of “forum” vs. “countryside/harbor” generate a number of
infelicities or outright confusions:
• the sequential departure of both Lib. and (nine lines later) Dem. for the forum at the conclusion of
I.i is awkward if both employ the same wing; it is also undermotivated (◉Langen 1886: 99). Dem.’s
presence in the forum will be required at the conclusion of II.iv (486ff.), while his specific
destination (the establishment of the banker Archibulus: 116) serves to present the forum as a
mercantile center, a theme that informs both II.iv and Diab.’s exit at 245-48.99 Lib.’s exit at 117, by
contrast, lacks particular motivation, beyond the (generic) need for peace and quiet in which to lay
his schemes,100 and does not define its off-stage space in any specific fashion.101 In terms of stage
dynamics, it would be more satisfactory, and more typical, were the two to depart by separate
wings.102
• at line 381, Merc. must enter via Wing A, the wing nearer Dem.’s house (Rosivach 1970: 446-47):
his three-line entrance speech scarcely covers the time required to pass by Clear.’s house and cross
the stage;103 moreover, Lib. requires a certain amount of separation in which to finish ushering
Leon. off stage unobserved, and then to surprise Merc. before the latter’s slave can knock at Dem.’s
door: the staging is awkward and cramped if all three actors, and the mute servant, are located on
one side of the performance space. Given that Merc.’s entrance is preceded by the departure of
Leon. for the forum via the opposite wing (379-80), Wing B (the side of the stage on which Clear.’s
establishment is situated) must be associated with the forum. This can be accommodated, at first
glance, by assuming that Merc. has landed in Piraeus (the port-city of Athens), where one could
99
Note the second reference to Dem.’s goal at 126, where “argentarium” is his final word before departing. The desire to lay
the ground for his later, off-stage role accounts in part for the apparent inconsistency of having Dem., who has no control over his
own household finances, freqent a banking-establishment: cf. Hurka ad 116-17.
100
Cf. Pseud. 571-73a; also, e.g., Men. Sam. 94-5, Ter. Andr. 406-08.
101
The undefined goal of Lib.’s departure is made the object of a joke at 108-15.
102
Note the further potential awkwardness in the transition betw. I.iii and II.i (248-249) where, unless one posits an interlude
(not required for a costume change), Diab. and Lib. must pass one another (see, however, Lowe 2004: 94). Once again, a more
effective staging is obtained if Lib. employs the opposite wing. (It is phps. worth noting the older theory of a double recension of
the conclusion of Act I, with two alternate endings: 109-15 and 116-[26]: see ad 109-15, with Shipp 1955: 140-41, Bertini ad
107-25, Hurka ad 116-17.)
103
Note as well the force of hasce at 381, and cf. ad 379.

accept that there would be both barbershops (343ff.) and baths (357). Such a conclusion, however,
does not accord altogether with the evidence of II.iv (407ff.: see next bullet).
• Leon.’s initial entrance at 267 is from the barbershop — i.e., apparently via the same wing as that to
be employed by Merc. at 381. Yet when Leon. returns from his mission to the forum (line 407), his
“Saurea” speaks indignantly of not having met Lib. at the barbershop as he expected — i.e., his
concocted entrance speech presents him as arriving from the establishment where he earlier had met
Merc. (343ff.). One must either assume that the fictitious “Saurea” has gone to the forum initially in
search of Lib. (i.e., before entering at 407 — a detour to which no allusion is made in our text), or
(following Rambo 1915: 416 and Rosivach 1970: 447-48) somehow separate the barbershop (which
now must be viewed as being in the forum) from the baths (which are still separated from the civic
center). Neither of these represents a happy solution, although the latter does find potential support
in Leon.’s use of recurro at 379 (of his departure for the forum — implying that this mission to the
forum involves retracing the path of his initial entrance).
• if Leon.’s initial entrance at 267 is in fact via Wing B, then we are presented with another one-sided
scenic transition, with Lib. opening II.i with his entrance from the forum, only to be followed
eighteen lines later by Leon.’s entrance via the same wing.
• on either of the two solutions suggested above, the use of the two wings is decidedly one-sided: of
the defined uses of the two wings, there are only three or possibly four uses of Wing A, as opposed
to ten, possibly nine, in the case of Wing B.104 If we discount the movements of Diab. and Par. in
Acts IV and V, the statistics for the remaining acts (Acts I-III) are: one, or possibly two, uses of
Wing A as oppossed to nine, possibly eight, of Wing B.
It is possible to salvage the “forum” vs. “countryside/harbor” convention in this play, but only via a certain
amount of special pleading, and at the cost of a lopsided and awkward use of the two wings. This suggests
that the original production adopted a less defined sense of space, with each wing imagined as leading to
the forum: hence the apparent indifference regarding sequential entrances or exits involving the same off-
stage location.105 The approach adopted in the following stage directions applies this looser conception of
104
The exit of Lib. and Leon. at the conclusion of III.iii is indeterminate: see my note ad 745. The final exits of Diab. (827)
and Par. (919), both for Diab.’s home, are not expressly determined in the text, but Rosivach 1970: 448 makes a convincing case
for the use of Wing A (since at 919 Par. must retreat in the opposite direction from Art. as the latter makes her way from Dem.’s
home toward Clear.’s establishment).
105
It is in any case unlikely that the text can sustain the type of detailed rationalizations in which comm. occasionally engage:
e.g., Rosivach 1970: 448 n. 8. Hurka [ad 380], by contrast, would seem to confuse the traditional use of the angiportus in P. (cf.
ad 741-43) with a mechanism whereby characters could exit the stage heading in a direction other than their stated goal. (Equally

off-stage space, with an emphasis on achieving a satisfactory dynamic in the entrances and exits of Acts I
and II in particular: see, further, App. II.
problematic is his attempt to assign an ill omen to the direction from which Leon. enters at 267, as seen from the perspective of
Lib.: Hurka 50-51 and ad 265, 266, 288-89, 373-74.)

Commentary: Argument
Acrostic Metrical Argument

[Iambic Senarii]
[The acrostic plot-summaries (argumenta, hypotheseis) that appear in the texts of all of our plays except
Bacch. and Vid. are not by P. No certain date for their composition has been established. Earlier scholars
argue for a connection with the studies of Aurelius Opillus (early 1st C. BC) or Priscian (5th-6th C. AD);
more recent views suggest a date in the second century AD or phps. as late as the fifth. (See ad Arg. 3-
4.) They are written in a consciously archaizing style and often, of necessity, truncate elements of the
plot.]
[BIBLIOGRAPHY: ◉Opitz 1883, ◉Seyffert 1886: 21-24, Lindsay 1904: 86-87, ◉Deufert 2002: 232-37, 270-
92, Hurka 304-05.]
Arg. 1-2: senex, vivens sub imperio uxorio, filio amanti vult auxiliari argento; AMANTI … FILIO — dat. (with
auxiliarier); AMANTI — *pred.: “(his son) who is in love”; ARGENTO — instr. abl. [A&G 409];
AUXILIARIER = auxiliari; VIVENS — *pred.: “who is living …,” “although he lives …”; IMPERIO …
UXORIO — his wife’s power/authority (a humorously overblown expression that anticipates the comic
inversions that characterize Dem.’s marriage: cf. 87); VOLT = vult
Arg. 3-4: iussit pretium, relatum Saureae ob asinos, numerari servulo Leonidae; RELATUM — *pred.: “that
has been brought” (technically relatum suggests money that has been paid to someone — one of many
instances in the acrostic arguments where the need for brevity results in obscurity or confusion);
PRETIUM … NUMERARI — acc. + inf. following iussit; SAUREAE — dat. of advantage (“for Saurea”)
rather than indir. obj. (although how the unformed reader could know this is uncertain). Saurea is the
atriensis (head slave) of Dem.’s household, devoted to Dem.’s wife Art. (Like the play itself, the
Argument generates the expectation that Saurea will have a significant role in the plot; in the end,
however, he never actually appears on stage); IUSSIT — again, this description entails a severe
truncation of the plot (note the switch from the pres. to the pfct.); [Donatus ad Ter. Andr. 610 would
appear to cite Arg. 3: sic Plautus locutus est ‘pretium ob asinos’ pro ‘asinorum pretium.’ Earlier
scholars take this to suggest a terminus ante quem of ca. the mid-fourth century AD at the latest for the
composition of the acrostic hypothesis (Lindsay 1904: 87). See, however, ◉Deufert 2002: 286, who
follows Rainer Jakobi in regarding this passage in Donatus as a later interpolation]; SERVOLO =
servulo (the dimin. is metri gratia, but is freq. employed by the comic playwrights themselves)
Arg. 5: AMICAM — i.e., Phil. As generally in comedy, amicus in the fem. means not “friend” but
“mistress/prostitute”; ID — i.e., pretium; CEDIT — (for concedit) yields, grants [sc. patri]: another
instance where one really needs to know the plot of the play to make sense of the Argument’s condensed
summary; NOCTEM — i.e., a night spent with Phil.

Commentary: Argument
Arg. 6: RIVALIS — rival in love (i.e., Diab.); [The ms. tradition here is defective — some attempt to make
paleographic sense of the transmitted text by reading rivinus, which is attested as a synonym for rivalis
by ◉Du Cange et al., Glossarium mediæ et infimæ latinitatis (Niort, 1883-1887): ◉Danese 2001-2002;
see Hurka ad loc]; AMENS — *pred.; PRAEREPTAM — *pred. (*circumstantial ptcle.); PRAEREPTAM
MULIEREM — concrete for abstract (Engl. would prefer “the snatching away of his beloved”) [Bennett
1910: 441]
Arg. 7: IS — masc. nom. sg.: picks up rivalis (resumptive use of the demonstr. pron.: here redundant): cf. ad
144; UXORI — i.e., Art.; PER (+ acc.) — through the agency of x

Commentary: Prologue
Prologue
[Iambic Senarii]
[Earlier comm., in particular, argue that this prologue was composed for a later reproduction of the play
and not by P. (cf. Gunderson 2015: 79 n. 86). They point to its relative brevity and rather pedestrian
nature, and to the manner in which the author is cited. Today, the case against authenticity is generally
felt to be rather weak: Bertini 139-41. Perhaps the most important thing to note is the frequency with
which P.’s formal prologues — in contrast to those of Menander — forgo a detailed introduction to the
background of the play’s plot.106 In Sophocles and Terence (e.g., Andr., Adelph.) the lack of such
introductory material can be employed to great effect, as the audience is drawn into the world of the
drama and its characters; Asin., by contrast, presents surprises (e.g., the revelation, at the conclusion of
III.iii, of Dem.’s true motives for aiding his son), but invests relatively little in its characters or the
deeper implications of their actions: cf. the introduction to I.ii.]
[BIBLIOGRAPHY: Gonçalves 2015: 32-36; Gunderson 2015: 78-79. On comic prologues more generally,
◉Raffaelli 1984, Duckworth 1994: 211-18, Parker 1996: 601-04, Moore 1998b: 12-17, Slater 2000: 122-
26, Marshall 2006: 194-97, Sharrock 2009: 22-95, McElduff 2013: 66-72, Dunsch 2014, Gunderson
2015: 73-79. Commentary: ◉Leonetti 2008-2009.]
[STAGING: likely spoken by the troop’s actor (lead actor/producer).107]
1-8: on the function and tone of the opening lines, see Goldberg 1998: 18-19, Sharrock 2009: 23-26
1: HOC AGITE — i.e., hoc animadvertite (“Pay attention to this!”), a phrase that derives from archaic religious
ritual: L&S s.v. ago II.D.6; Rolfe 1914: 38-39; SULTIS — si vultis (“if you please,” “please”):
parenthetical
2: rem quae bene vertat mihi atque vobis …: “a matter that I hope will bring good for me and you …”;
QUAE — fem. nom. sg. (anticipating the gender of its antecedent res, which, through compression, is
106
Cf. Pseud., Trin., and phps. Truc. A number of plays (Cist., Curc., Epid., Most., Pers., Stich.) lack formal prologues
altogether. See further Sharrock 2009: 28-33.
107
Cf. below ad 14 and ad 942-47 (“Epilogue,” where a case is made for assigning both sets of lines to the actor who plays
Lib./Par.). See, esp., the prologue of Poen. (esp. 126) and, further, Jory 1966, Marshall 2006: 195. Ter. Hec. 9 (ornatu prologi) is
sometimes taken to indicate that the speaker of the prologue — at least in Ter.’s day — appeared in special attire (Beare 1964:
194-95); the full context, however (orator ad vos venio ornatu prologi) suggests that the expression is metaphoric (“in the guise
of a prologue”: cf. Ter. Heaut. 11): see, further, Guastella 2015 and cf. below (“Epilogue”) re the equally problematic figure of
the cantor. The argument (Beare, Marshall) that P.’s anonymous prologues (i.e., prologues delivered by an actor who was not in
character) were performed without a mask is compelling: in the case of Asin., such a mode of delivery would enhance the extra-
dramatic, ironical features of the introduction, providing the audience with a suitable reminder that what they are about to witness
is an elaborate farce presented by a troupe of skilled actors.

incorporated into the relative clause [A&G 307b]); QUAE RES = “(a matter) which” (res stands in
apposition to hoc [line 1], but the reference is clearly to the coming performance); VORTAT = vertat;
VORTAT BENE — turn out well, be to the good (intrans. use of verto — optative subj. [A&G 441]);
MIHI … VOBIS — dat. of ref./advantage [A&G 376]
3: GREGI … DOMINIS … CONDUCTORIBUS — dat., continuing the wish begun in 2; GREGI: the troupe of
actors hired to put on the play under a lead actor/producer: Brown 2002: 228-29; DOMINIS — some
comm. regard this as a poetic pl., a reference to the lead actor/producer (who, in that case, cannot be the
speaker of these lines); Hurka ad loc. accepts Camerarius’ domino and detects an apt symmetry in the
*chiastic pairing: mihi … vobis — gregi … domino/conductoribus. There is, however, no parallel for the
use of the term dominus to indicate the lead actor/producer: Jory 1966. Other scholars detect a reference
to the actual owners of the individual members of the troupe: Jory 1966, Brown 2002: 235-36, Franko
2014: 414-16. (The troupe itself, on the latter reading, is a group of skilled slaves in which the individual
domini have invested, who perform under the direction of the lead actor.) Gruen 1992: 194, by contrast,
argues rather unconvincingly that the reference is to “the stars of the company … its most celebrated
members”; CONDUCTORIBUS — term for magistrates (generally the aediles) or others who sponsored a
specific production (Moore 1998b: 105-06, Marshall 2006: 83-86). Gruen 1992: 193-95 notes the lack of
specificity in this term, its late position in the list, and the lack of testimonia that would establish a
specific link betw. the sponsoring of such performances and political advancement; he argues that the
reference is to a much less prestigious group of “contractors or subcontractors, such as the choragi, who
had responsibility for the particulars of the production.” See, however, Moore 1998b: 216 n. 34, Moodie
2015: 16-17, and note the peculiar case of Stich. (De Melo 2013: 3). (In any case, Gruen offers a
valuable discussion of the broader political context for such sponsorship.)
4: FACE = fac; PRAECO — on the role of praeco in calling the audience to order and announcing the
commencement of the play, cf. Poen. 11-15 and see Gilula 1993, Marshall 2006: 30-31. Whether these
invocations of the crier are in earnest or merely an excuse for some comic play at the crier’s expense (by
a member of the troop parodying the duties of the crier?) is impossible to say; AURITUM — “attentive”
(*pred. acc. with face [A&G 393]); Hurka ad loc. detects an ironic resonance with the play’s title: the
audience is to extend their ears so as to become “long-eared” (as are asses); POPLUM = populum [cf. ad
771]
5: AGE — used as an exhortation to give greater force to a following imperative or jussive subj. — colloquial
[G&L 269]; CAVE … NE [HOC FACIAS ] GRATIIS — “take care that you don’t do it for free/without
remuneration” (A&G 450 and n. 2: cave [with or without ne] introducing a prohibition with a jussive
subj.; see further de Melo 2007a: 119-29 and, on prohitions in Roman New Comedy more generally,
Barrios-Lech 2016: 71-79); GRATIIS — orig. likely a causal abl. (“out of kindness”); [Gray sees a
mocking reference to the self-importance of heralds: the praeco must be paid not only to make a public
announcement, but to then sit down and be silent (cf. Poen. 11-15). As Gilula 1993: 287 notes,
praecones — unlike actors — enjoyed a publically recognized and privileged status as part of an ordo: it

is possible that jokes such as these reflect professional tensions and jealousies]; RESIDE — from resido
(3); MODO — adv. (but here to be scanned with long final –ō)
6: QUID PROCESSERIM … QUID VOLUERIM — *indir. questions [A&G 573] dependent upon dicam in line 7 (in
the first of these, quid = “why” [orig. a *limiting/cognate acc.: A&G 390c and n. 2; G&L 333.1 r. 2]) —
on the *sequence here, see Bennett 1910: 340; MI = mihi — ethical dat. [G&L 380, G&L 351 n. 2],
used to give added force to voluerim (“just what I wanted”)
7: UT SCIRETIS — *final clause in secondary *sequence (introduced by quid processerim … quid uoluerim)
[A&G 531]
8: QUOD — *limiting acc./acc. of resp., providing the impers. subject of attinet ad argumentum: “with respect
to that which concerns the play’s plot,” “so far as the plot of the play is concerned” (a near equivalent of
quantum — A&G 572a; G&L 627.2)]; BREUE EST — impersonal neut. picking up the subject of
attinet; [In the end, P. tells us nothing at all about the plot of the play, which in fact requires little or no
preliminary introduction]
9-10: nunc dicam (id) quod dixi me velle dicere vobis; [This type of jingling, overly complex, and redundant
statement is common in passages where P. is adopting a breezy, comically colloquial air: on this feature
of P.’s style: Sherrock 2009: 167-69; for the use of ut dixi-type expressions in Plautine prologues, see
◉Blänsdorf 1967: 67]; (ID) QUOD — suppressed antecedent [A&G 307c]; ME … VELLE — acc. + inf.
following dixi; HUIC … FABULAE — *dat. of possession (A&G 373); ONAGO EST = in accordance
with Latin idiom (A&G 373a), Onago (the complement after est) is dat., in agreement with fabulae;
Onagos = The Ass-driver (Grk. — A&G 52); [For the alternate title, Onagros, see Introduction xx.]
11: DEMOPHILUS — an Athenian comic playwright; this is the only extant reference to him. (The possibility
that he might have been cited in the fragmentary IG II2 2325 col. IV.153 is now discounted.)108 K.-A.
s.v. note that many have attempted to read Diphilus here, which will not scan; similarly ◉Della Corte
was led to withdraw his suggestion of Deinolochus (1967: 141 n. 32); MACCUS — “Clown” — i.e., T.
Maccius P.; [Asin. 11 and Merc. 9-10 (graece haec vocatur Emporos Philemonis, / eadem Latine
Mercator Macci Titi) constitute the only instances in contemporary comedy where our author’s name is
cited as other than Plautus (note as well Accius apud Gell. NA 3.3.9 and the possible pun on Maccius at
Poen. 54),109 with Asin. providing the only definitive evidence for the use of the name Maccus.110 On the
discrepancy betw. Maccus and Maccius, see Gray ad loc., who concludes: “Buecheler … conjectures
that the name Maccus (one of the regular personae Atellanae [stock characters in Atellan farce], like
Bucco, Pappus, Dossennus) meaning ‘buffoon’ is a nickname given to Plautus as a writer of comedies,
from which on becoming a Roman citizen he deduced the family name of Maccius. This is ingenious
and not improbable.” Hurka (26 and ad 11) notes that the names Maccus and Maccius are both attested
108
Cited in Millis/Olson 2012 as 2325E.53, where the reading Dionysius is confirmed.
109
Gratwick 1973: 78 n. 6.
110
At Merc. 10 the mss. actually read: mactici or mattici, which has been restored as Macci Titi.

in inscriptions (with Maccus attested specifically for the Oscan-Umbrian sphere, from which P. hailed)
and suggests that the shift from Maccus to the later Maccius points to an early date for our play. A more
likely hypothesis is put forward by Gratwick 1973, who argues that the entire name (T. Maccius Plautus)
is a comic confection — a mocking echo of aristocratic naming conventions designed to associate its
owner with the performance of both Atellana (Maccus) and mime (Plautus/Plotus) — and that it was
unstable: Titus Maccius Plautus/Titus Plautius Maccus (Boner Clownson Flatfoot/Boner Flatfootson
Clown).111 See, most recently, ◉Deufert 2012, who challenges the grounds on which scholars have
rejected Ritschl’s restoration of Maccius at Asin. 11 (◉Ritschl 1845: 22-23) while at the same time (98 n.
80) stressing the need to be wary regarding the authenticity of the didascalic notices in the prologues to
P.’s plays]; VORTIT = vertit (“translated” [pfct. ind.]); BARBARE — one of numerous ironic
references in P. to the Romans as uncultured non-Greeks (Grk. βάρβαρος = non-Greek, foreign; brutal,
rude, barbaric): as Grey notes, this is the comic equivalent of Maccus vertit Latine; cf. Trin. 19, Cas.
30-34, Merc. 9-10, Miles 86-87, Poen. 53-55, and, for the various turns that have been given to the
expression in modern scholarship, see Connors 2004: 182-83, 201-05, Leigh 2004: 5-6, McElduff 2013:
66-73 (with Fraenkel 2007: 27-28), Gunderson 2015: 73.
12: ASINARIAM (FABULAM) — a play dealing with asses [asinarius = of or connected with asses: but cf.
above, p.xx and n.xx]: the complement after esse; VOLT = vult; ESSE — the subject of the acc. + inf.
is left unexpressed: “his/this comedy”; PER VOS — by your leave, so far as you are concerned [A&G
221.16c]
13: LEPOS = lepor (the mot juste when speaking of literary sophistication and “charm”: cf. Catullus passim);
LUDUS — “sport,” “festivity” (implying, in part, a festive overturning of the usual norms of behavior;
another fitting term, given the occasion on which these plays were generally performed [ludi]: Sharrock
2009: 10)
14: RIDICULA = risus plena (Gray); RIDICULA RES — res is common in periphrases of this sort (“something/a
matter filled with laughter” (cf. Hor. Ep. 2.1.180: res ludicra); MIHI — the repeated use of mihi in the
prologue (2, 6, and esp. here) supports the attribution of these lines to the lead actor/producer]
15: UT VOS … MARS ADIUVET — [a reflection of the times in which these plays were produced — during, or
in the aftermath of, the Second Punic War: cf. Capt. 67-68, Cas. 87-88, Cist. 197-202, Rud. 82, and see
Sharrock 58-60]; UT … ADIUVET — best taken as an optative use of the subj. with ut (A&G 442),
conditioning the exhortation of 14b via *parataxis (cf. Poen. 128): “so may Mars …,” “as you hope
111
Cf. Moodie 2015: 18. Gratwick’s thesis is supported by ◉Leo 1912: 81-84, who notes that the tria nomina were, in P.’s
time, reserved for the aristocracy (with the exception of freedmen, whose name signaled their dependent status). Leo maintains
that the earliest poet, other than P., for whom the tria nomina are attested is T. Quinctius Atta (2nd/1st C. BC); he argues that the
name T. Maccius Plautus is a confection of the later grammarians, who assumed the naming conventions of their day and
misunderstood the gen. Macci as deriving from Maccius. On this view, the poet Titus occasionally went by the stage-name
Plautus/Plotus and, on coming to Rome, assumed the comic name Maccus Titus. For a general review of the arguments put
forward by 19th- and early 20th-century scholars, see ◉Schutter 1952: I-V.

Mars might ….” (cf. 21-22). The text has been corrupted, however: the reading of Leo and Lindsay,
printed here, offers the simplest solution but is a bit awkward. (See Gray ad loc., who adopts Palmer’s
more straightforward ita vos, ut alias, pariter…); UT ALIAS — “in the same way as on other occasions”
(ut = sicut — correl. adv. [A&G 323g])
SCENE I.i
[Iambic Senarii]
A humorous scene between Libanus, a typically misbehaving Plautine slave, and his master
Demaenetus. After some initial comic business involving Libanus’ fears as to just where Demaenetus
might be leading him, Demaenetus reveals that he is aware of his son Argyrippus’ involvement with
Philaenium, a young meretrix who lives next door. Rather than chastising Libanus for allowing such a
liaison to be initiated, Demaenetus actively encourages the slave to find some way to bilk him
(Demaenetus) and his all too intimidating wife Artemona of the money required to carry on the affair.
(Demaenetus’ fear of Artemona, emphasized right at the beginning of the scene, and his desire to keep
all of this secret was clearly what motivated Demaenetus to lead Libanus away from the house in the
first place: this was likely made much clearer in the Greek original, if that is P.’s model here. The
ultimate reason for Demaenetus’ secrecy is not revealed, however, until 734-36.)
Given the confusion occasioned by the unexpected introduction of Diabolus in I.ii (see introduction ad
loc.), Hunter 1980: 220-22 posits that P.’s original offered a more informative narrative prologue that set
out the dramatic situation in greater detail.
This is one of only three scenes in the play that are composed in iambic senarii, the meter employed for
spoken verse. (The other two are at V.i and V.ii, featuring Diabolus and the parasite.) The use of iambic
senarii is a common feature of expository scenes.
[Bibliography: ◉Borghini 1999, Gratwick 2001. Commentary: ◉Leonetti 2008-2009.]
[STAGING: Dem. and Lib. enter the stage from Dem.’s house.]
16-18: sicut vis tuum unicum natum superesse tuae vitae sospitem et superstitem, ita …; SICUT … ITA —
correl. advs. (A&G 323g); TUOM = tuum; GNATUM … SUPERESSE — acc. + inf. following vis;
GNATUM = natum; TUAE … VITAE — i.e., “you” (abstract for concrete): dat. with superesse;
SOSPITEM ET SUPERSTITEM — *pred. (A&G 285.2) with gnatum: a pleonastic expression (cf. Engl.
“alive and well”); typical Plautine superfluity, with effective use of alliteration: cf. ad 9-10; [The wish

Commentary: I.i
to be survived by one’s offspring is a commonplace in Grk. and Roman thought and features
prominently in the commemoration of deceased children]; TED = te; OPTESTOR = obtestor
19: read either per illam uxorem tuam quam tu metuis (“by that wife of yours whom you fear”) or per illam
quam tu metuis, uxorem tuam (“by her whom you fear, your wife”)
20: QUID = aliquid (after si, num, nisi, or ne [A&G 310a]); MED ERGA — i.e., erga me (*anastrophe [A&G
640]): “to me” (cf. Lindsay 87); FALSUM — adj., vs. the expected partitive gen. after (ali)quid [A&G
346a3, Bennett 1914: 34]; DIXERIS — pfct. subj. (“if you should say”) [Earlier scholars (Woodcock
197 and A&G 516.c) argue that the pfct. subj. presents the action as having already been completed at
some hypothetical fut. time — but more recent discussions regard the pfct. subj. as *aoristic in nature
and often find the *fut. pfct. ind. in such constructions, arguing that this is more vivid: cf. ad 763-65. It
is often difficult to decide such matters with any certainty, esp. given the still evolving nature of the
subj. and of the *fut. pfct. ind. in P.’s day (e.g., Lindsay 60-61, 63-66): contrast 878-79 (where the
ambiguous conspexeris answers possis in the apodosis and is parallel to the pres. subj. videas) and 105-
06 (where interceperint answers redimes in the apodosis and is parallel to the *fut. pfct. devenero). For
detailed discussion, see de Melo 2007a and 2007b: 66-67]
21-22: UT … SIET ATQUE … UT … OPPETAS — optative subj. with ut (A&G 442a) [Gray, citing Ussing, notes
the oddity of this construction, as traditionally punctuated (with a comma at the end of 19): 21-22 then
have the feel of *jussive noun clauses (A&G 563), as if they had been introduced by an expression such
as deos precor, vel sim., instead of ted obtestor (*anacoluthon). Hurka, whom I follow, mitigates this
ambiguity by printing a colon at the end of 19]; TIBI — dat. of ref./disadvantage [A&G 377];
AETATEM — acc. of extent of time [A&G 423]; SUPERSTES … AETATEM — comm. take this to mean
“survive you for a lifetime” (i.e., live a lifetime longer than you: cf. Serv. ad Verg. Aen. 11.160), directly
answering 16-17, to which it in effect adds a further proviso. Similar passages at, e.g., Cas. 816-17 and
Trin. 55-57, however, suggest the rendering, “be with you/lord it over you your whole life.” (Superstes
in the sense of both: a) “standing by/present/surviving” and b) “superior to”: on this usage, and the
attendant parody of Roman wedding ritual, cf. Fraenkel 2007: 244 and MacCary/Willcock 1976 ad Cas.
817ff.) On this reading, tibi is to be taken closely with aetatem as well as superstes and uxor. This
translation not only suits the typical force of aetatem [Lindsay 25], but accords well with the sentiment
expressed in 22; SIET = sit; ILLA VIVA — abl. abs. [A&G 419]; VIVOS = vivus (*pred.); ILLA VIVA
VIVOS UT PESTEM OPPETAS — “may you, with her still living, meet a living death” (lit. “come to ruin
while still alive”) — i.e., have to endure her company your entire life long. One of the fondest wishes of
the comic husband is to survive his wife: e.g., 42-43, 886, 901, 905, Cas. 227, Cist. 175, Epid. 173-79,
Trin. 42; Caecil. 163 (further examples in Hurka ad 44/45)]
23-24: DIUM FIDIUM — a god by whom oaths were sworn; taken as a form of Jupiter: “… both Dius Fidius
and Fides were likely to be hypostases of Iuppiter, and felt to be so by the Romans. Their official status
is evidenced by the participation of flamines in their (or at least the latter’s) cult and by their public
temples. But this hardly means that they were on a par with Iuppiter: for instance, neither was called

Commentary: I.i
upon in official contexts as guarantor or protector of oaths. This domain apparently remained reserved to
Iuppiter” (Lipka 2009: 137); video necesse esse mihi iurato eloqui quicquid roges; IURATO — *pred.
(“while under oath,” “as if under oath”) [humorous, since masters were not usually placed in such a
position by their slaves]; MIHI — dat. with necesse esse; NECESSE ESSE — acc. + inf. (impersonal), of
a perceived fact, following vb. of perception (video) [Contrast this construction with that employing the
ptcple. — e.g., Sherlock Holmes’ “I saw that he had been in India” vs. “I saw her leaving the bank”:
G&L 527 and n. 1, 536; Woodcock 94]; QUICQUID = quidquid; ROGES — potential subj. with
generalizing force, with the indef. quicquid (“whatever you might ask”) [= si quid roges: cf. A&G 519]
[Contrast this dependent rel. clause with an *indir. question (A&G 573), which operates according to a
different logic]
25-26: these lines are deleted by some earlier editors: cf. ad 33
25: OPSTINATE = obstinate; AGGRESSU’S = aggressus es [aggressu(s) ’s — prodelision]; UT NON
AUDEAM — *consecutive clause, signaled by ita [A&G 537]; NON AUDEAM — sc. aliter facere
26: PROFECTO — freq. employed in response to a question or command, or (as here) to emphasize the
pertinence of a preceding clause: to be taken with non audeam (also enhances the alliterative nature of
the line); quin promam omnia (tibi) percontanti — quin + subj. following non audeam: “I would not
dare (act otherwise) than to …” (i.e., “I must”) [A&G 558]; PERCONTANTI — *circumstantial ptcple.
in agreement with tibi (understood): “tell all to you when you ask/in response to your request”
27-28: eloquere quid istud sit quod expetis scire; PROINDE — used to introduce a command (Lindsay 105);
ACTUTUM — immediately; ISTUC = istud (on P.’s use of iste, cf. ad 845); QUID SIT — *indir.
nd
question [A&G 573]; ELOQUERE — 2 sg. pres. imperative dep.; ut ipse sciam, faciam te ut (ita)
scias; UT IPSE SCIBO — ut is a correl. adv. [A&G 323g], answering to ita (understood); SCIBO =
sciam (*fut. ind.: Lindsay 59 and 64) — “just as I (will) know/understand”: note the use of the *fut., as
regularly in Latin [A&G 472b]; UT SCIAS — *consecutive clause following facio [A&G 568]; TE —
as direct obj. of faciam, te is *proleptic [A&G 640: common in P.]: “I will make you that you know” —
i.e., “I will see to it that you know”
29-46: on the comic treatment of threats of torture or other forms of punishment, see Stewart 2012, chap. 2
(esp. pp. 95-104, 105-06). ◉Blänsdorf 1995: 9-10 argues that P. here has imported techniques typical of
an Italian tradition of impromptu theater.
29: OPSECRO HERCLE — parenthetical; OPSECRO = obsecro. On the use of obsecro in Roman Comedy, see
Barrios-Lech 2016: 117-18 and 123-27; HERCLE — (voc. of Hercules, employed as an interj.): for the
form, cf. ad 771; SERIO (adv.) — in earnest; (ID) QUOD — suppressed antecedent [A&G 307c];
ROGEM — here with double acc. [A&G 396]; QUOD … ROGEM — potential subj. in relative clause
(used here where one might have expected a *fut. ind.) — “whatever I might ask” [on this prospective
use of the subj., see Hurka ad loc. (citing LHS 2.558) and cf. roges in 24; Lindsay 67 regards the subj. as
by attraction (A&G 593) with the imperative, by which it is introduced: cf. Bennett 1910: 311]

Commentary: I.i
30: CAVE — sc. (ne) dicas: “see to it that you don’t say” (cf. ad 5); contrast the construction at 43; MI =
mihi — ethical dat. (“so far as I am concerned,” “I tell you” — A&G 380) or with the implied vb. of
speaking; MENDACI — partitive gen. (mendacium) with quicquam (quidquam) [A&G 346a3; Bennett
1914: 31]; QUIN — “why not …?” “why don’t you …?” (+ ind.: only in exhortation or remonstrance;
not in inquiring for a fact; cf. quidni, cur non) [A&G 449.2b and, on question requests more broadly,
Barrios-Lech 2016: 80-90]
31-46: see Fontaine 2010: 139-40.
31: NUM — on this neutral use, where the question is for information only, cf. Bennett 1910: 474; ILLUC
(adv.) — thither, to that place; UBI — answering illuc (correl.); UBI LAPIS LAPIDEM TERIT — here and
below Libanus echoes the obscure language of prophecy. The audience would recognize a reference to
the threat of being sent to the mill to be worked to death (along with crucifixion, a stock slave joke in
Roman comedy): on the plight of such slaves, cf. Apul. Metam. 9.12; for parallels in earlier comedy,
Wright 1974: 63-64. (Lilja 1965: 53-57 discusses terms of abuse related to the punishment of slaves
more generally.)
32: ISTUC = istud (bis); ubi terrarum est istud loci; UBI … TERRARUM = where on earth? (a common
phrase) [terrarum — partitive gen. with adv. ubi: A&G 346a4; Bennett 1914: 36]; LOCI — partitive
gen. with istuc [A&G 346a3; Bennett 1914: 32]; [note the consciously interlaced word-order]
[33]: If this line is retained, it is difficult to see how Dem. can express even a momentary confusion (36-37)
about just what place Lib. is describing. Despite the comic alliteration, the line is best taken as an
intrusive gloss designed to clarify the sense of 34-35. Given that 32-33 are repeated following line 47,
some edd. delete both lines as later intrusions: the passage reads quite smoothly without them. (Lindsay
1904: 37-38 follows earlier comm. in arguing here and elsewhere for evidence of a curtailed revival text
of the play produced in the 1st century BC; cf. ◉Thierfelder 1929: 109-10, Hurka ad loc.); NEQUAM —
indecl. (worthless, good for nothing, vile); POLENTA — barley groats; PINSITO — frequentatitve of
pinso: to stamp, pound, crush, grind
34: fustidudinus, -a, -um — cudgel-walloping; ferricrepinus, -a, -um — with clanking fetters; INSULAS —
islands frequently play a role in mythical/fantastic geographies (cf. next n.); ◉Thierfelder 1929: 109 n. 6
finds a comic inversion of the mythical “Islands of the Blessed” (cf. Trin. 549).
35: MORTUI … BOVES — i.e., whips made of leather (phps. an oblique recollection of Odysseus’ sojourn on the
Island of the Sun [Od. 12.260ff.], where dead oxen also play a sinister role); [Lib. continues to echo the
obscure language of prophecy]
36: MODO (adv.); MODO … PERCEPI = iam intellego; quid loci istud sit — *indir. question [A&G 573] in
primary *sequence following the “true” perfect percepi [Bennett 1910: 339]; ISTUC = istud; LOCI —
partitive gen. with quid (A&G 346a3)

37: fortasse te dicere (istud loci) ubi fit polenta; TE … DICERE — acc. + inf. introduced by fortasse, which
here stands in place of a finite vb. (“it might be, perchance, that …”) [A&G 447.3b n.; Lindsay 81—

Commentary: I.i
although in this instance the acc. + inf. could also be felt to follow percepi (vb. of perception: cf. ad 23-
24)]
38: ISTUC = istud; DICTUM — sc. esse (with istud as subject of the inf.)
39: obsecro te ut despuas (illa) quae locutus es; OPSECRO = obsecro; TE — *prolepsis; UT … DESPUAS —
*jussive noun clause [A&G 563]; despuo = spit out, reject — here, used in a literal sense, of the
practice employed in warding off a bad omen; (ILLA) QUAE — suppressed antecedent [A&G 307c];
LOCUTU’S = locutus es [locutu(s) ’s — prodelision]
40: FIAT — jussive subj. [A&G 439] (“let it be” [= Engl. “O.K.”]); GERATUR MOS TIBI — i.e., I’ll humor
you; GERATUR — jussive subj. [A&G 439]; [On the permissive force of these subjs., see Bennett
1910: 176]; [STAGING: Dem. turns his head and spits]; AGE, AGE USQUE EXCREA — i.e., keep on
going; AGE — cf. ad 5; [exscreo (1) — to hawk or cough up, to spit out by coughing (= despuo)]
41: ETIAMNE = “still more/further?”; AGE — sc. exscrea; QUAESO HERCLE — cf. ad 29. On the use of
quaeso in Roman Comedy, see Barrios-Lech 2016: 117-18 and 127-29; USQUE EX — “all the way
from”; [STAGING: Dem. spits a second time]
42: AMPLIUS — comparative adv.; NAM — used to introduced a direct question emphatically, expressing
wonder or emotion in the questioner (nam quo usque thus presents a more emphatic equivalent of the
expected quonam usque); QUO USQUE — “all the way up to what point?” (quo — whither, to where
[adv.]); volo (te exscreare) usque ad mortem. On the use of “volo commands” in Roman Comedy, see
Barrios-Lech 2016: 106-09
43: CAVE … MALAM REM — look out for trouble (Lindsay 37n); MALAM REM = malum (trouble, which in the
case of a slave implies a beating); SIS = si vis (“if you please” — ironic and parenthetical);
UXORIS … NON TUAM — i.e., usque ad mortem uxoris, dico, non ad mortem tuam (Lib. cleverly deflects
the seemingly insulting meaning of his earlier statement: cf. 625 and see Barrios-Lech 2016: 227-29)
44-45: ob istud dictum dono te ut expers sis metu; DONO TE — I grant you [dono + acc. of person
benefitted: A&G 364]; ISTUC = istud; UT … SIS — *consecutive clause after dono [A&G 537];
[STAGING: Dem. spits a third time]
46: DENT — optative subj. [A&G 441]; QUAEQUOMQUE = quaecumque; OPTES — the subj. is most readily
explained as by attraction to the subj. dent, by which it is introduced [cf. Lindsay 66, Bennett 1910: 308,
A&G 593], but cf. 24: Hurka ad loc. notes that this use of the subj. is regular following the wish di dent;
REDDE OPERAM MIHI — Gray explains the use of reddo here (vs. the usual do) as implying, “now listen
to me in turn”; [As often, P. here expressly marks the conclusion of the preceding comic shtick as his
characters turn to the more immediate concerns of the plot: cf. ad 578]
47: QUOR = cur; HOC: Dem. opens with a deliberately vague series of questions, that leave both the audience
and, more particularly, Lib. in suspense: “why should I ask this of you?” “why should I ask you about
this?” Just what Dem. means by hoc does not become evident until line 52; QUAERAM … MINITER —
delib. subj. [A&G 444] (“why should I ask? … why should I threaten?”); [There is a certain

Commentary: I.i
awkwardness here, however, since miniter and suscenseam (49) — as opposed to quaeram — both refer
to actions in which Dem. has no intention of engaging]
48: PROPTEREA QUOD — because; PROPTEREA QUOD … NON … FECERIS — pfct. subj.: subord. clause in
indir. discourse [A&G 580; Bennett 1910: 318]; ME NON SCIENTEM FECERIS — comic variation on the
common aliquem certiorem facere: to inform someone of something (Lindsay 38, 78; for parallels see
Bennett 1910: 433); ME — *pred. acc. after facio [A&G 393]
49: QUOR = cur; SUSCENSEAM — delib. subj. [A&G 444]
50: ut ceteri patres faciunt — a metatheatrical joke: a reference to the stock role of the irascible authoritarian
father in Roman comedy; (SIC)UT — correl. adv. [A&G 323g]; QUID … NOVI — what strange new
thing (indicates Lib.’s doubt and his continued apprehensiveness re the turn taken by Dem.’s
conversation — phps. spoken as an aside, but not necessarily); ISTUC = istud; NOVI — partitive gen.
with neut. pron. (A&G 346a3); [Again, comm. detect a metatheatrical joke here as the clever slave
Lib. marvels at Dem.’s failure to play his expected role: P. overtly highlights the innovative nature of his
plot, without giving away the truly surprising turn that the later will take at 731-40]
51: demiror quid (hoc) sit et metuo quo (hoc) evadat; QUID SIT … QUO EVADAT — *indir. questions [A&G
573] after demiror and sum in metu, respectively (on the latter, in reference to an anticipated fut. event,
cf. Bennett 1910: 334); QUO — whither, to where (adv.); [evado — to turn out, lead to]; SUM IN
METU = metuo — introducing an indir. question rather than the usual fear clause
52: EQUIDEM — employed principally in first-person statements: Lindsay 97-98; quod filius meus amet —
that my son loves [a much disputed passage, since this use of quod + subj. to introduce indir. disc. is
extremely rare; the construction is found in early Latin, however, and is common in later antiquity: G&L
525.1 n. 7; Lindsay 112, Bennett 1910: 318]
53: ISTANC = istam (on P.’s use of iste, cf. ad 845); PROXUMO = proximo; E PROXUMO — i.e., next door
(Lindsay 37)
54: UT = sicut (correl. adv.); insto rectam viam = to pursue a direct line, i.e. to be right, hit the mark (cf.
Engl. “you’re spot on”)
55: EA RES EST — “that is the matter,” “that is the case”; EA — anticipates the gender of the complement res;
INVASIT + acc. (without in: Lindsay 11); GRAVIS — dire
56: QUID MORBI — partitive gen. (the virtual equivalent of qualis morbus) [A&G 346a3]; QUIA — “that …”
(in such clauses, quia has little causal force; here, it supplies the nature of Argyr.’s “disease”: “[his
sickness lies in the fact] that …”) [Bennett 1910: 130-31]; NON SUPPETUNT DICTIS DATA —
Argyrippus’ “gifts” to Phil. do not match/live up to his words/promises: cf. ◉Gavoille 1998: 234-35 and
n. 25. (Both dictis and data are neut. pl.); [It is possible to understand dictis as an allusion to Phil.’s
demands (as, e.g., at Ter. Heaut. 223), but cf. 525]
57: ADIUTOR + dat. — cf. A&G 367, 370; AMANTI — *pred. (*circumstantial ptcple.): “(my son) who is in
love,” “now that he is in love”; [This pred. use (vs. the *subst. amans = “lover”: 175, 177) is employed
throughout the play to characterize the relationship betw. Argyr. and Phil.: 57, 75, 309, 591, 632, 642,

Commentary: I.i
665, 672, 684, 848; cf. 141, 814, 916 (of Diab.). The usage is so common throughout P.’s works,
however, as to be something of a stock cliché]
58: SUM VERO — in this instance, the normal manner of indicating an affirmative answer in Lat. (A&G 336)
matches Engl. idiom: “I am indeed”; ALTER — i.e., another helper, supporter (sc. adiutor);
NOSTER — *attributive adj. with Leonida: “our Leonida” — i.e., Leonida, who is a slave in our house:
cf. 334-35, 387, 399, 458]
59: BENE … FACITIS — “a formula of thanks rather than praise” (Gray); ineo gratiam = win favor (i.e., enter
one’s good graces) (+ a/ab + abl. of the person from whom favor or thanks is won). Given Roman
notions of reciprocity, this is a near equivalent of Engl. “I owe you one”; [Edd. delete et as a non-
metrical later insertion by a scribe unfamiliar with P.’s frequent use of *asyndeton (A&G 323b)]
60: VERUM — adv. (introducing a new line of discussion); nescis meam uxorem, qualis sit? — a regular way
to introduce *indir. questions in Latin (*prolepsis: see A&G 576 and cf. ad 28); NESCIS = nonne scis?
(Dem. backs into this problematic topic with a certain hesitancy: cf. 47-50)
61: PRIMUS — *pred. adj. (“as the first” = first, foremost, above others); IN PRETIO — to be in a certain
position on a ranked scale of prices, but not of the highest value; thus “to be in the ranks/on the payroll”
(see Gray ad loc., citing Hor. Ars 372; Gratwick 2001: 45 n. 1): i.e., “we too have our share in it.”
(Hurka suggests, “we are also on Art.’s hit-list.”)
63: i.e., hoc tibi credo ante quam dicis (Gray) — i.e., you’re not telling me anything I didn’t already know;
POSTERIUS … QUAM — the inverse, in effect, of priusquam (Lindsay 104); ISTUC = istud
64-83: see Gratwick 2001: 45-47; [On the parody here of the stock figure of the liberal father, see Legrand
1917: 134-35, ◉Sherberg 1995: 144-45]
64: LIBERIS — dat. with facient obsequentiam in 65 (as after obsequor) [Gratwick 2001: 47-50 argues for the
reading liberius]
65: QUI — with parentes as the antecedent; AUSCULTABUNT — as regularly in Latin, the subord. clause here
employs a *fut., where Engl. employs a generalizing pres.; facio obsequentiam — be compliant or
indulgent to; OBSEQUENTIAM — substituted for the unmetrical obsequellam of the mss. Gratwick
2001: 50-58 makes a case for the reading obsequelia
66: QUIPP’ = quippe (apocope [G&L 8.2] — freq. with specific dissyllabi words: e.g., ess’, nemp’); MAGE =
magis; [A difficult line, deleted by earlier edd. as an inept interpolation intended to convey purpose
(“in order that they might …”). At first glance, quippe qui magis utantur would appear to be intended as
a rel. clause, a near equivalent of qui uti malint — a *rel. clause of characteristic (A&G 534-35): i.e.,
“any parents, that is, who prefer to enjoy….” It is difficult, however, to find a parallel for this use of
quippe qui in a limiting sense. Moreover, in P. the qui of this expression is regularly to be taken, not as a
standard rel. pron., but the archaic particle (Lindsay 108 and 110; OLD s.v. quippe 2c: cf., e.g., Amph.
745 and see below ad 505). This suggests something along the lines of, “given that they would prefer to
enjoy their son’s friendship and goodwill,” but the logic, and the force of the subj., remain uncertain.
Gratwick 2001: 48 regards the subj. as consecutive (“with the direct result of having a son more friendly

Commentary: I.i
and affectionate in attitude”: cf. de Melo’s rendering); Gratwick’s parallels for such a use of quippe qui
are not compelling, however]; AMICO … ET BENEVOLO — *pred. with gnato (“a son who is loving
and devoted”): in conjunction with utantur, this yields the equivalent of, “enjoy their son’s friendship
and goodwill”; GNATO = nato
67: ME … FACERE — acc. + inf. after studeo (as often in P., an acc. + inf. is found where a *prolative inf. alone
would suffice [Lindsay 73]; CL tends to favor the acc. + inf., vs. the simple prolative, principally after
vbs. of promising, hoping, threatening, and the like: A&G 580c). Contrast AMARI in the latter half of this
line, where one can, but need not, understand me as subject; ID — “that very thing” (i.e., the advice he
has just given); MEIS — masc. abl. pl. (“my family/relations” — with reference here only to Argyr.: cf.
867, 932)
68: volo me (esse) similem patris mei — cf. ad. 67; CAUSA MEA — “for my sake,” “to help me”; causa is
abl., employed as a postpositive prep. (+ gen.), or, as here, with a possessive adj. [A&G 404c (with
348a): cf. ad 536: quoia gratia]; [◉Borghini 1999 notes the further sly inversions implied in this
passage: Dem., the altogether untraditional Roman father, in one sense adheres to Roman tradition quite
rigorously in emulating the customs of his own father. In this way, aiding one’s son in the latter’s forays
into the demimonde finds a sanction in this family’s own peculiar mos maiorum (73)]
69: NAUCLERICO … ORNATU — the abl. is regular in describing one’s attire (abl. of accompaniment
[Woodcock 43.5i, 47]: e.g., Miles 899, 1177, 1282); in this instance, in conjunction with per fallaciam,
it has something of the feel of an instr. abl. [A&G 409]: “disguised by….” As Gray notes, a similar
disguise is described at Miles 1176ff.; PER FALLACIAM — adv.
70: abduxit muliererm quam amabam
71-72: NEC PUDUIT EUM … STRUERE … ET EMERE — note the use of coordinating et to tie both infs. to the
impersonal puduit (cf. below); ID AETATIS — at that age [ID — *limiting/cognate acc. with adv. force:
A&G 397a]; AETATIS — partitive gen. [A&G 346a3; Bennett 1914: 33]; SYCOPHANTIAS — tricks,
deceptions (Zagagi 2012: 32-35); ET … EMERE — provides the purpose/consequences of the first
clause (“… and thereby win” — although one should not altogether discount the notion of “buying”: cf.
673); BENEFICIIS — instr. abl. [A&G 409]; GNATUM SUOM [natum suum] — *pred. after me emere
sibi (to win me as his [true] son); SIBI — dat. of ref./advantage with emere (A&G 376) but also, more
loosely, providing added force to suom; [Note the distortion of traditional family roles that is implied
here, with a father who attempts to win his son’s love by playing the part of the loyal subordinate. This
distortion is reinforced by the repeated evocations of the father-son relationship in Dem.’s speech:
gnatus (66, 72, 76, 82), filius (74), pater (68, 73, 77, 79, 82). Cf. below ad 853.]
73: (mihi) decretum est me persequi eos mores patris; DECRETUM EST (impers.) — it has been
decided/determined (sc. mihi: A&G 375) [i.e., I have decided]; ME PERSEQUI — acc. + inf. introduced
by decretum est. Note once again the acc. + inf. vs. the simple inf.: cf. ad 67
75: ut facerem copiam argenti sibi; UTI = ut; UTI … FACEREM — *jussive noun clause [A&G 563];
SIBI — referring back to the subject of the main clause (Argyr.), as is usual [A&G 300.2]; FACEREM —

Commentary: I.i
“supply”; AMANTI (*pred.: *circumstantial ptcple., with sibi) — since he was in love, who was in love;
ARGENTI — gen. of material with copiam [A&G 344]
76: ID — *limiting/cognate acc. with opsequi [A&G 390c] (“I strongly desire to comply with my son in that/do
my son that favor”); PERCUPIO — intensive form of cupio; OPSEQUI = obsequi
77: see Gratwick 2001: 59-60, who reads amari obseculum (“I wish to be loved as his devotee”); AMET —
jussive subj. introduced by volo, without ut (A&G 565, 268 ad fin.: *parataxis): “I want him to love”;
PATREM — *pred. (“as his father”: cf. ad 72) or simple apposition (“me, his father”); [Re the repeated
stress on the father-son relationship, cf. ad 71-72]
78: QUAMQUAM — “and yet” [not employed here as a subordinating conj. (L&S s.v. II, Lindsay 122, Bennett
1910: 141)]; habet arte contenteque — i.e., holds in check, keeps a tight rein on; [The presentation
of Art. continues to emphasize the comic gender inversions that define Dem.’s household: Argyr. must
deal, not with the dreaded strictness of his father, but of his mother]
79: UT = sicut; CONSUEVERUNT — idiomatic use of the pfct. to indicate present state, attitude, etc. (cf. novi,
odi, memini: A&G 476): “as fathers are wont”; EGO MITTO OMNIA HAEC — i.e., I forgo that altogether,
I’m nothing like that
80-81: cum is me dignum (esse) habuit cui concrederet; *QUOM = cum (+ ind.); habeo — to consider,
deem; QUOI = cui; QUOI CONCREDERET — *rel. clause of characteristic, employed in a *consecutive
sense after dignus (A&G 535f); CONCREDERET — sc. “his (secret) love” as obj.; decet me habere
honorem ingenio eius; HABERE HONOREM — to pay honor to, to honor (+ dat.) [with the jingling
repetition of habeo suggesting a correspondence betw. the two acts]; INGENIO — (noble) character
82: *QUOM = cum (+ ind.); UT = sicut; sicut aequum est pudentem natum (adire) patrem; GNATUM
(ADIRE) — acc. + inf. following the impers. aequum est (on the omission of the inf., cf. Bennett 1910:
416-17); [The comically distorted use of pudens in such a context at this point likely strikes the
audience merely as an indication of the farcical nature of the plot; to a viewer familiar with the later
course of events, it provides a hint of the flaws that mar Dem.’s own character]
83: cupio argentum esse (ei) quod det amicae suae; ESSE … ARGENTUM — acc. + inf. after cupio
(understanding ei — *dat. of possession: A&G 373); AMICAE — see ad Arg. 5; QUOD DET — *rel.
clause of characteristic/purpose [A&G 531.2]
84: cupis id quod intellego te nequiquam cupere; CUPERE TE — acc. + inf. following intellego
85: DOTALEM — i.e., included as part of Art.’s trousseau; [To the degree that this line implies that Saurea
somehow belongs to Art. alone, the situation assumed in the play might be said to run contrary to
Athenian law (◉Vogt-Spira 1991: 21-34; see, however, Harrison 1968: 52-54, who presents a more
nuanced view, and cf. above p. xx [“Greek Original”]). Regarding the Rome of P.’s day, Watson 1967:
28-29 and 1971: 22-23 employs P. to argue that, even in cases where the Roman woman was married
cum manu (i.e., as the ward of her husband), a wife might retain considerable control over her dowry if
she belonged to a wealthy and influential family. (Comm. cite Gell. NA 17.6 on the servus recepticius:
cf., e.g., Aul. 498-502.) The fragments of Greek New Comedy suggest that a similar view could be

Commentary: I.i
applied to 4th/3rd-C. Athens (Men. F 236, 296, and 297 K.-A.): cf. Maclennan/Stockert 2016 ad Aul.
475ff.]; SERVOM = servum; SAUREĀM — (in apposition to dotalem servom) the atriensis (head slave)
of Dem.’s household, devoted to Art. [The final syllable of SAUREAM, although short by nature and
position, must be treated as if long (brevis in longo): this occurs regularly in the fourth foot of iambic
senarii (*locus Jacobsohnianus), often accompanied, as here, by hiatus]
86: ADDUXIT — i.e., to Dem.’s home as part of her dowry, upon their marriage; QUOI = cui (*dat. of
possession: A&G 373); IN MANU — as Gray indicates, the phrase in manu esse alicui is routinely used
of one person’s subordination to another (esp. in regard to a husband’s authority over his wife, or a
father’s over a child) but it is also used of authority in a broader sense, to indicate those things over
which one is master or enjoys control (e.g., Amph. 79-80, Merc. 628, Ter. Hec. 666). Lib. points out that
Saurea wields greater authority in Dem.’s house than Dem. himself: cf. Dem’s response at 87 and see
Watson 1967: 28-29. (There is a further suggestion here, given the context [83-84], that Saurea’s
authority is largely financial in nature: cf. 94-95 and Leon.’s mock portrayal of Saurea at 427ff.) This
seems more satisfactory than taking Saurea as the subject of sit, with Art. as the antecedent of quoi (i.e.,
“[your wife,] to whose authority Saurea is more subject than to yours”: Fitzgerald 2000: 80): the point at
issue is not where Saurea’s loyalties lie, but (as we see in Leon.’s performance of “Saurea” in II.iv) the
power that Saurea enjoys as Art.’s proxy; SIT — the use of the subj. here is difficult to reconcile with
standard classical usage (Lindsay 68-71; further examples at Bennett 1910: 291): Bertini ad loc. cites
◉Ussing 1875 in associating it with purpose/intention on the part of Art. [A&G 531.2]: ne maritus
pecuniam administret, suum sibi servum adduxit dispensatorem; de Melo takes it as a potential subj.
[A&G 446-47]; TIBI — *dat. of possession [A&G 373]; [Lib.’s response assumes a familiarity with
the comic trope of the uxor dotata. The audience has to understand that Art., by virtue of her large
dowry, controls the household finances and has entrusted the day-to-day oversight of them to Saurea.
She would be supported in this by the terms of the wedding contract, which would have required the
husband to deal with her dowry responsibly and to maintain his wife in a manner consonant with the
resources that she brought to the union. For the role of Saurea, and his relationship to the rest of Dem.’s
household, cf. Malvolio in Twelfth Night]
87: ARGENTUM — i.e., Art.’s dowry; DOTE — abl. of price [A&G 416]; IMPERIUM — i.e., control over my
household and my life (cf. ad 505 and see Barrios-Lech 2016: 45)
88: conferre in pauca verba — to put briefly; QUID TE VELIM — *indir. question [A&G 573]; QUID —a
*limiting/cognate acc. (“in what regard I want you,” “why I want you”: A&G 390c)
89: usus est filio viginti minis argenti; USUST = usus est [usu(s) ’st — prodelision]; FILIO — dat. of ref.
[A&G 376]; VIGINTI … MINIS — abl. with the verbal noun usus (A&G 411); [20 minae = 2,000
drachmae. (The standard working wage for a laborer in late 4th-century Athens was likely somewhere in
the range of 1½-2½ dr. per day — but see the caveats presented by Loomis 1998: 232-50. A skilled
slave likely cost approx. 2-6 minae on average: Pritchett/Pippin 1956: 276-80, Scheidel 2005: 11.)
Roman New Comedy (which deals with “courtesans” rather than common slave-prostitutes) seems to

Commentary: I.i
present an inflated picture of the purchase price for such women (just as it cites highly inflated dowries),
although it is in line with the prices cited in the 4th-century Greek orators in this regard: prices paid
generally range from 10-40 minae, with two sellers demanding 60 minae (in Epid. and Pers., both as
part of humorous scams). (For the Greek sources, see Kapparis 1999 ad [Demosth.] 59.29.) But these
are all purchase prices: a fee of 20 minae for one year’s access is altogether outrageous (although it is
surpassed by the sister in Bacch., a portion of whose annual fee is bought out for approx. 48
minae).112 On prices cited in our sources, cf. Loomis 1998: 166-85 (esp. 178), Barsby 1986 ad Bacch.
590, Rosivach 1998: 196 n. 77; on cash transactions in P.: Cole 1920: 87-89]; [These 20 minae
become a dominant theme in the play: 230, 243, 348, 364, 396, 468, 532, 579, 633, 636, 651, 653, 684,
725, 734, 752, 852, 915. They also serve as an important comic prop in III.ii and III.iii]; ARGENTI —
gen. of material [A&G 344]; [See below ad 229-31 on the problems posed by this line regarding the
identity of the adulescens in I.ii and I.iii]
90: fac ut id paratum (ei) iam sit; FACE = fac; ID — i.e., argentum; UT … PARATUM … SIT: *jussive noun
clause [A&G 563] following fac (a virtual vb. of command: A&G 449.2c); UNDE GENTIUM — “from
where on earth (am I to get it)?”; GENTIUM — partitive gen. [A&G 346a4; Bennett 1914: 36]
nd
91: DEFRUDATO = defraudato — 2 sg. *fut. imperative act. (of definite fut. time: A&G 449; Bennett 1910:
356); MAXUMAS = maximas; nugas agere — to talk nonsense, play the fool (“you are talking utter
[maximas] nonsense”)
92: me iubes detrahere vestimenta nudo (homini); NUDO — dat. of disadvantage/sep. (“from a naked man”)
[A&G 381]; DETRAHERE VESTIMENTA — an allusion to a common form of mugging in Greco-Roman
antiquity (since the clothes on one’s back were often the most valuable property one carried): e.g., Arist.
112
The fact that the price in Bacch. (590) is expressed in terms of gold Philippics (cf. ad 153-54) phps. disguises this anomaly
somewhat. At twelve dr. per day, Habrotonon in Men. Epitr. also charges more than Phil. (whose fee comes to approx. six dr. per
day); in a similar vein, at Men. Sam. 392-93 we hear of women who hire themselves out for dinner-parties at 10 dr. a time; cf.
Gell. NA 1.8. (On µόνας at Sam. 393, see Traill 2012: 91-92.) Cf. Hurka ad 88-89, who argues that such fees reflect the fact that
these women are all free rather than slaves. Loomis 1998: 178 and 184-85, who assumes that the amount in Asin. derives from its
4th/3rd-C. Greek exemplar, argues that these exaggerated amounts are typical of both Greek and Roman New Comedy, but this
assumption is problematic. However extravagant, the fees in Epitr. and Sam. can be understood on a common human scale: ten-
to-twelve dr. is a substantial sum for a daily fee, but a typical Greek knew what these amounts would look like and could imagine
possessing them; by contrast, twenty minae transports us into the Never-Never-Land of, e.g., Fred Astaire movies, the pseudo-
biographies of high-class prostitutes in 4th-C. comedy, and the excesses of aristocratic patrons cited in Athenaeus, Diogenes
Laertius, and Plutarch. Like “a million dollars” during the Depression, 20-30 minae seems to be a standard extravagant amount to
cite when, e.g., purchasing or ransoming someone — to use it of a “lease” is still more outrageous. (The exception, in Grk.
comedy, is Men. Colax 128-30, where a pimp, outrageously, claims to be obtaining three minae per day for one of his girl’s
services. The passage involves a monologue and so must be intended to highlight either the extravagant wealth of the play’s rival
lover or the folly of the pimp, who seems to be terrible at numbers: note how grievously he underestimates the number of troops
that Odysseus is said to have taken to Troy [lines 123-24], while his calculations in the passage cited above point to an average
daily income of over 30 dr. per girl.)

Commentary: I.i
Birds 496-98 and 1490-93 (on the infamous λωποδύτης Orestes); Alexis F 112 K.-A.; Plat. Rep. 575B;
Demosth. 54.8-9 and 24; Naev. Com. 17 (praemiator: cf. ◉Massaro 1986); Tib. 1.2.27-28.
93: DEFRUDEM = defraudem — delib. subj. in reference to an impossible act [A&G 444]/repudiating
exclamation [A&G 462a; Bennett 1910: 186-87]; AGE — see ad 5; SIS = si vis (cf. ad 43); [The
similarity betw. this and the following verse, along with some uncertainties in the scansion, suggest a
strong case for athetizing this line. It is awkward and breaks the focus on the central issue: the futility of
plotting to fleece Dem. (captured perfectly in the metaphor offered in 92). Rather than building to the
essential point of Lib.’s objection (94-95), 93 presents a familiar and (in light of 92) rather insipid
image. Nor do the emotive and rhetorically heightened parallels cited by its defenders make a
convincing case for its being retained (◉Thierfelder 1929: 45-47, ◉Blänsdorf 1967: 63 [“pathetischen
Wiederholungen”]). The repetition of the vb. defraudo four times in five lines is potentially funny
(particularly with the added jingle of detrahere in 92), but, as it stands, 93 reads like an intrusive and
somewhat awkward doublet]
94: TEN = te + ne (“me cheat you?”) [on this use of te to introduce an indignant/incredulous question: Bennett
1910: 467]; DEFRUDEM — cf. ad 93; QUOI = cui (*dat. of possession: A&G 373); IPSI — dat.; IN
MANU — here in reference to Dem.’s lack of cash rather than his lack of authority (cf. ad 86): “you, who
don’t have a dime in your pocket?” (cf. 463)
95: QUID = aliquid (after si, num, nisi, ne [A&G 310a]) — along with uxorem: double acc. after defraudo
[A&G 394]; PORRO — in turn, for your own part; DEFRUDAVERIS = defraudaveris — pfct. subj. act.
(“unless you, in turn/for your part, should cheat your wife out of something”) (cf. ad 20 and contrast
Bennett 1910: 73); [At this point, the possibility of Dem. robbing his wife seems like a joke, along the
lines of the other adynata listed by Libanus; at 888-89 it turns out to be a fact. In the context of I.i,
however, Dem.’s lack of resources is a given, pace ◉Ahrens 1907: 17]
96-97: qua potes (cirumducere), circumduce me, uxorem, servum Sauream; QUA … QUA … QUA … —
*anaphora [A&G 641] (Pace Gray ad loc., this touch of grandiloquence enhances the sense that Dem. is
presenting Lib. with a blank check: he is to feel free to bilk anyone he possibly can); QUA … POTES
(CIRCUMDUCERE) — in any way you can, as best you can (qua adv.); SERVOM = servum;
CIRUMDUCE, AUFER — [the former suggests trickery/deception, the latter theft]
98: OFFUTURUM [ESSE] (fut. act. inf. of obsum) — to injure, harm one [impersonal fut. inf., introduced by
promitto in 97 (indir. disc.): the subject in this case is the abstract notion me defraudare (A&G 452)];
less likely (Bertini): (me) non offuturm (esse) — “that I will not impede you”]; EFFECERIS — 2nd sg.
*fut. pfct. ind. act. (the *fut. pfct. where Engl. prefers a generalizing pres.)
99: IUBEAS — jussive subj. [A&G 439] (phps. echoing the use of the delib. subj. in 93 and 94: “you might as
well …”). On the use of the 2nd pers. sg. jussive subj. in Roman Comedy, see Barrios-Lech 2016: 64-67;
one of its most common functions, as here, is to convey advice; UNA OPERA — at the same time, in the
same manner (abl. of instr. — cf. A&G 405b)

Commentary: I.i
100: [There are clear signs of confusion in this line as transmitted. Lib. is employing a well-worn comic
expression: “You might as well ask me to fish in the air and go hunting in the sea.” But the second half
of his comic adynaton has somehow become obscured. Gray suggests: rete, iaculo autem uenari in
medio mari (taking the instr. abl. [A&G 409] rete with piscari in aere in 99). Hurka much more
economically suggests venari autem rete <et> iaculo in medio mari (alluding to the use of javelins and
nets in hunting). Given the use of rete iaculum (of a casting net) in regard to fishing at Truc. 35,
however, the possibility of deeper corruption should be considered. (This objection holds still more
strongly for de Melo’s reti … iaculo [reti — archaic i-stem abl., employed for the long final -ī]: it might
well be futile to employ a sweep-net on the high-seas (Bertini ad loc.; Nobili 2007), but the vb. venari
points to a comic confusion of fishing with hunting (Hurka ad loc.) rather than a mistake in the specific
type of fishing equipment that is being employed; moreover, one expects the second limb of the
adynaton to match the first in its ludicrousness)]
101: TIBI — dat. of advantage [A&G 376]: refl.; OPTIONEM — helper, assistant (a military term: “adjutant”
[Gray]) [Against the argument that this usage dates to the mid-2nd century at the earliest, see Hurka ad
loc., who points out the weakness of Havet/Freté xix-xx on this point (re Festus p. 198 M)]; SUMITO —
nd
2 sg. *fut. imperative act. (of definite fut. time: A&G 449, Bennett 1910: 356)
102: FABRICARE … COMMINISCERE — dep. 2nd sg. imperatives; [As in 96, Dem. employs a heightened form
of rhetorical expression (here, * chiasmus) in urging Lib. to take any and all measures possible]
103: perficito ut filius argentum hodie habeat; PERFICITO — 2nd sg. *fut. imperative act. [A&G 449]; UT
HABEAT — *jussive noun clause [A&G 563], introduced by perficito [A&G 449.2c]
104: AMICAE — see ad Arg. 5; QUOD DET — *rel. clause of characteristic, indicating purpose [A&G 531.2];
QUID AIS — “what do you say (to the following)” — a way of introducing a new proposition or a new
consideration (Gray cfs. the British, “I say …”); in other contexts, the expression conveys surprise or
indignation (“What’s that you say?!”)
105-06:[These lines build upon the military imagery introduced in 101]; SI … DEVENERO — the *fut. pfct. in
a fut. vivid *condition, where Engl. prefers a generalizing pres. [A&G 516.a]; TUN = tu + ne; SI …
INTERCEPERINT — fut. pfct. ind.: the second si clause merely clarifies the implications of the first.
[Despite the parallelism betw. the two *conditional clauses, Rotheimer (1876: 46) could be correct in
regarding interceperint as a pfct. subj. rather than *fut. pfct. ind. (cf. ad 20)]
107: REDIMAM — as usual in Latin, assent is indicated by repeating a key element of the previous speaker’s
command, question, etc. [A&G 336]; TUM — employed here in a logical or inferential sense: “that
being the case,” “if that is so” (Gray); CURA — 2nd sg. pres. imperative act.; QUIDLUBET = quidlibet;
ALIUD CURA QUIDLUBET — “look after anything else you’d like” (i.e., leave this job to me)
108: QUID = (ali)quid (after si, num, nisi, ne [A&G 310a]); [Lib. employs a variation on the regular formula
for taking one’s leave: numquid vis? (“You don’t require anyting else, do you?”)]; I — 2nd sg. pres.
imperative act. of eo; BENE AMBULA — a common formula for leave-taking

Commentary: I.i
109-15/116-26: Older comm. posited a double recension of the conclusion Act I, with two alternate endings
(retractatio: see above, n. xx): 109-15 and 116-[26]. This view is now rejected (Bertini ad 107-25,
Hurka ad 116-17), but the repetitions and parallels betw. 109 and 116-17 are striking: audin (109 and
116); si quid te volam (109) and si quid opus fuerit (117).
109: ATQUE AUDIN ETIAM? — are you still listening? (a common formula in P. for catching someone’s
attention and appending an additional thought: Dem. suddenly keeps Lib. from departing despite the
formula for dismissal in the previous line); AUDIN = audisne; ECCE — this use of ecce in isolation is
unparalleled (vs., e.g., ecce me); Hurka argues that it is supported by the actor’s use of a mimetic
gesture, such as touching his ear; SI QUID TE VOLAM — quid (= aliquid after si, num, nisi, ne [A&G
310a]) here is a *limiting/cognate acc. [A&G 390c]: if I (will) want you in respect to anything/in any
regard/at all — cf. 88; VOLAM — *fut. ind. in a fut. vivid *condition, where Engl. prefers a
generalizing pres. [A&G 516.a]
110: UBIQUOMQUE = ubicumque; LUBITUM ERIT — it will (have proven to) be pleasing (impersonal): the
*fut. pfct. answers the futures in Dem.’s query [LUBITUM = libitum; the form libitum erit is employed
more commonly than libuerit — cf. licitum in 152]; ANIMO MEO = mihi, but the more colorful
expression enhances the sense of Lib.’s supreme confidence (which rounds the scene out by playing
against the anxiety that he displayed when he first entered)
111-13: nemo est quem metuam ne quid possit mihi nocere — i.e., non metuo ne quis mihi noceat; QUEM …
METUAM — *rel. clause of characteristic [A&G 535a]; quem then provides the subject of the fear clause
of 112 (*prolepsis); IAM DEHINC — from this point on; MIHI — dat. of reference (A&G 377): “so far
as I’m concerned” (although mihi is also picked up by nocere in 112); ne possit quid nocere (mihi) —
fear clause [A&G 564]; QUID = aliquid (after si, non, nisi, ne) — a *limiting/cognate acc. [A&G 390c]
following nocere: “in any regard, at all”; NOCERE — picking up mihi in 111; *QUOM = cum (+ ind.);
ORATIONE — instr. abl. [A&G 409]; TUOM = tuum
114: QUIN — nay rather, what is more; facio te ipsum haud magni — “I don’t think much of/feel much awe
before you yourself”; MAGNI is gen. of value [A&G 417] employed in place of a *pred. acc. after facio
[A&G 393]; FACIO … PATRO: vivid pres. tenses are used here in place of the more regular fut.
(Bennett 1910: 20-21)
115: QUO — to where (adv.); OCCEPI (PERGERE/IRE); exordior — to lay the warp (on a loom), begin to
weave, begin, commence, contrive; [CONSILIA EXORDIAR: Lib.’s language here casts him as the typical
scheming Plautine slave — a role that, in the end, is taken over by Leon. (II.ii). On Plautine consilia, see
Sharrock 2009: 11-15]
116: AUDIN = audis + ne (cf. ad 109)
117: SI QUID OPUS FUERIT — (protasis with *fut. pfct. ind., answering the apodosis in 116) “if any need shall
have arisen” (sc. both tibi and me [abl.]: i.e., if you find that you have any need of me); [This parting
exchange lays the ground for the conclusion of Act II, where Lib., Leon., and Merc. depart to have the
outstanding funds paid to Dem., who, suitably enough, is already at a banking establishment. Cf. above,

Commentary: I.i
p. xx: “Setting”]; QUID = aliquid (after si, num, nisi, ne [A&G 310a]); MEMINERO — since memini
employs the pfct. in a pres. sense (“I have recalled and therefore now remember” — A&G 205b), the
fut. pfct. is employed as a fut.; [STAGING — Lib. exits via Wing A]
118: nullus servus peior hoc esse potest; NON … SERVOS … QUISQUAM = nullus servus; SERVOS = servus;
HOC — abl. of comparison [A&G 406]; PEIOR — “‘shrewder’ or ‘more cunning’: servos malus in
Comedy is the ‘crafty slave’” (Gray)
119: VORSUTUS = versutus; nec ab quo caveas aegrius — [caveo ab aliquo = be on guard against someone
(Lindsay 37n)]; QUO AB = ab quo (*anastrophe [A&G 640]); CAVEAS — *rel. clause of
characteristic [A&G 535a, Bennett 1910: 288]; AEGRIUS — comp. adv.
120-22: si (ali)quid velis recte curatum (esse), (id) eidem homini mandes; SI … VELIS — the subj. here is
phps. due to the influence of the jussive subj. mandes (Lindsay 67, Bennett 1910: 276, Hurka ad loc.); it
has a generalizing force, as in the protasis of a fut. less vivid *condition (cf. 445, 766); QUID = aliquid
(after si, num, nisi, ne) [A&G 310a]; CURATUM [ESSE] — to have been looked after (stronger than the
mere pres. inf.]; MANDES — jussive subj. [A&G 439] (with the referent of aliquid as the assumed
object); malet se misere mori quam non reddat perfectum (id) quod promiserit; MORIRI = mori (a 4th
conjugation inf. form substituted for the regular 3rd/4th); MAVOLET = malet; MORIRI SESE — acc. +
inf. introduced by malo; (ID) PERFECTUM REDDAT — “render it complete” (i.e., “duly perform” —
Gray): perfectum is a *pred. acc. following reddo (A&G 392-93); QUAM NON REDDAT — “than he
would not render it,” “rather than fail to render it” (*final clause with quam, introduced by the
comparative force of mavolet: Woodcock 253 n. ii; contrast A&G 571a, Bennett 1910: 322-26, and see
below, lines 798, 811, and 816); (ID) QUOD — suppressed antecedent [A&G 307c]; QUOD
PROMISERIT — pfct. subj. [*rel. clause of characteristic (A&G 535), or by attraction to reddat (A&G
593)]; [Lines 118-22 capture the essence of the Plautine servus callidus, who is a clever scoundrel and
yet, in the final analysis, utterly loyal to his master(s)’s interests]
123-24: ego scio illud argentum tam filio paratum esse quam me hunc scipionem contui; ILLUC = illud;
ARGENTUM … PARATUM … ESSE and ME … CONTUI— acc. + inf. following scio, joined by the correl.
adv. tam … quam [A&G 323g]; SCIPIONEM — such walking sticks are frequently to be seen in the
th
hands of old men on 4 -century South Italian comic vases and are cited regularly as an expected
attribute of the Plautine senex (Amph. 520, Cas. 975, 1009, Men. 856, Pers. 816).113 Attempts to detect a
topical allusion to a member of the Scipio family (◉Radermacher 1903, who takes contui to indicate the
singling out of a member of the audience; cf. Buck 1940: 32-33, ◉Schutter 1952: 14-20, Hurka ad loc.),
are likely misguided and in any case lead to no definite conclusions; contuor (3) — to behold, see
[CONTUI = pres. dep. inf.]
113
Cf. Green 1996: 19, who refers to the staff as “that fundamental signifier of an old man of the [Grk.] theatre, whether
tragic, comic or satyric.”

Commentary: I.i
125: QUID — why [cf. ad 6]; QUO — (adv.) whither, to where: i.e., ad forum; QUO INCEPERAM (IRE) — for
the plupfct., which implies a past set of circumstances, see Bennett 1910: 49: “where I had begun to go
(before I was interrupted)”
126: ARGENTARIUM — cf. ad 117; [This line is bracketed by many early edd., phps. correctly: see Hurka ad
loc. (who defends the verse)]; [STAGING: Dem. exits via Wing B]
SCENE I.ii
[127-37: Cretic Tetrameters (133-33a: Choriambic Dimeters); 138-52: Trochaic Septenarii]
The youthful Diabolus, Argyrippus’ rival in love, denounces the procuress Cleareta, who, as
Philaenium’s mother, is blocking his access to her. (Clearata does not actually enter until I.iii.) He
reproaches her — initially in a song sung while he is alone on stage, and then (in I.iii) face-to-face —
with ingratitude on the grounds that she no longer favors him as she did when he was constantly
providing them with “presents” and, as he claims, raised them out of squalor. In I.iii Clearata gives him
a hard lesson in the basic rules governing the relationship between a young man and a meretrix.
This is the only scene in the play that employs lyric meters.
[BIBLIOGRAPHY: ◉Havet 1905, Lowe 1992: 157-63 and ◉1999: 14-17, ◉Fedeli 1999, ◉Hartkamp 2004:
256-65, Henderson 2006: 137-38 with 224 n. 5, Hurka 21-22, 44-49, and introductions to I.ii and I.iii,
◉Danese 2014: 152-56, Petrides 2014a: 213-20, Marshall 2016, Porter 2016. Commentary: ◉Leonetti
2008-2009.]
[STAGING: Diab. enters the stage from Clear.’s house.]
[There is disagreement about whether the male character in this and the following scene is Diabolus,
Argyrippus’ rival for Philaenium’s services, or Argyrippus himself. For the latter view, see Lowe 1992:
157-63, ◉1999: 14-17, Marshall 2016; for the former, ◉Havet 1905: 94-97 (followed by the majority of
modern edd. and comm., with the notable exception of Hurka), Porter 2016.114 The ms. tradition assigns
our scenes to Argyrippus, but such headings bear little authority.115
114
Further references at Lowe 1992: 159 n. 36, Marshall 2016: 253 n. 2.
115
E.g., ◉Ahrens 1907: 14 notes that in B and E, Argyrippus is mistakenly listed in place of Diabolus in the scene heading for
IV.ii. See, further, Porter 2016: 311-12.

Commentary: I.ii
One naturally expects to meet the young male lover early in the play, and no rival for Philaenium’s
attentions has been mentioned to this point:116 given no other indication as to the new character’s
identity, the audience would naturally assume that this impoverished, lovelorn young man is
Demaenetus’ son.117 If these scenes are assigned to Diabolus, then Argyrippus does not appear until
III.iii, the scene that presents the mock-tragic crisis-point in the lovers’ relationship and its comic
resolution. One expects a more direct exposition of the male lover’s situation and feelings prior to this
crisis, although some indication of the two lovers’ affection for one another will be offered by
Philaenium in III.i.
On the other hand, lines 633-36 suggest strongly that Diabolus, and his proposed contract with
Clearata, have been introduced prior to III.iii, while a number of the sentiments assigned to the speaker
in I.ii and I.iii seem to accord better with the coarse and obtuse Diabolus — esp. his references to having
raised Clearata and her daughter out of the depths of poverty through his earlier “gifts” (which ill accord
with Agyrippus’ situation):118 it would not be unlike P. to substitute a comic but essentially irrelevant
scenes of this sort (esp. one involving a comic song) for what, in the Greek original, was a sentimental
expository scene dealing with the play’s love-interests (Legrand 1917: 48). Moreover, the elaborate
treatment of the lena’s exploitation of her young male clients [I.iii] can readily be assigned to a Roman
context: cf. Porter 2004.
Most to the point, I.iii concludes with the young lover stating that he does in fact have one last source
to which he can turn for the needed cash, but insisting that he be given exclusive access to Philaenium
for an entire year if he can produce the required 20 minae (233-36); Clearata agrees to this and directs
the young man to draw up a contract (syngraphum) to this effect (237-42). All of this accords so well
with 633-36, and with the action of IV.i and ii, as to seem conclusive, while the threat of a rival, and of
the exclusive rights guaranteed by a contract, provides an appropriate sense of urgency to Argyr.’s plight
(e.g., 280, 633-36; ◉Danese 1999: 62). (The emphasis on our speaker’s desire for exclusive access also
adds a nicely ironic touch to Diab.’s final humiliation: in the end, he will still pay twenty minae, but will
have to share Phil.’s attentions with Argyr.: 913-19.) Our young speaker departs for the forum at 245-48
in order to find friends whom he might dun, yet at 329 Libanus informs Leonida that his young master is
“here inside” (indicating Demaenetus’ house: see my comments ad loc.): this would seem to indicate
that Argyr. is not the speaker of I.ii and I.iii (see, however, Lowe 2007: 110-11).
116
Duckworth 1994: 180-81 and Hurka ad 634-35xx provide useful parallels for a late introduction of a secondary character
such as Diab.
117
The introduction of accompanied verse at this point of the play is also relevant: Moore 2012a: 245-46 notes the frequency
with which the first use of the tibia in a play (to accompany either sung or chanted verse) attends the introduction of introduction
of the young male lover, or a surrogate or ally of the lover. (Note, however, the introduction of Lysiteles at Trin. 223: Porter
2016: 348-50.)
118
Cf., e.g., 55-56, 78, 522-31; on 270, see my n. ad loc.

Commentary: I.ii
Finally, nowhere does the speaker allude to possible assistance from Lib., a fact that accords so ill
with the conventions of Roman comedy and the expectations engendered by I.i as to occasion further
doubt (cf. ad 245-48).
It is much easier to associate the speaker in I.ii and iii with louche young independent lovers such as
the Diniarchus of Truc.119 This also preserves one of the play’s few relatively consistent points of
characterization: the insistence on the lack of a mercantile element in Argyr. and Phil.’s relationship and
the naive purity of their love (at least prior to the sudden shift introduced at 732-36: see, e.g., 535-42,
591-615, 631-37). The young man of I.ii and I.iii, by contrast, sees things very much in terms of what
people are owed: 128, 129, 138, 146, 148, 161, 162.
Petrides 2014a: 213-20 argues, on the basis of the relationship betw. Diab. and Par. in Act IV, that the
former is cast as the headstrong young mercenary soldier, a view that is supported by the ludicrous
alazoneia on display in IV.i. If this is correct, Diab.’s mask and attire likely precluded any assumption
on the audience’s part that the character who entered at 127 was Dem.’s son. Petrides’ reading does not
altogether square, however, with what we learn of the rival lover in either I.ii/iii (where he speaks of
earning his fortune in trade: see ad 135) or IV: note, e.g., how readily, in both sets of scenes, this
character turns to third parties to fight his fights (131-32, 815-19) in the manner of the helpless
adulescens.120 Even in the case of P.’s atypical miles (the Stratophanes of Truc.) the individual’s status
and profession are made quite clear; the young man presented in Acts I and IV, by contrast, maps much
more readily, mutatis mutandis, onto a figure such as the Menaechmus of Men. I.i-iii, who is also
attended by a comic parasite. As so often, our play here melds features derived from more than one
stock type: the louche young independent rake, after the model of Diniarchus, and the foolishly
obsessive lover who, in the ease with which he can be manipulated by Par., recalls something of the
stock Roman miles, but in a “civilian” guise.121
Further on the potential confusion occasioned by the entrance of an as-yet unmentioned young lover
who is not in fact Argyr., see Legrand 1917: 422-23, R.L. Hunter 1980: 220–22, Lowe 1992: 159–63
and ◉1999: 14–17, Fraenkel 2007: 425 (Addendum ad 273), ◉Danese 2014: 152-56, Marshall 2016,
Porter 2016.
Further arguments are considered in the comments below, passim.122
119
Cf. below ad 226 and see Porter 2016: 318. Hurka’s hypothesis — viz. that P. has altered Demophilus’ original so as to
reassign I.ii and iii to Argyr. instead of Diab. — brings little clarity to the issue (Hurka 44-49xx). In the same vein, Lowe 1992
and 1999 must assume that, in adapting the Greek original of I.ii and iii, P. has opted to import humorous elements more
appropriate to the typical louche young lover — in effect, to cast Argyr. as another Diab., employing motifs similar to those
employed in the presentation of Diab. in IV.i and IV.ii (scenes where P.’s hand is also evident). It is much more economical to
assign the lines to Diab.
120
Note as well the characterization at 634: adulescens Diabolus; cf. 133a.
121
Cf., e.g., the Moschion of Men. Perik. 267-352.
122
See ad 128-29, 130-33a, 135, 139-43, 170, 187, 229-31, 234-36, 235, 238, 524-34, 541, 633-36, 637, 746, 810-19, 917-18.

Commentary: I.ii
The challenge posed by this issue gives a good indication of the generally unworked nature of the
play, which often displays a lack of concern with details of plot and characterization, and focuses instead
on developing a series of comic shticks on themes suggested by the plot of the Greek original. P. injects
some much needed comic energy into the play’s early scenes by offering a humorous monody and (I.iii)
confrontation involving stock comic types (cf. Pseud. 133ff.). We must assume that the young man’s
mask and costume, in conjunction with the description of his circumstances, informed the audience that
this was the louche rival lover rather than Dem.’s son.123]
127-37: see Moore 2012a: 194-96 on the use of cretics in this and related passages. As he notes, “Cretics tend
to call attention to themselves more than any other of the more common meters of Roman comedy,”
through their bouncy, jingling nature.
127: SICINE = sic + ne (employed in an indignant question: “Is this the way it goes?”, “Is this to be the case?”);
FORAS — adv.; AEDIBUS — abl. of sep. w/o ab [A&G 401]; ME EICI — acc. + inf. (acc. of
exclamation [A&G 462, Lindsay 75]) in an indignant question (“That I should be thrown …?” “Me
thrown …?”)
128-29: On the notion of reciprocity invoked here and at 136-37, cf. ad 59 and above p. xx (introduction to the
play). Clear.’s echoing of this sentiment at 527 provides further impetus for assigning I.ii and I.iii to
Diab. rather than Argyr.
128: PROMERENTI (MIHI) — *circumstantial ptcple. (“although I deserve altogether well [optime] of you/ have
treated you so well”); OPTUME = optime; HOCCIN = hoc + ne; PRETII — partitive gen. with neut.
pron. [A&G 346a3]; REDDITUR — picking up promerenti (mihi)
129: MERENTI [bis] — cf. ad 128 (with the first, sc. mihi; with the second, alii [dat.]): “to me, who have
treated you well, you are cruel; to another, who has treated you badly, kind”
130-33a: these lines provide further grounds for assigning I.ii and I.iii to Diab.; the sentiments here expressed
are difficult to square with Argyr.’s devotion to Phil. elsewhere in the play (e.g., 591ff.). It is true that
the speaker corrects himself at 146-47, but the viciousness of the sentiments expressed in the intervening
lines ill suit the typical lovelorn adulescens: cf. ad 235. The comically deluded Alcesimarchus of Cist.
519-27 provides no true parallel; closer in spirit is Truc. 758-65, spoken by the louche Diniarchus: cf.
above (introduction to I.ii) and see Porter 2016: 318-19.
130-32: cum malo tuo (sc. id facis) — abl. of attendant circumstances [Woodcock 43.5(ii)] [malum =
misfortune]; IAM EX HOC LOCO IBO — cf. 817; tresviri — a board of three magistrates; i.e., “the
authorities” [The reference here is to the tresviri capitales: minor officials who acted as police
magistrates and were particularly associated with the supervision of the prisons and with nightly fire
patrols: Nippel 1995: 22-26; Gaughan 2010: 96 describes them as “catch-all officials for whom a
123
Cf. below, comm. ad opening of IV.i, re the introduction of Par. Further on the question of mask-types, cf. Wiles 1991:
133-44 (and, for the Greek tradition, 171-77); Marshall 2006: 126ff. More generally, see Porter 2016: 350-52.

Commentary: I.ii
general look-out for the well-being of the city was their primary role.” Further: Scafuro 1997: 454-57];
VOSTRA = vestra; FAXO — [In the older grammars, this form is presented as the fut. pfct. ind. act. of
facio (A&G 183.3). As De Melo 2007a: 171ff. demonstrates, it is actually an archaic sigmatic fut. that,
in subord. clauses, can be replaced with the fut. pfct. ind. (In such clauses, it is associated with an
elevated tone.) In main clauses, however, it has the force of a simple fut. Contrast the sigmatic subj. —
my n. ad 256]; faxo vestra nomina ibi erunt = “I will see that your names are entered there (in an
indictment)” — instead of a *consecutive clause following facio [A&G 568], we find the vivid
juxtaposition of two fut. inds. (*parataxis) (de Melo 2007a: 186); CAPITIS — gen. of charge/penalty
[A&G 352a] [capitis damnare = to get someone condemned on a charge involving the loss of citizen
rights or death (i.e., a capital offense) (caput = the person considered as an individual with the rights
and privileges of a citizen; the loss of such rights left one open to execution). Here PERDAM is a more
colorful equivalent of damnabo]; [On such threats in New Comedy, see Scafuro 1997: 430-37; on the
specific grounds for Diab.’s complaints, ead. 454-57]
133-133a: the brief shift in meter (to choriambic dimeters) highlights the list of comic epithets and closes off
the introductory section of Diab.’s song (Moore 2012a: 207).
133a: ADULESCENTUM — gen. pl. [A&G 71 and 121b]: obj. gen. [A&G 348]; EXITIUM — “ruin” (Lilja 1965:
40)
134: MARE HAUD EST MARE — i.e., the sea, which has a reputation for being unpredictable, destructive, and
utterly indifferent to human suffering, is nothing compared to Clear. and her daughter, who, like the sea,
are insatiable, swallowing up everything that comes their way (cf. 167-68 and Truc. 563ff.); VOS MARE
ACERRUMUM [ESTIS ]; ACERRUMUM = acerrimum; [As Moore 2012a: 194 notes, this sort of “sing-
songy word play” is often found cretics]
135: MARI — abl.; REPPERI — sc. bona [i.e., sea trade gave me a livelihood]: in mari is a somewhat strained
expression in this context, employed for the sake of the paradox that follows (see re elavo below), but cf.
Petr. Satyr. 39.8; HIC — adv.; elavo (1) elavi, elautum — to be “cleaned out” of one’s possessions
(intrans.): used in combination with in mari at Rud. 578-79, 1307; BONIS — abl. of sep. [A&G 401]
(as with vbs. such as careo, egeo: Lindsay 37): bona in the sense of goods, property; [On the issue of
the attribution of these lines (intro. to I.ii): the portrayal of the speaker as someone who has made a
fortune in trade, and now squandered it, does not square easily with the image we are given of Argyr.
elsewhere. The line recalls rather the wastrel Diniarchus (Truc. 22ff.), who (unlike Argyr. but much like
Diab.) is an independent agent whose irresponsible behavior finds its due reward in the finale (Truc.
770ff.). Hurka ad 191-92xx notes that Clear. emphasizes the youth of her interlocutor in these scenes,
which ill accords with the amassing of a fortune through trade (cf. ◉Havet 1905: 102, ◉Danese 1999: 60
n. 27 and 2014: 154-56), but it is difficult to reduce 135 to a metaphor of the young lover tossed about
and eventually shipwrecked on Love’s tide. (Note in particular the emphatic contrast betw. in mari and
hic — i.e., between the actual sea and the treacherous deeps of Clear.’s establishment [134].) Moreover,
such a reading risks imposing an anachronistic conception of youth: the adulescentes of these plays can,

Commentary: I.ii
like Diniarchus, be old enough to own property (Truc. 174), engage in contracts (Truc. 31),124 and
undertake public business (Truc. 91-92), yet still be regarded as headstrong and irresponsible young men
in need of supervision by their elders (Truc. 57-63).125 Most to the point, Clear.’s remark at 191 is part
of an elaborate joke at her interlocutor’s expense (191-94) where she feigns sympathy for her loyal
client’s youth (all of her clients are youths!) before offering to gouge him at an even higher rate.
Whether spoken by Argyr. or Diab., line 135 has something of a throwaway feel to it (cf., e.g., 270, 871-
72) and provides another instance of P.’s casual engagement with his characters. But it suits a figure in
the mold of Diniarchus much better than the Argyr. presented in I.i and, subsequently, in III.i and III.iii.
(If, with Petrides 2014a, we regard Diab. as a youthful mercenary [see my intro. to I.ii], in mari here
must be taken more generally: “in my adventures abroad,” “in my travels.”)]
136: omnia ingrata atque irrita esse — acc. + inf. following intellego; INGRATA — i.e., winning no due
return (cf. ad 59 and 128-29)
137-38: QUAE — picking up omnia in 136; QUAE … QUOD — the switch to the singular in this pair of
parallel rel. pronouns is due to the more general nature of the idiom bene facio: together, the two rel.
clauses parse the particular sense of omnia (concrete gifts given to establish a reciprocal relationship of
good will); at posthac [id] male faciam tibi quod potero facere; male facere aliquid alicui — to do
harm to someone; (ID) QUOD — suppressed antedecent [A&G 307c]; MERITO … TUO — “as you
deserve” (abl. of cause [A&G 404: cf. the construction with pro at line 560], manner [G&L 399 n. 1], or
specification [A&G 418a]; essentially an adv. [“deservedly”], merito is regularly modified by a
possessive adj. or gen.)
139-43: these lines suit the dissolute Diab. much better than the Argyr. of whom we have heard in I.i: cf. 163,
204-13.
139: EODEM UNDE — to the same place from where (correl. adv. [A&G 323g]); EGESTATIS TERMINOS — the
extreme bounds/limits of poverty
140: TE FACIAM UT … SCIAS — *consecutive clause (“I will see to it that you…”) [A&G 568] — on the idiom
te faciam ut … (“I’ll make you that you …”), cf. ad 27-28 (*prolepsis); QUAE SIS … QUAE FUERIS —
*indir. questions after scias [A&G 573]
141-42: QUAE … OBLECTABAS — “you who used to …” (with Clear. as the subject); PRIUS QUAM … ADII
ATQUE … DEDI — priusquam + ind. [A&G 551a]; ISTAM ADII — i.e., came to Phil.’s
house/establishment, came to visit Phil.; [ISTI, in the same line, also refers to Phil.; here and at 146, the
demonstr. adj. does not necessarily convey a pejorative sense: cf. ad 845]; AMANS — *pred. (“loving
her,” “in my passion”); VITAM OBLECTABAS — you passed your life pleasantly/maintained your
pleasant lifestyle [sarcastic]; SORDIDO … PANE — instr. abl. (giving the means by which they
sustained their lives) [A&G 409]; PANNIS — rags; INOPIA — either abl. with in (*asyndeton [A&G
124
See, e.g., Cohen 2015: 100.
125
A parallel is offered by Men., Sam. 13-16.

Commentary: I.ii
323b]) or instr./adv. abl. [A&G 409]: vitam inopia oblectare = vitam inopem degere (Lindsay 34)
[Palmer reads impia (voc.)]
143: EA (n. pl.) — i.e., even the modest things listed in 142 (sc. tibi [dat. of possession: A&G 373]); SI — as
often, si here implies indefinite time (“if ever”); DIS — abl. pl. of deus
144: nunc, cum melius est (tibi), eadem mala me ignoras cuius opera est (tibi melius); EADEM … MALA —
fem. nom. sg. (referring to Clear.); EADEM — resumptive [Lindsay 47-48] (emphatic — here,
underlining Clear.’s arrogant lack of gratitude): cf. 147, 177, 198, 324, 408, 527; *QUOM = cum (+
ind.); QUOM EST MELIUS — when it (i.e., life) is better for you (Lindsay 79-80); QUOIUS = cuius;
QUOIUS OPERA EST (TIBI MELIUS) — by whose work/deed it is better for you (i.e., thanks to whom you
are doing better); OPERA — causal abl., with cuius in place of the usual possessive adj. (G&L 404c,
L&S s.v. opera IIA2: cf. ad 68 and 536)]; MALA — *pred. (in your villainy, wickedly), although one
might take it as voc.
145: reddo — to render, make; EX FERA — “from (being) fierce” (i.e., “instead of …”: cf. 368) — taking
fera in reference to Clear. instead of with fame (in which case ex fame would have a causal sense);
FAME — instr. abl. [A&G 409]; MANSUETEM — *pred. acc. [A&G 393]: tame, subdued, conquered;
rd
[mansuetem here and at 504 is an alt. 3 -decl. form of mansuetam attested by the ancient grammarians
and inserted by modern edd.]; SPECTA — 2nd sg. pres. imperative act.; MODO — adv. (i.e., “just
watch me!”). On the use of modo to strengthen imperatives, see Barrios-Lech 2016: 136-37
146: ISTI … IPSI — the girl (Phil.) herself, as opposed to her mother (on isti, cf. ad 141-42); QUID — why?
(cf. ad 6); SUSCENSEAM — delib. subj. [A&G 444]; NIHIL EST (quod suscenseam) — there is nothing
with respect to which (*limiting/cognate acc. [A&G 390c]) I might be angry — i.e., there is no reason
why I should be angry (*rel. clause of characteristic); NIL QUICQUAM — nothing at all (i.e., nothing
bad) (Lindsay 42)
147: TUO … IUSSU — at your command (causal abl. [A&G 404]): see A&G 94c; FACIT — used here in an
absolute sense (“she acts/behaves”); TUO IMPERIO — dat. with pareo (on imperium, see ad 505); tu
mater (eius es), eadem era es; EADEM (nom. fem. sg.) — i.e., “and you are also,” “and at the same
time you are” (for this use of idem, cf. ad 144); ES — takes both mater and era as complement
148: ego te perdam (sic)ut digna es atque (sic)ut de me meres; UT = sicut (bis)
149-50: videsne ut scelesta ne id quidem existimat me dignum esse …; SCELESTA — fem. nom. sg. (sc.
Clear.); [scelestus is the most common term of abuse employed in P.: Lilja 1965: 22]; VIDEN = vides
+ ne (addressed to the audience), introducing an indignant question; UT NE … EXISTUMAT — *indir.
question [A&G 573] introduced by ut (“how”) after vides. (Notice that in P., however, the vb. of the
indir. question appears in the indicative: existumat [Lindsay 66; L&S s.v. ut IA3(a)]); ID =
*limiting/cognate acc. [A&G 390c] with dignum (“consider me worthy in that regard”), picked up by
quem adeat …; ME … ESSE — acc. + inf. introduced by existumat; QUEM ADEAT — “ (as one) whom
she might approach” (*rel. clause of characteristic with *consecutive force, picking up id … dignum:
A&G 535f): i.e., she doesn’t even do me the courtesy of coming up to me; QUEM COLLOQUATUR …

Commentary: I.ii
QUOIQUE SUPPLICET — parallel in construction to quem adeat; QUOIQUE = cui + que; IRATO —
*pred. (“angry as I am”)
151-52: ATQUE — used to mark the entrance of a new character; ECCAM = ecce hanc [ecce + acc.: A&G
146a n. 2, 397d] (As usual, this demonstr. interjection stands outside of the syntax of the sentence);
ILLECEBRA — allurement, entrapment; enticer; HIC — adv.; OPINOR … LOQUAR — *parataxis
(loquar is a finite vb., vs. the expected acc. + inf. — i.e., “I think that I will [be able to] speak …”);
MEO MODO — abl. of manner [A&G 412b] (i.e., “freely”); (EA) QUAE VOLAM — *fut. ind. in rel.
clause where Engl. employs a pres. (suppressed antecedent); LICITUM EST — alt. form of licuit (cf. ad
110); MIHI — sc. loqui ea quae volui; [The implication would seem to be that Diab. can speak his
mind here outside the house without being harrassed by Clear.’s servants, but this is a guess: the lines
have been devised to provide a rationale for the following scene occurring on the street]
SCENE I.iii
[Trochaic Septenarii]
[See ad I.ii.]
[BIBLIOGRAPHY: Lowe 1992: 159-63 and ◉1999: 14-17, Rosivach 1998: 63-66, ◉Fedeli 1999, ◉Hartkamp
2004: 256-65, Porter 2004 and 2016. Commentary: ◉Leonetti 2008-2009.]
[STAGING: Clear. enters the stage from her house to join Diab.]126
153-54: si (ali)qui emptor venerit, non potest auferre a me unum istorum verborum nummis Philippeis aureis;
UNUM QUODQUE — each and every one (here = not a single one); VERBUM — gen. pl. [A&G 49d]; a
partitive gen.: A&G 346a2, Bennett 1914: 21; NUMMIS — abl. of price [A&G 416]; PHILIPPIS =
Philippeis (gold coins [staters] minted by Philip of Macedon in the 4th century BC, likely worth approx.
24 drachmae each) — as Milne 1940: 12 notes, evaluating the specific monetary significance of such
references in P. is exceedingly problematic: Milne cfs. the use of “ducat” in Shakespeare; contrast Shipp
1954: 145-46, who argues that P. had practical knowledge of such coins. On the likely misguided
attempt to employ references to such coins to date the plays, see ◉Schutter 1952: XXVIII]; NON
POTEST AUFERRE …, SI QUIS EMPTOR VENERIT — a mixed *condition, rendered less striking by the
126
While there is little practical reason for this scene to be played out in the street (cf. ad 151-52), Clear. is being true to type
in keeping the formerly wealthy Diab. on the hook (153-58) and assuring him of her loyal service should he find still more funds
to squander (228ff.).

Commentary: I.iii
modal element inherent in possum: “if any potential buyer were to come at any time (VENERIT — 3rd sg.
pfct. subj. act. [cf. ad 20]), he couldn’t …” (A&G 516d; cf. line 164); HINC — rhetorical
reinforcement of a me; QUIS = aliquis (after si, num, nisi, ne [A&G 310a]) [aliquis here for aliqui]
155: (et ea) quae tu in nos non recte dicis aurum atque argentum merum est; NEC = non [L&S s.v. neque I]
(*asyndeton); NEC RECTE = male (cf. 471 and see Lindsay 130); (EA) QUAE (neut. pl.) — suppressed
antecedent [A&G 307c] (This antecedent provides the subject of est, with aurum atque argentum merum
as complement: the sg. est is by attraction to the singular nouns that form the predicate); IN NOS—
against us
156: animus tuus hic apud nos fixus est clavo Cupidinis; HIC — adv.; ANIMUS — i.e., Diab.’s “heart”;
TUOS = tuus; CLAVO — instr. abl. [A&G 409] (a more vivid and imposing image than the usual
arrow); [Note the distinction here betw. Diab.’s (ineffectual) words and his passion, which will be
vividly portrayed in the next lines and which renders him helpless in the following negotiation: cf. 162.
From her first appearance, Clear. is portrayed as enjoying complete control over the situation.]
157: REMIGIO VELOQUE — instr. abl. [A&G 409] (“i.e., using all possible means of propelling the ship”
[Gray]); QUANTUM POTERIS — as quickly as you can (at any future time) (idiomatic use of the *fut.:
Engl. prefers a generalizing pres.); QUANTUM — rel. adv. [A&G 397a]: as Gray notes, the expression
quantum possum/potest in P. regularly refers to time rather than degree (cf. 607); FESTINA ET FUGE —
*hendiadys [A&G 640], with comic alliteration
158: QUAM MAGIS — “however more,” “by how much more”; answered by the following TAM (MAGIS) (correl.
construction [A&G 323g]); IN ALTUM = out to sea; TE … CAPESSIS— betake yourself, attempt to go
(capesso — desiderative of capio); AESTUS — appropriate for both the rising tide or churning sea, and
the lover’s tormented feelings; CAPESSIS … REFERT — in this instance P. employs a vivid generalizing
pres. ind. as opposed to the more usual *fut.; PORTUM — as Hurka notes, Clear. transforms the
standard image of the young man who is shipwrecked by love: here the harbor (the lover’s point of
departure) is presented not as a place of refuge but as both the young man’s inevitable resting place and
his source of ruin
159: portitor — collector of harbor dues (humorously picking up on Clear.’s metaphor in 158); PORTORIO —
harbor tax (abl. with vb. of depriving: A&G 401); [Zagagi 1980: 125 notes how Clear.’s highly poetic
and traditional (Grk.) metaphor for love’s passion is countered by Diab. with a much more prosaic
mercantile image grounded in Roman life]
160: ego exsequar te tractare (sic)ut merita es (tractari) de me et mea re — I will make a point of treating you
as you have deserved to be treated, from the point of view of me and my interests/fortunes; DEHINC —
hereafter, from this time on; UT = sicut; DE — employed to indicate the person or thing with
reference to which any thing is done [L&S I.C.6]; exsequor — to persist in, make a point of [+ inf.]
161: cum tu me non tractas (sic)ut meritus sum cumque (me) eicis domo; *QUOM = cum (+ ind.); MED = me;
UT = sicut; QUOMQUE = cum + que

Commentary: I.iii
162: percipimus istud magis lingua dici quam factis fore; ISTUC = istud; ISTUC … DICI MAGIS QUAM
(ISTUC) … FORE — acc. + inf. following vb. of perception (cf. ad 23-24); LINGUA … FACTIS — instr.
abl. [A&G 409]; FACTIS — by means of your acts, in deed, in fact
163: ego solus te a solitudine atque egestate abstuli; SOLUS (here and in the following lines) — *pred. (“I
alone”); TED = te; SOLITUDINE — (sc. a/ab: abl. of sep. [A&G 401]); an allusion to Clear. and
Phil.’s earlier lack of friends and support — i.e., their lack of male family members or patrons, a
situation often highlighted in the plays of Ter. to pathetic effect (e.g., Andr., Eun., Adelph.). This scene,
by contrast, is played only to highlight Clear.’s ruthless focus on the bottom line. (Solitudine and
egestate in effect point to two sides of the same coin); APSTULI = abstuli; [On the sentiment, cf. ad
139-43]
164: si solus ductem (Philaenium), numquam potes referre gratiam — “(even) if I alone were to (have the
right to) lead (Phil.) home with me, you could never be able to show me (sufficient) gratitude” —
protasis of a fut.-less-vivid *condition with pres. subj., followed by pres. ind. of possum with
hypothetical force (A&G 516d; cf. ad 153-54 and see Bennett 1910: 274); SOLUS — *pred.; SI =
etiamsi; DUCTEM — New Comedy echoes the language of legitimate marriage when discussing the
relationship betw. the comic adulescens and his beloved: in each case, a young man leads a young
woman to his home in order to establish a sexual liaison, but in New Comedy this is a short-term
contractual arrangement (since the lena “leases” the young women under her care rather than running a
brothel in the modern sense: cf. Rosivach 1998: 51-75). (See Gray ad loc., however, who notes that the
frequentative ducto/ductito is regularly employed of illicit liaisons [cf. 165, 169, 189, 863, Men. 694,
Poen. 272, 868, Rud. 584, Ter. Phorm. 500] vs. duco in the case of legitimate marriage.) The echoing of
the language of legitimate marriage is all the more telling in this instance, as Diab. proceeds to employ
aristocratic notions of mutual obligation in an attempt to induce Clear. to allow him access to Phil., a
tactic that is doomed to failure (cf. Zagagi 1980: 118-20).
165: SOLUS — *pred. (bis); DUCTATO — *fut. imperative (as often, with a subord. clause involving a fut. —
A&G 449, Bennett 1910: 354); si semper solus dabis (ea) quae poscam; (EA) QUAE (neut. pl.) —
suppressed antecedent [A&G 307c]; POSCAM — Latin employs a *fut. ind. in such contexts, where
Engl. prefers a generalizing pres. [A&G 516.a]; [Throughout this scene, Clear. taunts Diab. by
throwing his own words back at him]
166: HABETO — 2nd sg. *fut. imperative act. (with adv. referring to the fut. — A&G 449.1 and 2a, Bennett
1910: 356): “consider”; TIBI PROMISSUM (ESSE)— impersonal use of the pass. inf. in an acc. + inf.
following habeo [habeto tibi promissum esse = consider it a sure thing, a firm commitment]; HAC
LEGE — on the following terms [abl. of specification: A&G 418a]; DUM SUPERES — dum + subj. =
“provided that” (introducing a proviso) [A&G 528 and Bennett 1910: 268-69]; SUPERES — sc. ceteros
(i.e., Clear.’s other clients); DATIS — instr. abl. [A&G 409] (data = the “gifts” that the adulescens
must provide the lena in order to obtain access to his beloved: cf. 56, 525)
167: QUI MODUS = what limit?, what end?; DANDI — gerund (obj. gen.: A&G 504)

Commentary: I.iii
168: cum modo [aliquid] accepisti, haud multo post aliquid paras quod poscas; MODO — adv.; *QUOM =
cum (+ ind.) [note the use of the pfct.: A&G 548]; HAU = haud; MULTO — abl. of degree of
difference (with post) [A&G 414]; POST — adv.; QUOD POSCAS —*rel. clause of characteristic, with
the force of a *final clause (“something else to ask for”) [A&G 531.2]; PARAS — i.e., “contrive”
169: QUID MODI EST — what (of a) limit is there …?; MODI — gen. with quid (A&G 346a3; Bennett 1914:
27); DUCTANDO, AMANDO — gerunds (here in the dat.: A&G 505, Woodcock 207.4c — cf. 882 and
contrast 167) (*asyndeton: A&G 323b)
170: MODO REMISISTI — vivid introduction of a frequently repeated scenario: “when you have just sent Phil.
back (after enjoying her services)” — the ind. remisisti with modo is used, without a conj., to present a
particular set of circumstances, as in the cum-clause in 168; CONTINUO — adv.; UT REMITTAM —
*jussive noun clause following rogas [A&G 563]; AD TE — to your home, chez toi; [In addition to
the speaker’s (former) financial independence, the fact that he has more than once hired Phil.’s services
and taken her home is difficult to square with the assigning of these lines to Argyr.: contrast, e.g., Art.’s
shock (875) at the thought of her son having dealings with harlots and cf. 78-79]
171: (ID) QUOD — suppressed antecedent [A&G 307c]; QUOD MECUM EGISTI — what was demanded by the
terms that you worked out with me (ago aliquid cum aliquo = “agree on terms with someone” — OLD
s.v. 41); TIBI — dat. in a construction that merges the notion of interest with that of motion: “to/for
you” (A&G 363.2)
172: par hostimentum datum est pari (hostimento), opera (data est) pro pecunia; PARI — sc. hostimento:
dat., on the model of par pari respondere/referre (to settle an account, make things even-steven: L&S
s.v. par I.B.4); HOSTIMENTUM — compensation, requital; OPERA PRO PECUNIA — services in return
for a fee
173: bene/male agere — to deal with someone fairly/unfairly (here and in the following lines); QUID = why?
(cf. ad 6); OFFICIUM — job, duty, function (cf. 380; for officium in the metatheatrical sense of “role,”
“stock part in a play,” cf. Slater 2000: 48)
174: fictum … pictum … scriptum est (impers.) — nowhere has it been fashioned (in sculpture) or
drawn/painted or written; POEMATIS — (Grk. neut. noun: A&G 60a): abl. pl.
175: ubi lena quae frugi esse vult bene agat cum quoquam amante; UBI … BENE AGAT (cf. ad 173) — *rel.
clause of characteristic [A&G 535a]; UBI — picks up usquam in 174; QUIQUAM — masc. abl. sg. of
quisquam; AMANTE — ptcple. employed as a *substantive (note the form of the abl.: A&G 121a2);
FRUGI ESSE — to be worth one’s salt [a *pred. dat. (A&G 382.1 n. 2, Lindsay 39) employed as an indecl.
adj.: cf. ad 602]: usually employed to commend proper moral behavior (see esp. Stewart 2012: 184-86).
Clear. here distorts the language of traditional Roman morality in describing the behavior of the
“proper” lena. Note the telling similarity to Dem.’s commendation of Argyr.’s behavior at 82); VOLT =
vult (note the ind.: “one who in fact wishes …”, “if she truly wishes”); [LENĂ — brevis in longo]
176: aequum est te parcere mihi ut tibi diu durem; AEQUOM = aequum (AEQUOM EST — impers., introducing
the acc. + inf. te parcere); TANDEM — used to express a strong sense of protest (“really,” “after all”);

Commentary: I.iii
UT … DUREM — *final clause [A&G 531]; TIBI — dat. of ref./advantage [A&G 376]; [On this trope
in Roman New Comedy, cf. Porter 2004]
177: QUAE — sc. lena as the antecedent (“that procuress who”); PARCET — *fut. ind., employed here to
convey a general truth of the type, “She who will do x, will soon discover y” (cf. Hurka ad loc., G&L
242 n. 1); as often, Engl. employs a generalizing pres. ind. in the protasis (“She who does x”) where
Latin, somewhat more precisely, employs the *fut.; EADEM — fem. nom. sg.: that same woman
(resumptive, employed for emphasis: cf. ad 144)
178: amator itidem est lenae quasi piscis; QUASI … ITIDEM — correl. adv. (Lindsay 107, A&G 323g);
LENAE — dat. (“so far as a lena is concerned,” “in the eyes of a lena” [A&G 378]); NEQUAM —
worthless (indecl.); RECENS: fresh (cf. Pseud. 1126-27)
179: Here begins a list that presents the qualities of the ideal amator in terms that also apply to fresh fish, each
observation beginning with a reference to the lover (is, ille) [*anaphora (A&G 641)]; sucus — juice,
sap, flavor, taste; IS (HABET) SUAVITATEM; QUOVIS PACTO — in any way/fashion you like (abl. of
manner: A&G 412b); CONDIAS — potential subj. (A&G 447.3, here in a virtual rel. clause of
characteristic [A&G 534-35]); [Sucus, in particular, is easily taken to refer to the “juice” or “flavor”
(i.e., cash and gifts) that can be derived from the lover when he is “fresh”; Diab., by contrast, has now
been drained dry (188-89) and offers only bitter reproaches. And just as fresh fish is tasty no matter how
you prepare it, you can “treat” (i.e., dun) the “fresh” lover in all sorts of ways: the “fresh” lover’s
suavitas (pleasantness, agreeableness) will be illustrated at 181ff.]
180: PATINARIUM … ASSUM — *pred.; VORSES [EUM] = verses (on the subj. cf. ad condias in 179) — the vb.
here is well chosen, since it can refer both to how one “treats” foodstuff in cooking, but also to the
tormenting and manipulation of the young lover by the lena (cf. Bacch. 766-67); QUO PACTO — cf. ad
179; LUBET = libet [impers.] (sc. tibi)
181: VOLT = vult; IS (VOLT) SE ALIQUID POSCI; SE … POSCI — acc. + inf. construction following volt
(understood), as opposed to the simple *prolative inf. (cf. ad 67); ALIQUID — secondary obj. of posco,
retained in the passive construction [A&G 396: a *limiting/cognate acc.]: cf. Engl. “you are taught
Latin” [from the active, “I teach you Latin”]); IBI — i.e., in his case; DE PLENO — sc. aerario,
dolio,or the like (the implication being that he can afford to be generous); PROMITUR — impers.
182: QUID DET, QUID … FACIAT — *indir. questions [A&G 573]; QUID DAMNI FACIAT = what loss he suffers
(DAMNI — partitive gen. with quid [A&G 346a3; Lindsay 15 — cf. Watson 1971: 151 n. 6]; ILLI
REI (dat.) — “that other business”: a euphemistic way of referring to the “matter” on which the lover’s
mind is focused, which keeps him from noticing his financial losses, or (Gray, who prints a colon at the
end of the line) pointing ahead to the list that follows
183: VOLT = vult; SESE PLACERE — acc. + inf. after volt (cf. ad 67) [followed by a series of dats., each
indicating a member of Clear.’s household whom the lover attempts to please: amicae, mihi, pedisequae,
etc. The passage provides an interesting declension of the status of various members of Clear.’s
household staff]; VOLT … VOLT … VOLT … — *anaphora (A&G 641)

Commentary: I.iii
184: ET QUOQUE — a suspect collocution (Lindsay 113); CATULO MEO — in this instance the dat. depends
upon subblanditur in the next line
185: NOVOS = novus; ut (catulus) gaudeat cum se videat; UT GAUDEAT — *final clause [A&G 531];
*QUOM = cum (+ subj. — by attraction to gaudeat [see ad 776-77]); SE — the refl. refers back to the
subject of the main vb. (subblanditur) — i.e., to the lover (A&G 300.2)
186: aequum est quemque hominem callidum esse ad quaestum suum — cf. Truc. 416 and 932; AD — with a
view to, when it comes to; SUOM = suum; AEQUOM = aequum (AEQUOM EST — impers., introducing
the acc. + inf. quemque hominem … esse); CALLIDUM — complement following esse
187: ISTAEC = ista (neut. pl.), picking up Clear.’s vera in 186; ISTAEC ESSE VERA — acc. + inf. with
perdidici; cum damno magno meo — abl. of attendant circumstances [Woodcock 43.5(ii)]; [As with,
e.g., 139-43 and 163, this line can be assigned to Argyr. — as opposed to Diab. — only with difficulty]
188: SI HABEAS … PRAEHIBEAS — pres. subj. in a pres. contrary-to-fact *condition, where classical Latin
employs the impf. [A&G 517e, Woodcock 197]; ECASTOR — this oath (e [archaic interj.] + Castor)
and the related mecastor (me Castor iuvet) is confined to women in Roman comedy: note its repeated us
by Art. in V.ii; QUOD DES — *rel. clause of characteristic, with *consecutive force (“something to
give”) [A&G 537.2] (also by attraction to habeas [A&G 593]); ALIA VERBA PRAEHIBEAS — there is
phps. an echo here of the expression verba dare (to deceive, cheat)
189: NIL = nihil; postulas te eam ductare maledictis; MALEDICTIS — abl. of price [A&G 416]; TE …
DUCTARE — acc. and inf. after postulas in place of the simple *prolative inf. (cf. ad 67); DUCTARE —
cf. ad 164
190: NON MEUM EST — normally, in such a context, this expression would mean, “it is not my way” (Gray), “it
is not my task, job” (understanding officium — cf. 173 and see Bennett 1910: 300), but in the mouth of
Diab. it seems to imply “it is not in my power” (setting up Clear.’s response); nec meum (est) ut
mittam (eam) ad te gratiis; NEC MEUM QUIDEM — tossing Diab.’s words back at him; UT MITTAM —
*consecutive clause, following meum (est) [A&G 537c]
191: aetatis atque honoris tui gratia — “in view of your age and your claim to our respect” (with honoris, tui
implies an obj. gen. [A&G 348a, 404c]) — the more likely option, given 194 — or, “in view of the
respect you have shown us in the past” (tui implying a subjective gen. [A&G 343 n. 1, 348 n.]): cf. line
192. Ironical mockery of the language of (aristocratic) mutual obligation, as becomes all the more clear
by the nature of the deal offered in 193-94. (Hurka takes both aetatis and honoris in an ironical sense, as
terms that would normally be applied to a person of mature years who enjoyed public esteem); HOC
FIET — points ahead to the offer made at 193-94 (“the following will be done,” “the following offer will
be made”); [On the implications of this line for the identity of Clear.’s interlocutor, see ad 135]
192: NOBIS LUCRO … DECORI TIBI — parallel *double dat. constructions (dat. of ref. [A&G 376] + pred. dat.
[A&G 382.1]); the loftily ironic tone is heightened by *chiastic word-order
193: DANTUR — vivid use of pres. ind. in protasis of a fut. vivid *condition [A&G 516a n., Bennett 1910: 65];
DUO TALENTA ARGENTI = 120 minae = 12,000 drachmae (but see Rose 1924, Shipp 1954: 141-43; on

Commentary: I.iii
the absurdly inflated nature of this amount, cf. ad 89); ARGENTI — gen. of material [A&G 344;
Bennett 1914: 16]; NUMERATA — *pred. (counted out): emphasizes Clear.’s insistence on “cash on the
barrelhead”; [As Gray notes, the impossibility of literally placing such a large sum in someone’s hand
adds to the cynical cruelty of Clear.’s joke]
194: dabo tibi hanc noctem honoris causa gratiis dono; HANC … NOCTEM — this coming night (with Phil.:
cf. 624 and 736); HONORIS CAUSA — as a token of my respect (cf. ad 191); GRATIIS DONO — for
free as a gift (comically redundant); DONO — *pred. dat. [A&G 382]; [on the parody here of the
language of dedications, see Scafuro 2003-2004: 17 and cf. 752]
195: QUID SI NON EST (ARGENTUM MIHI) — *dat. of possession (picked up in the TIBI of Clear.’s rejoinder)
[A&G 373]; SI NON — vs. nisi, in a statement where the neg. adv. goes emphatically with the vb. (cf.
ad 907); (ARGENTUM) TIBI NON ESSE — acc + inf. introduced by credam; ILLA — i.e., Phil.;
ALIO — elsewhere (adv.)
196-97: UBI ILLAEC (SUNT); ILLAEC = illa (neut. pl.) — either indef. or (less likely) sc. talenta; ANTE —
adv.; ABUSA (SUNT) — pass. (G&L 165 s.v. utor; Bennett 1910: 436; cf. my n. on utor in 199), with
illaec providing the implied subject; SI DURARENT, MITTERETUR … NUMQUAM … POSCEREM — pres.
contr. to fact *condition, with dual apodosis; DURARENT MIHI — dat. of advantage (for added
emphasis: A&G 376), setting up a contrast with ad te in 197
198: HAEC — resumptive use of the neut. pl. acc. demons. pron. (cf. ad 144) picking up the list of items that
has preceded; given added emphasis by the preceding hiatus. Note as well the repeated coincidence of
ictus and accent in this list of dissyllabic words: díem, aquam, sólem, lúnam, nóctem, | haéc … (cf. ad
512); ARGENTO — abl. of price [A&G 416]
199: CETERA QUAE VOLUMUS UTI — “the other things that we wish to employ/have” [utor here takes an acc.:
L&S s.v. I.B; cf. Karakasis 2005: 155 ad Turpilius 166 (164) and see ad abusa in 196]; GRAECA …
FIDE — abl. of price [A&G 416]: “on Greek credit” — i.e., for hard cash, the implication being that no
one would ever give anything to a Greek on credit; cf. the famous dictum of Vergil’s Laocoön: timeo
Danaos et dona ferentes [Aen. 2.49]. On the complex mix of perspectives involved in such jokes (in a
comedy where “Greek” characters perform in Latin before a Roman audience), cf. Moore 1998b: 50-66,
Leigh 2004: 54
200: cum panem a pistore petimus (aut) vinum ex oenopolio; *QUOM = cum (+ ind.); PISTORE — Pliny the
Elder’s assertion (NH 18.107) that commercial bakeries were first established in Rome at the time of the
Third Macedonian War (171-168) has been cited to question the authorship of Asin., or as evidence of a
later reproduction (see Hurka ad loc. and pp. 287-90; Moore 1998b: 136 with nn. 44 and 45; similar
objections to oenopolium are raised, on much more subjective grounds, by Havet/Freté xviii)
201: SI AES HABENT — i.e., once they’ve been paid (for the temporal element, cf. ad 143); EADEM …
DISCUPLINA — the same practice, system (abl.): DISCUPLINA = disciplina

Commentary: I.iii
202: OCULATAE — equipped with eyes; CREDUNT (EI) QUOD VIDENT — i.e., they trust in the money that has
been placed in them, not in lovers’ promises; (EI) QUOD — indef. neut. (“that which”) [suppressed
antecedent: A&G 307c]
203: VETUS EST: “NIHILI COACTIOST” … SCIS QUOIUS — there is a good deal of uncertainty about this sentence.
Clear. obviously cites a well-known expression (VETUS EST [sc. verbum] — “It’s an old saying” [OLD
s.v. vetus 3c]), but omits part of it (SCIS QUOIUS: “you know of whom/of what/whose”). In the end, we
must confess that we simply do not know what this saying was, or why Clear. should be coy about citing
its conclusion; NIHILI — most likely a gen. of value [A&G 417]: *pred. (“worthless”); COACTIO —
an attempt to compel payment (Rauh 1989: 52-54, ◉Donadio 2007: 161-62); NIHILI COACTIO EST =
“the attempt to collect an outstanding debt is worthless”; QUOIUS = cuius (see de Melo ad loc.: if this is
taken with coactio as an obj. gen. [A&G 348], then it is either masc. [“you know from whom”] or neut.
[“you know for what”]. If it is taken as a subjective gen. [A&G 343 n. 1, 348 n.], then it must be masc.
[“on the part of you-know-who”].) [◉Camerarius 1558: 170 suggests the reading coctio, a variant of
cocio, which Festus Pompeius cites as an equivalent of the later ariolator (“broker, factor, haggler” —
see Grant/Knott 2006 ad Erasmus Adages 4.3.23). As chance would have it, coctio is also a (rare) term
for the act of cooking or digesting: with the following obj. gen., this would yield, “it is worthless to
(attempt to) cook you-know-what,” an expression that directly recalls the Grk. λίθον ἕψειν (“to boil a
stone”: cf. Engl., “you can’t get blood from a stone/turnip”) — although Clear.’s reticence would
suggest that she has in mind a more earthy rendering of this expression. In the end, however, the reading
coctio is motivated by earlier edd.’s inability to scan coactio: see Hurka ad loc.]; AMPLIUS — adv.
204-14: for the characterization of the speaker in these lines, cf. ad 139-43; for the sentiment, cf. Truc. 162-63
204: ALIAM — i.e., of a different sort; ORATIONEM — here implying a style or manner of speech;
DESPOLIATO — *pred., with mi (“now that I have been stripped of all of my property”)
205: LONGE ALIAM (ORATIONEM) PRAEBES NUNC ATQUE OLIM (PRAEBEBAS) QUOM DABAM; LONGE (adv.) —
greatly, very much, far; INIQUA — voc.; ATQUE OLIM — “than (you did) once upon a time/earlier”
(atque [adv.] is correl. with longe aliam [A&G 323g]); *QUOM = cum (+ ind.) — the impf. ind. here
and in the following lines emphasizes the habitual nature of Clear.’s former behavior; [It is difficult to
disagree with earlier edd., the majority of whom bracket this line as an unmetrical variant of 206. Hurka
defends the received text by positing hiatus after longe and aliam]
206: ALIAM (ORATIONEM) ATQUE OLIM (PRAEBEBAS) — cf. ad 205; *QUOM = cum (+ ind.)
207: tum aedes tuae mihi arridebant cum ad te veniebam; MI = mihi — dat. of ref. with cmpd. vb. [A&G
370]; QUOQUE — to be taken closely with aedes: even your house, your very house; *QUOM = cum
(+ ind.)
208: aiebas mihi te atque illam me amare unice unum ex omnibus; ME UNICE UNUM — me alone all by
myself [rhetorical heightening + comic prolixity]; TE ATQUE ILLAM … AMARE — acc. + inf. with
aibas; AIBAS = aiebas

Commentary: I.iii
209-10: QUID = aliquid (cf. ad 717) ambae usque eratis in ore meo quasi pulli columbae; COLUMBAE —
gen. sg.; IN ORE MEO — doves were noted for their amorous “kisses”: here more particularly of young
chicks eagerly scouring their mother’s mouth for food that she has brought back to the nest, but also
suggestive of the erotic kisses with which Phil. would thank and encourage the as yet still solvent Diab.
(The inclusion of Clear. in this image is comic, but highlights the way the two women’s assiduous
attentions were focused on stripping the young man of all he had); AMBAE — i.e., both Clear. and
Phil.; omnia vestra studia erant de meo studio; MEO DE STUDIO — in accordance with or modeled
after my desire/will [L&S s.v. de I.C.7]: “your every desire was modeled after mine”; VOSTRA = vestra
211-12: (ID) QUOD [suppressed antecedent (A&G 307c): employed three times in succession]; IUSSERAM …
VOLUERAM … VOTUERAM — the plpfct. gives the sense, “once I had given a command, expressed a
wish, indicated my disapproval”; VOTUERAM — vetueram; DE INDUSTRIA — assiduously (based on
the more common construction with de and an adj.: L&S s.v. de I.C.8)
213: FUGIEBATIS — “you used to avoid”; nec prius audebatis conari id facere; ID — picking up quod
nolebam ac votueram in the previous line; PRIUS (adv.) — in former times, earlier (i.e., before now,
you wouldn’t even think of trying to do anything contrary to my desires); presents a strong contrast to
nunc in 214
214: QUID VELIM … (QUID) NOLIM: *indir. questions [A&G 573]; facere magni — to make or consider a
matter of importance; MAGNI — gen. of value [A&G 417]; PESSUMAE = pessimae (voc. pl.)
215: NON TU SCIS? — cf. 177; HIC NOSTER QUAESTUS — this livelihood/business of ours: cf. 511;
AUCUPI — i.e., “to that of an auceps” (dat.) or “to aucupium (fowling)” (gen.) [Gray notes that the latter
is the regular construction in P.]; SIMILLIMUST = simillimus est [simillimu(s) ’st — prodelision)]
217: There is uncertainty about the sense of assuescunt (trans. or intrans.?) and the scansion (i.e., is aves part
of P.’s text or an attempt to clarify an obscure passage on the part of a later scribe, phps. encouraged by
dittography of the first letters of assuescunt?). Either “they (the aucupes) make the birds grow
accustomed (to eating)” (with a sudden switch to a pl. subject), or “they (the birds: cf. the beginning of
218) grow accustomed (to feeding)”: cf. the similar ambiguity in 222. (One might also simply bracket
aves assuescunt altogether as a later gloss based on 222); necesse est (eum) qui lucrum quaerit
sumptum facere; (EUM) FACERE SUMPTUM — “that that man/individual incur expenses, make an
investment” (acc. + inf. following necesse est) (Lindsay 15); QUI QUAERIT LUCRUM — qui provides
the implied subject of facere (suppressed antecedent [A&G 307c]): that person who wants to make a
profit must incur an initial investment (like the fowler who strews seed about)
218: si semel — combines the sense “once they …” and “if ever they are …” (cf. ad 143); REM SOLVONT —
they repay the investment; SOLVONT = solvunt; AUCUPI — dat. of advantage [A&G 376]; [Notice
that the birds are grammatically fem. in gender: this adds to our sense of the humiliating emasculation of
the lover at the hands of the lena/meretrix. Cf. the similar use of the metaphor of sheep at 539-42]

Commentary: I.iii
219-20: ITIDEM — sc. est (“it’s the same way”); HIC — adv.; NOBIS — sympathetic dat. [A&G 377] (“for
us,” “so far as we are concerned” — i.e., “our house serves as our …”); EST — sg., in agreement with
the complement (area), as often in Latin (A&G 316b)
222-23: SALUTANDO … COMPELLANDO … OSCULANDO … ORATIONE — gerund: instr. abl. (A&G 507);
CONSUESCUNT — as with assuescunt in 217, there is uncertainty about whether to take this in a trans. or
intrans. sense: the lack of a clear subject for the trans. form (we expect the 1st pers. pl.) makes the
intrans. somewhat preferable (picking up amatores at the conclusion of 221 as the subject), but the
general run of the sentence reads somewhat awkwardly in that case (i.e., the instr. ablatives lead us to
expect the trans. form); note as well the sudden switch to the sg. pertractavit in 224; BLANDITER =
blande (adv.); VINNULA — likely a Plautine coinage; in combination with venustula, it heightens the
ironically mocking tone of Clear.’s lecture as 222-23 provide the elderly bawd with an opportunity to
enact the coyly seductive mannerisms of the practiced courtesan
224: PERTRACTIVIT — sc. amator (on the use of the sg. here, cf. ad consuescunt in 222); esse ab re alicuius =
to be contrary to the interests of someone (cf. 160)
225: licet (nobis/lenae) sumere eum sine retibus; SUMERE — i.e., to catch (comically picking up on sumo in
in the first half of the line)
226: HAECIN — haec + ne; TE ESSE OBLITUM — acc. + inf. employed as an acc. of exclamation [A&G 462,
Lindsay 75], with interrogative -ne; qui fuisti tam diu in ludo; ludus — training-school (for
gladiators), school; [i.e., you’ve had enough experience of our establishment to know how it operates:
the relationship of the lena to her interlocutor here vividly recalls that betw. the meretrix Phronesium
and the youthful Diniarchus in the opening scenes of Truc.]; QUI FUISTI — rel. clause + ind. with
implied concessive force
227: TUA ISTA CULPA EST — that is your fault (with tua culpa as the complement of est — the subject [the
impersonal demonstr. ista] anticipates the gender of the complement [culpa]); QUAE — with Clear. as
the antecedent (implied by tua); SEMIDOCTUM — *pred.; APS = ab; APS TE — i.e., from your
establishment; AMOVES — for the ind. in a rel. clause with causal force, see Bennett 1910: 137-38
nd
228: REMEATO — 2 sg. *fut. imperative act. (as often, with a subord. clause involving a fut. — A&G 449,
Bennett 1910: 354); AUDACTER — i.e., with confidence, freely; MERCEDEM — (merces) “technical
for ‘the fee’ of a schoolmaster, doctor, etc.” (Gray); NUNC ABI — the curtness with which Diab. is
dismissed leaves no doubt about who holds the upper hand in this scene; [STAGING: Clear. turns as if
to reenter her house]
229-31: these lines would seem to pose a further difficulty for those who assign I.ii and I.iii to Argyr.: the
young man here learns for the first time what the price of Phil.’s companionship is to be, yet Argyr. has
already informed his father of his need for this sum (74-75, 89). Those who defend the attribution of I.ii
and I.iii to Argyr. can argue that such contradictions are frequently an indication of Plautine innovation
rather than a problem with the ms. tradition: consider, e.g., Pseud. 324-49 in light of 51-52 (other
examples in Hurka 48, ◉Langen 1886: 89-232, ◉Marti 1959). See, further, Porter 2016: 342-43, 352-53.

Commentary: I.iii
229: MANE, MANE, AUDI — the rush of imperatives and the repetition of mane indicate Diab.’s frantic
desparation as he attempts to convince Clear. to stay and listen to one last offer (on such repeated
imperatives cf. Fontaine 2010: 177 and n. 48); censes aequum (esse) me quid tibi dare pro illa?; DIC,
QUID … CENSES — *parataxis rather than *indir. question with ind.; AEQUOM (ESSE) — impers. (acc.
+ inf. with censes) [Bennett 1910: 388 for parallels]; AEQUOM = aequum; ME … DARE — acc. + inf.
with aequom esse
230: ANNUM HUNC — acc. of extent of time [A&G 423] (HUNC = this year to come, the coming year): for
similar contracts, cf. Truc. 31-32 and 392-93, Bacch. frg. 10, and see below ad 751ff.; NE … SIT —
*final clause presenting a stipulation [A&G 531.1 and n. 1, Bennett 1910: 265]; this construction is
virtually identical to the more general use of a jussive subj. to present a proviso [A&G 528b];
QUIQUAM — masc. abl. sg. of quisquam; TENE = te + ne (the response highlights the element of
Diab.’s question that Clear. regards as most pertinent: i.e., quid censeo aequum esse te dare?) [cf.
Bennett 1910: 466]; VIGINTI MINAS — on this fee, see above ad 89
231: EA LEGE — on the following terms [A&G 418a]; ATTULERIT (sc. argentum) — 3rd sg. pfct. subj. or *fut.
pfct. ind.: in this instance, the latter is to be preferred as more vivid (and therefore more appropriate to a
threat: see further ad 763-65); TU VALE — i.e., good riddance to you (denoting a stipulation: Bennett
1910: 354 on the use of the pres. imperative with logical force)
232: at est (aliquid) quod volo loqui priusquam abis — the *hyperbaton (A&G 641) highlights Diab.’s
continued desperation (Hurka’s view that Diab. mistakes Clear.’s tu vale as an actual valediction seems
unwarranted); PRIUS QUAM ABIS — on the use of the ind., see Lindsay 133, A&G 551c; DIC
QUOD — i.e., dic (id) quod (suppressed antecedent: A&G 307c); LUBET = libet (sc. tibi dicere)
233: PERII — to be ruined (both morally and, as here, financially), bankrupt; RELICUOM = reliquum
(impers. — “something more,” “a means remaining”); QUO — instr. abl. [A&G 409] (with relicuom as
antecedent); QUO PEREAM MAGIS — “by which I might be driven still deeper into ruin” (*rel. clause of
characteristic [A&G 535a]): the perverse nature of this sentiment shows that Diab. has indeed been
“hooked” by Clear.’s wiles; MAGIS — all the more
234-36: the young speaker here displays the same obsessive sense of ownership, and the same anxiety
regarding any loopholes in the agreement, as is displayed by Diab. in IV.i (cf. 635 and ad 238).
234: habeo unde dem tibi istud quod poscis; UNDE … DEM — *rel. clause of characteristic [A&G 535];
UNDE — i.e., “a source of funds from which I might …” (suppressed antecedent: A&G 307c); ISTUC =
istud; IN MEAS LEGES — with a view to my conditions, on my terms (L&S s.v. in II.C.1), answering
231
235: DABO — sc. the required fee; UTI SCIRE POSSIS — *final clause [A&G 531] (parenthetical: Bennett
1910: 258): “so that you might know,” “just to be clear”; PERPETUOM ANNUM HUNC — acc. of extent
of time [A&G 423]; HUNC — cf. ad 230; UTI … SERVIAT — jussive subj. introducing a proviso
[A&G 528b: cf. ad 230 and Bennett 1910: 267] (providing the terms of the contract); [Note the use of
serviat to characterize the nature of the speaker’s relationship to Phil.: while it accurately reflects Phil.’s

Commentary: I.iii
status and the nature of Clear.’s business, it ill suits the relationship betw. Phil. and Argyr. as portrayed
elsewhere in the play]; UTI = ut
236: nec ammittat ad se quemquam alium virum quam me; NEC = neve; AMMITTAT — jussive subj. [A&G
439] (continuing the construction in 235); INTEREA — i.e., during the time of the contract; QUAM =
nisi
237: QUIN — to be sure, indeed (in corroboration); VOLES — *fut. ind., as regularly in Latin in such temporal
*conditions (A&G 516.a); castrabo viros qui (mihi) domi servi sunt — i.e., all of the male slaves in her
establishment; SUNT — sc. mihi (dat. of possession: A&G 373);
238: POSTREMO — finally, last of all; UT — correl. adv. (A&G 323g: see below); VOLES — *fut. ind., as
regularly in Latin, where Engl. employs a generic pres. (A&G 516.a); SYNGRAPHUM — see ad 746;
FACITO — *fut. imperative act. (as often, with a subord. clause involving a fut. — A&G 449, Bennett
1910: 354); AFFERAS — *jussive subj. introduced by facito [A&G 449.2c], without ut (A&G 565, 268
ad fin.; Woodcock 130: *parataxis); [i.e., see to it that you bring a contract (to that effect) — picking
up ut voles]; [Clear.’s response at 237-40 — and, in particular, the notion of a contract — is presented
as a direct response to the obsessive anxiety evinced by the young lover at 234-36: another element of
the scene that supports attribution to Diab.]
239: UT VOLES, UT … LUBEBIT … IMPONITO — for the tenses (as well as the general construction of the
thought), cf. ad 238; UT VOLES — sc. nos esse; LUBEBIT = libebit; LEGEM — terms, conditions;
IMPONITO — *fut. imperative act.; [Hurka notes that the phrase legem imponere is usually employed
of the terms imposed by military conquerors upon the defeated: with more than a trace of mockery,
Clear. vows to accept whatever terms Diab. might propose, so long as he produces the required cash]
240: MODO — (adv.) “just see to it that …”: introducing a proviso (as often with the subj.: A&G 528), but
here with the imperative: the equivalent of the protasis of a *condition [Bennett 1910: 268]; UNĀ —
adv.; ADFERTO — *fut. imperative act. [A&G 449]; PATIAR — fut. ind. (provides the apodosis of the
virtual *condition); [the themes of suffering and enduring pervade the scenes involving Lib. and
Leon.: see Henderson 2006: 147]
241: ianuae lenoniae simillimae sunt (ianuarum) portitorum; portitor — collector of harbor dues (cf. 159);
SIMILLUMAE = simillimae; LENONIAE — a comically inflated adj.
242: SI ([ALI]QUID) AFFERS — on the use of the ind. here, vs. the expected subj. in a statement involving a
generalizing 2nd sg. vb., cf. Bennett 1910: 319-20; SI NON (TIBI) EST (ID) QUOD DES — *rel. clause of
characteristic with *consecutive force [A&G 537.2] (“anything for you to give”) [suppressed
antecedent: A&G 307c]; SI NON — vs. nisi, in a statement where the neg. adv. goes emphatically with
the vb. (cf. ad 907); [STAGING: Clear. enters her house, likely slamming the door in unison with her
final words (non patent)]
243: INTERII — “I’m done for,” “I’m a dead man” (vivid use of pfct. in a fut. *condition: Lindsay 61, Bennett
1910: 66); SI NON — vs. nisi, in a statement where the neg. adv. goes emphatically with the vb. (cf. ad
907); INVENIO — vivid pres. ind. (usual in this construction [Bennett 1910: 20])

Commentary: I.iii
244: PERDO — here, as often, = “squander” (Gray ad 611 cfs. Rhet. Her. 4.44.57); for the pres. ind., cf. ad 243;
PEREUNDUM EST — pass. periphrastic (impers.) [A&G 500.3, Woodcock 204]; [“Either my money
goes, or I do!”: cf. Caecil. 42. See ad 637 for the later echo of this sentiment by Argyr.]
245-48: if these lines are assigned to Argyr., the lack of allusion to Lib.’s promised assistance is curious — the
dependence of the Plautine adulescens upon the servus callidus is a staple of the genre and provides the
occasion for the all-important comic scheme.
245: EXPERIAR — used in an absolute sense (“I’ll try [my best]”); OPIBUS, OMNI COPIA — instr. abl. [A&G
409] employed as a virtual abl. of manner [A&G 412], in *asyndeton [A&G 323b] (omni to be taken
with both nouns [A&G 286.a]): “with all my means and resources” [often expressed by ex summis
opibus, or the like]
246: EXOPSECRABO = exobsecrabo [hapax: a comically exaggerated formulation: ex + ob + secrare]; UT =
ubi (temporal, + *fut. pfct. ind. as regularly: “as soon as I shall have seen, caught sight of”)
247: certum est mihi adire atque experiri (et) dignos (et) indignos; DIGNOS, INDIGNOS — *asyndeton [A&G
323b] (a heightened polar expression [cf. ad 854], here employed to comic effect: “both worthy and
unworthy alike” — i.e., absolutely everyone); EXPERIRI † — to try my luck with them, try them out
[experiri is non-metrical: the suggested experi[ri] is based on parallels such as leiberi (for liberari) in
inscriptions, but (as Hurka notes) the lack of parallels for such a form elsewhere in P. must raise doubts];
CERTUM EST MIHI — i.e., “I have decided, made up my mind” (with the inf. adire and experiri as subject
of est: A&G 208c, Bennett 1910: 407); MIHI — dat. of agent [A&G 374]
248: si mutuas (pecunias sumere) non potero, (mihi) certum est — sumam (eam) faenore; MUTUAS
(PECUNIAS) — i.e., a loan from a friend, provided without interest; POTERO — sc. sumere;
SUMAM — fut. ind. with certum est [mihi]: “I’ve made up my mind — I’ll get it at interest” (*parataxis:
cf., e.g., Merc. 472, 546, and passages such as Amph. 1048 [where, as in our passage, the numerous fut.
inds. suggest a similar interpretation]); less likely, pres. subj. in jussive noun clause — A&G 563d,
Bennett 1910: 236; FAENORE — at interest (abl. of price [A&G 353.1, 416])
[STAGING: Diab. departs via Wing B.]
SCENE II.i
Libanus returns and begins to worry about how he is to make good on his promise to Demaenetus. [As
usual in 4th/3rd-century Greek comedy, a character who makes a significant exit in an earlier scene
returns here only after a new act has begun. In the Greek tradition, a choral interlude would have served
to mark the break in the action.]

Commentary: II.i
[STAGING: Lib. enters via Wing A.]
249-64: on this comic self-exhortation, see Moore 1998b: 37.

249-50: MELIUST = melius est (impers.) [meliu(s) ’st — prodelision]; EXPERGISCIER = expergisci; TE …
EXPERGISCIER … FINGERE — acc. + inf. following melius est (vs. the simple inf.: cf. ad 67); ARGENTO
COMPARANDO — *dat. of purpose dependent on fallaciam [Lindsay 19, A&G 505, Woodcock 207.4c];
COMPARANDO — gerundive employed in place of gerund [A&G 503]
251: IAM DIU EST FACTUM QUOM — “it is a long while since” (see Bennett 1910: 85, G&L 580 r. 3, Woodcock
238, and cf. 890); EST FACTUM — impers. pfct. of fio; *QUOM = cum (+ ind. — an inverse cum-
clause) [A&G 546a]; DISCESTI = discessisti
[252]: IGITUR … UT FINGERES — igitur introduces the following *final clause [A&G 531]: “for the express
purpose of contriving” (an unusual usage that supports the case for deleting this line); INVENIUNDO
ARGENTO — *dat. of purpose (cf. ad 249-50); INVENIUNDO = inveniendo; [See Marshall 2006: 266-
67 and Hurka ad loc. on the doublet 249/50-251/52: where Marshall suggests evidence of variants
arising out of a tradition of live performance, Hurka notes, with some hesitation, the possibility that 252
was intended to repair the seemingly flawed meter of 250 (where the scansion fingerē entails a *locus
Jacobsohnianus: cf. ad 85). I follow ◉Deufert 2002: 37-38 and Hurka in deleting 252; cf. ◉Thierfelder
1929: 87]
253: IBI — i.e., in foro (251); ad hoc tempus diei — partitive gen. [A&G 346]; DORMITASTI = dormitavisti
(“you’ve slept” — i.e., been inactive, lounging about); Hurka suggests a literal rendering, citing Plat.
Phaedr. 259a; IN OTIO — adv.
254: quin tu reice socordiam omnem a te et amove segnitiem; QUIN — exhortative (“why don’t you …?” —
i.e., “go ahead and …”): normally + ind. (A&G 449.2b). For quin + imperative, see Barrios-Lech 2016:
138; APS = ab
255: recipe te ad ingenium tuum vetus versutum; RECIPE — continuing the construction from 254 [The mss.
here read te recipis: the vb. has been altered to the imperative, phps. unnecessarily, to harmonize with
the construction in 254]; VORSUTUM = versutum; TUOM = tuum; AD INGENIUM VETUS
VORSUTUM … TUOM — comic piling up of adjs. (prolixity), with alliteration (for ingenium versutum, cf.
257: ingenium callidum) [less likely: take VORSUTUM as a *pred. acc. with te: “recall yourself to your
old ways so as to be cunning/clever”]; [Hurka follows Webster 1970: 250 in suggesting that vetus here
points to Lib.’s role as the elderly paedagogus, but this seems unwarranted: vetus = “of old,” “former,”
“long-established”]
256: SERVA — 2nd sg. pres. imperative; cave (ne) tu faxis idem quod alii servi solent (facere); CAVE …
FAXIS — “take care that you don’t do …” — see ad 5; FAXIS = feceris [an archaic sigmatic subj. (G&L
131.4b2, A&G 183.3, Lindsay 63). As De Melo demonstrates (2007a: 191ff.), this form “is virtually
absent in commands and ut-clauses, but unusually frequent in prohibitions and subord. nē-clauses” and

Commentary: II.i
“belongs to an elevated register.” Contrast the sigmatic fut. — my n. ad 130-32]; IDEM … QUOD —
neut. acc. sg.
257: qui gerunt ingenium callidum ad fraudationem eri; AD + acc. — indicating purpose (metaphorical
motion) [A&G 221.2d]; ERI — obj. gen. [A&G 348] with verbal noun fraudationem; gero — to
conduct, direct, apply; [The irony here is patent: unlike other slaves on the comic stage, Lib. must
faithfully “deceive” Dem. in order to avoid betraying his loyalty to both Dem. and Argyr. An excellent
example of this play’s humorous engagement with the conventions of Roman New Comedy]
258: SUMAM … INTERVORTAM … CONFERAM — delib. subj. [A&G 444]; SUMAM — sc. argentum, nummos;
INTERVORTAM = intervertam; QUO — whither, to where (adv.); HANC CELOCEM — (i.e., me):
nautical imagery of this sort is common in P.; the celox presents an apt metaphor for the comic slave due
to its quickness and its association with cunning. (It was used to spy out situations); CONFERAM — the
vb. can be used both of guiding a vessel and directing a weapon or a scheme
259: IMPETRITUM (EST), INAUGURATUM EST — impers.; aves admittunt (me) quovis (conferre celocem);
AMMITTUNT = admittunt (in the language of soothsayers, admitto is a t. t., of birds which give a
favorable omen: to be propitious, to favor that something be done [+ acc. + inf.]); QUOVIS — to any
place, whithersoever (i.e., wherever I wish)
260: PICUS … CORNIX, … CORVOS, PARRA — cmpd. subject of consuadent (261); AB LAEVA … AB
DEXTERA — on (“from”) the left and on the right (i.e. — since the Roman augur stood facing to the
south — toward the east and toward the west); CORVOS = corvus [Different birds conveyed a
different sort of omen, depending on which side they appeared: Lib. finds that they are all alligned in
support of his actions. Just what those actions might be, however, we are never allowed to hear, since
the approach of Leon. breaks off Lib.’s reflections. As often in P., an agitated scene of cunning
scheming leads nowhere, as it is overtaken by events on stage (Legrand 1917: 314-15). Hurka 130 notes
the association with the taking of omens prior to military compaigns — an anticipation of the miltary
imagery employed in the following encounter with Leon. (267ff.) and in III.ii]; [Comm. point out that
our Latin authors frequently disagree about which bird was to appear on which side. The confusion
arises principally due to the conflation with Greek practice, where the seer stood facing north: see
Gulick 1896: 240-42 and Bertini ad 259-61]
261: CERTUM … EST (MIHI) — cf. ad 247; VOSTRAM = vestram (addressed to the birds of omen)
262: QUID (EST) HOC QUOD — “what is this, the fact that …?”: i.e., “what am I to make of the fact that …?”;
QUOD — A&G 572, Bennett 1910: 125; ULMUM TUNDIT — the woodpecker has appeared on the
propitious side (260), but is pecking at an elm tree (the source of the switches employed to beat slaves:
cf. 341, 363, 575, and Lilja 1965: 55), which scarcely bodes well. (Ahl 2007 ad Verg. Aen. 7.191 notes a
further possible connection in the fact that, “some species of woodpecker … have black-and-white
stripes on the undersides of their wing plumage,” suggesting the stripes inflicted by the lash); HAU
TEMERARIUM EST (impers.) — sc. picum ulmum tundere

Commentary: II.i
263: QUANTUM — adv. (so far as) [*limiting/cognate acc.: A&G 390c]; EIUS PICI — subjective gen. (“the
portent/sign provided by that woodpecker”) [A&G 343 n. 1, 348 n.]; INTELLEGO — (+ ex = “deduce
from”)
264: virgae in mundo sunt aut mihi aut atriensi Saureae; MIHI … SAUREAE — dat. of ref. [A&G 376]; in
mundo esse — to be in store, ready, waiting (cf. Gulick 1896: 242-43); VIRGAE — cf. ad ulmum in 262
265: QUID ILLUC QUOD — cf. ad 262; ILLUC = illud; EXANIMATUS — *pred. (“all out of breath”)
266: METUO QUOD (+ ind.) — “I fear that …” [A&G 572b]: the unusualness of this construction is not lessened
by the emendation of quod to quom [cum] (Hurka, following Ussing and Nonius) or by taking quod as
“because” (de Melo); ILLIC = ille + ce (strengthened form of ille); OPSCAEVAVIT = obscaevavit (with
Leon. as the subject): any interruption of a religious proceeding was ill-omened, particularly one as
agitated as Leon.’s entrance (see, further, Gulick 1896: 243-45); [STAGING: whether the term obscaevo
is employed in a punning sense here, indicating Leon.’s arrival from Lib.’s left (scaevus), is far from
certain: cf. below]; MEAE FALSAE FALLACIAE — “my deceitful deception” (comic prolixity and
alliteration, heightened by the figura etymologica [A&G 598m]; for parallels, see Bertini ad loc.);
[Hurka’s attempt to read negative implications into Leon.’s arrival from Lib.’s left (cf. above n. xx
[“Setting”]) seems ill-founded]
SCENE II.ii
Leonida comes running on stage. After a series of comic asides by Libanus and a suitably grand build-up
by Leonida, we learn that the latter has just encountered a young man who is bringing payment for some
asses purchased from Demaenetus. (As chance would have it, the amount comes to exactly the amount
required by Argyrippus.) When told that these funds were to be handed over to the atriensis Saurea, and
that the young man in question had never met Saurea, Leonida claimed to be that very person and
arranged to meet the young man at Demaenetus’ house later in the day to receive payment. The young
man has agreed to this arrangement, but only on the condition that the transaction take place in the
presence of Demaenetus, whom he knows. When the young man is seen approaching (378), Leonida
runs off to inform Demaenetus of what Libanus and he are up to, while Libanus stays behind to delay
the newcomer and make certain that he does not meet the real Saurea.
[BIBLIOGRAPHY: Fraenkel 2007: 86-87. Westaway 1924 offers a commentary on 332-503.]
[STAGING: Leon. enters to join Lib., via Wing B.]

Commentary: II.ii
267-95: on the comic routine involved here, where one character is “invisible” to the other, see Marshall 1999:
125.
267: REQUIRAM — delib. subj. [A&G 444]; filius familiaris = filius familias [cf. paterfamilias] / filius
familiae (a comically formal expression)
268: UT … FACIAM — *final clause [A&G 531]; LUBENTIORES = libentiores; LUBENTIA = Libentia —
delight, cheerfulness (personified abstract); LUBENTIORES … QUAM LUBENTIA — see Bertini ad loc.
and Wright 1974: 68 for comparable jingles
269: MAXUMAM = maximam; IS = eis (i.e., Lib. and Argyr.) [dat. of ref./advantage: A&G 376];
ADVENTU — instr. abl. [A&G 409]; [The terms praeda and triumphus introduce a military analogy
that pervades the following scene and is common in Plautine scenes of plotting: cf. 271, 280, 294-95,
and, earlier, 101, 105-07]
270: MECUM PARITER POTANT, PARITER SCORTARI SOLENT — this points to a quite different element of
Argyr.’s character than is suggested elsewhere in the play and has something of a throwaway feel to it
(Porter 2016: 340-42; cf. ad 135, 871-72). From a contemporary viewpoint, the fact that the young man
engaged in such activities in the company of slaves would be the truly shocking and disgraceful element,
while the type of establishment suggested by scortari, in such a context, is not that of the typical New
Comic leno or lena but rather that of Petr. Satyr. 6-7. See DeFelice 2001: 88-92, who emphasizes the
gap separating the world of common brothels, eateries, inns, and cribs — all much frequented by the
poor, slaves, freedmen, and foreigners — from that of such fictionalized demimondes as those reflected
in Plautus and Ovid. [Hurka’s assertion that line 270 represents a fantasy inspired by Leon.’s excessive
enthusiasm, which leads him to cast Argyr., Lib., and himself as carousing soldiers (“zu einer
phantastischen Ausspinnung einer soldatischen Zech- und Hurgemeinschaft”) is unconvincing]. For
slaves frequenting brothels, cf. Flemming 1999: 45, McGinn 2004: 72 with n. 415, Levin-Richardson
2011: 60-61, Åshede 2016: 938; and see Poen. 270 (servolorum sordidulorum scorta diobolaria), 830-
34, Colum. Rust. 1.8.2, Hor. Serm. 2.7.46-52; POTANT — see Bertini ad loc. (citing ◉Miniconi 1964)
on the distinction betw. bibere (to consume wine) and potare, which (as here) frequently connotes “la
vie de plaisir.”
271: partiam pariter cum illis hanc praedam quam nactus (sum)
272: ILLIC = ille + ce (strengthened form of ille); AEDIS — acc. pl.; (EX) MORE SUO — according to his
usual custom [A&G 418a, G&L 397 n. 1]
273: VAE — “woe to …” (+ dat. of ref./disadvantage) [A&G 379a]; ILLI — i.e., the neglectful ianitor,
charged with guarding the door of the house; OPSERVAVIT = observavit
274: AETATEM — acc. of extent of time (i.e., “my whole life long”: cf. 21, 284) [A&G 423; Lindsay 25];
VELIM — potential subj. (A&G 445), the equivalent of the apodosis of a fut.-less-vivid *condition (cf.
Bennett 1910: 198-201); UT … MODO — provided only that I might (+ subj.) [A&G 528 and Bennett
1910: 269] (answering to velim, in place of the expected protasis); MODO — adv.

Commentary: II.ii
275: numquam ocius fies liber mea opera; MEA … OPERA — i.e., thanks to me (causal abl. employed to
express agency) [A&G 405b]; OCIUS — comp. adv.
276: DE TERGO — i.e., from off his back; PRAEGNATIS — swollen (acc. pl.)
277: largior — to bestow lavishly (i.e., share, squander); THESAURUM — i.e., his life-savings; [On jokes re
the beating of slaves, cf. Fitzgerald 2000: 38-39. For the slave’s peculium (a Greek as well as a Roman
practice: Xen. Oec. 9.11-13), cf. 541]
278: si tempus se subduxerit huic occasioni — if the (crucial) time will have snuck off/stolen away so far as
this opportunity is concerned (i.e., if this opportune chance [Grk. καιρός] should slip away);
OCCASIONI HUIC — dat. of disadvantage/sep. [A&G 381] with se subduxerit (Gray);
SUPTERDUXERIT = subduxerit (*fut. pfct.)
279: QUADRIGIS ALBIS — instr. abl. [A&G 409]: i.e., with a chariot drawn by a team of four white horses.
Comm. note that white horses are routinely associated with the chariot of Jupiter and therefore with
speed (see references in Bertini ad loc.); it is likely, however, that the association of whiteness with
speed is more fundamental: see Pulleyn 2000 ad Hom. Il. 1.50 re the Homeric ἀργός. There is also an
association with good omens (and phps. — as with the size of the team — aristocratic
refinement/luxury: Livy 24.5); cf., e.g., Henderson 1987 ad Aris. Lys. 191b-92; INDIPISCET = an active
collateral form of indipiscetur (sc. Lib. as subject) (Lindsay 53-54)
280: ERUM — i.e., Argyr.; IN OPSIDIONE = in obsidione (under seige — i.e., in duress); LINQUET —
paratragic (Jocelyn 1967 ad Enn. trag. 128); INIMICUM — gen. pl. [A&G 49d]; AUXERIT — *fut.
pfct. where Engl. would prefer the simple fut. [Bennett 1910: 57]
281-85: just how Leon. knows that the opportunity that he has found will be a source of the most profound joy
for Dem. as well as Argyr. is left unclear: one can assume that Leon. is aware of Argyr.’s predicament,
but 362-66 demonstrate (as the audience would assume) that he is as yet unaware of Dem.’s surprising
take on this.
281: si studet opprimere mecum hanc occasionem quae obvenit; OBVENIT — pfct. ind.
282-83: ille una mecum pariet maximas opimitates, gaudio effertissimas, suis eris, natoque et patri;
MAXUMAS = maximas; OPIMITATES — Plautine and post-classical; GAUDIO — instr. abl. (with
effertissumas) [A&G 409a]; EFFERTISSUMAS = effertissimas; SUIS ERIS — dat. of ref./advantage
[A&G 376]; UNA — adv.; GNATOQUE ET PATRI — i.e., Argyr. and Dem (in apposition to eris); -
QUE ET = -que … -que (an archaism: cf. Christenson 2000 ad Amph. 5]
284: adeo ut ambo aetatem obnoxii sint ambobus nobis; UT … SINT — *consecutive clause introduced by
adeo [A&G 537]; AETATEM — acc. of extent of time (“for life”: cf. 21, 274) [A&G 423];
OBNOXII — indebted, obliged (and therefore under our authority)
285: BENEFICIO — instr. abl. [A&G 409]; NOSTRO — poss. adj. in place of a subjective gen.: “the
favor/service that we have performed” [A&G 343 n. 1]; nescioquos vinctos (esse) — acc. + inf. after
ait [Lib. has overheard only part of what Leon. has just said]

Commentary: II.ii
286: NON PLACET (MIHI); IN COMMUNE — in regard to our shared fortunes (i.e., in a way that affects us both,
to our shared detriment) [others take in commune in the sense of “against the public treasury” (τὸ
κοινόν), of the theft of public property: cf. 321]; NE … FRAUSUS SIT — fear clause (A&G 564);
(ALI)QUAM — after si, num, nisi, ne [A&G 310a]; (ALI) QUAM FRAUDEM — *cognate acc. [A&G 390]
with frausus sit (“committed some crime/trickery,” “has been trumping up some trumpery” [Nixon] —
figura etymologica [A&G 598m]); FRAUSUS SIT — a deponent form of fraudo (1) [Lindsay 53-54]
287: OPPIDO — adv.; INVENIO — with iam (for this type of condition, cf. ad 243); UBIUBI — wherever
[such reduplication is often used to produce an indefinite form]; ubi gentium = where on earth (cf. ubi
terrarum) [partitive gen.: A&G 346a4; Bennett 1914: 36]; EST — the use of the ind. suggests that this
is an appended rel. clause (“wherever he happens to be”) rather than an *indir. question after invenio
(which would normally require the subj.: A&G 573); Hurka takes it as interrogative
288: ILLIC = ille + ce (strengthened form of ille); quaerit socium quem adiungat sibi ad malam rem; AD
MALAM REM — ad indicating purpose (metaphorical goal of motion): “for some trouble/bad business/a
thrashing” [cf. ad 43]) [this phrase ties in equally well with socium (“a partner for …”) and adiungat sibi
(“he can get to join him for/in …”)]; QUEM ADIUNGAT — *rel. clause of characteristic (purpose)
[A&G 531.2]; QUEM — takes socium as its antecedent
289: NON PLACET (MIHI) — cf. 286; PRO MONSTRO … EST — it stands in place of/serves as an ill omen;
PRO — L&S s.v. II.B.2; EXTEMPLO — straight off, right away (correl. with quando: L&S s.v. extemplo
II.A, A&G 323g); (is) tremit qui sudat — “that person who sweats, trembles” (suppressed antecedent:
A&G 307c) [The precise import and relevance of this expression is uncertain. (The traditional
explanations are labored and unconvincing: e.g., ◉Ussing 1875: 377-78.) ◉Thierfelder 1929: 41xx cfs.
the equally obscure joke re sweating at Merc. 126. Cf. Gulick 1896: 245 and n. 6]
290: QUID = why? (cf. ad 6); HIC — adv.; PROPERANS — *circumstantial ptcple. with concessive force
(“although I am in a hurry”); PEDIBUS — abl. of respect [A&G 418]; LINGUA — instr. abl. [A&G
409] LINGUA LARGIOR — chatter on, engage in empty talk (cf. dictis largiri: “to bestow in words,
make empty promises”); [*chiastic word order/antithesis [A&G 598f] with asyndeton [A&G 323b];
earlier comm. take largior as the comparative adj. (*pred.), less convincingly]
291: QUIN — why don’t I instead …? (+ ind.) [A&G 449.2b]; HANC — i.e., linguam meam; LOQUENS —
*pred. (*circumstantial ptcple.)
292: HOMINEM INFELICEM — acc. of exclamation [A&G 397d] (here, with mock tragic overtones);
PATRONAM — i.e., Leon.’s tongue, which Lib. mockingly presents as his meal-ticket; comprimo — to
check, repress, silence (here with secondary obscene overtones: e.g., Rud. 1073-75, Truc. 262-63): cf.
Amph. 348-49 and see Fraenkel 2007: 25.
293: (ALI)QUID — after si, num, nisi, ne [A&G 310a]; FECIT — “if (ever) he has …” (pfct. ind. to present a
common situation: A&G 473a): cf. ad 143; PRO ILLO — on his behalf; PEIIERAT = periurat
294: NE … PAREM — *final clause [A&G 531]; PRAEDAE — obj. gen. with tempus (“time/opportunity for
profit”) [A&G 348]

Commentary: II.ii
295: ILLAEC = illa (i.e., that booty/prey of which he speaks); ADVORSUM (prep.) = adversum (sc. eum);
QUICQUID EST — one might have expected the subj. here, in an *indir. question (A&G 573): cf. 317;
QUICQUID — indef. neut. (vs. a fem. pron. alluding specifically to the antecedent praeda): quidquid est =
“what’s up”
296-307: on the exchange of insults here, see Lilja 1965 passim and Barrios-Lech 2016: 204-06
296: VOCE SUMMA — abl. of manner [A&G 412] (at the top of my voice); QUOAD … VALENT — Lindsay
111; [STAGING: here the evesdropping scene concludes, as Lib. at last comes forward and makes
contact with Leon.]
297ff. — on the exchange of insulting greetings, see Bennett 1914: 274-78, Lilja 1965: 83, Petrides 2014b:
430; cf. below, 561-75.
297: GYMNASIUM FLAGRI — whip’s exercise yard/training-ground (voc.); GYMNASIUM — a Grk. institution;
FLAGRI — here and below, see Lilja 1965: 55; SALVETO — *fut. imperative [A&G 449]; QUID
AGIS? — “how are you doing?”; CUSTOS — guardian, keeper; CARCERIS — obj. gen. [A&G 348]
298: CATENARUM — obj. gen. [A&G 348]; VIRGARUM — possessive or subjective gen. [A&G 343 n. 1, 348
n.]
299: QUOT PONDO — how much by weight (i.e., what weight) (complement after esse); PONDO — abl. of
specification [A&G 418]; TED = te; TED ESSE — acc. + inf. after censes; NUDUM — *pred. (when
naked: i.e., when stripped to be beaten); [It is striking just how quickly, here and in what follows,
Leon. assumes the role of lead jester/trickster, contrary to the expectations engendered by the prologue
(118-24)]; NON EDEPOL SCIO — a typical set-up line provided by the routine’s straightman, of a kind
familiar from vaudeville
300: SCIBAM = sciebam [cf. Reeson 2001 on Ov. Her. 14.36 and cf. 208, 442, 496] — on this use of the impf.,
see Bennett 1910: 29; TE NESCIRE — acc. + inf. after scibam; ego scio, qui te expendi; TED = te;
EXPENDI — 1st sg. pfct. ind. act. (for the ind. in a rel. clause with causal force, cf. ad 227); [The rather
strained joke here is grounded in the practice of hanging slaves upright in order to beat them, with a
weight tied to their feet to keep them from thrashing about]
301: NUDUS VINCTUS — *pred. (when bound and naked — *asyndeton [A&G 323b]); CENTUM PONDO —
100 (pounds) by/in weight (cf. ad 299); PENDES — from pendeo; PER PEDES — by the feet; [Lib.
employs this phrase in a curiously limited sense (“when someone hangs you by weighting down your
feet” vs. “by your feet”): Leon.’s feet are to be imagined in the position described in my n. ad 300 (cf.
303-05). This is better than assuming (◉Ussing 1875 and Gray ad loc.) that Lib. suddenly switches here
to a second form of punishment, where the slave is hung upside-down by his feet in order to be beaten.
(It is far from certain that Cas. 390 alludes to such a practice: see MacCary/Willcock 1976 ad loc., who
remark: “not that there appears to have been any limit to the brutality of the Roman treatment of their
slaves, but [the upright] position would be more practical for the purpose.”) Despite the comic (!)
potential in the latter scenario (evident in the fabulous line in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to
the Forum: “Hanging by the feet, upside down, while being lashed: they hate that!”), it seems that a

Commentary: II.ii
single method of torture is being described. In either case, Lib. can determine how much Leon. weighs
during such a beating by employing the evidence of the required counterweight]
302: QUO ARGUMENTO — according to what line of reasoning/by what line of reasoning [A&G 418a, G&L
397]; ISTUC = istud (sc. affirmas, probas, vel sim.); dicam quo argumento et quo modo (istud
affirmem/probem) — *indir. question [A&G 573]; QUO MODO — abl. of manner [A&G 412b, G&L
399]
303: AEQUOM = aequum; AEQUOM CENTUMPONDIUM — a full/even 100 lbs. (i.e., neither more nor less)
304: MANUS — acc. pl.; ADDUCTAE (SUNT) — sc. manicae
305: NEC DEPENDES NEC PROPENDES — (like a balance) you neither tilt up nor down: i.e., you are in a state of
equipoise, perfectly balanced; QUIN MALUS NEQUAMQUE SIS — “so as to fail to be a villain and a
rogue” (*paraprosdokian); QUIN + subj. after implied notion of hindering [A&G 558, Bennett 1910:
301]; NEQUAM — Lilja 1965: 22; [As Hurka notes, the foundation for the comparison with a set of
scales is laid by aequom centumpondium (303) and trabem (304). The analogy is strained, to say the
least, but no less funny for being ludicrous]
306: HOC — neut. acc. sg. (i.e., the misfortune implied by Lib.’s curse [vae tibi]); TESTAMENTO — in/by her
last will and testament (instr. abl.: A&G 409); SERVITUS (3f.) — slavery, bondage, servitude
307: volo verbivelitationem compendi fieri; VERBIVELITATIONEM … FIERI — acc. + inf. following volo;
compendi facere aliquid = to make something a matter of saving: i.e., to cut short, dispense with, avoid
something (Lindsay 15, Woodcock 72.5 n. ii): here we have the pass. equivalent (fieri), with
verbivelitionem as subject (“to be dispensed with”); COMPENDI — for this pred. use of the gen., Gray
cfs. the more common lucri facere [A&G 343b]; VERBIVELITATIONEM — a comic term (verbal
skirmishing: cf. Barrios-Lech 2016: 281 n. 8) — such metaphors are often taken as a sign of Plautine
expansion: see Wright 1974: 168; [This is commonly regarded as an allusion to a recent innovation in
military tactics (Livy 26.4.4-9: 211 BC) — cf. Men. 778, Rud. 525. But the historicity of this has been
disputed: Daly 2002: 70-73; Hurka ad loc.]; [Once again P. overtly signals the conclusion of the comic
shtick and transition back to matters at hand: cf. ad 578 and see Barrios-Lech 2016: 206]
308: quid negoti est istud? — “what is this all about?”; ISTUC = istud; NEGOTI — partitive gen. with
impersonal neut. pron. (quid) [A&G 346a3; Bennett 1914: 32]; (MIHI) CERTUM EST CREDERE ( TIBI) —
“I have decided to trust you” [As comm. indicate, this is a rather odd expression (whether printed as a
statement or a question), given Leon.’s earlier eagerness to share his news (e.g., 267-71)]; CERTUM
EST — cf. ad 247; AUDACTER LICET — (sc. mihi credere) “you can do so with confidence” (cf. Most.
852); [The reading, attribution, and punc. in this line are all disputed]
309—24: once again the announcement of Leon.’s urgent news is delayed for the sake of a typically Plautine
comic shtick. Earlier edd. bracket or transpose different sections of this passage due to various doublets
and faults of expression (◉Thierfelder 1929: 149-50)

Commentary: II.ii
309: SIS — si vis (here with its full force as the protasis of a *condition, vs. the polite formula often found
elsewhere: cf. 683); AMANTI — *pred. (in his love, who is so in love); FAMILIARI FILIO — cf. ad 267
(dat. with cmpd. vb. subvenire)
310: TANTUM — exclamatory (impers.); BONI — partitive gen. with impers. neut. pron. (tantum) [A&G
346a3; Bennett 1914: 18]; IMPROVISO — adv.; VERUM — here employed as a strongly corroborative
adversative particle: “but in truth,” “but notwithstanding,” “but yet”; COMMIXTUM — *pred.; agreeing
with tantum; MALO — abl. of association (A&G 413a n.)
311: omnes dies carnificum concelebrabuntur — i.e., the public executioners will hold a daily holiday
(*paraprosdokian); DE NOBIS — at our expense, celebrating our punishment (OLD s.v. de 6b);
CARNUFICUM = carnificum; CONCELEBRABUNTUR — note the fut. ind. vs. the expected *consecutive
clause following tantum in 310 (*parataxis)
312ff.: various earlier comm. regard 312-14 (or 312-17) as problematic and propose various deletions or
transpositions
312: usus est nobis audacia inventa et dolis; USUST = usus est — there is need for x (+ abl.) [usu(s) ’st —
prodelision]; NOBIS — dat. of ref./possession [A&G 373]; AUDACIA INVENTA ET DOLIS — abl. (with
usust): “need of boldness and deceptions that have been discovered” = “need to discover/come up with
bold tricks” (taking inventa with both audacia and dolis) [As often in Latin, concrete (audacia inventa)
for abstract (inventio audaciae)]; AUDACIA … ET DOLIS — “bold deceptions” (*hendiadys) [A&G
640]
313: MODO — adv.; UT … DICAMUR — *consecutive clause following tantum [A&G 537]
314: OMNIUM (HOMINUM) — partitive gen. with superl. adj. [A&G 346a2]; DIGNISSUMI = dignissimi;
DIGNISSUMI ESSE — inf. + *pred. nom. following dicamur (313); QUO — whither, to where (rel. adv.,
with nos as antecedent; = in quos — “on/against whom”); CRUCIATUS — nom. pl.; QUO …
CONFLUANT — *rel. clause of characteristic with *consecutive force, introduced by dignissumi [A&G
535f]; CONFLUANT — i.e., be heaped (the vb. has been selected at least in part for the alliterative
effect: quo cruciatus confluant)
315: ERGO — “so that’s why …” (“ergo in position belongs to mirabar, in meaning to gestibant” [Gray] —
i.e., it is felt with both); QUOD … — at the fact that … (introduced by mirabar) [A&G 572b; Bennett
1910: 124]; GESTIBANT = gestiebant (“kept twitching with excitement,” “were itching for action”: for
the omen, cf. Gulick 1896: 245); MIHI — *sympathetic dat. [A&G 377]: more vivid than the
possessive adj. meae
316: quae hariolari occeperunt malum sibi esse in mundo; SIBI — dat. of ref. [A&G 376]; malum …
esse — acc. + inf. following hariolari; MALUM — neut. acc. sg. (trouble, a beating): cf. ad 43; IN
MUNDO — in store, ready, waiting (cf. ad 264)

317: ELOQUERE — 2nd sg. imperative; QUICQUID EST, ELOQUERE = eloquere quid sit (*parataxis): cf. 295;
CUM MAGNO MALO — abl. of attendant circumstances [Woodcock 43.5(ii)]; MALO — misfortune (i.e.,
should they fail in their scheme): cf. 310, 316

Commentary: II.ii
318: SI QUIDEM — for etiamsi, with subj. (◉Rotheimer 1876: 6; cf. 414); OMNES — sc. carnifices (311),
although the antecedent is rather distant at this point: cf. ad 312ff.; CONIURATI — having joined
together in a conspiracy (*pred.): i.e., working in unison; CONFERANT — protasis of a contrary-to-fact
*condition [A&G 517e, Woodcock 197], followed by a pres. ind.: cf. 933, and see ◉Rotheimer 1876: 44-
45, Bennett 1910: 274, 282
319: OPINOR — (parenthetic); FAMILIAREM — in apposition to tergum (“a loyal friend, my back” — i.e., I
can take it), or, if regarded as an *attributive adj. (with tergum masc. [Nonius]), “my trusty … back”;127
NE QUAERAM FORIS — a particular use of the *final clause [A&G 531]: “to look no farther” [Bennett
1910: 266]; FORIS — (adv.) abroad, among strangers (in opposition to familiarem)
320: ISTAM — on P.’s use of iste, cf. ad 845; FIRMITUDINEM ANIMI = resolved spirit [G&L 360.1 r. 2];
OPTINES = obtines; OPTINES … SUMUS — the pres. ind. is more vivid than the expected fut. [Bennett
1910: 65]
321: QUIN — nay rather, what is more; TERGO — instr. abl. [A&G 409]; RES SOLVENDA EST — pass.
periphrastic [A&G 500, Woodcock 203]; rem solvere here = poenam solvere: to suffer punishment,
atone for something by undergoing punishment; PUBLICUM — public property, public funds; “the
public treasury”
322: PEIIERABO = periurabo
323-24: on these lines, see McDonnell 2006: 25-27, who stresses that the focus here is strictly on the ability to
endure physical pain rather than a broader morally-centered notion of virtus. Cf. Stewart 2012: 111-13
(re 545-57 and 574-74), who emphasizes how the slaves’ valor is defined in terms of a triumph over the
coercive measures employed by the slave-holding society in which they live
323: EM — there you are!, behold!; ISTAEC = ista (impers.: the fem. anticipates the gender of the
complement, virtus) — on the use of iste cf. ad 845; VIRTUS — complement after sum: “that’s an
example of courage/fortitude,” “that’s courage/fortitude for you”; qui malum fert fortiter, quando usus
est; USUST = usus est (malum ferre) — “there is need/the necessity (to endure misfortune)” [usu(s) ’st
— prodelision]; QUI = si (ali)quis — “if/when someone …” [A&G 519]
324: (ille) qui malum fortiter patitur — suppressed antecedent [A&G 307c]; IDEM — masc. nom. sg.
(picking up qui): resumptive use of the pron. (cf. ad 144); POST — adv. (thereafter, later on, on a later
occasion); BONUM (neut. acc.) — good fortune; [many edd. accept the conjecture potitur bonum]
325: QUIN — why don’t you …? [A&G 449.2b]; REM — Leon.’s news/scheme; NANCISCIER = nancisci;
MALUM — i.e., “the bad news,” “what woe is in store for me”
326: UT ACQUIESCAM — *final clause [A&G 531]
327: ME … DUCERE — acc. + inf. following vb. of perception (vides in 326) [cf. ad 23-24]; EX CURSURA —
from/after my running; [For the second time (cf. 307ff.), P. signals the conclusion of the comic play
betw. the slaves, only to have it start again]; MANSERO — *fut. pfct., where Engl. employs the simple
127
As Hurka notes, the audience might have expected familiarem rem — “my household resources,” “family connections.”

Commentary: II.ii
fut. [Lindsay 60-61; A&G 478 n.; Bennett 1910: 54] (maneo — abide by, adhere to, follow [+ in +
abl. — here with abl. alone: see next n.])
328: TUO ARBITRATU — in accordance with your judgment (abl. of standard: A&G 418a); VEL ADEO USQUE
DUM — “even indeed right up until …”; ADEO — freq. employed after conjs. to add emphasis [L&S
s.v. II B5]; PERIS — ind. where we might expect a subj. [Lindsay 93, A&G 553 and n. 2]; [Lib.
accedes to Leon.’s request, only to then transform that acquiescence into an insult: cf. the similar twist at
42]
329: MAIOR — i.e., Dem. ; MINOR — Argyr.; HIC — adv.; HIC INTUS — in the absence of further
elaboration, this casual reference is most readily taken to imply Dem.’s house, particularly since the
audience has had no occasion to imagine Argyr. entering Clear.’s establishment since the departure of
Diab. at 248, and there is no indication later in III.i that he is to be thought to be in Clear.’s house at that
point (cf., e.g., 515) — despite the fact that he exits Clear.’s establishment at the opening of III.iii (591):
cf. intro. to I.ii and see Porter 2016: 329-31. In performance, of course, Lib. would point to whichever
house he meant; IAM SATIS EST MIHI — i.e., that’s good enough, I don’t need to hear any more
330: TUM — inferential (with igitur); ES FACTUS — pfct. of fio; [Libanus deliberately misconstrues the
meaning of Leonida’s previous remark: satis est mihi as “I have enough,” “I’m well enough off,” “I
need no more”]; MITTE RIDICULARIA — i.e., leave off the jesting, enough with the drolleries (an ironic
injunction in a play by P.: contrast 14)
331: MITTO — as usual in Latin, assent is indicated by repeating a key element of the previous speaker’s
command, question, etc. [A&G 336]; aures meae exspectant istud … quod affers; ISTUC = istud (i.e.,
the news or the plan that Leon. claims to be bringing)
332: ADVORTE = adverte; UT … SCIAS — *final clause [A&G 531]; beo (1) — to bless, make happy [BEAS
(ME): i.e., that pleases me, I’m glad of it, you are too kind]
333-334/35: atriensem nostrum vendere asinos Arcadicos mercatori Pelleo — acc. + inf. following meministi
(with the pres. inf. of a general fact: other examples at Bennet 1910: 374-75); ASINOS ARCADIOS —
Arcadian asses were valued for their breeding: cf. ad 340; MERCATORI — i.e., the actual purchaser of
the asses, not the purchaser’s agent (Merc.): consult the list of dramatis personae at the beginning of this
commentary; PELLĔO — contrast Pellaeo at 397: Fontaine 2010: 132 [The connection with
Macedonia remains obscure: in Roman comedy, the region is generally associated with military
adventurers (Miles, Pseud.). Comm. have suggested that the identification is satirical in nature (the stolid
Merc. associated with one of Rome’s current enemies) or (much more problematic) a slip for what in the
Greek original was a reference to the little-known Arcadian city of Pallana/Pallene: see Bertini ad 333.
Legrand 1917: 55 suggests a more practical reason: Merc. must be a stranger to Athens, and the northern
regions of Greece had a strong association with horse-trading. Attempts to associate this reference with a
specific period in Athenian history (after, e.g., the conquest of Athens by Demetrius Poliorcetes in 294)
are problematic: see Hurka ad 499-500]; NOSTRUM — cf. ad 58; MEMINI — see ad 331; QUID TUM

Commentary: II.ii
POSTEA — “what then therefore after that?”: i.e., what of it? what am I to make of that? (used again at
346, in a literal rather than a logical sense)
336: IS — nom. masc. sg. (i.e., the merchant from Macedonia alluded to in 333); QUOD DARETUR — *rel.
clause of characteristic/purpose [A&G 531.2]
337: ADULESCENS — i.e., Merc.; VENIT — pfct. ind.; MODO — adv.
338: (EUM TIBI) DEVORANDUM (ESSE) — pass. periphrastic [A&G 500, Woodcock 203], introduced in an acc.
+ inf. clause following censes; DEVORANDUM — the joke here is somewhat obscure and rather poorly
motivated: comm. have attempted to take devorare in an obscene sense or as a play on the literal
meaning of Leon.’s name (? — odd, given that Leon. is the speaker); Hurka finds an allusion to the
bilking of a young dupe (e.g., Pseud. 1126-27); CONSPEXERIS — likely a pfct. subj. (cf. ad 20)
339: ITA ENIM VERO — just so, precisely (enim vero with asseverative force: L&S s.v. enim IB); SED
TAMEN … NEMPE — introducing a related point that has just popped into the speaker’s mind (“but, to be
sure, do you mean/are you talking about …?”)
340: VETULOS, CLAUDOS — *pred.; VETULOS — the dimin. is sarcastic/dismissive; QUIBUS — *sympathetic
dat. [A&G 377]; FEMINA [= femora] — from femur (3n.): femur, thigh (Gray: “hocks”); [The
description of the animals is at odds with the manner in which they have been advertised: as Gray
indicates ad 333, Arcadian asses were highly prized (Varro R.R. 2.1.14, 2.8.3). See Fraenkel 2007: 86-87
on the traits that mark this passage as a typical Plautine expansion]
341: TIBI — dat. of ref./interest (to be taken closely with virgas ulmeas) [A&G 376]; HUC — i.e., to Dem.’s
house; virgae ulmeae — used for beating slaves (cf. 262-64); [◉Traina 1954: 177 concludes, on the
basis of this line, that the transaction betw. Saurea and the merchant involved a single team of asses]
342: TENEO — i.e., I understand, I get it; IDEM (nom. masc. pl.) — picking up asinos in 339 and ipsos in 341;
VINCTUM — *pred. (pfct. pass. ptcple. — but possibly the supine [A&G 509]); RUS — acc. with vb. of
motion, with no prep. (idiomatic: cf. domum)
343: UT — temporal [Lindsay 134-35]; INFIT — take adulescens in 337 as subject; PERCONTARIER =
percontari
344: ECQUEM … NOVERIM — *indir. question with subj. in primary *sequence [A&G 573] (“whether I know a
certain …”); the pfct. novi is routinely used as a pres. tense — “I (have come to recognize and
therefore now) know”; DEMAENETUM — in apposition to filium Stratonis
345-46: ME NOVISSE — acc. + inf. following dico; EXTEMPLO — to be taken with dico; me servum eius
esse — acc. + inf. following praedico; SERVOM = servum; DEMONSTRAVI — here, in the sense of
“indicate the way to”; QUID TUM POSTEA — here (vs. 334/35) little more than “what then?” (cf. quid
tum in 350 and contrast 334/35)
347: se ferre argentum ob asinos atriensi Saureae; SE … FERRE — acc. + inf. following ait; OB ASINOS —
see Lindsay 90 for this use of ob (“as payment for”); ATRIENSI SAUREAE — dat. of indir. obj. in
combination with vb. implying motion [A&G 363.2]; SAUREAE — in apposition to atriensi

Commentary: II.ii
348: VIGINTI MINAS — in apposition to argentum in 347; se non nosse — acc. + inf. continuing the indir.
disc. begun in 347; QUI SIET — *indir. question [A&G 573] (with qui for quis); SIET = sit [in primary
*sequence, since ait is pres.]; se non nosse hominem qui siet — *prolepsis [cf. ad 27-28]; [As noted
ad 89, 20 minae seems to be a standard price in Roman comedy: cf., e.g., the similar scenario at Truc.
645-55, where the young lover has obtained the same amount in payment for a flock of sheep]
349: se callide novisse Demaenetum ipsum — acc. + inf. continuing the indir. disc. begun in 347; VERO —
with adversative force (“but that, to be sure, …”) [This use of vero was challenged by earlier comm.,
who bracketed the line: ◉Thierfelder 1929: 150-51]; [The sudden appearance of Merc., attended by the
requisite twenty minae, is fortuitous even by P.’s standards: for the sake of the comic shtick in II.iv,
Merc. must know Dem. but not Saurea; yet this makes Dem.’s failure to mention the transaction, in his
consultation with Lib. in I.i, curious to say the least (cf., e.g., 91-104). Cf. ad 281-85 re inconsistencies
in Leon.’s knowledge]
350: QUONIAM = postquam; ELOCUTUS (EST); HAEC SIC — sic reinforces haec (cf. 352): ◉Leo 1895 ad 350
argues that the collocation flags Leon.’s comic “performance” of the scene; AUSCULTA ERGO — the
imperative here implies a *condition (“just listen”), the apodosis of which is supplied by scies (i.e., the
*asyndeton [A&G 323b] implies a logical/causal connection betw. the two utterances: “if you listen, you
will find out”): cf. 723
351-52: FACIO … DICO — pres. ind. for pfct. (vivid); facio me facetum atque magnificum virum (esse) — “I
present myself as …”; FACETUM … ATQUE MAGNUFICUM VIRUM — *pred. acc. after facere [A&G
393]; FACETUM — here in the sense of “big-talking,” playing off the commonplace of the overbearing
atriensis (Hurka): suggests the Grk. εἴρων; MAGNUFICUM = magnificum; MED ESSE — acc. + inf.
after dico; MED = me; HOC — neut. acc. sg. (dir. obj. of respondit): “he made the following reply”
(reinforcing sic: cf. line 350) [Lindsay 99-100]
353: NOVI … SCIO — note the distinction in the use of these two vbs., betw. knowing a person and knowing a
fact; QUA FACIE — abl. of description [A&G 415]: the interrog. adj. introduces an *indir. question
[A&G 573] with subj. after scio (“nor do I know what he looks like”)
354-55: AEQUOM = aequum; AEQUOM EST — impers. (it is fair, just, reasonable); TE … SUSCENSERE —
acc. + inf. after aequom est; si vis, adduce erum Demaenetum, quem novi; SI … VIS = sis — if you
please, please (Lindsay 82 and n.); non morabor (te) quin feras argentum — I won’t delay/hinder you
from obtaining the money (i.e., bring me Dem. and you’ll get the money right away: the *asyndeton
[A&G 323b] implies a logical/causal connection betw. the two utterances); QUIN FERAS — quin +
subj. following negated vb. of hindering [A&G 558]; fero = obtain, acquire (cf. 487, 670, 699, 700)
356ff.: on the weak motivation for the scheme that Leon. and Lib. devise here — and for scenes II.iii and II.iv
as a whole — see General Introduction, p.xx. The urgency with which Leon. initially undertakes to bilk
Merc. seems to assume knowledge that he does not then possess (cf. ad 281-85); once Leon. learns of
Dem.’s support for such a scheme (362-66), neither slave has grounds for further elaborating Leon.’s
initial ruse. (That the two slaves elect to carry out the deception before the house of Dem., where they

Commentary: II.ii
risk being discovered by Art. or the actual Saurea [Hurka], is less of a concern, given the conventions of
the Roman stage)
356: ME … ADDUCTURUM (ESSE) ET ME … FORE — acc. + inf. following dixi
357: ITURUST = iturus est [ituru(s) ’st — prodelision]
358: QUID … CONSILI — partitive gen. with impers. neut. pron. [A&G 346a3; Bennett 1914: 26];
CAPTANDUM (ESSE) — to be undertaken (pass. periphrastic [A&G 500, Woodcock 203] in acc. + inf.
after censes); DICE = dic (A&G 182 n.); ISTUC AGO — “I am dealing with/pondering that very thing”
(ago here = volvo [L&S s.v. II.D.3]); ISTUC = istud
359: QUO MODO … INTERVORTAM — *indir. question [A&G 573], in apposition to istuc in previous line;
ARGENTO — abl. of sep. with vb. of depriving [A&G 401]; INTERVORTAM = intervertam;
ADVENTOREM — rare and comic (for the more common advena)
360: HOC OPUS EST †EXASCEATUM† — edd. have adopted Acidalius’ exasceato (“this [scheme] needs to be
roughed out”) [de Melo]), in which case hōc should be abl. (as in Cic. ad Att. 10.4.11: opus fuit Hirtio
convento). (In the expression quid opus est facto, the interrogative pron. permits the conflation of the
constructions quo opus est facto and quid opus est fieri [Madvig 1880: 266]. On the other hand, quod
opus est = illud quo opus est.) Note that at Miles 884 the related deasciari is employed as a metaphor
for “fleecing” someone rather than working out a plan: cf. Capt. 641, Miles 1142 (deruncino); Ter.
Phorm. 333 (abrado); ILLE — with hospes in 361 (i.e., Merc.)
361: AFFERT — pres. ind. for the expected fut. (vivid); EXCLUSI SUMUS — pfct. ind. for fut. pfct. (vivid): “we
have been shut out” (i.e., our hopes of getting the money are gone) [Bennett 1910: 46, 66]. Gray
suggests that the metaphor derives from the image of the excluded lover who is denied access to his
mistress’ abode
362: SOLUM — *pred. (with me)
363: INTERMINATUST = interminatus est [interminatu(s) ’st — prodelision]; nos ulmeos futuros (esse) —
acc. + fut. inf. after vb. of threatening; [Lib.’s misrepresentation of his conversation with Dem. in I.i
seems to be motivated solely by a desire for comic hyperbole and yet another joking reference to the
beating of slaves]
364: NI … ESSENT — subj. in subord. clause in indir. disc. [A&G 580], standing for an original fut. ind.
[Woodcock 280.7]; ARGYRIPPO — *dat. of possession [A&G 373]; ARGENTI — gen. of material
with minae [A&G 344]
365-66: iussit nos defraudare vel atriensem vel uxorem suam; VEL NOS … VEL NOS — *anaphora (repetition
of nos) highlighting the introduction of the cmpd. (disjunctive) objects of the inf. defrudare: heightened
style; DEFRUDARE = defraudare; SESE … DARE — acc. + inf. after dixit,with pres. inf. in place of the
expected fut. [de Melo 2007a: 147-48 and n. 22; Bennet 1910: 368 and 426]; PROMISCAM — “shared,”
“common” (i.e., Dem. promises to lend his efforts in their support: cf. Rud. 1182)
367-77: on the metatheatrical elements of this exchange, which is played out against a generally acknowledged
domestic hierarchy of violence, see Stewart 2012: 106-07

Commentary: II.ii
367: ABI … ET NARRA — on such paired imperatives, cf. Bennett 1910: 351 and see below ad 383; NARRA
HAEC UT … — *prolepsis (cf. ad 27-28), with haec understood once again as the obj. of acturi sumus;
ut acturi sumus — *indir. question with ind. for CL subj. (“how we intend …” [A&G 573])
368: TE … FUTURUM ESSE — acc. + inf., dependent on narra in 367 (elaborating on ut … acturi sumus); EX
LEONIDA — “instead of Leonida” (cf. 145)

369: DUM … AFFERAT — either “while he brings” (subj. in subord. clause in indir. disc. [A&G 580]) or, more
likely, “until he brings/hands over” (dum + subj. implying contingency or intent [A&G 553]);
MERCATOR — Lib. here conflates the Merchant with his youthful agent (see Introduction: Dramatis
Personae); (SIC)UT
370: ILLUM — i.e., Merc.; HIC — adv.; si forte prius advenerit; PRIUS (adv.) — i.e., before Leon.’s
return; ADVENERIT — most likely *fut. pfct. ind. (cf. ad 20)
371: QUID AIS — “what do you say” (to the following) — a way of introducing a new proposition (see ad 104);
PUGNO — instr. abl. [A&G 409]; māla — jaw; TIBI — *sympathetic dat. [A&G 377];
PERCUSSERO — *fut. pfct. ind. where Engl. would employ a generalizing pres. [A&G 516.a]; [cf.
Watson 1971: 155 and n. 6 on the echo here of the Praetor’s Edict re cases of assault. ◉Zwierlein 1992:
190 argues that this must be an anachronism and brackets 371-80 as a later interpolation]
372: *QUOM = cum (+ ind.); QUOM IMITABOR — *fut. ind. in a cum-clause referring to the fut. (where Engl.
would employ a generalizing pres. ind.); CAVETO — *fut. imperative (as often, with a subord. clause
involving a fut. — A&G 449, Bennett 1910: 354); NE SUSCENSEAS — neg. jussive subj. following
caveto [cf. ad 5]
373: CAVEBIS — fut. with imperatival force [Bennett 1910: 39]; NE … ATTINGAS — neg. jussive subj.
following cavebis [cf. ad 5]; SI SAPIS — pres. ind. for the expected *fut. (vivid)
374: NE … COMMUTAVERIS — *final clause with pfct. subj. (“lest it turn out that/you find that you have …”)
[A&G 531, Bennett 1910: 257 (who takes the pfct. subj. as an *aorist)]; MALO CUM AUSPICIO — abl.
of attendant circumstances [Woodcock 43.5(ii)] (i.e., to ill effect, to your regret): the Latin suggests that
the name “Saurea” (“Lizard,” “Salamander”) contains an ill omen; Oliphant 1910 detects yet another
reference to “stripes” (i.e., whip-marks) here.
375: QUAESO — “please”; AEQUO ANIMO — abl. of manner [A&G 412] (calmly, patiently); PATITOR — 2nd
sg. *fut. dep. imperative (the fut. is used here in a precise sense: “endure [my hitting you] when it
happens” [Bennett 1910: 356]); *QUOM = cum (+ ind.); QUOM … REFERIAM — *fut. ind. in a cum-
clause referring to the fut. (where Engl. would employ a generalizing pres. ind.)
376: USUST = usus est [usu(s) ’st — prodelision]; UT USUST FIERI — “how it has to be done” (i.e., if I’m
going to succeed in fooling Merc.) [Bennett 1910: 412]: pres. ind. for CL subj. in *indir. question [A&G
573]; FIERI — impers. pass.; UT FACTURUS SUM — a comic echo of Leon.’s language (ut usus est
fieri)
377: NE NEGA — ne is regularly employed in prohibitions with the fut. imperative; with the pres. imperative it
is poetic (classical period) or (in P.) colloquial: A&G 450a, Barrios-Lech 2016: 74-76. (Cf. Lindsay 71

Commentary: II.ii
on the indifference, in P., betw. the imperative and the jussive subj.); NEGA — refuse; QUIN — nay,
rather (presenting a correction, with promitto answering, and trumping, negare: Mendelsohn 1907: 124);
HOSTIRE— *prolative inf. (pres.) with promitto (for the expected acc. + fut. inf.) [A&G 580c n.];
CONTRA (adv.) — “in return”; (ITA) UT — correl. adv. [A&G 323g]; MERUERIS — *fut. pfct. ind.
where Engl. employs a generalizing pres.
378: PATIERE — 2nd sg. fut. ind. dep.; IS EST — “it is he” (i.e., Merc.) [Webster 1970: 256 notes the
unrealistic speed with which Merc. arrives, despite the latter’s detour to baths (357), and suggests the
likelihood of an act division at this point in the Greek original. Cf. ad 407ff.]
379: IPSUS = ipse (to be taken with ille as the predicate); RECURRO — pres. ind. for fut. (vivid: Bennett 1910:
19): the vb. suggests that Leon. exits via the same wing by which he initially entered. If Hurka (ad loc.)
is correct in detecting a metatheatrical reference to the expected role of the servus currens, we might
translate: “go running off once again”; HUC — adv.; HIC — adv. [huc … hunc … hic — note the
comic play with the demonstrative]
380: (OMNIA) NARRARE; QUIN — “why don’t you … ?” (+ ind.) [employed to introduce an exhortation:
A&G 449.2b]; TUOM = tuum; TUOM OFFICIUM — your job/task [Gray detects a double sense: (1) run
off and carry out your part in our scheme; (2) do what you always do — i.e., run away]
[STAGING: Leon. exits via Wing B; Lib. assumes a watchful position near Wing B.]
SCENE II.iii
[Iambic Septenarii]
The initial encounter with the agent of the man who has bought the asses from Demaenetus. (The agent,
who is never named, is simply designated as Mercator in our mss. — see Introduction: Dramatis
Personae.)
[BIBLIOGRAPHY: Legrand 1917: 102-03. Westaway 1924 offers a commentary on 332-503.]
[STAGING: Merc. enters the stage via Wing A,128 observed by Lib. He is accompanied by a mute
attendant.]
381: UT — rel. adv.: parenthetical, to denote that the facts accord with an assumption or supposition made in
the principal clause (“as …”); DEMONSTRATAE SUNT — sc. aedes (anticipating aedis [acc. pl.] in the
128
See Introduction, “Setting.”

Commentary: II.iii
main clause); OPORTET — used to indicate logical necessity (“this must be …”); HASCE … ESSE —
acc. + inf. following oportet; HASCE = has (fem. acc. pl., in anticipation of the complement aedis)
382: I … PULTA — as Engl. “go knock” (although the ancients routinely employed their feet for this purpose
rather than their fists: 391); PUERE = puer [voc. (A&G 50a), addressed to a mute attendant]
383: EVOCATO — *fut. imperative [A&G 449]: on the switch in 382-83 from pres. to fut. imperative, cf.
Lindsay 72, de Melo 2007a: 111-12, Bennett 1910: 355; HUC — adv.; [Merc. instructs his slave to
ask for Saurea, which prepares for the subsequent entrance of Leon. at 407. The instruction is not
altogether logical, however, since in the end it is Dem. whom Merc. will insist upon meeting (392, 452,
455, 479, 488)]
384: SIC — in this way (i.e., so violently); FRANGIT — Lib. plays the grumpy porter, offering the
conventional comic complaint at the vigor with which someone has knocked (or, rather, kicked) at the
door: cf. Shakespeare, Macbeth II.iii. In this instance (as the following line shows) he has missed his
“cue” and responded before Merc.’s slave has had a chance to touch the door; [STAGING: Lib. and
Leon. had observed the entrance of Merc. from somewhere near Wing B. Thus Lib. approaches Merc.
from somewhere on stage (note the implications of 384b and 385b-86a) and intercepts the young man’s
attempt to inquire at Dem.’s house well before there is any chance of him encountering the real
Saurea]; OHE, INQUAM — “you there: stop, I say!” (As Gray notes, ohe is often employed in contexts
where a person is being commanded to cease from a certain activity: “enough!”); QUID = (ali)quid
after si, num, nisi, ne (A&G 310a) [quid here with adv. force: “if you hear (me) at all,” “if you’re not
deaf” (Westaway) — *limiting/cognate acc. (A&G 390c)]
385: ETIAM — “yet”; SANUN = sanus + ne; CENSEBAM — on this use of the impf., see Bennett 1910: 29;
(TE) ATTIGISSE — acc. + inf. after censebam
386-87: PROPERTEA … QUIA — because, inasmuch as (cf. L&S s.v. propterea); HUC — adv.; HABEBAS
ITER = ibas; FORES … VERBERARIER — acc. + inf. with nolo; CONSERVAS — *pred. [anticipates the
personified doors of Roman love elegy]; VERBERARIER = verberari; SANE — ironically picking up
Merc.’s sanun es in 385?; NOSTRIS — as often, noster is used here in reference to members of one’s
household, as in “our people,” “our household staff” (cf. ad 58: the failure to recognize this idiom
accounts in part for the insertion of aedibus [intrusive gloss])
388: PERICLUM = periculum; HAU PERICLUM EST — impers. (“there is no danger …”); NE …
EFFRINGANTUR — fear clause following periclum est [A&G 564]; FORIBUS — dat. of
disadvantage/sep. [A&G 381] rather than abl. of sep. [A&G 401]
389: ISTOC EXEMPLO — according to this model, in this way [A&G 418a, G&L 397]; QUAERUNT — absol.
(“inquire” — i.e., knock): pres. ind. of a habitual event; RESPONDEBIS — *fut. ind. where Engl.
employs a generalizing pres. [A&G 516.a]
390: ita haec ianua morata est — “this door has been conditioned in such a way”: i.e., that’s this door’s
custom/nature, this door has been trained in this fashion

Commentary: II.iii
391: CLAMAT = vocat; (ALI)QUEM — after si, num, nisi, ne [A&G 310a]; quem calcitronem ire — acc. +
inf. after vb. of perception [cf. ad 23-24]
392: QUID VENIS — [quid = “why” (cf. ad 6)]; VOLEBAM — “I was looking for/was wanting”: on the use of
the impf. here to refer to an action that belongs to the present as well as the past , see ◉Touratier 1998:
276 (cf. Engl. “I was hoping to see …”); Hurka follows earlier comm. in regarding the usage as
deferential (imperfectum modestiae) both here and at 452.
393: SI SIT … DICAM — pres. subj. in a pres. contrary-to-fact *condition [A&G 517e, Woodcock 197];
QUID = “what about … ?” (OLD s.v. quis 12): cf. the common expression quid quod … [G&L 525.1 n.
3] and see lines 262, 265
394: NIHILO — abl. of degree of difference [A&G 414]; MAGE = magis; AD TONSOREM — [backing up the
lies told by Leon. at the barbershop earlier]; IRE DIXIT = se ire dixit — omission of the acc. subject of
the inf. (a feature of common speech [A&G 581 n. 1] rather than a Graecism: Lindsay 2 and 73)
395: *QUOM = cum; QUOM VENISSET — sc. eo (adv.): “once he had gotten there” (i.e., had arrived at the
barber’s) [the use of the subj. here is anomalous: see ad 776-77]; [Ussing’s emendation is attractive:
conveni (sc. eum). sed post non redit? (For one thing, the text as it stands never has Merc. mention that
he has met “Saurea” earlier. While it is not beyond P. to ignore such mundane points, 399-402 seem to
require a better foundation than the ms. reading provides]; POST — adv.; VOLEBAS — cf. volebam
in 392
396: ARGENTI — gen. of material [A&G 344]; SI ADESSET, ACCEPISSET — past. contrary-to-fact *condition
(“if he had been present [when I arrived], …”), employing impf. subj. in protasis [A&G 517e n. 2,
Woodcock 197 and 199; Bennett 1910: 205]
397: QUI = abl. of the neut. interrog. pron. quid [A&G 150b]; QUI PRO = pro quo (*anastrophe [A&G 640])
[pro — in exchange, in return for (+ abl.)]; ISTUC = istud (sc. argentum); PELLAEO MERCATORI —
cf. ad 333
398: MERCATU — locative abl. [A&G 429] or, more likely, instr. abl. [A&G 409] with adv. force (“in a
business transaction”); ID — i.e., argentum; HIC — adv.; EUM ADFUTURUM (ESSE) — acc. + inf.
following credo
399: QUA FACIE — abl. of description [A&G 415] (here as the complement after est); VOSTER = vester; SI
IS EST — “if he is that fellow (whom I met earlier)” (cf. ad 395: comm. lessen the awkwardness
somewhat by having 399b and 402 spoken aside, but the motivation for this staging is somewhat
unclear. Voster in the earlier part of 399 would seem to imply that 399b and 402 are meant for Lib.’s
ears — i.e., that Merc. is overtly asking Lib. to help him compare the two “Saureas.” [The contrast with
is suggests that possessive adj. voster here has a more pointed force than at 58, 387, etc.])
400-01: MACILENTIS MALIS … TRUCULENTIS OCULIS, COMMODA STATURA, TRISTI FRONTE — abl. of
description [A&G 415]; MĀLIS — cheeks; [On such comic descriptions, cf. Marshall 2006: 133-34];
ALIQUANTUM — adv. [A&G 214d]

Commentary: II.iii
402: NON POTUIT — pfct. ind. of a modal vb. in a contrary-to-fact statement (“could not have”) [A&G 517c];
RECTIUS — cf. adv.; DESCRIBERE — to portray
403: ATQUE — cf. ad 151; ADEO — freq. employed after prons. to add emphasis [L&S s.v. II B1]; CONTUOR
= contueor; QUASSANTI — intrans.; QUASSANTI CAPITE — abl. of manner/attendant circumstances

[cf. Woodcock 48] — a sign of intense anger; [On the description of “Saurea’s” gait here, see
O’Sullivan 2011: 37]
404: QUISQUE = quisquis (Lindsay 50) — here introducing the equivalent of the protasis of a *conditional
clause (si quis); OCCESSERIT — *fut. pfct. ind; IRATO — *pred. (in his anger, when he is angry)
405-06: SIQUIDEM … SI — dual protasis [Bennett 1910: 77]; SIQUIDEM — for etiamsi (◉Rotheimer 1876: 6);
AEACIDINIS MINIS ANIMISQUE — angry threats worthy of a descendant of Aeacus (i.e., of the Homeric
Achilles) [a rather learned allusion, as such Plautine allusions go: Havet/Freté 84 argue that the
reference must be to Ajax, son of Telamon, who would have been a more familiar figure to the Roman
theater-goer]; MINIS ANIMISQUE — instr. abl. with expletus [A&G 409] — best translated as “angry
threats” (*hendiadys: A&G 640); CEDIT = incedit (cf. 403); MED = me; IRATUS (bis) — *pred.
(“in his anger … for all his anger”); TETIGERIT — *fut. pfct.
SCENE II.iv
[Iambic Septenarii]
Arrival of Leonida in the guise of Saurea and bamboozling of the agent. Leonida plays the part of the
irascible, high-handed atriensis to the hilt, employing a comically inflated diction. In the end (as often in
P.), the scene serves no practical purpose in advancing the plot: the agent insists on transacting his
business in the presence of Demaenetus and is at last led off to meet with him.
[BIBLIOGRAPHY: Legrand 1917: 102-03; Stewart 2012: 107-11. Westaway 1924 offers a commentary on
332-503.]
[STAGING: Leon. enters the stage via Wing B to join Lib. and Merc.]
407ff.: older comm. are vexed that Leon.’s mission to the forum has consumed only some 25 lines (thus, e.g.,
Webster 1970: 256, who posits an act-break in the Greek original before our II.iii: cf. ad 378), but
temporal verisimilitude of this sort was never a feature of the Greek or Roman stage.129 Nor are we
allowed to consider why Leon. has not simply summoned Dem., a step that would have rendered much
of the following scene unnecessary. ◉Legrand 1910 (French original): 401 n. 2 proposes that Leon. is
129
Cf., however, the introduction to II.i.

Commentary: II.iv
attempting to provide Dem. with what we today would refer to as “plausible deniability,” but this is
nowhere stated and is at odds with Dem.’s guarantee to come to the slaves’ assistance should their
plans go awry (96-98, 105-08)
407: quid negoti hoc sit — potential subj. (A&G 445, Bennett 1910: 200 and 326): “what might this be?”
“what is up?” — the virtual equivalent of quid dicam hoc esse [a delib. subj. (A&G 444), to which it is
close in feeling]); NEGOTI — partitive gen. with impers. neut. pron., quid [A&G 346a3]; neminem
magni facere dictum meum — acc. + inf. in apposition to hoc (“the fact that …”) [Lindsay 75];
MAGNI — gen. of value [A&G 417] employed as the equivalent of a *pred. acc. after facere [A&G
393] (magni facere aliquid — to consider something of value or importance)
408: ut iusseram Libanum in tonstrinam venire; UT — despite the similarity to 413, ut is to be taken as
temporal here (the equivalent of ubi, but here followed by a plupfct. ind., with implied concessive
force): the parallels that are cited are not altogether compelling, however, and some edd. omit ut
altogether (*asyndeton: A&G 323b). It is possible that a more severe form of corruption is at work here
(intrusive gloss citing 413), but cf. Henderson 2006: 149; IS — resumptive use of the pers. pron. (cf.
ad 144); NULLUS = emphatic negative adv. (“not at all”: L&S s.v. I.C; Lindsay 51)
409: NE (ναί/νή) — affirmative particle (truly, indeed, verily): often, as here, reinforced by hercle, edepol, or
the like, with the two words bracketing a pron. (cf. 412); HAU = haud; HAU DECORE — (adv.) not at
all correctly, properly, suitably
410-11: IMPERIOSUST = imperiosus est [imperiosu(s) ’st — prodelision]; SALVERE IUSSI LIBANUM — did I
greet Lib.? (i.e., did I congratulate him?); LIBERTUM — *pred. (as a freedman, on the grounds that he
had been freed); EMISSU’S = emissus es [emissu(s) ’s — prodelision]; MANU EMISSU’S —a
somewhat more vivid pass. form of manu mittere — to set free; MANU — abl. of sep. [A&G 401];
OPSECRO = obsecro [addressed to Leon.]; [It is somewhat unclear just when Leon.’s “Saurea” is to be
thought to catch sight of Lib. Lines 410b-11a seem to continue the line of angry personal reflections
begun in 407-09: is the 2nd sg. emissus es to be taken as a vivid evocation of the fictional scenario that
“Saurea” is contemplating? (In that case, Lib. first establishes contact at 411b: in support of this
staging, ◉Fleckeisen 1859 ad loc. proposes the reading manust emissus.) More likely, “Saurea” must be
thought to catch sight of Lib. in the course of 410-11]
412: NE (ναί/νή) — affirmative particle (truly, indeed, verily): cf. ad 409; CUM MAGNO MALO — abl. of
attendant circumstances [Woodcock 43.5(ii)]; OBVIAM OCCESSISTI — the direct recollection of 404
here would seem to represent a comically fortuitous echo rather than an indication that “Saurea” has
heard the earlier exchange between Lib. and the merchant’s agent (cf. Sharrock 2009: 178-84)
413: QUOR = cur; (SIC)UT; HIC — i.e., Merc.; MORATUST = moratus est (trans.) [moratu(s) ’st —
prodelision]
414: SIQUIDEM … DICAS — protasis of fut. less vivid *condition (cf. 318), but here (nunc) with the force of a
pres. contrary-to-fact condition (with pres. subj.): see Woodcock 197 on the blending of these two

Commentary: II.iv
modes in P. and cf. A&G 517e; SIQUIDEM — for etiamsi (◉Rotheimer 1876: 6); IOVEM …
DETINUISSE — acc. + inf. following dicas
415: IS — i.e., Jupiter; PRECATOR — *pred. (“as intercessor,” “to plead for you” [Westaway]) [Bennett 1914:
5]; ASSIET = adsit (extending the protasis of the *condition introduced in 414); MALAM REM — i.e.,
trouble, punishment (cf. ad 43); EFFUGIES — the fut. ind. in the apodosis is more vivid than the
expected pres. subj. (Bennett 1910: 275, 282)
416: VERBERO — voc. (see Lilja 1965: 54); IMPERIUM — a grandiose and (dare I say) imperious word in the
mouth of a steward; [STAGING: Leon. makes as if to beat Lib.]; HOSPES — addressed to Merc.
417: QUAESO HERCLE — quaeso is routinely employed parenthetically to soften the force of an imperative;
NOLI … HUNC VERBERARE: prohibition introduced by noli (A&G 450). Barrios-Lech 2016: 77 notes
that this type of prohibition in P. has a tendency to be associated, as here, with polite requests;
SAUREA — Merc. accepts that the person to whom he is speaking is in fact Dem.’s atriensis; MEA
CAUSA — abl.: “for my sake” [A&G 404c]: cf. ad 68

418: UTINAM STIMULUS … SIT — opt. subj. — pres. where we would expect an impf. (contrary to fact: A&G
441, Woodcock 114 n.); STIMULUS — see Lilja 1965: 55; MIHI — *sympathetic dat. [A&G 377];
QUAESO — cf. ad 417
419: QUI — adv. (= instr. abl. of the rel. pron. [A&G 150b]): the antecedent is stimulus (418); CONTERAM —
subj. in *rel. clause of characteristic/purpose [A&G 531.2]; TUA — still addressing Lib.; QUAE —
with latera as antecedent; PLAGIS — causal abl. [A&G 404]; [“Saurea” presents the standard
complaint of the comic slave-owner — viz., that his slaves are so worthless, and have been punished so
often, that they no longer feel it when you whip them]
420: APSCEDE = abscede (spoken to Merc.); SINE — imperative; IRA — instr. abl. [A&G 409]
421: i.e., numquam licet me semel praecipere unam rem illi — i.e., Lib. needs to be constantly nagged about
performing every single task; QUOI = cui (indir. obj. of praecipere); UNAM = solam (“a single”): cf.
847; licet me praecipere — licet + acc. + inf. (vs. the expected dat., as often: A&G 565 n. 2, Bennett
1910: 392); SEMEL — on a single occasion, just one time; FURI — *pred. (“thief that he is,” “the
knave”)
422: QUIN … IMPEREM ATQUE OGGANNIAM — quin + subj., introduced by the notion of hindering implied in
421: “but that I …,” “without …” [A&G 558, Bennett 1910: 300-01]; CENTIENS — opposed to unam
… semel in 422; EADEM — neut. acc. pl.
423: CLAMORE AC STOMACHO — causal abl. [A&G 404, Bennett 1914: 313] (cf. Engl. “what with all the
uproar and aggravation”) [or, via *hendiadys (A&G 640): “angry shouting”]; LABORI — i.e., the task
of coercing Lib. to perform his duties; [ironically, it is the master who is said to toil here, in
attempting to compel Lib. to perform his assigned tasks]
424-26: the duties described here maintain the ruse that Lib. is Dem.’s porter (ianitor)
424: IUSSIN (here and below) = iussi + ne — P. reg. employs -ne where CL would employ nonne (Gray ad loc.,
Bennett 1910: 24-25 and 465; cf. below ad 579]; SCELESTE — voc.; STERCUS … AUFERRI — acc. +

Commentary: II.iv
inf. after iussi; HINC — redundant after ab ianua but with deictic force (i.e., Leon. gestures):
equivalent of ab hac ianua
425: COLUMNIS — abl. of sep. [A&G 401]; DEICI OPERAS — acc. + inf. after iussi; OPERAS ARANEORUM —
i.e., cobwebs
426: IN SPLENDOREM DARI — to be rendered brilliant/shining, to be polished [Dare is often used in such
periphrastic constructions, esp. in poetry (cf. 574 and ad 439): i.e., dare in splendorem = polio (another
instance of Leon./ Saurea’s high-and-mighty style); bulla — ornamental boss or knob made of
bronze; FORIBUS — locative abl. [A&G 429] or *sympathetic dat. [A&G 377]
427: NIHIL EST — i.e., it does no good, my efforts are wasted; TAMQUAM SI CLAUDUS SIM — pres. subj. in
pres. unreal comparison (A&G 524, Woodcock 255 and 261, Lindsay 107, Bennett 1910: 287); CUM
FUSTI EST AMBULANDUM (sc. mihi) — I have to walk with a stick/cudgel (i.e., I have to carry a stick
with me always, in order to beat you, as if I were a lame man who relied upon a cane); CUM FUSTI —
abl. of accomp. [A&G 413]; EST AMBULANDUM (MIHI) — passive periphrastic with impers. pass.
[A&G 500.3, Woodcock 204]
428: TRIDUOM HOC UNUM — for these (last) three days only/alone (for hoc, cf. 235, 635); TRIDUOM =
triduum (acc. of extent of time: A&G 423); MODO (adv.) — recently, just now; FORO — indir. obj.
or locative abl. [A&G 429]; DEDO — to dedicate, devote (pres. where Engl. employs a vivid pfct. —
“I have been dedicating/devoting”); [Hurka notes that the phrase operam foro dedere would usually
suggest engagement with politics or the courts — i.e., aristocratic occupations. Another indication of
the high-handed nature of Leon.’s “Saurea”]
429: DUM REPERIAM — dum-clause of intention/expectancy [A&G 553: cf. Bennett 1910: 270] (primary
*sequence due to dedo); REPERIAM (ALIQUEM) QUI — suppressed antecedent; QUI QUAERITET —
*rel. clause of characteristic implying purpose [A&G 531.2], or simply subj. in a subord. clause by
attraction [A&G 593]; IN FAENUS — at interest (i.e., to borrow): OLD s.v. in 18d; cf. 248; [Leon.’s
“Saurea” anticipates the dispensator (steward) of the rich freedman Trimalchio in Petronius’ Satyricon
(30): both display an independent authority and arrogance that one associates with the most powerful
aristocrats]; HIC — adv.
430: DOMI — somewhat redundant after hic in 429, but cf. Engl. “here at home”; HARA — a pen or coop for
animals, pig-sty; HAUD (IN) AEDIBUS
431: EM ERGO HOC TIBI — “here’s this for you, then,” “here you go, then” [G&L 343.1 n. 2; Lindsay 137];
HOC = i.e., this blow (spoken as he makes to strike Lib.); [STAGING: given the build-up at 371-78,
there must be some form of comic business here: phps. Leon. makes as if to strike Lib. but then thinks
better of it, or he actually strikes Lib. and then is surreptitiously hit in turn]; HOSPES — addressed to
Merc.; OPSECRO = obsecro
432: MEA CAUSA — abl.: for my sake [A&G 404c]: cf. ad 68; UT MITTAS — *jussive noun clause following
oro [A&G 563]; EHO — interj. used to introduce commands, questions, etc.; OLIVI — obj. gen.
[A&G 348]

Commentary: II.iv
433-34: rem solvere — to discharge a debt, pay a fee (cf. 218); SOLVIT — pfct. ind. (As commonly in Latin,
Lib. answers in the affirmative by repeating a key word from the original question: A&G 336);
QUOI = cui; DATUM EST — indef. neut. or sc. argentum; VICARIO … TUO — in apposition to Sticho
… ipsi; [The fiction created by Libanus and Leonida continues to anticipate Trimalchio’s household
establishment in Petronius’ Satyricon: “Saurea” has a personal staff who are charged with carrying out
certain duties]; DELENIRE APPARAS — i.e., you’re trying to soften me up, appease me; vicarium …
esse — acc. + inf. following scio; MI = mihi — *dat. of possession [A&G 373]; [The humor lies in
“Saurea” having to keep up with Lib.’s contribution to the evolving fiction: Leon. here takes a moment
to catch up to the idea of the make-believe character Stichus]; [As an alternative, one might take eum
(understood) as the subject of the acc. + inf. and regard mi as a *sympathetic dat. (= meum: A&G
377) — i.e., scio [eum] vicarium [meum] esse]
435: neque eo servum in aedibus eri esse qui sit pluris quam ille est; EO — abl. of comparison [A&G 406]
(redundant with quam ille [Lindsay 9]: comic prolixity but also phps. a further indication of “Saurea”
struggling to keep up with the fiction); ESSE SERVOM — acc. + inf. following scio (434); SERVOM =
servum; SIT — subj. in subord. clause in indir. disc. [A&G 580] but also *rel. clause of characteristic,
presenting a hypothetical individual [A&G 535a] (contrast the ind. in quam ille est); PLURIS — gen.
of value [A&G 417]
436: VINA — this provides the antecedent for quae, but otherwise stands outside the syntax of the sentence
(*anacoluthon [A&G 640]: it is picked up by is in the following line): “as for the wine that I …”;
EXAERAMBO — either a comic (Greek) nonsense-name, or a corruption of Sarambus/Serambus, vel
sim.; ◉Schmidt 1902: 368-69 argues for a derivation from κάραβος (horned beetle).
437: PRO IS = pro eis (abl. pl., with vina as antecedent); SATIS FECIT— has he paid? (with Exaerambus as
subject); STICHO — indir. obj.; (eum) satis fecisse opinor — the omission of the acc. subject in
indir. disc. here reflects a type of ellpsis regularly found in the answer to a question: instead of saying,
“yes,” Lib. replies by echoing a key element of Leon.’s question [A&G 336 and 581 n. 1]
438: vidi Exaerambum huc adducere trapezitam ipsum; EXAERAMBUM … ADDUCERE — acc. + inf.
following vb. of perception [cf. ad 23-24]; HUC — adv.; IPSUM — this might be taken with
Exaerambum rather than trapezitam, but see ad 440; trapezita (1m.) — money-changer, banker (a
Greek term: cf. ad 706, badizas)
439: SIC DEDERO — “that’s what I like,” “that’s the style for me” (Gray) — i.e., on such terms would I always
deal (cf. ◉Ussing 1875 ad 436: “i.e., sic agam, haec agendi ratio mihi placet”; ◉Langen 1880: 213-17,
who cfs. Capt. 495: sic egero). ◉Maurach 1975 ad Poen. 1286 confirms that the expression has an
exultant tone (“triumphantis est”): cf. Ter. Phorm. 1027. Dare is frequently employed as the equivalent
of facio, sistere, ponere, etc. (Lodge 1924-1933: 1.418), while the use of the *fut. pfct. for the fut. is
vivid and colloq. (cf. Capt. 495 [above] and see ad 327); (illa) quae prius credidi, vix anno post
exegi; (ILLA) QUAE — suppressed antecedent [A&G 307c]; ANNO — abl. of degree of difference
(with post) [A&G 414]; POST — adv.

Commentary: II.iv
440: satago / sat ago — to busy oneself with something, “snap to it.” Gray’s rendering — “he feels his
position” — invokes the more fundamental meaning of the expressiion: “have one’s hands full,” “be in
trouble”; adducit (trapezitam) domum — cf. 438; ULTRO — i.e., without being compelled through
threats of legal action; [Normally the two parties to a financial transaction would meet at the money-
changer’s establishment: it is a sign of “Saurea’s” status that his debtor brings the trapezita to him];
SCRIBIT NUMMOS — i.e., gives a note or bond for the funds, transfers the funds (L&S s.v. scribo
II.B.3); [Again, it is more than a little high-handed for a slave to be expressing such satisfaction that a
free man is meeting his terms and paying a debt to him without being coerced]
441: DROMO — nom. masc. sg. (Greek slave name); MERCEDEM — from merces (not merx); [The
imagined scenario involves a slave who has been hired out by his master to work for someone else: cf.
Vid. 25, Buckland 1963: 503-06, Watson 1971: 137-40, Scafuro 2003-2004: 10. (For this practice in
classical Greece, see Kazakévich 2008.) Contrast, e.g., the cooks and “caterers” (τραπεζοποιοί) of
comedy, who — like the meretrices — are, by their very profession, routinely hired out on set terms,
whether they are slave or free, and regarding whose services a similar terminology is employed: e.g.,
Caecil. 22-24, Pritchett 1956: 279. (The hairdresser Syra of Truc. 405-09 [cited by Gray] belongs to a
similar category)]; DIMIDIO MINUS (RETTULIT); DIMIDIO — abl. of degree of difference [A&G 414]
(Gray) or comparison [A&G 406] (“less by half” or “less than half”); MINUS — adv.; OPINOR —
parenthetical
442: QUID RELICUOM — “what about the rest?” [OLD s.v. quis 12]: cf. 393; RELICUOM = reliquum (sc.
mercedis) — generic neut., in the nom.; aiebat (se) reliquum extemplo redditurum esse quom (id sibi)
redditum esset; AIBAT = aiebat; REDDERE — pres. inf. (in place of the expected fut.: Bennett 1910:
426) reporting indir. disc., with omission of the acc. subject: a feature of common speech [A&G 581 n.
1] — i.e., we expect se redditurum esse [cf. ad 394]; *QUOM = cum; QUOM EXTEMPLO — “as soon
as”; QUOM (ID) REDDITUM ESSET — plpfct. subj. in a subord. clause in secondary *sequence in indir.
disc. [A&G 580], reporting what would have been a *fut. pfct. ind. in the (imagined) original statement
(Woodcock 272.3d; cf. A&G 484c, Lindsay 68, and G&L 656.3)
443: (DIXIT ID) RETINERI — acc. + inf.; ut efficeret (id) operis quod sibi locatum esset; UT … EFFICERET —
*final clause [A&G 531]; SIBI — i.e., the fictional Dromo (whose report is being cited and who is the
subject of efficeret); OPERIS — gen. sg. of opus (work, job): partitive gen. with impers. neut. pron.
[A&G 346a3; Bennett 1914: 33]; (ID) QUOD — suppressed antecedent [A&G 307c]; QUOD …
LOCATUM SIT— subord. clause in indir. disc. [A&G 580], with locatum sit in 2ndary *sequence where
CL would expect locatum esset [Bennett 1910: 343]. (P. here mingles two perspectives: that which
focuses on the time when “Dromo” supposedly made this statement, and that of the two speakers, who
understand that “Dromo” has still to complete the work for which he is under contract. Cf. ad 590)
444: rettulitne [Philodamus] scyphos quos dedi Philodamo utendos; UTENDOS — *pred. use of the gerundive
to indicate purpose [A&G 500.4; Bennett 1910: 443-44] (i.e., on loan); RETTULITNE — sc.

Commentary: II.iv
Philodamus; [Hurka notes the mild *anacoluthon (A&G 640) here due to the postponement of the vb.,
with –ne]
445: NON ETIAM — “not yet”; NON (RETTULIT)?; si velis, da (aliquid): commoda (id) amico; SI VELIS —
if you should like/see fit (the potential subj. presents this as a hypothetical possibility: cf. 120, 766);
DA (ALIQUID) — “give something away” (for this type of condition, see Bennett 1910: 276);
COMMODA (ID) HOMINI AMICO — the *asyndeton [A&G 323b] betw. da and commoda here is
explanatory/epexegetic: “that is, ‘lend’ it to a friend”; AMICO — *pred. (“who is a friend”); [Once
again, the image of a slave with fancy goblets that he can lend to his friends recalls Trimalchio’s
household staff, as does the high-handed manner in which “Saurea” responds to their loss]
446-47: PERII — here not out of despair (as at 416 and freq.) but disgust (“damn me!”); HIC — i.e., Leon.;
ABEGERIT — *fut. pfct. ind.; SUO ODIO — instr. abl. (“with his annoying conduct, insolence”: cf. ad
921); [STAGING: Merc. here speaks in an aside; Lib. then addresses an aside to Leon., telling him to
cool his act]; IAM SATIS TU — sc. locutus es (“That’s enough, already!”); TU — emphatic (regular,
following heus); AUDIN = audis + ne; (EA) QUAE — neut. pl. acc. (suppressed antecedent: A&G
307c); AUDIO ET QUIESCO — as usual in Latin, Leon. expresses his acquiescence by repeating a
significant element of Lib.’s original question in his response (here, as often, the vb.) [A&G 336]
448: ADEAM: *jussive noun clause after optumum est, w/o ut (*parataxis) [A&G 563, Bennett 1910: 238];
OPTUMUM EST — impers. (optumum = optimum); PRIUS QUAM INCIPIT — on the use of the ind., see
Lindsay 133, A&G 551c
449: QUAM — interrogative (quam mox — “how soon …?”); DAS — pres. ind. where Engl. employs the fut.
[Bennett 1910: 21]; OPTUME — adv. (“excellent!” “well met!”: cf. Rud. 804-05, Ter. Andr. 686,
Adelph. 81, 266); TU — emphatic (underlines the parallelism betw. quam mox and quam dudum);
QUAM DUDUM TU ADVENISTI — “how long ago did you arrive?” (i.e., how long have you been here?)
450: PROVIDERAM — the plupfct. points to “Saurea’s” earlier behavior, before he noticed Merc.’s presence
upon the latter’s intervention at 449 (coll.) [Bennett 1910: 49]; ne (id) vertas vitio (mihi); NE …
VORTAS — jussive subj. [A&G 439a and 450 n. 3] (with the seemingling haughty behavior of “Saurea”
as obj. — “don’t construe my earlier behavior …”); VORTAS = vertas; VITIO — *pred. dat. in
*double dat. construction [A&G 382]: “as a fault/offense” (sc. mihi — dat. of reference in “so far as I’m
concerned,” “to my discredit”)
451: ITA — to such a degree (providing the justification for “Saurea’s” earlier behavior); OPSTITIT = obstiti;
OCULIS (MEIS/MIHI) — dat. of ref. with cmpd. vb. [A&G 370]; NON MIRUM FACTUM EST — i.e., “I’m
not surprised” (typically followed by a conditional clause or an acc. + inf.: cf. Men. 361-62, Pseud.
1216-17, Rud. 345-46); FACTUM EST — impers. pfct. of fio, referring to Leon.’s excuse that he was
distracted: lit., “it did not occur/arise as a thing to be marveled at”
452: VOLEBAM — cf. ad 392 and see Barrios-Lech 2016: 109; NEGAT — understand Lib. as the subject;
[STAGING: the ellipsis here phps. implies a non-verbal exchange betw. Leon. and Lib.: Leon. gives his
“slave” a significant look and the latter shakes his head in the negative. On the other hand, it is quite

Commentary: II.iv
possible that Leon.’s quick answer represents a comic slip in his “performance” of Saurea];
(DEMAENETUM) ESSE INTUS — acc. + inf. following negat (the omission of the acc. subject here is a
feature of common speech: A&G 581 n. 1 — cf. ad 394)
453: verumtamen, si vis denumerare istud argentum mihi; VERUM … TAMEN — (separated, as often);
ISTUC = istud
454: repromitto — to promise, guarantee (often in legal contexts); rem solvere = to cancel a debt, mark as
paid (res — often of business affairs, money: cf. 218, 433); REM SOLUTAM FUTURAM (ESSE) — acc. +
inf. after repromittam: “that the debt will be recorded as having been paid in full” (*fut. pfct. pass. inf.);
ISTOC = isto; ISTOC NOMINE — under that account (as listed in a ledger) [OLD s.v. nomen 22]: locative
abl. [A&G 429]
455: SIC POTIUS — “under the following terms, rather, (do I prefer that the account be settled)” (i.e., “No:
instead I will do so on the condition that …”); UT … REDDAM (ARGENTUM) — *jussive clause
introducing a proviso [A&G 528b: cf. ad 230]; DEMAENETO … ERO PRAESENTE — abl. abs. [A&G
419]; TIBI — indir. obj. with reddam
456: Lib. steps in helpfully to “explain” the situation to Merc. — “that’s OK: they know and trust each other
already!” (cf. Aul. 584-86); ISTUNC = istum; ISTUNC … HIC — i.e., Leon./”Saurea”; ERO …
PRAESENTE — abl. abs. [A&G 419]; HUIC — i.e., Leon./”Saurea” (indir. obj.); [The echo of 455
conveys a vivid sense of Merc.’s stolid obstinancy]
457: Lib. continues his role as “good cop” in the on-going attempt to persuade Merc.; MODO — adv. (“only,”
“just”); MEO PERICULO — at my risk (i.e., with me as surety: abl. of attendant circumstances
[Woodcock 43.5(ii)], although elsewhere this expression is often more readily regarded as an abl. of
price [A&G 416]); SALVAM — *pred. acc. following factitive vb. (A&G 393); exhibeo — to render
(= reddo, praesto [Gray]); REM SALVAM … EXHIBEBO = I will make the matter right, look after things
properly
458: SI SCIAT — pres. subj. in pres. contrary-to-fact *condition (A&G 517e, Woodcock 197); NOSTER — cf.
ad 58; fidem huic non habitam esse — acc. + inf. after sciat: “that no trust was placed in him (i.e.,
“Saurea”),” “that he had not been trusted” (picked up at 583); HUIC — dat. of ref. (cf. credo + dat.)
459: SUSCENSEAT — apodosis of the pres. contrary-to-fact *condition begun in 458; cui ipse semper credit
omnium rerum; QUOI = cui (antecedent: “Saurea”) — dat. with credo: “whom he trusts,” “in whom he
has confidence”; QUOI … CREDIT — the relative clause provides the grounds for anticipating Dem.’s
anger: given that Dem. himself entrusts all of his affairs to Saurea, he will be angry if others do not
respect this arrangement. (In CL we might have expected a subj. here — *rel. clause of characteristic
with causal/explanatory force [A&G 535e]); OMNIUM RERUM — the gen. is phps. influenced by Greek
(“over [i.e., in] all things”), but might represent a gen. of respect found in other Italic languages
(Lindsay 12; Woodcock 73.6; A&G 357; Bennett 1914: 99-100; Hurka ad loc.); IPSUS = ipse
460: NON ( ID) MAGNI PENDO; MAGNI — gen. of value [A&G 417]: *pred.; DUIT — archaic 3rd sg. pres.
subj. act. of do [A&G 183.2] (jussive subj.: A&G 439; cf. Bennett 1910: 175 [permissive]); VOLT =

Commentary: II.iv
vult; SIC — i.e., just as he is; SINE — pres. imperative; ASTET (= adstet) — *jussive subj.
introduced by sine, without ut (A&G 565, 268 ad fin.: *parataxis)
461-62: DA — addressed to Merc.; INQUAM — parenthetical (here expressing a sense of urgency: cf. quaeso
in 462); MISER — *pred. (poor me, wretch that I am); formido ne hic arbitretur me tibi suasisse ne
sibi crederes; NE … ARBITRETUR — fear clause (A&G 564); ME SUASISSE — acc. + inf. following
arbitretur; NE CREDERES —*jussive noun clause following suasisse (and so in secondary *sequence)
[A&G 563]; SIBI — refl. pron. referring back to the subject of arbitretur (i.e., “Saurea”) [A&G 300];
NE FORMIDA — ne + pres. imperative in a prohibition [cf. ad 377]
463: SALVOM = salvum; SALVOM … ERIT — sc. argentum; credam (id salvum) fore, dum quidem ipse (id)
in manu habebo; CREDAM — fut. ind.; (ID SALVOM) FORE — acc. + inf. following credam; DUM …
(ID) HABEBO — so long as I shall have it (A&G 555, Bennett 1910: 97); IN MANU — cf. ad 86
464: NOSCE (EUM) — come to know him!, make his acquaintance!
465: SIT, NON SIT, NON … SCIO — likely independent potential subjs. (A&G 445) followed by non scio
(Bennett 1910: 206): “he might be, he might not be: I have no idea” (*parataxis); others detect a
disjunctive *indir. questions [A&G 573]: “I don’t know whether he is or not”; IS — complement after
est; EUM — complement after esse; OPORTET — impers. (+ acc. + inf.): oportet (illum) eum esse
(i.e., “good for him, if he is”). Cf. the similar statement of indifference re someone’s identity at Epid.
584-85: ne fuat / si non vult
466: scio me hoc daturum (esse) nulli homini incerto; ME … DATURUM (ESSE) — acc. + inf. following scio;
INCERTO — *pred. (“whose identity is in doubt” — an unparalleled usage, generated via the comic
jingle with certe [cf. 494]— or, taking the adj. in its more usual sense, “who cannot be trusted”);
HOC — neut. acc. sg. (sg. argentum): calls attention to the presence of the bag of coins, which no doubt
is employed to good effect throughout this scene as the tantalizing goal of the two slaves’ machinations;
NEMINI = nulli (A&G 314.2)
467: PERDUINT — 3rd pl. pres. subj. act. of perdo [optative subj.: A&G 441] [form: A&G 183.2]: cf. 460;
[STAGING: Hurka suggests, quite plausibly, that this initial imprecation is spoken aside, as an indication
of Leon.’s frustration at the failure, to this point, of his and Lib.’s scheme]; VERBO — i.e., with even a
single word (instr. abl. [A&G 409]); cave (ne isti) supplicassis [addressed to Lib.]; CAVE +
supplicassis in prohibition (jussive subj.: cf. ad 5 and see esp. Barrios-Lech 2016: 74, who notes that
cave in this construction has lost its verbal force to become the equivalent of ne); SUPPLICASSIS —
archaic form = pfct. subj. (cf. ad 256)
468: FEROX — proud, arrogant, insolent; FEROX EST — the equivalent of ferocit (vel sim.): introduces the
following acc. + inf. (se viginti minas meas tractare), as often with vbs. of emotion: “he is insolent (at
the fact) that …” — i.e., “because” (Lindsay 74; G&L 533 and R.1); MEAS — in referring to the
money as “his,” Leon. continues to play the grandly arrogant steward
469: ACCIPIT (ARGENTUM) — where Engl. would employ a fut. ind.; TE AUFER DOMUM — addressed
imperiously to Merc. (and rather loosely, given that Merc. is a visitor: domum in the sense of “where

Commentary: II.iv
you belong”); APSCEDE = abscede; NE SIS — jussive subj. [A&G 439 and 450 n. 3]; [“Saurea’s”
peremptory commands are rendered all the more curt by the way they are deployed within the line: nemo
áccipít, | te aufér domúm, || ăpscĕde hínc, | moléstus né sis]
470: IRACUNDE — adv. (sc. dicis: cf. Men. 696); hominem servum superbum esse — acc. + inf. following
decet; SUPERBUM — complement with esse; SERVOM = servum (*pred.: “when he is a slave,” “who
is a slave”): as Gray notes, the collocation hominem servum is dismissive [Bennett 1914: 6]
471: MALO … MAGNO TUO (ERIT) — abl. of attendant circumstances [Woodcock 43.5(ii)] (“it will be to your
misfortune,” “you’ll be in for a lot of trouble”): addressed to Lib.; NI ISTI NEC RECTE DICIS — “if you
do not address him improperly” (i.e., if you fail to abuse him verbally) (on the use of pres., cf. Bennett
1910: 67); NEC = non — L&S s.v. neque I, Lindsay 130 (nec recte dicere is a common expression in
comedy: cf. 155); ISTI — Merc.
472: IMPURE — voc. (addressed to Merc. — Lib. makes a show of carrying out “Saurea’s” orders); NIHILI —
gen. of value [A&G 417] used as equivalent of an adj. in the voc. (Lindsay 39-40): cf. Lilja 1965: 22;
VIDES (EUM [i.e., “Sauream”]) IRASCI — acc. + inf. following vb. of perception [cf. ad 23-24]; [Here
and elsewhere in this scene, Lib. must play a dual role, uttering a series of abusive sentiments loudly, for
the benefit of “Saurea,” while presenting his urgent pleas to Merc. as asides: Slater 2000: 50. Stewart
2012: 107-08 notes the manner in which, throughout the scene, “[t] slaves exploit a free person’s anxiety
about the whipping of a slave in order to convince the free male to hand over cash”]
473: FLAGITIUM HOMINIS — appositional gen. (A&G 343d, Lindsay 16, G&L 361 n. 3, Bennett 1914: 68: cf.
Engl. “a monster of a man” = “the man is a monster/gigantic”; other examples in Lilja 1965: 37-38);
OPSECRO = obsecro; HUIC — i.e., “Saureae”; NE … LOQUATUR — *final clause [A&G 531]; [The
second half of this line is again addressed as an aside to Merc.]
474: MALUM — trouble; VOBIS — dat. of interest (“for yourselves”) [A&G 376]; DIFFRINGENTUR —
apodosis of a fut.-most-vivid *condition (freq. in threats): addressed to Lib.; [“Saurea” here intensifies
his threats, placing Lib. in a seemingly desperate situation]
475: PERCIES — likely pres. ind. (percieo — ◉Rotheimer 1876: 23, Bennett 1910: 66; cf. above line 471) rather
than (as in CL) fut. (percio): there is disagreement about the force of percieo here: abuse verbally?
motivate (i.e., persuade him to hand over the money)? The first seems most likely: Lib. continues to
verbally abuse Merc., urged on by “Saurea,” but punctuates this abuse with urgent pleas for Merc. to
have pity on him and give “Saurea” the money; IMPUDICUM — not a word to be employed by a slave
of an adult freeborn male: note how it is immediately picked up by Lib. when he addresses Merc.;
PERII, HERCLE — again, spoken for Merc.’s benefit; AGE — cf. ad 5
476: SCELESTE … SCELESTO — the first (voc.) in the more usual sense of “wicked” (employed for the benefit
of “Saurea”); the second (of Lib. himself) in the sense of “unfortunate” (spoken more softly and more
urgently): cf. 856; NON AUDES — “do you not intend …?”; MIHI — dat. with cmpd. vb. [A&G 370];
SCELESTO — *pred. (unlucky, wretched as I am)

Commentary: II.iv
477-78: PERGIN = pergis + ne [“Saurea” pretends to have overheard Lib.’s pathetic plea]; (ILLI) PESSUMO —
i.e., Merc.; PESSUMO = pessimo (dat. with precor, in the sense “address entreaties to”); QUAE RES
(EST)? — “what is this?”; tune servus homini libero male loquere?; TUN = tu + ne; LIBERO —
*pred. (“who is freeborn); SERVOS = servus (*pred. — “who are a slave,” “although a slave”);
LOQUERE — 2nd sg. pres. ind. dep.; VAPULA — imperative (addressed to Merc.); similar in tone to Bart
Simpson’s infamous, “Get bent!”; ID — i.e., vapulare; TIBI — dat. of ref. (so far as you are
concerned, in your case) [A&G 376]
479: UT VAPULES — *consecutive clause (filling in the sense of id fiet in 478) [A&G 537]; simul ac/atque —
as soon as (Lindsay 136); CONSPEXERO — *fut. pfct. ind. where Engl. employs a generalizing pres.
[480-83]: Gray follows Ussing and other earlier edd. in bracketing these lines as an interpolated pastiche based
on similar exchanges at Curc. 620ff., Pers. 745ff., and Poen. 767, 1225ff. — cf. Lindsay 1904: 48,
◉Thierfelder 1929: 49-53. Although recent edd. retain the passage, there are good grounds for deleting it.
One can supply a rationale for the obscure and somewhat confusing play with legal procedures at 480,
but, as we shall see, this requires a good deal of work for relatively little pay-off, while 480-83 as a
whole interrupt the dramatic flow of the scene (see ad 484-85).
[480]: in ius vocare aliquem — to bring a legal suit against someone: the process involved formally
challenging your opponent, before witnesses, to accompany you to appear before the appropriate
magistrate (cf. Curc. 620-25, Pers. 745-52, Poen. 1225ff., 1342ff., Truc. 840). In Rome, this is not a
process that one would initiate against a slave (Gell. NA 11.18.8 — cited by Hurka — involves the case
of a thief apprehended in the act and is not relevant), nor are parallels provided by Greek comedy (but
see Lilja 1965: 71-77; there is also the question of when verbal abuse of a freeman by a slave became an
actionable offense in either Athens or Rome, and under what circumstances). The expression in ius
vocare can readily be taken in a metaphorical sense, of Merc. hauling Leon./“Saurea” before Dem. for
punishment (see ad 486: quo vocas), but this is never made clear in the text: the language of judicial
procedure is introduced abruptly and in a rather confused fashion in 480 (below, ad MEMENTO …
MEMINI ), then just as abruptly dropped. Moreover, to this point Merc. has been given no indication of
where Dem. might be; NON EO — i.e., I refuse to go to see my name entered before the magistrate and
so take part in the process of indictment (or, in this case, to go before my master to answer for my
behavior) — on the use of the pres. ind. for fut. here: A&G 468, Lindsay 58, Bennett 1910: 21;
MEMENTO — 2nd sg. *fut. act. imperative from memini [A&G 449.2a]; MEMENTO … MEMINI — the
play with legal procedures continues: here, the touching of the ear of a potential witness as a formal
means of compelling him to “remember” what he has seen and attest to it in court. (Note the fut.
imperative.) One would expect this exchange to occur betw. the accuser and his witnesses (cf. Poen.
767), rather than the accuser and the accused. It is possible to assign this exchange to Merc. and Lib.
(rather than Leon.), as a continuation of the parody of the formal process of indictment (◉Thierfelder
1929: 50), but slaves could not serve as witnesses (cf. Curc. 623-24, Pers. 749, Ter. Phorm. 292-93).
Moreover, an appeal to Lib. as supporting witness does not square well with the plurals at 474, 481, and

Commentary: II.iv
482-83, where it appears that Merc. is becoming exasperated with both Leon. and Lib.: that Merc.
should suddenly treat the slave Lib. as an ally is unexpected and confusing, given its lack of grounding
in the context, and unnecessary, given that he is a freeman lodging a complaint against a slave with the
slave’s owner. [Hurka prefers to see a bit of comic business here: rather than touching either Lib.’s or
Leon.’s earlobe, Merc. gives Leon. a blow on the side of the head: in response to Merc.’s mock-formal
memento (“recall what you have observed, so as to bear witness”), Leon. implies, by means of a comic
gesture, that he remembers it all too “feelingly” — cf. ad 496-97]
[481-83]: the redundant nature of this exchange, which adds nothing to that at 477-79, recalls scenes of abuse
betw. Plautine slaves but is phps. out of place in an exchange between a freeman and slave, nor does it
altogether accord with the restraint displayed by Merc. elsewhere in the scene: note, e.g., how readily
the latter returns to the business at hand at 486ff.
[481]: DABITUR … SUPPLICIUM MIHI DE TERGO VOSTRO — i.e., a penalty will be paid to Merc. from Leon. and
Lib.’s back (in the form of a lashing); VOSTRO = vestro (suggesting that both Leon. and Lib. are the
objects of Merc.’s wrath; the use with a noun in the singular [tergo] is vivid: cf. 551); VAE TE — in
place of the usual vae tibi (Lindsay 29; cf. Lindsay 1904: 48: “The ‘plebeian’ Latin construction vae
te … can hardly be ascribed to P” — but cf. Cat. 8.15)
[482]: supplicium(ne) tibi detur de nobis, carnifex? DE NOBIS — Lindsay 86; CARNUFEX = carnifex [As
Gellar 2008: 15 notes, the term “breaks down etymologically into ‘meatworker,’ but it almost always in
Latin literature means ‘executioner’ or ‘torturer’ and, metaphorically as an insult, ‘villain’ or ‘fucker’”;
cf. Lilja 1965: 56]; DETUR — delib. subj. in a repudiating question: cf. ad 93; ATQUE ETIAM —
annexes a more important idea: “and indeed,” “and what is more” (underlining the emph. hodie at the
conclusion of 483)
[483]: VOSTRIS = vestris; PENDENTUR — from pendo (3); HODIE — as Hurka notes, the adv. is emphasized
by its position at the end of the line, repeating the similar effect at 479
484-85: VERBERO — voc.; AIN = ais + ne (indignant: on the use of this collocation, see ad 812);
FURCIFER — see Lilja 1965: 54; censes nos erum (nostrum) fugitare? NOS … FUGITARE — acc. +
inf. following censes; [As Lilja notes (loc. cit.), the use of such language by a slave — of no matter
what status — in addressing a freeman is unparalleled and indicates that, as at 431-47, Leon. is getting
carried away in his role. The deletion of 480-83 places the emphasis squarely on Leon.’s/ “Saurea’s”
faux indignation, as (building upon 474-78) he here hits something of a comic crescendo]
486: QUO … QUO — rel. adv. (whither, to where); QUO (NOS) VOCAS — whither you summon us [i.e., for
punishment]; quo iam dudum (ire/nos ducere) volebas; [Hurka cites quo vocas here in support of
retaining 480, but both passages depend, for their sense, on 478-79 and on Merc.’s repeatedly expressed
desire to speak to Dem. in person (iam dudum volebas). Kurrelmeyer 1932: 45 mistakenly takes 486a as
addressed to Lib.]
487-88: NUNC DEMUM — expressing Merc.’s exasperation (since he has been seeking to be taken to Dem. from
the beginning of this scene); HINC — i.e., from this bag (again pointing to the significant presence of

Commentary: II.iv
the longed-for cash); fero = obtain, acquire (cf. 355); NUMQUAM … ARGENTI NUMMUM — as in
Engl. “not a penny”; ARGENTI — gen. of material [A&G 344]; ME DARE (ARGENTUM TIBI) — acc. +
inf. following iubeo; IUSSERIT — *fut. pfct. ind. where Engl. employs a generalizing pres. [A&G
516.a]; FACITO — *fut. imperative [A&G 449]; AGE — cf. ad 5; AMBULA (MECUM AD FORUM) —
even here Merc. is provided with no indication of where Dem. might be (above, ad 480), but the
audience can readily fill in the omission
489: CONTUMELIAM — Stewart 2012: 111 notes how Leon. once again appropriates the language of the elite
freeborn male; ALTERI — (dat.) “to/against someone else” (alter for alius, as often: L&S s.v. II.A);
contumeliam facere — to throw insults at, speak abusively to someone; FACIAS … DICATUR — delib.
subj. in a repudiating question [cf. ad 93]: “Are you to to hurl abuse at someone else, while none is to be
hurled at you?” (with the two clauses joined by *asyndeton [A&G 323b]); DICATUR — sc. contumelia
or (better) contumeliose; [Lib. switches to an urbane mode in an attempt to smooth over his past
excesses. Note that, here and below, he still plays the wordly man of business, one who can speak with
freemen on an equal footing]
490: TAM … QUAM — correl. adv. [A&G 323g] (“I am as much a human being as you are”); SCILICET — “of
nd
course” (Lindsay 113); SEQUERE — 2 sg. imperative; HAC — adv.
491: PRAEFISCINI (later praefiscine?) — (precise derivation disputed: Francis 1973: 32-33); here = “if I might
say so myself,” “not to brag, but …” (absit invidia verbo — Gray); DIXERIM — potential pfct. subj.
(where Engl. employs a pres.: Lindsay 62; cf. de Melo 2007a: 214 and 313, Woodcock 119, A&G
447.1): “I might say,” “let me just say …”
492: MERITO MEO — i.e., justifiably, deservedly (cf. ad 137-38); ME — abl. of comparison [A&G 406] after
alter (Lindsay 50); ALTER = alius (cf. ad 489); ATHENIS — locative [A&G 80, 427.3 and n. 1]
493-94: cui putent credi recte aeque; QUOI … PUTENT — *rel. clause of characteristic [A&G 535a];
QUOI = cui; CREDI — impers. pass. inf. (“it is trusted,” “trust is placed”) in indir. disc. introduced by
putent; RECTE = “safely” (cf. Cic. Att. 4.1.1, Fam. 1.7.1); AEQUE = “equally,” “to the same degree”;
PUTENT — with generic pl. subject (“people,” “everyone”); FORTASSIS = fortasse (◉Calboli 2012: 157-
59) — cf. 499, 502: Merc.’s repeated use of this expression conveys the caution with which he continues
to regard Leon.’s claims; numquam me induces ut hoc argentum tibi ignoto credam; UT …
CREDAM — *jussive noun clause [A&G 563]; IGNOTO — *pred. (“whom I do not know”)
495: LUPUS — complement after sum; HOMINI — dat. of ref. (“so far as his fellow man is concerned”) [A&G
376]; NON HOMO — providing a second, rejected, complement after sum (“not a human being”);
*QUOM = cum (+ ind.); QUALIS SIT — *indir. question [A&G 573] (qualis as a virtual equivalent of
quis); QUOM … NOVIT — ind. in cum clause (expressing a general truth: “whenever”) (A&G 548);
[◉Traina 1954: 196-97 finds here a conscious parody, in P.’s Grk. original, of a more noble Menandrian
sentiment: cf. Caecil. 264 (homo homini deus est, si suum officium sciat). Characteristically, Gunderson
2015: 178 and n. 82 — cf. id. 224-25 — finds further complexity in an ambiguity re the actual subjects
of sit and novit]

Commentary: II.iv
496-97: SECUNDA — neut. pl.; SECUNDA MIHI FACIS = mihi obsecundas; MIHI — dat. with adj. of fitness,
etc. [A&G 384]; sciebam te huic capitulo hodie satis facturum (esse) pro iniuria; SCIBAM = sciebam
(cf. ad 300); HUIC CAPITULO — i.e., mihi (mimicking the use of caput in formal legal contexts to
indicate the individual in his/her capacity as a citizen endowed with rights) — but see below and ad 480;
TE FACTURUM (ESSE) — acc. + inf. following sciebam; satis facio = give satisfaction, make right, act in
an agreeable manner (+ dat. of ref.); PRO INIURIA — “in answer for your earlier offence”; [Leon.
maintains his high-handed facade, responding as if Merc. has acknowledged that he had been at fault in
some way. Earlier edd., troubled by the seeming lack of motivation for this line, posit a lacuna after 495,
but (as Hurka notes) Leon. simply inverts the significance of the maxim cited in 495: where Merc.
stressed the need for caution when dealing with strangers, Leon. purports to take this as an apology for
Merc.’s own “uncivilized” behavior. Hurka provides further motivation for the reference to iniuria via a
bit of stage business at 480: see my note ad loc.]
498: FRUGI — cf. ad 175; PECULIUM (MEUM) — nom.; NEC POTEST PECULIUM ENUMERARI — comm. note
a double entendre here: “Saurea” is so wealthy that he cannot count all of his money, while the slave
Leon. is in a similar situation given that he has none to count. (Leigh 2004: 90 and n. 125 cites passages
that present “the possession of a peculium as the mark of a virtuous or worthwhile slave.”)
499: FORTASSE — cf. ad 493-94; RHODO — abl. of origin (“from Rhodes”) (A&G 403.1, Lindsay 32);
[This (fictive) allusion is cited by those seeking a specific date for Demophilus’ play, since it implies a
period when commerce could be engaged in freely in the southern Aegean]
500: APSENTE = absente; APSENTE ERO — abl. abs. [A&G 419]; ARGENTI — gen. of material [A&G 344]:
cf. above ad 193; MIHI … SOLI — indir. obj.
501: CREDIDIT — sc. talentum argenti; DECEPTUST = deceptus est [deceptu(s) ’st — prodelision]; IN EO —
indef. neut. (in that business, in that regard)
502-03: FORTASSE — cf. ad 493-94; ATQUE ETIAM — cf. ad 482; si me percontatus esses ex aliis, crederes
(mihi id) quod nunc fers; SI ESSES PERCONTATUS, … CREDERES — mixed contr.-to-fact *condition
(past contrary-to-fact protasis; pres. contrary-to-fact apodosis — although the latter is likely to be taken
as referring to the past scene); ESSES PERCONTATUS ME — here the acc. must be taken in the sense of
“make inquiries about me” (contrast 343); earlier edd. delete me as a mistaken line heading. (In our
texts, “ME.” is employed to designate lines spoken by MERC.); EX ALIIS (HOMINIBUS) — OLD s.v. ex
14c; SCIO POL — parenthetical; (MIHI) CREDERES … (ID) QUOD FERS — suppressed antecedent
[A&G 307c]; NEGASSIM — archaic form = pfct. subj. (cf. ad 256): potential subj. in a polite (but still
guarded) expression of assent: “I would not at all deny it”)
[STAGING: exeunt omnes, via Wing B.]

Commentary: III.i
SCENE III.i
[Trochaic septenarii]
Cleareta reproaches Philaenium for her continued loyalty to Argyrippus, despite his poverty, and for
the fact that she shuns wealthy clients.
[BIBLIOGRAPHY: Legrand 1917: 126-27, Rosivach 1998: 63-66, ◉Fedeli 1999, ◉Woytek 1982: 66-67
(comparing Pers. 329-99).]
[STAGING: Clear. and Phil. enter the stage from Clear.’s house.]
504-09: the vivid introduction of Clear. and Phil., whose argument is already in full swing, scarcely leaves the
audience time to wonder why they have elected to hold this conversation in the street. Contrast the nod
to realism at 151-52
504: nequeone facere te mansuetam interdictis meis; NEQUEONE = nequeo + ne; TED = te;
INTERDICTIS — dat. with mansuetem (taking the latter in the sense of oboedientem: cf. Sen. ad Marc.
22.5) [G&L 383]; on the significance of the term in Roman law: ◉Falcone 1988; MANSUETEM: here
and at 145, this is an alt. 3rd-decl. form attested by the ancient grammarians and inserted by modern
edd. in place of mansuetam.
505: ita tu animata es ut sis expers imperio matris?; ANIMATA — disposed in a particular way, inclined,
minded (“strong willed,” “headstrong”); UT … SIES: *consecutive clause, following ita — “so as to
be …” [A&G 537]; QUI — not the rel. pron. (which would require the fem.) but an indefinite particle
regularly employed for emphasis following at, ut, quippe, and various exclamations (pol, edepol,
ecastor, hercle); retained in CL atqui [Lindsay 95, 108, and 119; L&S II. qui II.C; A&G 150b]:
“indeed,” “somehow”; EXPERS — having no part in, free from (+ abl. of sep. [A&G 401]);
imperium — authority (cf. ◉Fedeli 1999: 201-02, Leigh 2004: 177-78 and n. 87, Barrios-Lech 2016:
174); SIES = sis; [i.e., Phil. is so headstrong as to ignore her mother’s wishes, as if she were sui
iuris]
506-07: ubi piem Pietatem, si postulem (me) placere tibi, moratam isto more quo pacto praecipis mihi?;
UBI — i.e., under what circumstances, how (a relatively rare use); pio = to worship, honor (delib.
subj. [A&G 444]); ISTOC MORE — adv. (abl. of manner [A&G 412]): “in that fashion” (cf. 272), to be
taken with moratam; ISTOC [= isto] — this is picked up by quo pacto in 507; MŌRATAM = endowed
with a certain character — more moratam yields an etymological jingle of a sort freq. employed by P.
(as in piem Pietatem); postulare — to desire, claim, think it fit (Gray cfs. the Grk. ἀξιοῦν): the pres.
subj. in the protasis of a fut.-less-vivid *condition (cf. Bennett 1910: 276); PLACERE — sc. me (acc. +
inf. introduced by postulo): the construction is anticipated by the acc. moratam in 506 and reflects P.’s
habit of favoring the acc. + inf. construction over *prolative infs. (cf. ad 67); MIHI — dat. with

Commentary: III.i
praecipio [A&G 370]; QUO PACTO — in which manner, way: i.e., “in that way in which” (correl. with
istoc more in 506 [A&G 323g]): “having been reared in that fashion in which you instruct me” — i.e.,
if I assumed the type of character that you have attempted to bestow upon me; [From her first
words — with their involved syntax, etymological word-play, and extensive use of alliteration — the
audience can see that Phil. is not the typical New Comic ingénue, but a potentially formidable
presence]
508: AN — regularly employed to introduce an indignant question (cf. 524, 528); decorum est te adversari
praeceptis meis? DECORUM EST — impers. (introducing an acc. + inf.); ADVORSARI = adversari;
QUID EST? — requests an explanation (“What do you mean?” “What’s the matter?”); [Given P.’s
general practice, this last reads better as a question posed by Phil. than as an indignant transitional
expression on the part of Clear. (Hurka), but it is awkward on either reading. The line as a whole
disrupts the flow of the argument and could easily be omitted as a weak mishmash of 504 and 509
(◉Ussing 1875 ad loc., followed by others)]
509: HOCCINE (= hoc + ne) — complement of est (with pietatem colere as subject): ”Is this what it is to …?”
[Bennett 1910: 412-13]; hoc anticipates imperium matris minuere, with which it is in apposition;
IMPERIUM — cf. ad 505; [Barber 2011: 139-40 notes how Clear.’s perversion of the notion of parental
authority and filial pietas complements that of Dem. in I.i and V.i. McCarthy 2000: 142 compares the
confrontations at Cist. I.i, Pers. III.i]
510: QUAE — i.e., eas quae (suppressed antecedent [A&G 307c] — sc. mulieres/matres/puellas?);
DELINQUONT = delinquunt; [nec culpo eas [???] quae …, nec amo eas quae …: the ambiguity
inherent in Phil.’s reply — just what women does she mean? — and her failure to address Clear.’s main
point motivate Clear.’s response in 511]
511: AMATRIX — a witty and rather coarse word: see. Lilja 1965: 13 for similar formations; Hallett 1992: 119
and n. 39; [The agent noun amator (A&G 236), used of a male lover, incorporates traditional notions
of the assertive male; used of a young girl it disrupts the gendered norms that governed sexual and
social behavior. Prostitution in New Comedy often provides the site for such disruptions: cf. the final
scene of our play]; IS — anticipates the gender of the complement quaestus): points ahead to the list
in 512 (“This is my way of making a living”); for the tone, cf. the lecture that Clear. presents to Diab. at
215-26; MIHI — *dat. of possession [A&G 373]
512: “my tongue makes demands, my body plies its trade, my heart entreats, my circumstances command” —
a marvelous line, but not altogether easy to decipher; LINGUA POSCIT: sc. munera/data — cf. 165, 168,
181, 197, 234; QUAERIT: sc. lucrum (cf. 217), rem suam (= quaestum facit); ANIMUS ORAT: “my
mind/heart/passion pleads/begs”? (“prompts” — Gray and de Melo); RES MONET: “the reality of my
situation/my self-interest (“my circumstances” — Gray and de Melo) warns, advises, instructs”
(“guide[s]” — Gray; “urge[s]” — de Melo); [The third item in this list (ANIMUS ORAT) presents the
chief difficulty. De Melo follows earlier edd. in printing the line as two pairs of thoughts, divided by a
semi-colon. The first pair presents an apparent opposition betw. Phil.’s tongue and her body

Commentary: III.i
(reminiscent of the traditional contrast in Grk. thought betw. word and deed: λόγος vs. ἔργον) — an
opposition that is exploded in the end, since both unite in contributing in a tangible way to Phil.’s
income. The second pair associates or contrasts her personal longing with the external social and
economic realities that constrain her — but, despite the recurrence of animus at 537 and 542 (cf. 156),
it is difficult to determine what that longing might be, in this context, or how it suits the logic of Phil.’s
list (cf., e..g, Clear.’s response in 513). ◉Ussing 1875: 399 (ad 522) takes each pair as a unit and detects
a contrast betw. Phil.’s professional behavior (lingua, corpus) and her personal longing (animus, res):
Respondet filia eam esse huius quaestus naturam, ut, quum lingua impudenter poscat et corpus
quaerat, animus, re ipsa monente, quae velit, eloquatur et, quae optet, proferat — cf. Naudet’s
paraphrase of 512b (1830 ad loc.): “ANIMUS ORAT, ut Argyrippum diligam; … RES MONET: ipsa res
quam exerceo, me monet ut amem.” (Weise, on the other hand [1837 ad loc.], subordinates the first pair
to the second: et res et animus orat monetque seu impellit, ut corpus quaerat, i.e. quaestum faciat,
lingua autem poscat.) Hurka (no semi-colon) obtains greater consistency by detecting in animus orat
an allusion to the wheedling coquetry that Phil. must employ with her clients, thereby tying the third
item directly to the previous two, but this reading, which requires taking animus in an ironical sense,
seems somewhat strained and to a great degree merely repeats the idea inherent in lingua poscit. In the
end, I can offer nothing better]; [The clever, sing-song tone is enhanced here by the structuring within
the line (versus quadratus: ◉Gerick 1996), with coincidence of ictus and accent (below, p.xx): língua
póscit, | córpus quaérit, || ánimus órat, | rés monét]
513: TU … ADES — i.e., sed tu … (*asyndeton [A&G 323b]: the opposition is suggested by the emphatic
contrast EGO TE … TU MI); MI = mihi (dat. with adesse); ACCUSATRIX — *pred. (another comic
fem. verbal noun: cf. ad 511)
514: neque existimo fas (esse) me id facere; EXISTUMO = existimo (introduces the acc + inf. fas esse, which
in turn governs the acc. + inf. me facere) [Bennett 1910: 388]
515: VERUM — adv. (cf. ad 310); cum prohibeor illo quem amo; *QUOM = cum (+ ind.); ILLO (masc.) —
abl. of sep. [A&G 401]; [This line rules out the presence of Argyr. in Clear.’s house at this point: see
ad 329 and 591]
516: DE DIE — during the day, in daytime, in the course of the day (L&S s.v. de I.B2; Lindsay 86-87) — i.e.,
before night falls and “court” adjourns (cf. 825)
517-20: along with 511-12, these lines give an unusually down-to-earth view of the prostitute’s profession,
considering their source. Phil. in this play assumes the role of both the saucy professional courtesan
(here and 893ff.) and (in both this scene and at 591ff.) the devoted young female love-interest (cf.
◉Traina 1954: 194-95, Lowe 1992, Porter 2016). The threat to Cleareta’s livelihood that she suggests
here is esp. interesting: this is no helpless ingénue living under the authority of a demanding leno/lena
and waiting passively to be saved by the usual matrix of recognition/legitimacy/marriage; but neither is
she altogether the calculating professional. See, further, Hurka, who (introduction to the scene) notes
the way in which Phil.’s dilemma, and her opposition to parental authority, recall the situation of the

Commentary: III.i
typical male adulescens of New Comedy — one of several role-inversions presented in this play; [As
noted in the introduction to I.ii, the transformation in the presentation of Phil.’s character at the end of
the play is determined to a large degree by the suddent plot-shift introduced at 732-36: the present
passage helps to lay the ground for that transformation. In the end, however, Phil. consistently stands
betw. two worlds: both the practiced courtesan of whom we hear obliquely in I.ii and I.iii, and the
lovelorn pseudo-maiden]
517: LOQUENDI — gerund (partitive gen. with pars: A&G 504); TUAM (sc. partem); [Phil. echoes a
forensic trope here, in response to Clear.’s courtroom metaphors in 513 and 516: speakers in an
Athenian courtroom occasionally offer to allow the opposing litigant to employ some of the time
(“water”) allocated to the presentation of their own case: e.g., Demosth. 18.139, 19.57, [50].2, 57.61;
Aesch. 2.59]
518: AD + gerund — with a view to doing x, for doing x (A&G 506, Lindsay 84; Bennett 1910: 449-50);
TUTE = tu; HABEAS — jussive subj. [A&G 439] in place of imperative; portisculus — hammer used
to beat time for rowers
519-20: QUIN — in affirmation (“but to be sure”); REPOSIVI … QUIESCO … CONSISTIT — Phil.’s implied
threat is made all the more vivid by the use of the pfct. and pres. ind.; REPOSIVI <— repono: alt. form
of the 1st sg. pfct. act. ind.; ubi ego sola in casteria quiesco; SOLA — fem. nom. sg. (*pred.); the
adj. has a humorously double point: Phil., by herself, has the ability to put an end to Clear.’s business,
by resting by herself (i.e., with no clients); CASTERIA — word of unknown origin and meaning
(hapax): part of ship where gear stored? where oarsmen rested? the deck?; OMNIS — with causa;
familia — household, establishment; CAUSA = negotium (business undertaken for anyone,
employment); TIBI: note the particularly effective use of the *sympathetic dat. here, in the sg., to
make the threat more pointed and personal [A&G 377]
521ff.: on Clear.’s ars amandi, see ◉Fedeli 1999: 35-36, 39-40
521: QUID AIS TU? — used to indicate surprise, astonishment, or indignation (see ad 104 and see Barrios-Lech
2016: 174, who notes the association of this phrase, in such contexts, with masculine authority);
QUAM EGO UNAM VIDI MULIEREM AUDACISSUMAM = audacissima omnium mulierum quas ego vidi;
QUAM … VIDI (ESSE) — acc. + inf. following vb. of perception (cf. ad 23-24); MULIEREM
AUDACISSUMAM — complement after esse; UNAM — *pred. and emphatic: “alone,” “by yourself”
[L&S s.v. unus I.B.3] (replacing the expected partitive gen. omnium): cf. Engl. “the single most …”;
AUDACISSUMAM = audacissimam
522: VOTO = veto (like iubeo, this regularly takes the acc. + inf. vs. a *jussive noun clause)
523: compello — to speak to, address (+ acc.); COLLOQUIVE — colloquor regularly takes an acc. obj. in P.;
the enclitic –VE is employed in P. as a copula — a virtual equivalent of –que (cf. CL sive: Lindsay 128,
◉Langen 1880: 95-99); it is employed here to add texture to Clear.’s list; contueor/contuor — to gaze
at (+ acc.)

Commentary: III.i
524-34: these lines add further grounds for assigning I.ii and I.iii to DIab. (intro. to I.ii) — the portrait here is
not of a young man who has now run through his patrimony, but an infatuated lover who has never had
anything to give but his affections, and whose sole hope lies in the death of his mother (!).
524: DEPORTARI — “almost technical of sending presents to a mistress’ house” (Gray); AN — cf. ad 508;
TIBI — ethical dat. (A&G 380), here used indignantly: “do you really think …?”, “do you think, I ask
you, …?”
525: verba blanda aurum esse (et) dicta docta pro datis (esse) — acc. + inf. following rere; RERE — 2nd sg.
pres. ind. of reor; DOCTA — here in the sense of “cunning” (a virtual equivalent, in this context, of
blanda); PRO DATIS — “as good as gifts” (for this use of data, cf. 56, 166)
526: ULTRO — i.e., gratis; expetesso (3) — to seek earnestly; (EUM) AD TE ACCERSI — acc. + inf. after
iubes (eum is to be understood with all three vbs. in this line)
527: EOS — resumptive pron. (cf. ad 144), here employed to underscore Clear.’s exasperation: “Those who
give things, them you …”; deperis (illos) qui (te) deludunt — suppressed antecedent
528: an oportet te id exspectare; AN — cf. ad 508; ID — obj. of exspectare; anticipates the content of the
following si clause; SI QUIS = si aliquis [A&G 310a]; SI QUIS … PROMITTAT — after exspecto, si
quis + subj. conveys the sense of “if by chance someone might …,” “whether someone might…”
(*indir. question + subj. [L&S s.v. exspecto I.1.A.3; A&G 576a]) [cf. Lindsay 114, Bennett 1910: 275,
331]; [Clear. sardonically focuses not on the actual proffering of gifts, but the mere promise of them,
further highlighting the impracticality of Phil.’s behavior]
529: i.e., promittat (se) te divitem facturum (esse); (SE) FACTURUM (ESSE) — acc. + fut. inf. following vb. of
promising; DIVITEM — *pred. acc. following factitive vb. (A&G 393); SI … MORIATUR — subj. in
subord. clause in reported speech (with si for the expected ubi: cf. ad 143), representing an original
pres. subj. (equivalent of the protasis of a fut. less vivid *condition: “when his mother dies [whenever
that might be]”) [Woodcock 280.7]; [Note the comic inversion here, which points to the emasculation
of Dem. and the power wielded in his household by the wealthy Art.: in contrast to the typical rake
(e.g., Luc. Dial. Mer. 7.1), Argyr. is presented as hoping to come into wealth upon his mother’s death
(cf. 78-79). The absurdity of the situation accounts for the indignant and scornful tone of Clear.’s
speech]
530: ECASTOR — cf. ad 188; PERIC(U)LUM; FAMILIAE (NOSTRAE) — dat. of ref./disadvantage [A&G 376];
portendo — to portend, foretell, presage
531: DUM + pres. ind. — “while” [G&L 569] (following NE … MORIAMUR); EIUS — i.e., Artemonae; NE …
MORIAMUR: fear clause, introduced by periclum (530); EIUS MORTEM … NOS MORIAMUR — the
pointed contrast, along with the postponement of the fear clause, underscores Clear.’s bitter sarcasm;
FAME — causal abl. [A&G 404]
532: ADEO — (adv.) used here as an emphatic particle to emphasize the preceding adv. [L&S s.v. II B3];
NUNC ADEO — “to introduce an energelic command or expression of resolve, generally in breaking off

Commentary: III.i
a discussion” (Gray); HUC — adv.; ARGENTI — gen. of material [A&G 344]; AFFERT — pres. ind.
for the expected fut. [Bennett 1910: 66]
533: NE (ναί/νή) — affirmative particle (truly, indeed, verily): cf. ad 409; LARGUS — (*pred., with
concessive force) “lavish as he is” (+ obj. gen. — A&G 349a); [The pause represented in de Melo’s
text is unlikely to have been employed in performance: the *paraprosdokian is evident without it.
(Lovers in New Comedy should be lavish in presenting gifts, not tears)]; FORAS — adv.
534: SUMMUST = summus est [summu(s) ’st — prodelision]; SUMMUS — here in the sense “last, latest,
extreme, final” (= postremus); QUO — takes dies as antecedent (abl. of time when or within which
[A&G 423]); INOPIAE — appositional gen. (A&G 343d); [Zagagi 1980: 117 notes the echo of the
language of judicial magistrates; cf. 594]
535: PATIAR SI — “I will endure (it) if you …” (with the si-clause providing the implied obj. of patiar; this is
to be distinguished from the use of si in introducing *indir. questions: A&G 576a); PATIAR — best
taken as a fut. ind. (cf. 240), but see ◉Rotheimer 1876: 42; CIBO — abl. of sep. [A&G 401] with vb. of
lacking; IUBES — vs. the expected fut. ind. (A&G 516a n.); [While both patior and cibus can be
employed in erotic contexts, attempts to import a sexual connotation to this line are unconvincing: in
response to Clear.’s assertion that favoring deadbeats such as Argyr. will reduce their entire household
to poverty and starvation (531), Phil. agrees to forgo food — so long as she can maintain her erotic
relationship with the one man she truly loves. See Porter 2016: 312-28 on the contrast betw the
mercantile and controlling Diab. of I.ii, I.iii, and IV.i, and the utterly impractical nature of the affection
that unites Phil. with Argyr.]
536: VOTO = veto (+ acc. + inf.); TED = te; QUI DANT — i.e., eos qui dant (suppressed antecedent: A&G
307c); QUIOIA — cuius, -a, -um (poss. adj.): pertaining to whom, of whom, whose; QUOIĀ …
GRATIĀ — abl.; [gratiā is regularly employed as post-positive prep. with the gen. The phrase quoia
gratia presents a curious form of compression that is quite common — understand: qui dant ea (neut.
pl.) quorum gratiā amentur. The possessive adj. quoius, in agreement with gratiā, implies an obj. gen.
dependent upon gratiā — cf. metus hostilis = “fear of the enemy” (A&G 348a, 404c: cf. above ad 68
and 144)]; AMENTUR — subj. in *rel. clause of characteristic/purpose [A&G 531.2] (“who give things
for the sake of which they might be loved” — i.e., gifts that would induce you to share your favors with
them)
537: QUID SI … OCCUPATUST — for the ind. here (in a request for information), cf. Lindsay 115; QUID SI …
QUID … — quid si normally introduces an open-ended question, with a partially suppressed apodosis
(“What [will happen,] if …?”, “What [am I to do] if…?” — cf. 195); the supplying of this apodosis
(here in the form of a parallel question) adds to the sense of urgency/pathos; HIC — adv.;
ANIMUS — cf. 505; OCCUPATUST = occupatus est (occupatus here in the sense of “fixed,” devoted”)
[occupatu(s) ’st — prodelision]; FACIAM — delib. subj. [A&G 444]
538: CONTEMPLES — jussive subj. [A&G 439]; EX RE … TUA: with a view to your own
affairs/interests/circumstances — i.e., to your own advantage (L&S s.v. ex III G; Lindsay 87 —

Commentary: III.i
contrast ab re in line 224); [As an elderly former prostitute, Clear. attempts to communicate the hard
realities of their profession to Phil., particularly the danger of assuming that her young lovers will still
be flocking to her when she is older and has lost the charm of youth. This type of scene is common in
New Comedy: cf. Most. 157ff.]
539-40: OPILIO — a shepherd (nom.); OVIS — acc. pl.; [The image introduced here is humorously apt: like
a herdsman looking after his master’s flock, Phil. will continue to tend — and to fleece (cf. Bacch. 241-
42, 1124-28, Merc. 523-26: see next n.) — the other sheep entrusted to her, but begs to be allowed to
foster one lamb of her own]
541: ALIQUAM (OVEM) — note the use, here and in 539-40, of the fem. ovis: this emasculation of the helpless
lover, who has been ensnared by the wiles of the meretrix, is common in New Comedy: cf. Bacch.
1120ff. and above ad 218; peculiaris, -e — personal, one’s own (*pred.): here, likely, in reference to
property (peculium) that a slave was permitted to accrue as his own (Watson 1971: 45 and n. 2);
QUI = instr. abl. of the rel. pron. (A&G 150b): the antecedent is ovem peculiarem (fem.); QUI …
SOLETUR — *rel. clause of characteristic/purpose [A&G 531.2]; solor (1) — to comfort, soothe,
nurture; [Arguments from silence are always subjective, but it is phps. worth noting that Phil.
nowhere bolsters her case by citing the obligation entailed by Argyr.’s past services, as we might
expect if he were the young man of I.ii and I.iii: cf., e.g., Most. 204-32]
542: sine me amare solum Argyrippum, quem volo, animi causa; SINE — 2nd sg. pres. imperative act.;
UNUM — (*pred.) i.e., solum (“alone”: L&S s.v. unus I.B.3): one might take unum as part of the rel.
clause quem volo, but the word order is against this; ANIMI — “heart,” “desire”; ANIMI CAUSA —
corresponding to qui spem soletur suam in 541
543: INTRO — adv.; ABI — 2nd sg. imperative of abeo; TE — abl. of comparison [A&G 406]; NIHIL …
IMPUDENTIUS — the use of the neut. reflects Clear.’s exasperation (cf. the contemptuous use of “thing”
in English: OED s.v. II.10.a)
544: AUDIENTEM — (*pred.) i.e., obedient (audio + dat. is less freq. than + acc., but not uncommon in P.);
dictum — command, order; produco — to rear, educate (children); [Given Phil.’s unyielding
insistence on being allowed to love Argyr., the vexed tone of Clear.’s final comment in 543, and the
generally inconclusive nature of this scene, 544 must be tinged with the same irony evident in a number
of Phil.’s exchanges with Clear.: Phil. cheerfully agrees to reenter the house, in accordance with her
mother’s wishes, while ignoring Clear.’s more fundamental concerns. The line rounds out the scene
nicely with its tart echo of 504-05]
[STAGING: Clear. and Phil. enter Clear.’s house.]

Commentary: III.ii
SCENE III.ii
[Iambic septenarii]
Libanus and Leonida celebrate their success — achieved with the assistance of Demaenetus — in
extracting the twenty minae from the merchant’s agent.
[BIBLIOGRAPHY: ◉Thierfelder 1929: 33 n. 1xx; Marshall 1999: 114-15; Stewart 2012: 111-13.]
[STAGING: Lib. and Leon. enter the stage via Wing B.]
545-57: on the parody here of the typical triumphator’s prayer to Jupiter, see McDonnell 2006: 23-24; cf.
Fraenkel 2007: 161-65. Attempts to identify a more specifics allusion (e.g., ◉Herrmann 1929: 422-23,
Buck 1940: 33-36) are unconvincing. Stewart 2012: 111-12 notes how “the slaves brag about their
capacity to survive the coercive instruments of the slave society.” Barrios-Lech 2016: 241 and n. 33
compares other passages in which tricky slaves (or similar characters) present humorous collocations of
terms for trickery, deception, cunning ruses, etc.
545: PERFIDIAE — comic personification (dat. sg. — with laudes gratiasque habemus: cf. gratias tibi ago);
MERITO — (adv.) deservedly, rightly (cf. ad 137-38); MAGNAS — to be taken with both laudes and
gratias
546: *QUOM = cum (in the present state of the text, this lacks a vb.); SYCOPHANTIIS, DOLIS ASTUTIISQUE —
instr. abl. [A&G 409]; an instance of the relatively infrequent listing “x, y, and z,” so common in Engl.:
comically grandiose; SYCOPHANTIIS — cf. ad 71-72
547: SCAPULARUM CONFIDENTIA — one of many references in P. to the brazenness of the servus callidus who
has been whipped so many times that his shoulders are inured to pain (cf. 318-22, 419): as Gray notes,
confidens in P. generally implies an arrogant brazenness; SCAPULARUM — obj. gen. [A&G 348]:
“confidence in our shoulders”; CONFIDENTIA … VIRTUTE — abl. with freti; ULMORUM — elm-rods
employed to beat slaves: a rather odd *paraprosdokian; phps. (Hurka) another obj. gen. (A&G 348:
“bravery in the face of … elm-rods”). The 4th/5th-century grammarian Nonius records ulnorum [a
variant of ulnarum — forearms (i.e., arms)]: this seems out of place, since all of the other items in
Lib.’s list are decidedly unheroic in sense. Others suggest umerorum, which is possible but redundant
after scapularum confidentia; [On Lib.’s comic bravado, cf. Fitzgerald 2000: 40]
549: QUI — presumably with Lib. and Leon. as the antecedent (again, a vb. is missing); ADVORSUM =
adversum; laminae ardentes: red-hot metal plates employed as instruments of torture
550: nervus — apparatus used for securing prisoners; numella — framework fitted around neck of prisoners or
animals so as to prevent movement; pedica — shackle, fetter; boia — a collar or yoke worn by
criminals

Commentary: III.ii
551: INDUCTORES — a hapax, from induco (to move, excite; put on; draw over, spread over, overlay). Gray:
“qui tergum rubro colore inducebant tanquam parietem pictores” — i.e., those who tattoo or scar the
back with lashes. Hurka: those who apply (induco) chains, bonds, etc. — i.e., torturers, tormentors. It
is difficult to know what to make of the word, given the fragmentary nature of the passage, but it would
seem to be in apposition to the items previously listed — comic personification (cf. de Melo’s
translation); ACERRUMOS = accerimos; NOSTRI TERGI — obj. gen. with gnaros [A&G 348]: for the
sg. cf. 481
[552]: likely an intrusive gloss orig. intended to elucidate 551 but, as Hurka notes, objections to the line’s
metrical form are not conclusive; ANTE — adv.
554: EAE NUNC LEGIONES, COPIAE EXERCITUSQUE — cf. the similar use of –que at 546 (the line continues the
grandiosely triumphant tone, expressed via the same verbal superabundance, as is evident in 545-51: cf.
Sharrock 2009: 172-73); EORUM — “of theirs” (i.e., belonging to the slaves’ unnamed opponents):
this deliberately vague possessive gen. works in conjunction with the grandiose military terms in this
line to give an inflated sense of the recently concluded encounter with Merc.
555: “[The enemy’s great forces,] fighting valiantly, thanks to our dishonest deceptions have achieved … a
quick retreat!”; VI — abl. of manner [A&G 412]; PUGNANDO — gerund (instr. abl. [A&G 507]);
[The grandiloquent expression VI PUGNANDO (“by fighting mightily” — a common collocation: cf.
Amph. 414, Men. 1054, Miles 267) is ironically misleading, since the enemy’s valor is quickly undone
by the slaves’ deceptions and concludes with the enemy forces themselves being routed. Earlier edd.
place a comma after pugnando, taking it as parallel to periuriis (*asyndeton [A&G 323b]) in reference
to Lib. and Leon.’s heroic efforts, but this seems a less natural way to take the expression and spoils the
joke somewhat];130 PERIURIIS — causal abl. [A&G 404]; POTITI (SUNT) — (potior) agreeing in
gender and number with hostes (implied by the cmpd. subject provided by 554); FUGAE — obj. gen.
with potiti sunt [A&G 357a]: a comically grand circumlocution with a humorously ironic twist (since
soldiers are normally celebrated for the taking of a city or the like, not the achievement of turning tail);
[Comm. have generally regarded potiti here as the passive of potio (“to put someone [acc.] under the
power of another [gen.],”) as, e.g., at Capt. 92, 144, 762, Epid. 532, 562: in that case, one should
translate “they have been taken captive by Flight” (reading Fugae). This might well be the correct
interpretation. In taking fugae as an obj. gen. I am influenced by the use of potior with this gen.
elsewhere: as opposed to the acc. and the abl. (which are more common as objects of potior), the obj.
gen. seems to emphasize the acquisition of mastery or control and is somewhat more lofty (as in the
comically overblown Rud. 1337: cf. B.Afr. 18.4, 50.4, 61.5, Cic. Off. 3.113, etc.). Following the
bombastic introduction to the enemy troops in 554, vi pugnando suggests that the audience is being
130
Vis and dolus (periuria) are generally treated as antithetical terms in military contexts (e.g., Naev. trag. 34). Their
juxtaposition here is clearly humorous, but the common interpretation of 555a yields a rather muddy result.

Commentary: III.ii
further set up for a bathetic conclusion: while it is impossible to argue the case definitively, I’ve opted
for the reading that gives the “enemy” greater (comic) agency.]
556: ID — i.e., their victory; VIRTUTE … COMITATE — instr. abl. [A&G 409]; virtus — courage, valor (cf.
above ad 323-24); COLLEGAÏ = collegae (archaic gen. [A&G 43a] — another inflated term with
military overtones): huius collegae = “my colleague here”; comitas — obligingness, consideration,
courtesy (MEA COMITATE — “through my kind assistance” [Gray, de Melo: abstract for concrete]; a
comically affected phrase)
557: qui vir fortior est me ad sufferendas plagas? ME — A&G 407b and Woodcock 81(ii) note that the abl.
of comparison is more common than quam in negative expressions of comparison, and, as here, in
rhetorical questions that expect a negative answer; SUFFERUNDAS = sufferendas (gerundive — ad +
noun + gerundive = “with a view to …,” “when it comes to …” [A&G 506; Bennett 1910: 444-45]);
[The conclusion of the line gives a more honest sense of just where Lib.’s valor lies (cf. ad 547): note
the humorous exploitation of the pause associated with the mid-line diaeresis (just before
ad sufferundas plagas)]
558: VIRTUTES — i.e., deeds of valor (abstract for concrete: McDonnell 2006: 23-24); QUI — particle (cf. ad
505); NON POSSIS — potential subj. (“you could not possibly”) [A&G 447, Bennett 1910: 197-98];
[Some edd. take qui as the interrog. pron. (qui tuas nunc possit collaudare) and print 558-59 as a
question]
559: sicut ego possim (laudare ea) quae …; POSSIM — potential subj. (by attraction to possis in 558) [A&G
593]; QUAE — neut. pl. acc. (sc. ea — suppressed antecedent [A&G 307c]: “those things which”);
DOMI DUELLIQUE — at home and in war, at home and abroad (locative) [A&G 427.3a]: a common
phrase in the celebration of military achievements (McDonnell 2006: 23-24) employing the loftier,
archaic duelli for belli. [You can see the substitution of b- for du- in the contrast betw. bis (“twice” —
orig. duis) and duo]; MALE — undercuts the apparent praise with which Leon. opens this speech and
indicates just what direction his mock celebration of Lib.’s “achievements” will take, as the scene
continues its panegyric on the slaves’ “heroic” skullduggery
560-76 — for the stylized exchange of insults, cf. ad 297ff.
560: NE (ναί/νή) — affirmative particle (truly, indeed, verily): cf. ad 409; ILLA — “those (well-
known/famous achievements)”: i.e, the following; PRO MERITO … TUO — in accordance with your
merit, as you deserve (cf. ad 137-38); MEMORARI — to be called to mind, celebrated; MULTA —
*pred. (“in great numbers” — Gray)
561-65: a series of statements with ubi and the pfct. subj. (ubi here introduces an *indir. question [A&G 573]);
UBI — in this context the distinction betw. the translation “instances where” and “times when” is
neglegible; UBI … UBI … — *anaphora (A&G 641); [As Hurka notes (introduction to this scene),
the comic lists of misdeeds cited by Leon. and (at 569ff.) Lib. echo the formal commemoration of the
triumphator’s achievements (res gestae)]
561: FIDENTEM — ptcple. employed as *substantive (“a trusting friend”) [A&G 494a]

Commentary: III.ii
562: VERBIS CONCEPTIS — according to/employing a set, formal oath (cf. 735); SCIENS LUBENTER —a
comically redundant expression: the equivalent of “quite happily” or the like; LUBENTER = libenter;
PEIIERARIS = periuraveris / periuraris
563: PARIETES PERFODERIS — cf. Matthew 6.19: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where
moth and rust spoils, and where thieves dig through and steal” (Grk. τοιχωρύχος, τοιχωρυχέω — cf.
Lilja 1965: 49 and 58); IN FURTO — i.e., in the act of stealing something
564: SAEPE — parenthetical (ut saepe factum est — “as often happened”); CAUSAM DIXERIS — you pleaded
your case (i.e., tried to excuse yourself and be pardoned); PENDENS — cf. 300-05 and 617;
ADVORSUS = adversus — (of a speech) in front of, in the presence of
565: ARTUTOS — (a conjecture for the mss. astutos: large-limbed, hefty?); AUDACIS — violent, fierce (masc.
acc. pl.); VIRGATORES — likely a comic coinage (virga = switch, rod): a play on viatores (subordinate
officials, like the lictors, assigned to a magistrate or tribune — in this case, to the tresviri capitales [cf.
above ad 130-32]: see ◉Kunkel/Wittmann 1995: 123-25 [cited by Hurka]; I have not been able to
consult ◉Muñiz Coello 1996). For officials who lacked lictors (such as the tresviri), the viatores did in
effect double duty, including the infliction of floggings. On the evidence of P. (564, 574, Amph. 159-
60; cf. Men. 223), they were regularly eight in number; [for the scenario envisioned here, cf. 574-75
and ad 868]
566-75: Lib.’s retort echoes Leon.’s comic shtick at 558-65 in its syntax, sense, and much of its vocabulary: cf.
above ad loc.
566: fateor (ea) vera esse (sic)ut praedicas; (EA) ESSE VERA — acc. + inf. after fateor
567-68: tua quoque malefacta iterari possunt multa et vero; note the comic piling up of asseveratives:
VERUM EDEPOL NE ETIAM … QUOQUE … ET VERO; VERUM EDEPOL — “but, to be sure,” “but indeed”;
NE (ναί/νή) — affirmative particle (truly, indeed, verily): cf. ad 409. [Contrast Hurka, who detects in
ne … quoque an archaic equivalent for ne … quidem, yielding, “In truth, by Pollux, your numerous
villainies can’t even be reported in words”]; MULTA — *pred. (“in large numbers”): cf. 560; ET
VERO — “and truthfully, too!” [OLD s.v. 1]: the ironic force of this additional assertion is reinforced
via enjambment; SCIENS — *pred. (“knowingly,” “willfully”)
569: PRENSUS … SIES = prensus sis; FURTO … MANUFESTO: a specific category of theft in Roman law,
wherein the thief was caught in the act (cf. 563 and see Stewart 1912: 137 n. 100); MANUFESTO =
manifesto; VERBERATUS (SIS)
570: PEIIERARIS = periuraveris / periuraris; SACRO — dat. of motion [A&G 363]; MANUS — acc. pl. (obj.
of ammolitus sis): to direct one’s hands against something sacred = to profane something sacred (here,
by stealing it: cf., e.g., Cic. Ver. 2.4.99); see Hurka, however, who regards 570b as a vivid
reaffirmation of 570a: Leon., on this view, not only has forsworn himself, but has done so while
solemnly placing his hands upon an altar in confirmation of a sacrifice; ammolitus sis = admoveris
[571-73: these lines are bracketed by many edd. as a later expansion of Lib.’s response]

Commentary: III.ii
571: ERIS — dat. pl. (dat. of ref./disadvantage) [A&G 376]; DAMNO, MOLESTIAE ET DEDECORI — *pred. dat.
(in *double dat. construction with eris [A&G 382.1]); [Note once again the “a, b, and c” construction:
cf. ad 546]; SAEPE — cf. 564
572: ubi pernegaveris (id tibi) datum esse quod tibi creditum sit; PERNEGARIS = pernegaveris; CREDITUM
SIT — subj. by attraction to pernegaris [A&G 593]; quod tibi creditum sit — i.e., a deposit
573: ubi fidelior amicae fueris quam amico tuo; AMICAE — see ad Arg. 5; [A revealing statement that
recalls a similarly misogynistic Engl. expression and undercuts much of the talk of passionate devotion
on the part of the love-lorn iuvenes of New Comedy; of somewhat questionable relevance to the
situation of the typical slave]
574-75: ubi saepe dederis octo validos lictores ad languorem tua duritia; SAEPE — see ad 564; DEDERIS …
AD LANGUOREM — i.e., you wore out (on the use of dare in such expressions, cf. ad 426); TUA
DURITIA — instr. abl. [A&G 409]; LICTORES —a grandiose term for lorarii (floggers, who beat slaves
with leather whips: cf. ad 565 above); ulmeus — made of elm-wood (reference to switches used in
beatings); AFFECTOS — *pred. (with concessive force): “although they were equipped with …”;
LENTIS — pliant, lithe (and so all the more effective as implements for whipping)
576: NUM MALE RELATA EST GRATIA — i.e., I’ve paid you back appropriately, have I not? UT — interrog.
adv.; COLLEGAM — recalling 556, thereby effectively rounding out the opening comic shtick
577: (SIC)UT — “just as”; MEQUE TEQUE — -que … -que in the sense of “both … and”; MEQUE TEQUE …
INGENIO — likely abl. with decuit (a unique instance), on the analogy of dignus + abl. (A&G 418b,
Gray ad loc. — an archaic construction [Hurka]? ◉Zwierlein 1992: 196 brackets the line as a later
interpolation); MAXUME = maxime
578: ISTAEC = ista; [On the overt signalling here of the end of a comic shtick, cf. Duckworth 1994: 196 n.
45]; QUID VIS: *indir. question [A&G 573] with ind. (on the model of loquere quid vis) [Some mss.
read quod here (rel. pron. with suppressed antecedent), followed by some edd.]
579: ARGENTI VIGINTI MINAS — the re-emergence of this by now all too familiar theme (cf. ad 89) helps to
signal that the plot is getting back on track and puts the focus on the moneybag itself, which will play
an important (if silent) role in the next scene; HABESNE — the interrogative enclitic –ne here
gravitates to the vb., with something of the emphatic force of nonne (“you have the money, do you
not?”) [A&G 332c]; HARIOLARE (2nd sg. pres.ind. dep.) — either, “you guess/prophesize correctly”
(sarcastic: cf. 316, 924) or (more likely), “you’re raving!”, “what nonsense!” (i.e., “of course I do”): as
Gray notes ad 316, the latter sense is denied for P. by ◉Langen 1880: 260 (followed by most comm.),
but the association of prophetic trances with irrational behavior (actual or feigned) was well established
(cf., e.g., Truc. 599-602 and Ennius’ Cassandra [Cic. Div. 1.66]), while there is no question here, as in
the other passages cited, of Lib. having reached a conclusion according to his own lights (cf. 731ff.). In
general, the attempt to distinguish Plautine usage from that of Ter. in this regard seems artificial, given
the limited evidence. See esp. Slater 2000, who notes that uses of hariolari in P. are consistently
mocking and dismissive, suggesting something along the lines of, “any fool can see that”: the hariolus

Commentary: III.ii
is presented as a fraudulent figure whose theatrical ravings are intended to conceal his lack of true
prophetic insight. Further recent discussions: ◉Montero 1993, Nice 2001, Traill 2004: 125-26,
Santangelo 2013: 149-52.
580: SENEM DEMAENETUM LEPIDUM FUISSE — acc. + inf. of exclamation [A&G 462, Lindsay 75]: “that Dem.
was …!”, “for Dem. to have been …” [This construction often employs interrogative –ne (“to think
that …”), but not regularly (Bennett 1910: 423-25): on p. 425 Bennett notes the unique use of this
construction here to express satisfaction rather than disgust, contempt, or regret]; LEPIDUM — here
almost “wonderfully agreeable/accommodating”; NOBIS — dat. of ref./advantage [A&G 376]
581: UT … QUAM FACETE — redundant use of the exclamatory adv.: “how altogether cleverly!” (Gray notes
that such redundant reinforcement is common in colloq. speech; cf. Lindsay 118); MED = me; me
Sauream esse— acc. + inf. following assimulabat; [Dem. here lives up to the ideal established by his
own father: lines 68ff.]
582: NIMIS — all too, altogether (adv.): in combination with aegre = “scarcely” ; CONTINI = continui
583: QUOD … NOLUISSET — “because (as Dem. said) the stranger had refused …” (quod + subj. — subord.
clause in indir. disc. [A&G 580, Bennett 1910: 318]) (see Lindsay 120 on P.’s general preference for
quia over quod in such contexts: cf. A&G 540); SE<SE> APSENTE — abl. abs. [A&G 419];
ABPENTE = absente; MIHI — i.e., Leon. in his role as “Saurea”; fidem habere alicui — to trust
someone (an echo of 458)
584: UT — exclamatory adv.
585: MANEDUM — dum employed as an enclitic with imperatives and interjections [G&L 269, Barrios-Lech
2016: 134-36]: “hold on a moment,” “wait a second”; PHILAENIUM ESTNE — delayed –ne here likely
reflects the degree to which the complement followed by sum are felt to represent a unit (Philaenium
est); INTUS — “from within”
586: UNA — adv.; IS EST — “It’s him!”; SUBAUSCULTEMUS — hortatory subj. [A&G 439]. On the use of
the hortatory subj. in New Comedy, see Barrios-Lech 2016: 67-69
587: LACINIA — edge of a garment, fringe, hem (instr. abl. [A&G 409]); TENET — take Phil. as subject (she
restrains the distraught Argyr., who intends to run off and do himself an injury) [The ambiguity in this
line might be problematic in a non-dramatic text; P. is of course writing for performance: the audience
can see who is holding onto whom]; QUIDNAM (HOC) ESSE DICAM? — i.e., what am I to make of this?
(delib. subj. [A&G 444] followed by acc. + inf.); QUIDNAM — for enclitic –nam, see G&L 333a
588: TACITI — *pred. adj. (where Engl. employs an adv.) [A&G 290; G&L 325 and R. 6]; AUSCULTEMUS —
hortatory subj. [A&G 439]; ATTATAE— Grk. ἀτταταῖ (interjection); MODO — adv.; VENIT —
pfct. ind.; MODO … IN MENTEM VENIT — “it just struck me!”
589: NIMIS — very much, exceedingly; VELLEM — potential subj. of wish that does not admit of
achievement [A&G 442b and 447.1 n.]; PERTICA — rod, wand; QUOI = cui; QUOI REI — *dat. of
purpose (Lindsay 19, A&G 382); QUI — adv. (= instr. abl. of the rel. pron. [A&G 150b], with pertica
as the antecedent); VERBERAREM — potential subj. in *rel. clause of characteristic (“by which I

Commentary: III.ii
might …”), implying purpose [A&G 531.2], in secondary *sequence (continuing the impossible wish
introduced by vellem)
590: ASINOS — Gray notes the stock joke of confusing animals with the price paid for them (repeated in Pers.
265 and Truc. 654-55: ◉Woytek 1982: 67-68): here the joke phps. gains some added point via a pun on
the Latin terms asinos/asses; OCCEPERINT — likely a pfct. subj. (A&G 484c, Bennett 1910: 343),
representing an orig. *fut. pfct. ind. in the protasis of a fut. vivid *condition (here incorporated into the
impossible wish introduced by vellem in 589): Woodcock 280.8. In this context, as Bennett and
Woodcock note, one would expect the plupfct. subj. rather than the pfct. (secondary sequence): cf. ad
443 (sit locatum). It might well be that P.’s audience heard a *fut. pfct. ind. here — cf. ad 20;
CRUMINA — money-bag, purse; [STAGING: Leon. likely mimes shaking the bag, in a fashion that
suggests the jingling of the coins (◉Schwarz 1936: 877)]
SCENE III.iii
[Iambic septenarii]
Argyrippus and Philaenium share a poignant scene lamenting their doomed love. They are spied upon
by Libanus and Leonida, who eventually intercede with the news of their success. After some
boisterous mocking of their master, the slaves hand over the funds and inform Argyrippus of the one
condition under which he is to receive this favor from his father: as a reward for his services,
Demaenetus is to be allowed one night with Philaenium.
[BIBLIOGRAPHY: Legrand 1917: 152-53 and 506-07; Lowe 1992: 163-70 and ◉1999: 17-22; Segal 1987:
104-09, Marshall 1999: 114-15, McCarthy 2000: 141-42, Franko 2004: 44-45, Fraenkel 2007: 147-48,
Dutsch 2012, Stewart 2012: 113-15. ◉Traina 1969 [2000] offers a commentary on 591-617.]
[STAGING: Argyr. and Phil. enter the stage from Clear.’s house. They commiserate with one another
while Lib. and Leon. watch unobserved from the wings and provide comic commentary.]
591: QUOR = cur; RETENTAS — iterative form of retineo, with conative force (“why are you trying to …”;
TUI … ABEUNTIS — gen. with egeo (although the gen. is reg. in P. with amans as well [e.g., 857]: see
below) [Lindsay 11-12]; TUI — gen. sg. of tu (obj. gen.: A&G 143c, 354, 356); AMANS — *pred.
(“in my passion,” “loving you as I do”); ABEUNTIS — *pred. (“who are departing,” “even as you are
departing”); [It is possible that the line was delivered in such a way that tui amans and abeuntis egeo
were heard as, in effect, discrete units (“in my love for you, I long for you even as you depart”) but
speakers of an inflected language are often presented with such constellations of terms: just how each

Commentary: III.iii
listener would have sorted them out is freq. difficult to determine]; [How Argyr. has joined Phil. in
the interval since the conclusion of III.i is never explained — when last we heard, he was at home
(329): cf. Duckworth 1994: 120 and n. 45, Lowe 1992: 163-64, Porter 2016: 330-31. It is easy enough,
however, for the audience to imagine that Phil. has summoned Argyr. to report Clear.’s decree (532-34)
and enjoy what Clear. has declared to be their last day together. (Such slight-of-hand is usually
explained by the availability of a side- or back-entrance to the house, the angiportus: cf. 741-43.)
Productions that assign I.ii and iii to to Argyr. (see introduction to I.ii) must abandon even this limited
degree of veresimilitude to present an Argyr. who departs for the forum at the conclusion of I.iii, is
suddenly inside Dem.’s house in the course of II.ii, is manifestly not in Clear.’s establishment in III.i
(515), yet enters from there at the opening of III.iii. The fact that Argyr. in our scene nowhere refers to
the failure of the mission which (on this staging) he announced at 233-36 and 243-48 compounds this
difficulty]
592: ALIQUANTO — abl. of degree of difference [A&G 414]; VALEREM, SI … MANERES — pres. contrary to
fact *condition; VALEREM — Phil. puns on the literal meaning of Argyr.’s valediction (to “fare
well”): cf. Barrios-Lech 2016: 180-81; HIC — adv.
593: SALVERE — for the pun, cf. ad valerem in 592; QUOI = cui; ABIENS — *pred. (“in departing,” “by
your departure”); OFFERS — one might have expected the subj. here (concessive rel. clause)
594: mater tua supremum (diem) mihi dixit; supremum (diem) dicere — a play on the more usual expression
diem (e)dicere (to decree a day by which something must be done, or on which one’s opponent is to
appear in court [cf. 838]: again we find Clear. portrayed as a judicial magistrate [cf. ad 534]), here
conflated with the common diem supremum (one’s final day, death). In this instance, Clear.’s
declaration that this is to be Argyr.’s last day with Phil. (534) is presented as a death-sentence, capping
Phil.’s allusion to her own death at the conclusion of 593. (This rendering seems preferable to taking
supremum as an allusion to the final farewells offered at a funeral [on the rather dubious model of Ov.
Metam. 10.62] — but cf. Bertini ad loc.); [Most edd. follow Turnebus in reading supremam (horam),
an echo of the formula by which the presiding magistrate’s assistant would announce (pronuntio) the
conclusion of a court session at the end of the day (Varro Ling. 6.5, Plin. NH 7.212: Fraenkel 2007: 268
and 298 n. 43). This provides a specific context for the second half of the line, but the association
seems oddly inconsequential, given Argyr.’s melodramatic view of his situation. I have opted for the
more “tragic” interpretation]; (ME) DOMUM IRE IUSSIT — causal/explanatory clause joined via
*asyndeton [A&G 323b]: provides the grounds for Argyr.’s initial pronouncement
595: ACERBUM — i.e., premature and therefore all the more grievous; FILIAE — dat. of ref. [A&G 376];
FACIET — i.e., she will cause, occasion; SI TE (MIHI) CARENDUM EST — pass. periphrastic (with
impersonal neut.) [A&G 500.3, Woodcock 204]; TE — abl. with carendum; [Bertini notes the
mock-tragic alliteration (parodied in Lib.’s response in the next line): cf. A Funny Thing Happened on
the Way to the Forum: “Oh, her bridal bower becomes a burial bier of bitter bereavement!”]

Commentary: III.iii
596: HOMO — colloquial and familiar: mocking; HINC — i.e., from Clear.’s establishment; EXCLUSUST =
exclusus est [exclusu(s) ’st — prodelision]; MITTE (ME) — addressed to Phil. by Argyr. (who is as
yet unaware of the presence of Lib. and Leon.): “release me,” “let me go” (= dimitte); QUAESO — “I
ask you,” “please”
597: QUO — adv. (whither, to where); QUIN — “why not instead … ?”, “won’t you rather …?” (+ ind.)
[A&G 449.2b]; HIC — adv.; NOX — (adv.) by night, for the night; [Argyr. switches immediately
from melodramatic despair to opportunistic randiness — an indication of how seriously P. intends for
his audience to consider the lovers’ plight. In effect, the despair-ridden adulescens momentarily drops
his role as “straight-man” and intrudes upon the clowning of the servi callidi: cf., e.g., the similar
slippage at Pseud. 118-22 and see Porter 2016: 340]; VOLES — *fut. ind., where Engl. would employ
a generalizing pres. [A&G 516.a]; [STAGING: Argyr. and Phil. engage in a lengthy embrace, thereby
allowing for the comic patter by the slaves in 598ff.]
598-99: AUDIN = audis + ne; HUNC UT LARGUS EST — *prolepsis (cf. ad 27-28); UT = “how” (interrog.);
UT LARGUS EST — pres. ind. in an *indir. question (cf. Bennett 1910: 120-22, who associates this type
of pronominal question, that is *substantival in nature, with the ind.); OPERA … NOCTURNA — instr.
abl. [A&G 409a] with largus (“nighttime service” might imply some respectable endeavor; for the less
seemly implications, cf. ad opere in 873); nunc interdiu licet videre (eum) negotiosum Solonem esse;
(EUM) ESSE … SOLONEM — acc. + inf. following vb. of perception [cf. ad 23-24]; INTERDIUS =
interdiu — by day, during the day (adv.); VIDELICET = one can see that, it is plain to see that (+ acc. +
inf.): ironical; [Rather than a particle, videlicet in P. can have the force of an impers. vb. (= videre
licet: Lindsay 120): cf. ad scilicet in 787]; SOLONEM — Solon (ca. 638 - ca. 558 BC), the revered
Athenian law-giver, known (somewhat unhistorically) for laying the foundations of the Athenian
democratic constitution and bringing order to Athenian society. (On the other hand, the 4th/3rd-century
comic poet Philemon cited, as one of Solon’s most “democratic” measures, the institution of state-run
brothels: F 3 K.-A. Whether P.’s audience could be expected to recall this is uncertain: Fraenkel 2007:
348 n. 10); NEGOTIOSUM SOLONEM — “a busy little Solon” (although the dimin. is not, admittedly, in
the Latin); [Lib. ironically suggests that Argyr. is so busy with his serious public pursuits by day that,
in order to find time to consult with others, he must book off his nights as well]
600: ut conscribat leges quibus populus se teneat; UT CONSCRIBAT — *jussive noun clause [more precisely,
a substantive clause of purpose: A&G 563e], for which the ground is laid by negotiosum in 599 (on the
model of operam dat): “a Solon devoted to writing …” [Bertini finds an allusion to Solon being
compelled to compose his laws at night, which is difficult to derive from the Latin]; QUIBUS …
TENEAT — *rel. clause of characteristic/purpose [A&G 531.2]; QUIBUS — instr. abl. [A&G 409] or
abl. of specification [A&G 418a]; SE TENEAT — restrain themselves (OLD s.v. teneo 19, citing Merc.
1016): i.e., laws by which people might govern their behavior; POPULUS — i.e., the citizen-body;
GERRAE — (interjection) nonsense!

Commentary: III.iii
601: (ei) qui apparent se parere huius legibus …; (EI) QUI … APPARENT — *rel. clause of characteristic
(A&G 535) with suppressed antecedent [A&G 307c]: “those who would …” — in this instance, the rel.
clause has the virtual force of the protasis of a fut. less vivid *condition (qui apparent = si qui
apparent — “if anyone would …” [A&G 519]): hence the mood of sient … potent in the main clause
(602); apparare + refl. — to prepare oneself to, to set about to (+ inf.); HUIUS — i.e., the laws
drawn up by this man (*subjective gen. [A&G 343 n. 1, 348 n.]); [The joke at 598-602 seems
curiously undigested: Argyr. is scarcely setting a stellar example for his fellow citizens, but the use of
Solon as a model against which he might be judged is inept. See Fraenkel 2007: 147-48]
602: BONAE FRUGI — (frugi is a *pred. dat. [A&G 382.1 n. 2, Lindsay 39], usually employed as an indecl. adj.
(cf. ad 175) but here used with its original force and modified by an adj. [freq. in P.]): “of any use,” “at
all decent”; SIENT … POTENT — apodosis of the fut. less vivid *condition implied by qui … apparent
in 601; DIES NOCTESQUE POTENT — joined to the previous clause by *asyndeton (adversative): sc.
sed (“but rather,” “but instead”); DIES NOCTESQUE — acc. of extent of time [A&G 423] (“day and
night”); POTENT — on the implications of poto, cf. ad 270
603: NE — (ναί/νή) affirmative particle (truly, indeed, verily): cf. ad 409; ISTE … ISTA — on P.’s use of iste,
cf. ad 845; NON PEDEM DISCEDAT, SI ( EI) LICESSIT (CUM EA MANERE) — fut. less vivid *condition
(although this instance provides a good example of the fine line that can separate the fut. less vivid
from the pres. contrary to fact: Woodcock 197); PEDEM — acc. of extent [A&G 425]: “a single foot,”
“a step”; LICESSIT = licuerit (pfct. subj: cf. ad 20, with de Melo 2007a: 175–6 n. 14 and 207) — sc. ei
cum ea manere
604: QUI … FESTINAT … MINATUR: one might have expected the subj. here (concessive rel. clause); SESE
ABIRE — acc. + pres. inf. after vb. of threatening (where we would expect the fut. inf.: cf. 611 and
above ad 67]
605: FACE = fac; ACCIPIAM — jussive subj. [A&G 439]: “let me hear” (joined via *asyndeton [A&G 323b]
to produce what is to all intents and purposes a *final clause: the parallelism with face presumably
helped to mitigate the oddity of of this usage),131 or (Hurka) *jussive noun clause [A&G 449c]
dependant upon face, with ut omitted (in either case, accipiam here = audiam); [STAGING: as Hurka
notes, Lib.’s words here suggest that Argyr. and Phil. have now broken off their lengthy embrace (see
ad 597) and are about to resume their dialogue]
606: QUO — whither, to where (adv.); APUD ORCUM — i.e., in the other world
607: me iam abiudicabo a vita quantum potest; abiudicare aliquem ab aliquo = to deprive someone of
something by judicial sentence, declare someone officially divorced from something; [on P.’s use of
such law-court imagery, see Zagagi 1980: 116-18]; quantum possum/quantum potest = as soon as
possible (L&S s.v. quantum A) — rather than “as much as possible,” which would scarcely make sense
here (cf. 157)
131
For the jussive/hortatory subj. in the 1st pers. sg., cf. Bacch. 1049.

Commentary: III.iii
608: QUOR = cur; OPSECRO = obsecro (parenthetical); optas me morti dedere immerito meo; dedere —
*prolative inf. following optas; IMMERITO MEO — “with an absence of guilt on my part,” “through no
fault of mine”: modeled after the more common adv. use of merito (cf. ad 137-38)
609: EGO ( OPTEM) TE (MORTI DEDERE)? — Argyr. repeats Phil.’s question in bewilderment (i.e., “You think
that I could wish …?”): a repudiating question [cf. ad 93]; si intellegam te deficere vita; QUAM —a
connecting rel. pron. (difficult to translate directly into Engl.: “[You can think that,] when if I knew that
you …”); SI INTELLEGAM — pres. subj., here with the force of a pres. contrary to fact *condition
(A&G 517e, Woodcock 197); QUAM … DEFICERE — acc. + inf. following intellegam; deficio —
run short of, be bereft of (+ abl.); VITA — abl. of specification [A&G 418] with deficere (Lindsay 37)
610: LARGIAR … ADDAM — pres. subj. in apodosis of pres. contrary to fact *condition (A&G 517e, Woodcock
197); DE MEA (VITA) AD TUAM (VITAM) — Argyr. melodramatically professes his willingness to play
Alcestis to Phil.’s Admetus
611: QUOR = cur; MIHI — dat. with vb of threatening (If, with Hurka, we follow the mss. in reading tibi, the
latter is best taken as a *sympathetic dat. (A&G 377): te vitam tibi amissurum esse as a more vivid
equivalent of te vitam tuam amissurum esse); TE … ESSE AMISSURUM — acc. + fut. inf. after vb. of
threatening (cf. ad 67)
612: NAM QUID = quidnam; ME FACTURAM (ESSE) — acc. + inf. after putas; ISTUC = istud; FAXIS = 2nd
sg. *fut. pfct. ind. act. [cf. ad 130-32] (where Engl. employs a generalizing pres.: A&G 516.a)
613: (MIHI) CERTUM EST — i.e., I have decided, made up my mind: cf. ad 247; [the dat. mihi in our mss.
represents an intrusive gloss — a marginal note, originally intended to aid the reader, that later came to
be incorporated into the text; P. counted on his audience understanding the nature of the idiom]; IN +
acc. of hostile action [OLD s.v. A.9]; FAXIS = 2nd sg. *fut. pfct. ind. act.[ cf. ad 130-32] (where Engl.
employs a generalizing pres.
614: MELLE DULCI … VITA — abl. of comparison [A&G 406]; MI — dat. of ref./judgment (“so far as I’m
concerned,” “in my eyes”) [A&G 378]
615: COMPLETERE — 2nd sg. pres. imperative; LUBENS = libens (*pred. adj. where Engl. employs an adv.
[A&G 290; G&L 325 and R. 6]); EFFERAMUR — i.e., for joint burial (opt. subj.: A&G 441);
[STAGING: Argyr. and Phil.’s melodramatic embrace marks an appropriate point for the intervention of
the two comic slaves]
616: UTI = ut (exclamatory) — here in a mocking vein; HOMO — that person/man (i.e., any person/man);
IMMO — indicating disagreement with, or modification of, an earlier statement
617: (IS) QUI — suppressed antecedent [A&G 307c]; PENDET — of the slave hung up for flogging (cf. 301,
564); MULTO — abl. of degree of difference [A&G 414]; periculum facere — to experience
something, learn by experience; QUI … FECI — i.e., given that I … (for the ind. in a rel. clause with
causal force, cf. ad 227); [Hurka takes 617b in a much more specific sense, as an allusion to the
danger to which Leon. subjected himself in impersonating Saurea]

Commentary: III.iii
618: CIRCUMSISTAMUS … APPELLEMUS — hortatory subj. (A&G 439) with *asyndeton; [STAGING: a useful
stage direction, provided here in performance to signal that Lib. and Leon. are about to establish
contact with Argyr. and Phil.]
619: num haec mulier quam amplexaris fumus est?; NUM — on this usage, cf. ad 31; AMPLEXARE =
amplexaris
620: QUIDUM — in just what way?, just how do you mean? (qui — archaic adv.); eo rogavi quia oculi tibi
lacrimantes sunt; TIBI — *sympathetic dat. (more vivid than a simple possessive adj.) [A&G 377];
LACRUMANTES = lacrimantes; EO — to this end, for that purpose (correl. with quia [A&G 323g,
Bennett 1910: 131])
621: (eum) qui patronus vobis futurus fuit, perdidistis — often regarded as an angry rebuke (i.e., in speaking to
me so flippantly, you have lost the master who some day would have freed you and thus, in your new
status as freedmen, become your patron). Comparison with 629ff., however, suggests a
pathetic/melodramatic delivery (Bertini and Hurka ad loc., ◉Ussing 1875 ad 614), which would also
lighten the tone of Leon.’s response (see n. ad next line). The opening exchanges betw. the lovers and
the slaves read better with a maudlin Argyr. who serves as straight-man to his two servants (cf. ad 625-
26) rather than one who is repeatedly angry from the beginning; PATRONUS QUI — patronus is not the
antecedent of qui but the complement following fuit futurus, moved to the opening of the sentence for
the sake of emphasis and pathos; the antecedent of qui (eum) has been suppressed but must be
understood as the obj. of perdidistis; QUI … FUIT FUTURUS — a vivid way of presenting an expected
future event that is destined never to occur (“was going to be”); an interesting example of the
possibilities offered in Latin (as in Engl.) by the use of periphrastic constructions (Bennett 1910: 457-
58, Woodcock 104); VOBIS … PERDIDISTIS — the use of the pl. supports the notion that Argyr.’s
words are maudlin rather than angry
622: NULLUM (PATRONUM); IDEO QUIA — “for the very reason that” [Bennett 1910: 128]; [i.e., “fat chance
of that ever happening”]; [STAGING: this exchange reinforces our impression of the nature of Dem.’s
household, the financial standing of Dem. and Argyr., and Argyr.’s relationship to his slaves (cf. 270).
Even in the topsy-turvy world of this play, however, Leon.’s line displays an untoward affrontery: it
was most likely spoken aside]
623: DABUNT — the fut. ind. in such expressions is merely a stronger equivalent of the optative subj. (cf. A&G
449.2b, Bennett 1910: 43, 311). Barrios-Lech 2016: 187 notes that di te ament and related expressions,
such as the one employed by Phil. here, are generally confined to male speakers; (EA) QUAE —
suppressed antecedent (A&G 307c); QUAE VELITIS — *rel. clause of characteristic (A&G 535), or
subj. by attraction to the wish implied by dabunt [A&G 593]
624: NOCTEM TUAM — i.e., a night spent with you (cf. ad 736); VINI — gen. of material [A&G 344, Bennett
1914: 14]; VELIM, SI … FIANT: fut. less vivid *condition (picking up on the subj. velitis in 623);
OPTATA — neut. pl. as subst. (“my wishes”); FIANT — “were to come to pass/be provided”

Commentary: III.iii
625: CAVE FAXIS — take care that you don’t … (*jussive noun clause following caveo: see ad 5); FAXIS =
feceris (pfct. subj.: cf. ad 256); VERBERO — scoundrel (voc.); TIBI EQUIDEM, NON MIHI OPTO — the
same comic ploy as at 43; TIBI … MIHI — dat. of advantage (“for you, not for me”) [A&G 376]
626: TUM — employed in a logical rather than a temporal sense; LOQUERE — 2nd sg. pres. imperative; (ID)
QUOD — suppressed antecedent [A&G 307c]; LUBET = libet (i.e., id quod libet tibi loqui); [Argyr.’s
momentary flash of anger is quickly allayed and he returns to his role as straight-man to the two
slaves]; (LUBET MIHI) HUNC VERBERARE (*paraprosdokian); HUNC = i.e., Leon.
627: QUISNAM … ADCREDAT — potential subj. (“who could/would …”) [A&G 446]; ISTUC = istud;
accredo — to trust someone (dat.) in regard to something (acc.); cinaedus — a common term of
abuse (Lilja 1965: 46-47, 69-70), used of one who was so given to sensuality as to play any role in a
sexual encounter; similar in vulgarity, if not altogether in meaning, to the Engl. “faggot”, but
inappropriate in regard to a slave, who lived outside of the bounds of honor and lacked the ability to
deny any favors his master might ask of him; calamistratus — having the hair artificially curled,
effeminately adorned (here implying that Lib. enjoys a special position in the household as his masters’
puer delicatus [“boy-toy”] — a charge commonly leveled in scenes of abuse betw. slaves); [Bertini
133 suggests that this insult accords with Lib.’s name, which he associates with an elegant refinement]
628: TUN = tu + ne; (ME) VERBERES — delib. subj. with indignant/repudiating force (cf. ad 93); QUI …
HABEAS: *rel. clause of characteristic (concessive) [A&G 535e]; PRO CIBO — as good as food, as
your daily nourishment (cf. Engl. “mother’s milk”) — *pred. with te verberari; TE VERBERARI —
acc. + inf. (serving as obj. of habeas — “you regard your being beaten (to be) like mother’s milk”)
[cf. Cato, Orig. 74: laserpitium pro pulmentario habet]
629: UT — exclamatory; VOSTRAE = vestrae; MEIS (FORTUNIS)
630: NUMQUAM — by no means, not at all; VIVAM — fut. ind. (rel. clause with ind. in causal/explanatory
sense: vivid)
631-32: Argyr.’s comic play with various forms of hic and ego (polyptoton: Sharrock 2009: 171), as well as
amo, undercuts any concern for his emotional distress. In contrast to Terence, P. rarely provides an
occasion for his audience to take the plight of his lovers all that seriously]
631: QUIA — governs all four clauses in 631-32, the last two of which are joined via *asyndeton [A&G 323b]:
Argyr.’s account pours out in a melodramatically despair-laden rush; MED = me; HUIC — Phil.;
QUOD DEM — *rel. clause of characteristic/purpose [A&G 531.2]
632: HINC — pointing to Clear.’s house; MED = me; AMANTEM — *pred. (“in my passion,” “for all my
love”); HUIUS — Phil.
633-36: the most obvious reference for these lines are the words spoken by the young man at 233-48, where, as
here, specific reference is made to an exclusive contract that is to endure for one year. It is true that
Argyr. will also express a desire for a year-long contract (721, 848) and that, like Diab. (634), he feels
the pressure to produce these funds on this very day (98, 103). But at this point in the play, the only
reference to such a contract has been that at 233ff., while the obsessive concern that this contract be

Commentary: III.iii
exclusive is associated with Diab. both here and in IV.i, where it forms the basis of one of the play’s
most grandly comic scenes. See, further, Porter 2016: 331 and 352-53.
633: VIGINTI MINAE — personification; MED = me; AD MORTEM APPULERUNT — “have pushed me to the
brink of death”
634: QUAS — take minas (633) as antecedent; ADULESCENS — an important indication of the nature of
Diab.’s role: the rival in this play is a second young man rather than the typical miles (cf. 133a and my
remarks in the introductions to I.ii and IV.i); Diabolus dixit daturus (esse) — a Graecism (nom. + inf.
in indir. disc.), as opposed to the expected se daturum esse [G&L 527.5 n. 2 cite this as the earliest
surviving example of this construction in Latin; cf. Bennett 1910: 435. Hurka and others read daturum
(sc. se), arguing that such Graecisms are a feature of the literary refinement of the 1st C. BC, with no
place in P.’s Latin: see Lindsay 2, 13, and, on our passage, 73; cf. ad 394, 442, 452]; IPSI — i.e.,
Clearetae (ipse used, as often, of the master of a household or other authority figure)
635: UT … NE … MITTERET — *final clause presenting a stipulation (with ut ne as an emphatic equivalent for
ne) [A&G 531: cf. ad 230]; HANC — i.e., Phil.; MITTERET — on the implications of this vb., cf. ad
170 and see Porter 2016: 321 n. 39; HUNC ANNUM TOTUM — acc. of extent of time [A&G 423] (on
hunc, cf. ad 230)
636: VIDETIN = videtis + ne; VIGINTI MINAE — the subject of pollent and possunt; QUID POLLENT …
QUIDVE POSSUNT — quid is adv. (*limiting/cognate acc.: A&G 390c): to what degree/in what regard
they enjoy authority and win out (i.e., what power they enjoy); POLLENT … POSSUNT — we might
have expected the subj. here (*indir. question [A&G 573]: parallels at Bennett 1910: 464). Comm. note
the echo here of a formula employed by the fetial priest at Liv. 1.24.8, of Jupiter; -VE — this enclitic
is generally employed to present alternatives, often (as here) as a form of rhetorical reinforcement or
enhancement; in early Latin it is more often copulative than adversative (G&L 495 and n. 1)
637: ILL’ = ille (apocope: cf. ad 66), in reference to Diab.; ILLAS — sc. minas; SALVOS = salvus; PERDO
(ILLAS); [The echo of 243-44, with its bitter illas, rather than suggesting identification with the
speaker of I.iii, points instead to the opposite conclusion]
638: NON DEDIT — as regularly in Latin, the question is answered by repeating a significant element in the
response (often the vb.) [A&G 336]; BONO ANIMO — abl. of description [A&G 415]; ES —
imperative; NE FORMIDA — ne + pres. imperative in a prohibition (cf. ad 377); [On the *asyndeton
[A&G 323b] here, cf. Lindsay 128]
639: HUC — adv.; SI (ALI)QUID VIS — i.e., “whatever you say” (although often this expression is attended by
an imperative — dic, roga, impera, etc.); QUID = aliquid (after si, num, nisi, ne [A&G 310a]);
OPSECRO = obsecro; [OPSECRO VOS — an empty formula: cf. the British, “I say!”]
640: EADEM ISTAC OPERA — at the same time (abl. of manner: A&G 412, L&S s.v. opera II.A.3); ISTAC =
ista; SUAVIUST = suavius est (impers.) [suaviu(s) ’st — prodelision]; (VOS) FABULARI — acc. + inf.
following the impersonal suavius est; COMPLEXOS — *pred. (“while embracing” [pfct. ptcple. of dep.
vb. translated as if pres., as often: A&G 491; Bennett 1910: 435-36]); [STAGING: Argyr. mimes this

Commentary: III.iii
action with Phil. as he addresses Lib. and Leon. (repeating the same staging tactic as at 597-605). Note
how he changes registers once again and begins to engage in the same frivolous clowning as the two
slaves]
641: scito non omnia eadem aeque suavia esse omnibus; OMNIA … ESSE — acc. + inf. after scito;
OMNIBUS — dat. of judging (A&G 378); SCITO — *fut. imperative [A&G 449.2a]; [The faux
philosophical wisdom in these lines finds numerous more serious echoes in the speeches of Menander’s
slaves, as well as those of Terence. Here it merely heightens the audience’s sense of Lib. as a ludic
father figure]
642: vobis amantibus suave est complexos fabulari (echoing 640); EST SUAVE — cf. the construction with
suaviust in 640; AMANTIBUS — *pred. (in your passion, since you are in love); COMPLEXOS — by
rule, this should be dat. pl. (agreeing with vobis): P. employs the acc. in part due to the commonness of
the acc. + inf. construction, in part because Lib. is echoing the same expression in 640 (cf. Lindsay 4)
643: COMPLEXUM — the noun rather than the ptcple.; HUIUS … HIC — in reference to Leon.; HUIUS —
subjective gen. [A&G 343 n. 1, 348 n.]; NIL MOROR — I don’t care for, don’t much like (+ acc.);
MEUM (AMPLEXUM) — the possessive adj. meum stands in place of a second subjective gen. (mei):
A&G 348a; AUTEM — moreover, indeed (setting up aspernatur, which has a stronger force than nil
moror)
644: PROINDE — cf. ad 27-28; FACIAS — jussive subj. [A&G 439]; istud quod suades nobis (ut) faciamus;
FACIAMUS — *jussive subj. introduced by suades, without ut (A&G 565, 268 ad fin.: *parataxis)
645: EGO VERO — “I most certainly will!”; LUBENS = libens (*pred. adj., where Engl. would employ an
adv.); SI VIDETUR (VOBIS) — impers. (“if it seems good to you,” “if you’d like”: L&S s.v. video
II.B.7c)
646: CONCEDITE ISTUC — cf. secede huc in 639; ISTUC — adv.; [STAGING: Lib. and Leon. withdraw and
speak aside] VIN = vis + ne; ERUM DELUDI — acc. + pass. inf. following volo; [As Hurka notes ad
loc., deludo is employed repeatedly to characterize the action of the following lines: cf. ad 677];
DIGNUST = dignus est [dignu(s) ’st — prodelision]; [DIGNUST SANE — “He certainly deserves it!”]
647: visne faciam ut Philaenium te amplexetur, hoc praesente?; VIN = vis + ne; FACIAM — jussive subj.
[A&G 439] following vis (*parataxis) [A&G 565]; UT … AMPLEXETUR — *consecutive clause
following facio [A&G 568]; TE — the acc. obj. is placed early in the clause for the sake of emphasis
and to avoid confusion with the following abl. abs.; [The emendation of me to te, although not
altogether necessary, makes Leon.’s offer more tempting and helps to explain Lib.’s enthusiastic
response]; PRAESENTE HOC (i.e., Argyrippo) — abl. abs. [A&G 419]
648: CUPIO — the switch from volo to cupio (647) signals Lib.’s enthusiasm; SEQUERE — 2nd sg. pres.
imperative dep.; HAC — adv.; [STAGING: Lib. and Leon. rejoin Argyr. and Phil.]; SALUTIS —
partitive gen. with neut. interrog. pron. ecquid [A&G 346a3; Bennett 1914: 29] (SALUTIS = “hope of
salvation” — i.e., “Is there any hope?” “Have you found a way out?”); LOCUTI (ESTIS) — Gray notes
that the omission of the 2nd pers. of sum is rare.

Commentary: III.iii
649ff.: Zagagi 1995: 79-80 notes similarities between the following exchanges and those at Men. Perik. 267-
90 and P. Merc. 907-09: “a young lover exchanging jokes with another person … under circumstances
of some erotic urgency; deliberation over the need to repay the interlocutor for promoting the lover’s
amatory interests; the repayment is conceived and expressed … in essentially impractical terms
whereby a comic point of delay is created [in the fulfillment of the lover’s plans].”
649: the prominant use of rhyme is a rarity in CL: as Hurka notes, Leon. here assumes the role of a herald,
proclaiming the opening of the “games” that are to follow
650: PRIMUM OMNIUM — adv. (“first of all,” “first off”); OMNIUM — partitive gen. [A&G 346a4; Bennett
1914: 37]; nos … esse — acc. + inf. following non negamus
651: SI … PROFERENTUR — Leon. employs the vivid *fut. ind., followed by the fut. ind. in the apodosis
(vocabis, 652); ARGENTI — gen. of material [A&G 344]
652: QUO … NOMINE — instr. abl. [A&G 409]; voco — to call, address (someone); (VOS) LIBERTOS
(VOCABO) — double acc. following voco (A&G 393); NON PATRONOS (NOS VOCABIS)?
653: ID — indef. neut. referring to the appelation “patroni”; POTIUS — adv. (rather, instead); HIC — adv.
654: SERVASSINT — archaic form (pfct. subj.: cf. ad 256) = optative subj. (Bennet 1910: 195, Woodcock 115
n. i)
655: ERILIS — adj. with custos, in place of the obj. gen. eri [A&G 348a: cf. above ad 536] — a mockingly
elevated usage (Wright 1974: 5); POPLI = populi (obj. gen. [A&G 348]): for the form, cf. ad 771;
THESAURUS — for the nom. (vs. voc.), cf. ad 664; COPIARUM — “riches,” but also phps. “resources,”
“means,” “devices” — gen. of material [A&G 344, Bennett 1914: 13]
656: †INTERIORIS CORPORIS† — reading and sense uncertain. The solutions canvassed by ◉Herrmann 1929:
411-12 are unconvincing: interioris corporis is quite possibly a later gloss; AMORIS IMPERATOR —
i.e., leader and commander in love’s campaigns; AMORIS — obj. gen. [A&G 348]
657-60: cf. the similar comic routines at Pers. 691-93, Pseud. 1313ff.
657: HIC (bis) — adv.; PONE (ISTAM CRUMINAM); IN COLLO — abl. + in with vb. of placing [G&L 385 R.
1]; PLANE — utterly, absolutely, quite (= omnino [Ussing]); [HIC … IN COLLO PLANE — i.e., right
here on my neck]
658: nolo te istud onus sustinere mihi; QUI ERUS SIS — causal/explanatory qui-clause + subj. [A&G 535e];
MIHI — dat. of advantage (“for me,” “for my sake”) [A&G 376]; ISTUC = istud
659: QUIN — “why not instead …?”, “why don’t you rather …?” (+ ind.) [A&G 449.2b: cf. Most. 168];
LABORE — abl. of sep. [A&G 401]; TE — refl.; ISTAM (CRUMINAM); IN ME — abl. + in with vb.
of placing [G&L 385 R. 1]
660: (SIC)UT; DECET DOMINUM (IRE); ANTE — prep.; ITO — *fut. imperative [A&G 449]]; INANIS —
*pred. adj. (“unencumbered”)
661: QUID NUNC? — what about now? (a transitional expression: cf. 711) (OLD s.v. quis 14); QUIN — see ad
659; tradis cruminam huc pressatum umerum (meum); HUC — adv.; PRESSATUM — supine (as
usual, the supine presents the goal of motion — in this instance, the motion indicated by tradis

Commentary: III.iii
cruminam huc) (A&G 509, Lindsay 77); [older comm. follow the mss. in assigning 661 as a whole to
Argyr.]
662: iube hanc (i.e., Phil.), cui daturus es hanc (cruminam), petere atque mecum orare (cf. 686); HANC …
HANC: comic repetition (likely attended by gestures on the part of the actor); QUOI = cui;
DATURU’S = daturus es [daturu(s) ’s — prodelision]; PETERE — sc. either cruminam or me (cf. Curc.
148) as object; ORARE MECUM — “to plead with me” (i.e., to beg me) (Lindsay 86)
663: istud proclive est in quo me iubes (hanc cruminam) plane collocare; ISTUC = istud (i.e., that
thing/place); proclivis = sloping downward [setting up a punning contrast with planus/plane
(flat/absolutely — cf. Argyr.’s plea at 657)]; QUO — whither, to where (adv.) [in prose, one would
expect in quo (G&L 385 R. 1)]; [A rather labored joke: despite Argyr.’s plea that Leon. hand over the
bag plane, “Argyr.’s neck is a slope: any money placed there will soon slip off into Phil.’s hands”
(Gray)]
664: Phil. immediately begins to employ the professional language of seduction in order to win Leon. over;
OCELLUS … VOLUPTAS — nom. for voc. (Lindsay 31: as Hurka notes, the mingling of voc. and nom.
forms is common in the case of such metaphorical passages); ROSA — usually applied to women
(ironical); VOLUPTAS — abstract for concrete; [STAGING: here and below, there is likely much
unmarked clowning — in this instance, as Leon. coyly responds to Phil.’s sweet nothings]
665: ARGENTUM — the separation betw. the vb. (da — 664) and its object reflects the elaborate artifice of
Phil.’s plea; NE … DIIUNGE — ne + pres. imperative in a prohibition (cf. ad 377); AMANTIS —
*pred. (in our love, loving as we do)
666-68: cf. 693-96. Sharrock 2009: 173-75 and n. 34 cites other examples of what she terms “grammatical
surfeit” in erotic contexts
666: DIC ME (ESSE): cf. 667; TUOM = tuum; GALLINAM, COTURNICEM — cf. Engl. “chick,” “dove”
667: dic me esse; TUOM = tuum; [P. mockingly toys here with the use of affectionate diminutives
(hypocorism) in amatory persuasion: the terms here are all hapax]
668: (ME) PREHENDE; AURICULIS — instr. abl. [A&G 409] (i.e., “seize me by the ears and kiss me
passionately” — cf. Poen. 375); comparo — to place together [vs. comparo — to prepare]
669: TEN = te + ne [cf. ad 94]; OSCULETUR — delib. subj. with indignant/repudiating force (cf. ad 93)
[Bennett 1910: 466-67]; VERBERO — voc.; QUAM … INDIGNUM VISUM EST (TIBI)? — “How
shameful did (the idea of her kissing me) seem to you?” (Leon.’s question sets up the threat in the
following line.) [The pfct. visum est would seem to be for metrical convenience: we want a pres. here
(cf. 697)]; VERO — adv.: indignant (“to be sure,” “just how shameful …”)
670: ATQUI — cf. ad 505; FERES — sc. cruminam/argentum (cf. ad 354-55); NI GENUA CONFRICANTUR —
i.e., unless you get down and hug my knees as a suppliant (the pres. is more vivid than the expected
fut.: cf. Lindsay 125)
671: QUIDVIS EGESTAS IMPERAT — i.e., need can compel a person to do anything; QUIDVIS — from quivis;
FRICENTUR (sc. GENUA) — jussive subj. with permissive force [A&G 439-40, Bennett 1910: 176] (in

Commentary: III.iii
repeating the vb. employed by Leon. [670], Argyr. uses the simple form, as frequently in Latin);
DAN = das + ne (pres. ind. where we might have looked for the fut.: A&G 468, Lindsay 58); (ID)
QUOD ORO — suppressed antecedent [A&G 307c]
672: AGE — cf. ad 5; OPSECRO = obsecro (parenthetical); AMANTI ERO — dat. of advantage [A&G 376];
AMANTI — *pred. (in his love, who is in love)
673: ISTOC BENEFICIO — instr. abl./abl. of price [A&G 409/416]; ISTOC = isto; TE — refl.; AB HOC — i.e.,
from Argyr.’s ownership; TIBI — dat. of advantage [A&G 376]; EME HUNC (i.e., Argyr.) — i.e.,
purchase his gratitude, place him forever in your debt; ISTO ARGENTO — instr. abl./abl. of price
[A&G 409/416]
674: NIMIS — all too, quite; SI HOC MEUM ESSET — protasis of a pres. contrary-to-fact *condition (“if this
were mine” — i.e., if the decision were up to me)
675: ORARES — apodosis of the present contrary-to-fact *condition; QUIN DAREM — quin + subj. in an
expression involving a double negative (“you would never ask but that I would give” = “I would
always give”) [A&G 558, Bennett 1910: 300-01]: impf. subj. by attraction to the contrary-to-fact
*condition of which it is a part (secondary *sequence); ILLUM (i.e., Lib.) — the obj. of orare, placed
first for emphasis; TE ORARE — acc. + inf. dependent upon melius est; MELIUST = melius est
(impers.) [meliu(s) ’st — prodelision]
676: ille hanc mihi dedit servandam; ILLIC = ille + ce (strengthened form of ille); HANC (CRUMINAM);
SERVANDAM — gerundive (*pred. — indicating purpose: A&G 500.4); I — 2nd sg. pres. imperative
act. of eo; BELLA — fem. nom. sg. (*pred.), used to reinforce belle; BELLE — in an agreeable
manner, nicely
677: HOC — indef. neut. sg., in reference to the crumina; SIS = si vis; [STAGING: Leon. hands the bag to
Leon., thus infuriating Argyr.]; ETIAM — in interrogations, esp. when made indignantly (coll.);
DELUSISTI — Slater 2000: 51 n. 6 notes the prevalence of compounds of the vb. ludo in this scene: 679,
711, 730, 731; cf. ad 646
678: NUMQUAM (ID) FACEREM, NI … FRICARES — past contrary-to-fact *condition employing the impf. subj.
[A&G 517e n. 2, Woodcock 197-99]
679: AGE — cf. ad 5; SIS = si vis; TU — addressed to Lib.; IN PARTEM = pro parte — for one’s share, in
turn (cf. 916); HUNC … HANC — Argyr. … Phil.; AMPLEXARE — 2nd sg. pres. imperative;
[STAGING: given Lib.’s response in 680, this line must be spoken to Lib. aside]
680: TACEAS … SPECTES — jussive subj. [A&G 439] (“Shut up and watch me!”); QUIN — “why not then …
?”, “then why don’t we…?” (+ ind.) [A&G 449.2b]; HUNC — i.e., Lib.
681: VIRUM — in apposition with hunc (680); OPTUMUM = optimum; FURIS HUIUS — i.e., Leon. (gen. with
similis)
682: INAMBULANDUM EST (MIHI) — pass. periphrastic (impers.) [A&G 500.3, Woodcock 204]; [STAGING: as
Hurka notes, Lib. begins to strut about the stage, recalling the aristocratic patron making his way

Commentary: III.iii
grandly through the forum, to be approached by his humble clients. The 3rd pl. supplicabunt indicates
that this line too is spoken aside]
683: SIS = si vis (here with its full force, vs. the polite parenthetical remark [“if you please”] found so often
elsewhere in P.: cf. 309); ERUM … SOSPITARI — acc. + inf. following vis; TUIS FACTIS — instr. abl.
[A&G 409] (“through your good services”)
684: ME … EGERE — acc. + inf. after a vb. of perception [cf. ad 23-24]; AMANTEM — *pred. (“in my
passion,” “despite my love”)
685: VIDEBITUR (MIHI) — it will be considered by me (i.e., “we’ll see about that”: OLD s.v. 18): the impers.
construction phps. adds to the imperious tone of the remark; (MIHI) — dat. of agent [A&G 375b];
(ID) FACTUM (ESSE) VOLO — factum esse vs. the expected fieri; REDITO — *fut. imperative of redeo
(with adv. referring to the fut. — A&G 449.1, Bennett 1910: 356) HUC — adv.; CONTICINNO — abl.
of time when or within which [A&G 423]; [This last injunction again casts Lib. as the high-handed
patronus. In that regard, it is phps. more appropriate to take conticinno in reference to the early
morning salutatio rather than to dusk]; [On the reading conticinno, cf. ◉Deufert 2002: 140-42]
686: ISTANC = istam; TANTISPER — in the meantime, for the present; PETERE ATQUE ORARE MECUM — cf.
ad 662
687: visne te exorari amando an osculando; AMANDO … OSCULANDO — gerund (instr. abl. [A&G 507]);
AMANDO — i.e., by means of hugging? by means of blandishments? (the distinction betw. the two
activities mentioned by Phil. is an empty one: her line merely serves to set up Lib.’s response);
EXORARIER = exorari; TED = te; EXORARIER … TED — acc. + inf. following vis (vs. the expected
*prolative inf.: cf. ad 67)
688: ENIM VERO — a strengthened form of enim: see L&S s.v. enim IB; UTRUMQUE — sc. volo; ERGO —
introducing Phil.’s clever play upon Lib.’s utrumque (below) [Lindsay 98]; OPSECRO = obsecro; ET
TU — “you as well/in turn” (cf. below re utrumque nostrum); NOSTRUM — gen. pl. of nos (partitive
gen.: A&G 143b); SERVA — imperative; [“Phil. picks up (Leon.’s) utrumque cleverly, ‘I implore
you, save both the one and the other of us,’ i.e. both Argyrippus and myself” (Gray). Phil.’s plea
invokes deep-seated notions of reciprocity: if Lib. wants “both,” then he, in turn, should save “both.”
As in III.i and V.ii, Phil. here shows her cleverness in rhetorical debate]
689-90: MI … MI — voc. m. sg. of meus followed by dat. sg. of ego (pseudo-*anaphora [A&G 641]); ISTUC =
istud (i.e., the moneybag); magis decorum est libertum onus in via portare potius quam patronum;
DECORUM EST — impers. (introducing the following acc. + inf.); libertum portare potius quam
patronum (portare) — Argyr. offers a variation on the joke made at 658-60: as Argyr.’s “patron” (689),
Lib. should scarcely be seen on the street carrying his freedman’s (i.e., Argyr.’s) baggage; MAGIS …
POTIUS QUAM — a fairly common collocution

691: OCELLUS AUREUS — nom. for voc. (cf. ad 664); DONUM DECUSQUE — i.e., glorious gift (*hendiadys)
[A&G 640]; AMORIS — (with donum) subjective gen. [A&G 343 n. 1, 348 n.]

Commentary: III.iii
692: AMABO — i.e., “please” (Lindsay 60, Bennett 1910: 41-42: used by women, generally with an
accompanying question or command — but, as Gray indicates, here with overtones of the literal sense
of the vb.); FACIAM (ID) QUOD VOLES — suppressed antecedent [A&G 307c]; VOLES — *fut. ind.
(vs. the generalizing pres. commonly employed in Engl.); ISTUC = istud
693: DIC … MED (ESSE); MED = me; [As in III.ii, we are presented with parallel exchanges that match the
two slaves’ behavior: cf. 666-67]
694: monerula = monedula (jackdaw); putillus, -a, -um — tiny, eensy-teensy (The older interpretation of this
term [“little boy/girl”] is no longer accepted.)
695: FAC — picking up faciam in 692?; PROSERPENTEM BESTIAM — i.e., a serpent: *pred. acc. with facio
[A&G 393]; ut habeam linguam duplicem — *final clause [A&G 531] (alluding to the passionate
kisses that Lib. hopes to receive from Phil.)
696: (mihi/collo meo) torquem circumda; BRACHIIS — instr. abl. [A&G 409] (i.e., place your arms tightly
around my neck like a collar)
697: TEN = te [cf. ad 94]; COMPLECTATUR — delib. subj. in an indignant question: cf. ad 93; QUAM VERO
INDIGNUS VIDEOR — see ad 669

698: NE … DIXERIS — *final clause [A&G 531] (furnishes the grounds for the command in the next line) [on
the pfct.: Bennett 1910: 257]; ISTUC = istud; NEQUIQUAM — with impunity, without punishment;
IN ME — in + acc. of object of hostile action [OLD s.v. A.9]
699: VEHES — fut. ind. for imperative (imperious) [A&G 449.2b]; SPERES — the subj. here, vs. the expected
*fut. ind. (with the sense, “if you should have any hope at all to …”) [Bennett 1910: 275-76]
700: TEN = te + ne [cf. ad 94]; VEHAM — delib. subj. with indignant/repudiating force (cf. ad 93); TUN = tu
+ ne; FERAS — mocking use of the delib. subj. just employed by Argyr. (“Are you to get this money
from me in any other way?”)
701: si verum et decorum (est) erum servum vehere; VERUM ET DECORUM (EST) — impers. (introducing the
following acc. + inf.); VERUM — proper, just, right; ERUM VEHERE — acc. + inf.; SERVOM =
servum
702: SIC — in this way, just so; ISTI … SUPERBI — those who are haughty, arrogant, proud; [Lib. draws a
ludicrously grandiose moral from Argyr.’s humiliation: mock tragic; likely delivered as an aside]
703: ASTA — imperative; (ITA) UT CONSUETUS ES — correl. adv. [A&G 323g]; PUER — *pred. (i.e., in the
way you used to when you played this game as a boy); SCIN = scis + ne; UT — interrogative; UT
DICAM — *indir. question [A&G 573]; [For the possibly obscene overtones in this line cf. Capt. 867
and see Lowe 1990: 284-85 n. 41, Leigh 2004: 91 and n. 129, Fontaine 2010: 221, Williams 2010: 37
and n. 130, Richlin 2015: 56-57. (Cf. ad 707.) It is in any case more probable that Argyr. leans far over
rather than descending onto all fours: cf. ad 710. (An actor on all fours is much more limited in his
range of movement and less visible to the audience. In the Grk. comic tradition, κύπτω is employed in
similar erotic contexts — of bending over rather than going down on all fours)xx]

Commentary: III.iii
704: [STAGING: Argyr. complies with Lib.’s command]; EM SIC — i.e., “that’s right,” “there you go”;
ABI — freq. employed as a simple exclamation or address, either with a friendly or reproachful
significance: here = “good for you!” [L&S s.v. abeo II.B.4: cf. such idioms as Engl. “Go on with
you!”, “Get out!”, etc.] (its use here is in keeping with Lib.’s high-handed tone); LAUDO — “good
job,” “nicely done”; nullus equus magis sapiens est te equo; NEC — cf. Lindsay 130 (nec for non):
nec … ullus = nullus; TE — abl. of comparison [A&G 406]; EQUO — *pred. (with te — “than you,
in your role as a horse/when you play pony”); EQUOS = equus
705: FECERO — more vivid than the simple *fut. (“I most certainly will”) [Lindsay 61; Bennett 1910: 54];
HEM — “hey!”; ISTUC = istud; UT — interrog.; INCEDIS — the vb. suggests a deliberate or
sluggish gait
706: DEMAM — fut. of demo (sc. aliquid); BADIZAS — you (sg.) go (Grk.); pres. ind. where one might have
expected the *fut. (Bennett 1910: 66); [Such borrowings are regularly treated as 1st conj. forms,
normally, in P.’s day, with –ss- for –z-. The ms. tradition routinely introduces “corrected” forms (e.g.,
trapezitam at 438): ◉Redard 1944]
707: AMABO — i.e., “please” (see ad 692): cf. 711 and see Dutsch 2008: 50-53, who stresses that this
expression is employed predominately by women in Roman New Comedy and notes, citing our scene,
that “the only instance of a man using amabo to address another man in Roman comedy occurs in a
situation where the speaker is pretending to be the homosexual partner of his slave” (cf. Hurka ad loc.,
Barrios-Lech 2016: 121-22, and, for the formulaic elements in Argyr.’s request, Barrios-Lech 2016:
27); (ME) EXORABIS
708: CALCARI — instr. abl. [A&G 409]; CALCARI QUADRUPEDO — i.e., by spurring you on to a gallop;
[QUADRUPEDO, by itself, could be adv. (abl. of manner [A&G 412]: sc. cursu), but it is difficult not to
take it with CALCARI (*hypallage): the inflated style suits Lib.’s self-presentation here]; AGITABO —
sc. te; ADVORSUM = adversum (prep.); CLIVOM = clivum (i.e., uphill)
709: AD PISTORES DABO — i.e., to be worked to death at the mill (the fate of draught animals too old or
disabled for other work: cf. Apul. Metam. 9.12-13). As Gray notes, asses were more commonly
employed in this capacity than horses; the joke lies in the youthful master Argyr. (“Silverhorse”) being
threatened with a punishment characteristically assigned to the comic slave (see Segal 1987: 108 for
this and other comic inversions in the scene); UT … CRUCIERE — *final clause [A&G 531];
CRUCIERE = crucieris; CURRENS — *pred. (“as you run” — “at the double” [de Melo], of the tortured
pace at which Argyr. will be forced to labor)
710: ASTA: imperative (here in the sense of “halt!” — vs. 703); UT DESCENDAM — *final clause [A&G 531];
IN PROCLIVI — i.e., easily (L&S s.v. proclivis 2) but also literal: Argyr. straightens his back enough for
Lib. to slide off (cf. the similar joke at 663)
711: QUID NUNC — cf. ad 661; AMABO — “please,” “I ask you” (cf. ad 707); (ita) nos delusistis ut libitum
est (vobis); UT — correl. adv. [A&G 323g]; EST LUBITUM — impers. (= libitum est/libuit: cf. ad
110)

Commentary: III.iii
712: DATISNE — pres. ind. where we might expect the fut. (A&G 468); cf. ad 579 re the placement of the
enclitic -ne; MI — dat. of advantage (i.e., in my honor) [A&G 376]; STATUIS … IMMOLAS (713) —
once again, pres. ind. for fut.
713: immolas bovem mihi (sic)ut deo; MI— indir. obj.; HIC — adv.; TIBI — dat. of judging (so far as you
are concerned, in your eyes) [A&G 378]; SALUS — the god Salvation (recalling the use of
Σωτήρ/Soter as an appellation of many monarchs)
714-15: ISTUNC = istum (i.e., Lib.); AMOVES … AGGREDERE … STATUIS SUPPLICASQUE — pres. ind. for fut.
(A&G 468), in an impatient question (etiam): equivalent of an imperative [Bennett 1910: 25]; APS =
ab; ME — acc. of motion w/o ad [A&G 388b]; IPSE — emphasizes me (rather than stressing that
Argyr. “himself” is to approach); ILLA — neut. acc. pl. (obj. of statuis supplicasque); illa quae hic
(i.e., Lib.) (te) iusserat sibi (statuere et supplicare); IUSSERAT — plpfct. where CL employs the pfct.
[Bennett 1910: 50]
716: quem deum te nominem? QUEM — interr. adj. with divom; AUTEM — emphasizing the parallelism
with 712-13; DIVOM = divum (i.e., deum); QUEM DIVOM — *pred. acc. (with te nominem) [A&G
393]; NOMINEM — delib. subj. [A&G 444]; (ME NOMINA) FORTUNAM, ATQUE OPSEQUENTEM;
ATQUE — “and what is more,” “and indeed” (explanatory: Gray cfs. Grk. καὶ ταῦτα);
OPSEQUENTEM = Fortunam Obsequentem — obsequens (indulgent, benevolent) is employed to
designate a specific manifestation of a number of deities in Roman religion, but esp. the goddess
Fortuna (see L&S s.v. obsequor ad fin.)
717: ISTOC = isto —abl. of comparison [A&G 406] (in reference to Lib.: cf. 713); AN — introducing a
question that expects a neg. answer; cf. Bennett 1910: 484; (ALI) QUID — indefinite (Lindsay 44: cf.
209, 719); HOMINI — dat. of advantage [A&G 376]; SALUTE — i.e., than me, as the god Salus
(713) (abl. of comparison [A&G 406])
718: LICET — with concessive force (as indicated by the following tamen): L&S s.v. II.A, Lindsay 123
(“Granted, I …,” “It might be that I …”); LAUDEM — *consecutive subj. with licet (*parataxis)
[A&G 537, Bennett 1910: 235]; TAMEN — in restrictive sense, limiting or correcting something
already said, or some inference from it: “but yet,” “but nevertheless,” “but still”; UT NE …
CULPEM — *jussive clause employed to present a proviso (A&G 528b, Bennett 1910: 266: cf. ad 230);
UT NE — as often, for ne
719: ECASTOR — cf. ad 188; SCIAM — fut. ind.; sciam ubi (ali)quid boni dederint; BONI — partitive gen.
with aliquid [A&G 346a3, Bennett 1914: 28]; QUID = aliquid (cf. ad 717); DEDERINT — *fut. pfct.
ind.
720: opta id quod vis ut tibi contingat; OPTA — pres. imperative; QUOD — *proleptic; UT CONTINGAT —
*jussive noun clause [A&G 563] following volo; QUID SI — as in Engl. “what if …” (i.e., quid
eveniet si …): cf. 537; OPTARO = optavero
721: ANNUM HUNC PERPETUOM — acc. of extent of time [A&G 423] (on hunc cf. ad 230); PERPETUOM =
perpetuum; MIHI — dat. of advantage [A&G 376]; HUIUS — i.e., Philaeni (subjective gen.: A&G

Commentary: III.iii
343 n. 1, 348 n.); OPERAS — acc. pl. (“services”: Scafuro 2003-2004: 12 [on Bacch. 45]; cf.,
however, ad opus in 873); IMPETRASTI = impetravisti; [Argyr.’s reply again highlights the major
inconcinnity in the play — the fact that the two devoted lovers of III.i elsewhere reveal such a clear-
headed sense of the social and economic realities that circumscribe their relationship: the young man
who earlier was prepared to die if he could not be with his beloved, here is delighted at the thought of
acquiring her “services” for a year’s time. Contrast, however, the more brutal tone adopted by Diab. at
235]
722: AIN = ais + ne (expressing wonder or surprise — “do you really mean it?”): cf. ad 812; ADI …
EXPERIRE — imperative
723: EXOPTA … FIET — cf. ad 350; QUOD … EVENIRE — acc. + inf. following vis (cf. 720); MAXUME =
maxime; TIBI — dat. of ref./advantage [A&G 376]
724: EXOPTEM — delib. subj. [A&G 444]; ALIUD … AMPLIUS NISI — a curious blending of aliud quam,
amplius quam, and aliud nisi, all of which would convey the same sense; QUOIUS = cuius (obj. gen.
with inopia) [A&G 348]; INOPIA — employed here with an obj. gen., much like opus
725: VIGINTI COMMODAS MINAS — i.e., a full twenty minae (commodus, -a, -um): in apposition to illud in 724;
HUIUS — i.e., Philaeni; QUAS DEM — *rel. clause of characteristic/purpose [A&G 531.2]
726: fac (ut) sis animo bono; ANIMO BONO — abl. of description [A&G 415]; (UT) SIS — *jussive subj.
introduced by facio, without ut [A&G 565; Woodcock 130: *parataxis]; FACE = fac; EXOPTATA: cf.
624; (TIBI) OPTINGENT = obtingent
727: UT — comp. adv.; CONSUEVERE = consueverunt (with pres. force: the so-called gnomic pfct. [A&G
475, Bennett 1910: 46]): sc. the two divinities as the subject; Salus et Fortuna frustrantur homines —
i.e., the gods often deceive human expectations; FRUSTRATUR — sg. vb., in agreement with the
nearest element of a cmpd. subject (“Salus … and, along with it, Fortuna”)
728: caput fui huic argento reperiundo <tibi>; CAPUT — chief, leader; REPERIUNDO = reperiendo
(gerundive for gerund [A&G 503]); HUIC ARGENTO … REPERIUNDO — *dat. of purpose echoing the
titles of official magistrates (A&G 505b, Woodcock 207.4c), vs. the expected gen. with caput;
TIBI — dat. of ref./advantage [A&G 376]
729: EGO PES FUI — a joking non-sequitur, built on Leon.’s claim in 728, employed here to set up Argyr.’s
response: caput and pes are freq. employed in conjunction to indicate the beginning and end of
something, or its full extent; QUIN + ind. — introducing an objection or correction (“but in fact …,”
“but as it turns out …”); NEC CAPUT NEC PES — i.e., neither a beginning nor an end; SERMONI —
dat. of ref./interest with apparet (echoing the use of the dat. in 728)
730: scire possum nec quid dicatis nec cur me ludatis; DICATIS … LUDATIS — subj. in *indir. question
[A&G 573]; QUOR = cur
731: censeo satis iam (eum/te) delusum (esse); (EUM/TE) DELUSUM (ESSE) — acc. + inf. following censeo;
eloquamur rem ut est; REM UT EST — *prolepsis (cf. ad 27-28): rem presents the obj. of eloquamur as
well as the subject of the following subord. clause, which is introduced by the interrog. adv. ut (*indir.

Commentary: III.iii
question + ind. [A&G 573]); ELOQUAMUR — hortatory/jussive subj. [A&G 439]; [As so commonly,
P. formally marks the transition back to the essential business of the plot]
732-33: ADVORTE = adverte; SIS = si vis; pater (tuus) iussit nos ferre hoc argentum ad te; UT — exclam.;
734: HIC — adv.; INERUNT — i.e., inside you will find (idiomatic use of *fut. ind.: cf. Lindsay 60; Bennett
1910: 44-45); BONAE — phps. the equivalent of Engl. “a cool 20 minae” (i.e., a full 20 minae: cf. 725
and L&S s.v. bonus I.C.1.c and d), but employed largely to set up the following joke; MALA
OPERA — abl. of manner [A&G 412]; PARTAE — *pred./*circumstantial partic.

735: iussit nos has tibi dare pactis legibus; PACTIS LEGIBUS — abl. abs. (i.e., on fixed terms: cf. 562); QUID
ID EST = quae sint pactae leges? (Gray, who takes the clause to be subord. to quaeso)
736: ut dares sibi noctem huius et cenam; HUIUS — i.e., Philaeni (an interesting use of the gen.: most easily
taken as subjective— i.e., one of the nights she has at her disposal; cf. 624, 721); SIBI — i.e.,
Demaeneto (the subject of iussit: A&G 300.2); UT DARES — *jussive clause employed to present a
proviso (A&G 528b: cf. ad 230 and Bennett 1910: 267); in secondary *sequence following iussit (735);
IUBE (EUM) ADVENIRE; QUAESO — *paratactic, as often with these polite formulae; the repetition of
the more pointed use of quaeso at the end of 735 phps. reflects Argyr.’s desperate eagerness — he
seems willing to agree to virtually anything at this point
737: MERITISSUMO = meritissimo (a comic superl. form of the adv. merito: for the use of eius, cf. ad 137-38):
“according to his well-deserving merit,” “as he so richly deserves”; faciemus (ea) quae volet —
suppressed antecedent [A&G 307c]; VOLET — the *fut. ind., as regular in Latin (where Engl.
employs a generalizing pres.); HOSCE = hos; AMORES — idiomatic pl. (“In Plautus the sing. amor is
regularly the feeling, mood of love, the plur. amores the actions, circumstances, etc. to which the
feeling has led” [Gray]): in this instance, hos amores nostros is merely a vivid equivalent for “us
lovers”
738: DISPULSOS — *pred. (“although they/we had previously been driven asunder” — i.e., although it looked
as though we were doomed to be separated); COMPULIT — one might have expected the subj. here
(causal/explanatory qui clause). As Gray notes, the image suggested by the vb. derives from herding;
PATIERIN = patieris + ne
739: patrem tuum hanc amplexari — acc. + inf. after patieris; TUOM = tuum; haec faciet ut (id) facile
patiar; HAEC — in reference either to the bag of money (crumina) as it is finally placed in Argyr.’s
possession, or to Phil. (In performance, the reference would have been made clear via a gesture.) In
either case, we have here another example of Argyr. taking a less than sentimental view of his
relationship with Phil.; UT … PATIAR — *consecutive clause following faciet [A&G 568]: sc. patrem
hanc amplexari
740: LEONIDA — note that the voc. sg. of this adopted Greek patronymic ends in –ā [G&L 65], whereas in the
nom. sg. it has been assimilated to a standard 1st decl. masculine in –ă [cf. above under Dramatis
Personae]; OPSECRO = obsecro (parenthetical); orato patrem ut huc veniat; HUC — adv.;

Commentary: III.iii
ORATO — *fut. imperative [A&G 449]; [On the transition from pres. imperative (curre) to fut.
imperative (orato), cf. ad 383]; UT VENIAT — *jussive noun clause [A&G 563]
741-45: STAGING — P. routinely employs references to the angiportus (a side or back alley, with a small door
[posticum] giving access to the house) as a means of moving his characters into and out of a house
without them appearing on stage (e.g., Most. 1043-47, Pers. 678-79): cf. Ill. 3 (the House of Sallust).
His attention to such realistic concerns is not consistent, however: cf. the introduction to this scene. In
this instance, the account of Dem.’s circuitous entry into Clear.’s establishment highlights his fear of
being discovered by his wife and thereby prepares for the comic finale in V.ii.
741: IAM DUDUM EST — pres. ind. where Engl. employs the pfct. [G&L 230; Bennett 1910: 17-18]; HAC —
adv. (by this route, this way); VENIT — pfct. ind.; ANGIPORTO — instr. abl. [A&G 409] or, more
specifically, abl. of the “way by which” [Bennett 1914: 360]
742-43: ILLAC … CIRCUM … CLAM — adv. (the piling up of these advs. suggests Dem.’s obsessive caution;
CIRCUM IIT = circumiit (printed as two words to signal the elision of the second syllable of circum);
ne quis familiarium videret se huc ire; NE … VIDERET — *final clause [A&G 531]; QUIS = (ali)quis
(after si, num, nisi, ne [A&G 310a]); SE … IRE — acc. + inf. following videret (of a perceived fact vs.
a perceived action: cf. ad 23-24); SE — i.e., Dem. (A&G 300.2) HUC — adv.; FAMILIARIUM —
partitive gen. with quis (referring to Dem.’s household slaves: L&S s.v. I) [A&G 346a1]; NE …
RESCISCAT — fear clause (A&G 564): note the switch to primary sequence. (The present metuit further
highlights Dem.’s anxiety.)
744: DE ARGENTO — “concerning/regarding the funds” (that Art. and Saurea expected to paid for the asses);
SI … SCIAT — protasis of a fut. less vivid *condition (which is left unfinished out of fear of generating
a bad omen: see Argyr.’s response in this line and the next); ut factum sit — *indir. question [A&G
573]; UT — interrog.; SIT FACTUM — impers. pfct. of fio (i.e., “how we’ve acted”)
745: BENE DICITE — i.e., avoid any words of ill omen (comically transferred from religious ritual); DICITE —
pl.: addressing both the slaves, but also recalling the priest’s admonition to the assembled crowd;
INTRO — adv.; ET VOS AMATE — rather than simply responding et vos (valete), Leon. tacks on amate,
thus giving the statement an entirely different turn (*paraprosdokian)
[STAGING: Argyr. and Phil. enter Clear.’s house; Lib. and Leon. exit into Dem.’s house.]132
132
Re the manner of Lib. and Leon.’s exit, see the discussion in App. II: Mapping Asinaria: entrances and exits in the play.

Commentary: IV.i
SCENE IV.i
[Iambic senarii]
Enter Diabolus (the “slanderer,” “the informer”), Argyrippus’ rival. He is attended by his parasite, a
clever hanger-on, who feeds Diabolus’ folly in order to enjoy his hospitality. [Similar pairs are found,
e.g., in P.’s Miles Gloriosus and Terence’s Eunuch; cf. Shakespeare’s Sir Toby Belch and Andrew
Aguecheek (Twelfth Night).] Further on the character of Diabolus, see introduction to I.ii.
IV.i and IV.ii are the only scenes in the play, other than the prologue and opening scene, that are
composed in iambic senarii and thus the only scenes in the play, once the plot is properly under way,
not accompanied by music (Moore 1998a: 250-51; on the use of iambic scenarii in scenes involving the
reading of a document, cf. Beare 1964: 225, Moore 1998a: 250, Scafuro 2003-2004: 10). Those who
assign I.ii and I.iii to Argyrippus (see introduction to I.ii) argue that the presentation of the boorish and
humorless Diabolus in such a context serves to further isolate him (e.g., Marshall 2006: 205-06, 2016:
255-56, Porter 2016: 346 and 348).
[BIBLIOGRAPHY: Ketterer 1986, Damon 1997: 37-40, Cohen 2000a, 2000b, 2015: 97-114, Scafuro
2003-2004, James 2006: 228-32, ◉Roussel 2009, Petrides 2014a: 216-20, Marshall 2016. A
commentary on this passage can also be found in Henderson 2009.]
[STAGING: Diab. and Par. enter the stage via Wing B.]
Opening: the opening is quite abrupt. No explanation is offered as to how DIab. has acquired the necessary 20
minae (cf. 243-48) nor is the identity of Par. expressly noted: P. relies upon Par.’s general role in this
scene and, phps., his mask to provide the necessary clues (cf. Damon 1997: 37 n. 1). If I.ii and I.iii are
assigned to Argyr. (introduction to I.ii), the opening is still more jarring: in that case, the audience has
only 633-36 to suggest who these two characters might be.
746: AGEDUM: strengthened form of age, used for exhortation, encouragement (cf. ad 5); ostende istum
syngraphum quem conscripsisti; ISTUM — on P.’s use of iste, cf. ad 845; CONSCRIPSTI =
conscripsisti; SYNGRAPHUM (Grk.) — “presumably a representation of the Boeotian and Doric

inflection of syngraphe” (Scafuro 2003-2004: 12); [Those who assign I.ii and I.iii to Argyr. must
assume that Diab. has also been informed of Clear.’s offer to sign a contract, and of the required
amount. The latter presents no difficulty (cf. above ad 229-31), but the offer of an exclusive contract
was presented specifically as a concession to the outraged interlocutor of I.iii and his demand that his
financial contributions, in this instance, not be flouted as had his past donations (196-236). The
obsessive desire for control evident in IV.i, and the insistence that no possible loophole be left that

Commentary: IV.i
might allow Phil. once again to bestow her favors elsewhere, suit the speaker of I.ii and I.iii perfectly
and further highlight the awkwardness of assigning those scenes to Argyr. (cf. ad 917-18 and see,
further, Porter 2016). It is true, however, that nowhere in Act IV does Diab. mention how he has
obtained the funds that he was so desperate to find at the conclusion of I.iii]
747: LEGES — terms, conditions; pellego = per + lego
748: POETA — P. often employs this word in a metaphorical sense; comically lofty and grandiose (Knapp
1917: 149 n. 2); AD — with a view to, when it comes to; [Par. displays the two features commonly
associated the comic parasite: humorous exploitation of his patron and expertise in legal matters. His
toying with Diab. recalls that, e.g., of Artotrogus with the Pyrgopolynices of Miles I.i (note the comic
use of writing tablets in the Miles scene as well), while his professed skill at exploiting the mechanisms
of Athenian law suggests characters such as Ter.’s Phormio: see, further, Lofberg 1920, ◉Antonsen-
Resch 2004: 22-23, Damon 1997: 37-38. The nature of Diab.’s relation to Par., in combination with the
buffoonish alazoneia on display in this scene, leads Petrides 2014a: 219 and 225 to identify Diab. as a
miles type: cf. introduction to I.ii. Antonsen-Resch (following Konstan 1978: 216-18) is on surer
ground in emphasizing the manner in which the association of Par. with legal expertise prepares for his
role in indicting the wayward Dem. before Art. in V.ii]
749: faxo lena horrescet; HORRESCET — fut. ind. dependent upon facio, where we expect a subj. in a
*consecutive clause [A&G 568] (*parataxis); Hurka highlights the vb.’s paratragic associations;
FAXO — 1st sg. fut. act. ind. [cf. ad 130-32]: “I’ll see to it that …”; *QUOM = cum (+ ind.)
750: AGE: cf. ad 5; QUAESO — parenthetical (“please”); TRANSLEGE — a hapax: cf. pellege in 747;
AUDIN = audis + ne; AUDIO — as costumary in Latin, an affirmative response to a question takes the
form of a restatement of a key element of the question (often the vb.) [A&G 336]
751ff.: [the contract read out here fits into a broader comic tradition of locating members of the demimonde in
the respectable world of civic/legal discourse: cf. Lysias 24 (likely a comic fiction) and Herodas 2; see,
further, Porter 2007: 82-84. On the question of whether such formal written contracts have a historical
foundation, see Scafuro 2003-2004: 11; cf. Zagagi 1980: 118-19 and n. 44, Cohen 2000a, 2000b, and
2015: 97-114. For other such contracts in P., see ad 230 and cf. ad 441. Scafuro (19) notes particularly
interesting resonances with Cato’s de Agricultura 143 in arguing that the scene is a Plautine confection;
Hurka (introduction to V.i) suggests a possible mingling of both Grk. and Plautine elements while
denying the historical reality of such extravagant alliances in P.’s Rome (in contrast to that of Ter.:
Polyb. 31.25.2-7). Many in the audience might also have detected humorous echoes of the standard
marriage contract: cf. the texts collected in Instone-Brewer’s on-line resource (2000)]
751-52: DIABOLUS … FILIUS, CLEARETAE LENAE — apposition (A&G 282); [the formal desgination of Diab.
as the son of Glaucus (regular in Athens, where an adult male citizen was identified by his given name,
his father’s name, and the name of his deme) has a comical ring when juxtaposed with “Cleareta the
procuress”; on the similarity to formal epistulary salutations, see Scafuro 2003-2004: 16]; DONO —
“for/as a gift” (*pred. dat. [A&G 382]) (nonsensical in the context of a contract dealing with such a

Commentary: IV.i
carefully defined exchange of money for services [opera pro pecunia, 172]; phps. in part a parody of
the language employed of such transactions in ancient erotic literary traditions, where the lovers offer
“gifts” in order to have the women show them a “kindness”: cf. the similar joke at 193-94 and see
Scafuro 2003-2004: 17-18); ARGENTI — gen. of material [A&G 344]; VIGINTI MINAS — on the
amount, see ad 89
753-54: UT … ESSET — *final clause indicating a stipulation [A&G 531, Bennett 1910: 264 and 265: cf. ad
230] (note the use of secondary *sequence: dedit (752) is to be translated as a preterite, recording a
transaction that was concluded at some past time); SECUM — as usual, the refl. pron. refers back to
the subject of the main clause (A&G 300.2); NOCTES ET DIES, HUNC ANNUM TOTUM — acc. of extent
of time [A&G 423] [on hunc cf. ad 230]; [The stipulation that Phil. abide with Diab. “night and day”
for the “entire” year to come establishes the obsessive tone evident in the rest of the contract. For Diab.,
however, this is not enough: in 754b he immediately appends a much more direct stipulation]; NEC —
cf. ad neque in 775; QUIQUAM = masc. abl. sg. of quisquam
755: ADDONE — addo + ne (ind. in place of the expected delib. subj. [A&G 444]: Bennett 1910: 22-23, Morris
1889: 401); SCRIBAS VIDE — i.e., vide ut scribas (*jussive subj. introduced by vide, without ut [A&G
565, 268 ad fin.; Woodcock 130, Bennett 1910: 230-31: *parataxis]); PLANE ET PROBE — “right and
proper” (lit. “clearly and fitly”)
756ff.: as Par. begins to read out the specific terms of the contract, his sentences repeatedly employ the jussive
subj. (A&G 439) to indicate the obligations that Phil. is to fulfill, the types of behaviors from which she
is to refrain, and the actions Diab. is to undertake (“let her …,” “may she …,” “see to it that you …”):
mittat, sint, scribat, vendat, etc.; Note as well the relatively high incidence of hiatus in sections of the
contract. Comm. associate this with Par.’s comically exaggerated display of diligence as he checks
and/or edits the document as he goes: Gray and Hurka ad 756; Lindsay 1904: 128 n.; Scafuro 2003-
2004: 16-17; Fontaine 2010: 34
756: ALIENUM — regularly of a man who has no connection to a woman by blood or marriage (here:
“another”); INTRO — adv.; MITTAT = admittat (cf. 236) (jussive subj.: A&G 439); NEMINEM —
for nullum (emphatic)
757ff.: QUOD + subj. = “Supposing that …,” “Regarding the possibility that she should …,” “In case she
should …” (a form of limiting acc.: G&L 525.2 n. 3, Woodcock 241; Bennett 1910: 338; “Used of a
contingency which may happen in the future, a sense in which it is always followed by the subj.”
[Gray])
757-59: Diab. forbids Phil. from admitting some man into her home under the pretense that he is merely a
friend (?!) or patron or the lover of one of her female friends (i.e., of a fellow meretrix).
757: QUOD … NOMINET — see ad 757ff.; ILLA — the repeated use of illa (cf. 758, 761, 767, 768, 773, 775,
783, 784, 788, 789, 796) adds to the comically “official” impression conveyed by the document and is
phps. another indication of the obsessive concern to control Phil.’s actions; AMICUM AUT
PATRONUM — either dir. obj. of nominet, or *pred. [“call (some man) a friend or patron” (A&G 393)]

Commentary: IV.i
with hominem understood from 756. [The similarly structured provision at 761-62 would tend to argue
in favor of the former]; AMICUM — a nonsensical item in such a list, since women such as Phil. did
not have male “friends” (instances such as the Diniarchus of Truc. notwithstanding) but customers;
PATRONUM — cf., e.g., the arrangement promised by the utterly respectable Laches of Ter. Hec. 761-67
758: quod illa praedicet amatorem amicae suae; QUOD … PRAEDICET — see ad 757ff.; AMICAE — obj.
gen. (A&G 348): for interactions betw courtesans and the young lovers of other meretrices, cf., e.g., the
scheme set out at Cist. 104-12 and the party at Most. I.iv; [PRAEDICET — this must, on this reading,
be taken to be parallel with nominet 757: either as “mention” (with amatorem as dir. obj.), or with an
acc. and inf. understood — (eum) amatorem (esse)]
759: OCCLUSAE … SINT — jussive subj. [A&G 439]; TIBI — i.e., Diab.; [On the switch here to the second
person in references to Diab. — contrast 751-54 — see Scafuro 2003-2004: 10 and 16-17. Par. in effect
translates the text for Diab.’s ears by employing the second person]
760: IN FORIBUS — doors could be inscribed for a variety of purposes (e.g., Livy 25.10.9) but one suspects an
echo here of the brothel prostitute’s titulus, posted above her cella (Sen. Contr. 1.2.1 and 5; Mart.
11.45); SCRIBAT — jussive subj. [A&G 439]; se occupatam esse — acc. + inf. introduced by
scribat
761: QUOD … DICAT: see ad 757ff.; epistulam allatam <esse> — acc. + inf. dependent on dicat
762: NE … SIT — jussive subj. [A&G 439 and 450 n. 3]; [the prohibition against having letters in the house
concerns in part the possibility of their being reused to send notes out to other lovers]
763-65: CERATA … TABULA — waxed tablet (used for taking notes and writing letters: O’Bryhim 2010: 636-
38); ADEO — freq. employed after adjs. to add emphasis [L&S s.v. II B4]; SI … SIT — protasis of a
fut.-less-vivid *condition (followed by the jussive subj. vendat); QUA = aliqua (after si, num, nisi, ne
[A&G 310a]); INUTILIS PICTURA — i.e., a painting on a tablet that is not intended for practical use
(i.e., as a means of composing letters) but still might be employed in such a capacity, thanks to the wax
used in its production or as a preservative (Knapp 1917: 154-55). (On this reading, inutilis defines the
class “pictura” as a whole rather than a particular kind of painting.) Most relevant in this regard are the
so-called parvae tabellae (Grk. pinakes) familiar from a later age: small framed paintings portraying
couples engaged in various forms of sexual activity that were hung on the wall (as opposed to panel
paintings or frescoes, which were embedded into the wall itself) and that bore a certain resemblance to
writing tablets.133 — Another comically obsessive precaution. (Hurka proposes, rather, that inutilis
indicates any picture not on display; ◉Bianchi 1997: 773 suggests that the picture be regarded as a form
of professional advertisement — no longer necessary now that Diab. is firmly entrenched as her
patron — or a portrait of one of Phil.’s former lovers. One could suppose, somewhat more crassly, that
133
Pollini 2010: 304-05, citing Ov. Trist. 2.523f. and Suet. Tib. 43; cf. Ov. A.A. 2.679-80. Cf. Myerowitz Levine 1992,
Clarke 1998: 166-67 and fig. 60, and, on pinakes more generally, Ling 1991: 112. It seems more likely, in any case, that Diab. is
thinking of smaller works that could be employed as ersatz writing-tablets rather than (Knapp 1917: 155) paintings of any sort
from which Phil. might scrape the wax.

Commentary: IV.i
Diab. alludes to any non-erotic [and therefore “useless”] paintings employed to decorate a diningroom
or bedroom: cf. the related suggestion posited by Henderson 2006 ad loc. and see James 2006: 229
[citing Prop. 2.6.27-36], Ter. Eun. 583ff., and, e.g., Pollini 2010 [on the alleged “Camera d’Amore” in
the House of the Centenary]. The specific nuance of inutilis, in that case, would be indicated in the
delivery.) On the challenge of conveying these lines to a modern audience in a manner that will raise a
laugh, see ◉Danese 2014: 153-54; SIT — sc. in aedibus; VENDAT — jussive subj. [A&G 439];
quadriduum – space of four days [IN QUADRIDUO = within four days (three days by modern reckoning,
since the ancients counted inclusively)]; abalieno — to transfer legal ownership (ABALIENARIT =
abalienaverit [3rd sg. fut. pfct. ind. or pfct. subj.: cf. below]); QUO ABS = ab quo (*anastrophe [A&G
640]) — i.e., ab illo die quo: “from that day on which” (understanding dies as antecedent, implied by
quadriduo) [Bennett 1914: 298]; ACCEPERIT — 3rd sg. fut. pfct. ind. or pfct. subj.; [Diab.’s contract
presents a number of instances where it is virtually impossible to decide whether a form is fut. pfct. ind.
or pfct. subj. (cf. ad 20). Older comm. often favor the latter; while acknowledging the difficulty, de
Melo 2007b: 80 n. 377 makes a case for the fut. pfct. (or the Plautine equivalent), noting the frequency
with which that form is employed in legal texts. Cf. ad 785-86 (extincta sit)]
766: TUOS = tuus (*pred. — the complement after sit); ARBITRATUS — power of deciding, judgment,
decision; SIT — jussive subj. [A&G 439]; COMBURAS — jussive subj. [A&G 439] introduced by
tuos arbitratus sit (*parataxis): see Hurka ad loc. who cfs. the similar construction following vbs. of
will (LHS 2.530: cf. line 77) — “let it be in your power to decide that you burn it/to burn it”
[alternatively, one might read an *indir. question (A&G 573), with suppressed utrum (A&G 335a): cf.
805 and, for the suppression of the second alternative, A&G 335c]; SI VELIS — subj. due to attraction
to the subj. sit, on which it ultimately depends [A&G 593]
767: NE … SIT — *final clause [A&G 531]; ILLI — i.e., Philaenio (*dat. of possession [A&G 373]); UBI …
POSSIT: relative clause of characteristic implying purpose [A&G 531.2]; [As Hurka notes, this last
line must be intended as a side comment, for Diab.’s ears only]
768: VOCET … VOCES — jussive subj. [A&G 439]; CONVIVAM — a guest for a dinner party; NEMINEM =
nullum; ILLA — i.e., Phil. (illa establishes an emphatic contrast with the following clause [introduced
by tu], reinforced by *asyndeton [A&G 323b] with *chiastic word order) [For the obsessive concern
with the mistress’ behavior at a drinking party, cf. Ov. Amores 1.4 and see James 2006]
769: ne adiciat oculos suos ad (ali)quem eorum; EORUM — i.e., convivarum (partitive gen.: A&G 346a3);
QUEM = aliquem (after si, num, nisi, ne [A&G 310a]); ADICIAT — jussive subj. [A&G 439 and 450 n.
3]
770: QUEM = aliquem; ASPEXIT = sigmatic fut. ind. with fut. pfct. force (de Melo 2007a: 177; cf. above ad
763-65); SIET = sit (jussive subj.: A&G 439); [The more literal-minded comm. object that this type
of curse does not properly belong in a practical contract: Par. mocks the obsessive nature of Diab.’s
passion by including items that have no means of being enforced]

Commentary: IV.i
771: UNA (adv.) — together, along with; POSTEA — either logical (marking 771-73 as the next item on Par.’s
unfolding list) or temporal (i.e., once the guests have arrived and the party is under way?): cf. 785
(post), 799 (interim), and 803 (tum). A very casual, almost conversational use of the adv. (As Gray
notes, “postea has … occasioned doubts.” De Melo renders it as “hereafter,” “from now on.” Hurka ad
768 takes it as confirmation that P.’s narrative presents a program of events arranged in a well-
established order: cf. below ad 779. Leo emends to: tecum una potet, aeque pocla potitet); AEQUE
(adv.) — i.e., cup for cup; POC(U)LA — here, as the obj. of potitet, = “drinks” (*metonymy) [poclum
is actually the earlier form: poculum is a later development, via a process known as anaptyxis; so also
periculum, populus, Hercules, etc.]; POTITET — jussive subj. [A&G 439]
772: ABS TED = a te; ACCIPIAT … PROPINET … BIBAS — jussive subj. [A&G 439]; ACCIPIAT — sc.
poculum; [Here, the three vbs. describe the proper procedure by which the couple’s drinking is to
occur: Phil. is to have no interactions with anyone but Diab. The concern in part is to prevent devious
erotic interactions such as those at Ov. Am. 1.4.29-32, A.A. 1.575-76, Juv. 5.127–29; Anth. Pal.
5.261.1–4]
773: NE … SAPIAT — *final clause [A&G 531] (“lest she have sense/be prudent/employ restraint” — i.e.,
remain more or less sober: cf. Truc. 854-55; Tib. 1.6.27-28; Ov. A.A. 1.597-600); SATIS PLACET —
[like Diab.’s other contributions to this dialogue, this pompous response provides an important clue
both to his character and to how the scene as a whole is to be played]
774ff.: on Diab.’s obsessive concern that Phil. might find some excuse to touch a secret paramour in passing,
cf. Ov. Amores 1.4.15-16, 55-58, A.A. 1.603-06; Aristaenetus, Epist.1.9.
774: OMNIS — fem. acc. pl.; SEGREGET — jussive subj. [A&G 439]
775-84: cf. Naev., Tarentilla 76-79: alii adnutat, alii adnictat, alium amat, alium tenet. / alibi manus est
occupata, alii percellít pedem, / anulum dat alii spectandum, a labris alium inuocat, / cum alio cantat,
at tamen alii suo dat digito litteras (“To one she nods, at another she winks; one she caresses, another
embraces. Now elsewhere a hand she has taken; now she jerks another’s foot. To one she gives her ring
to look at, to another her lips blow a kiss that invites. She sings a song with one; but waves a message
for another with her finger.” — E.H. Warmington, tr.). See Scafuro 2003-2004: 18-19.
775: neque illa pedem pede premat ulli homini; NEQUE = neve (here and freq. below) [Bennett 1910: 170];
ILLAEC = illa (i.e., Phil.); ULLI … HOMINI — with pedem (*sympathetic dat.: “of any man” [A&G
377]); PEDE — instr. abl. [A&G 409]
776-77: *QUOM = cum — [These lines, along with 780, present a number of instances of quom + subj.
(surgat … inscendat … descendat … iaciat), which is not regular in P. Most instances of this
construction can be explained (as here) via attraction to a subj. in the main clause (A&G 593, Lindsay
66-67, Bennett 1910: 302-03) or are found in expressions involving an indef. 2nd pers. sg.; QUOM
SURGAT — i.e., when she rises from her couch and sets about leaving: as at Ov. Am. 1.4.55-56, surgere
suggests departure (cf. ad 921); [Parallel passages cite interactions amid the milling crowd as the
guests are arriving and being seated or, as here (surgat), as everyone rises and is in the process of

Commentary: IV.i
departing (Ov. Am. 1.4.15-16 and 55-58, A.A. 1.603-06) rather than something Phil. might do while in
the act of actually climbing onto or dismounting from her couch (the activities covered in 776b-77).
Given that the Romans reclined facing a common table (ill. 6: cf. Dunbabin 2003: 36-46, 52-63 and see
below ad 891), the other occasion for amorous foot-play was with one’s immediate neighbor(s) while
actually dining (Ov. Am. 1.4.44, Naev. Tarentilla 77 [see ad 775-84]), not when engaged in the
relatively awkward process of climbing on or off one’s couch, when one’s actions would have been
visible to many; joining foot to foot with another guest while the latter was reclining on an adjacent
couch would have been impractical at any time. (Pace Hurka, it is highly unlikely — esp. at indoor
banquets, where there was commonly no fixed table — that guests regularly clambered over an
adjoining couch to reach their position or to depart at the conclusion of the banquet; rather, the table
would be set in place once everyone was seated and removed at the conclusion of the festivities. Cf.
829 below and, e.g., the guest on the far left of ill. 7, who has just arrived and is in the process of being
seated, with no table in evidence; note as well the frequency of the phrase mensa remota, vel sim., to
indicate the conclusion of a banquet [e.g., Ov. A.A. 1.603]. Trimalchio’s curious arrangement at Petr.
Satyr. 34.5 [separate tables for each guest, in the expectation that putidissimi servi minorem nobis
aestum frequentia sua facient (“the stinking slaves won’t make us so hot by crowding round”): cf.
Dunbabin 2003: 61-62] is most readily explained by assuming that the usual arrangement, once the
banquet was underway, involved a narrow space betw. the couches and the central table through which
servers — and, potentially, guests — might squeeze [cf. Dunbabin 2003: fig. 18: summer triclinium in
the House of the Moralist, where the table is a permanent fixture, as often in outdoor triclinia]. Should
an important guest have needed to leave his/her seat in the course of the meal, the table itself was likely
removed temporarily. McKeown’s suggestion that one might pass along the foot of the couches when
seeking or leaving one’s place [1987 ad Ov. Am. 1.4.15-16] — allowing the woman to caress her
lover’s foot with her hand — would appear to be contradicted by the surviving floorplans for the
typical indoor tricilinium, although such an arrangement is often implied in the [extremely stylized]
artistic depictions of banquet scenes134 and, e.g., in literary allusions to slaves standing at their masters’
feet [ad pedes: Petr. Satyr. 58.1 (cf. 70.8), Sen. Ben. 3.27.1, Mart. 3.23]: in such cases, one should
imagine the extravagent oeci Cyziceni and similar rooms familiar to a later age [Foss 1994: 109-10 and
n. 257, citing Vitr. 6.3.10] or the arrangement of the typical outdoor triclinium.135 Neither Hurka’s nor
McKeown’s scenario offers a viable occasion for amorous foot-play, however.) For all Diab.’s
134
E.g., the central figure in a sketch found on the lararium in the kitchen of the House of Obellius Firmus (Dunbabin 2003:
fig. 27) and phps. the older male presented just right of center in ill. 7 (Roller 2006: 74). On the stylized nature of such
depictions, see Dunbabin 2003: 52-53, 62-63.
135
Suet. Calig. 36.2 suggests that the expression praeter pedes might be taken to allude to the side on which one mounted the
couch. However one interprets 775-77, the arrangement imagined in Par.’s contract and in Naev. Tarentilla — esp. in their
assumption of casual interactions betw neighbors — seems to reflect that of the later Roman triclinium; pace Zaccaria Ruggiu
(below, n. xx), it is altogether difficult to square with the layout of the Greek symposium (cf. ad 829).

Commentary: IV.i
precautions while “at table” (below), there is little he can do to guard against erotic “jostling” as the
guests depart. The difficulty here lies in the curious sequence in which the actions described in 775-77
are set forth]; DET — jussive subj. [A&G 439]; QUOIQUAM = cuiquam
778: ne det anulum (ali)cui spectandum, neve (anulum) roget; SPECTANDUM — gerundive, *pred. with
anulum (“to be examined, admired” [purpose: A&G 500.4]) — i.e., as another excuse to touch the other
person’s hand: cf. Naev. Tarentilla 78 (see ad 775-84), Tib. 1.6.25-26; QUOI = (ali)cui (after si, num,
nisi, ne [A&G 310a]); DET … ROGET — jussive subj. [A&G 439 and 450 n. 3]; NEC = neve;
ROGET — sc. anulum
779: TALOS — dice (a common feature of such party-scenes: cf. 904-06): the notion that P. employs a
deliberate pun here (talos in the sense of both “dice” and “ankles” — Mendelsohn 1907: 98) is
unwarranted; QUOIQUAM = cuiquam; ammoveo — here in the sense of “pass/serve/provide
something” (+ dat.) [jussive subj.: A&G 439]: cf. Varro R.R. 3.5.15 (haec (rota) ab uno puero, qui
ministrat, ita vertitur, ut omnia una ponantur et ad bibendum et ad edendum et admoveantur ad omnes
convivas); [Throughout his comments on this scene, Hurka attempts to impose a stringent regularity,
arguing that P. offers a close reinactment of the typical commissatio/convivium, with events unfolding
according to an acknowledged program. He thus regards the reference to tali here as an allusion to the
selection of a master of the feast (rex/magister bibendi), an interpretation that would scarcely seem to
jibe with 780. In general, it is far from certain that such a program was routinely observed by the
Romans, still less that P. would feel compelled to follow it: cf. ad 776-77]
780: QUOM + subj. — see ad 776-77; iacio — cast (dice); [The reference is to an erotic game where the
player would cast the dice as a type of prognostication (“he loves me, he loves me not”), or in order to
win the love of another, or as a type of toast, or phps. for a kiss or other type of attention: cf. Dem. at
904-06 and the Grk. kottabos (Csapo/Miller 1991: 379-81). Diab. is concerned that Phil. not sneak in a
reference to some other lover through a verbal ambiguity: cf. ad 792]; DICAT … NOMINET — jussive
subj. [A&G 439]; NOMEN NOMINET — cognate acc. [A&G 390]: “let her name a name/call her
dedicatee by name”
781: deam propitiam sibi invocet quam libebit; INVOCET — jussive subj. [A&G 439]; SIBI — with
propitiam (dat. of ref./advantage) [A&G 376], secondarily with lubebit (cf. below); LUBEBIT =
libebit; QUAM LUBEBIT — i.e., quam (deam) libebit (ei invocare) — “whichever goddess she wishes”;
PROPITIAM — *pred. (“as/to be favorable”): the equivalent of ut sit propitia (cf. 783)
782: (sed) deum nullum (invocet) — i.e., Diab. fears even the male gods as potential rivals, or is concerned that
addresses to a male god might serve as a cover for some hidden reference to a mortal lover; DEUM
NULLUM — *asyndeton (A&G 323b); MAGIS RELIGIOSUS — “if her religious scruples shall prove too
strong” (Gray) — i.e., if she feels that she must invoke a male god (for the use of magis, cf. 573);
FUERIT — fut. pfct. ind. (cf. ad 763-65)
783: DICAT … ORES — jussive subj. [A&G 439]; DICAT — sc. nomen; PRO ILLA — on her behalf; UT
SIT — *jussive noun clause [A&G 563]

Commentary: IV.i
784: NUTET, NICTET, ANNUAT — “Nor let her nod, wink, or signify compliance to any man” (Gray) [jussive
subj.: A&G 439]; [Annuo can indicate a movement of the eyebrows (Hurka) but, as Gray’s rendition
suggests, the vbs. nuto and annuo are sufficiently distinct without such refinements and generate an
effective comic list (tricolon crescendo with *asyndeton [A&G 323b] and alliteration)]; [Again, there
is a close reminiscence of Naev. Tarentilla (76): see ad 775-84]
785-86: POST — adv. (“thereafter”); SI … EXTINCTA SIT — i.e., should the lights go out. In this instance it is
clear that the pfct. subj. is employed vs the fut. pfct. ind. (cf. ad. 763-65). If consistency were the goal,
one would designate all the ambig. forms in Par.’s contract as pfct. subj., but consistency is not a
priority for P. In 764-66, 770, 782, 794, 800, 803, and 806-07, Par. either threatens penalties or presents
concrete eventualities: in those instances, the *fut. pfct. fits well. Here, he posits a less likely
possibility, where the fut. less-vivid is more appropriate; the use of the pfct. subj. in such *conditions is
regular (A&G 516.2c, Woodcock 197); ne (ali)quid quicquam sui membri commoveat;
(ALI)QUID — (after si, num, nisi, ne [A&G 310a]): reinforced by the somewhat redundant quicquam
(Lindsay 42: “pleonastic strengthening”) [cf. the use of quicquam with nihil in the sense of “nothing at
all” (L&S s.v. quisquam II.C)]; SUI MEMBRI — i.e., any part of her body (partitive gen.: A&G 346a3;
Bennett 1914: 28); COMMOVEAT — jussive subj. [A&G 439]; OPTUME = optime; OPTUME
(FACTUM) EST — “Superb!” “Very nicely done!”

787: ITA SCILICET FACTURAM — “i.e., scire licet eam ita facturam esse — ‘you may be sure she will do so’”
(Gray): for the pompous, self-satisfied tone, cf. ad 773; SCILICET = scire licet (employed in its literal
sense rather than as a particle: Lindsay 113; cf. above ad 598-99); (EAM) ITA … FACTURAM (ESSE) —
acc. + inf. following scilicet; VERUM — adv., here introducing second thoughts on Diab.’s part, as he
realizes that Phil. could employ the last provision as an excuse not to have sex with him (cf. ad 310)
788: demo — take out, remove, subtract; ISTUC = istud (i.e., the last-mentioned provision); ILLAM
MOVERI — acc. + inf. after gestio; MOVERI — refl. (“move about” sens. obs.): Bennett 1910: 6;
[Hurka cfs. Lucr. 4.1274-77]
789: nolo illam habere causam et dicere (se) vetitam (esse hoc facere); ILLAM — i.e., Phil.; causa —
excuse, plea; VOTITAM = vetitam ; (SE) VOTITAM (ESSE) — acc. + inf. after dicere (note the
personal construction with the fem. vetitam, which retains the implied inf. phrase (hoc facere)
790-91: VERUM — i.e., hoc verum est: “to be sure,” “I do indeed”; tollam sicut iubes; (SIC)UT — correl.
adv. [A&G 323g]; QUIDNI? — “how (could you) not?” (“Of course you will” — Gray); [ni is
originally a volitive negative, similar to ne: Bennett 1910: 182. In early Latin, it is regularly used to
introduce a negated delib. subj. [A&G 444] in negative questions of duty or fitness, where CL employs
non]; RELICUA = reliqua (neut. acc. pl.); LOQUERE — 2nd sg. pres. imperative
792: regarding the concern that Phil. might attempt to cheat the terms of her contract through the use of
ambiguous language (a variant on that raised at 780-83), cf. Porter 2008. The list of provisions at 792ff.
invokes a broader, long-standing tradition of women’s devious treachery, but the setting remains that of

Commentary: IV.i
the convivium (Hurka ad 792: see, however, my comments ad 779 and 799); FACIAT — jussive subj.
[A&G 439]; PERPLEXABILE — *pred.
793: ULLA LINGUA … NISI ATTICA — instr. abl. [A&G 409]; ATTICA — i.e., Attic Greek (the dialect spoken
in classical Athens): P. here maintains the fiction that the setting of the play is Athens and its main
characters Athenian, via a witty metatheatrical joke (since of course Phil., like the other characters,
perforce expresses herself in Latin): see further Fontaine 2010: 187 and cf. above ad 199; SCIAT —
jussive subj. [A&G 439]; SCIAT LOQUI — an absurd provision to include in a contract (since one can
hardly “unlearn” a language)
794: FORT(E) — adv. (apocope: cf. ad 66): the order si forte is more regular; OCCEPSIT = sigmatic fut. ind.
with fut. pfct. force (de Melo 2007a: 177 — see ad 763-65); SIC — correl. adv., setting up the
*consecutive clause in 795 [A&G 323g]; TUSSIAT — jussive subj. [A&G 439 and 450 n. 3]
795: UT … PROSERAT — *consecutive clause [A&G 537]; QUOIQUAM = cuiquam; TUSSIENDO — gerund
(A&G 507.3); [i.e., Phil. is not to extend her tongue provocatively when coughing — another weirdly
obsessive provision]
796-97: QUOD … SIMULET — cf. ad 757ff.; QUASI … PROFLUAT — subj. in unreal comparison (A&G 524,
Bennett 1910: 286); GRAVEDO — a cold in the head (abstract, for the more concrete mucus/pituita):
quasi gravedo profluat — “that she has a runny nose”; HOC — to be taken closely with the following
sic: “let her not do this,” “she is not to act in this fashion”; FACIAT — jussive subj. [A&G 439 and
450 n. 3]; SIC — “in this fashion” (Par. mimes the action); APSTERGEAS = abstergeas (jussive subj.:
A&G 439); [The scenario imagined here seems to involve the girl wiping her upper lip in a
provocative manner — phps. by affecting a suggestive “pout” in preparation for the action — and
thereby miming an erotic kiss. How such an action might be mimed by a masked actor remains
something of a question. Most likely the actor employed a provocative pose and some sort of gesture
with his hands]
798: POTIUS QUAM … FACIAT — *final clause with quam, introduced by the comparative force of potius (cf.
ad 120-22); QUOIQUAM = cuiquam [dat. of ref./advantage] [A&G 376]; QUOIQUAM SAVIUM
FACIAT — i.e., lest she mime a kiss in someone’s direction

799: VINUM — i.e., convivium (*metonymy): the on-going party (although in this context the expression ad
vinum also provides a vivid sense of Clear.’s purpose in coming: OLD s.v. ad 40a; cf. line 864);
ACCEDAT — jussive subj. [A&G 439]; INTERIM — “during this time,” “while we are in the midst of
drinking” (but see Bertini and Hurka ad loc. re suspicions against this usage, and against 799-802 more
generally; cf. ad postea in 771). Clear. is imagined to interrupt the party in search of drink, as a typical
lena multibiba (Hurka ad loc., ◉Fedeli 1999: 32-35).
800: ULLI — masc. dat. sg. (= cuiquam); VERBO — instr. abl. [A&G 409]: “with a single word” (Gray: cf.
Ter. Phorm. 197); DICAT — jussive subj. [A&G 439]; DIXERIT — *fut. pfct. (cf. ad 763-65);
[Given the implicit connection betw. 799 and 800, ◉Bertini 1968b concludes that Clear. is presented as
being belligerent when drunk]

Commentary: IV.i
801: MULTA — penalty (fem. nom. sg.); EI — i.e., Clearetae (dat. of ref./disadvantage [A&G 376]);
rd
ESTO — 3 sg. *fut. imperative act. of sum (multa esto echoes the language of law codes: Hurka cites
Cato, Orig. 95e [Gell. NA 6.3.37]; cf. A&G 449.2, Bennett 1910: 358); VINO — abl. of sep. [A&G
401] with vb. of depriving, lacking, etc.; VIGINTI DIES — acc. of extent of time [A&G 423]
802: UT CAREAT — *jussive noun clause [A&G 563]; SCRIPSTI = scripsisti; SCITUM SYNGRAPHUM — acc.
of exclamation [A&G 397d]
803: TUM — “moreover,” “on the other hand”; [“Coronae are chaplets for the head, serta festoons for the
doors, etc.” (Gray)]; IUSSERIT — *fut. pfct. (cf. ad 763-65)
804: ANCILLAM FERRE — acc. + inf. following iubeo (803); VENERI AUT CUPIDINI — i.e., to their shrines
805: TUOS SERVOS = tuus servus; SERVET — keep watch (for observet — jussive subj. [A&G 439]) [Hurka
detects an echo of legal texts in the etymological play servos servet]; (UTRUM ANCILLA) VENERI EAS
DET AN VIRO; EAS — agreeing with coronas; DET — subj. in *indir. question [A&G 573];
VIRO — i.e., some lover
806: si forte dixerit (se) velle pure habere; (SE) VELLE — acc. + inf. following dico; HABERE (intrans.) —
to hold or keep oneself in a certain manner (+ adv.) [L&S s.v. II.C.6.(c): cf. Engl. “hold still” and ad
844, 869]: *prolative inf. with volo; PURE HABERE — to maintain herself in a state of ritual purity
(part of which involved sexual abstinence): as Hurka notes, this cannot be a reference to the cult of Isis,
which was introduced in Rome at a later date; that need not indicate post-Plautine authorship, however
(pace Havet/Freté xviii); DIXERIT — *fut. pfct. (cf. ad 763-65)
807: tot noctes reddat spurcas quot (noctes) pure habuerit — Phil. is to pay Diab. back as many “impure”
nights — over and above the stated duration of the contract — as she has devoted to her ritual
abstinence; TOT … QUOT — correl. adv. [A&G 323g]; REDDAT — jussive subj. [A&G 439];
SPURCAS — cf. Fontaine 2010: 210-11 on sordeo (pace Hurka ad loc., it does not appear that some
specially vile act is implied here); QUOT (NOCTES) — acc. of extent of time [A&G 423];
HABUERIT — *fut. pfct. (cf. ad 763-65); PURE HABUERIT — cf. ad 806; [The sipulation presented in
806-07 is of a sort found in actual contracts dealing with the lease of slaves. Cf., e.g., P.Wisc. 1.5
(Egypt, AD 185), dealing with the lease of the slave-woman Tapontos. There we read (lines 20-30 in
the original Grk. text): “The female slave Tapontos will have four days off in the month of Tybi and in
Pachon also four days, eight days in total, for which nothing will be deducted from the hire. But if she
should be absent for more days either because of a festival day or because of illness or on account of
some imperious necessity on the part of her master, then the hire for those days will be deducted”
(APIS translation)]
808: non … mortualia (carmina sunt); MORTUALIA (CARMINA) — (mere) funeral songs, dirges (sung by
hired mourners and therefore formulaic, traditional, by the book, trite), or phps. (Habinek 2005: 240-41
and n. 91) winding sheets (sc. vestimenta), with the same dismissive overtones. (As Habinek notes, the
former association focuses on Par.’s spoken performance of the contract, the latter on the physical
contract itself)

Commentary: IV.i
809: LEGES — terms, conditions (cf. 747); SEQUERE — 2nd sg. pres. imperative; INTRO — adv.;
SEQUOR — as usual in Latin, affirmation is indicated by the repetition of a key term in the original
command [A&G 336]
[STAGING: Diab. and Par. enter Clear.’s house.]
SCENE IV.ii
[Iambic senarii]
Diabolus and his parasite return to the stage from Cleareta’s house, having been rebuffed by
Demaenetus as the latter enjoys his afternoon with Philaenium. They decide to take revenge by
informing Artemona of what her husband is up to.
The sudden return of this pair, with no intervening scene, is clumsy by modern standards and has been
taken as a sign of an act-break in the original production (Webster 1970: 257) or the suppression by P.
of an intervening scene (◉Havet 1905: 98): see, further, Lowe 1990: 275 n. 4 and 2004; cf. ad 828-
29.136
In performance, there was likely a brief musical interlude to separate the two scenes (Gray ad 809) but,
as Moore indicates,137 the evidence for such interludes (beyond Pseud. 573-73a) is limited. (As Moore
suggests, the fact that IV.i and IV.ii are both composed for spoken delivery makes the sudden reentry
of Diabolus and Parasitus all the more jarring. A shift from accompanied to unaccompanied meters, or
vice-versa, often serves to ease such transitions: cf., e.g., Cist. 630 and Trin. 601.) A modern
production might employ an intervening bit of comic business by another actor or, if producing the
play as sheer farce, simply have the actors playing Diab. and Par. suddenly turn about when half-way
through the door and reenter straightaway.
[STAGING: Diab. and Par. enter the stage from Clear.’s house.]
810-19: the resemblances betw. the opening of this scene and I.ii provide an interesting irony if both passages
are delivered by the same character: having obtained the funds which he so desperately lacked, DIab.
136
As ◉Danese 1999: 89 notes, the anomaly of having two adjacent scenes that present the same characters might be
responsible for the misattribution of Diabolus’ role in the scene-heading for IV.ii.
137
Moore 1998a (esp. 246, 250-51) and 2012a: 17-19.

Commentary: IV.ii
once again finds himself driven from Clearata’s establishment, under still more humiliating
circumstances. See, further, Porter 2016: 348 and Hurka’s introduction to IV.2.
810: SEQUERE — 2nd sg. pres. imperative dep. (addressed to Par.); HAC — adv.; PATIAR … TACEAM —
delib. subj. with indignant/repudiating force (cf. ad 93); taceo — leave unmentioned, pass over in
silence (+ acc.); [Here and in the following lines, the implication is that Diab. has been treated in a
high-handed fashion by the triumphant Dem., in particular, who seems to have bragged about the clever
way in which he acquired the funds required to purchase Phil.’s favors: 814-15. (For an example of the
comic excesses of the boorish old man led on by wine and lust, cf. the concluding scenes of Aris.
Wasps.) The sudden focus on Dem. — rather than Argyr. — as Diab.’s rival lays the necessary
groundwork for the comic finale but is well motivated: Diab. has not simply lost out in the race to
produce the required 20 minae (230-31), but has been mocked and humiliated by a boorish and
ludicrous rival to boot]
811: MALIM — potential subj. (see ad 274 and contrast 121); quam haec non indicem uxori eius; QUAM …
NON … INDICEM — *final clause with quam, introduced by the comparative force of malim: cf. ad 120-
22; EIUS — i.e., Demaeneti; [In expressing his fervent intention to inform on Dem., Diab. confirms
the suitability of his name: cf. the similar threat at 131-32]
812: AIN = ais + ne; AIN TU? — a form of interrogation which includes the idea of surprise or wonder,
sometimes also of reproof or sorrow: “do you really mean so?” “really?” “is it possible?” [Morris 1889:
402-04] (addressed to the off-stage Dem.); AMICAM — see ad Arg. 5; MUNUS — here = “role,”
“part” (as Hurka notes, however, munus is often employed of the sex act: cf. ad 873 [opus]);
ADULESCENTULI — the dimin. is dismissive
813-15: FUNGARE … EXCUSES … DICAS … PRAERIPIAS … OBICIAS… SUPPILES — delib. subj. used in an
indignant question (cf. ad 93) — sc. impune (“with impunity”)
813: FUNGARE = fungaris; EXCUSO + refl. — exempt oneself from a duty or task; EXCUSES TE ET DICAS
SENEM — the references in this play to the husband failing to fulfill his sexual duties to his wife as a
result of his adulterous liaisons (cf. 870-74) are interesting; contrast the more typical treatment of this
theme at Most. 690-710. The tone struck in this play has a much more modern feel, and reflects more
directly on the character of the husband rather than simply offering a caricature of the unattractive
middle-aged uxor: cf. Cas. 189-90. (Ter. treats the same theme at Phorm. 1009-10, 1021-25, absent the
farcical element); DICAS SENEM — i.e., dicas te senem esse.
814: AMANTI — sc. mihi (*pred. — “from me, in my love/who am in love”): dat. of disadvantage/sep. [A&G
381]
815: suppilo (1) — to rob, filch; (with pers. obj. [acc.]) to rob, cheat; [The scenario referred to here is played
out in a much more vivid form in the opening scenes of Men.: Dem.’s contrivance pales by
comparison]
816: suspendam me potius quam tu tacita haec auferas; SUSPENDAM — fut. ind. (cf. 121-22; contrast the
subj. at 811, which entail an idiomatic use of malo); QUAM … AUFERAS — *final clause with with

Commentary: IV.ii
quam, introduced by the comparative force of potius: cf. ad 120-22; TACITA — *pred. (with neut. acc.
pl. haec): “in silence,” “without remark” (Gray); HAEC — (n. pl.): most likely in reference to the by-
now all too familiar 20 minae (cf. the use of aufero at 97, 154 — a common usage: see L&S s.v. II.C)
817-18: AD — “to the home/establishment of” [L&S 1.A.2.a.(b)]; ILLAM — Art.; HINC IBO — cf. 130-31;
quam tu propediem effliges, nisi quidem illa te ante occupassit — i.e., nisi uxor te praeverterit, eam
funditus perdes et ad egestatem rediges (Ussing); QUAM — rel. pron. (fem. acc. sg.); PROPEDIEM
(adv.) — very soon, shortly; ANTE — adv.; occupo — to be ahead of someone else in doing
something, do it first, beat somone to it [OCCUPASSIT = sigmatic fut. ind. with fut. pfct. force: de Melo
2007a: 177; A&G 183.5 (cf. ad 130-32). As usual in Latin, a form of the *fut. is employed in the
protasis of a fut. vivid *condition, where Engl. employs a generalizing pres.: A&G 516.a]; effligo —
to kill, destroy (here in the sense of “ruin”); SCIO — stands outside of the syntax of the rel. clause
(quam… effliges): parenthentical (“I know,” “I’m quite sure”)
819: ut possis suppeditare sumptus luxuriae; LUXURIAE — obj. gen. [A&G 348] with sumptus (“the expenses
on/associated with your decadent lifestyle”) [cf. sumptus epularum; sumptus cenarum]; SUMPTUS —
acc. pl.; [Hurka draws a connection to contemporary sumptuary laws such as the lex Oppia (215 BC)
and lex Orchia (182 BC) designed to stem the rise of what was regarded as a decadent extravagance];
POSSIES = possis (employed in a *final clause [A&G 531])
820-23: SIC = “as follows,” “in the following way” (as often); FACIUNDUM = faciendum (sc. esse) — pass.
periphrastic (impers.) [A&G 500.3, Woodcock 204]; faciendum (esse) — acc. + inf. following
censeo; honestius est me hanc rem palam facere quam te (hanc rem palam facere); HONESTIUST —
honestius est [honestiu(s) ’st — prodelision]: impers. construction introducing an acc. + inf. [Bennett
1910: 392]; PALAM … FACERE — palam here has an adj. force (“to make clear, reveal”: cf. palam
factum est — “it has become public knowledge/well-known,” “it has been announced”); ne illa
existimet te, percitum, id fecisse amoris causa magis quam sua causa; NE … EXISTUMET — *final
clause [A&G 531]; EXISTUMET = existimet — introduces the acc. + inf. te id fecisse; percio — to
stir up, rouse (PERCITUM is *pred. — “having been stirred up,” “in your anger”); SUA — the reflexive
adj. refers back, as is regular, to the subject of the vb. that has introduced the acc. + inf. (illa — i.e.,
Art.): A&G 300.2; SUA CAUSA — “for her sake” [abl.: A&G 404c]: cf. ad 68 and 536; QUI —
particle (cf. ad 505); DIXTI = dixisti; RECTIUS — cf. adv.; [As Hurka notes, the grounds for Par.’s
intervention are quite weak: they point rather to P.’s desire to exploit the latter’s cynical wit in the
goading of Art. in V.ii. On Par.’s role here, cf. Scafuro 2003-2004: 15, who notes, “he does what
parasites in Menaechmi (517-8, 561-2) and Phormio (985) do: he informs the wife of her husband’s
pecadillos.” Cf. Damon 1997: 93-94, ◉Antonsen-Resch 2004: 22-23, and see ad 748]
824: FAC UT … CONCIAS: *jussive noun clause (“see to it that you …”) [A&G 449.2c]; ILLI — i.e.,
Demaeneto (dat. of disadvantage) [A&G 376]; TURBAS, LITIS (acc. pl.) — *hendiadys in *asyndeton
[A&G 323b] (= “tumultuous quarrels”)

Commentary: IV.ii
825: SIBI — sympathetic dat. (A&G 377), reinforcing suo; employed, as often, to heighten the emotional tone
of a statement (here, Diab.’s and, presumably, Art.’s indignation); UNAM — unus here in the sense of
that which is common to several persons or things: “one and the same”; AD — “at the
home/establishment of” (= apud; cf. Fr. chez) [L&S s.v. I.A.3]; AMICAM — see ad Arg. 5; DE
DIE — during the day, in daytime, in the course of the day (L&S s.v. de I.B.2): cf. 516; [To engage in
drinking parties or sexual liaisons in the middle of the day was regarded as a sign of decadence — a
convention flouted in several of the poems of Catullus and Ovid]
826: (EUM) POTARE … EXPILARE — the infs. likely convey the content of Art.’s anticipated indignation:
“… (at the thought) that he …” (indir. disc. introduced obliquely by turbas, litis concias [824], with
eum as the understood subject); phps. the more freq. acc. + inf. in exclamation [A&G 462, Lindsay 75]
(“for him to …!”; “that he should …!”).138 [It is possible that the disruption in the text following
expilare hides a phrase on which these infs. might depend (Gray, who follows Leo in reading narra vs.
iam iam; see Hurka for further suggestions); as it stands, Par. either interrupts Diab.’s angry rant, or the
broken syntax suggests something of the latter’s incoherent rage]; POTARE — cf. ad 270; ILLAM —
i.e., Art.; expilo — to plunder, rob; [Comm. have expended much energy attempting to account for
how Diab. might have witnessed a party that will only be instituted in the following scene: cf. Hurka ad
loc., who suggests that Diab. may only have seen the preparations for the gathering. (That Diab. and
Dem. have not encountered one another, however, seems unlikely: cf. ad 810.) See further ad 828-29];
IAM IAM (iamiam) — “already” (i.e., “It’s as good as done”); NE MONE — ne + pres. imperative (cf.
ad 377)
827: ISTUC = istud; [Note that Par. is able simply to enter Dem.’s house, without the conventional rigmarole of
knocking at the door: Rosivach 1970: 448 n. 8 cfs. Men. 520, also involving a parasite. In each passage,
the playwright has other matters to which to attend]
[STAGING: Par. enters Dem.’s house while Diab. departs via Wing A.]
SCENE V.i
[Iambic octonarii — but see ad 828-29]
Demaenetus enjoys Philaenium’s favors while Argyrippus looks on in distress. Their allusions to the
dutiful son’s obligations to his father offer an inverted parody of traditional Roman moral discourse.
138
Cf. the acc. + inf. construction at 127. However we regard the construction at 825-26, the symmetry betw. Diab.’s first and
last utterances presents a nice touch.

Commentary: V.i
Both V.i and V.ii are likely a Plautine confection, although one does find the presentation of drinking
parties (actual or as a form of rehersal) on the Athenian stage.139 Similar “interior” scenes can be found
at Most. 157ff., Pers. 757ff., Stichus 683ff.140 Cf. below ad 828-29.
For similarly disreputable fathers elsewhere in P., cf. Cas. and Merc.
[BIBLIOGRAPHY: Lowe 1992: 170-73, 1995, ◉1999: 22-23; ◉Sherberg 1995: 165-66; Franko 2004;
Sharrock 2009: 277-84]
[STAGING: Dem., Argyr., and Phil. enter the stage from Clear.’s house attended by slaves and the
necessary dining paraphernalia; they dispose themselves as at a drinking party. It is highly unlikely,
however, that the actors reclined as at an actual convivium (pace Rollerxx: cf. ad 891 and see ad 905 and
925): not only would this make it difficult to communicate via gestures and body language, but it would
hinder the projection of their voices. The actors were most likely positioned in quasi-“Greek” fashion,141
with Dem. seated on a couch in the center, snuggling Phil.142 (who would be to the left, from the
139
Cf. Hurka’s introduction to V.i (citing Lowe 1992: 172). On sympotic scenes in Grk. comedy, see ◉Prehn 1916: 8-25. In
addition to Aris. Wasps 1168-1261, note, e.g., Antiphanes’ Birth of Aphrodite (F 57 K.-A.), Clearchus’ Citharode and Pandrosos
(F 1 and 4 K.-A.), Diphilus’ Synoris (F 74 K.-A.), Pherecrates’ Corianno (F 73-76 K.-A.), and, to a limited degree, Men.
Synaristosai (below, n.xx). See further Olson 2007: 292-320, Henderson 2014: 186-87.
140
See, further, Franko 2004.
141
Cf. ◉Zaccaria Ruggiu 1995: 148. She concludes (152) that the triclinium-style dining-room was first introduced ca. the
time of P.’s death, but the plays suggest that elements of later Roman dining ritual were already well established in P.’s day — cf.
ad 776-77 and 891.
142
Cf., e.g., the various well-known images of Mars and Venus discovered at Pompeii (ill. 4; cf. Pompeii Inv. 9248, 9250) or
Perseus and Andromeda (Stabiae Inv. 8995). See as well the ancient depictions of Men. Synaristosai (Women at Breakfast: ill. 5),
which, however, represent scenes from a Grk. rather than a Plautine staging, and a non-sympotic occasion: Dioscorides mosaic
(late 2nd C. BC — Naples NM 9987), Daphne (first half of the 3rd C. AD? — Gutzwiller/Çelik 2012: fig. 21), Zeugma (early 3rd
C. AD? — Gaziantep Museum of Archaeology inv. no. 8177; ◉Abadie-Reynal/Darmon/Manière-Lévèque 2003: 93 fig. 23),
Mytilene (late 3rd/late 4th C. AD — ◉Charitonidis/Kahil/Ginouvès 1970: T6): see Nervegna 2013: 151-53. Cf. Csapo 1999, whose
conclusions urge caution in employing such material as evidence for details of staging; the fact, however, that these depictions
are part of an iconographic tradition that extends back to a time very close to Menander’s death (Csapo 1999: 175-76), that they
select striking scenes designed to call the specific play to mind (Csapo 1999: 164), and that they strive to convey the impression
of witnessing an actual production, suggests their value in determining such fundamental issues as whether the actors were seated
or reclining — and indeed whether the scene in question was staged or merely reported. (On Synaristosai, cf. Seeberg 2002-2003:
45, who notes that, “the appearance of three female characters on the ekkyklema must have been a highly distinctive curtain-
raiser.” For a contrary view, see Gomme/Sandbach 1973: 12 n. 2, where the argument re the depiction of Phasma in the House of
Menander needs to be updated: Arnott 1998: 36 and 2000: 365-67.) If this interpretation is correct, the use of vbs. such as cubo,
accubo, accumbo, and decumbo in such scenes (Lowe 1995: 25) says little about the actual postures of the actors.

Commentary: V.i
audience’s perspective: cf. ad 891), and Argyr. seated somewhat awkwardly to the right, likely on a
separate bench of his own.143 See further Lowe 1992: 171-73 and 1995: 24-26, Marshall 2006: 54.]
828-29: these lines continue the spoken iambic senarii of the previous scene, before the shift to chanted/sung
octonarii at 830; they also present the commencement of the drinking party that Diab. would seem to
have already witnessed in progress (812-13, 825-26). If the text reflects the original production, this
interlacing of meters supports the notion of a continuous performance, with no musical interludes betw.
“acts.” (Note, e.g., the still more striking irrelevance of the act division in our mss. at Most. 348.)
Lacking the means to have the stage facade pull away to reveal a celebration already in progress, the
playwright must of necessity have his actors commence their festivities in front of the audience. In this
instance, the brief overlap in the meters of the two scenes could be taken as an extradramatic marker for
this stage convention.144 The discrepancy in having Dem. et al. institute a party that Diab. seems
already to have witnessed is slight, and readily accepted by an audience who can buy into the notion of
a banquet being held in the street. (Cf. ad 941 and Bertini 309-10.) Earlier comm. argue that these lines
derive from another play, or phps. from a scene (now lost) that originally preceded, and was interrupted
by, the current IV.ii (◉Ribbeck 1882: 57-58); if the lines are to be viewed with suspicion, it is more
economical to assume the work of a later producer who saw the need to allow for the setting up of the
requisite stage properties (Hurka): the lines would then represent a post-Plautine modification designed
to accommodate continuous performance. (See Hurka ad loc. on the use of iambic senarii in such
interpolated passages.)
828: AGE — cf. ad 5; DECUMBAMUS — jussive subj. [A&G 439]; SIS = si vis (“if you please”):
parenthetical; UT … ITA (829) — correl. adv. (A&G 323g); IUSSERIS — 2nd sg. *fut. pfct. ind. act.
(the fut. pfct. is potentially more vivid than the mere fut. in that it anticipates that Argyr.’s wishes will
be met at any moment in the fut. when he “will have” issued a command [Bennett 1910: 108 for
parallels]; in P., however, the distinction betw. the *fut. pfct. and the simple *fut. is often blurred)
829: GNATE = nate; MENSAM APPONITE — “serve the course/meal.” In the context of both the Greek
symposium (where each couch in fact had its own table: ill. 8) and (likely) the Roman cena, the
expression mensam apponite has its origin in the need literally to put the table(s) in position: cf. above
ad 776-77.
830-50: see Moore 2012a:183 on the use of iambic octonarii here in a transitional scene
143
Cf. Stich. 92-93 and 488-89 (with ◉Petersmann 1973 ad locc.xx), Capt. 471, and, e.g., the depiction of Philainis in the
mosaics from Daphne, Zeugma, and Mytilene cited in the prev. n. (Synaristosai). For the relative positions of the actors, cf. ad
891.
144
Such a staging assumes a division of roles with no overlap betw. the actors in IV.ii and V.i: see Introduction p. xx.

Commentary: V.i
830: NUMQUIDNAM = num quidnam (adv.): “Surely … not at all …?”; MOLESTUM EST — impersonal;
GNATE MI — the repeated emphasis on Dem.’s relationship to Argyr. (cf. 829, 836), along with the
former’s comically solicitous manner, highlights the young man’s grounds for discomfort while also
emphasizing the problematic behavior of Dem.; SI … ACCUBAT — i.e, the fact that she reclines (see
Lindsay 113-14, Bennett 1910: 77-78, and cf. 832)
831: OCULIS — dat. of disadvantage/sep. [A&G 381]; ISTANC = istam (i.e., Phil.) — on P.’s use of iste, cf. ad
845; [Argyr.’s reference to his reverence for his father (pietas) opens an extended parody, in this and
the following scene, of traditional Roman morality]
832: INDUCERE ANIMAM — to find it in oneself, bring oneself to do something; NE … PATIAR: *jussive noun
clause [A&G 563]; QUIA (conj.) — “that,” “the fact that” (A&G 572.b) (+ ind.)
833: DECET + acc. + inf. (adulescentem verecundum esse)
834: MERITO TUO — in accordance with your deserts, as you deserve (cf. ad 137-38); FACERE — sc. id (i.e.,
verecundus esse); AGE — cf. ad 5; AGITEMUS — jussive subj. [A&G 439] (the frequentative agito is
more vivid than ago: “let’s get on with this party!”)
835-36: i.e., vino suavi sicut sermone suavi — abl. of attendant circumstance [Woodcock 43.5ii, 47: cf.
Bennett 1914: 301 on the similarity to the instr. abl.] (“let us conduct our party amid (with) pleasant
wine and conversation alike”); UT = sicut (correl.); ego nolo me metui a te, sed me amari a te malo;
MAVOLO = malo; [As often in P., nolo and malo here both introduce an acc. + inf. (me metui … me
amari) vs. the simple *prolative inf.: cf. ad 67]; AMARI MAVOLO … ME — the echo of 67 is likely
deliberate: the audience now sees the true motivation behind what in I.i had seemed to be a curiously
liberal outlook on the part of Dem.; APS = ab; UTRUMQUE — i.e., et metuo et amo (the alternative
sense [presented by Hurka] — non metuo, sed amo — is discounted by what follows; Roman sons were
expected to love their fathers but also to be in awe of them: cf., 688 and, e.g., Poen. 282: deos … et
amo et metuo); UT = sicut; UT AEQUOM EST FILIUM (FACERE); AEQUOM EST = aequum est
(impersonal), with acc. + inf. — on the use of this expression in Roman Comedy, see Barrios-Lech
2016: 91-93
837: CREDAM … SI … VIDERO — “I will believe, if (i.e., when) I will have seen” [Latin is more precise in its
use of tenses in the protasis of a fut. vivid *condition: *fut. pfct. ind., where Engl. employs a
generalizing present (“if (when) I see”): A&G 516.a]; ISTUC = istud (sc. te me amare); SI — i.e.,
when (cf. ad 902-03); TE … ESSE — acc. + inf. following vb. of perception (cf. ad 23-24);
HILARUM — on the connotations of this term, which alludes specifically to a sense of joy that expresses
itself in an individual’s words, actions, and facial expression, see ◉Thomas 1998: 153; AN — i.e.,
“Are you in earnest, or do you really think that I am gloomy?”: cf. ad 717; [ESS’] — esse is easily
understood after putas; ME TRISTEM (ESSE) — indir. disc. (acc. + inf.) introduced by putas; [The
transmitted tu esse me tristem can be preserved by dropping the final vowel of the inf. (apocope: cf. ad
66). Edd. disagree as to whether it is more likely that P. employed this measure here (where esse is
readily understood) or that the inf. was inserted by an overly diligent scribe]

Commentary: V.i
838: PUTEM (TE TRISTEM ESSE) — delib. subj. in a repudiating question (cf. ad 93); like Lib. at 93, Dem. tosses
his interlocutor’s words back at him, here with something of the force of an indirect question (“you ask
whether I think …!”); QUEM VIDEAM — *rel. clause of characteristic with causal/explanatory force
(sc. quippe/utpote) (A&G 535e — but cf. Lindsay 68); QUEM … ESSE — acc. + inf. following vb. of
perception; AEQUE … UT — correl. adv. (A&G 323g) [ut si often stands for quasi (L&S s.v. ut
II.A.2.e); the use of all three (ut quasi … si) is oddly pleonastic (see next comment)]; QUASI … SI +
subj. — unreal comparison (“as if x were the case”) [A&G 524, Bennett 1910: 287]; pleonastic si is
common in this construction [L&S s.v. quasi I ad fin.]; diem dicere = proclaim a day for someone to
appear in court, indict (quasi si dies dicta sit — sc. tibi); note that dies here is fem. (phps. merely metri
gratia, or reflecting the use of the fem. to denote a specific day)
839-40: DIXIS — archaic form, employed as the equivalent of dixeris (2nd sg. pfct. subj. act.): cf. ad 256; NE
DIXIS … NE FUERIS — pfct. subj. in prohibition (jussive) [A&G 450; de Melo 2007a: 115-18 and 201];
ISTUC = istud; SIC — i.e., maestus; DIXERO — *fut. pfct. (vs. *fut.) in a mocking echo of the
preceding pfct. subj.? [but cf. Bennett 1910: 53-54 on the close similarity, in early Latin, betw. the *fut.
and *fut. pfct.]
841: EM — employed to add vividness and force to the following imperative; RIDEO — in this context = “to
smile or look cheerful” rather than “to laugh”; utinam (illi) qui mihi male volunt sic rideant
(suppressed antecedent: A&G 307c); UTINAM … RIDEANT — optative subj. [A&G 442]; male velle
alicui — to wish someone ill, be an enemy to someone; MIHI — dat. of ref./disadvantage [A&G 376];
[Cf. Marshall 2006: 157 on the possible metatheatrical joke here: if Argyr. is in fact portrayed by a
masked actor, his expression cannot change]
842: scio quam ob rem tu credas me tristem (esse) tibi; QUAM OB REM — why; CREDAS — subj. in *indir.
question [A&G 573]; ME … TRISTEM (ESSE) — acc + inf. following credas; TIBI — dat. of judging
(“so far as you are concerned,” “from your perspective,” “in your eyes”: reinforces the emphatic tu, but
difficult to capture in translation) [A&G 378]
843-44: ISTAEC = ista (i.e., Phil.): cf. ad 845; ATQUE EGO QUIDEM HERCLE … EA RES ME MALE HABET: as
Gray notes, the switch from the seeming first-person subject, introduced with such fanfare, to the actual
third-person subject (*anacoluthon: A&G 640) reflects Argyr.’s awkward hesitancy; UT … DICAM:
*final clause [A&G 531], indicating the speaker’s reason for speaking [Bennett 1910: 258];
VERUM — neut. acc. sg. employed substantivally (“the truth”): A&G 289; PATER — the repeated
address to Dem. as “father” (cf. 842) highlights the awkwardness of Argyr.’s situation and his
awareness of the obedient allegience expected of the Roman son (cf. ad 830); male habere = to
treat/use someone (acc.) badly, put them in a bad disposition (cf. 869); non eo, quia non cupiam (ea)
tibi (esse) quae velis (tibi) (with the first tibi as a *dat. of possession [A&G 373]) or non eo, quia non
cupiam (ea) tibi quae velis (tibi) (with tibi in each instance as dat. of advantage [A&G 376]):
comparison with 846 suggests the former; NON EO — “not for that reason” (eo — adv. [orig. an abl.
of cause [A&G 404]); QUIA … NON CUPIAM — subj. in subord. clause in implied indir. disc. [A&G

Commentary: V.i
592.3, Bennett 1910: 318-19] (picking up eo) — “not for the reason that you might claim, i.e. that …”;
QUAE VELIS — i.e., ea quae velis (suppressed antecedent: A&G 307c), with subj. by attraction to
cupiam, to which it is subordinate (A&G 593), but also *rel. clause of characteristic: “those things that
you might wish (whatsoever they might be)” — cf. 846: quae exoptem.
845: VERUM — adv. (cf. ad 310); ISTAM AMO — cited by ◉Joffre 1998 as an instance of the broader semantic
range of iste in early Latin (cf. 831, 843, and passim); [Bertini, seconded by Hurka, argues that verum
+ ind. represents an *anacoluthon (A&G 640): in his agitation, Argyr. breaks off his early sentence
(where non eo quia … leads the audience to expect a corresponding clause introduced by sed quod …)
to present an emotional affirmation of his love for Phil., introduced by the asseverative verum]; facile
possum perpeti aliam (puellam) tecum esse — like patior, perpetior introduces an acc. + inf. (aliam
esse); FACILE — adv.
846: ERGO — all right then, well then; SUNT QUAE — i.e., sunt (tibi ea) quae exoptas (tibi) (suppressed
antecedent: A&G 307c); volo (ea) mihi (esse) quae exoptem (mihi); MIHI — *dat. of possession
with esse (understood) [A&G 373]; QUAE EXOPTEM —relative clause of characteristic: “those things
(of the sort which) I long for” (cf. 844: quae velis): the audience would have understood mihi with this
vb. as well (“the things I want for myself”) [dat. of advantage (A&G 376): a more pointed application
of common use of the ethical dat. with volo: e.g., line 6]
847: UNUM HUNC DIEM — acc. of extent of time [A&G 423]; UNUM — “single” (cf. 421); PERPETERE —
nd
2 sg. pres. imperative (sc. hanc mecum esse)
848: ANNUM — acc. of extent of time [A&G 423], set in strong opposition to unum diem (847); UT ESSES —
subj. in *consecutive clause [A&G 537] in secondary *sequence (dependent on tibi potestatem dedi in
847); AMANTI (*pred.) — sc. tibi; ARGENTI … COPIAM — gen. of material [A&G 344]
849-50: ISTOC … FACTO — instr. abl. [A&G 409] (istoc = isto); TIBI — dat. of ref./advantage [A&G 376];
DEVINXTI = devinxisti; QUIN — “why not then … ?”, “then why don’t you …?” (+ ind.) [A&G
449.2b]; TE … DAS — present yourself (das = praebes); HILARUM — *pred. [A&G 393]: cf. ad
837; MIHI — indir. obj., but phps. felt in part as dat. of ref./advantage (“for my sake”) [A&G 376]
SCENE V.ii
[Trochaic septenarii]145
Artemona arrives on the scene in the company of the parasite and spies on the proceedings.
Demaenetus gets his comeuppance.146
145
Cf. Moore 2012a: 265 on the use of trochaic septenarii to mark the resolution of the plot.
146
Comm. note particularly close ties to Men. 559ff.: see, e.g., Fantham 1968. As Sharrock 2009: 283 notes: “… the big party
which ‘should’ be the comic end (father, son, and prostitute together) becomes a play within its own play, instead of the ending

Commentary: V.ii
[BIBLIOGRAPHY: Fantham 1968; Yardley 1972: 134-36; Lowe 1992: 170-73, 1995, ◉1999: 22-23;
◉Sherberg 1995: 165-66, Parsons 2001: 186-90, Franko 2004, Sharrock 2009: 277-84]
[STAGING: Art. and Par. enter the stage from Dem.’s house and secretly observe Dem., Argyr., and Phil.]
851: AIN = ais + ne (cf. ad 812) — introduces the acc. + inf.: virum … potare … detulisse (852) / facere …
patrem (853) — “Do you mean to say that …?” (Gray): a vivid way of introducing the audience to Art.
and Par.’s on-going conversation; HIC — adv.; POTARE — cf. ad 270; OPSECRO = obsecro
(parenthetical) [STAGING: Art. does not actually catch sight of Dem. and Argyr.’s convivium until line
880: Rosivach 1970: 448-49 n. 8 cfs. Stich. 58-87. Throughout this early part of the scene, one can
assume that Dem.’s amorous activities provide a suitably comic backdrop to her conversation with Par.
See further Lowe 1992: 172-73]
852: AD — “to the home/establishment of” [cf. 817]; ARGENTI — gen. of material [A&G 344]; VIGINTI
MINAS — on this sum, see ad 89

853: MEO … FILIO SCIENTE — abl. abs. [A&G 419]; patrem id flagitium facere— acc. + inf. introduced by
ain (851), with id to be taken closely with flagitium (rather than as obj. of sciente); [Given that virum
(851) has provided the acc. subject for the string of infs. in 851-52, it is possible that patrem here is to
be taken as *pred. (emphatic or concessive): “… and that he, the (young man’s) father, …?” “… and
that he, although he is his father, …?” Like Diab. in IV.ii, Art. regards the entire affair as Dem.’s doing
(cf. 875), and focuses as much on the latter’s betrayal of his duty as a parent as on his failure as a
husband. As in V.i, note the repeated allusions to family relationships in this scene (husband, father,
wife, son) in contexts that highlight the manner in which these relationships have been corrupted: cf
above ad 71-72]
854: ne mihi posthac accredas quicquam aut divini aut humani; DIVINI … HUMANI — partitive gen. (neut.)
with quicquam [A&G 346a3; Lindsay 12] in place of a simple adj. (“anything divine or human”);
NEC DIVINI NEC … HUMANI … QUICQUAM — i.e., in regard to anything at all (a figure of speech known
as merism: cf. Engl. “to search high and low”); NEC … NEC — for the sake of emphasis, these correl.
forms are employed with the two adjs., which are foregrounded, in place of the expected negative adv.
(ne/neve) with accreduas; ACCREDUAS [archaic 2nd sg. pres. act. subj.: de Melo 2007a: 281, 287] —
believe someone (dat.) regarding something (acc.): jussive subj. [A&G 439]
which it might have been.” For a recent discussion of the imperious uxor dotata (focusing on Cas.), see James 2015: 110-13 and
120.

Commentary: V.ii
855: HUIUS REI — obj. gen. with verbal adj. mendacem (A&G 349c, Lindsay 12); me mendacem esse — acc
+ inf. following inveneris; ESS’ — apocope (cf. ad 66); INVENERIS — 2nd sg. pfct. subj. or fut. pfct.
ind. (cf. ad 20 and see de Melo 2007a: 287)
856: SCELESTA — with pathetic rather than condemnatory force: “wretched,” “unlucky” (cf. 476); ego meum
virum praeter alios (viros) †frugi† (esse) rata (sum); FRUGI — suspect here, given its use in the
following line: as Gray notes, the opposition frugi (857) — nihili (859) supports the appearance of
frugi at 857; by contrast, ◉Della Corte 1961: 36 brackets 857-60 as part of a later elaboration of the text
[retractatio]. Mechanical repetitions of this sort are characteristic of our text in its current form,
however that form was achieved: note, e.g., 558-65 :: 566-75; 654-78 :: 683-712 (cf., in general,
Sharrock 2009: 163ff.xx); VIRUM (ESSE) — acc. + inf. introduced by rata (sum)
857-60: these lines are bracketed by ◉Della Corte 1961: 36 as a later expansion of the text, based on the
parallelism betw. 856 and 861.
857: FRUGI — [cf. ad 175]; UXORIS — obj. gen. with amantem [A&G 349b; Lindsay 12], either to indicate
an enduring attribute (Bertini) or to avoid the ambiguity that would be occasioned by providing an acc.
object for the ptcple. [Amantem has the force of an adj., in parallel with siccum, frugi, continentem];
MAXUME = maxime
858: DEHINC — temporal; SCITO — 2nd sg. *fut. imperative act. [A&G 449.2a]; ILLUM MORTALEM
(ESSE) — acc. + inf. introduced by scito; ANTE = praeter (+ acc.); OMNIS — masc. acc. pl.;
MINIMI … PRETI — of very little worth, worthless (gen. of value: A&G 417): see Lilja 1965: 22;
MORTALEM = hominem: complement following esse (understood)
859: NIHILI — of no worth (gen. of value: A&G 417); UXORIS SUAE — obj. gen. with osorem [A&G 348];
[Par.’s list of qualities matches up with, and inverts, that presented by Art. in 857]
860: NI … ESSENT, NUMQUAM FACERET — pres. contr.-to-fact *condition; ISTAEC = ista
861: antehac semper ratus sum illum hominem frugi (esse); ILLUM … HOMINEM … FRUGI (ESSE) — acc. +
inf. following ratus sum; FRUGI — [cf. ad 175]
862-63: VERUM — adv.; HOC FACTO —instr. abl. [A&G 409]; SESE OSTENDIT — i.e., he shows what he
truly is, his true colors (Gray); QUI QUIDEM … POTET … ATQUE … DUCTET — causal use of *rel.
clause of characteristic (“given that he …”) [A&G 535e]; POTET — cf. ad 270; UNA — adv. (bis);
AMICAM — see ad Arg. 5; [On ducto, see ad 164]; DECREPITUS SENEX — *pred. (with concessive
force — “although he is …”); DECREPITUS — see Lilja 1965: 68
864: HOC … EST QUOD — “this is the reason why …” (A&G 539 and 540 n. 1; L&S s.v. “quod I” II, Lindsay
111-12 — a *limiting acc./acc. of respect); ECASTOR — cf. ad 188: the repeated use of this oath by
Art. becomes something of a leitmotiv (869, 877, 880, 888, 902, 936), mocked by Phil. at 899 and 930;
AD — indicating purpose (metaphorical motion) [OLD s.v. 40a]
865-66: on this list of names, cf. ◉Schmidt 1902: 362, Duckworth 1994: 347, Webster 1970: 254,
Gratwick/Lightley 1982: 133. Hurka notes that this list is ordered alphabetically to Roman ears, by first

Commentary: V.ii
letter (with ch [Grk. χ] and c [Grk. κ] treated as equivalents), and argues for this as an indication of
Plautine authorship; AD — “to the home/establishment of” [cf. 817]
867: CORRUPTELAE EST LIBERIS — *double dative (A&G 382.1); [“The plur. liberis, though only Argyrippus
is meant, is the indefinite plur. ‘of rhetorical exaggeration,’ the more common because the sing. liber is
rare.” — Gray: cf. 67, 932]; STUDET — “devotes himself to,” “is addicted to”
868: quin tu iubes ancillas (tuas) rapere illum sublimen domum? QUIN — interrog. particle (“why don’t
you …?”) (+ ind.) [A&G 449.2b]; ANCILLAS — i.e., Art.’s maid-servants; [STAGING: there is no
indication that these women are actually present on stage]; SUBLIMEN — aloft (and therefore
helpless); [Par.’s suggestion here presents an inversion of a type of scene common at the conclusion
of many a Roman comedy: a misbehaving slave being carted off by a group of large (male) slaves
(lorarii) for punishment: e.g., Ter. Andr. 861. (Cf. Men. 990ff. [of Menaechmus, who is thought to be
delirious with madness], Miles 1394 [of the soldier who has been caught seducing Periplectomenus’
“wife”].) The image of the paterfamilias being carried off in such a fashion by his wife’s maid-servants
aptly captures the inverted gender relationships in Dem.’s household.]
869: TACE — cf. 680; MODO — adv.; NE (ναί/νή) — affirmative particle (truly, indeed, verily): cf. ad 409;
MECASTOR — cf. ad 188; MISERUM — *pred. acc. [A&G 393]; HABEBO — [habeo here in the sense
of “hold or keep a person or thing in a particular condition” (+ adj., adv., or perf. part.): cf. 844];
ISTUC — istud (see ad 870)
870: ITA FORE — acc. + inf. (with impersonal vb.) in apposition to istuc in 869 and thus dependent upon scio
(“that it will be so”); [Earlier edd. omit the comma at the end of 869, taking istuc as the acc. subject
of fore, phps. correctly]; ILLI — i.e., Demaeneto (dat. of ref.) [A&G 376]; CUM ILLO — a regular
construction with nupta sum; CENSEO — historic pres. ind. (A&G 469): “I thought/believed” (of a
mistaken opinion); [It seems best to assume that the latter part of 870a (dum quidem cum illo nupta
eris), or 870a as a whole (Hurka), is delivered as an aside. (Contrast Krauss 2004: 122-23.) On the
question of the punctuation at the end of 870, see ad 871-72]
871-72: EUM … HOMINEM … DARE OPERAM … STERTERE — acc. + inf. introduced by censeo (870); [This
reading is preferable to: a) inserting a period at the conclusion of 870 — in which case Art. there agrees
with Par.’s assertion in 869-70 but misses its sarcastic implications, with 871-72 then taken as acc +
inf. of exclamation [A&G 462, Lindsay 75]; b) assuming an intervening lacuna — cf. ad 873];
ETIAM — [to annex a more important idea: “and even,” “nay,” “even”]; IN SENATU — senatorial
status is difficult to square with the impression of Dem. conveyed elsewhere in the play: the line has
something of a throwaway feel to it (cf. ad 135, 270); Hurka notes that P. often bestows such standing
upon his senes in order to enhance the ludicrous inversions inherent in his plots: cf. Cas. 536, Cist. 776,
Epid. 188; CLUENTIBUS = clientibus [again, how the impoverished Dem. might maintain a group of
clients is difficult to fathom: Pl. has imported a Roman social practice without regard for its
suitability]; [“If the text is kept as it stands dare operam has two constructions (i) dare operam in
senatu, (2) dare operam cluentibus.” — Gray]

Commentary: V.ii
872: [This line is joined to 871 by *asyndeton: A&G 323b]; IBI — then, thereupon (temporal); LABORE —
causal abl. (A&G 404); DELASSATUM — *pred.; NOCTEM TOTAM — acc. of extent of time [A&G
423]; (EUM) STERTERE — continuing the acc. + inf. construction of 870-71
873: ille <ad me> noctu advenit lassus opere foris faciendo; ILLE — in strong contrast to ego in 870;
OPERE … FACIENDO— causal abl. [A&G 404] (with lassus) [Many edd. read operī (abl.), a form
attested at Varro Ling. 5.141 and Arnob. Nat. 5.40. Hurka argues that the final –ē of opere constitutes a
*locus Jacobsohnianus (see ad 85)]; FACIENDO — gerundive for gerund [A&G 503]; [For opus of
the sexual act, see Adams 1982: 157, Vioque 2002 ad Martial 7.18.5-6]; FORIS — adv.; LASSUS —
*pred.; NOCTU — abl. of time when or within which [A&G 423]; ADVENIT — historical pres. ind.
of a habitual act (A&G 469); [the indignant contrast betw. ego censeo and ille … advenit … arat …
deserit lends support for the reading of 870-72 proposed above]
874: ARAT … DESERIT — *asyndeton [A&G 323b]; INCULTUM — *proleptic/pregnant adj.: “abandons his
own (so as to leave it) untilled” [A&G 392]
875: ETIAM — see ad 871; CORRUPTUS — *pred.; SUOM = suum; [As Hurka notes, Art.’s repeated
concern about her son’s education (851-53) further reflects the gender inversions in Dem.’s household:
she has assumed the typical father’s moral/educational duties as well as his financial authority]
876: SEQUERE = 2nd sg. pres. imperative; HAC = adv.; MODO — adv. (but here to be scanned with long final
–ō); faciam ut opprimas hominem ipsum manifesto; FAXO = 1st sg. fut. ind. act. [cf. ad 130-32];
MANUFESTO = manifesto; OPPRIMAS — *consecutive/result clause introduced by facio [A&G 568],
w/o ut [A&G 565, 268 ad fin.; Woodcock 130: *parataxis]
877: MAVELIM = malim (quod … mavelim — *rel. clause of characteristic [A&G 535a, Bennett 1910: 288]);
MANEDUM — [dum employed as an enclitic with imperatives and interjections: G&L 269]: “hold on a
moment,” “wait a second”; [STAGING: with manedum, Par. establishes partial contact with Dem.’s on-
going convivium. It is clear that Par. has turned toward Dem.’s house and now has the party in view,
while Art. has yet to turn to follow him (877c) and thus has not yet caught sight of her husband. The
following lines offer a useful, and quite funny, scenic transition while also providing a good indication
of Dem.’s erotic activities throughout the early portion of this scene]
878-79: si forte conspexeris virum tuum accubantem cum corona amplexum amicam, si videas, (eum)
cognoscere possis?; POSSIS … SI CONSPEXERIS … SI VIDEAS — fut. less vivid *condition with double
protasis (On the use of the pfct. subj. here: Woodcock 197 and cf. ad 20); TUOM = tuum; CUM
CORONA = coronatum (Gray); (VIRUM) ACCUBANTEM … AMPLEXUM — acc. + partic. after vb. of
perception (cf. ad 23-24); AMPLEXUM — pfct. dep. partic. employed for pres.; [The length and
complexity of Par.’s question is humorous, since the audience can already see that this is precisely what
Dem. is currently up to, but also generates a final touch of suspense before the long-awaited comic
“reveal”]
880: POSSUM ECASTOR — as usual in Latin, an affirmative response is indicated by repeating a significant
element in the question (often the vb.: A&G 336): “I most certainly can!” (Art.’s use of the ind., vs. the

Commentary: V.ii
subj. employed by Par., is likely emphatic); EM TIBI HOMINEM — “here’s your man!” [G&L 343.1 n.
2; Lindsay 137]; [STAGING: Par. makes a show of “revealing” the on-going convivium of Dem. and
Argyr.]; PAULLISPER = paulisper
881: AUCUPEMUS — hortatory subj. (A&G 439); CLANCULUM — Lindsay 85; QUAM REM GERANT —
*indir. question [A&G 573]
882: QUID MODI = quem modum (partitive gen. with impers. pron.: A&G 346a3) — i.e., quem finem;
AMPLEXANDO — gerund (dat. of ref. [A&G 505, Woodcock 207.4c]: cf. 169)
nd
883: FATERE — 2 sg. pres. ind.; ME … CORRUPTUM ( ESSE) — indir. disc. after fateor; [Note the echo of
875 and cf. ad 412]; EX — on account of, by reason of, through; HUIUS — (i.e., Phil.) obj. gen. with
amore [A&G 348]
884-85: AUDIN = audis + ne; AUDIN QUID AIT — ind. for subj. in *indir. question [A&G 575c]: in this
common expression, it might be that quid was taken to have the force of [id] quod; AUDIO — the
brevity of Art.’s response, while idiomatic (cf. ad 880), is somewhat ominous; egon ut non surripiam
domo uxori meae pallam quam habet in deliciis atque ad te deferam; EGON = ego + ne; EGON UT
NON … SURRUPIAM … ATQUE … DEFERAM — subj. in a repudiating/exclamatory question with ut

(A&G 462a, Bennett 1910: 191; cf. ad 93): “Am I not to …?”, “Me not …!” — others regard these as
*consecutive clauses dependent upon non conduci possum (886), with nĕ (egon) as an affirmative
particle related to nē/ναί/νή (Warren 1881: 53-54: cf. Lindsay 101-02); UXORI MEAE — dat. of
disadvantage/sep. (“from my wife,” “my wife’s”) [A&G 381]; SURRUPIAM = surripiam; pallam
quam habet in deliciis — the cloak that she particularly likes, her favorite cloak (habeo in the sense of
“hold,” “consider”); IN DELICIIS — a comically florid expression (cf. Cic.’s mocking use in In Verrem
2.4.3: ab ea civitate quae tibi una in amore atque in deliciis fuit); AD TE — at 884b Dem. turns away
from Argyr. to address Phil.; DEFERAM — “Defero and degero are almost technical terms for
conveying presents to a mistress” (Gray); [The scenario referred to here is played out in a much more
vivid form in the opening scenes of Men.; Hurka cites further examples from the Roman fabula togata
(“comedy in Roman attire,” with Roman characters and themes)]
886: NON … CONDUCI POSSUM — sc. ut non surripiam pallam atque ad te deferam; POSSUM — note the ind.
of the modal vb. in a context where we might otherwise expect the subj. (“I couldn’t …”): Woodcock
125; VITA — abl. of price [A&G 416] (vita uxoris annua presumably implies the tempting promise
that Dem.’s wife will die within a year’s time [“si quis mihi spondeat fore ut mea uxor intra annum
moriatur” — Gray]; others take it as a comic *paraprosdokian: “I couldn’t be led to do it even if my
wife were to live another [whole] year!” For the general sentiment, cf. ad 21-22)
887: CENSEN = censes + ne; illum hodie primum assuetum esse in ganeum ire; ILLUM … ASSUETUM
ESSE — acc. + inf. following censes; ASSUETUM ESSE IRE — i.e., to have developed the habit of
going; ganea (1f.) — a common eating house; place of debauchery: DeFelice 2001: 20-21 (the 2n.
form is rare and early)

Commentary: V.ii
888-89: (id) quod ancillas meas (facere) suspicabar; (ID) QUOD — “a thing which” (suppressed antecedent:
A&G 307c); ancillas (facere) — acc. + inf. following suspicabar; [alternatively: QUOD as
*limiting/cognate acc. (A&G 390c): quod ancillas meas suspicabar = “with regard to which/wherein I
used to suspect my maids” — Bennett 1914: 247-51, Gray ad loc.]; INSONTIS (fem. acc. pl.) — *pred.
(“I used to torture the poor things, innocent as they were/for all their innocence”); CRUCIABAM —
i.e., in interrogating them about the theft; [The revelation of Dem.’s past transgressions against his
wife (note the pointed use of the impf.) presents yet another surprise twist but helps to cement the
audience’s understanding of his character. See, however, ad 95]
890: DARI VINUM — acc. + inf. following iube; [As Hurka notes, the mss. dare is quite defensible (sc.
pueros/servos following iube)]; IAM DUDUM FACTUM EST QUOM — i.e., “it’s been a long while since”
(cf. ad 251); * QUOM = cum (+ ind.); QUOM PRIMUM — “when [i.e., since] for the first time …”
(Lindsay 136)
891: PUERE: voc. sg. (A&G 50a); AB SUMMO (LECTO) — beginning from the uppermost couch (Lindsay 83).
The Roman triclinium had three couches (cf. above ad 776-77): the uppermost (lectus summus — along
the right wall, as one looked into the room), middle (lectus medius), and lowest (lectus imus — along
the left wall). Similarly, each couch had three positions (summus, medius, imus), again running from
right to left, with guests reclining in a slanting fashion, propped on their left elbows and facing a
common central table (ill. 6). (Note: the couches were not actually positioned at different levels: the
designations summus and imus are metaphorical.) Dem. orders the slave to serve “from the top” — i.e.,
beginning with Argyr., who is dining on one side of Dem. (the “upper” side), while Phil. is seated on
the other (in imo).147 The uppermost couch was not a place of honor (cf. Plut. Brut. 34.4148 — for one
thing, the guests on this couch had the least comfortable perspective for any entertainment that might
be offered) but serving did commence from the uppermost couch (e.g., Pers. 771, Lucil. Sat. 5.222,
Cic. Senec. 46), likely out of a sense that things should proceed from the guests’ left toward their right
(the propitious side).149 In having Dem. command that the serving commence ab summo, P. alludes to a
147
In his analyses of convivial scenes in Pompeian wall-painting, Roller 2006: 139-53 notes the consistency with which
female companions are portrayed as seated “below” their partners (i.e., to the left, from the viewer’s perspective). The degree to
which these paintings might reflect Greek rather than Roman convention remains unclear, however: note the typical position of
female companions in sympotic scenes in Attic vase-painting. While line 891 establishes the relative position of the three actors,
it should not be taken to imply that they recline as in an actual triclinium: see below and intro. to V.i.
148
“… as the guests were already taking their places at the feast, Favonius came, fresh from his bath. Brutus protested that he
had come without an invitation, and ordered the servants to conduct him to the uppermost couch; but Favonius forced his way
past them and reclined upon the central one” (B. Perrin, tr.). At Sen. Dial. 2.10.2, an overly sensitive guest feels slighted when
being accorded a place on the lectus imus (“non in medio me lecto sed in imo conlocauit”): again, the lectus medius is the goal.
149
Cf. Powell 1988 ad Cic. Senec. 46. The most honored guest was seated imus in medio (at the far left of the middle couch:
the so-called locus consularis/praetorius), with the host seated nearest to him on the couch adjacent (summus in imo). This
arrangement would have been impractical, if not impossible, to portray in the Roman theater, given the requisites of staging and
the small number of actors involved in such scenes. The terms summus, medius, imus have no meaning in a Grk. context, where

Commentary: V.ii
common practice, but does so mainly to set up the following joke (ab infumo); TU — i.e., Phil.;
INFUMO = infimo; AB INFUMO — from below; alluding to Phil.’s position “below” his, but, as Hurka
notes, with a punning secondary sense (sc. fauce [cf. 41]: i.e., a deep, passionate kiss): like the
symposiasts on Attic vase paintings, Dem. is luxuriating in the delight of being served on all sides;
[There is a possible secondary allusion here to fellatio. In the Greek tradition, in which actors were
equipped with large phalloi, such a joke would have been reinforced through the use of gesture (cf.,
e.g., Rud. 428-29); whether P. here translates such a joke into a Roman context is impossible to know:
we cannot be at all certain that a Greek source existed for this scene (cf. intro. to V.i). In any case, the
bawdy reference is ignored by Phil., who proceeds to kiss Dem]
892: [STAGING: Dem. and Phil. kiss]; UT — exclamatory (+ ind.) [L&S s.v. IA2]; CARNUFEX = carnifex (cf.
ad 482); CAPULI DECUS — “fit only to grace a coffin” (Gray) [obj. gen.: A&G 348]; cf. 655: decus
popli and see Lilja 1965: 67-68
893: ANIMAM (TUAM) — acc. of exclamation [A&G 397d] with edepol; ALIQUANTO — abl. of degree of
difference [A&G 414]; QUAM (ANIMAM) UXORIS MEAE
894-906: cf. Lindsay 1904: 49 on the “curious disarrangement” of this passage in the Palatine mss., which, he
suggests, could represent evidence of a curtailed revival text of the play (retractatio) produced in the
first century BC. Hurka (288-90) presents the lines in the order: 894-95, 902-03, 899, 896-98, 900-01,
904-06; I follow Danese and de Melo in preserving the traditional order.
894: AMABO — “please” (cf. ad 692); AN — i.e., “are you jesting, or does your wife’s breath truly stink?”:
cf. L&S s.v. I.D: “The first part of the interrogation is freq. not expressed, but is to be supplied from the
context; in this case, an begins the interrog., ‘or,’ ‘or rather,’ ‘or indeed,’ ‘or perhaps’ (but it does not
begin an absolute, i.e. not disjunctive, interrog.)”; cf. 717 and 837; FOETET = fetet; [STAGING: the
coyness of this question suggests that Phil. delivers her line after having noticed Art. spying on the
proceedings (cf. Sharrock 2009: 284). Such a staging lays the ground for her coy interaction with Dem.
at the end of this scene. Comm. have been troubled by the seeming contrast in the presentation of Phil.
here and in III.i and III.iii; cf., however, 511-20 and see Porter 2016: 314-15, 326-27, 333-34];
nautea — an evil-smelling liquid: bilge-water? vomit? [See, most recently, A. Gitner, Glotta 92 (2016)
110-30.]
895: MALIM, SI NECESSUM SIT — pres. contrary to fact *condition with pres. subj. (A&G 517e, Woodcock
197); OSCULARIER = osculari
896: AIN = ais + ne (cf. ad 812); AIN TANDEM — an indignant interjection: “Is that so?!”; NE (ναί/νή) —
affirmative particle (truly, indeed, verily): cf. ad 409; ISTUC = istud; CUM MALO MAGNO TUO — abl.
of attendant circumstances (“to your great harm”) [Woodcock 43.5(ii)]
guests reclined on couches parallel to the four walls of the andron (the Grk. equivalent of the triclinium: ill. 8), and where the
host and guest of honor were allocated the couches on either side of the single doorway (to the left and right, respectively:
Vickers n.d. 3).

Commentary: V.ii
897: IN — against (+ acc.); SINE — “never mind,” “very well”; REVENIAS — jussive subj. [A&G 439];
st
MODO — adv. [+ jussive subj.]; FAXO = 1 sg. fut. ind. act. [cf. ad 130-32] (with following
*consecutive clause: “I’ll see to it that…”); UT SCIAS — *consecutive clause [A&G 568]; [This use
of ut following faxo is unique in P. (one expects *parataxis after this archaic form): de Melo 2007a:
180 and 340]
898: QUID … SIT — *indir. question [A&G 573]; PERICLI = periculi — partitive gen. with quid (“how
dangerous a thing it is to …”) [A&G 346a3; Bennett 1914: 27]; vitium dicere alicui — to insult,
abuse someone verbally (a striking periphrasis for maledicere); the inf. supplies the subject of sit [cf.
Bennett 1910: 412-13]
899: ECASTOR — Phil. offers a mocking echo of Art.’s angry oaths (cf. ad 864) in employing her feminine
wiles to goad on Dem., only to have the oath immediately reclaimed by Art.; QUID AIS — cf. ad 104
900: ECQUID (adv. use of *limiting/cognate acc. [A&G 390c; further examples at Bennett 1910: 475-76]) —
introducing a question: “do you in any respect/at all …”; EGONE ILLAM? — i.e., quaerisne utrum ego
illam amem annon? (a repudiating question: cf. ad 93)
901: QUID — “what about …?” (OLD s.v. quis 13): cf. 393, 661; *QUOM = cum (+ ind.); PERIISSE
(ILLAM) — note the use of the pfct.: “I wish that she was dead and gone”; UT — comp. adv. (i.e., to
judge by what he says) [L&S s.v. IB4a]
902-03: NE (ναί/νή) — affirmative particle (truly, indeed, verily): cf. ad 409; ILLA — sc. verba (or generic
neut.); fundito — to pour forth, hurl (abuse); SI … REDIERIT — the virtual equivalent of a temporal
clause (cf. 837); OSCULANDO — gerund (instr. abl.) [A&G 507]; POTISSUMUM = potissimum (adv.);
[Transposing 902-03 to follow 895 provides a somewhat sharper context for this couplet: see ad 894-
906]
904: TALOS — tali were employed in sets of four and differed from modern dice in being oblong and rounded
at both ends. As a result they had only four playing surfaces, marked I, III, IV, and VI, with I and VI on
opposite sides (Ramsay 1901: 497-98); UT … IACIAMUS — *final clause [A&G 531]; MAXUME =
maxime (“absolutely,” “certainly”)
905: TE, PHILAENIUM, MIHI ATQUE UXORIS MORTEM (sc. opto) — Dem. announces the stakes for which he will
cast the dice (i.e., “for me, Phil. — and my wife’s death!”) — in this instance, less the practical
statement of a wager than the playful expression of a wish (as in the modern “she loves me, she loves
me not”): cf. ad 780 and Capt. 69-76 and see Lindsay 29; [Hurka (ad 904) and others argue that this
throw of the dice is to establish who will assume the role of magister/rex bibendi (master of the feast),
but this assumes a realism that is not supported by our scene: cf. ad 779 and 935. (As Hurka notes,
Dem. has already assumed the role of host/master of the feast at 889-91; consider, moreover, the
specific rationale for Argyr.’s command in 904.) The focus here is on the amorous misbehavior of
Dem., not the particulars of setting the convivium in motion]; MIHI — dat. of ref./advantage [A&G
376]; VENERIUM — *pred.; iactus Venerius — in gaming with tali, this was the highest throw,
where all four dice displayed different numbers (see Gray ad loc., citing Mart. 14.14, and, further,

Commentary: V.ii
Antolín on Tib. 3.6.10): Dem. employs a generalizing neut. sg.; [The actual casting of the dice was
likely mimed (cf. Marshall 2006: 70): P. is interested in the humorous personal interactions in this
scene and the comic potential of the licentious Dem., not the realistic portrayal of Greco-Roman dining
practices (cf. intro. to V.i). A similar scene was phps. presented in Diphilus’ Synoris: F 74 K.-A.]
906: PUERI, PLAUDITE — it was clearly a duty of the serving staff to help sustain the jocular mood of such
gatherings: cf. Petr. Satyr. 36.4, 50.1; DATE — sc. bibere (a poetic construction: Lindsay 74);
CANTHARO — abl. of source [A&G 403.1] (the regular construction with bibo, although others take the
abl. as instr.); [The Greek cantharus is a large tankard associated, in particular, with the god
Dionysus and the heroes of old (cf. Athen. 11.473d-74e) that would be passed among the guests:
elegant examples have been found in the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum (ill. 9), and illustrations
appear in Roman art. Several passages in P. demonstrate an awareness of the paraphernalia of the
Greek symposium; many of his audience, however, likely thought only of a fancy large Greek cup: see,
further, Zagagi 2012: 28]; MULSUM — for a recipe for this sweetened wine, see Col. 12.41
907: SI NON — “With si non [as opposed to nisi] the apodosis is only stated as true in the (negative) case
supposed, but as to other cases no statement is made” — i.e., there is greater emphasis on the negation
of the vb. in the *conditional clause [A&G 525a.2]; fullonia — the fuller’s trade, fulling; [The
witticism involves either: (1) a rather obscure pun on durare (= both “to endure” and “to harden or
thicken cloth” [as would a fuller]), or (2) a reference to the fortitude required to endure the stench of
the fulling process (which regularly employed urine and other noxious substances as agents: Flohr
2013, esp. 184-88). Attempts to detect an obscene pun on durare (in the sense of “to make hard”) seem
somewhat strained (see, further, Bertini and Hurka ad loc.), but the point of the joke remains uncertain]
908: NON MIRANDUM EST — impers. use of the pass. periphrastic (sc. te non posse durare) [A&G 500.3,
Woodcock 204]; optimum est invadi in oculos (ei); IN OCULOS (sc. Demaeneto) — a partic. vicious
form of assault (in + acc. of hostile motion: Lindsay 11; OLD s.v. A.9); INVADI — impers. pass. inf.
(“an assault to be made” — a virtual equivalent of te invadere); OPTUMUM = optimum; OPTUMUM
EST — impers., with invadi in oculos as subject; [Par. continues to fan the flames of Art.’s
indignation]
909: [STAGING: Art. steps forward and interrupts Dem.’s amorous play by standing over him in a threatening
fashion (925); see, however, Hurka ad 924-25, with my n. ad loc.]; ISTAEC = ista (neut. pl.); CUM
TUO MAGNO MALO — abl. of attendant circumstances [Woodcock 43.5(ii)]: cf. 896
910: INVOCASTI = invocavisti (the ref. here and in 909 [pol vivam] must be to 905); ACCERSERE =
arcessere — inf. of *purpose after vb. of motion (A&G 460c; Lindsay 74; Bennett 1910: 366, 418-19);
[STAGING: this line suggests an extravagant gesture of despair on the part of Dem. (Gray)]; [In 910
and 911 Par. again plays true to type: cf., e.g., Ter. Phorm. 1026-28]
911: MATER, SALVE — Argyr. immediately begins to play the innocent, dutiful son; SAT SALUTIS — the
curtness of Art.’s response (“enough of your ‘greetings’!”) suggests her anger; MORTUOST = mortuus
est

Commentary: V.ii
911b-919: [STAGING: Par.’s lengthy aside is humorous and provides a sense of the characters’ actions
following the conclusion of the plot, but it seems obtrusive: having built up so carefully to Art.’s
indignant confrontation with her husband, the playwright here leaves them “frozen” for the space of
some eight lines while the minor character Par. bids his adieu (see further Lowe 1992: 173, Porter
2016: 326-28). This gap must have been covered by some form of comic “business” on the part of
Dem., Argyr., and Phil.]
912: TEMPUS EST + *prolative inf. (as in Engl. “it is time to …”) [A&G 504 n. 2; Bennett 1910: 417]; ME —
refl.
913: IBO … DICAM — the two clauses are joined by *asyndeton [A&G 323b]; MANDATA (ITA) FACTA
(ESSE) — acc. + inf. after dicam; UT — correl. adv. (with ita understood) [A&G 323g];
VOLUERIT — subj. in subord. clause in indir. disc. [A&G 580]
914: UT DECUMBAMUS — *jussive noun clause [A&G 563] (decumbo — recline at a banquet: i.e., eat);
SUADEBO — sc. ei (i.e., Diabolo); DUM + ind. — “while” (here P. does not use the more precise *fut.
ind. in a temporal clause); LITIGANT — McCarthy 2000: 95 notes how frequently this term is
employed in association with the uxores dotatae of Roman comedy
915-16: POSTE = post (adv.); HUC — adv.; ADDUCAM — sc. Diabolum; AD — “to the home/establishment
of”; UT … DET — *final clause [A&G 531]; EI — i.e., Clearetae; IN PARTEM HAC AMANTI UT
LICEAT EI POTIRIER — i.e., ut liceat ei [i.e., Diabolo] amanti potiri hac [i.e., Philaenio] in partem; UT
LICEAT — *final clause presenting a stipulation [A&G 531, Bennett 1910: 264: cf. ad 230];
POTIRIER = potiri — to possess, be master of [with acc. or abl.]; AMANTI — *pred. (“in his passion,”
“longing for her as he does”); IN PARTEM = pro parte — for his share, in turn (cf. 679)
917-18: Argyrippus poterit exorari ut sinat se hac frui cum illo alternas noctes; SPERO — parenthetical; UT
SINAT — *jussive noun clause with exorari [A&G 563]; SESE = se (refl. referring back to the subject
of the main vb., Argyr. [A&G 300.2]); SESE … FRUI — acc. + inf. dependent upon sino; CUM
ILLO — abl. of accompaniment (“along with that other fellow” [Diab.]) [A&G 413]; HAC — i.e.,
Philaenio; ALTERNAS NOCTES — acc. of extent of time [A&G 423] (“on [throughout] alternate
nights”); [Par.’s plan, introduced so unexpectedly here, recalls the similar and, many feel, quite
problematic plan announced at Ter. Eun. 1060ff. (cf. Truc. 958-63 and, for real-life (?) instances, the
anonymous female slave of Lys. 4 and the Neaira of ps.-Dem. 59.26 and 29: Fantham 2015: 94); cf.
Legrand 1917: 144. ◉Reichel 2000: 381 stresses the gratuitous manner in which the motif is introduced
in our passage, which he characterizes as a Knalleffekt (“bombshell,” “surprise plot-twist”). But the
absurdity of the ardent Argyr. of III.iii here being presented as a willing “shareholder” in Phil.’s
services is consonant with, and reinforces, the contradiction betw. the loving Phil. of that earlier scene
and the much more manipulative courtesan presented here (894, 920-21, 930, 939-40): both lovers
become implicated in the play’s farcical conclusion. (For Argyr.’s other contributions to the farcical
tone of this scene, see 911, 931, 938.) In the end, Par.’s proposal merely sets in place the arrangement
which Argyr. and Phil. had originally hoped to achieve: Porter 2016: 326-28. It also provides a nice bit

Commentary: V.ii
of poetic justice: the high-handed and indignant Diab. of Act I, who was so concerned with being given
what he was owed and with asserting his control over Cleareta’s household, is now reduced to begging
to be allowed to have some part in the concluding celebrations — after he has paid, of course (Porter
loc. cit.). Par.’s plan is utterly implausible, however, if Argyr. is in fact the obsessive lover of I.ii-iii
(lines 233-36: see introduction to I.ii): in that case the play begins to take on the character, not of a
farce, but an incoherent series of comic sketches. Contrast Hurka ad loc., who argues that Par.
concludes that such an arrangement would be reasonable based on Argry.’s arrangment with Dem.];
NI IMPETRO — i.e., if I don’t bring this about, achieve this; NI IMPETRO … PERDIDI (919) — the use
of the pres. and pfct. ind. is vivid (cf. ad 243).
919: REGEM — used comically of Diab. as Par.’s patron/meal-ticket (Fraenkel 2007: 127-33, Damon 1997: 16-
17); [Lowe 1989 highlights the typical Plautine parasite’s obsession with food: cf. Damon 1997: 23-
29. In this regard, Par. might be regarded as something of an outlier. Lines 918-19 suggest that this
impression is in part due to the restricted role that he is accorded in the play]; EX AMORE — abl. of
origin/cause [A&G 404]; HOMINI (i.e., Diab.) — *dat. of possession [A&G 373]; [“So great is the
passion that is enkindled by love in that fellow” — a comically grandiose exit-line]; [STAGING — exit
Par. via Wing A]
920: quid tibi receptio est hunc virum meum ad te? (addressed to Phil.) — “On what grounds do you receive
this husband of mine into your establishment?” “What business do you have receiving …?”; QUID —
wherefore? why? on what grounds? (cf. ad 6); TIBI — dat. of ref. [A&G 376], providing the subject
of the verbal noun receptio; RECEPTIO — the act of receiving (governs the acc. hunc virum meum)
[“… verbals in -tio formed directly from the verb [accessio, aditio, curatio, tactio, etc.] can retain their
verbal force and govern the case of the verb itself.” — Gray (A&G 388d n.2; G&L 330 n. 3)]; AD —
“to the home/establishment of”; POL … QUIDEM — Phil. objects that she has been far from a willing
participant in her dealings with Dem.
921: MISERAM — *pred. (“unhappy as I am,” “in my misery” — in such a sentence, me miseram is somewhat
stronger than Engl. “poor me”); ODIO — instr. abl. [A&G 409]: cf. 446, Pers. 48a, Rud. 944 — but
see below; enico = eneco — to kill off, kill completely; torment, torture, plague to death; [ODIO
ENICAVIT — given the freq. association of the senex amator with foul breath and disgusting odors (e.g.,
Merc. 574-76: Christenson 2016: 218xx), it is tempting to take odio here as “disgust/revulsion” rather
than “annoying/revolting behavior.” Cf. Bacch. 1152, Most. 705 (where, however, odio is dat.)];
SURGE — the mot juste for rising from bed or from a dining couch (in the latter case, esp. when quitting
the banquet): cf. ad 776; AMATOR — a term of mocking abuse when employed of the comic senex
nd
(Lilja 1965: 13, 68); I— 2 sg. pres. imperative act. of eo (the first of five such commands);
SURGE, AMATOR, I DOMUM — Art.’s repeated refrain (cf. 923, 924, 925, 940) can be paralleled in other
plays (Men. 621-25, Pers. 471-79, 482-90, Rud. 1212-26, 1269-79 — cf. Aris. Peace 185-94, Wealth
833-41). Here, however, it offers a distinctly ironic echo of the ritual exhortation to the newly-married
bride and groom to make their way to the marriage chamber (e.g., Cat. 61.90-91, 192-93; 62.1-4): Dem.

Commentary: V.ii
is cast as the doddering groom in an inverted marriage ceremony, destined for a particularly unhappy
wedding night (cf. Sharrock 2009: 283, Christenson 2016: 224xx). This motif is employed in a
somewhat different fashion at the conclusion of Bacch. (1193-1206) and figures prominently in Cas.
922: NULLUS SUM — “I’m utterly done for,” “I’m a dead man”: for nullus as an emphatic negative (“not,” “not
at all” —comical/colloquial), see Gray ad 408; IMMO ES … NEQUISSUMUS — Art. “corrects” Dem.’s
statement either by interpreting nullus as a regular complement of sum, which she amends (“No, don’t
deny it: you are … the most worthless of all people”: cf. Merc. 164), or (Hurka) by taking Dem.’s
nullus sum in the sense of nequam sum (“I am worthless/good for nothing”) and substituting the superl.
adj.; NE NEGA — ne + pres. imperative (cf. ad 377): parenthetical; NEQUISSUMUS = nequissimus
923: ETIAM — still, still now; CUCULUS — the cuckoo, notorious for laying its eggs in another bird’s nest;
also associated with folly and sloth: see Lilja 1965: 34 and Hurka ad loc. for other associations
924: HARIOLARE — 2nd sg. pres. ind. dep.; VERA HARIOLARE — in predicting his own woe, Dem. is an
accurate prophet: i.e., the comical display of misery that Dem. is performing (924a) will soon be all too
real (cf. ad 579)
925: APSCEDE = abscede; APSCEDE ERGO — Hurka follows Bertini in arguing that 925a is directed at Phil. or
Argyr., with whom he must negotiate in order to come to his feet: the use of ergo would seem to argue
against this view, nor does it make dramatic/comic sense to have the desperate Dem. break contact with
Art. at this point; the modern assumption that Dem. is reclining as at traditional Roman convivium has
led to a misinterpretation of the staging: cf. my introduction to V.i; PAULLULUM = paululum (adv.);
ISTUC — adv.
926: OPSECRO= obsecro; nunc meministi me uxorem tuam esse: Art. picks up Dem.’s use of the vocative
uxor and flings it back in his teeth; NUNC — emphatic by position; ME ESSE — acc. + inf. following
meministi
927: MODO — adv. ; *QUOM = cum (+ ind.) [the impf. is vivid/emphatic]; IN ME — cf. ad 897; odium
eram, non uxor tua — cf. 900-901; ODIUM = odiosa — i.e., a hated thing, a source of hatred or
disgust (Lilja 1965: 39)
928: TOTUS — a *pred. adj. in the nom. where Engl. prefers an adv. (“altogether,” “entirely”) [A&G 290];
QUID TANDEM? — “‘did you really mean it?’ i.e., were you in earnest when you answered Phil.’s
question in v. 894? Quid tandem expresses … aroused curiosity” (Gray, citing Langen); FOETETNE —
note the delayed introduction of –ne, emphasizing the vb. [A&G 332]; FOETET = fetet
929: MURRAM — cognate acc. (A&G 390a); IAM — emphatic/indignant (“even,” “indeed,” “really”);
SURRUPUISTI = surripuisti (sc. mihi); QUAM … DARES — rel. clause of purpose [A&G 531.2] (cf.
884-86)
930: ECASTOR — cf. ad 899; QUI — particle (cf. ad 505); promisit (se) surrepturum (esse) pallam tibi;
SURRUPTURUM = surrepturum; (se) surrepturum (esse) — acc. + fut. inf. after promitto (A&G 580c
n.): on the omission of the acc. subject, see Lindsay 73; TIBI — dat. of disadvantage/sep. (“from
you”) [A&G 381]

Commentary: V.ii
931: NON TACES — on the pres. ind. with non in a disguised command, see Bennett 1910: 24-25, Holford-
Strevens 2010: 332 (citing Lodge 1924-1933: s.v. non III.C.2.c); DISSUADEBAM — the impf. here has
a comically weaselly tone (“I kept trying to …”) [Bennett 1910: 31-32]; BELLUM FILIUM — acc. of
exclamation [A&G 397d] (“what a fine son”), employed sarcastically (Lilja 1965: 15)
932: aequumne est patrem istos mores liberis largiri?; ISTOSCIN = istos + ne; AEQUOM EST = aequum est
(impers.); PATREM … LARGIRIER — acc. + inf. with aequom est; LIBERIS — generalizing pl. (cf.
867); LARGIRIER = largiri; [On Art.’s concern for her son’s moral education, cf. ad 875]
933: NILNE TE PUDET? — nihil (nil) is often employed as a strengthened form of non (“not at all”) [L&S I.B.1]:
“do you feel no shame whatsoever?” (a *limiting acc.: A&G 390, Woodcock 13(iv)). Here, however,
there is a suggestion (on which Dem. plays in his response) that pudet represents a (relatively rare) use
of the personal vb. pudeo, with nil as the subject; SI ALIUD NIL SIT — “if there were nothing else”
(protasis of a contrary-to-fact *condition [A&G 517e, Woodcock 197], followed by a pres. ind.: cf.
318-19, and see ◉Rotheimer 1876: 44-45, Bennett 1910: 274); SI — for etiamsi (◉Rotheimer 1876: 6);
TUI ME … PUDET — pudet + acc. of person who experiences shame; + obj. gen. [A&G 354.b] of the
thing of which one is ashamed, or of the person before whose judgment one feels shame; TUI — gen.
of tu (obj. gen. with pudet): cf. Ter. Adelph. 683; [Hurka notes the quick-wittedness with which Dem.
echoes Art.’s use of nil as an emphatic negative, but employs it in a concrete sense to provide a
heightened sense of his contrition. McCarthy 2000: 112 notes the frequency with which pudor is
associated with the repentant husbands of Roman comedy]
934: uxor te rapit e lustris, cuculum cano capite; CANO CAPITE — abl. of description [A&G 415] (with
cuculum); CUCULUM — in apposition with te (on the force of this metaphor, cf. ad 923); LUSTRIS —
as Hurka notes, the context draws upon both the literal and metaphorical sense of lustra (wood or
thicket vs. brothel).
935: LICET MANERE — sc. mihi; DUM CENEM MODO — “just until I might dine” (dum/dummodo + subj.
implying intention [A&G 553]); DUM … MODO = dummodo (tmesis: G&L 726); [As Hurka notes,
in a Greek context, dining should have preceded the concerted drinking and the party games that are
clearly under way at 889ff. (cf. Lowe 1995: 29): Dem.’s failure to obtain dinner combines with his
failed amatory ambitions to present a picture of his thorough humiliation. (These two conjoined themes
are played out at greater length, and with greater sophistication, in Cas.) Dem.’s request here is absurd,
both in terms of the relevant social conventions and as a strategy for dealing with his wife — but it
provides a great set-up line]
936: (SIC)UT DIGNUS ES — correl. adv. [A&G 323g]; MAGNUM MALUM — neut. acc. (obj. of cenabis: “a
heap of trouble,” “a feast of woe” — here, however, it is doubtful that it would be taken in the sense of
“a beating” [cf. ad 43, 316], despite the similarities betw. the woeful Dem. and the typical comic slave
apprehended in some misdeed)
937: CUBANDUM EST (MIHI) — pass. periphrastic (impers.) [A&G 500.3; Woodcock 204]. Comm. note the
blending of both senses of cubo here (“recline at a banquet” and “go to bed”); IUDICATUM — masc.

Commentary: V.ii
acc. used predicatively with me (“already sentenced,” “condemned”: cf. Ter. Phorm. 334, Cic. Orat.
2.63.255, Livy 6.14); [Bertini suggests an echo of the ancient procedure known as manus iniectio
(employed against debtors): ni iudicatum facit, aut quis endo eo in iure vindicit, secum ducito. vincito
aut nervo aut compedibus. XV pondo ne minore. aut si volet maiore vincito (“If [the debtor] does not
satisfy the judgment, or no one in court offers himself as surety on his behalf, creditor may take
defaulter with him. He may bind him either in stocks or in fetters; he may bind him with weight not
less than 15 pounds, or with more if he shall so desire”) (Lex XII Tab. 3.3 [E.H. Warmington, tr.];
Mousourakis 2003: 137-38). Cf. Zagagi 1980: 108 and n. 10]
938: DICEBAM — here employed as a vb. of commanding or urging [Bennett 1910: 214] (note the weaselly
impf. once again, as at 931); NE … CONSULERES — *jussive noun clause [A&G 563]
939: MEMENTO — 2nd sg. *fut. imperative act. of memini [A&G 449.2a]; AMABO — “please” (cf. ad 692);
IUBEN = iubesne (addressed to Argyr.? Art.?) — as in 931, Dem. expresses his impatient
wish/command in the form of a pres. ind. (-ne in place of the expected nonne: cf. ad 424);
APSCEDERE = abscedere
940: PRIUS QUAM + ind. — Lindsay 133; A&G 551c; I IN CRUCEM — a common curse (“go onto a cross” —
i.e., “to Hell with you”)
941: Phil. wittily deflects Dem.’s curse by pretending to take it literally and correcting it; INTUS (adv.) — as
regularly in P., the space in which the on-stage action is to be imagined as occurring is utterly fluid: it
is clearly a private indoor affair into which Art. intrudes, but it is presented for the audience on the
street in front of Clear.’s establishment, as is implicitly acknowledged by Phil.’s response here (cf.
Lowe 1995: 24-25); POTIUS (adv.) — rather, instead; SEQUERE — 2nd sg. pres. imperative
(addressed to Argyr.); HAC — adv.; [Gray (citing Langen): “… Philaenium’s conduct in this last
scene is inconsistent with her previous character. So far her genuine love for Argyrippus has roused
sympathy; here she sinks to a common drab.” As evident already in III.i, the presentation of Phil.
involves the blending of two distinct comic types. Cf. Lowe 1992: 170-73, Bertini ad 930, Hurka ad
930-31, Porter 2016: 314-15, 326-27, 333-34]; EGO VERO SEQUOR — “I most certainly will!”; [941
precedes 940 in the mss.: the transposition presented here was first proposed by the 19th-C. scholar
Fleckeisen. Hurka defends the transmitted text, but the sequence of interactions is smoother with the
transposition, and it is difficult to imagine P. concluding the action of his play with the curse of 940b.
(In this regard, Pers. 856 provides no parallel — quite the opposite.) The same objection applies to
◉Zwierlein’s proposed bracketing of 941 (1992: 322 n. 716).]
[STAGING: Argyr. and Phil. exit into Clear.’s house; Art. and Dem. enter Dem.’s house.]

Commentary: Epilogue
EPILOGUE (942-47)
[Trochaic septenarii]150
[STAGING: the actors as a group, or the lead actor alone, return on stage to deliver the concluding lines.
The former is suggested by the attribution in the mss. (GREX), but it is likely that these lines were
presented by the same actor who spoke the prologue. In terms of staging and characterization, it would
be fitting if these words were delivered by the actor who had played Parasitus, who would here return to
the stage to provide a suitable “moral” for the play as the other four actors departed. Since, as chance
would have it, this same actor likely portrayed Libanus (the first character to speak once the play itself
was under way), a fitting symmetry between prologue and epilogue would result if each was associated,
via the identity of the actor, with one of the play’s prominent trickster figures.151]
[BIBLIOGRAPHY: Sharrock 2009: 258-69, Gunderson 2015: 190-91, Christenson 2016xx. On epilogues
more generally: Moore 1998b: 18-20, Slater 2000: 126-27, Sharrock 2009: 250-89.]
942-45: the play concludes with a “Saturnalian” moral worthy of the atmosphere of the Roman ludi (cf. Cas.
1012-18). The outlook presented here could, however, be employed in more reputable contexts: cf.
Cic.’s defense of the youthful Caelius at Cael. 39-43 (further, Dyck 2013 ad loc.).
942: SI — cf. Lindsay 113-14 on si-clauses following vbs. such as miror; (ALI)QUID — after si, num, nisi, ne
[A&G 310a]: adv. use of *limiting/cognate acc. [A&G 390c]: “at all,” “in some way”; CLAM
(prep.) — in secret from, without the knowledge of, unbeknownst to (+ acc.); facere volup — act
agreeably to, please (+ dat. of ref./interest); suo animo fecit quid volup = “acted at all in accordance
with his desires,” “pleased himself in some fashion”
943: NOVOM = novum (a new/strange thing; with mirum — “anything new or out of the ordinary”); SECUS
QUAM — differently than; SOLENT — sc. facere

944: INGENIO DURO … FIRMO PECTORE — abl. of description [A&G 415]
945: quin sibi faciat bene ubi quicque occasionis sit; QUIN … FACIAT — quin + subj. in a statement
involving litotes (nec quisquam est quin faciat = omnes faciunt) [A&G 559.1]: note how the quin
clause here replaces the expected *consecutive clause (following tam); UBI … SIT — subj. in
temporal ubi clause, by attraction to quin … faciat (on which it depends) [A&G 593]; QUICQUE
OCCASIONIS — any chance/opportunity whatsoever (partitive gen. employed idiomatically with neut.
150
All of P.’s works conclude with this meter: de Melo xcvi.
151
Cf. Marshall 2006: 196-97, but see Hurka ad 942-47, Moore 2012a: 72-75xx, Sharrock 2009: 252-55. It is in any case
unlikely that the final lines were spoken by Phil. (◉Zwierlein 1992: 322 n. 716 and 323 n. 717), who would most probably have
been played by one of the lesser members of the troupe (i.e., the one actor to be assigned only a single role: see above,
“Introduction: The Assignment of Roles”). There is no reliable ancient evidence for a cantor, distinct from the actors, who would
present the epilogue: Sharrock 2009: 252-53.

Commentary: Epilogue
pron.: A&G 346a3; Bennett 1914: 30) (Lindsay 50); facere bene — do a good action, benefit
somebody, impart benefits, treat well (+ dat. of ref./interest) [cf. fecit volup in 942]; SIBI — to be
taken both with faciat bene and, secondarily, ubi quicque occasionis sit
946: VOLTIS = vultis; DEPRECARI — to intercede on someone’s behalf, plead for mercy or pardon for
someone (+ dat.); HUIC SENI — *prolepsis; NE VAPULET — *jussive noun clause [A&G 563],
providing the content of the intercession; [The reference, here at the end of the play, to the possibility
of a character being beaten presents an extra-dramatic joke common in P.: not only does the fictional
character Dem. require the audience’s intercession but also the slave-actor playing the role of Dem.,
along with the rest of the troupe, all of whom will suffer if the audience does not appear to be
sufficiently pleased by their efforts. Cf. Gray ad loc.: “That the fear of beating was no idle threat will
be seen from Cist. [784-85] ornamenta ponent: postidea loci, qui deliquit, uapulabit, qui non deliquit
bibet. Cf. Amph. 85, Rud. 1418ff. The [actor/producer] himself was paid according to the success of the
piece. If it succeeded he was well paid, if it was a failure his fee was greatly reduced.” Whether all or
some of the performers were in fact slaves remains an open questiion. Cf. ad 3 and see Moore 1998b:
11-12; Marshall 2006: 87-89; Fitzgerald 2000: 43-44]
947: remur (id) posse impetrari; (ID) POSSE — acc. + inf. following remur; CLARUM — ringing, loud;
DATIS — pres. vs. the expected *fut. ind. (A&G 516a n.)

Appendix I
Principal Differences from the Text of de Melo (2011)152
Line Porter de Melo
15 ut vos, [item] <ut> alias ut vos, item <ut> alias
33 secl.
100 venari autem †rete iaculo† in medio mari reti autem iaculo venari in medio mari
149 ut ne id quidem me dignum esse ut ne id quidem, me dignum esse
241 portitorum port[it]orum
247 experiri † experi[ri]
252 secl.
308-09 LIB. audacter licet. LIB. audacter. <LEON.> licet,
<LEON.> sis amanti … sis amanti …
331 LIB. mitto. istuc <× ‒> quod affers <Libane>. LIB. mitto. istuc quod affers
360 †exasceatum† exasceato
480-83 secl.
547 †ulmorum† ulnorum
594 supremum supremam
656 †interior corporis† interior corporis
758 aut quod illa amica<e suae> amatorem praedicet aut quod illa amicai <eum> amatorem praedicet
780 quom cum
856 †frugi† frugi
870 censeo censeo.
873 opere operi
885 deferam? deferam
152
I have ignored the occasional difference in punctuation.

Appendix II
Mapping Asinaria: entrances and exits in the play
“Enter” = enter stage

“Exit” = exit stage
Wing A Demaenetus’ house Cleareta’s house Wing B

I.i Enter Lib & Dem (16)
Exit Lib (117)
Exit Dem (126)
I.ii Enter Diab (127)
I.iii Enter Clear (153)
Exit Clear (242)
Exit Diab (248)
II.i Enter Lib (249)

II.ii Enter Leon (267)
Exit Leon (380)
II.iii Enter Merc (381)
II.iv Enter Leon (407)
Exit Lib, Leon, & Merc (503)
III.i Enter Clear & Phil (504)

Exit Clear & Phil (543-44)
III.ii Enter Lib & Leon (545)
153
III.iii Enter Phil & Argyr (591)
Exit Lib & Leon (745)154 Exit Phil & Argyr (745)
IV.i Enter Diab & Par (746)

Exit Diab & Par (809)
IV.ii Enter Diab & Par (810)
Exit Diab (827) Exit Par (827)
V.i Enter Dem, Argyr, & Phil (828)

V.ii Enter Art & Par (851)
Exit Par (919)
Exit Art & Dem (941) Exit Argyr & Phil (941)
153
How Argyr. has come to be in Clear.’s establishment is left unexplained. At 329 he is said to be in Dem.’s home, while
the essential premise of III.i denies his presence in Clear.’s house at that point (cf. ad 329).
154
The manner of Lib. and Leon.’s exit is not indicated by the text, although it is clear that they do not enter Clear.’s
establishment. I have elected to have the two slaves enter Dem.’s house to generate symmetry with the exit of Argyr. and Phil.,
and to reinforce the sense of closure: at this point, the young master’s quest, and the slaves’ labors, have seemingly reached their
end. If the actor playing Leon. is also assigned Diab., however, an exit via Wing B would allow for a much quicker transition to
Act IV. This would lead to a still more imbalanced use of Wing B, however, and a more leaden dynamic in the deployment of
entrances and exits.

Appendix II
The above scheme assumes that both wings lead to the forum (see introduction: “Setting”) but presents Wing B in
particular as a mercantile space, where money matters. Note how the stolidly dutiful Merc. first appears via Wing A,
only to be drawn, after much verbal sparring, to Wing B — the wing associated with the conniving Dem., Diab.,
Leon., and Par.

Common Features of Plautus’ Language
• -o- for –e- (following v-):

ADVORSARI = adversari MAXUMAM = maximam
ADVORSUM = adversum MERITISSUMO = meritissimo
ADVORTE = adverte NEQUISSUMUS = nequissimus
INTERVORTAM = intervertam OPTUME = optime
VORSES = verses OPTUMUM = optimum
VORSUTUS = versutus PESSUMO = pessimo
VORTO = verto PROXUMO = proximo
VOSTER = vester SIMILLUMAE = simillimae
VOTO = veto
• -p(s)- for –b(s)- :
• -o- for –u- (following u/v-): APS = ab
DELINQUONT = delinquunt APSENTE = absente
SOLVONT = solvunt APSCEDE = abscede
VOLT = vult APSTERGEAS = abstergeas
VOLTIS = vultis APSTULI = abstuli
OPSCAEVAVIT = obscaevavit
• -os for –us (2nd decl. masc. nom. sg.): OPSECRO = obsecro
CORVOS = corvus OPSEQUI = obsequi
MORTUOS = mortuus OPSERVAVIT = observavit
NOVOS = novus OPSIDIONE = obsidione
SALVOS = salvus OPSTITIT = obstiti
SERVOS = servus OPTESTOR = obtestor
TUOS = tuus OPTINES = obtines
VIVOS = vivus
• quo- for cu- (esp. in oblique cases of qui/quis):
• -om for –um (2nd decl. masc./neut. sg.): QUOI = cui
AEQUOM = aequum QUOIQUAM = cuiquam
CLIVOM = clivum QUOIUS = cuius
DIVOM = divum (i.e., deum) QUOM = cum (conj.)
NOVOM = novum QUOMQUE = cum + que
RELIQUOM = reliquum QUOR = cur
SALVOM = salvum
SERVOM = servum • dropping of final –s
SUOM = suum
TUOM = tuum •often before es/est (accompanied by prodelision):
AGGRESSU’S = aggressus es
• -u- for –e- (esp. in gerunds/gerundives): DATURU’S = daturus es
INVENIUNDO = inveniendo DECEPTUST = deceptus est
FACIUNDUM = faciendum EMISSU’S = emissus es
REPERIUNDO = reperiendo IMPERIOSUST = imperiosus est
SUFFERUNDAS = sufferendas INTERMINATUST = interminatus est
SURRUPTURUM = subrepturum LOCUTU’S = locutus es
MORATUST = moratus est
• -u- for –i- : MORTUOST = mortuus est
CARNUFEX = carnifex OCCUPATUST = occupatus est
CLUENTIBUS = clientibus SIMILLIMUST = simillimus est
DISCUPLINA = disciplina SUAVIUST = suavius est
EXISTUMO = existimo USUST = usus est
INFUMO = infimo
LACRUMANTES = lacrimantes • also common with –ne:
LUBET = libet AIN = ais + ne
MAGNUFICUM = magnificum AUDIN = audis + ne
MANUFESTO = manifesto CENSEN = censes + ne
QUIDLUBET = quidlibet DAN = das + ne
SURRUPIAM = subripiam PATIERIN = patieris + ne
PERGIN = pergis + ne
• esp. in superlatives: SANUN = sanus + ne
ACERRUMUS = acerrimus VIDETIN = videtis + ne
AUDACISSUMAM = audacissimam VIN = vis + ne
DIGNISSUMI = dignissimi
EXFERTISSUMAS = effertissimas

• dropping of final –e (apocope): • contracted forms

ILL’ = ille ABALIENARIT = abalienaverit
QUIPP’ = quippe CONSCRIPSTI = conscripsisti
DISCESTI = discessisti
• esp. common with –ne: DIXTI = dixisti
EGON = ego + ne IMPETRASTI = impetravisti
HOCCIN = hoc + ne INVOCASTI = invocavisti
IUSSIN = iussi + ne OPTARO = optavero
NEQUEON = nequeo + ne PEIIERARIS = periuraveris
TEN = te + ne PERNEGARIS = pernegaveris
TUN = tu + ne
• archaic/uncontracted verb forms:
• unexpanded forms (esp. omission of -u- betw. stop and MAVELIM = malim
liquid — see ad 771): MAVOLET = malet
HERCLE= hercule MAVOLO = malo
PERICLUM = periculum SIES = sis
POPLUS = populus SIET = sit
ASSIET = adsit
• archaic noun/pronoun forms: POSSIES = possis
COLLEGĀĪ = collegae (gen. sg.) DICE = dic
IPSUS = ipse (masc. nom. sg.) FACE = fac
PUERE = puer (voc. sg.)
• sigmatic fut. ind., fut. pfct. ind., pfct. subj.
• archaic/retained suffixes with pronouns/demonstrative ASPEXIT = aspexerit
adjs. DIXIS = dixeris
MED = me FAXIS = feceris
TED = te FAXO = faciam
TUTE = tu LICESSIT = licuerit
HOCCINE / HOCCIN = hoc + ne OCCEPSIT = occeperit
HOSCE = hos
ILLAEC = illa • 1st conj. forms in –ass- (fut. pfct. ind., pfct. subj.)
ILLIC = ille NEGASSIM = negaverim
ILLUC = illud OCCUPASSIT = occupaverit
ISTAEC = ista SERVASSINT = servaverint
ISTANC = istam SUPPLICASSIS = supplicaveris
ISTOC = isto
ISTOSCINE = istos + ne • archaic/poetic verb forms
ISTUC = istud AIBAT = aiebat
ISTUNC = istum CONTINI = continui
INDIPISCET = indipiscetur
• deponent/passive present infinitives in -ier : MORIRI = mori
AUXILIARIER = auxiliari PERDUINT = perdant
EXORARIER = exorari SCIBAM = sciebam
OSCULARIER = osculari SCIBO = sciam
PERCONTARIER = percontari
VERBERARIER = verberari • particularly common
EXPERGISCIER = expergisci HĪC (adv.) — here, in this place
NANCISCIER = nancisci HUC (adv.) — to this place, hither
LARGIRIER = largiri ĪS = eis
POTIRIER = potiri MAGE = magis
MODŎ (adv.) — only, merely; just now [often
scanned as MODŌ]
NĒ (ναί/νή) — affirmative particle (truly, indeed)
QUĪ — archaic abl. of qui (all genders): often used
as adv — how, whereby (also freq. in
exclamations, with intensive force)
SIS = si vis
The most useful recent discussion of P.’s language is that of de Melo (2011b). See also: Lindsay, Hammond et al. 1963: 39-57,
MacCary/Willcock 1976: 23-27, Karakasis 2005, de Melo 2007a, Fontaine 2010. Many of the features set out above are
presented in a more systematic fashion on the following pages in the overview by Professor Bret Mulligan of Haverford College.

A Brief Introduction to the Language of Plautus

by Bret Mulligan, Haverford College155
The language of Plautus differs in two significant ways from the Latin of Cicero, Catullus, Vergil, and other Roman
authors with which you are familiar:
1) Plautus reproduces the free style and tone of daily speech, and so his syntax is significantly freer,
regulated less by strict adherence to grammatical laws than the principle of constructio ad sensum (i.e., if it
makes sense, it is permissible, even if it is not, strictly speaking, grammatically correct). Compare how you
talk, even in a formal setting, with how you write. Spoken language is full of fragments, implied words and
phrases, and mixed constructions.
2) It is among the earliest Latin that survives, and so old pronunciations, forms, and constructions abound.
We normally refer to these aspects of Plautus’ style as archaism and speak of him using an archaic form
(e.g., quom for the Classical cum), but this is not exactly correct. Technically, archaism refers to the
conscious attempt by an author to imitate outmoded forms of spelling and diction. Were I to write this
handout in the style of Shakespeare or Chaucer, that would be an example of archaism (and a perverse one
at that). Plautus is using the common language of his time; it just so happens that his time is well before the
“classical” period of Latin prose and verse, and so we call it “archaic.”
I. BASIC FEATURES
(a) spelling changes, especially of vowels
(b) loss of final –s in many words: see II.h
(c) prodelision of sum: see III.a
(d) parataxis (“setting alongside”), where short independent clauses are simply juxtaposed to one another
rather than logically/syntactically related via conjunctions such as ut or ne or some other type of
subordinating construction (contrast Cicero, whose style is full of subordination): cf. III.j; VI.c and d
(e) Plautus uses more pronouns than is common in Classical Latin.
‣ Ultimately, this makes understanding the play easier, once you adjust your expectations.
(f) prepositions often follow their nouns (anastrophe): quo abs = ab quo
II. SPELLING
(a) quo- for cu-: quom = cum; quoius = cuius
(b) -ŏ- for -ě- (vorto = verto; vostrum = vestrum)
(c) -i- for -e- or -ae- (spicit = specit; tutin < tute-ne; hicine < hic-ce-ne)
(d) -u- for -i- in superlative ending: optumus, maxumam
155
Presented, with some modifications, by permission of the author.

(e) -ŏs for ŭs: servos = servus 156

(f) -ŏm for –ŭm: servom = servum; quom = cum 2
(g) loss of -u- between -cl- and -pl- (hercle = hercule; periclum = periculum)
(h) loss of final –s in many words: auden = audesne; pergin = pergisne; vin = visne; satin = satisne
(i) loss of final –e (esp. common with the suffix -ne): egon = egone; hoccin = hocne; iussin = iussine
(j) contraction: sis = si vis
III. VERBS
(a) prodelision of sum: praefectust = praefectus est; quidemst = quidem est
(b) future and past stems formed with -s- (~ Greek future and aorist): faxo < fac-s-o (future indicative);
faxis < fac-s-(er-)is (perfect subjunctive)
‣ related: -ss- for -ver- in first conjugation verbs (future perfect indicative and perfect subjunctive):
amassis = amaveris; verberassis = verberaveris
(c) perfects contracted: sisti = sivisti; instruxti = instruxisti; dixis = dixeris
(d) siet = sit; sies = sis
(e) foret commonly for imperfect esset
(f) final -e retained in singular imperatives with monosyllabic stems: dice, face, duce (for Classical dic, fac,
duc); but fer is regular
(g) -ier in the present passive and deponent infinitive: sectarier = sectari; haberier = haberi
(h) -ibo in future of fourth conjugation verbs: mentibitur = mentietur
(i) deletion of the final -s and final -e when enclitic interrogative -ne is added to a second singular verb: vin =
visne
(j) parataxis is particularly common with verbs like sino, volo, facio: sinite abeam = sinite me abire / sinite
ut abeam; fac felix sis = fac ut felix sis; vin dicam? = visne me dicere?
(k) cědŏ (“give it here,” “out with it”) = dŏ (old form of the imperative of do, dare) with the intensifying
prefix cě- [vs. cēdō (‘I yield’)]
IV. NOUNS & PRONOUNS

(a) –o- for –u- in second declension noun endings: servos = servus; servom = servum
(b) -āī in the genitive singular of the first declension: comoediāī = comoediae; sapientiāī = sapientiae
(c) -īs in the nominative as well as the accusative plural of third declension i-stems: di deaeque omnis
(d) forms of pronouns are less defined:
‣ routinely see qui for classical quo/qua/quibus
‣ quis for feminine interrogative quae
(e) -ŭm common ending of second declension genitive plural: deum = deorum; vostrum = vestrorum
‣ this is not a contraction of -orum but borrowing from -um genitive of other declensions and Greek -ων
156
In early Latin –uo- stands invariably for –uu- (MacCary/Willcock 1976 ad Cas. 8). This applies to consonantal –u- (e.g.,
servos) as well as vocalic –u- (e.g., aequom).

(f) irregular forms are sometimes regularized: ipsus = ipse

(g) archaic forms of is, ea, id: eae (dative singular) = ei; ibus = eis
V. PREFIXES & SUFFIXES

(a) ec- with forms of relative, interrogative, and indefinite pronouns: ecquis = quis
(b) ecce (ed + ce) combined with pronouns: eccillam = ecce illam; eccam = ecce eam
(c) -ce or -c: deictic; added to many cases of demonstrative pronouns: istuc = istud, hasce = has
(d) -pte, -te, or -met added to personal pronouns and possessive adjectives as an intensive: suopte; nosmet
(e) -d with me or te in the accusative or ablative, to eliminate hiatus: med = me; ted = te 157
VI. CONSTRUCTIONS
(a) partitive genitive with neuter pronouns, in place of interrogative adjective: quid negoti; quid modi
(b) similis with genitive (rather than dative): similem furis huius
(c) paratactic subjunctive frequently for Classical infinitive with accusative subject [e.g., volo amet me vs.
volo eum me amare]
(d) some verbs can be either parenthetical or paratactic: quaeso, credo, opinor, obsecro, amabo (“please”)
[ama me quaeso or quaeso ames me vs. quaeso ut me ames]
VII. ADVERBS & INTERJECTIONS

(a) nē is an affirmative particle, borrowed from Greek (nai, ναί)
‣ other exclamatory interjections are also borrowed from Greek: eu, eugae, apage; and perhaps heu,
eheu, heia, and vah
(b) quī = adverbial ablative “how” and ablative of means “whereby” (cf. IV.d) [aliquam habet peculiarem qui
spem soletur suam]
‣ often employed in exclamations, with intensive force: edepol qui; at pol qui
(c) adverbs in -o (perhaps from ablative, but this is uncertain): eo, isto … quo, hoc, aliquo, quo … alio,
illo, alio
157
This is a relic of the archaic ending –d, which originally concluded the ablative of all five declensions, as well as some
imperative forms (MacCary/Willcock 1976 ad Cas. 90).

Overview of Select Grammatical Terms and Constructions; Figures of Speech
1) Anacoluthon 13) Final/Purpose Clauses 23) Parataxis

2) Anaphora 14) Future Tenses 24) Predicative Use of
3) Anastrophe 15) Hendiadys Nouns/Adjectives
4) The Aorist Aspect 16) Hypallage / Transferred 25) Prolative Infinitive
5) Aspect Epithet 26) Prolepsis (“Anticipation”)
6) Asyndeton 17) Hyperbaton 27) Quom (Cum)
7) Attributive Use of Adjectives 18) Indirect Questions 28) Relative Clause of
8) Chiasmus 19) Jussive Noun Clauses / Characteristic
9) Circumstantial Participle Indirect Commands 29) Sequence of Tenses
10) Conditional Sentences 20) Limiting Accusative 30) Substantive
11) Consecutive/Result Clauses 21) Metonymy 31) Synecdoche
12) Dative 22) Paraprosdokian
[Note: the constructions and figures discussed here are flagged in the commentary with an asterisk (*).]
[The definitions and examples provided here make no pretense to originality and often draw upon standard discussions
available on the Internet and elsewhere or (in the case of Latin constructions) discussions in the standard Latin
grammars. For a more detailed, exhaustive, and authoritative account, see Smith 2011.]
1) Anacoluthon [A&G 640]
A syntactic interruption or deviation: an abrupt change in a sentence, from one construction to another which is
grammatically inconsistent with the first. This can involve a dramatic shift, as a sentence breaks off and adopts a
different course, or a change in perspective or the like that leads to a grammatical or logical inconsistency:
“I warned him that if he continues to drink, what will become of him?”
2) Anaphora (A&G 641)
The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses or lines:
“We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the
streets, we shall fight in the hills.”
(Others apply this term to cover a broader range of repetition.)
3) Anastrophe (A&G 640)
Figure of speech in which a regular preposition is placed following the noun that it governs: e.g., quo ab for ab
quo.
(The above represents a very limited application of this figure, which is sometimes employed to indicate a more
fundamental dislocation of traditional word order. The latter is more appropriately referred to as *hyperbaton.)
4) The Aorist Aspect
[see under “Aspect”]

5) Aspect
The Latin verbal system mingles two distinct elements: tense and aspect:
• strictly speaking, tense indicates only the time at which a specific action is imagined as occurring:
• at the same time as that at which the sentence is being spoken or written: the present
• at some time prior to that at which the sentence is being spoken or written: the past
• at some future time, yet to occur, relative to that at which the sentence is being spoken or written: the
future
• aspect, on the other hand, concerns how the action is imagined as occurring:
• progressive aspect:158 presents the action as on-going or in some way incomplete [a moving picture:
“I am talking to you!” “I am living the dream!” “I kept pulling on the handle.”]
• aoristic/aorist aspect: presents the action as a bare fact or as occurring in the blink of an eye, with no
concern, in the former instance, for the time the action might have taken or its duration [a snapshot:
“I make model airplanes.” “She studied at Oxford.” “He collapsed.”]
• perfect aspect: presents an action that was completed at some point in the past but is viewed from the
standpoint of the present, often with the sense of some enduring result [“I have read the book (and
can now answer your question).” “I have drunk too much beer (and cannot drive).” “I have decided
what is to be done.” “You have stepped over the line, buster!”]
In theory, then, there should be nine distinct sets of forms for each Latin verb in the indicative, accounting for every
possible combination of tense and aspect. In practice, however, there are not. Instead, some forms are made to do
double duty to make up for the loss of the aorist in CL.
The chart below employs active forms of the verb dormio to indicate the way the system works in actual practice.
158
Often referred to, rather unfortunately, as the imperfective aspect.

Tense and Aspect in the Roman Verbal System
Tense
Present Future Past
Aspect
Progressive dormio dormiam dormiebam
“I am sleeping” “I will be sleeping” “I was sleeping”
Aorist [dormio] [dormiam] [dormivi]

“I sleep” “I will sleep” “I slept”
Perfect dormivi dormivero dormiveram

“I have slept” “I will have slept” “I had slept”
Note: forms in square brackets are being employed artificially to present a combination of
tense + aspect for which no distinct form exists in CL
When we refer to “the present tense,” “the future tense,” or “the perfect tense,” we are alluding to forms that are
each employed to present two distinct combinations of tense + aspect.
The “present tense” can be used to indicate the present tense of either the progressive or the aorist aspect.
The “future tense” can be used to indicate the future tense of either the progressive or the aorist aspect.
More confusing, the “perfect tense” can be used to indicate either the present tense of the perfect aspect (the “true”
perfect), or the past tense of the aorist aspect (its more common function).
On the other hand, the past tense of the progressive and perfect aspects each receive a specific designation of their
own: the imperfect and pluperfect tenses. In the same fashion, the future tense of the perfect aspect is also given its
own designation: the future perfect tense.
In P., however, we will run into a number of forms (esp. those involving an “s” at the end of their stem) that
represent the survival of forms related to the aorist. Other forms — esp. the pfct. subj. — will often best be taken as
aorists (as also, on occasion, in CL).
6) Asyndeton [A&G 640; G&L 474 n., 483 n., 492 n.]
Figure of speech wherein a conjunction is omitted (freq. in P.). The omitted conjunction can be copulative,
adversative, disjunctive, consecutive (result) or epexegetic (presenting an explanation).
“She eats, sleeps, drinks Latin grammar.”
“Hate the sin, love the sinner.”
… dives pauper, clarus obscurus sit … (“… whether he be rich or poor, celebrated or unknown …”)
ausculta ergo, scies. (“Just listen and you will know.”)
bene hercle facitis, a me initis gratiam. (“Excellent work! You have won my thanks.”)
7) Attributive Use of Adjectives [A&G 287]
An attributive adj. presents an attribute of the noun that, from a grammatical point of view, is simply assumed to be
true. For example: the statement, “The purple cow ate the grass,” merely specifies which cow did the eating,

taking it for granted that a cow can be purple. An attributive adj. qualifies its noun directly, without the
intervention of a vb. or ptcple. (expressed or implied):
vir bonus a good man multae puellae many girls
Contrast below regarding the *predicative use of nouns and adjs.
8) Chiasmus [A&G 641]
The structuring of related or parallel words, phrases, or ideas in an ABBA pattern:
desertosque videre locos litusque relictum [Aen. 2.28: adj.1 — noun1 — noun2 — adj.2]
expletus dapibus vinoque sepultus [Aen. 3.630]
“Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves.”
9) Circumstantial Participle [A&G 496, Woodcock 88-93, 95-96]
*Predicative use of a ptcple. to introduce the equivalent of a subordinate clause.
True ptcples. are employed as *attributive adjs. much more rarely in Latin than in Engl. (Woodcock 97-99): e.g.,
draco dormiens would typically be translated, “a dragon that is sleeping/while it is sleeping,” not “a sleeping
dragon.” The main exceptions involve ptcples. that have become common adjs. — iratus, sapiens, etc.
Circumstantial ptcples. are commonly translated in a temporal, concessive, or causal sense (“when/while/after,”
“although,” “because/since”); more rarely with conditional or relative force (“if,” “who”):
haec minatus, abiit. After he had made these threats, he departed.

Although he had made these threats, he departed.
Because he had made these threats, he departed.
haec dicens, Marcus stultus est. If he says this, Marcus is a fool.
servum haec locutum verberaverunt. They beat the slave who had said this.
10) Conditional Sentences [A&G 511-25, Lindsay 123-27, Woodcock 191-200]
A conditional sentence presents a hypothesis (the “if” clause) and then considers what results/conclusions would
follow if that hypothesis were true (the main clause). In the grammars, the “if” clause or hypothesis is called the
protasis, and the main clause (the “then” clause) the apodosis.
In CL, conditions are broken down according to their degree of likelihood and their temporal reference:
Vivid (employing the indicative)
a. Future Vivid: “If you (in fact) do this (at some future time), you will (in fact) be a fool.”
si hoc facies, stultus eris.
[Note that where Engl. employs a generalizing pres. indicative in the protasis, CL employs a *fut.
indicative.]
b. Present Vivid: “If you (in fact) are (now) doing this, you are (in fact) a fool.”
si hoc facis, stultus es.
c. Past Vivid: “If you (in fact) did/used to do this (in the past), you were (in fact) a fool.”

si hoc fecisti/faciebas, stultus fuisti/eras.
Less Vivid (employing the subjunctive)
a. Future Less-vivid (present subjunctive in both protasis and apodosis)

“If you should ever do this (and there is no certainty that you will), you would be a fool.”
si hoc facias, stultus sis.
b. Present Contrary-to-fact (imperfect subjunctive in both protasis and apodosis)

“If you were in fact (now) doing this (and we both know that you are not), you would be a fool.”
si hoc faceres, stultus esses.
c. Past Contrary-to-fact (pluperfect subjunctive in both protasis and apodosis)

“If you had in fact done this (in the past — and we both know that you did not), you would have been
be a fool.”
si hoc fecisses, stultus fuisses.
In CL, this simple scheme admits of all sorts of variation:
• there are numerous examples of mixed conditions — e.g.:
“If you had done this, we would now be in trouble.”

[past contrary-to-fact protasis with present contrary-to-fact apodosis]
• in special contexts, the impf. subjunctive can be employed to present a past contrary-to-fact condition
In P., however, this scheme is going to be employed much more loosely. In particular:
• the pres. subjunctive will often be employed to express a present contrary-to-fact condition
• the impf. subjunctive will often be employed to express a past contrary-to-fact condition
11) Consecutive/Result Clauses [A&G 536-38, Woodcock 160-68]
A consecutive clause indicates something that follows (consequor) or results from the action indicated in the main
clause:
“She ran so fast that she fell down.”
In Latin, as in Engl., the consecutive clause is regularly signaled by the presence of a demonstrative (correlative)
adj./adv. in the main clause: tantus, talis, tam, ita, sic, adeo, etc. (Note the use of “so” in the Engl. example
above.)
A positive result is introduced by ut + the subjunctive, a negative result by ut non.
The latter is a bit remarkable: normally one expects non to be employed with the indicative, in clauses that deal in
the realm of fact, while ne is regularly employed with the subjunctive to indicate an action that is possible,
contingent, urged, wished for, etc.
This points to the oddity of the Latin consecutive clause. Grammatically, such clauses should indicate something
that is contingent or expected, as in the Engl. “they were foolish enough to do this (i.e., that they would do this).”
For the most part, however, the Latin consecutive clause deals with an actual, not an expected, result. The use of
ut non reflects this fact.
Thus:
tam acriter pugnavit ut occideretur. = “He fought so fiercely that he (actually) was killed,”

not
“He fought so fiercely as to be killed / that you might expect that he would be killed.”
Consecutive clauses are also useful in that they reveal how much context, not the particular form of expression, must
guide our analysis of the subjunctive.
Contrast
fecit ut hoc fieret. = “He/She brought it about/saw to it that this was done.”
with
fac ut hoc fiat. = “See to it that this is done.”
The former is most readily taken as a consecutive clause: he/she acted in such a way that “this” actually got done.
The latter involves a jussive noun clause: it presents a command — i.e., an action that might or might not
actually take place.
12) Dative (A&G 360-85, Woodcock 56-68)
Virtually all datives are in effect datives of reference (A&G 376) in some sense, but they can be employed in a
variety of specific contexts. A small selection follows below.
Perhaps the best way to conceive of the dative is to regard it as the case that limits the meaning of a sentence by
indicating the specific regard in which it is to be taken to be true. Consider the following:
This is difficult for me.

She is a good person in my eyes.
He is a hindrance to me.
This is a source pride for me.
They are presenting an award to me.
They are stealing this from me.
They are in charge of me.
All of the above statements would make sense if you left out the underlined words. In each instance, adding the
reference to “me” limits the general statement by indicating the specific regard in which it is to be taken to be
true. In each instance, Latin would simply employ the dative case of “me” (mihi) where English has a variety of
ways of conveying the same meaning.
Dative of Possession [A&G 373]
The dat. is often employed, in conjunction with sum, to indicate possession:
est mihi filius. (“There exists a son so far as I am concerned” — i.e., “I have a son.”)
This construction is more vivid and personal than the more straightforward, habeo filium.
Sympathetic Dative [A&G 377]
In a variation on the dat. of possession, the dat. can indicate ownership even when that is not the main focus of the
sentence.
oculi mihi dolent. (“My eyes ache.”)

In this construction, the dat. colors the entire sentence, rather than oculi alone, and, again, is more vivid and
personal.
Double Dative (Predicative Dative/Dative of Purpose) [A&G 382, Woodcock 67-68]
The dat. can indicate the end or purpose for which something serves:
auxilio sum. (“I am a source of aid.”)
The term “predicative dat.” highlights the way this dat. states something actively of the subject (as in the Engl.
transl. above). As in the example above, it usually involves an abstract noun.
The predicative dat. is often joined with a dat. of reference/advantage to form what is known as the double dat.
construction:
corruptelae est liberis. (“He is a source of corruption for his children.” — “He corrupts his children.”)
This construction is relatively easy to spot since it regularly presents: 1) the vb. sum (or some other vb. indicating
existence); 2) an abstract noun in the dat. (the predicative dat.); 3) a noun or pronoun in the dat. alluding to the
person(s) or thing(s) affected. (This last will generally refer to a person or personified obj. — one’s homeland,
troops, etc.)
13) Final/Purpose Clauses [A&G 529-33, 538; Woodcock 149-50]
Final clauses indicate the goal or end (Latin: finis) of the action indicated in the main clause:
“We studied for five days in order to pass the exam.”
A positive purpose is introduced by ut + the subjunctive; negative: ne.
Final clauses stand out, in both Engl. and Latin, in that (as in the example above) there is no prompt in the main
clause to signal their presence: no equivalent of a vb. of commanding, exhorting, persuading, etc. (as in the
jussive noun clause); no demonstrative adj./adv. (tantus, tam, etc.) as in a consecutive clause. Nor is there a clear
prompt in the final clause itself to indicate its nature: no si/nisi (condition); no cum. Final clauses are a bit like
the Spanish Inquisition: no one expects them.
In both Engl. and Latin, final clauses also stand apart from, e.g., jussive or consecutive clauses in that the
subordinate clause can come first without the sentence sounding “Yoda-esque.” One would not tend to say:
“To do this, I commanded her.” or “That he fell down, he ran so fast.”
But one can say, quite naturally:
ut sapiens fieret, Athenis habitabat. (“In order to become wise, she lived in Athens.”)
The inf. of purpose is rare and poetic, although not unknown to P. (A&G 460c; Lindsay 74-75; Bennett 1910: 418-
19):
ecquis currit pollinctorem accersere? (“Is anyone running to fetch an undertaker?”)
14) Future Tenses (A&G 449, 472, 478, 516.2a (with n.) and c (with n.); Lindsay 59-61, 63-66; Bennett 1910:
38-45, 53-59; de Melo 2007: 133-65, 171-90)
Latin is generally much more precise in its use of tenses than is modern North-American Engl.: in a land where
expressions such as “I seen” and “I have went” thrive, students often struggle in dealing with the Romans’ use of the
perfect, pluperfect, and future perfect tenses.

In subord. clauses involving an ind., CL will freq. employ the fut. and fut. pfct. where Engl. employs a generic
present. Thus Engl.
When/If I see them, I will summon the consul.
would be rendered with a fut. ind. in the subord. clause:
ubi/si eos videbo, consulem vocabo.
Following a similar logic, Latin will employ the fut. imperative in contexts where there is a distinct reference to fut.
time (often emphasized via an adv. or similar expression, or evident from the nature of the command itself). The fut.
imperative is also used in legal statutes, wills, and general precepts: in P., it is often employed to establish a
comically lofty tone.
In P., the distinction betw the fut. ind. and pres. subj. (which was felt to have a fut. force) is freq. blurred; this is still
more the case with the fut. pfct. ind. and the pfct. subj. (an issue with which I struggle a good deal in the
commentary).
P. is also quite ready to employ a fut. pfct. ind. where, in CL, a simple fut. would serve: this is taken to suggest that
the fut. pfct. originated as an aorist subj. that (like all subjs.) was felt to have the force of a simple fut.
15) Hendiadys (A&G 640)
Use of two words connected by a conjunction to express a single complex idea:
minis animisque — angry threats
donum decusque — glorious gift
16) Hypallage / Transferred Epithet (A&G 640)
A poetic device: use of an adj. with a noun to which it does not properly belong. Transforms a prosaic expression
into one that has greater texture, nuance, or vividness:
“She tossed her angry locks.” vs. “In her anger, she tossed her locks.” / “She tossed her locks angrily.”
17) Hyperbaton (A&G 641)
Deviation from normal or logical word order for rhetorical or poetic effect.
18) Indirect Questions (A&G 573-76, Lindsay 65-66, Woodcock 177-83)
Consider the following two statements:
“I know the man who killed Caesar.”
“She asks who killed Caesar.”
The first of these involves a straightforward relative clause, and would be translated:
novi virum qui Caesarem necavit.

The second is quite different: there the object of the vb. “asks” is in fact the question, “Who killed Caesar?”,
introduced by an interrogative pronoun. This is known as an indirect question, and would be translated:
rogat quis Caesarem necaverit.
In this second instance, CL employs the subjunctive to indicate a form of indirect discourse. (Cf. the use of the
subjunctive in subordinate clauses in reported speech: A&G 583, Woodcock 272-89.)
The tense of the subjunctive is determined by the rules of *sequence of tenses: see the discussion of that topic
below, which employs indirect questions to illustrate the relevant principles.
P. will be less rigorous than CL in employing the subj. in such constructions (cf. ad 598).
19) Jussive Noun Clauses / Indirect Commands [A&G 563, Woodcock 139]
In Latin, commands are generally conveyed via the imperative mood, or through the use of the jussive subjunctive.
Sentences such as, “I order/forbid you to do this,” are known as indirect commands, since in such sentences the
actual command has come to be subordinated to the main vb.
A few vbs., such as iubeo and veto, convey an indirect command with an acc. + inf., as does Engl.:
iubeo / veto te hoc facere. (“I order/forbid you to do this.”)
More commonly, however, Latin employs ut/ne + subjunctive in what is known as a jussive noun clause. The main
vb. in such sentences can cover a wide range of volition: commanding, forbidding, admonishing, requesting,
permitting, persuading, urging, etc.
Typically, the recipient of the command, etc. is presented as the obj. of the main vb., independently of the
subordinate clause (*prolepsis):
impero tibi ut hoc facias. (“I order you to do this.”)
nos hortati sunt ut hoc faceremus. (“They urged us to do this.”)
[The older grammars will refer to the construction with the subj. more precisely as a substantive clause of purpose:
cf., e.g., ut conscribat at Asin. 600.]
In P., as opposed to CL, one will often find a prohibition expressed via ne + the imperative:
ne formida. (“Don’t be uneasy.”)
20) Limiting Accusative [A&G 390, Woodcock 13-14]
Often referred to as an “internal object,” this is a dir. object that melds with the vb. to modify its meaning: i.e., it
generally has an adverbial force.
Consider the Engl. “I teach you Latin.” In this sentence, “you” represents a regular direct object; the limiting acc.
“Latin,” however, melds with the vb. “teach” to form a more nuanced verbal notion (to “Latinize”). Thus, we can
generate a passive equivalent of this statement (“you are taught Latin”), where the limiting acc. is retained.
Consider:
si quid te volam if I shall want you for anything / at all
videtis viginti minae quid pollent? Do you see what twenty minae can do / how powerful they
are?

In some contexts this construction is identified as an acc. of respect. In any case, you should note how often this acc.
consists of a generic neut. adj./pronoun and how readily it can be translated with an adv. force.
In a related construction, the noun in the acc. is derived from the same root as its vb. (the cognate accusative):
aliquam fraudem frausus est. He has committed some deception.
21) Metonymy (A&G 641)
Figure of speech in which the name of one object or concept is substituted for that of another to which it is related:
“the Crown” for “the government,” “the bottle” for “alcohol,” “sweat of one’s brow” for “labor” —
“The pen is mightier than the sword.”
To be distinguished from *synecdoche.
22) Paraprosdokian
Figure of speech in which a phrase or sentence takes an unexpected (generally humorous) turn:
“He was at his best when the going was good.”
“I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather, not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his
car.”
23) Parataxis [A&G 268 ad fin., Lindsay 66, Woodcock 130]
The juxtaposition of two independent clauses to convey a single complex thought, without the use of a subordinating
conjunction:
faxo erunt I will see that they are

facito afferas see that you bring
volo amet I want him to love
sine astet let him stand
cave supplicassis see that you don’t beg (cf. ad Asin. 30)
This type of paratactic construction will be most familiar from the typical fear clause, where the commonly
employed ne/ut are not in fact subordinating conjunctions: A&G 564.
Contrast *asyndeton, which commonly joins two coordinate clauses rather than a main and subordinate clause.
24) Predicative Use of Nouns/Adjectives [A&G 285.2, 392-96]
The use of a noun or adj. to state something actively of another noun and thus modify the clause as a whole rather
than only the noun with which it is associated. To be distinguished from the *attributive (descriptive/specifying)
use of the adj. (above).
tua ista culpa est, quae discipulum semidoctum aps te amoves.

“That’s your fault, since you’re dismissing your student (while he is/despite his being) only half-taught.”
quid illuc quod exanimatus currit huc Leonida?

“How is it that Leonida comes running here all out of breath?”

In reality, these expressions represent a hidden use of the *circumstantial ptcple. (see separate entry, above): in
each instance, the pres. ptcple. of sum (“while being”) is to be understood with the underlined adj. (The pres.
ptcple. of sum is not employed in CL.)
Thus, one would not translate lines 6-7 of our play’s argument:
rivalis amens ob praereptam mulierem rem omnem nuntiat
“his distraught rival reports the whole matter on account of the snatched woman” (attrib.)
but:
“his rival, distraught on account of the woman who was snatched away, reports …”
“his rival, in his distress over the snatching away of the woman, reports …”
A more straightforward and limited version of this construction is known as apposition: the renaming of a
noun — “Arthur, king of Britain.”
Predicative adjs. are freq. employed where Engl. would use an adv.:
laetus abiit. (“He departed (while being) happy” — i.e., “He departed happily.”)
Related constructions:
Circumstantial Participles: see separate entry, above
Predicative nom./acc. after a factitive vb. (of making, etc.): e.g., “I was elected king,” “he makes me
happy”
Proleptic/pregnant acc.: “I shot him dead.” (see below, s.v. “Prolepsis.”)
25) Prolative Infinitive [Woodcock 22-24]
Often referred to as the complementary infinitive: this inf. is used in combination with a finite vb. to “carry on” or
“complete” the sense of the finite vb. by specifying the domain in which it applies. Thus the prolative inf. serves
to limit or define the area in which the finite vb. holds true:
possum currere — I am able to run
volo currere — I want to run
This usage reflects the origin of the Latin inf. as a verbal noun in the locative or dat. (in the first example: “I am able
when it comes to running”). This original function was forgotten over time as the inf. came to be taken as, in
effect, a dir. object of the finite vb. or, with the addition of an acc. subject, as an acc.-inf. “noun clause” (e.g.,
volo te currere).
Cf. the construction ferox est tractare at 468.
26) Prolepsis (“Anticipation”) [A&G 576, 640]
The anticipation of the subject of a subordinate clause as an object of the main vb. (the “I know you, who you are”
construction).
faciam te ut scias. [consecutive clause] (“I will let you know.” / “I will fill you in.”)

Cf. the regular construction in indirect commands: impero tibi ut abeas.
Modern discussions of prolepsis sometimes conflate two distinct phenomena: the syntactical figure, where
something that properly belongs in a subordinate clause is anticipated in the main clause (as above) vs. the
“pregnant” use of the predicative acc. (“she shot him dead” [A&G 392]), which is merely a vivid figure of
speech involving a form of compression.
27) Quom (Cum) [Bennett 1910: 79-86, 302-03; A&G 544-49; Lindsay 69, 113, 120-21, 123, 132-33, 136-37;
Woodcock 231-39]
The conjunction quom (= CL cum) can be employed with temporal (“when,” “after”), causal (“since,” “given that”),
or concessive (“although”) force. In CL, it typically takes a subjunctive except in certain contexts where the
clause has a temporal force: in such contexts, it regularly takes an indicative —
1) when the temporal clause refers to the pres. or the fut.

2) when cum is employed, like ubi or ut, to indicate a purely temporal relationship betw two actions in the past
3) in “inverse cum-clauses,” where the temporal clause, while subordinate grammatically, is the focus of the
sentence (otherwise known as burying the lead). (E.g., “I was making a peanut-butter sandwich when the
atomic bomb went off.”) Generally speaking, this use is merely a particular application of 2) above.
4) when the temporal clause refers to a habitual action in the past (“whenever”)
In P., the indicative is regularly employed with quom. The principal exceptions can be explained via attraction to a
subj. in the main clause (A&G 593, Lindsay 66-67, Bennett 1910: 302-03) or are found in expressions involving
an indef. 2nd pers. sg. (Cf., e.g., line 442, where the quom-clause is a subordinate clause in indirect discourse: in
such instances the subj. is regular.)
28) Relative Clause of Characteristic [A&G 534-35, Woodcock 148, 155-59]
A relative clause with a potential subjunctive can perform many of the same functions as a subordinate clause
introduced by cum, ut, or ne.
In its purest form, such a clause describes, not a particular person or object, but a class:
nihil est quod facere malim. There is nothing (of any sort whatsoever) that I would prefer
to do.
Quite often, such clauses will imply intention or purpose (esp., but not exclusively, after a vb. of motion):
cupio argentum quod det amicae suae. I desire money which he might give / for him to give to his
mistress.
But they can also have a concessive, explanatory, or consecutive force:
tune verberes, qui pro cibo habeas te verberari? You beat (me), although you consider / given that you
consider your being beaten to be like mother’s milk?
cum is me dignum cui concrederet haberet since he considered me worthy to confide in
29) Sequence of Tenses (A&G 482-85, Lindsay 56-63, Woodcock 140, 162-63, 180, 217)
For the sake of this discussion, sequence of tenses concerns the tense of verbs in the subjunctive in subordinate
clauses. Consider the following sentences in English:
He does this in order that he may be happy.

He did this in order that he might be happy.

Each of these sentences involves a statement of purpose. In the first, where the verb of the principal clause (“does”)
is in the present tense, English prefers to indicate purpose by using the modal verb “may” in the subordinate
clause; in the second sentence, where the main verb is in the past tense (“did”), English prefers the modal verb
“might.” Thus, the tense of the main clause influences the tense of the modal verb “may/might” in the
subordinate clause.
In the same way, Latin will employ different tenses of the subjunctive in subordinate clauses according to the tense
of the verb in the main clause. Thus the two sentences above would be translated into Latin as follows:
hoc facit ut beatus sit.

hoc fecit ut beatus esset.
The matter is a bit more complex, however. One must consider not only the tense of the main verb, but the temporal
relationship between the principal clause and the action presented in the subordinate clause. (Thus “relative
tenses” might be a better term than sequence of tenses.) Consider the following:
She asks why we are doing this.

She asks why we did this.
She asked why we were doing this.
She asked why we had done this.
In the first and third sentences, the person is asking why something is being done at the very moment she asks the
question; in the second and fourth sentences, the person is asking why something was done prior to the moment
she asks the question. Notice how the tense of the verb in the subordinate clause (“are doing,” “did,” “were
doing,” “had done”) shifts according to: 1) the tense of the main verb and 2) the temporal relationship between
the time the question is being asked and that at which “we” performed the action being discussed.
In Latin, indirect questions (a type of subordinate clause) require the use of the subjunctive. The Latin equivalent of
the above sentences would be:
quaerit cur hoc faciamus.

quaerit cur hoc fecerimus.
quaesivit cur hoc faceremus.
quaesivit cur hoc fecissemus.
Notice how the form of the subjunctive changes according to each scenario, along lines similar to the vb. “do” in the
Engl.
To describe what is happening here, grammarians make a distinction between primary and secondary sequence:
• Primary sequence is introduced when (as in the first and second sentences above) the main clause refers to
the present or the future. The verb in such a clause is said to be a primary tense. In Latin, the primary tenses
are: the present, the future, the “true” perfect (e.g., “I have read the book.”), and the future perfect.
• Secondary sequence is introduced when (as in the third and fourth sentences above) the main clause refers to
the past. The verb in such a clause is said to be a secondary tense. In Latin, the secondary tenses are: the
perfect (when used as a simple past tense), the imperfect, the pluperfect, the historic infinitive, and (sometimes)
the historic present.
In primary sequence, Latin employs the present subjunctive to indicate (as in the first sentence above) that the
action in the subordinate clause is thought of as occurring at the same time as the action in the main clause or in
some (usually indefinite) future time. (For an example of the latter, see the first of the purpose clauses at the
beginning of this discussion.) The perfect subjunctive will be used (as in the second sentence above) to indicate
that the action in the subordinate clause is thought of as occurring prior to the action in the main clause.

In secondary sequence, Latin employs the imperfect subjunctive to indicate (as in the third sentence above) that the
action in the subordinate clause is thought of as occurring at the same time as the action in the main clause or in
some (usually indefinite) future time. (For an example of the latter, see the second of the purpose clauses at the
beginning of this discussion.) The pluperfect subjunctive will be used (as in the fourth sentence above) to
indicate that the action in the subordinate clause is thought of as occurring prior to the action in the main clause.
Finally, consider the following sentences:
She asks what we will do.

She asked what we would do.
Here the verbs in the subordinate clauses are emphatic futures (as opposed to the more indefinite futures implied,
e.g., in the usual purpose clause or clause of fearing): the person asking the question uses the future tense. To
reflect this fact, Latin will employ what we might call an ad hoc “future subjunctive” (found mainly in clauses
involving indirect discourse: i.e., indirect questions and subordinate clauses in indirect discourse). In Latin, the
two sentences above would be expressed as follows:
quaerit quid facturi simus.

quaesivit quid facturi essemus.
Here the subjunctive of the verb sum is joined with future active participle to create a periphrastic future tense
involving the subjunctive. Notice, however, that the tense of the subjunctive of sum in each sentence does in fact
observe the rules regarding sequence of tenses as set out above (literally: “She asks what we are (now) on the
point of doing” vs. “She asked what we were (back then) on the point of doing”).
Vb. in subord. clause Vb. in subord. clause

alludes to an action that alludes to an action that
is presented as occurring is presented as occurring
Tense of verb at the same time as that at some time prior to that
in main clause indicated by the vb. in the indicated by the vb. in the
main clause, or at some main clause
indef. future time
Primary Tense Present Subjunctive Perfect Subjunctive
Secondary Tense Imperfect Subjunctive Pluperfect Subjunctive
As the above chart suggests, most constructions involving the subjunctive in a subordinate clause will fall into the
first column: generally speaking (but not invariably), clauses of command, purpose, result, and fear deal with
something that has yet to happen, or that is viewed as happening at that very moment. (Exceptions generally involve
the perfect tense: e.g., “I fear that they have betrayed us.”)
Constructions involving the second column tend to be:

• cum-clauses
• clauses introduced by quamvis or the like (similar to a cum-clause)
• subordinate clauses in indirect discourse (since speakers can employ any tense in a subordinate clause)
• indirect questions (same rationale)
• relative clauses of characteristic
As we have seen, the so-called “future subjunctive” (future active participle + subjunctive of sum) is employed
mainly to represent an original future indicative in indirect discourse. In such constructions, the tense of sum falls

under column one (since the speaker is viewed as affirming that someone or something is (right now) on the point of
acting, or was (back then) on the point of acting).
NOTE: the above rules do not apply to conditional sentences or to independent uses of the subjunctive (sentences
where the subjunctive is the main verb).
For the most part, P. will observe these same rules, with some allowances for the more concise and vivid forms of
expression demanded by comic verse.
30) Substantive [A&G 288-89]
A word or group of words that functions as a noun. Includes:

• nouns
• adjs. and ptcples. when used as nouns (“the rich,” “the damned”)
• substantival phrases and clauses of various sorts (“to go outside in this weather without a hat is foolish,”
“that John should even think of running for office is ridiculous”).
31) Synecdoche (A&G 641)
Figure of speech in which the speaker refers to something by the name of one of its parts, a prominent feature, the
substance of which it is made, etc.: “set of wheels” (car), “long-hairs” (hippies), “plastic” (credit card), “lead”
(bullets).
To be distinguished from *metonymy.

Metrical Matters
Metrical Matters159
Meters Employed in Asinaria160

1-126 ia6
127-37 canticum mixtis modis [sung verse]: cretic tetrameters
133-33a choriambic dimeters
138-380 tr7
381-503 ia7
504-44 tr7
545-745 ia7
746-829 ia6
830-50 ia8
851-947 tr7
SIGLA
⏑ Short Element
‒ Long Element
| Division between metrical feet
⁝⁝ Caesura
|| Diaeresis
× Anceps
⌒ Bridge
^ Catalexis
ia6 — iambic senarii [The only “unmarked” form of speech in P. — spoken rather than chanted; unaccompanied]
⏑ ‒ | ⏑ ‒ | ⏑ ⁝⁝ ‒ | ⏑ ⁝⁝ ‒ | ⏑ ‒ | ⏑ ×
Resolutions/Substitutions: any of the first five feet may employ ‒ ‒ , ⏑ ⏑ ‒ , ‒ ⏑ ⏑ , ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ , or ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ 161
The second and the fourth foot show a tendency toward ⏑ ‒ or ⏑ ⏑ ⏑
159
Note: the following discussion is quite elementary and will not account for all elements of P.’s practice. It assumes a basic
familiarity with the terminology and principles associated with the scansion of standard verse forms such as dactylic hexameter.
For a more detailed account of ancient metrical practices and verse forms, consult Halporn et al. 1980. For a glossary of terms,
see Smith 2011. For an introduction to the meters of P., see esp. Moore 2012a: 171-236, Deufert 2014; also useful are Duckworth
1994: 364-83, Hammond et al. 1963: 29-45, Willcock 1987: 141-61 (a modified version of the account in MacCary/Willcock
1976: 211-32), Gratwick 1993: 40-63 and 251-60, Christenson 2000: 56-71, Henderson 2006: 117-20, Fortson 2008: 20-33, de
Melo lxxxv-xcvii. Recent studies of more advanced matters include: ◉Soubiran 1988, Fortsan 2008. For more on the use of
meters in Asin., see Marshall 2006: 205-08.
160
Passages in iambic senarii were spoken (diverbia: the equivalent of Shakespeare’s iambic pentameter); trochaic septenarii
were presumably chanted, to the accompaniment of the pipe (tibia); the longer iambic and trochaic meters were also performed to
the tibia and were either chanted or sung. As Moore 2012a: 16 notes, following the conclusion of the prologue, nearly 92% of the
lines in Asin. would have been accompanied by the tibia, including (Moore 257) the longest continuous stretch of sustained
musical scenes in our preserved plays (lines 127-745).
161
I.e., only the sixth foot regularly retains its identity as an iamb. (See Gratwick 1993: 44 for statistics re the treatment of
ancipitia in each position.) The fifth foot is generally a pure iamb only if the last two feet of the line form a single word or sense-
unit: ⏑ ‒⌒⏑ × (Luch’s Law). For potential peculiarities in the fourth foot, cf. below and ad 85 (Locus Jacobsohnianus).

Metrical Matters
ia7 [ia8^] — iambic septenarii162

⏑ ‒ | ⏑ ‒ | ⏑ ‒ | ⏑ ‒ || ⏑ ⁝⁝ ‒ | ⏑ ‒ | ⏑ ‒ | ×
Resolutions/Substitutions: any of the first seven feet may employ ‒ ‒ , ⏑ ⏑ ‒ , ‒ ⏑ ⏑ , ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ , or ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ ⏑
When there is word-end at the end of the fourth foot, the latter should consist of ⏑ ‒ or ⏑ ⏑ (brevis in longo
before diaeresis).163
The seventh foot is often iambic.
ia8 — iambic octonarii [Virtually identical to ia7, but with one additional element at the end of the line.]
⏑ ‒ | ⏑ ‒ | ⏑ ‒ | ⏑ ‒ || ⏑ ⁝⁝ ‒ | ⏑ ‒ | ⏑ ‒ | ⏑ × 164
Resolutions/Substitutions: any of the first seven feet may employ ‒ ‒ , ⏑ ⏑ ‒ , ‒ ⏑ ⏑ , ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ , or ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ ⏑
tr7 [tr8^] — trochaic septenarii [P.’s favorite meter, both for its liveliness and its closeness to common speech.]
‒ ⏑ | ‒ ⏑ | ‒ ⏑ | ‒ ⁝⁝ ⏑ || ‒ ⏑ | ‒ ⏑ | ‒ ⏑ | ×
Resolutions/Substitutions: any of the first six feet may employ ‒ ‒ , ⏑ ⏑ ‒ , ‒ ⏑ ⏑ , ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ , or ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ 165
The first, third, and fifth foot show a tendency toward ‒ ⏑ or ⏑ ⏑ ⏑

The seventh foot may employ ⏑ ⏑ ⏑
162
As Moore 2012a: 188 notes, Asin. includes more iambic septenarii than any other Roman comedy.
163
In P.’s other works, the diaeresis here is frequent enough, and strong enough, as to give the sense of two half lines, as
indicated by the frequent appearance of brevis in longo (often indicated as anceps: ×) and hiatus before the diaeresis in this
position in the line. Havet/Freté x cite what they allege is the exclusive use of this diaeresis in the iambic septenarii of this play
as an indication of non-Plautine authorship, but this effect is only achieved via a certain editorial ingenuity at select places in the
text (e.g., line 473, 556). Terence, by contrast, often employs a caesura in the fifth foot.
164
One of the curious features of Asin., which it shares with Merc., are its runs of iambic octonarii without the central
diaeresis. In the case of Asin., this feature is phps. in part intended to distinguish the iambic octonarii from the very similar
iambic septenarii that are so prominent in this play and that display the opposite tendency.
165
See Gratwick 1993: 44 for statistics re the treatment of ancipitia in each position. The fourth foot generally avoids ‒ ⏑ ⏑
and ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ ⏑

Metrical Matters
Glossary of Metrical Terms
Anapaest — the metrical pattern ⏑ ⏑ ‒

Anceps — a “double-headed” syllable that can be either long or short (×). Common at line-end in stichic meters,
where it is sometimes referred to as indifferens (to distinguish this from the more complex nature of
the true anceps, which admits of a wider range of options).
Aphaeresis — see Prodelision
Arsis — the “strong” element of an iambic or trochaic foot (i.e., the one that receives the ictus)
Bacchiac — the metrical pattern ⏑ ‒ ‒
Breve — short element/syllable. (More recent works prefer the terms “light/heavy” to “short/long.”)
Brevis in longo: the substitution of a short syllable in place of an expected long element
Bridge — place in line where word-division is avoided ( ⌒ )
Caesura — word/sense-division within a metrical foot, esp. when characteristic of a given meter (indicated by
two raised vertical dotted lines: ⁝⁝ ) [Asin. 5: age núnc | resi|de, ⁝⁝ cávĕ | modō | ne gra|tiis]
Canticum mixtis modis — song composed in a variety of lyrical meters, or as a series of cretic and/or bacchiac
verses
Catalexis — the dropping of a syllable from the beginning or (esp.) the end of a line (a type of syncopation).
E.g., both iambic and trochaic septenarii (above) can be described as catalectic octonarii (ia/tr8^).
Choriamb — the metrical pattern ‒ ⏑ ⏑ ‒ 166
Cretic — the metrical pattern ‒ ⏑ ‒
Correption/Semi-hiatus/Prosodic Hiatus — final long vowel-sound shortened when followed by a word that
begins with a vowel-sound, rather than being elided altogether (e.g., Asin. 228, 316, 354, 369)
Dactyl — the metrical pattern ‒ ⏑ ⏑
Diaeresis — word/sense-division between two metrical feet, esp. when characteristic of a given meter
(indicated by two vertical lines: || ) [Asin. 396: argen|ti vi|ginti | minas, || si ades|set, ac|cepis|set]
Elision — “striking out” of a vowel-sound at the end of one word when the following word begins with a vowel
sound (e.g., e go hanc )167
Enclisis —a long monosyllable preceding the enclitics quis/quid or quidem will often be shortened: e.g.,
tŭquidem. (Note that this applies only to monosyllabic words that conclude in a vowel.)
Foot — as in English, the basic unit of Latin iambic and trochaic verse (demarcated by the insertion of single
raised vertical lines: | ). (In actual practice, however, it is better to think of the senarius as made up of
three, and the septenarius/octonarius of four, measures [metra], each consisting of two “feet” [but with
catalexis in the case of the septenarius])
Hiatus — pronunciation of adjacent vowel-sounds that are separated by word-division (i.e., lack of elision)
(indicated by two forward slashes: // [in raised text, where hiatus accompanies foot division or
caesura]) [e.g., Asin. 10: dic am // huic ]
Iamb / Iambus — the metrical pattern ⏑ ‒
Iambic shortening / Brevis brevians — words of the shape ⏑´‒ (with accent on first syllable) are pronounced
with a short final syllable (e.g., modŏ) — a regular feature of Latin prose pronunciation. In P., a long
syllable preceded by a short syllable can be shortened if the accent falls on the syllable immediately
166
See Halporn et al. 1980: 90 on the so-called polyschematist choriamb.
167
Technically, the process would have involved a blending of the two sounds, but most modern readers simply omit the
first.

Metrical Matters
preceding or following it (e.g., măgĭstrátus). This principle can also be applied with longer word-
groupings involving an initial monosyllable (e.g., dăt(a) ŏccásiost).
Ictus — the hypothetical “beat” (rhythmical stress) typical of a particular meter. In the case of iambic meters,
this naturally falls on the second (long) element of each foot (or in the equivalent position in any of the
resolved versions of such a foot);168 in the case of trochaic meters, on the first element (whatever form
it might take).169
Longum — long element/syllable. (More recent works prefer the terms “light/heavy” to “short/long.”)
Metron — larger metrical unit (“measure”) that defines a particular verse-form. Thus, e.g., the iambic senarius
is in some ways better understood as comprising three metra, each consisting of two iambic feet:
|⏑‒⏑‒|
Proceleusmatic — the metrical pattern ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ ⏑
Prodelision / Aphaeresis — “striking out” of an initial vowel-sound when the preceding word ends with a
vowel-sound (principally with the forms es and est [Fortson 2008: 134-75]: e.g., de c re t um e st )170
Prosody — the rules that determine the metrical shape of words and phrases as well as their use in particular
types of verse: the grammar, as it were, of P.’s versification
Pyrrhic — the metrical pattern ⏑ ⏑
Resolution — the replacing of a long element in a particular foot with two short elements ( ⏑ ⏑ for ‒ )
Scansion — the analysis of poetic verse into its metrical components
Stichic Meter — metrical form whose basic unit is the free-standing line (vs. stanza)
Substitution — the irrational replacement of one metrical element by another that is not its metrical equivalent
(e.g., ‒ for ⏑ or vice-versa)
Synizesis (indicated by sublinear ͜ ) — the melding of two adjacent vowel-sounds within a word into a single
sound (e.g., cui͜us, e͜am, ei͜, pro͜inde, dehi͜nc)
Synaloephe — elision between vowels that are separated by line end (stichic verse) or change of speaker: rem.
uxoris (43)
Tetrameter — stichic verse composed in four metra (“measures”)
Thesis — the “weak” element of an iambic or trochaic foot (i.e., the one that does not receive the ictus)
Tribrach — the metrical pattern ⏑ ⏑ ⏑
Trimeter — stichic verse composed in three metra (“measures”)
Trochee — the metrical pattern ‒ ⏑
168
I.e., ⏑ ‒´, ‒ ‒´ , ⏑ ⏑ ‒´ , ‒ ⏑´ ⏑ , ⏑ ⏑´ ⏑ , ⏑ ⏑ ⏑´ ⏑
169
I.e., ‒´ ⏑, ‒´ ‒ , ⏑´ ⏑ ‒ , ‒´ ⏑ ⏑ , ⏑´ ⏑ ⏑ , ⏑´ ⏑ ⏑ ⏑
170
See, further, ◉Pezzini 2015: 141-91, which I have not seen.

Metrical Matters
General Notes on Plautine Resolutions and Substitutions
Iambic Passages:
• the basic unit (“foot”) consists of a short syllable followed by a long: ⏑ ‒
• in practice, however, P. regarded his lines as being composed of metra rather than feet — in the case of
the senarius: ⏑ ‒ ⏑ ‒ | ⏑ ⁝⁝ ‒ ⏑ ⁝⁝ ‒ | ⏑ ‒ ⏑ × 171
• to aid the beginning reader, the working assumption in this text will be that the second element (the
longum) is marked by some form of stress (ictus), indicated in the following metrical analyses by
an acute accent (⏑ ‒´). While the importation of this stress is quite possibly foreign to Roman
practice, it provides the native English speaker with a toe-hold from which to begin to get a feel
for P.’s spoken and chanted meters.172
• in most feet of a typical line, the basic pattern (⏑ ‒´) can be replaced by any of the following: ‒ ‒´,
⏑ ⏑ ‒´, ‒ ⏑´⏑, ⏑ ⏑´⏑, ⏑ ⏑ ⏑´⏑ but not by ‒ ⏑´. (The essential notion here is that a long syllable
(‒) is the equivalent in duration of two short syllables (⏑ ⏑). Once the substitution of ‒ ‒ for ⏑ ‒
is allowed, the patterns listed here will follow.) Note the assumption that the original ictus will
persist in the equivalent position within the foot, even after resolution.
• these patterns are not, however, usually admitted ad libitum
• consider the opening of the first line of the play: hoc ági|te sul|tis. The pattern of the first foot, with an
accent on the a of agite (hoc ági), indicates the substitution of two brevia (short syllables) for the
longum (i.e., ⏑ ⏑´⏑ for ⏑ ‒´). But you’ll notice that the two brevia are part of a single word: you
get a sense that the longum has been replaced by a single sense unit, with the stressed element
appearing just where you expect it, after the initial breve. Moreover, the stress appears precisely
where the natural prose accent would occur for the form agite, so that the phrase rolls off the
tongue quite naturally.
• the unit age núnc (Asin. 5) indicates a substitution of ⏑ ⏑ ‒´ for ⏑ ‒´, but again the essential integrity
of the initial unit is preserved.
• more rare is a pattern such as Demae|netús u|bi, (Asin. 382) where the last two syllabus of Dem.’s name
combine with the first syllable of ubi to form a pattern we have seen above (⏑ ⏑´⏑), but where the
integrity of the original metrical shape (⏑ ‒´) has been disrupted: the longum of the basic pattern
once again has been replaced by two brevia, but these two brevia have been allocated to separate
words that have no close syntactical connection, and the stress (ictus) is at odds with the natural
prose pronunciation of the line. This sort of dislocation is relatively rare in the sample passages
171
Hence the tendency for the second and the fourth foot to present an iamb or tribrach.
172
Most recent assessments deny the presence of a metrical ictus in ancient Latin verse: Gratwick 1993: 40-41 and (esp.) 46-
48, 59-62, Christianson 2000: 69, ◉Questa 2007: 10-14; contrast ◉Gerick 1996: 24 and n. 53xx. For balanced assessments, see
◉Soubiran 1988: 307-36, Brooks 2007: 49-54, Fortson 2008: 30-33, Moore 2012a: 157-62. See, further, my discussion on the
following pages and the brief bibliography provided below.

Metrical Matters
below (Ritschl’s Law). (Note, however, that ictus and accent do coincide in the preceding foot:
Demaénetus.)
• one of the many uncertainties in dealing with Latin scansion is the degree to which word groups might
have been melded together in a fashion that mitigated the clash of ictus and accent: see, e.g.,
◉Soubiran 1988: 316-19 and 333-36.
• as complex as Plautine rhythms can be — with all of the various resolutions and substitutions, and the
myriad exceptions to the general rules that are commonly applied, e.g., in scanning standard
dactylic hexameter (see the excerpts from Gray’s account below) — it is striking just how regular
the results often turn out to be, in terms of the ways in which the lines incorporate different word-
shapes to account for the natural shape and stresses of the line, and the degree to which the verse
ictus coincides with the natural stress accent of many words.
Trochaic Passages:
• the basic foot consists of a long syllable followed by a short: ‒´⏑
• in scanning trochaic septenarii, however, it is often useful to regard the line as a standard senarius,
preceded by a cretic: ‒ ⏑ ‒ | ⏑ ‒ | ⏑ ‒ | ⏑ ⁝⁝ ‒ | ⏑ ‒ | ⏑ ‒ | ⏑ × 173
• as in the case of iambic verse, the analyses below present a stress (ictus) in each foot: here on the initial
longum
• substitutions are permitted, as in iambic lines: ‒´‒, ⏑´⏑ ‒, ‒´⏑ ⏑, ⏑´⏑ ⏑, ⏑´⏑ ⏑ ⏑ but not ⏑´‒
(following the same rationale as for iambic passages [above])
• again, you will find a tendency, as these various substitutions are applied, for word-shape to preserve
the integrity of the essential metrical pattern, and the coincidence of ictus and accent in key places.
Note that a pattern such as ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ could occur as a “foot” in either an iambic or a trochaic context, but it is
likely to have a different “feel” in each, depending on how it integrates the particular words and word-shapes
into the metrical texture of the line.
In the selections at the end of this section, I have tried to provide enough help so that a student proficient in
scanning the poetry of, e.g., Vergil or Catullus will be able to tease out the meter of these lines and test the
validity of the various observations presented above. In the end, there is no substitute for knocking one’s head
against P.’s verse.
173
Gratwick 1993: 45-46, ◉Soubiran 1988: 160. Note how the first of the principal caesurae in the standard senarius
(indicated in my scheme above) coincides with the diaeresis of the septenarius. (This relationship is reflected in Meyer’s Law:
below.)

Metrical Matters
Ictus and Accent: Some General Reflections
In encouraging students to consider a possible tension between the rhythm of a line (verse ictus) and the natural
stress accent of common speech, I am very much swimming against the current.174 Below I offer some general
considerations in support of this approach — certainly at the undergraduate level.
When a speaker of Classical Latin heard someone say the word philosophia, they were aware that they were hearing
a word of foreign origin — one that employed a phoneme (represented by ph = Grk. φ) that was not native to the
Latin tongue. The same holds true in the case of most of the measures of Latin poetry: these were not native verse-
forms that arose out of a regional tradition of oral performance, but foreign imports consciously modeled on Greek
practices, many of them developed within the relatively few decades ranging from the mid-third to the early-second
centuries BC. This process was aided by certain similarities in the manner in which Greek and Latin distinguished
long from short syllables, but it was far from straightforward, esp. given the fact that Classical Greek employed a
pitch accent, as opposed to the stress accent of Classical Latin.175 In the case of epic verse, one can argue that the
new form likely derived a good deal of its effect, especially among the untutored in the audience, from precisely this
impression of an exotic (i.e., foreign) grandeur. The argument that a poetic verse-form should necessarily reflect
natural patterns of pronunciation is not, then, without its difficulties.176
And yet P.’s iambic senarii (the meter routinely employed to present unmarked [“natural”] speech) reveal a
significant inclination to achieve a coincidence of ictus and accent, one of the features of these verses that makes
them the easiest of all of P.’s meters for a modern student to master.177 The practice of heroic epic stands in rather
pointed contrast in this regard. There, an accordance of ictus and accent is routinely achieved in the last two feet of
174
See above, n. xx. It should be noted, however, that, in the case of the iambic senarius and the trochaic septenarius, even
those who oppose the older notion of verse ictus at times posit a form of beat or emphasis associated with the verse: ◉Soubiran
1988: 333 (re ◉Vandvik 1937); cf. Gratwick 1993: 58-62.
175
Vs., e.g., ◉Questa 2007: 10-14, I accept that the Latin of P.’s time employed a stress accent similar to that taught in
today’s typical first-year Latin course. Cf. the useful remarks of Halporn et al. 1980: 59-60 and 65-66, ◉Soubiran 1988: 309; for a
more general discussion, see Allen 1978: 83-88.
176
To provide a sense of the difference between the two languages, Allen cites the treatment of syllables that are considered
long by position (i.e., that contain a short vowel followed by two consonants or a double-consonant). In both Classical Greek and
Classical Latin, such a syllable is considered long for the purposes of scansion. But in Greek this feature plays no role in
determining the way the word is accented — e.g., αὖλαξ receives a circumflex accent on its first syllable, even though the short α
of its final syllable is followed by the double-consonant ξ. As a result, the way a word is accented is to some extent determined
independently of its metrical shape. The latter is not true of Classical Latin, where the metrical shape of a word plays an integral
role in determining its accent and thus its nature (cf. ◉Soubiran 1988: 309). That the presence of this stress accent was felt can be
demonstrated by examples such as those to be presented below.
177
As is often pointed out, this coincidence of ictus and accent is to some degree embedded in the structures that define the
typical iambo-trochaic line (Gratwick 1993: 59, Deufert 2014: 481).

Metrical Matters
the line through the convention of avoiding word-end between the final two syllables (indicated in the metrical
scheme below by a bridge [⌒]):
‒ ⏔ | ‒ ⏔ | ‒ ⁝⁝ ⏔ | ‒ ⁝⁝ ⏔ || ‒ ⏔ | ‒⌒×
Since the penultimate syllable in a Latin word routinely receives the stress accent when it is long, the above practice
yields a line in which the final two feet can generally be read out exactly as they would be in a prose passage: the
“strawberry ice-cream”/“shave and a haircut” clausula. Ictus and accent also tend to coincide at the opening of each
line. In the center of the line, however, the poets routinely avoid such coincidence, most famously perhaps in Aeneid
1.1, which P. would likely have written: árma virúmque canó, qui Troíae prímus ab óris. As a result, there is a
natural ebb and flow to each of the lines in heroic epic, as the tension between ictus and accent in the central part of
the line is resolved in the last two feet, which flow smoothly to a conclusion.178 This feature of epic verse, and what
is for us the more telling distinction between it and P.’s senarii, suggest that a tension (or lack thereof) between the
natural prose accent and the rhythm of the verse was a defining feature of the various poetic genres, something that
is lost if we proclaim that one need only read out a line as if it were in prose.179
Such a tension (or lack thereof) is employed to good effect in specific lines, and in at least one common metrical
form. Vergil will opt to violate the above rule regarding a bridge in the sixth foot of the dactylic hexameter when he
wishes to achieve a rugged/archaic/“Ennian” grandeur — e.g., in the description of the violent storm in Aeneid 1:
prora avertit, et undis / dat latus; insequitur cumulo praeruptus aquae mons (Aen. 1.104-05).180 Horace will exploit
the same device in order to illustrate the bathos produced when such a lofty style is employed to convey a trite
theme: parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus (Ars 139).181 In each instance, the disruption must have been felt
quite strongly — more so than we can readily account for, other than through the very phenomenon here under
discussion.182 The same holds true for the Latin version of the Greek choliambic meter (otherwise known as
“limping iambics”) where the substitution of a final spondee (‒ ×) for the expected iamb not only causes an
unexpected metrical drag in the one place in the line where an iamb was by rule usually required, but, in Latin,
imposes a coincidence of ictus and accent at a place where it is not expected, resulting (in this instance) in a sudden
collapse into prosaic flatness:
178
Ennius plays with the above expectations in Ann. 471 [358], where an individual who openly declares himself to be a non-
native speaker proclaims: Híspané non Rómané memorétis loquí me (“report that I speak Spanish, not Roman”): in addition to the
humorously inept adv. Romane, note how only memoretis (in the center of the line) observes coincidence of ictus and accent.
179
Cf. Brooks 2007: 51 and 54.
180
… “then the prow swings round and gives the broadside to the waves” (H.R. Fairclough and G.P. Goold, trs).
181
“Mountains will labour, to birth will come a laughter-rousing mouse!” (H.R. Fairclough, tr.).
182
Cf. Brooks 2007: 51. Note that avoidance of a monosyllable at the conclusion of the line is not so pronounced a feature of
early Greek hexameter, nor is such a monosyllable felt to be disruptive. In Vergil — if we omit collocations such as si quis, et
vox, in ulmo est, duorum est — we find just over 30 instances of a final monosyllable in nearly 13,000 lines of hexameter verse.
If we employ a similar set of criteria with Homer, Iliad 1 alone yields some ten examples. (For details regarding Vergil’s
practice, see Winbolt 1903: 140-46.)

Metrical Matters
× ‒ ⏑ ‒ | × ⁝⁝ ‒ ⏑ ⁝⁝ ‒ | × ‒ ‒ × 183
In P., by contrast, we find times when ictus, accent, and word-shape align so strongly that the lines seem to have a
deliberate sing-song effect — as, e.g., at Asin. 512: língua póscit, córpus quaérit, ánimus órat, rés monét (cf. line
198).184
We moderns are all too likely to undervalue P.’s achievement in catching the flavor of colloquial speech in what was
a quite artificial and exacting set of verse forms. That a good deal of training was required to deliver such lines
effectively — that capturing this peculiar mix of artifice and naturalism involved much more than simply reading
out the Latin as if it were prose — is suggested by the following instruction of Horace to his chorus: Lesbium
servate pedem meique / pollicis ictum (Odes 4.6.35-36).185 While the latter is of much later date and involves a
passage in Sapphics rather than iambo-trochaics, it is clear that Horace’s verse involves what is to the chorus (and,
more pointedly, to the reader) an artificial rhythm, and likely entails an artificial form of pronunciation. The same
likely held true, mutatis mutandis, not only for P.’s cantica, but for his spoken and chanted verse-forms as well. As
with Horace, we are dealing with a poet engaged in an ongoing tradition of poetic innovation and experimentation.
Given more recent scholarship on Latin metrics, no one should imagine that P.’s iambo-trochaic verses were
actually read out with a staccato beat defining the ictus of each foot: P. was not composing doggerel. (As Waite
1976: 104 notes — citing Shakespeare Son. 73.5 [“In me thou seest the twilight of such day”] — such mechanical
precision is equally alien to the English poetic tradition.) But it is, very likely, a mistake to assume that some form
of rhythmical emphasis did not provide a framework for the line, and a set of expectations. However P.’s verses
might have sounded in performance, an attention to the possible tension between ictus and accent allows one to
develop a sense of the different “feel” of each meter, and of a particular poet’s engagement with that meter. It also
encourages a close examination of how individual words and word-shapes are deployed within a line, and of the
tone of individual passages.
183
Choliambics highlight one of the non-naturalistic features of iambo-trochaic measures: the frequent lack of concern to
achieve coincidence of ictus and accent at the conclusion of each line.
184
Note that the Latin hexameter shuns line-endings consisting of two dissyllabic words, in order to avoid the very sing-song
effect for which P. here aims: Halporn et al. 1980: 70.
185
“…observe the Lesbian beat and the snap of my fingers …” (N. Rudd, tr.) — although ictum might be taken to allude to
the poet’s (imagined) striking of the lyre (Porphyrio).

Metrical Matters
The Performance of Latin Verse: Further Resources

[*resources particularly useful for beginning students]
*Society for the Oral Reading of Greek and Latin Literature (SORGLL) [http://www.rhapsodes.fll.vt.edu/index.php]
Abbott, K.M. “Ictus, Accent, and Statistics in Latin Dramatic Verse,” TAPA 75 (1944) 127-40.
Allen, W.S. Accent and Rhythm. Prosodic Features of Latin and Greek: A Study in Theory and Reconstruction. Cambridge,
1973.
Allen, W.S. Vox Latina: The Pronunciation of Classical Latin. 2nd ed. Cambridge, 1978.
Becker, A.S. “Listening to Lyric: Accent and Ictus in the Latin Sapphic Stanza,” CW 103 (2009-2010) 159-82.
*Brooks, C. Reading Latin Poetry Aloud: A Practical Guide to Two Thousand Years of Verse. Cambridge and New York,
2007.
*Daitz, S.G. The Pronunciation and Reading of Classical Latin. New York, Guilford, and London, 1984.
Fraenkel, E. Iktus und Akzent im lateinischen Sprechvers. Berlin, 1928.
Grotjahn R. “A Statistical Model for the Analysis of the Coincidence of Ictus and Accent,” in R. Grotjahn, ed., Hexameter
Studies (Bochum, 1981) 33-74.
Lindsay, W.M. Early Latin Verse. Oxford, 1922.
Raven, D.S. Latin Metre: An Introduction. London, 1965.
*Sonkowsky, R.P. Latin Aloud: Audio AP Selections from Vergil, Catullus, Ovid, Cicero, and Horace. Wauconda, 2007.
Sonkowsky, R.P., and F. Halberg. “Latin Verse-Ictus and Multimodal Entrainment,” ElectronAnt 8.2 (2004-2005) 7-23.
Sonnenschein, E.A. “Ictus and Accent in Early Latin Dramatic Verse,” CQ 23 (1929) 80-86.
Sturtevant, E.H. The Pronunciation of Greek and Latin: The Sounds and Accents. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, 1940.
Waite S.V.F. “Word Position in Plautus: Interplay of Verse Ictus and Word Stress,” in A. Jones and R.F. Churchhouse, eds.,
The Computer in Literary and Linguistic Studies (Cardiff, 1976) 92-105.

Metrical Matters
Some Particular Features of Plautus’ Prosody186
In P. —more so, e.g., than with Vergil — one needs to be on the lookout for the contingencies noted below.
Not all of these features are displayed in Asin., however, nor should all of them be regarded as common. Many
of these observations need to be refined, or present phenomena that can be explained by other means, but they
give a sense of the challenge that P.’s prosody offers to the beginning reader and provide a number of useful
specific examples. (See, further, the sources cited above, n. 1.)
a. final -s is frequently dropped and thus often will not make position: salvŏs sis [salvos = masc. nom.
sg.], estĭs nunc, occidistĭs me. (Asin. 286) This accounts as well for the disappearance of final –s before
an enclitic: rogan = rogasne, iuben = iubesne, viden = videsne (apocope)
b. final -m: as in classical Latin verse, final -m is pronounced as a nasalization of the preceding vowel and
thus need not make position. In Plautus this rule can apply as well when m closes a syllable within a
word: nĕmpe, ŏmnis (Asin. 482)
c. final r need not make position. In Plautus this rule can apply as well when r closes a syllable within a
word: ĕrgo, ărgentum, ŏrnatus, hĕrcle (for cl here, see next n.) (Asin. 817)
d. a stop (p, t, c, b, d, g, f, qu) followed by a liquid (l, m, n, r) need not make position: ăgros, lĭbros,
dŭplex187
e. s followed by a mute (p, t, c, qu) need not make position: quiĕsce, harŭspex, Diĕspiter, ĕst, adĕst, potĕst,
ĕstis, ĭste, ĭstic, ĭstuc, ŏstendo, venŭstate. This is true even when an r follows this combination:
magĭstratus, minĭstrare, fenestra (Asin. 705)
f. x (cs) need not make position: ĕx, ĕxercitus, senĕx, ŭxor
g. ps (often bs in classical Latin) need not make position: ĭpse, ăps, ăpscessi, ăpstulisti (Asin. 463)
h. double consonants need not make position, esp. mutes (p, t, c, qu), liquids (l, m, n, r), and s: ĕcce,
ĕccum, ĕccam, ĕcquis, quĭcquid, ăccepisti, ŏccasio, ŏcculto, sagĭtta, ădde, rĕdde; ĭlle, ĭllic,188 cavĭllator,
simĭllimae, satĕllites, puĕlla, ănnona, ĭnmortales, ĭrridiculo; dedĭsse, necĕsse, ĕsse (Asin. 244, 513,
818)
i. d and t often do not make position when at the end of words or syllables: ătque, ĕtsi, tamĕtsi, ŭt, ăt, ăd,
ĭd, apŭd; the 3rd sing. of verbs before a consonant (e.g., valĕt pugilice) (Asin. 482)
j. n followed by another consonant does not always make position: thus ĭnde and ŭnde; compounds:
ĭncedere, ĭngenium, ĭndiligenter, ĭnprudens; decĕnt, studĕnt, solĕnt, ĭntus, ĭnterea, iuvĕntus, ănte; ităn
tandem; tamĕn (when followed by consonant) (Asin. 487)
186
Excerpted from Gray xvi-xxiii, with some additions and modifications.
187
This is also a common feature of CL verse, but note, e.g., the treatment of apud at 156 (phps. an example of iambic
shortening: see Hurka ad 219).
188
The first syllable of forms of ille and iste are shortened quite frequently when preceded by a monosyllabic word: e.g., in
ĭllis (a form of iambic shortening).

Metrical Matters
k. iambic shortening: in its simplest form, words of the shape ⏑´‒ (with accent on first syllable) regularly
are pronounced with a short final syllable: domĭ, bonǐs, forĭs, benĕ, malĕ; imperatives such as: tenĕ, abĭ,
vidĕ. The following regularly display both patterns: ego, mihi, tibi, sibi, ubi, volo; modō (adv.)
sometimes; immō always189
l. hic in all its cases and forms that end in -c can be short, at least when a short monosyllable precedes (a
form of iambic shortening): quis haĕc est; sed quid hŭc; quid hŭnc sollicitas
m. ēs (2nd sg. pres. ind. and imperative of sum) regularly has a long ē in Plautus
n. final -ōr (in comparative adjs., nouns such as amor, 1st pers. sg. pass./dep. verbs, etc.) regularly has a
long ō in Plautus
o. thematic vowels in conjugational endings that conclude in s or t (many of which came to be shortened
by the classical period) are often long in Plautus: amāt, erīs, egēt, sīt, fuāt, velīt,vixīt, fuīt, adduxerīt
(fut. pfct.) (Asin. 404)
p. 3rd decl. abl. sgs. in –e or –i are often long in Plautus: retē, carnē, ordinē, militē
q. synizesis (indicated by sublinear ͜ ):
a. meus, tuos, suos (not tuus, suus),190 deus are scanned as monosyllables. Also quoius, quoi, huius,
huic, rei, dies, diu, fui, trium, duas, ais, ain, ait, eo, eam, eas, eat, eant, etc. (Asin. 60, 589, 736)
b. trisyllabic forms of meus, tuus, suus, deus, etc. are dissyllabic. Also duorum, duellum, fuisti,
fuisse, puella, diebus, etc. Diutius and exeundum are trisyllabic. (Asin. 559)
r. hiatus: In Plautus hiatus occurs between two words closely connected: e.g., a preposition and its noun, a
pair of nouns, a noun and its verb, an adjective and its noun, etc. E.g., de ea, octo hominum, gratiam
habeo, tuam amicam, eri imperia. But hiatus is practically confined to cases when there is a pause in
meter or in sense which at least tones down the harshness (e.g., the caesura, breaks in sense, change in
speakers). Most frequently hiatus is met with in the case of monosyllables with a long vowel (pro, de,
etc.) or a short vowel if the word ends with -m (nam, cum) in cases like quae ego, qui in, nam ego, ne
ego, qui homo, di ament, cum Alcumena, quam ob rem, qui obviam. Frequent before forms of homo,
habeo, hic, and other words beginning with h. Also in interjections — especially after the
monosyllables o, au, ah, eu, heu, em—and with vocatives. More generally, hiatus is permitted: (1) after
monosyllables, (2) after dissyllables which scan as pyrrhics (⏑⏑) whether the last syllable is naturally
short or shortened, (3) after words of more than two syllables. A vowel at the end of one verse followed
by another at the beginning of the next does not constitute a hiatus (i.e., synapheia/synalephe is not
featured).191
s. final –e is often dropped in a small group of disyllables (e.g., ill’, nemp’, ess’) [apocope]
189
This principle can also be applied with longer words or word-groupings (e.g., dăt(a) ŏccásiost). For a fuller account, see
above (“Glossary of Metrical Terms”), s.v. The enclitics quis/quid or quidem present a related phenomenon: a long monosyllable
preceding these words will often be shortened: e.g., tŭquidem (enclisis).
190
I.e., this phenomenon more commonly occurs in words of the shape: ⏑ ‒
191
For a related phenomenon, consult the glossary s.v. “Correption/Semi-hiatus/Prosodic Hiatus.”

Metrical Matters
t. Some words continued to be pronounced in day-to-day speech according to an older set of conventions,
or in recollection of an earlier established form: e.g., vóluerim (line 6 — freq. with other words of the
shape: ⏑´⏑ ⏑ ×: cf. 783); istúc (from istudce), harúnc (harumce), illíc. These pronunciations sometimes
inform Plautus’ text.

Metrical Matters
Some Commonly Cited Metrical Features (“Laws”)
[The following features of Plautus’ verse will often be cited in the commentaries by the name of the
scholars who first set them out. The descriptions here are those of Willcock and others, slightly
paraphrased or expanded in places.]192
Hermann’s Law: the two shorts of a resolved long or anceps should not be the final syllables of a trisyllabic or
longer word. (This does not apply to the first foot of lines or half-lines.)193
Locus Jacobsohnianus: brevis in longo and/or hiatus appear commonly in two places — 1) at the end of the fourth
foot of the iambic senarius (i.e., the eighth element: e.g., Asin. 85, 110, 762, 775, 791) and the equivalent
position in the trochaic septenarius (i.e., the eleventh element: Asin. 184, 250, 328, 340, 828); 2) as the final
element of the initial cretic of the trochaic septenarius (e.g., Asin. 175, 178, 199, 333, 873, 903).194
Luch’s Law: if an iambic line or half-line, or a catalectic trochaic line, ends with a word of the shape ⏑ ‒, the
preceding elements may not be formed by an iambic word or the iambic end of a longer word.195 (This results
in the bridge at the conclusion of P.’s iambic senarii: above, n. xx.)
Meyer’s Law: if a word of more than one syllable has its word-end coincide with the end of the second or fourth
foot of an iambic senarius (i.e., with the fourth or eighth element), or the equivalent places of a trochaic
septenarius (i.e., the seventh or eleventh elements), its penultimate syllable cannot consist of a long syllable or
a resolved long.196 (This feature guards against the stress accent muddying the iambic/trochaic “feel” of the
verse at key locations.)
Ritschl’s Law: there should not be word-division between the two shorts of a resolved long or anceps, unless the
former of the two is a monosyllable or an elided disyllabic word, or the two words go so closely together as to
constitute a type of grammatical unit or a common phrase.197 (This does not apply to the first foot of lines or
half-lines.) Acceptable: ŭtĭnam, ŭt ŏpinione, nam quĭd ĕgo; vs. dīcĭt ĕlephans198
192
See Willcock 1987: 146 and 148.
193
Ritschl’s and Hermann’s laws are often said to mitigate against a “broken” anapaest (⏑ ⏑ ‒ ).
194 ◉Soubiran 1988: 210-11, 262-63, 274-76, Fortson 2008: 76-93.
195 ◉Soubiran 1988: 383-89, Fortson 2008: 34-53.
196 ◉Soubiran 1988: 337-68, Fortson 2008: 34-37, 54-75.
197
Ritschl’s and Hermann’s laws are often said to mitigate against a “broken” anapaest (⏑ ⏑ ‒ ).
198
Fortson 2008: 7-8.

Metrical Matters
The Meters of Plautus’ Asinaria: Sample Passages199
SIGLA
| Division between metrical feet
⁝⁝ Caesura
|| Diaeresis
// Hiatus200
itaque Elided vowel-sound (printed in reduced font with a strike-through)
͜ Synizesis
I) Iambic Senarii (Acrostic Metrical Hypothesis and Asin. 1-59)
Ama n | t i a rge n | t o ⁝⁝ fi | l i o a u | xi l iá | ri e r
Sub ĭ mpé ri | o vi v | e ns ⁝⁝ vol t | se ne x | uxo | ri o. [b]
It a que ób a | si nos | re l a | t um ⁝⁝ prét i | um Sa u | re a e
Nume rá | ri i us | si t ⁝⁝ se r | vol o | L e o | ni da e.
Ad a mí | c a m i d fe r | t ur. ⁝⁝ ce | di t noc | t e m fi | l i us.
Ri va | l i s a | me ns ⁝⁝ ob | pra e re p | t a m múl i | e re m [t]
Is re m om | ne m uxo | ri ⁝⁝ pe r | pa ra sí | t um nun | t i a t .
Ac c ur | ri t ux | or ⁝⁝ ac | vi rum e | l ust ri s | ra pi t .
hoc á gi | t e sul | t i s, ⁝⁝ spe c | t a t o | re s, nun | c i a m,
qua e quí dĕ m | mi hi a t | que vo | bi s ⁝⁝ re s | vorta t | be ne [k]
gre gĭ que huí c | e t dómi | ni s ⁝⁝ at | que c on | duc t o | ri bus. [k]
fa c e nún | ci a m | t u, pra e | c o, omne m a u | ri t um | popl um.
a ge núnc | re si | de , ⁝⁝ cá vĕ | modō | ne gra | t i i s. [k] [not k] 5
nunc qui d | proc e s | se ri m huc | e t qui d | mi vól u | eri m [t]
199
Letters in the margin refer to Gray’s summary (excerpted above) of metrical features typical of Plautine verse. For a
metrical analysis of the entire play, see Henderson’s text (2006). Henderson’s presentation offers a readily performable text; the
passages here attempt to provide the basis for a study of the possible interplay between rhythm and word-shape, ictus and accent.
200
In raised text in instances where hiatus accompanies foot division or caesura.

Metrical Matters
di c a m: ut | sc i re | t i s ⁝⁝ no | me n hu͜ i | us fa b | ul a e ; [q]
na m quód a d | a rgu | me nt um a t | t i ne t, | sā ne | bre ve e st .
nunc quod | me di | xi ⁝⁝ vel | l e vo | bi s di | c e re
di c ā m: // hu͜ i c no | me n ⁝⁝ Gra e | c e Ona | go e st fa | bul a e ; [q] 10
De móphi | l us sc ri p | si t , ⁝⁝ Ma c | c us vor | t i t ba r | ba re ;
Asi ná | ri a m | vol t e s | se , ⁝⁝ si | pe r vos | l i c et .
i ne st | l e pos | l udus | que i n hac | c omoe | di a,
ri dí c u | l a re s | e st . ⁝⁝ dát e | be ni | gne ope rá m | mi hi
ut vos, | it e m < ut> ál i | a s, ⁝⁝ pa | ri t e r núnc | Ma rs a d | i uve t . 15
si c ut | t uom | vi s ⁝⁝ u | nic um | gnā t um | t uae
supe ré s | se vi | t a e ⁝⁝ sos | pi t e m e t | supe r | st i t e m,
i t a t é | d opt e | st or ⁝⁝ pe r | se nec | t ut e m | t ua m
pe rque il | l a m qua m | t u mé t u | i s ⁝⁝ ux | ore m | t ua m,
si qui d | me d e r | ga // hódi | e fa l | sum di x | e ri s, 20
ut t í bĭ | supe r | st e s ⁝⁝ ux | or a e | t at e m | si e t [k]
a t que i l | l a vi | va ⁝⁝ vi | vos ut | pe st e m op | pe ta s.
pe r Di | um Fí di | um qua e | ri s: ⁝⁝ i u | ra t o | mi hi
vi de ó | nec e s | se e sse ⁝⁝ e | l oqui | qui c qui d | roge s.
i t a me óp | st i na | te a ggre s | su’s ⁝⁝ ut | non a u | de a m 25
profe c | t o pe r | c onta n | t i ⁝⁝ qui n | prōma m om | ni a .
pro͜ i nde ac | t ut um i s | t uc ⁝⁝ qui d | si t quod | sc i re ex | pe t i s [q]
e l óque | re : ut i p | se sc i | bo, ⁝⁝ te | fac i a m út | sc i a s.
di c op | se c ro he r | c l e ⁝⁝ se | ri o | quod te | roge m,
c a vĕ mí | me nda | c i quic | qua m. ⁝⁝ qui n | t u e rgo | roga s? [k] 30
num me i l | l uc du | c i s ⁝⁝ úbĭ | la pi s | la pi dé m | te ri t? [k]
qui d i st úc | e st ? a ut | ubi i st úc | e st ⁝⁝ te r | ra rum | l oc i ? [e]

Metrical Matters
ubĭ fl é nt | ne qua m hómi | ne s ⁝⁝ qui | pole n | t a m pi n | si t a nt , [k]
a pud fús | t i t údi | na s, ⁝⁝ fe r | ri c ré pi | na s i n | sul a s, [i]
ubĭ ví | vos hómi | ne s ⁝⁝ mor | t ui i n | c ursa nt | bove s. [k] 35
modŏ pól | pe rc e | pi, Lí ba | ne , ⁝⁝ quí d ĭ s | t uc si t | l oc i : [k] [e]
ubĭ fí t | pol e n | t a, ⁝⁝ t e | fort a s | sē di c | e re. a h, [k]
ne que he r | cl e e go i s | t uc di | c o ⁝⁝ ne c | di c t um | volo,
t e que op | se c ro he r | c l e ut ⁝⁝ qua e | l oc u | t u’s de | spua s. [a + prodelision]
fi a t , | ge ra | t ur mos | t i bi . ⁝⁝ á ge , a | ge usque e x | sc re a . 40
e t i á m | ne ? a ge qua é | so he rc le ⁝⁝ us | que e x pé ni | t is fa u | c i bus.
e t i a m á m | pl i us. | na m quo us | que ? ⁝⁝ usque a d | mort e m | vol o.
c a vĕ sí s | ma la m | re m. uxo | ri s di | c o, non | t ua m. [k]
dono | t e ob i s | t uc dic | t um ut e x | pe rs si s | me t u. 44-45
di t í bĭ | de nt quae | quomque op | t e s. ⁝⁝ re d | de ope rá m | mi hi . [k]
quor hōc | e go e x | t e qua e | ra m? a ut quor | mi ni t ér | t i bi
propt é re | a quod | me ⁝⁝ non | sc i e n |te m fe c |e ri s?
a ut quor | post re |mo ⁝⁝ fi |l i o | susc e n |se a m,
pa t re s | ut fá c i | unt c e | t e ri ? | qui d ĭ st úc | novi e st ? [e] 50
de mi | ror qui d | si t ⁝⁝ e t | quo e va | dat sum i n | me tu.
e qui dé m | sc i o | i a m ⁝⁝ fi | l i us | quod a mé t | me us
i st a nc | me re t rí | c e m e pro | xumo | Phi l a e | ni um.
e st ne hōc | ut di | c o, L í ba | ne ? ⁝⁝ re c | t a m i nst a s | vi a m.
e a ré s | e st . sé d e | um mor | bus ⁝⁝ i n | vā si t | gra vi s. 55
qui d mor | bi e st ? quía | non sup | pe t unt | di ct i s | da t a .
t une ē s | a di u | t or nunc | a ma n | t i fi | l i o? [m]
sum ve | ro, e t al | t e r ⁝⁝ nos | t e r e st | L e on | i da .
be ne he r | cl e fá c i | t i s, ⁝⁝ [et ] a | me i ni | t i s gra | t i a m.

Metrical Matters
II) Iambic Septenarii (Asin. 381-406)
ut de | monst ra | t a e sunt | mi hī, // ha sce ae | di s e s | se opor | t e t [hiatus before diaeresis]
De ma e | ne t ús u | bi di | c i t ur || ha bi t á | re . i , púe | re , pul | t a [anceps]
a t que a t r | i e n | se m Sa u | re a m, || si e st i n | t us, e | voc a | t o huc .
qui s nost | ra s si c | fra ngi t | fore s? || ohe, i n | qua m, si | qui d a u | di s.
ne mo é t i | a m t ét i | gi t . sa | nun ē s? || a t c e n | se ba m a t | t i gi s | se [m] 385
propt é re | a huc quía ha | be ba s | i t e r. || nol o é gŏ | fore s | c onse r | va s [k]
me ͜ a s a | t e ve r | be ra | ri e r. || sa ne é gŏ | sum a mi | c us nost | ri s [a e di bus]. [q] [k]
pol ha u | pe ri c | l um e st c a r | di ne s || ne fóri | bus e f | fri nga n | t ur,
si / / i s | t oc e x | e mpl o om | ni bus || qui qua e | runt re s | ponde | bi s.
i t a ha e c | mora | t a e st i a | nua : / / e xte m | pl o i a | ni t o | re m [anceps] 390
c l a ma t , | proc ul | si que m | vi de t || i re a d | se c al | c i t ro | ne m. [anceps]
se d qui d | ve ni s? | qui d qua e | ri ta s? || De ma e | netum | vol e | ba m.
si si t | domi , | dic a m | t i bī . || qui d e | i us a t | ri e n | si s? [not k]
ni hi l ó | ma ge i n | t us e st . | ubi e st ? || a d t on | sore m i | re di x | i t .
quom ve | ni sse t , | post non | re di t ? || non é de | pol . qui d | vole | ba s? 395
a rge n | t i vi | gi nti | mi na s, || si a de s | se t , ac | c e pi s | se t .
qui pro i s | t uc ? á si | nos ve n | di di t || Pe l la e | o me r | c a t or | i
me rc a | t u. sc í ŏ. | t u i d nunc | re fe rs? || i a m hic c re | do e um a f | fut u | rum. [k]
qua fa | c ie vós | t e r Sa u | re a e st ? || si i s e st, | ia m sc i | re pót e | ro.
ma c i l é n | t i s ma | l i s, ru | ful us || a l i quá n | t um, ve n | t rio | sus, [anceps] 400
t ruc ul é n | t i s óc u | l i s, c om | moda || st a t u | ra , t ri s | t i fron | t e .
non pót u | i t pic | t or rec | t i us || de sc ri | be re e | i us for | ma m.
a t que he r | c l e i psum á de | o c on | t uor, || qua ssa n | t i cá pi | t e i nc e | di t.
qui sque ob | vi a m hu͜ i c | oc c e s | se ri t || i ra | t o, va | pula | bi t . [q] [anceps]
sī quí de m hĕ r | c l e Ae á ci | di ni s | mi ni s || a ni mí s | que e xpl e | t us c e | di t , [c] 405
si me d | i ra | t us t ét i | ge ri t, || i ra | t us va | pul a | bi t. [anceps]

Metrical Matters
III) Iambic Octonarii (Asin. 830-50)
numqui d | na m t í bĭ | mol e s | t um e st , gna | t e mi , | si ha e c nunc | me c um ac | c uba t? [k] 830
pi e t á s, | pa té r, o | c ulí s | dol o | re m ⁝⁝ próhi | be t. quam | qua m e go ĭ st á nc | a mo, [e]
possum é qui | de m i ndu | c e re á ni | mum, ne ae | gre pát i | a r quí a | t ec um a c | c ubat .
de c e t | ve re | c undum e s | se a dulé s | c e nt e m, ⁝⁝ Ar | gyri p | pe . e de pól, | pat e r,
me ri t ó | t u͜ o fác e | re pós | sum. a ge e r | go, hoc á gi | te mus | c onvi | vi um [q]
vi no ut | se rmo | ne sua | vi . no | l o e gŏ mé t u | i, a ma | ri ma | vol o, [k] 835
mi gna | t e , me a ps | t e. pól e | go ut rum | que fá ci | o, ut ae | quom e st fi | l i um.
c re da m i s | t uc , si e s | se t e hí la | rum vi | de ro. ⁝⁝ a n | t u [e ss’] me | t ri st e m | put a s?
put e m é gŏ, | que m ví dea m | a e que e s | se ma e | st um ut ⁝⁝ quá si | die s | si di c | ta si t ? [k]
ne di | xi s i s | t uc . ne | si c fúe | ri s: ⁝⁝ i | l i c o é gŏ | non di x | e ro. [k] 839-840
e m / / ă spéc | t a : ri | de o. út i | na m má l e || qui mí hi | vol unt | sic ri | de a nt . [e]
sc i o é qui | de m qua m ob | re m me , | pa t e r, || t u t ri s | t e m c re | da s nunc | ti bi :
qui a ĭ sta é c | e st te | c um. a t que é go | qui de m he r | c le ut ve | rum t í bĭ | dic a m, | pa t e r, [e] [k]
e a ré s | me má l e ha | be t ; a t | non e ͜ ó || qui a t í bĭ | non c úpi | a m qua e | ve li s: [q] [k]
ve rum i st a m | a mo. ál i | a m t e | c um e sse é qui | de m ⁝⁝ fá c i | l e pos | sum pe r | pe t i . 845
a t e go há nc | vol o. e r | go sunt | qua e e xop | t a s: ⁝⁝ mí hĭ | qua e e go e x | opt e m | vol o. [k]
unum hunc | di e m | pe rpé t e | re , quóni | a m ⁝⁝ tí bĭ | pot e s | t a t e m | de di [k]
c um ha c a n | num ut e s | se s, a t | que a ma n | t i a rge n | t i fe | c i c o | pi a m.
e m / / ĭ st óc | me fac | t o t í bĭ | de vi n | xt i . ⁝⁝ qui n | te e rgo hí l a | rum da s | mi hi ? [e] [k] 849-850

Metrical Matters
IV) Trochaic Septenarii (Asin. 138-52)
ma l ĕ quod | pote rō | fac e re | fa ci a m, || me ri t ō | que i d fac i | a m t u | o. [k ]
e gŏ pol | t e re di | ga m e ͜ ó de m un | de ort a e s, || a d ege s | t a t i s | t e rmi | nos, [k] [q]
ĕ go ĕ dĕ | pol t e | fa c ia m ut | qua e si s || nunc e t | qua e fue | ri s sc i | a s. 140
qua é pri us | qua m i st a m a dii | at que a | ma ns e go || a ni mum | mé ŭm / / i s | t i de | di, [a]
sordi | do vi | t a m obl e c | t a ba s || pa ne i n | pa nni s | ĭ nŏpĭ | a , [t]
a t que e a | si e ră nt , ma g | na s ha | be ba s || omni | bus di s | gra t i | a s; [k]
é a de m | nunc, quom e st | me li us, | me quo͜ i us || ope ra e st | i gno | ra s ma | l a . [q]
re dda m e gŏ | te e x fe | ra fa m | e ma n | sué t e m, || me spe c | t a mo | do. [k ] 145
na m i st i | qui d sus | c e nse | a m i psi ? || ni hi l e st , | nil qui c | qua m me | re t ;
t u͜ ó fa | c i t i us | su, t uo ĭ m | pe ri o | pa re t : || ma t e r | t u, e ͜ á de m e | ra e s. [q] [k] [q]
t e e gŏ / / ul | c i sc a r, | te e gŏ / / ut | di gna e s || pe rda m a t | que ut de | me me | re s.
a t sc e | l e sta | vi dĕ n ut | ne i d qui dĕ m, || me di g | num e sse e x | i st u | ma t [k]
quĕ m / / ă dĕ | a t , que m | c oll o | qua t ur, || quo͜ i que i | ra t o | suppl i | c et ? [q] 150
a t que e c | c a m il l ec e | bra e xi t | t a nde m; ⁝⁝ op | i nor | hi c a n | t e ost i | um
me ͜ o mo | do l o | qua r qua e | vŏlă m, ⁝⁝ quon | i a m i nt us | non l i ci | t um e st mi | hi . [q] [k]

Abbreviations
Abbreviations
A.A. — Ovid, Ars Amatoria Asin. — Plautus, Asinaria

A.P. — Horace, Ars Poetica (Art of Poetry) Athen. — Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae [Sophists at
Dinner]
A&G — Allen and Greenough, New Latin Grammar
[cited by section] Att. — Cicero, Epistulae ad Atticum
abl. — ablative attrib. — attributive
abl. abs. — ablative absolute Aul. — Plautus, Aulularia (Pot of Gold)
absol. — absolute (i.e., employed without an object) B.Afr. — anon., de Bello Africo
acc. — accusative Bacch. — Plautus, Bacchides
act. — active Ben. — Seneca the Younger, de Beneficiis
ad — on, in reference to betw. — between
ad Att. — Epistulae ad Atticum (Letters to Atticus) Brut. — Plutarch, Life of Brutus
ad fin. — ad finem (at the end) ca. — circa (approximately — of dates)
ad loc. — ad locum (on / in reference to the passage Caecil. — Caecilius Statius
cited)
Cael. — Cicero, Pro Caelio
Ad Marc. — Seneca the Younger, Consolatio ad
Caes. — C. Iulius Caesar
Marciam
Adelph. — Terence, Adelphoe (Brothers) Capt. — Plautus, Captivi (Prisoners)
adj. — adjective / adjectival Cas. — Plautus, Casina
adv. — adverb / adverbial Cat. — Catullus
Aen. — Vergil, Aeneid cf. — confer (compare)
Aesch. — Aeschines cfs. — compares
Ag. — Nepos, Agesliaus chap. — chapter
Agr. — Tacitius, Agricola Cic. — Cicero

Cist. — Plautus, Cistellaria (Casket-Comedy)
alt. — alternative / alternate
Am. — Ovid, Amores CL — Classical Latin
Amph. — Plautus, Amphitruo Clear. — Cleareta, mother of Philaenium
Andr. — Terence, Andria cmpd. — compound
anon. — anonymous cod. — codex (i.e., ms.)
Anth. Pal. — Palatine Anthology codd. — codices (i.e., mss.)
APIS — Advanced Papyrological Information System Col. — Columella, de Re Rustica
App. — Appendix collat. — collateral form, variant
approx. — approximately colloq. — colloquial

Com. — Comoediae
Apul. — Apuleius
Argyr. — Argyrippus, son of Demaenetus comm. — commentator(s) / commentary
Aris. — Aristophanes comp. — comparative
Arnob. — Arnobius conj. — conjugation / conjunction
Ars — Horace, Ars Poetica Contr. — Seneca the Elder, Controversiae
Art. — Artemona, wife of Demaenetus correl. — correlative

Curc. — Plautus, Curculio (Weevil)

Abbreviations
dat. — dative frg. — fragment

de Melo — de Melo’s edition of Asin. fut. — future
decl. — declension G.E. — Gai Institutionum epitome
Decl. Min. — Declamationes Minores G&L — Gildersleeve and Lodge, Gildersleeve’s Latin
Grammar [cited by section]
del. — delete
Gal. — de Bello Gallico
delib. — deliberative
Gell. — Aulus Gellius
Dem. — Demaenetus, father of Argyrippus
gen. — genitive
demonstr. — demonstrative
Gray — Gray’s commentary on Asin.
Demosth. — Demosthenes
Grk. — Greek
dep. — deponent
hapax (sc. legomenon) [Grk.] — a word that does not
Diab. — Diabolus, rival of Argyrippus appear elsewhere
Dial. Mer. — Lucian, Dialogues of the Courtesans Heaut. — Terence, Heauton Timorumenos (Self-
dimin. — diminutive Tormentor)
Diph. — Diphilus Hec. — Terence, Hecyra (Mother-in-Law)
Dis. Ex. — Menander, Dis Exapaton (The Double- Her. — Ovid, Heroides
Deceiver) Hom. — Homer
disc. — discourse Hor. — Horace
Div. — Cicero, de Divinatione Hurka — Hurka’s commentary on Asin.
dr. — drachma / drachmae Hyper. — Hyperides
Dysc. — Menander, Dyscolus [The Grouch] i.e. — id est (“that is to say”)
ead. — eadem [the same author (female)]
id. — idem [the same author (male)]
ed. — editor IG — Inscriptiones Graecae
edd. — editors Il. — Homer, Iliad
emph. — emphatic impers. — impersonal
Engl. — Modern English impf. — imperfect
Epid. — Plautus, Epidicus ind. — indicative
Epist. — Aristaenetus, Epistulae (Letters) indecl. — indeclinable
Epitr. — Menander, Epitrepontes (Arbitration) indir. — indirect
esp. — especially
inf. — infinitive / inferior (“later”)
et al. — et alii (and others) Inst. Or. — Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria
Eun. — Terence, Eunuchus (Eunuch) instr. — instrumental
exclam. — exclamatory interj. — interjection
Fam. — Cicero, Epistulae ad familiares interrog. — interrogative
fem. — feminine intrans. — intransitive
ff. — and following (in citations) intro. — introduction
fin. — finem [ad fin. = “towards the end”] KA — Kassel-Austin, Poetae comici graeci
fl. — floruit (indicating the period at which an author, L&S — Lewis and Short, A Latin Dictionary
historical figure, etc. was at the height of his/her
career) Leon. — Leonida, slave of Demaenetus
Fr. — French Lib. — Libanus, slave of Demaenetus
freq. — frequent / frequently Lindsay — Lindsay, Syntax of Plautus [cited by page]

Abbreviations
Ling. — Marcus Terentius Varro, de Lingua Latina Orig. — Cato, Origines

lit. — literally orig. — originally
loc. — locative Ov. — Ovid
Luc. — Lucian P. — Plautus or (in titles) Papyri
Lucil. — Lucilius P.Wisc.— The Wisconsin Papyri
Lucr. — Lucretius, de Rerum Natura pace — (with peace/by permission of) contrary to the
opinion of
Lys. — Lysias
Par. — Parasitus, hanger-on of Diabolus
Lys. — Aristophanes, Lysistrata
partic. — particular, particularly
Mart. — Martial
pass. — passive
masc. — masculine
PCG — Kassel-Austin, Poetae comici graeci
Men. — Menander
pers. — personal
Men. — Plautus, Menaechmi
Pers. — Plautus, Persa (Persian)
Merc. — Mercator (character)
Petr. — Petronius
Merc. — Plautus, Mercator
pfct. — perfect
Metam. — Metamorphoses
Phaedr. — Plato, Phaedrus
meton. — metonymy
Phil. — Philaenium, beloved of Argyrippus
Miles — Plautus, Miles Gloriosus (Braggart Soldier)
Phorm. — Terence, Phormio
Most. — Plautus, Mostellaria (Haunted House)
phps. — perhaps
ms. — manuscript
pl. — plural
mss. — manuscripts
Plat. — Plato
n. — note
Plin. — Plny
n.d. — no date (i.e., no date of publication provided)
plpfct. — pluperfect
NA — Aulus Gellius, Noctes Atticae (Attic Nights)
Plut. — Plutarch
Naev. — Naevius
Poen. — Plautus, Poenulus
Nat. — Arnobius, Adversus nationes
poet. — poetic, in poetry
neg. — negative
Polyb. — Polybius
Nep. — Cornelius Nepos
poss. — possessive
neut. — neuter
pr. — proem, foreword
New Pauly — Brill’s New Pauly: Encyclopaedia of
the Ancient World (2002-2010) pred. — predicate / predicative
NH — Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia prep. — preposition / prepositional
nom. — nominative pres. — present
Nonius — Nonius Marcellus prev. — previous
obj. — object / objective pron. — pronoun
Od. — Homer, Odyssey Prop. — Propertius
Oec. — Xenophon, Oeconomicus ps.-Dem. — pseudo-Demosthenes
OED — Oxford English Dictionary ps.-Xen. — pseudo-Xenophon
Off. — Cicero, de Officiis Pseud. — Plautus, Pseudolus
OLD — Glare, Oxford Latin Dictionary ptcple. — participle
Orat. — Cicero, de Oratore punc. — punctuation

Abbreviations
Quint. — Quintilian trans. — transitive

r. — remark transl. — translation
R.R. — Marcus Terentius Varro, Res Rusticae Trin. — Plautus, Trinummus (Three-dollar Day)
re — regarding, concerning (in re — “in the matter Truc. — Plautus, Truculentus (The Boor)
of”)
v. — verse / line
ref. — reference
Varro — Marcus Terentius Varro
refl. — reflexive
vb. — verb
rel. — relative
vel sim. — vel simile / similia (“or the like”)
Rep. — Republic
Vell. — Velleius Paterculus
Rhet. Her. — Anon., Rhetorica ad Herennium
Ver. — Cicero, in Verrem
Rud. — Plautus, Rudens (Rope)
Verg. — Vergil
Rust. — Columella, de Re Rustica
Vid. — Plautus, Vidularia (The Traveling Bag)
s.v. — sub voce (“under the heading / lemma”)
Vitr. — Vitruvius
Sam. — Menander, Samia (Girl from Samos)
voc. — vocative
Sat. — Saturae (Satires)
vs. — versus, as opposed to
Satyr. — Satyricon
w/o — without
Saur. — Saurea
Woodcock — Woodcock, A New Latin Syntax [cited
sc. — scilicet (i.e., “understand,” “insert”) [supplies a by section]
word or phrase omitted in P.’s text]
Xen. — Xenophon
secl. — secludit / secludunt (“remove(s)” — i.e.,
declare(s) to be spurious)
Sen. — Seneca
Senec. — Cicero, de Senectute
sens. obs. — sensus obscenus (“employed in an
obscene or ribald sense”)
sep. — separation
Serv. — Maurus Servius Honoratus, In Vergilii
Aeneidos Libros
sg. — singular
Soph. — Sophocles
Stich. — Plautus, Stichus
subj. — subjunctive
subord. — subordinate
subst. — substantive, substantival(ly)
superl. — superlative
t.t. — technical term
Tac. — Tacitus
Ter. — Terence
Tib. — Tibullus
tr. — translator
trag. — tragoediae

Bibliography
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(Les femmes au déjeuner de Ménandre),” in Zeugma: Interim Reports (Porstmouth, 2003) 79-99.
Adams, J.N. The Latin Sexual Vocabulary. London, 1982.
Ahl, F., tr. and comm. Virgil: Aeneid (with an introduction by E. Fantham). Oxford, 2007.
Ahrens, P. De Plauti Asinaria. Jena, 1907.
Allen, W.S. Vox Latina: The Pronunciation of Classical Latin. 2nd ed. Cambridge, 1978.
Anderson, W.S. Barbarian Play: Plautus’ Roman Comedy. Toronto, 1993.
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Illustrations
Illustrations
Ill. 1: The Greek Chlamys

Detail of Attic Red Figure Pelike attributed to the Cleophon Painter (ca. 430 BC)
Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Boston 03.793 (ARV2 1145 no. 37)
http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/pelike-with-warriors-arming-for-departure-153835
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/image?img=Perseus:image:1992.11.0394
Ill. 2: “The Reckoning”

Apulian Bell-Krater (ca. 380-370 BC)
State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg
Leningrad inv. B-1661 (Trendall, Phlyax Vases2 nr. 33)
Ill. 3: House of Sallust

(Early 1st C. AD, with rear entrance via service area, likely reflecting an earlier plan)
Pompeii VI.2.4
A. Laidlaw and M.S. Stella. The House of Sallust in Pompeii (VI 2, 4). Portsmouth, 2014.
Ill. 4: Mars and Venus (House of the Citharist, Pompeii)

1st C. BC – 1st C. AD
Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli
Pompeii Inv. 112282
http://cir.campania.beniculturali.it/museoarcheologiconazionale/itinerari-tematici/galleria-di-
immagini/RA00086337/?searchterm=112282
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Affresco_romano_-_Enea_e_di.jpg
Ill. 5: Menander, Synaristosai (Women at Breakfast)

Pythias and Plangon on couch; Philainis seated on chair to the right
Floor mosaic by Zosimos of Samosata (3rd C. AD)
Zeugma
Gaziantep Museum of Archaeology inv. no. 8177
http://www.zeugmaweb.com/zeugma/english/engoyku_13.htm
Ill. 6: Disposition of guests at the Roman Convivium

Possible triclinium layout for Room 23 of the Villa of Oplontis
Martin Blazeby, King's Visualisation Lab (KVL)
http://www.kvl.cch.kcl.ac.uk/masks/chromakey_results/rm23/triclinium.jpg
Ill. 7: Roman banqueting scene (mid-1st C. AD)

Pompeii: House of the Triclinium (V 2.4)
Naples, Museo Nazionale 120029
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Pompeii_family_feast_painting_Naples.jpg
Ill. 8: Disposition of guests at the Greek Symposium

Dining room in South Stoa I: furnished isometric reconstruction by Piet De Jong
Athenian Agora PD no. 791
Ill. 9: Silver Cantharus (1st C. AD)

Dionysiac Scene
Pompeii Inv. 25377
http://cir.campania.beniculturali.it/museoarcheologiconazionale/percorso/nel-museo/P_RA2/kantharos-
1/?searchterm=kantharos
http://exhibits.museogalileo.it/vinum/gallery/KantharosWithCentaursCupids.html

Illustrations
Ill. 1: The Greek Chlamys

Detail of Attic Red Figure Pelike attributed to the Cleophon Painter (ca. 430 BC)
Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Boston 03.793 (ARV2 1145 no. 37)

Illustrations
Ill. 2: “The Reckoning”

Apulian Bell-Krater (ca. 380-370 BC)
State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg
Leningrad inv. B-1661 (Trendall, Phlyax Vases2 nr. 33)

Illustrations
Ill. 3: House of Sallust

(Early 1st C. AD, with rear entrance via service area, likely reflecting an earlier plan)
Pompeii VI.2.4
A. Laidlaw and M.S. Stella. The House of Sallust in Pompeii (VI 2, 4). Portsmouth, 2014.

Illustrations
Ill. 4: Mars and Venus (House of the Citharist, Pompeii)

1st C. BC – 1st C. AD
Pompeii Inv. 112282

Illustrations
Ill. 5: Menander, Synaristosai (Women at Breakfast)

Pythias and Plangon on couch; Philainis seated on chair to the right
Floor mosaic by Zosimos of Samosata (3rd C. AD)
Zeugma
Gaziantep Museum of Archaeology inv. no. 8177

Illustrations
Ill. 6: Disposition of guests at the Roman Convivium

Possible triclinium layout for Room 23 of the Villa of Oplontis
Martin Blazeby, King's Visualisation Lab (KVL)

Illustrations
Ill. 7: Roman banqueting scene (mid-1st C. AD)

Pompeii: House of the Triclinium (V 2.4)
Naples, Museo Nazionale 120029

Illustrations
Ill. 8: Disposition of guests at the Greek Symposium

Dining room in South Stoa I: furnished isometric reconstruction by Piet De Jong
Athenian Agora PD no. 791

Illustrations
Ill. 9: Silver Cantharus (Pompeii: 1st C. AD)

Dionysiac Scene
Pompeii Inv. 25377

Glossary
Plautus, Asinaria: Latin-English Glossary
This catalogue has been compiled with the aid of the following Internet resources:
Perseus On-line Lewis & Short

http://perseus.uchicago.edu/Reference/lewisandshort.html
WORDS by William Whitaker

http://users.erols.com/whitaker/words.htm
Perseus Latin Word Study Tool / On-line Lewis and Short

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=a&la=la#lexicon
Text with active links to Lewis and Short

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0031%3Aact%3Dprol.
Commentary:
J.H. Gray’s Cambridge school edition (1894)
http://www.archive.org/details/asinariafromtext00plauuoft
ABALIENO (1) — make alien; separate, abstract; alienate, estrange, make disaffected; transfer (sale, contract);
remove, take away, dispose of
ABDUCO (3) ABDUXI, ABDUCTUS — lead away, carry off; detach, attract away, entice, seduce, charm; withdraw
ABEO, ABIRE, ABIVI/-II, ABITUM — go away, depart [The imperative abi is often employed as a simple exclamation
or address, either with a friendly or reproachful significance: “Good for you!”; “Away with you!” “Enough”]
ABIGO (3) ABEGI, ABACTUS — drive, send away; expel, repel; steal, plunder (cattle), rustle; seduce; remove, cure
(disease); drive away (an evil)
ABIUDICO (1) — deprive one of a thing by judicial sentence, declare that it does not belong to one, abjudicate
ABS = ab
ABSCEDO (3) ABSCESSI, ABSCESSUS — withdraw, depart, retire, move away
ABSENS, -ENTIS — absent, missing, away, gone; physically elsewhere (things), non-existent
ABSTERGEO (2) ABSTERSI, ABSTERSUS — wipe off, clean away, cleanse, strip off; banish, expel, dispel
ABUTOR (3) ABUSUS SUM — waste, squander; abuse; misuse; use up; spend; exhaust (+ abl. or acc.)
AC = atque
ACCEDO (3) ACCESSI, ACCESSUS — come near, approach; agree with; be added to (with ad or in + acc.); constitute
ACCERSO (3) ACCERSIVI, ACCERSITUS — [= arcesso]; send for, summon; indict, accuse; fetch, import; invite;
invoke; bring on oneself
ACCIPIO (3/4) ACCEPI, ACCEPTUS — take, grasp, receive, accept, undertake; admit, let in; hear, learn
ACCREDO (3) ACCREDIDI, ACCREDITUM — give credence to, believe; put faith in, trust; believe someone (dat.)
regarding something (acc.) [accreduas — arch. 2nd sg. subj.]
ACCUBO (1) — lie near or by; recline at table
ACCURRO (3) ACCURRI, ACCURSUS — hasten to, come running; rush up; charge, rush to attack
ACCUSATRIX, -ICIS (3F.) — (female) prosecutor at trial, accuser, plaintiff
ACCUSO (1) — accuse, blame, find fault, impugn; reprimand; charge (with crime, offense)
ACER, ACRIS, ACRE — sharp, bitter, pointed, piercing, shrill; sagacious, keen; severe, vigorous
ACERBUS, -A, -UM — harsh, strident, bitter, sour; unripe, green, unfinished; grievous; gloomy
ACQUIESCO (3) ACQUIEVI, ACQUIETUS — lie with (+ cum), rest, relax; repose (death); acquiesce, assent, submit;
subside; find (mental) peace, find comfort
ACTUTUM (ADV.) — immediately, instantly; forthwith, without delay

Glossary
AD (PREP.) — to, up to, towards; near, at; until, on, by; almost; according to; about (with numerals); with regard to,
in respect of, in relation to (+ acc.)
ADDO (3) ADDIDI, ADDITUS — add, insert, bring, attach to; increase; impart
ADDUCO (3) ADDUXI, ADDUCTUS — lead up, to, or away; bring up or to; persuade, induce; lead, bring
ADEO (ADV.) — to such a degree, pass, or point; precisely, exactly; thus far; indeed, truly, even (used to
emphasize the preceding word); moreover, besides, in addition, to boot; (uses found only in the comic poets:
= ad haec, praeterea; for this purpose that, to the end that)
ADEO, ADIRE, ADIVI/-II, ADITUM — go to, approach; approach one for the purpose of addressing, asking aid,
consulting, and the like
ADHAEREO (2) ADHAESI, ADHAESUS — adhere, stick, cling, cleave to; hang on; be attached, concerned, involved
ADICIO (3/4) ADJECI, ADJECTUS — add, increase, raise; add to (+ dat. or ad + acc.); suggest; hurl (weapon); throw to
or at, cast at
ADIUNGO (3) ADIUNXI, ADIUNCTUS — add, attach, join to, add to, support; apply to; harness, yoke; direct; confer
ADIUTOR, -ORIS (3M.) — assistant, deputy; accomplice; supporter (+ dat.); secretary; assistant schoolmaster
ADIUVO (1) — help, aid, abet, encourage, favor; cherish, sustain; be of use, be profitable
ADMITTO (3) ADMISI, ADMISSUS — urge on, put to a gallop; let in, admit, receive; grant, permit [in the language of
soothsayers, t. t. of birds which give a favorable omen: to be propitious, to favor (+ acc. + inf.)]
ADSUM, ADESSE, ARFUI, ARFUTURUS — be near, be present, be in attendance, arrive, appear; aid (+ dat.)
ADULESCENS, -ENTIS (3M./F.) — young man, youth; youthful person; young woman, girl
ADULESCENTULUS, -I (2M.) — young man (dimin. of adulescens)
ADVENIO (4) ADVENI, ADVENTUS — come to, arrive; arrive at, reach, be brought; develop, set in, arise
ADVENTOR, -ORIS (3 M.) — visitor, newcomer, stranger; customer, incoming tenant
ADVENTUS, -US (4M.) — arrival, approach; visit, appearance, advent; ripening; invasion, incursion
ADVERSOR (1) — be against (+ dat.), oppose, withstand
ADVERSUM (ADV./PREP.) — in the direction of, toward; against
ADVERSUS (ADV./PREP.) — facing, opposite, against, towards; contrary to; face to face, in presence of, in the face of
ADVERSUS, -A, -UM — turned toward, opposite, facing
ADVERTO (3) ADVERTI, ADVERSUS — turn towards; direct or draw one’s attention to [animum advertere — to pay
attention]
AEACIDINUS, -A, -UM — having to do with or worthy of Aeacus, the father of Peleus and Telamon, grandfather of
Achilles and Ajax
AEDIS, AEDIS (3 F.) — temple, shrine; tomb; apartment, room; pl: house, abode, dwelling; household
AEGRE (ADV.) — scarcely, hardly, with difficulty
AEGRIUS (ADV.) — comparative of aegre
AEQUE (ADV.) — equally; justly, fairly; in the same manner or degree, just as; likewise, also
AEQUUS, -A, -UM — level, even, equal, like; just, kind, impartial, fair; patient, contented; [aequum est (+ inf.) — it
is fair, reasonable to ~]
AËR, AËRIS (3M.) — air (the denser, lower atmosphere nearer the earth, vs. the fiery outer aether) [Grk.]
AES, AERIS (3N.) — money, pay, fee, fare; copper, bronze, brass, base metal; (+ alienum) debt
AESTUS, -US (4 M.) — agitation, passion, seething; raging, boiling; heat, fire; sea tide, spray, swell
AETAS, -ATIS (3 F.) — lifetime, age, generation; stage or period of life; time, era; [aetatem (adv. acc.) — through
the whole of life, during lifetime, continually]
AFFERO, AFFERRE, ATTULI, ALLATUS — bring something to someone; carry, convey; report, allege, announce;
produce, cause
AFFERTO — 2nd/3rd-sg. fut. act. imperative of affero
AFFICIO (3/4), -FECI, -FECTUS — do something to someone, i.e. to exert an influence on body or mind, so that it is
brought into such or such a state; [+ acc. + abl. — grace someone with something, equip with]
AGE / AGITE (imperative of ago used in exhortation or encouragement, or to win someone’s attention) — come!
come on! up! on! quick! pay attention! heed! [Often used to give added force to an adjoining imperative or
jussive subj.]
AGEDUM (interj.: a strengthened form of age) — come!, go to!, well!, all right (cf. s.v. dum)
AGGREDIOR (3/4) AGGRESSUS SUM — approach, advance; attack, assail; undertake, seize (opportunity), attempt
AGITO (1) — put a thing in motion, drive or impel; rouse up, excite, move, urge; be employed in, be engaged in,
have, hold, keep, celebrate [frequentative of ago]
AGNELLUS, -I (2M.) — diminutive of agnus: little lamb, lambkin

Glossary
AGO (3) EGI, ACTUS — drive, urge, conduct, act; spend (time + cum); thank (+ gratias); deliver (speech); treat, deal,
negotiate, agree on terms; confer, talk with one about a person or thing; (quid agis — how are you doing?
how’s it going?); (for the imperative age, see s.v.)
AH (INTERJ.) — exclamation expressing surprise, irony
AIN = ais + ne
AIO (DEFECTIVE) — say, assert; say yes, affirm, assent; prescribe, lay down (law); [Employed as an interrogative
(ain tu?) it conveys surprise or wonder, sometimes also reproof or sorrow: “indeed?” “really?” “is it possible?”];
[quid ais — to seek someone’s opinion: “what do you say?” — cf. Brit. “I say …”]; [aio, ais, ait, aiunt; subj.
aias, aiat, aiant; impf. aiebam, aiebas, etc.]
ALBUS, -A, -UM — white, pale, fair, hoary, gray; bright, clear; favorable, auspicious, fortunate
ALIAS (ADV.) — at or in another time or place; previously, subsequently; elsewhere; otherwise
ALIENUS, -A, -UM — foreign, strange; unconnected; another’s, belonging to someone else; contrary; averse,
hostile
ALIQUANTO (ADV.) — somewhat, to or by some (considerable) extent or amount; considerably [abl. of degree of
diff.]
ALIQUANTUM (ADV.) — somewhat, in some degree, a little, rather; considerably, not a little
ALIQUANTUS, -A, -UM — certain quantity, amount, number, size of; quite a quantity of; moderate
ALIQUI, ALIQUAE/ALIQUA, ALIQUOD (INDEF. ADJ.) — some
ALIQUID (ADV.) — somewhat, in something, in some degree, to some extent
ALIQUIS, ALIQUID (INDEF. PRON.) — anyone, anybody, anything; someone; some, few; some (particular) thing;
some; any; a few; a particular, certain ~; some other; about, like (with numbers); [after si, num, nisi, ne, in
particular, aliquis/quid appears as quis/quid]
ALITER (ADV.) — otherwise, differently; in any other way
ALIO (ADV.) — elsewhere; to another place, person, or thing
ALIUS, -A, -UD — another; other
ALLIGO (1) — bind, fetter (to); bandage; hinder, impede, detain; accuse; implicate, involve in
ALTER, ALTERA, ALTERUM — the other of two, one of two, the other; another
ALTERNUS, -A, -UM — alternate, one after the other, by turns, successive; mutual; reciprocal
ALTUM, -I (2N.) — the deep sea, deep water; the high seas; a height, depth
AMABILIS, -E — worthy to be loved, lovable; amiable, pleasant; lovely, attractive, delightful
AMABO (fut. ind. act. of amo) — used to sweeten a request: “please”
AMANS, -ANTIS (m.) (pres. partic. of amo employed substantively) — (male) lover
AMATOR, -ORIS (3 M.) — (male) lover
AMATRIX, -ICIS (3 F.) — (female) lover
AMBO, -AE, -O — both (of two), two together [cf. duo]
AMBULO (1) — walk, take a walk, go on foot; travel, march; go about, gad; parade, strut
AMENS, -ENTIS — insane, demented, out of one’s mind; very excited, frantic, distracted; foolish
AMICA, AE (1F.) — (female) lover (in New Comedy, always a member of the demimonde)
AMICUS, -I (2M.) — friend
AMICUS, -A, -UM — friendly, kind, amicable, favorable
AMITTO, AMITTERE, AMISI, AMISSUS — lose; lose by death; send away, dismiss; part with; let go, slip or fall, drop
AMMITTO — see admitto
AMMOLIOR (4) AMMOLITUS SUM — move or bring one thing to or upon something
AMMOVEO (2) AMMOVI, AMMOTUS — move a person or thing; bring, conduct, lead, carry, etc. to or toward a place;
apply or direct one thing to another; give (a kiss); present
AMO (1) — love, like; fall in love with; be fond of; have a tendency to; [pres. ptcple. amans = amator] [amabo =
“please”]
AMOR, -ORIS (3m.) — love; affection; the beloved; Cupid; affair; sexual passion
AMOVEO (2) AMOVI, AMOTUS — move, take or put away; remove; banish, cause to go away
AMPLECTOR (3) AMPLEXUS SUM — surround, encircle, embrace, clasp; esteem; cherish; surround, include, grasp
AMPLEXOR (1) — take and hold in arms, embrace, clasp; welcome, accept gladly; cling to
AMPLIUS (ADV.) — greater number (than); further, more, beyond, besides; more than (with numerals)
AN (CONJ.) — can it be that (introduces question expecting negative answer or further question); whether; (utrum …
an = whether ... or); or; either
ANCILLA, -AE (1F.) — slave girl; maid servant; handmaid
ANETICULA, -AE (1F. ) — duckling (term of endearment)

Glossary
ANGIPORTUS, -I (2M.) — narrow street, alley; lane [The (later) Roman aristocratic house often had an entrance (the
posticum) that opened onto a side alley, along the long axis of the house, near the juncture between the back wall
of the tablinum and the more open, Greek-style portico found in the back of many a Roman house.]
ANHELITUS, -US (4M.) — panting, puffing, gasping, shortness of breath; breath, exhalation; bad breath [anhelitum
ducere — pant]
ANIMA, -AE (1 F.) — soul, spirit, vital principle; life; breathing; wind, breeze; air (element); breath
ANIMO (1) — animate, give or bring life; revive, refresh; rouse, animate; inspire; bring into a certain frame of mind;
(pass. — be brought into a certain state of mind, inclined, disposed, minded)
ANIMUS, -I (2M.) — mind; intellect; soul; feelings; heart; character; (esp. in pl.) spirit, courage, pride; air; violent
passion, vehemence, wrath
ANITICULA, -AE (1F.) — duckling, ducky [dimin. of anas — duck]
ANNUMERO (1) — count (in or out), pay; reckon (time); enumerate, run through; classify as; add
ANNUO (3) ANNUI, ANNUTUS — designate with nod, nod assent; indicate, declare; favor, smile on; agree to, grant
ANNUS, -I (2M.) — year
ANNUUS, -A, -UM — for a year, lasting or appointed for a year; paid or performed yearly, annual
ANTE — (adv.) before, previously, first, before this, earlier; in front or advance of; forwards; (prep.) in front or
presence of, in view; before (space, time, or degree) (+ acc.)
ANTEHAC (ADV.) — before this time, up til now; before now, before then; previously, earlier; in the past
ANULUS, -I (2 M.) — ring, signet ring; circlet; ringlet, curl of hair
APPAREO (2) — appear; be evident, visible, noticed, or found; show up, occur; appear as servant or aid (to), serve (+
dat.)
APPARO (1) — prepare, fit out, make ready, equip, provide; attempt; organize (project); apparo + refl. + inf. — to
prepare oneself to do something, set about to do something
APPELLO (1) — call (upon); address; dun; solicit; appeal (to); bring to court; accuse; name
APPELLO (3) APPULI, APPULSUS — drive to, move up, bring along, force towards; put ashore at, land (ship)
APPONO (3) APPOSUI, APPOSITUS — place near, set before, serve up; put, apply or add to; appoint, assign
APPROPERO (1) — hasten, hurry, come hastily, make haste; accelerate, speed up
APS = ab
APUD (PREP.) — with, at, by, near, among; at the home or establishment of; at someone’s official place of business
(+ acc. of person)
AQUA, -AE (1F.) — water
ARA, -AE (1F.) — altar
ARANEUS, -I (2 M.) — spider [vs. the more common aranea (1f.)]
ARBITRATUS, -US (4M.) — arbitration; choice; judgment, capacity for decisions; jurisdiction, power
ARBITROR (1) — observe, witness; testify; decide, judge, sentence; believe, think, imagine
ARCADICUS, -A, -UM — Arcadian (Arcadia: mountainous region in the middle of the Peloponnese; often suggesting
“rustic,” “clownish,” “stupid”; a region prized for its wild donkeys)
ARCHIBULUS, -I (2M.) — proper name
ARCHIDEMUS, -I (2M.) — proper name
AREA, -AE (1F.) — open space; park, playground; plot; threshing floor; courtyard; site; bald spot
ARGENTARIUS, -I (2 M.) — banker
ARGENTUM, -I (2N.) — silver; money, cash; silver-plate
ARGUMENTUM, -I (2N.) — proof; evidence, fact; argument; conclusion; reason, basis; subject, plot (play)
ARGYRIPPUS, -I (2M.) — son of Demaenetus
ARO (1) — plow, till, cultivate; produce by plowing, grow; furrow, wrinkle
ARRIDEO, ARRIDERE, ARRISI, ARRISUS — smile at or upon; please, be pleasing or satisfactory (to); be or seem
familiar (to)
ARTE (ADV.) — closely, tightly (of bonds); briefly, in a confined space, compactly
ARTEMONA, -AE (1F.) — wife of Demaenetus
ARTUTUS, -A, -UM — hefty, large-limbed (?) [hapax — conjecture in 565]
ASINARIUS, -A, -UM — of or connected with asses; millstone (ass-driven) [Asinaria fabula: the play about the
asses]
ASINUS, -I (2 M.) — ass, donkey; blockhead, fool, dolt
ASPECTO (1) — look or gaze at or upon; observe, watch; pay heed; face or look towards (place or person)
ASPERNOR (1) — despise, scorn, disdain; spurn, push away, repel, reject; refuse, decline

Glossary
ASPICIO, ASPICERE, ASPEXI, ASPECTUS — look or gaze on or at, see, observe, behold, regard; face; consider,
contemplate
ASSIDUUS, -A, -UM — constant, regular; unremitting, incessant
ASSIMULO (1) — make like; compare; counterfeit, simulate, imitate, pretend, feign, act a part
ASSUESCO (3) ASSUEVI, ASSUETUS — intrans.: become or grow accustomed to, used to, intimate with; trans.: make
familiar, accustom one to something, habituate
ASSUM, ADESSE, AFFUI, AFFUTURUS — be near, be present, be in attendance, arrive, appear; aid (+ dat.)
ASSUS, -A, -UM — roasted
ASTO (1) ASTITI, - — stand at, on or by; assist; stand up; stand on one’s feet; stand still (ad + sto)
ASTUTIA, -AE (1F.) — cunning, cleverness, astuteness; cunning procedure or method, trick, stratagem (pl.: tricks,
strategems, plots)
AT (CONJ.) — but, but on the other hand; on the contrary; while, whereas; but yet; at least
ATQUE (CONJ.) — and also, and besides, and even, and; (in comparisons): than, as
ATQUI (CONJ.) — but anyhow, but anyway, yet, notwithstanding, however, rather, but now, but nevertheless, and yet;
(adding a thought confirmatory of a preceding one, but not antithetical) — but indeed, but certainly, by all means
ATHENAE, -ARUM (1F.) — Athens
ATRIENSIS, -IS (3M.) — steward; servant in charge of household administration, major-domo; house-slave
ATTATAE (INTERJ.) — ah! oh! alas! (expression of sudden enlightenment, surprise, fear, warning)
ATTICUS, -A, -UM — of or pertaining to Attica or Athens; Attic, Athenian [Attica is the region governed by Athens,
just as Boeotia is the region governed by Thebes and Laconia that governed by Sparta.]
ATTINEO, ATTINERE, ATTINUI, ATTENTUS — stretch out to, reach to; belong somewhere, pertain to (only in the 3rd
person): hoc (res) attinet ad me (less freq. simply me), or absol. hoc attinet — this belongs to me, concerns me,
pertains or appertains to me, relates or refers to me
ATTINGO (3) ATTIGI, ATTACTUS — touch, touch or border on; reach, arrive at, achieve; mention briefly; belong to
AUCEPS, AUCUPIS (3 M.) — bird-catcher, fowler; bird seller, poulterer; spy, eavesdropper
AUCUPIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — bird-catching, fowling
AUCUPO/AUCUPOR (1) — catch birds; hunt after, seek, be on the lookout for, watch for, lie in wait for
AUDACIA, -AE (1F.) — boldness, daring, courage, confidence; recklessness, effrontery, audacity
AUDAX, -ACIS — bold, daring; courageous; reckless, rash; audacious, presumptuous; desperate; violent, fierce
AUDEO (2) AUSUS SUM — have a mind (to do something), be prepared, intend (esp. in neg. questions); dare, have
courage to (+ inf.), act boldly, venture, risk
AUDIO (4) — hear, listen to, obey, heed (+ acc. or (rare) dat.)
AUFERO, AUFERRE, ABSTULI, ABLATUS — bear, carry, take away; remove, withdraw; steal, obtain
AUGEO (2) AUXI, AUCTUS — increase, enlarge, augment; spread; honor, promote, raise; exalt; make a lot of
AUGURIUM, -I (2N.) — augury; divination, prediction; omen, portent, sign; foreboding
AUREUS, -A, -UM — of gold, golden, gilded; gold bearing; gleaming like gold; beautiful, splendid
AURICULA, -I (1F..) — (dimin. of auris) ear-lobe, ear
AURIS, -IS (3F.) — ear; hearing; a discriminating sense of hearing, “ear” (for)
AURITUS, -A, -UM — furnished with ears, having long or large ears; attentive
AURUM, -I (2N.) — gold (metal or color), gold money, riches
AUSCULTO (1) — listen to, give ear to (+ dat.); overhear, listen secretly; heed, obey [“… followed by the dat. of
hearing and obeying, by the acc. of the mere physical act of hearing” (Gray)]
AUSPICIUM, -I (2N.) — divination (by birds); omen; beginning; auspices (pl.); right of doing auspices
AUT (CONJ.) — or
AUTEM (CONJ.) — on the other hand, but, yet, however, nevertheless
AUXILIOR (1) —help (+ dat.); give help, aid; assist; be helpful, be of use, avail; remedy, heal
AVIS, AVIS (3F.) — bird; sign, omen, portent
BADISSO/BADIZO (1) — you (sg.) walk (Grk. βαδίζω) [hapax]
BAIULO (1) -, - — carry a burden, bear something heavy, play the role of porter
BALINEAE, -ARUM (1F.) — baths [CL balneum]
BARBARUS, -A, -UM — foreign, of or used by foreigners; typical of foreigners; cruel, savage; uncivilized, uncouth
(Grk.)
BELLE (ADV.) — well, nicely; satisfactorily, agreeably, suitably, neatly; fortunately, favorably
BELLUS, -A, -UM — pretty, handsome, charming, pleasant, agreeable, polite; nice, fine, excellent
BENE (ADV.) — well, very, quite, rightly, agreeably, cheaply, in good style [bene dicere — to use words of good
omen, avoid ill-omened speech (= favere lingua)]

Glossary
BENEDICE (ADV.) — with friendly words, kindly (a hapax)

BENEFICIUM, -I (2N.) — kindness, favor, benefit, service, help; privilege, right
BENEVOLUS, -A, -UM — well-wishing, kind, benevolent, friendly, devoted
BENIGNE (ADV.) — kindly, benevolently, obligingly; courteously, cheerfully; freely, generously
BEO (1) — bless, make happy, gladden, delight; enrich (with) [beas / beasti (colloq.) — that delights me, thank
you very kindly]
BESTIA, -AE (1F.) — beast, animal, creature; wild beast, beast of prey in arena
BIBO (3) BIBI, BIBITUS — drink; toast
BLANDE (ADV.) — in a coaxing or winning manner, charmingly, persuasively, seductively
BLANDITER (ADV.) = blande
BLANDUS, -A, -UM — flattering, coaxing; charming, pleasant; smooth, gentle; alluring, attractive
BOIA, -AE (1F.) — collar or yoke worn by criminals [usually pl.]
BONA, -ORUM (2N.) — goods, property
BONUS, -A, -UM — good; accommodating
BOS, BOVIS (3M./F.) — ox; bull; cow; pl. — cattle
BRACHIUM, -I (2N.) — arm; lower arm, forearm; claw; branch, shoot
BREVIS, -E — short, little, small, stunted; brief, concise, quick; narrow, shallow; humble
BULLA, -AE (1 F.) — bubble; boss, knob, stud; locket, amulet (usu. gold) hung round necks of boys
CADUS, -I (2M.) — jar, large jar for wine, oil, or other liquids; urn, funeral urn; money jar
CAECUS, -A, -UM — blind; unseeing; dark, gloomy, hidden, secret; aimless, confused, random; rash
CALAMISTRATUS, -A, -UM — curled with a curling-iron; having hair curled in such a fashion, effeminately adorned
CALCAR, -RIS (3N.) — spur worn on the heel, goad, inducement
CALCITRO, -ONIS (3 F.) — one that kicks or is inclined to kick with heels, kicker [The ancients routinely kicked a
door rather than knocking in the modern fashion]
CALLIDUS, -A, -UM — crafty, sly, cunning; wise, expert, skillful, clever, experienced, ingenious; [callide (adv.) —
well, thoroughly]
CANTHARUS, -I (2M.) — large drinking vessel with handles [Grk.] [See ill. 8]
CANUS, -A, -UM — white, gray; aged, old, wise; hoary; foamy, white-capped; white with snow or frost
CAPESSO (3) CAPESSIVI, CAPESSITUS — grasp, take, seize eagerly; undertake, manage; pursue with zeal; [with refl.
pron. — strive to reach a place or limit, betake one's self to, go to, repair or resort to] [the meditative of capio:
G&L 191.5]
CAPIO (3) CEPI, CAPTUS — take hold, seize; grasp; take bribe; arrest, capture; put on; occupy; captivate
CAPITULUM, -I (2N.) — little head; (meton. — person, individual)
CAPTIO, -ONIS (3F.) — deception, trick, fraud; disadvantage, loss; a sophistry, quibble
CAPTO (1) — try, long, or aim for; desire; entice; hunt legacy; try to catch, grasp, seize, or reach
CAPULUS, -I (2M.) / CAPULUM, -I (2N.) — sword-hilt; handle of other implements; bier, coffin; sepulcher, tomb,
scacophagus
CAPUT, CAPITIS (3N.) — head; person; life; leader, chief, guide; top; source or mouth (river) [Often employed to
designate an individual’s civil or political life, including the rights of life, liberty, citizenship, and family: its loss
or deprivation was called deminutio or minutio capitis. In the gen., capitis = Engl. capital offense (gen. of
charge)]
CARCER, -ERIS (3M.) — prison, jail; jailbird; starting barriers at race-course, traps; beginning
CARDO, -INIS (3 M.) — hinge; pole, axis; chief point or circumstance; crisis; tenon, mortise; area; limit
CAREO (2) — be without, absent from, devoid of, free from; miss; abstain from, lack, lose; do without
CARNIFEX, -ICIS (3M.) — executioner, hangman; murderer, butcher, torturer; scoundrel, villain
CASTERIA, -AE (1 F.) — part of a ship? (where rowers were accustomed to rest, rower’s room)
CASTIGO (1) — chastise, chasten, punish; correct, reprimand, dress down, castigate; neutralize
CASTRO (1) — castrate, emasculate, unman; spay (animal); dock (tail); diminish, impair, weaken
CATELLUS, -I (2 M.) — little dog, puppy; (term of endearment)
CATENA, -AE (1F.) — chain; series; fetter, bond, restraint; imprisonment, captivity
CATULUS, -I (2M.) — young dog, puppy; young of any animal, pup, cub
CAUSĀ ( POSTPOSITIVE PREP.) — for the sake or purpose of (preceded by gen.), on account or behalf of, with a view
to; [causā meā — for my sake]
CAUSA, -AE (1 F.) — cause, reason, motive, inducement; occasion, opportunity; cause, business undertaken for
anyone, an employment; occasion, excuse, pretense; judicial process, lawsuit; [causam dicere — to defend
oneself, present one’s case]

Glossary
CAVEO (2) CAVI, CAUTUM — take care, take heed, beware, guard against, avoid; [In P., the imperative is routinely
followed by a jussive noun clause via parataxis]
CEDO (3) CESSI, CESSUS — be in motion, move, walk, go along; withdraw, go away from, depart, retire [+ acc. —
(for concedere) grant, concede, allow, give up, yield (something to someone)]
CELOX, -OCIS (3F.) — (sc. navis) swift-sailing ship, a cutter, yacht
CENA, -AE (1F.) — dinner, supper, principal Roman meal (evening); course; meal; company at dinner
CENO (1) — dine, eat dinner; have dinner with; dine on, make a meal of
CENSEO (2) — think, suppose, judge; (with reference to an erroneous opinion) imagine, suppose, falsely believe;
recommend; propose, vote, decree, determine; count, reckon; assess
CENTIENS (ADV.) — 100 times, on 100 occasions
CENTUM (INDECL.) — 100
CENTUMPONDIUM, -I (2N.) — weight of one hundred pounds
CERA, -AE (1 F.) — wax, beeswax; honeycomb; wax-covered writing tablet, letter; wax image, seal
CERNO (3) , CRETUS — sift, separate, distinguish, discern; see; examine; resolve, determine; decide
CERO (1) — smear or coat with wax
CERTE (ADV.) — surely, certainly, without doubt, really; at least, at any rate, in all events
CERTUS, -A, -UM — fixed, settled, firm; certain; trusty, reliable; sure; resolved, determined [certum est — employed
for cretum est (cerno): it has been decided, determined (+ dat. of agent) (+ inf. or fut. ind., of action to be
undertaken)]
CESSO (1) — be remiss, inactive; hold back, leave off, delay, cease from; rest; be free of
CETERI, -AE, -A — the rest, the others; other [the sg. is rare]
CETERUM (ADV.) — moreover; but yet; still, for the rest, but, besides; in other respects
CHAEREA, -AE (1M.) — a proper name
CHAERESTRATUS, -I (2M.) — a proper name
CHREMES, -ETIS/-IS (3M.) — a proper name
CIBUS, -I (2 M.) — food; fare, rations; nutriment, sustenance, fuel; eating, a meal; bait
CICATRIX, -ICIS (3 F.) — scar, cicatrice; wound, bruise
CINAEDUS, -I (2M.) — a man who willingly assumes the passive role in male-male sexual relations; effeminate man;
man who performs a lewd dance; pervert
CIRCUM (ADV.) — about, around; round about, near; in a circle; in attendance; on both sides
CIRCUMDO (1) CIRCUMDEDI, CIRCUMDATUS — surround; envelop; post, place, or build around; enclose; beset; pass
around
CIRCUMDUCO (3) CIRCUMDUXI, CIRCUMDUCTUS — lead out of the way or round about; cheat, mislead, trick out of
CIRCUMPLECTO (3) CIRCUMPLEXI, CIRCUMPLEXUS — encompass; embrace, clasp; surround, encircle; enclose (with
wall); cover roundabout
CIRCUMSISTO (3) – STETI, - — surround, take a position around
CITO (ADV.) — quickly, fast, speedily, with speed; soon, before long; readily; easily
CLAM (ADV.) — secretly, in secret, unknown to (+ acc.); privately; covertly; by fraud
CLAMO (1) — proclaim, declare; cry or shout out; shout or call to someone or something
CLAMOR, -ORIS (3 M.) — shout, outcry, protest; loud shouting (approval or joy), applause; clamor, noise, din; war-
cry, battle-cry; roar (thunder or surf); cry of fear, pain, or mourning; wailing
CLANCULUM (ADV.) — secretly, by stealth; privately
CLARUS, -A, -UM — clear, bright, gleaming; loud, distinct, ringing; evident, plain; illustrious, famous
CLAUDUS, -A, -UM — limping, lame; defective, crippled, imperfect; uneven, halting, wavering, uncertain
CLAVUS, -I (2 M.) — nail, spike, rivet; purple stripe on tunic
CLEARETA, -AE (1F.) — a procuress; “mother” of Philenium
CLIENS, -ENTIS (3M./F.) — client, dependent (used esp. in ref. to the patron-client relationship)
CLINIAS, -AE (1M.) — a proper name
CLIVUS, -I (2 M.) — slope (sg.), incline; sloping ground; inclined passage or surface
COACTIO, -ONIS (3F.) — collection (of money), collecting, calling in; compression; abridgement, epitome; constraint
COGNOSCO (3) COGNOVI, COGNITUS — become acquainted with or aware of; recognize; learn, find to be; inquire,
examine
COLLAUDO (1) — praise, extol highly; commend; eulogize
COLLEGA, -AE (1M./F.) — colleague (in official or priestly office); associate, fellow
COLLOCO (1) — place, put, or set in order; arrange; station, post, position

Glossary
COLLOQUOR (3) COLLOCUTUS SUM — talk or speak to or with (+ acc.); talk together or over; converse; discuss;
confer, parley
COLLUM, -I (2N.) — neck; throat; head and neck; severed head; upper stem (flower); mountain ridge
COLO (3) COLUI, CULTUS — live in (place), inhabit; till, cultivate, promote growth; foster, maintain; honor, cherish,
worship; tend, take care of; adorn, dress, decorate, embellish
COLONUS, -I (2 M.) — farmer, cultivator, tiller; inhabitant
COLUMBA, -AE (1F.) — pigeon; dove; (term of endearment); (bird of Venus, symbol of love or gentleness)
COLUMNA, -AE (1F.) — column, pillar; post, prop; portico (pl.)
COMBURO (3) COMBUSSI, COMBUSTUS — burn up; consume or destroy with fire; reduce to ash, cremate
COMITAS, -ATIS (3F.) — politeness, courtesy; kindness, generosity, obligingness, friendliness; good taste, elegance
COMMINISCOR (3) COMMENTUS SUM — devise, think up, invent; fabricate; state or contrive falsely, allege, pretend
COMMISCEO (3) COMMISCUI, COMMIXTUS — intermingle, mix together, combine (ingredients); unite sexually; mingle
(with another race); transact business (+ cum), discuss; confuse
COMMODO (1) — lend, hire; give, bestow, provide; put at disposal of, oblige; make fit, adapt
COMMODUS, -A, -UM — suitable, convenient, obliging; opportune, timely; favorable, lucky; complete, perfect, of full
weight or measure, fit, suitable, due, proper; desirable, agreeable; good
COMMOVEO (2) COMMOVI, COMMOTUS — remove from a place, carry away, displace; start, set in motion, move;
move hither and thither, shake, agitate, disturb
COMMUNIS, -E — common, joint, public; ordinary; related, having something in common [in commune — for
common use, for all; for a common object, end, advantage; equally; publicly; in general]
COMMUTO (1) — change; alter wholly, rearrange, replace; transform; exchange, barter, sell
COMOEDIA, -AE (1F.) — comedy [Grk.]
COMPARO (1) — couple together in the same relation, connect in pairs, pair, match, unite, join
COMPARO (1) — prepare something with zeal, care, etc.; make ready; set in order, furnish, provide; procure, get,
purchase, obtain, prepare, make, collect
COMPELLO (1) — address, accost, speak to, call upon; appeal to; challenge; chide, rebuke; accuse
COMPELLO (3) COMPULI, COMPULSUS — drive together (sheep, cattle), round up; bring together, unite; force, compel,
impel
COMPENDIUM, -I (2N.) — gain, profit; sparing, saving; abridgement, compendium; shorthand; a short cut [compendi
facere — “to make (a matter) of a saving,” “to save, spare” — a defining genitive or genitive of general rubric to
which a thing belongs (Woodcock 72.5ii)]
COMPES, -EDIS (3 F.) — shackles (for feet) (usu. pl.), fetters; things impeding movement; chains
COMPILO (1) — rob, pillage, snatch; steal from (another author), plagiarize; beat up thoroughly
COMPLECTOR (3) COMPLEXUS SUM — embrace, hug; welcome; encircle, encompass; attain; include, bring in,
involve; lay hold of, grip; seize; grasp
COMPLEXUS, -US (4 M.) — clasp, grasp, hold; embrace; sexual intercourse
COMPRIMO (3) COMPRESSI, COMPRESSUS — hold back, hold, keep in, restrain; silence
CONCEDO (3) CONCESSI, CONCESSUS — go away, retire, withdraw; relinquish, give up, concede; pardon; submit,
allow, grant, permit, condone
CONCELEBRO (1) — celebrate, make known; go often or in large numbers, frequent, haunt; mark an occasion
CONCEPTUS — see concipio
CONCESSO (1) — cease, desist temporarily, leave off
CONCINNO (1) — prepare, make ready; put or set right, put in order; arrange suitably
CONCIO (4) — move, set in violent motion, stir up; muster; rouse, excite, incite, provoke
CONCIPIO (3/4) –CEPI, -CEPTUS — draw up, comprise, express something in words; compose [verbis conceptis —
by means of a set form of words, in a formal oath]
CONCREDO (3) CONCREDIDI, CONCREDITUS — entrust for safe keeping; confide (secret or similar); consign, commit
CONDIO (4) — preserve, pickle; embalm, mummify; spice; season, flavor, give zest; make pleasant or agreeable;
soften, temper
CONDUCO (3) CONDUXI, CONDUCTUS — draw or bring together, collect, assemble; unite, join; employ, hire; rent
CONDUCTOR, -ORIS (3 M.) — one who hires a thing, a lessee, farmer, tenant, a contractor
CONFERO, CONFERRE, CONTULI, COLLATUS — bring together, carry, convey; collect, gather, compare; unite, add;
direct, aim
CONFIDENTIA, -AE (1 F.) — assurance, confidence; boldness, impudence, audacity
CONFLUO (3) CONFLUXI, CONFLUXUS — flow, flock, or come together; meet, assemble; gather, collect; be brought
CONFRICO (1) — rub vigorously; rub (with unguents), massage, rub down (body); rub, make smooth

Glossary
CONIURO (1) — form a plot or conspiracy, conspire [The pfct. pass. ptcple. is often employed in an act. sense]
CONOR (1) — attempt, try, endeavor, make an effort; exert oneself
CONSCRIBO (3) CONSCRIPSI, CONSCRIPTUS — enroll, enlist, raise (army); write on or down, commit to or cover with
writing; compose
CONSEQUOR (3) CONSECUTUS SUM — follow, go or come after; attend on; pursue; follow up; happen subsequently;
imitate, obey
CONSERVA, -AE (1F.) — (female) fellow slave
CONSILIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — debate, discussion, deliberation, consultation; advice, counsel, suggestion; intention,
purpose, policy, plan, action
CONSISTO (3) CONSTITI, CONSTITUS — stop, stand, halt, cease; come to a stop; pause, linger
CONSPICIO (3/4) CONSPEXI, CONSPECTUS — observe, see, witness; notice; watch; gaze or stare on; catch sight of
CONSUADEO (2) CONSUASI, CONSUASUS — advocate, recommend or advise strongly; try to persuade (+ dat.)
CONSUESCO (3) CONSUEVI, CONSUETUS — (intrans.) accustom oneself; become or be accustomed to, be used to;
(trans.) inure, habituate; familiarize [The pfct. is often employed idiomatically to indicate a present state: “I have
grown accustomed and am (now) accustomed”]
CONSULO (3) CONSULUI, CONSULTUS — ask information or advice of; consult, take counsel; deliberate, consider;
advise [+ dat. — take care for some person or thing, be mindful of, take care of, look to, have regard for]
CONSULTO (1) — consult, take counsel; form plans, deliberate, debate, discuss; consider carefully, weigh, ponder
CONTEMNO (3) CONTEMPSI, CONTEMPTUS — think little of; look down on, take poor view of; pay no heed, disregard,
slight; treat with or hold in contempt, scorn, disdain; despise; keep away from, avoid
CONTEMPLO (1) [ante- and post-classical collateral form of contemplor (1)] — observe, note, notice, gaze or look
hard at, regard; contemplate, consider carefully
CONTENTE (ADV.) — closely, in a restrictive or restrained manner
CONTERO (3) CONTRIVI, CONTRITUS — grind, crush, pound to pieces; bruise, crumble; rub or wipe away or off,
expunge; spend, exhaust, waste (time), use up; wear out or down; make weary
CONTICINIUM/CONTICINNUM, -I (2N.) — still of night (immediately following nightfall), dusk; [other authorities
associate it with the pre-dawn stillness]
CONTICISCO / CONTICESCO (3) CONTICUI, - — cease to talk, fall silent, lapse into silence; cease to function, become
idle
CONTINENS, -ENTIS — continent, moderate, temperate, restraining one’s passions
CONTINEO (3) CONTINUI, CONTENTUS — maintain, sustain; retain, keep safe, preserve; hinder, restrain, hold back
[contini = continui]
CONTINGO (3) CONTIGI, CONTACTUM — happen, fall to one’s lot (+ dat.); (impers.) it occurs, it turns out; (pfct.) it
came to pass
CONTINUO (ADV.) — immediately, forthwith, at once, without delay; continuously
CONTRA (ADV.) — facing, face-to-face; towards, up to; in opposite direction; against, opposite, opposed, hostile,
contrary, in reply to; otherwise, differently; conversely
CONTRECTO (1) — repeatedly, handle, finger; feel; handle unlawfully (theft, embezzlement); handle amorously,
caress, fondle; have sex with
CONTUMELIA, -AE (1F.) — indignity, affront, abuse, insult; insulting language or behavior; rough treatment
CONTUOR (3) - — look at, gaze on, behold [= contueor]
CONVENIO (4) CONVENI, CONVENTUS — be appropriate to, fit, be correctly shaped, be consistent; harmonize, agree,
tally; meet, assemble; go to meet, meet; come together; (have sex); converge; visit, approach
CONVIVA, -AE (1M./F.) — guest, table companion
CONVIVIUM, -(I)I (2N.) —banquet, feast, dinner party; guests, people at party
COPIA, -AE (1 F.) — plenty, abundance, supply; troops (pl.), supplies; forces; resources; wealth; means, opportunity;
access, admission
COQUO (3) COXI, COCTUS — cook; boil, fry, bake; burn, parch (sun)
CORNIX, -ICIS (3F.) — crow (or related bird); (example of longevity); (insulting for old woman)
CORONA, -AE (1F.) — crown; garland, wreath
CORONATUS, -A, -UM — wearing a garland
CORPUS, CORPORIS (3N.) — body; person, self; virility; flesh; corpse; trunk; frame(work); collection, sum
CORRUMPO (3) CORRUPI, CORRUPTUS — taint, contaminate; damage, ruin, undo; destroy, deface; digest; infect;
pervert, corrupt, deprave; bribe, suborn; seduce, tempt, beguile
CORRUPTELA, -AE (1F.) — corruption, bribery, suborning; corrupting or perverting influence; seducer, misleader,
corrupter

Glossary
CORVUS, -I (2 M.) — raven

COTTIDIE (ADV.) — daily, every day; day by day; usually, ordinarily, commonly
COTURNIX, -ICIS (3F.) — quail; (also term of endearment)
CRAS (ADV.) — tomorrow; after today, on the morrow; hereafter, in the future
CRATINUS, -I (2M.) — proper name
CREDO (3) CREDIDI, CREDITUS — loan, lend; entrust; trust, believe [+ acc. — believe a thing/fact; + dat. or in +
acc. — believe/trust in a person]
CRUCIAMENTUM, -I (2N.) — torture, torment; pain
CRUCIATUS, -US (4 M.) — torture, torment, a torturing, execution
CRUCIO (1) — torment, torture; cause grief or anguish; crucify
CRUMINA / CRUMENA, -AE (1F.) — pouch, purse; small money-bag
CRUS, CRURIS (3N.) — leg; shank; shin; main stem of shrub, stock
CRUX, CRUCIS (3F.) — cross; hanging tree; impaling stake; crucifixion; torture, torment, trouble, misery [ire in
crucem — go to hell, be damned]
CUBICULUM, -I (2N.) — bedroom; sleeping chamber, apartment, suite; (as scene of marital or other sex); bed (any
sort); any room
CUBO (1) — lie (down or asleep); recline, incline; lie or be in bed, rest, sleep
CUCULUS, -I (2M.) — cuckoo (bird); fool, ninny; [used as a term of reproach — of foolish men; phps. of
adulterers who recall the (female) cuckoo, that lays its eggs in the nests of others]
CUIUS, -A, -UM — (interrog.) — of whom? whose?; (rel.) — whose
CULPA, -AE (1F.) — fault, blame, responsibility (+ gen.); crime (esp. against chastity); negligence; offense; error;
(sense of) guilt; fault, defect (moral or other)
CULPO (1) — blame, find fault with, censure, reproach, reprove, disapprove; accuse, condemn
CUM ( PREP.) — with, together, together with, in connection or company with, along with (see dictionary) (contrast
quom — conj.)
CUM (CONJ.) = quom in P.
CUPIDO, -INIS (3M.) — Cupid; youthful god of love, son of Venus
CUPIO (3/4) CUPIVI, CUPITUS — wish, long, or be eager for; desire, want
CUR (ADV.) — why, wherefore?; for what reason or purpose?; on account of which?
CURO (1) — arrange, see or attend to; take care of; provide for; worry or care about; heal, cure; undertake; procure;
regard with anxiety or interest; take trouble or interest
CURRO (3) CUCURRI, CURSUS — run, trot, gallop, hurry, hasten, speed; to move, travel, proceed, or flow quickly
CURSURA, -AE (1F.) — running; (esp. in a race) [= cursus]
CUSTOS, -ODIS (3M./F.) — guard; sentry, watch; guardian, protector, keeper; doorkeeper, watchman, janitor; jailer,
warden; poll watcher; spy
DAMNUM, -I (2N.) — hurt, harm, damage, injury, loss
DATA, -ORUM (2N.) — gifts, presents
DEA, -AE (1F.) — goddess
DECERNO (3) DECREVI, DECRETUM — pronounce a decision respecting something; decide, judge, determine, decree
DECET (2) DECUIT, - — (impers.) it is fitting, right, seemly, suitable, proper; it ought; to become, adorn, or grace [+
acc. + inf.]; befit, suit (+ acc. or dat.)
DECIPIO (3/4) DECEPI, DECEPTUS — cheat, deceive, mislead, dupe, trap; elude or escape notice; disappoint, frustrate,
foil
DECORE (ADV.) — beautifully, in a pleasing manner; properly, suitably, in correct or seemly manner
DECORUS, -A, -UM — becoming, fitting, seemly, proper, suitable
DECREPITUS, -A, -UM — worn out (with age), feeble, decrepit; infirm; very old
DECUMBO (3) DECUMBUI, - — lie down, recline; take to bed; lie ill; recline at a banquet
DECUS, -ORIS (3N.) — glory, splendor; honor, distinction; grace, beauty; decoration, adornment
DEDECUS, -ORIS (3N.) — disgrace, dishonor, discredit, shame, infamy; misbehavior; vice, turpitude
DEDO (3) DEDIDI, DEDITUM — give away, surrender, deliver, consign; devote, dedicate
DEFENDO (3) DEFENDI, DEFENSUS — defend, guard, protect, look after; to act, speak, plead, or write in defense; repel,
fend or ward off, avert, prevent; support, preserve, maintain
DEFERO (3) DETULI, DELATUS — bear, carry, bring down; bring, convey; give to one, grant, confer upon, allot; offer;
report; indict, impeach, accuse
DEFICIO (3/4) DEFECI, DEFECTUS — leave a person or thing; desert; fail, forsake; be wanting to; [(of persons) —
run short of, be bereft of (+ abl.)]

Glossary
DEFRAUDO (DEFRUDO) (1) — cheat, defraud, deceive; rob (of) [+ of acc. of person cheated or robbed and/or acc. of
thing stolen]
DEHINC (ADV.) — hereafter, henceforth; from here or now on; afterwards; for or in the future, next; then, after that,
thereupon; at a later stage; for the rest; next (in order)
DEICIO (3/4) DEIECI, DEIECTUS — to throw, push, force, knock, or bring down; cause to fall or drop; overthrow, bring
down, depose; kill, destroy; dislodge, rout; drive or throw out
DELASSO (1) — tire out, weary, exhaust; exhaust by experiencing
DELENIO (4) DELENIVI, DELENITUS — mitigate, mollify, smooth down, soothe; soften, cajole; bewitch, charm, entice
DELICIA, -AE (1F.) — favorite, pet, darling, beloved; pleasure, delight, fun (usu. pl.) [aliquid in deliciis habere —
to have or consider something as a favorite; to treasure something]
DELINQUO (3) DELIQUI, DELICTUS — fail (duty), be wanting or lacking, fall short; offend, do wrong, err, commit
offense
DELUDO (3) DELUSI, DELUSUS — deceive, dupe; play false, mock, make sport
DEMAENETUS, -I (2M.) — father of Argyrippus
DEMIROR (1) — wonder how or why; be amazed or utterly astonished at, be at a loss to imagine
DEMO (3) DEMPSI, DEMPTUS — to take or cut away or off; remove, withdraw; subtract; take away from
DEMONSTRO (1) — point out, at, or to; draw attention to; explain, describe, show, give an account of; reveal,
mention, refer to; allege; prove, demonstrate; represent; recommend
DEMOPHILUS — 3rd-C. (?) BC comic playwright; author of the Greek original, Onagos, on which Plautus based his
play. (This is the only play of D. of which we know.)
DEMOSTHENES, -IS (3M.) — a proper name
DEMUM (ADV.) — finally, at last; at length, in the end, eventually; other possibilities being dismissed; [tum
demum — only then]
DENIQUE (ADV.) — finally, in the end; and then; at worst; in short, to sum up; in fact, indeed
DENUMERO (1) — pay (money) in full; pay down (loan)
DEPENDEO (3) DEPENDI, - — hang on, from, or down (from); depend; depend on; weigh less (i.e., cause the balance
to swing to the other side)
DEPEREO, DEPERIRE, DEPERIVI(II), DEPERITUS — perish, die; be lost, totally destroyed; be madly in love with, love to
distraction (+ acc.)
DEPORTO (1) — bring, convey (to); carry along or down (current); transport; take or bring home
DEPRECOR (1) — avert by prayer; entreat, pray, beg; intercede; beg pardon, mercy, relief, or exemption (+ dat. of
person on whose behalf one intercedes)
DERIDEO (2) DERISI, DERISUS — mock, deride, laugh at, make fun of
DESCENDO (3) DESCENDI, DESCENSUS — descend; climb, march, or come down; dismount; penetrate, sink; stoop;
demean; drop, become lower (pitch); be reduced
DESCRIBO (3) DESCRIPSI, DESCRIPTUS — describe, draw, mark or trace out; copy, transcribe, write; represent
DESERO (3) DESERUI, DESERTUS — leave, depart, quit, desert; forsake, abandon, give up; withdraw support, let down;
cease to be concerned with
DESPOLIO (1) — rob, plunder; despoil (of); strip, deprive of clothing or covering; (freq. of slaves being prepared
for flogging)
DESPUO (3) -, - — spit (out, down, upon), spurn, reject, abhor; spit on ground (to avert evil omen or disease)
DETINEO (2) DETINUI, DETENTUS — detain, hold; hold off, keep away (from); hold prisoner; retain; occupy; hold or
keep back (from use); keep, cause to remain; reserve; delay end, protract
DETRAHO (3) DETRAXI, DETRACTUS — drag or pull off; strip off; remove
DEUS, DEI (2M.) — divinity, god
DEVENIO (4) DEVENI, DEVENTUS — come to, arrive or turn up (at); go (to see, stay); reach; land; turn to; extend to
DEVINCIO (4) DEVINXI, DEVINCTUS — tie, bind up, hold or fix fast; subjugate; constrain; unite closely; obligate,
oblige (of laying under an obligation by kindness, beneficence, etc.)
DEVORO (1) — devour, consume; swallow, gulp down; engulf, absorb, drink in
DEXTERA, -AE (1F.) — (sc. manus) right hand; right side; pledge, contract
DI = nom. pl. of deus
DIABOLUS, -I (2M.) — (“Slanderer,” “Back-biter”); a young rival for Philaenium’s services
DICACULUS, -A, -UM — talkative, loquacious; glib; witty
DICO (3) DIXI, DICTUS — speak, say; mean, intend; call
DICTUM, -I (2N.) — words, utterance, remark; one’s word, promise; saying, maxim; bon mot, witticism; order,
command

Glossary
DIES, DIEI (5M./F.) — day; daytime, daylight; special or particular day, holiday (dicere diem alicui — impeach,
lay an accusation against)
DIFFRINGO (1) DIFFREGI, DIFFRACTUS — shatter; break up
DIGNUS, -A, -UM — appropriate, suitable; worthy, deserving
DIIUNGO (3) DIIUNXI, DIIUNCTUS — unyoke; disunite, sever, divide, separate, part, estrange
DIMIDIUM, -I (2N.) — half
DINIA, -AE (1M.) — a proper name
DIS = deis
DISCEDO (3) DISCESSI, DISCESSUS — go or march off, depart, withdraw
DISCIPLINA, -AE (1F.) — teaching, instruction, education; training; discipline; method, science, study, practice
DISCIPULUS, -I (M.) — student, pupil, trainee; follower, disciple
DISCO (3) DIDICI, DISCITUS — learn; hear, get to know, become acquainted with; acquire knowledge or skill of or in
DISPELLO (3) DISPULI, DISPULSUS — drive apart or away; drive asunder; disperse
DISSUADEO (2) DISSUASI, DISSUASUS — dissuade, advise against
DIU (ADV.) — (for) a long or considerable time, while; long since; [quam diu — as long as]
DIUS, -A, -UM — divine; with supernatural radiance; divinely inspired; blessed [Dius Fidius — see ad 23]
DIVES, DIVITIS — rich, wealthy
DIVINUS, -A, -UM — divine; of a deity or god; godlike; sacred
DIVUS, -I (2M.) — god (from divus, -a, -um — divine)
DO (1) DEDI DATUS — give, bestow; cause, make, bring about, inflict, impose; grant, concede, allow, permit (+ inf.
[poet.])
DOCTUS, -A, -UM — learned, wise; skilled, experienced, expert; trained; clever, cunning, shrewd
DOLOR, -ORIS (3M.) — pain, anguish, grief, sorrow, suffering; resentment, indignation
DOLUS, -I (2M.) — trick, device, deceit, treachery, trickery, cunning, fraud
DOMI (ADV./LOCATIVE) — at home
DOMINUS, -I (2M.) — owner, lord, master
DOMO (ADV.) — from home, from a house or establishment (abl. of domus)
DOMUM (ADV.) — homeward, (to) home
DOMUS, DOMUS/I (4F.) — house, home
DONO (1) — present, grant; forgive; give (gifts), bestow [+ acc. of the gift and dat. of the recipient; or acc. of the
recipient and abl. (instr.) of the item with which he/she is being presented]
DONO — for or as a gift, for free, gratis [dat. of donum used predicatively]
DONUM, -I (2N.) — gift, present [dat. used predicatively: dono = for or as a gift, for free, gratis]
DORMIO (4) — sleep, rest; be or fall asleep; behave as if asleep; be idle, do nothing
DORMITO (1) — feel sleepy, drowsy; do nothing, linger
DOS, DOTIS (3F.) — dowry, dower; talent, quality
DOTALIS, -E — forming part of a dowry; relating to a dowry
DOTO (1) — provide with a dowry, endow
DROMO, -ONIS (3M.) — male slave name [= “Galley”]
DUCENTI, -AE, -A — 200
DUCO (3) DUXI, DUCTUS — lead, conduct, draw, bring forward
DUCTATO — 2nd sg. fut. act. imperative of ducto
DUCTO (1) — lead (freq. of duco) [ductare aliquem domum — to lead someone home as one’s bride; to marry
(employed in comedy in a more general sense in regard to erotic liaisons with courtesans: “hire”)]
DUDUM (ADV.) — a little while ago; formerly [with iam (iamdudum) — long since, long before, a long time ago]
[with quam — how long?]
DUELLUM, -I (2N.) — (= bellum) war, warfare; battle, combat, fight; duel; military force, arms [gen. sg. as
locative: “in war”]
DUIT = det (3rd sg. pres. act. subj. of do)
DULCIS, -E — pleasant, charming; sweet; kind, dear; soft, flattering, delightful
DUM (CONJ.) — while, as long as, until; provided that; [as an enclitic with imperatives and interjections: a
moment, a second, a little — e.g., manedum] [usque dum — all the way until, right up until]
DUO, DUAE, DUO — two
DUPLEX, -ICIS — twofold, double; divided; two-faced
DURITIA, -AE (1 F.) — hardness, insensibility, absence of feeling; hardship, oppressiveness; strictness, rigor
DURO (1) — harden, make hard; become hard or stern; bear, last, remain, continue; endure

Glossary
DURUS, -A, -UM — hard; unfeeling, unyielding; rough, rude, uncultivated; troublesome, burdensome, disagreeable;
adverse, unfortunate
ECASTOR (INTERJ.) — by Castor [used by women only] [= archaic interj. e + Castor]
ECCAM (INTERJ.) — Here she/it is! [ecce + hanc]
ECCE (INTERJ.) — behold! see! look! there! here! at your service! [ecce eum — here he is]
ECQUI , ECQUAE/ECQUA, ECQUOD (INTERROG. ADJ.) — Is there any …? (in impassioned interrogation)
ECQUID (ADV.) = numquid, num — introducing a question: “do you, does he, etc. at all …”
ECQUIS, ECQUID (INTERROG. PRON.) — Is there anyone who …/anything that …? Any, anyone, anybody, anything?
(in impassioned interrogation)
EDEPOL (INTERJ.) — by Pollux! [often attended by other particles of affirmation, or by acc. of exclamation]
[employed by both male and female characters] [= the archaic interj. e + -deiue- (“god”) + pol (de Melo 2008:
497)]
EDISSERO (3) — edisserui, edissertus — set forth in full, relate at length, dwell upon; unfold, explain, tell
ĔDO (3) EDI, ESUS — eat; consume, devour
EFFERO, EFFERRE, EXTULI, ELATUS — carry out; bring out; carry out for burial; raise
EFFERTUS, -A, -UM — stuffed
EFFICIO (3/4) EFFECI, EFFECTUS — bring about; effect, execute, cause; accomplish, complete; make, produce; prove
EFFLIGO (3) EFFLIXI, EFFLICTUS — kill, destroy, ruin
EFFRINGO (3) EFFREGI, EFFRACTUS — break off; break open; smash; break in
EFFUGIO (3/4) EFFUGI, EFFUGITUS — flee, excape; run, slip, or keep away (from); eschew, avoid; baffle, escape
notice
EGO, MEI (PRON.) — I/me
EGEO (2) EGUI, - — need (+ gen. or abl.), lack, want; require, be without; be in want
EGESTAS, -ATIS (3 F.) — need, poverty, extreme poverty; lack, want
EH (INTERJ.) — oho! well well!
EHEM (INTERJ.) = ha! what? (exclamation of joyful surprise — freq. to express delight at an unexpected encounter)
EHO (INTERJ.) — ha? ho! holla! soho! (used in vehement questions, impetuous commands, angry remonstrance or
invective)
EI — dat. sg. of is, ea, id
EI (INTERJ.) — Oh! Ah! Woe!, oh dear, alas; (of grief or fear)
EICIO (3/4) EIECI, EIECTUS — cast, throw, fling, or drive out; extract, expel, discharge
ELAVO (1) ELAVI, ELOTUS — wash thoroughly, bathe; soak; wash out or away, wash clean; ruin [cf. Engl. “wipe
out”]
ELECTO (1) — get (something) out (of someone or something) artfully, worm out a secret [freq. of elicio]
ELOQUOR (3) ELOCTUS SUM — speak out, utter, proclaim
EM (INTERJ.) — (used to bring some object, fact, situation, etc. to another’s attention) oho! indeed! well! well to be
sure! hah!; lo! behold! see! see there!; [with imperatives, to incite to action]; [em tibi x (nom. or acc.) =
“there’s/here’s x for you” or “there’s your x for you”]
EMITTO (3) EMISI, EMISSUS — hurl; let go; utter; send out; drive; force; cast; discharge; expel; publish; release
EMO (3) EMI, EMPTUS —buy, buy up, purchase, gain, acquire, procure, obtain
EMORIOR (3/4) EMORTUUS SUM — die, die off, perish; die out; decease, pass away
EMPTOR, -ORIS (3M.) — buyer, purchaser
ENECO / ENICO (1) — kill off, kill completely; torment, torture, plague to death
ENIM ( POSTPOSITIVE CONJ.) — namely; indeed; in fact; for; I mean, for instance, that is to say [enim vero (not
postpositive) — yes indeed, yes truly, of a truth, to be sure, certainly, indeed]
ENUMERO (1) — count up, pay out; specify, enumerate
EO (ADV.) — there, to or toward that place; in that direction; so much, by so much; (referring to a cause, reason,
purpose already given or about to be introduced) therefore, on that account, for that reason
EO, IRE, I(V)I, ITUM — go
EODEM (ADV.) — to the same place, to the same point; to the same point or purpose
EPISTULA, -AE (1F.) — letter, epistle
EQUIDEM (ADV.) — truly, indeed; for my part [Lindsay 97-98: associated principally with statements in the first
person]
EQUUS, -I (2M.) — horse; steed
ERA, -AE (1F.) — mistress; lady of the house; woman in relation to her servants

Glossary
ERGA (PREP.) — towards, opposite; (of feelings or conduct toward a person [both friendly and unfriendly] —
toward, against) [+ acc.]
ERGO (ADV.) — therefore; well, then, now; [with imperatives and words used imperatively: then, now,
accordingly]
ERILIS, -E — of a master or mistress
ERA, -AE (1F.) — mistress (i.e., a female master)
ERUS, -I (2 M.) — master, owner
ESCA, -AE (1F.) — food, meat; a dish prepared for the table; victuals, viands; bait
ESTO — 2nd and 3rd pers. sg. fut. imperative of sum
ETIAM (CONJ.) — and also, and furthermore, also, likewise, besides; and even, nay, even; yet, as yet, even yet, still,
even now [Used colloq. in interrogations, esp. to express indignation or impatience: cf. Engl. “what?” “do you
mean to say?” “won’t you …?”]
EVADO (3) — evasi, evasus —turn out, fall out, end in some manner, have an issue of some kind, result
EVENIO (4) EVENI, EVENTUS — come out, come about, come forth; happen, come to pass; turn out
EVOCATO — 2nd and 3rd fut. imperative act. of evoco
EVOCO (1) — call forth; lure or entice out; summon, evoke
EXAERAMBUS, -I (2M.) — proper name
EXANIMO (1) — kill, deprive of life; scare, alarm greatly; tire, exhaust; be out of breath
EXASCEATUS, -A, -UM [EXASCIATUS] — see exascio
EXASCIO (1) — hew out thoroughly, prepare properly
EXCLUDO (3) EXCLUSI, EXCLUSUS — shut out, shut off; remove; exclude; hinder, prevent
EXCUSATIO, -ONIS (3F.) — excuse
EXCUSO (1) — excuse, justify, explain; make excuse for, plead as excuse; allege; absolve; [(+ refl.) — exempt
oneself from a duty or task] (+ dat. of person to whom the excuse, justification, or plea is addressed)
EXEMPLUM, -I (2N.) — example, sample, specimen; instance; precedent, case; pattern, model; way, manner
EXEO, EXIRE, EXI(V)I, EXITUM — come out; depart
EXERCITUS, -US (4M.) — army, infantry; swarm, flock
EXHIBEO (2) — show, exhibit, present, employ; procure, occasion, cause, produce; render
EXIGO (3) EXEGI, EXACTUS — drive out, expel; finish; examine, weigh; demand, exact payment of a debt, taxes, etc.
EXISTIMO (1) — value, esteem; form or hold opinion or view; think, suppose; estimate; judge, consider
EXITIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — destruction, ruin; death; mischief
EXOBSECRO (1) — entreat earnestly, beseech, implore, pray [hapax]
EXOPTO (1) — wish or desire greatly, long for
EXORDIOR (4) EXORSUS SUM — lay the warp (on a loom), begin to weave; begin, commence; contrive
EXORO (1) — persuade, obtain or win over by entreaty, pervail upon; beg, plead, entreat
EXPENDO (3) EXPENDI, EXPENSUS — pay; pay out; weigh
EXPERGISCOR (3) EXPERRECTUS SUM — be awakened, wake up; rouse or bestir oneself
EXPERIOR (4) EXPERTUS SUM — test, put to the test; find out; attempt, try; prove, experience
EXPERS, EXPERTIS — free from, devoid of, lacking (+ gen. or abl.); taking no part in; without; lacking experience;
immune from
EXPETESSO (3) — desire, long for (a comic formation unique to Plaut. — the meditative of expeto: G&L 191.5)
EXPETO (3) EXPETI, EXPETITUS — ask for; desire; aspire to; demand
EXPILO (1) — plunder, rob, despoil
EXPLEO (2) EXPLEVI, EXPLETUS — fill out; fill, fill up, complete, finish; satisfy, satiate
EXSCREO (1) — hawk or cough up, spit out by coughing
EXSEQUOR (3) EXSECUTUS SUM — follow to the grave in a funeral procession; follow up, prosecute, carry out;
perform, execute, accomplish, fulfil; pursue with punishment, punish, take vengeance on; go on with, persist in
(+ inf.)
EXSPECTO (1) — lookout for, await, wait for; expect, anticipate, hope for
EXSTINGUO (3) EXSTINXI, EXSTINCTUS — put out, extinguish, quench; kill, destroy
EXTEMPLO (ADV.) — immediately, forthwith
FABRICO (1) — construct, fashion, forge, shape; train; get ready (meal); invent, devise
FABRICOR (1) = fabrico
FABULA, -AE (1F.) — story, tale, fable; plot of a play, drama
FABULOR (1) — talk (familiarly), chat, converse; invent a story, make up a fable
FACETUS, -A, -UM — fine, elegant; witty, humorous; clever, adept

Glossary
FACIES, FACIEI (5 F.) — shape, face, look; presence, appearance; beauty

FACILE (ADV.) — easily, readily, without difficulty; generally, often; willingly; heedlessly (neut. acc. sg. of facilis)
FACINUS, -ORIS (3N.) — deed; crime; outrage
FACIO (3/4) FECI, FACTUS — do, perform, accomplish, prepare, produce, bring to pass, cause, effect, create, commit,
perpetrate, form, fashion, act; value, esteem, regard
FACITO — 2nd sg. fut. act. imperative of facio
FACTUM, -I (2N.) — fact, deed, act; achievement; [factis (instr./adv. abl.) — in deed, in fact]
FAENERATO (ADV.) — with interest (i.e., to one’s cost) [orig. a pred. dat. or instr. abl.]
FAENUS, -ORIS (3N.) — interest (on capital), usury; profit, gain; advantage
FALLACIA, -AE (1F.) — deceit, trick, stratagem; deceptive behavior
FALSUS, -A, -UM — wrong, lying, fictitious, spurious, false, deceiving, feigned, deceptive
FAMES, -IS (3F.) — hunger; famine; want; craving
FAMILIA, -AE (1F.) — household; household of slaves; family; clan
FAMILIARIS, -E — domestic; of or belonging to a familia; intimate, private; one’s own (m./f. as subst. — member of
household [esp. slave]; familiar acquaintance or friend) (filius familiaris — cf. paterfamilias, materfamilias)
FAMULUS, -I (2 M.) — slave (male), servant; attendant
FAS (INDECL. N.) — divine law, will, or command; that which is right, lawful, moral, allowed [fas est — it is right or
proper (+ inf. or acc. + inf.)]
FATEOR (2) FASSUS SUM — admit, confess; disclose; acknowledge
FAUX, FAUCIS (3 F.) — pharynx (usu pl.), gullet, throat, neck, jaws
FAXIS — 2nd sg. pres. act. subj. or fut. act. ind. of facio
FAXO — 1st sg. fut. act. ind. of facio
FEMINA, -AE (1F. ) — woman, female
FEMUR, -ORIS/-INIS (3N.) — femur, thigh
FERA, -AE (1F.) — a wild animal, wild beast
FERO, FERRE, TULI, LATUM — carry, bear, bring; get, receive, obtain, acquire; undergo, endure
FEROX, -OCIS — wild, bold; warlike; cruel; defiant, arrogant; proud, insolent (ferox esse + acc. + inf. = to be
proud/insolent at the fact that …)
FERRICREPINUS, -A, -UM — resounding with the clanking of irons or fetters
FERUS, -A, -UM — wild, savage; uncivilized; untamed; fierce
FESTINO (1) — hasten, hurry
FETEO (2) — have bad odour; stink
FIDELIS, -E — faithful, loyal, devoted; true, trustworthy, dependable, reliable; constant, lasting
FIDES, -EI (5F.) — faith, loyalty; honesty; credit; confidence, trust, belief; good faith [fidem alicui habere — to
trust someone]
FIDIUS, -I (2M.) — surname of Jupiter as god of truth and fidelity [see ad 23]
FIDO (3) FISUS SUM — trust (in), have confidence (in) (+ dat. or abl.)
FIGO (3) FIXI, FIXUS — fasten, fix; pierce, transfix
FILIA, -AE (1F.) — daughter
FILIUS, -I (2M.) — son
FINGO (3) FINXI, FICTUS — mold, form, shape; create, invent; produce; imagine; compose; devise, contrive; adapt,
transform into; modify (appearence, character, behavior); groom
FINIS, -IS (3M./F.) — boundary, end, limit, goal; (pl.) country, territory, land
FIO, FIERI, FACTUS SUM —become, be made, be done
FIRMITUDO, -INIS (3F.) — stability; strength
FIRMUS, -A, -UM — firm, steady; substantial, solid, secure, safe; strong, robust, sturdy, stout, durable; loyal, staunch,
true, constant; stable, mature
FLAGITIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — shame, disgrace; scandal, shameful act, outrage, disgraceful thing; scoundrel
FLAGRUM, -I (2N.) — scourge, whip
FLEO (3) FLEVI, FLETUS — cry for; cry, weep
FOETEO — see feteo
FORAS (ADV.) — out of doors, abroad, forth, out
FORE — fut. act. inf. of sum
FORIS (ADV.) — out of doors, abroad, away from home; from abroad, from elsewhere
FORIS, FORIS (3F.) — door, gate; (the two leaves of) a folding door (pl.); double door; entrance
FORMA, -AE (1F.) — form, figure, appearance; beauty; mould, pattern

Glossary
FORMIDO (1) — dread, fear, be afraid of; be afraid for (the safety of) (+ dat.)
FORTASSE (ADV.) — perhaps, possibly; it may be; [+ acc. + inf. — it may be that …]
FORTASSIS (ADV.) = fortasse (derivation uncertain)
FORTE (ADV.) — by chance; perhaps, perchance; as luck would have it
FORTIS, -E — strong, powerful, vigorous, firm, steadfast, stout, courageous, brave, manly
FORTUNA, -AE (1F.) — chance, luck, fate; prosperity; condition, wealth, property
FORUM, -I (2N.) — market; forum (in Rome); civic and financial center
FRANGO (3) FREGI, FRACTUS — break, shatter, crush; dishearten, subdue, weaken; move, discourage
FRAUDATIO, -ONIS (3 F.) — cheating, deceiving, defrauding; deceit, fraud
FRAUDO (1) — cheat, defraud; steal
FRAUS, FRAUDIS (3F.) — fraud; trickery, deceit; imposition, offense, crime; delusion
FRAUSUS SIT — archaic deponent 3rd sg. pfct. subj. of fraudo
FRETUS, -A, -UM — relying on, trusting to, supported by (+ abl.)
FRICO (1) FRICUI, FRICTUS — rub, chafe
FRONS, FRONTIS (3 F.) — forehead, brow; face; look; front; fore part of anything
FRUGI (INDECL.) — useful, fit, proper, worthy, honest, discreet, virtuous, temperate, decent [dat. sg. of frux (pred.
dat.): Lindsay 39]
FRUOR (3) FRUCTUS SUM — enjoy (proceeds, socially, sexually), profit by, delight in (+ abl.)
FRUSTROR (1) — disappoint, frustrate, deceive (with false hope); escape, elude; baffle, evade; fail; reject; delay; rob,
defraud, cheat
FUGA, -AE (1F.) — flight, fleeing, escape; avoidance; exile
FUGIO (3/4) FUGI, FUGITUS — flee, fly, run away; avoid, shun; go into exile
FUGITO (1) — flee eagerly or in haste; avoid, shun
FULLONIA, -AE (1F.) — fuller’s trade
FUMUS, -I (2M. ) — smoke, steam, vapor, fume
FUNDITO (1) — hurl or sling at; pour forth (abuse)
FUNDUS, -I (2 M.) — farm; piece of land, estate; bottom, lowest part; foundation
FUNGOR (3) FUNCTUS SUM — perform, execute, discharge (duty); be engaged in (+ abl. [classical usage]; in Plaut.,
commonly + acc.)
FUNUS, FUNERIS (3N.) — burial, funeral; funeral rites; ruin; corpse; death
FUR, FURIS (3 M./F.) — thief, robber; rascal, rogue, knave
FURCIFER, FURCIFERI (2M.) — yoke-bearer; rascal, scoundrel, gallows-bird, rogue
FURTUM, -I (2N.) — theft; trick, deception; stolen article
FUSTIS, -IS (3M.) — staff, club; stick
FUSTITUDINUS, -A, -UM — cudgel-banging
GALLINA, -AE (1 F.) — hen
GANEUM, -I (2N.) — common eating house (resort of undesirable characters), house of ill repute [more usually:
ganea (1f.)]
GAUDEO (2) GAVISUS SUM — be glad, rejoice
GAUDIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — joy, delight, gladness; source or cause of joy; physical or sensual delight
GENS, GENTIS (3F.) — tribe, clan; nation, people [In pl., commonly employed as a partitive gen. after ubi, etc., for
the sake of emphasis: “where in the world,” “where on earth” (cf. the similar use of terrarum).]
GENU, GENUS (4N.) — knee
GERO (3) GESSI, GESTUS — bear, carry, wear; administer, manage, regulate, rule, govern, conduct, carry on, wage,
transact, accomplish, perform [se gerere — to conduct oneself)] [morem alicui gerere — to do the will of a
person, to humor, gratify, obey someone]
GERRA, -AE (1 F.) — wicker-work screen or hurdle; wattled twigs (pl.) [gerrae — trifles, nonsense!] [as an
exclamation, likely derived from a Sicilian term for genitalia: cf. Engl. “balls!”]
GESTIO (4) GESTIVI, GESTITUS — use passionate gestures, throw one's self about (esp. for joy), be transported, exult;
desire eagerly or passionately, long for, “itch” (to do something)
GLAUCUS, -I (2M.) — proper name
GLISCO (3) -, - — swell; increase in power or violence; swell up, blaze up
GNARUS, -A, -UM — having knowledge or experience of (+ gen.); known
GNATUS, -I (2 M.) — son; child
GRAECE (ADV.) — in Greek, in the Greek language
GRAECUS, -A, -UM — Greek

Glossary
GRATIA, -AE (1 F.) — favor which one finds with others, esteem, regard, liking, love, friendship; thanks, gratitude;
agreeableness, pleasantness, charm, beauty, loveliness, grace [gratias ago — to thank] [gratias habere — to
be thankful] [abl. (employed as a postpositive prep.) — for the sake of, on account of, in favor of (+ gen.)]
GRATIIS (ABL. PL. OF GRATIA IN ADV. SENSE) — without recompense or reward, for nothing, gratuitously, gratis
GRAVEDO, -INIS (3F.) — cold in the head; mucus, phlegm, snot
GRAVIS, -E — heavy; painful; important; serious; pregnant; grave, oppressive, burdensome
GREX, GREGIS (3F.) — flock, herd; crowd; company (of [slave] actors), crew
GYMNASIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — wrestling school, training ground
HABEO (2) — hold, keep, possess, cherish, entertain, occupy, enclose, contain; account, esteem, consider, regard;
hold or keep a person or thing in any condition; direct in a certain way
HABITO (1) — inhabit, dwell; live, stay
HAC (ADV.) — here, by this side, this way [= hāc viā]
HAEDILLUS, -I (2M.) / HAEDILLUM, -I (2N.) — little kid or goat
HARA, -AE (1F.) — pen, coop, pigsty
HARIOLOR (1) — utter prophecies; talk nonsense
HAU = haud
HAUD (ADV.) — not, not at all, by no means; not
HEIA (INTERJ.) — (in admiring an object) — ah! ah ha! indeed!; (in gentle remonstrance or persuasion) — ah!
come!; (in strong affirmation, sometimes ironically); (of impatient exhortation) — ho! quick! come on!
HEM (INTERJ.) — (expressing surprise, concern) What’s that?!; (expressing unhappiness) ah! alas!
HERCLE (VOC. of Hecules, employed as an INTERJ.) — by Hercules!; assuredly, indeed [employed exclusively by
male characters in P.]
HERI (ADV.) — yesterday
HEUS (INTERJ.) — hey!, ho!, ho there!, listen!
HIC (ADV.) — here, in this place; in the present circumstances
HIC, HAEC, HOC — this; the following; the latter
HILARUS, -A, -UM — cheerful, lively, light-hearted
HINC (ADV.) — from here, from this source or cause; hence, henceforth
HIRUNDO, -INIS (3 F.) — swallow; martin; small bird
HOCCINE = hoc + ne
HODIE (ADV.) — today
HOMO, HOMINIS (3 M./F.) — human being, man
HONESTIUST = honestius est
HONESTUS, -A, -UM — distinguished, reputable, respected, honorable, upright, honest; worthy; proper
HONOR, -ORIS (3 M.) — honor; esteem, regard; dignity, grace; public office
HORDEUM, -I (2N.) — barley (the plant or the grain from it); [of daily provision of grain]
HORRESCO (3) HORRUI, - — dread, become terrified; bristle up; begin to shake, tremble, shudder, shiver
HORTUS, -I (2 M.) — garden, fruit or kitchen garden; pleasure garden; park (pl.)
HOSPES, -ITIS (3M.) — host; guest, visitor, stranger
HOSTIMENTUM, -I (2N.) — compensation, requital
HOSTIO (4) -, - — make even, return like for like; recompense, requite, repay; retaliate
HOSTIS, -IS (3 M./F.) — enemy (of the state); stranger, foreigner; the enemy (pl.)
HUC (ADV.) — to this place, hither; to this, to these, to this point, so far
HUMANUS, -A, -UM — human; kind; humane, civilized, refined
I — 2nd sg. imperative of eo
IACIO (3/4) IECI, IACTUS — throw, hurl, cast; throw away; utter [freq. of dice]
IACTUS, -US (M.) — a throwing, casting, hurling; a throw, cast
IACULUM, -I (2N.) — javelin
IACULUS, -A, -UM — thrown, darting
IAM (ADV.) — now, already, by now, even now, soon; besides; even, indeed, really [non iam — no longer; iam
pridem — long ago; iamdudum — long since, long before, a long time ago]
IAMIAM (IAM IAM) — already, now
IANITOR, -ORIS (3M.) — doorkeeper, porter; janitor
IANUA, -AE (1F.) — door, entrance
IBI (ADV.) — there, in that place; then, thereupon; in that matter, on that occasion, in that condition
IDEM, EADEM, IDEM (ADJ./PRON.) — the same

Glossary
IDEO (ADV.) — therefore, for the reason that, for that reason
IGITUR (CONJ.) — then, therefore, thereupon, accordingly
IGNORO (1) — not know; be unfamiliar with; disregard; ignore; be ignorant of
IGNOTUS, -A, -UM — unknown, strange; unacquainted with, ignorant of
ILICET (= ire licet) — you may go; it is over (pronounced at the conclusion of funeral ceremonies)
ILICO (ADV.) — on the spot; immediately
ILLAC (ADV.) — that way [= illā viā]
ILLAEC = illa
ILLE, ILLA, ILLUD (DEMONS. PRON./ADJ.) — that; that well-known …; the former
ILLECEBRA, -AE (1F.) — allurement, attraction, charm; a decoy bird
ILLEX, ILLICIS — alluring, enticing, seductive; [as subst. (3 m./f.) — decoy, lure]
ILLIC (ADV.) — in that place, there; with that person or thing; in that manner, therein
ILLIC, ILLAEC, ILLUC/ILLOC = ille, illa, illud (ille + ce — a strengthened form of ille)
ILLICIO (3/4) ILLEXI, ILLECTUS — allure, entice
ILLUC (ADV.) — thither, to that place
ILLUC ( PRON./ADJ.) = illud
IMITOR (1) — imitate, copy, mimic
IMMERITUS, -A, -UM — undeserved; undeserving, guiltless, innocent [immeritum (2n.) — the absence of guilt or
desert; immerito meo — for no fault of mine] [cf. ad merito / meritum]
IMMO (ADV.) — no indeed (contradiction); on the contrary, more correctly; indeed, nay more
IMMOLO (1) — sacrifice, offer (victim) in sacrifice; sprinkle with sacred meal; immolate
IMPERATOR, -ORIS (3 M.) — general; ruler; commander
IMPERIOSUS, -A, -UM — powerful, domineering, masterful; dictatorial, imperious
IMPERIUM, -I (2N.) — command; authority; rule, supreme power
IMPERO (1) — order, command, levy; rule (over) (+ dat.)
IMPETRIO (4) - IMPETRITUS — seek a favorable omen for a specific undertaking
IMPETRO (1) — obtain, procure (by request or entreaty); achieve, be granted
IMPONO (3) — imposui, impositus — impose, put upon; establish; inflict; assign or place in command; set
IMPORTUNUS, -A, -UM — inconvenient; annoying; rude; monstrous, unnatural; ruthless, cruel, hard
IMPROVISUS, -A, -UM — unforeseen, unexpected [de improviso or simply improviso (adv.) — unexpectedly,
suddenly, without warning]
IMPUDENS, -ENTIS — shameless, impudent
IMPUDICUS, -A, -UM — shameless; unchaste; flaunting accepted sexual code
IMPURUS, -A, -UM — unclean, filthy, foul; impure; morally foul
INAMBULO (1) — walk up and down, pace to and fro
INANIS, -E — void, empty, hollow; vain; inane, foolish; emptyhanded; unburdened
INAUGURO (1) — take omens by the flight of birds, divine; consecrate by augury
INCEDO (3) INCESSI, INCESSUS — advance, march; approach; step, walk, march along (as in a slow, dignified
procession)
INCENDIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — fire, conflagration; heat; fiery heat, passion
INCENDO (3) INCENDI, INCENSUS — set fire to, kindle, burn; rouse, excite, inflame, aggravate, incense
INCERTUS, -A, -UM — uncertain, unsettled, doubtful; unsure, inconstant, variable; untrustworthy
INCIPIO (3/4) INCEPI, INCEPTUS — begin; start, undertake
INCLAMO (1) — cry out (to), call upon; rebuke, scold, revile, abuse
INCOMMODUS, -A, -UM — inconvenient, troublesome, annoying; disadvantageous; disagreeable; disobliging
INCONTINENS, -ENTIS — intemperate, lacking restraint or self-control
INCULTUS, -A, -UM — uncultivated (land), untilled, overgrown; unkempt; rough, uncouth
INCURSO (1) — strike, run, or dash against; attack; make raids upon
INDE (ADV.) — thence, thenceforth; from that place, time, or cause; thereupon
INDICO (1) — point out, show, indicate, expose, betray, reveal; inform against, accuse
INDIGNUS, -A, -UM — unworthy, undeserving, shameful; undeserved; unbecoming
INDILIGENS, -ENTIS — careless, negligent, remiss
INDIPISCO (3) = indipiscor
INDIPISCOR (3) INDEPTUS SUM — overtake, catch up with; reach, attain, obtain, get
INDO (3) INDIDI, INDITUS — put in, on, upon; introduce

Glossary
INDUCO (3) INDUXI, INDUCTUS — lead in, bring in (performers); move, excite, persuade; mislead, seduce (animum
inducere — to bring one’s mind to, resolve, determine)
INDUCTOR, -ORIS (3M.) — one who stirs up or rouses one, a chastiser, or one who overlays a person’s back with
whip-marks — scourger, flogger [hapax]
INDUSTRIA, -AE (1F.) — diligence, industry
INEO, INIRE, INI(V)I, INITUS —enter; undertake; begin; go in; enter upon
INFELIX, -ICIS — unfortunate, unhappy, wretched; unlucky, inauspicious
INFIDELIS, -E — treacherous, disloyal
INFIDUS, -A, -UM — faithless, treacherous
INFIMUS, -A, -UM — lowest, deepest, furtherest down; humblest; vilest, meanest
INFIO, INFIERI, INFACTUS SUM — begin (to do something); begin to speak [infit — the only form attested for the
classical period]
INGENIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — natural disposition, temper, mode of thinking, character, bent, inclination; natural capacity,
talents, parts, abilities, genius
INGERO (3) INGESSI, INGESTUS — carry in, throw in; heap; force, thrust, or throw upon; pour forth, pour out (insults)
INGRATUS, -A, -UM — unpleasant; ungrateful; thankless, winning no thanks in return
INIMICUS, -I (2M.) — personal enemy, foe
INIQUUS, -A, -UM — unfair, unjust; hurtful, injurious, unfavorable, disadvantageous
INIURIA, -AE (1F.) — injury; injustice, wrong, offense; insult, abuse; sexual assault
INOPIA, -AE (1 F.) — lack, need; poverty, destitution, dearth, want, scarcity (+ gen.)
INQUAM (DEFECTIVE) — say [used in postpositive position to introduce direct quotations] [Woodcock 263]
INSCENDO (3) INSCENDI, INSCENSUS — climb on, ascend, mount
INSIDIA, -AE (1 F.) — ambush (pl.); plot; treachery; snare
INSONS, -ONTIS — guiltless, innocent; harmless
INSTO (1) INSTITI, - — pursue, threaten; approach, press hard; + acc. — to urge forward, ply, transact with zeal or
diligence; (insto rectam viam: to pursue a direct line, i. e. to be right, to hit the mark)
INSULA, -AE (1F.) — island; apartment block
INSUM, INESSE, INFUI, INFUTURUS — be in or on, be there; belong to; be involved in
INTELLEGO (3) INTELLEXI, INTELLECTUS — perceive, understand, comprehend; + ex — deduce from
INTER ( PREP.) — between, among; during (+ acc.)
INTERCIPIO (3/4) INTERCEPI, INTERCEPTUS — cut off; intercept, interrupt; seize, steal
INTERDICTUM, -I (2N.) — prohibition
INTERDIU — during the day, in the daytime, by day
INTERDIUS = interdiu [an archaic gen.]
INTEREA (ADV.) — meanwhile, in the meantime
INTEREO, INTERIRE, INTERI(V)I, INTERITUS — perish, die; be ruined; cease
INTERIBI (ADV.) — meanwhile, in the meantime (= interim)
INTERIM (ADV.) — meanwhile, in the meantime; at the same time; however, nevertheless
INTERIOR, -ORIS — inner, interior, middle; more remote; more intimate
INTERMINOR (1) — utter threats (in order to check or alter a person’s course of action); forbid with threats; threaten,
menace (+ dat. of person threatened)
INTERVERTO (3) INTERVERTI, INTERVERSUS — intercept, embezzle, purloin; cheat person x (acc.) of thing y (abl.)
INTRO (ADV.) — within, in; to the inside, indoors
INTUS (ADV.) — within, on the inside, inside; at home; to the inside, into, within; from within
INUTILIS, -E — useless, unprofitable, inexpedient, disadvantageous; harmful, helpless
INVADO (3) INVASI, INVASUS — enter, attempt; invade; take possession of; attack (with in + acc.)
INVENIO (4) INVENI, INVENTUS — come upon; discover, find; invent, contrive; reach, manage to get
INVOCO (1) — call upon, invoke; pray to or for
IPSE, IPSA, IPSUM ( EMPH. PRON./ADJ.) — himself, herself, itself, myself, yourself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves
IPSUS = ipse
IRA, -AE (1F.) — anger; resentment; rage; wrath
IRACUNDIA, -AE (1 F.) — irascibility; passion
IRACUNDUS, -A, -UM — angry; hot-tempered
IRASCOR (3) IRATUS SUM — get angry, fly into a rage; be angry at (+ dat.)
IRATUS, -A, -UM — angry
IRRITUS, -A, -UM — ineffective, useless, invalid; in vain

Glossary
IS, EA, ID (DEMONS. PRON./ADJ.) — that

ISTIC, ISTAEC, ISTOC/ISTUC = iste
ISTE, ISTA, ISTUD (DEMONS. PRON./ADJ.) — that (freq. with pejorative overtones)
ISTOSCIN = istos + ne
ISTUC (ADV.) — thither, over there; to that thing, to that subject of discussion
ISTUC (neut. nom./acc. sg. of istic) = istud
ITA (ADV.) — in this manner, in this wise, in such a way, so, thus, just so, in the same way, to such a degree
ITAQUE (ADV.) — and so, accordingly; thus, therefore, consequently
ITEM (ADV.) — likewise; besides, also; similarly, in like manner, in the same way
ITER, ITINERIS (3N.) — journey; road; passage, path; march [habere iter — to hold or make one’s way]
ITERO (1) — do a second time; repeat; renew, revise; repeat, rehearse; tell, relate
ITIDEM (ADV.) — in the same manner or way, just so; likewise, similarly, also
IUBEO, IUBERE, IUSSI, IUSSUS —order, tell, command, direct, enjoin
IUDICO (1) — judge, give judgement; condemn, sentence; conclude, decide; declare, appraise
IUPPITER, IOVIS (3M.) — Jupiter; heavens, sky (poetic)
IURATUS, -A, -UM — being under oath, having given one’s word, pledged
IUS, IURIS (3N.) — law, right; duty; justice; that which is binding; oath [pl. in nom. and acc. only]
IUSSUS, -US (4 M.) — order, command, decree, ordinance; [only occurs in abl. sg. — by or in accordance with
someone’s order, decree, command]
LABELLUM, -I (2N.) — bowl; basin; sink; lip
LABOR, -ORIS (3M.) — effort, labor, toil, exertion, work; suffering, distress, hardship
LACERO (1) — mangle; slander, torment, harass; waste; destroy; cut
LACINIA, -AE (1 F.) — fringe or hem of garment; strip or rag of cloth; fringe, protuberance, border, flap
LACRIMA, -AE (1F.) — tear; exuded gum or sap; bit of lead; quicksilver from ore; weeping (pl.); dirge
LACRIMO (1) — shed tears, weep
LAEVUS, -A, -UM — left, on the left hand; from the left; unpropitious, unfavorable, harmful [laevā (sc.manu) — on
the left]
LAMINA/LAMMINA, -AE (1F.) — plate; veneer; thin sheet of metal; blade [laminae ardentes: red-hot metal plates
employed as instruments of torture]
LANGUOR, -ORIS (3M.) — faintness, feebleness; languor, apathy
LAPIS, -IDIS (3 F.) — stone; milestone; jewel
LARGIOR (4) — grant; give bribes or presents corruptly; give generously or bountifully; bestow, dispense, impart; be
generous
LARGUS, -A, -UM — lavish, generous; plentiful; bountiful (+ gen. or abl.)
LASCIVIA, -AE (1F.) — playfulness; wantonness, lasciviousness [Of a person or thing: “delight,” “plaything”]
LASSUS, -A, -UM — tired, weary; languid
LATUS, -ERIS (3N.) — side; flank
LAUDO (1) — recommend; praise, approve, extol; call upon, name; deliver eulogy on
LAUS, LAUDIS (3 F.) — praise, approval, merit; glory; renown
LECTUS, -I (2M.) — bed, couch, lounge, sofa; bridal bed
LEGIO, -ONIS (3F.) — legion, army
LEGO (1) — leave a legacy (acc.) to someone (dat.)
LEGO (3) LEGI, LECTUS — read; gather, collect (cremated bones); furl (sail), weigh (anchor); pick out
LENA, -AE (1F.) — procuress; female brothel-keeper
LENO, -ONIS (3M.) — male brothel-keeper; bawd; procurer, pimp; panderer
LENONIUS, -A, -UM — of or pertaining to pimping or pandering, belonging to a pimp
LENTUS, -A, -UM — clinging, tough; slow, sluggish, lazy, procrastinating; easy, pliant
LEONIDA, -AE (1M.) — slave in household of Demaenetus
LEPIDUS, -A, -UM — agreeable, charming, delightful, nice; amusing, witty
LEPOS, -ORIS (3M.) — charm, grace; wit; humor
LEX, LEGIS (3 F.) — law; motion, bill, statute; principle; condition, terms
LIBANUS, -I (2M.) — slave in household of Demaenetus
LIBENS, -ENTIS — willing, cheerful; glad, pleased
LIBENTER (ADV.) — willingly; gladly, with pleasure
LIBENTIA, -AE (1F.) — delight, pleasure
LIBER, -A, -UM — free (man); unimpeded; void of; independent, outspoken, frank; licentious; idle

Glossary
LIBERI, -ORUM (2 M.) — children

LIBERO (1) — free; acquit, absolve; manumit; liberate, release
LIBERTUS, -I (2 M.) — freedman; ex-slave
LIBET (2) LIBIT, LIBITUM EST (IMPERS.) — it pleases, is pleasing or agreeable; (qui libet — who/whatever, whichever,
no matter)
LICET (2) LICUIT/LICITUM EST (IMPERS.) — it is permitted, one may; it is all right, lawful, allowed, permitted (+ dat.)
LICTOR, -ORIS (3 M.) — lictor, an attendant upon a magistrate armed with a bundle of rods, from which an axe
projected (as a symbol of the magistrate’s authority)
LINGUA, -AE (1F.) — tongue; speech, language; dialect
LINQUO (3) LINQUI, LICTUS — leave, quit, forsake; abandon, desist from; allow to remain in place; bequeath
LIS, LITIS (3F.) — lawsuit; quarrel
LITIGO (1) — quarrel; go to law
LITTERA, -AE (1F.) — letter (alphabet); (pl.) letter, epistle; literature, books, records, account
LOCO (1) — place, put, station; arrange; contract (for), contract to have a thing done
LOCUS, -I (2 M.) — place, territory, locality, neighborhood, region; position, point [pl. loci or loca — see
dictionary]
LONGE (ADV.) — far (off), distant, a long way; by far; for a long while, far (in future or past)
LOQUOR (3) LOCUTUS SUM — speak, tell; talk; mention; say, utter
LUCERNA, -AE (1F.) — oil lamp; midnight oil
LUCRUM, -I (2N.) — gain, profit
LUDO (3) LUSI, LUSUS — play, mock, tease, trick
LUDUS, -I (2M.) — game, play, sport, pastime, entertainment, fun; school, elementary school
LUNA, -AE (1F.) — moon; month
LUPUS, -I (2M.) — wolf; grappling iron
LUSTRUM, -I (2N.) — bog, morass, slough, muddy place; forest, wilderness, wilds, haunt of wild beasts; den (usu. pl.)
of vice or iniquity, place of debauchery; brothel
LUXURIA, -AE (1 F.) — luxury; extravagance, excess
MACCUS — see ad 11
MACILENTUS, -A, -UM — lean, thin, meagre; poor, barren
MADIDUS, -A, -UM — wet, moist; dripping, juicy; sodden, drenched; drunk, tipsy, drunken
MAESTUS, -A, -UM — sad, gloomy
MAGE = magis
MAGIS (ADV.) — in a higher degree, more completely, more; rather
MAGNIFICUS, -A, -UM — splendid, excellent, sumptuous, magnificent, stately; noble, eminent; proud, boastful
MAGNUS, -A, -UM — large, great; much
MAIOR, MAIUS (COMP. OF MAGNUS) — larger, greater; older
MALA, -AE (1F.) — cheeks, jaws
MALE (ADV.) — badly, ill, wrongly, wickedly; unfortunately
MALEDICTUM, -I (2N.) — insult, reproach, taunt
MALEDICUS, -A, -UM — slanderous; abusive; scurillous; evil-speaking (used of both persons and remarks)
MALEFACTUM, -I (2N.) — evil deed, injury
MALO, MALLE, MALUI, - — prefer
MALUM, -I (2N.) — evil, mischief, misfortune, calamity; injury, hurt, harm
MALUS, -A, -UM — bad, wicked, evil; harmful, baleful; unaccommodating
MANDATUM, -I (2N.) — a commission, command, order
MANDO (1) — entrust, commit to one’s charge, deliver over; commission; order, command
MANEDUM — see s.v. dum
MANEO (2) MANSI, MANSUS — remain, stay, abide; wait, wait for; continue; abide by, adhere to (+ in + abl. or abl.
alone)
MANICA, -AE (1F.) — handcuffs, manacles
MANIFESTO (ADV.) — undeniably, red-handed, in the act; evidently, plainly, manifestly
MANSUETUS, -A, -UM — tamed, tame, mild, soft, gentle (the m./f. acc. sg. mansuetem is attested in later sources)
MANUMITTO (3) MANUMISI, MANUMISSUM — see s.v. manus
MANUS, -US (4F.) — hand; force, violence; host, company, band; power, control, authority; [as t.t.: legal power of a
husband over his wife or a master over his slave: thus manu mittere (or, as one word, manumittere) — to release
from one's power (manus), to set at liberty, to enfranchise, emancipate, make free a slave]

Glossary
MARE, MARIS (3N.) — sea

MARS, MARTIS (3M.) — Mars, Roman god of war; warlike spirit, fighting, battle, army, force of arms
MATER, MATRIS (3F.) — mother
MATRONA, -AE (1F.) — married woman, wife (esp. of upper-class household)
MAVOLO = malo
MAXIME (ADV.) — especially, chiefly; most, very much, exceedingly; in particular; absolutely; (in assent) certainly,
by all means, very well, yes
MECASTOR (INTERJ.) — by Castor, so may Castor aid me (used by women) [= me Castor iuvet]
MED = me
MEDIUS, -A, -UM — middle, middle of, mid; common, neutral, ordinary, moderate [see dictionary]
MEL, MELLIS (3N.) — honey; sweetness; darling
MELIOR, MELIUS — better, preferable; more agreeable
MEMBRUM, -I (2N.) — member, limb, organ; (esp.) male genital member
MEMENTO — 2nd sg. fut. imperative act. of memini
MEMINI ( PFCT. WITH PRES. FORCE) — remember; keep in mind, pay heed to; be sure; recall
MEMOR, -ORIS — remembering, possessed of a good memory; mindful of (+ gen.), grateful; unforgetting
MEMORITER (ADV.) — from memory; fully, accurately; mindfully
MEMORO (1) — remember; be mindful of (+ gen. or acc.); mention, recount, relate, remind, speak of; celebrate
MENDACIUM, -I (2N.) — lie, untruth, falsehood
MENDAX, -ACIS — lying, false; deceitful; counterfeit
MENS, MENTIS (3F.) — mind; reason, intellect, judgement; plan, intention, frame of mind; courage
MENSA, -AE (1F.) — table; course, meal; banker’s counter
MERCATOR, -ORIS (3M.) — trader, merchant
MERCATUS, -US (4M.) — trade, traffic, buying and selling; marketplace, market; public festival
MERCES, -EDIS (3 F.) — pay, recompense, hire, salary, reward; rent, price; bribe
MERCOR (1) — trade; buy
MEREO (2) — earn; deserve, merit, have right; win, gain, incur; earn pay, serve
MEREOR (2) — earn; deserve, merit, have right; win, gain, incur; earn pay, serve
MERETRIX, -ICIS (3F.) — courtesan, kept woman; public prostitute
MERITO (ADV.) — deservedly; rightly (cf. ad meritum)
MERITUM, -I (2N.) — merit, service; value, due reward [(pro) merito tuo — in accordance with what you have
deserved, as you deserve]
MERITUS, -A, -UM — deserved, due
MERUS, -A, -UM — unmixed (wine), pure, only; bare, mere, sheer
MERX, MERCIS (3 F.) — commodity; merchandise, goods
-MET — emph. suffix added to end of pers. prons.
METUO (3) METUI, - — fear; be afraid; stand in fear of; be apprehensive, dread
METUS, -US (4M.) — fear, anxiety; dread, awe; object of awe or dread
MEUS, -A, -UM (POSS. ADJ.) — my
MI = (1) mihi; (2) voc. masc. sg. of meus
MINA, -AE (1F.) — Grk. unit of weight and currency (1 mina = 100 drachmas; 60 minae = 1 talent) [In late 4th-
century Athens, a typical daily wage was in the neighborhood of 2 dr.]
MINAE, -ARUM (1F.) — threats, menaces
MINIMUS, -A, -UM ( SUPERL. OF PARVUS) — very small, very little; least, smallest
MINITOR (1) — threaten, use threats; constitute a danger or threat; hold out as a threat [freq. of minor]
MINOR (1) — threaten, speak or act menacingly; make threatening movement; give indication of
MINOR, MINUS (COMP. OF PARVUS) — less, smaller; younger
MINUO (3) MINUI, MINUTUS — lessen, reduce, diminish, impair, abate, restrict; violate, offend against
MINUS (ADV.) — less; not so well; not quite
MIRANDUS, -A, -UM — wonderful, strange, singular [gerundive of miror]
MIROR (1) — be amazed at; admire; wonder; marvel at; look on with admiration
MIRUS, -A, -UM — wonderful, strange, remarkable, amazing, surprising, extraordinary
MISER, -A, -UM — poor, miserable, wretched, unfortunate, unhappy, distressing
MISERE (ADV.) — wretchedly, desperately
MITTO (3) MISI, MISSUS — cause to go, let go, send, send off, dispatch; leave off, cease; pass over, omit, forbear;
dismiss a thing from one’s mind, not trouble one’s self about [at times = admitto]

Glossary
MODŎ (ADV.) — only, merely, just; just now, recently, lately; presently; [freq. employed in conjunction with an
imperative or a jussive subj.: “just …”] [The final –o is routinely shortened due to a process known as iambic
shortening; in P., however, this –o is often left long: e.g., line 5]
MODUS, -I (2 M.) — manner, mode, way, method; rule, rhythm, beat, measure, size; bound, limit
MOLESTIA, -AE (1F.) — trouble, annoyance
MOLESTUS, -A, -UM — annoying; troublesome; tiresome; [molestus esse — to be a worry or nuisance]
MONEO (2) — remind, advise, warn; teach; admonish; foretell, presage
MONERULA, -AE (1F.) — jackdaw, daw (term of endearment) (= monedula)
MONSTRUM, -I (2N.) — monster; portent, unnatural thing, event regarded as omen, sign, portent
MŌRATUS, -A, -UM — mannered (used of a person’s morals, good or bad); constituted, conditioned, circumstanced
[vs. mŏror, mŏratus]
MORBUS, -I (2M.) — sickness, illness, weakness; disease; distemper; distress; vice
MORIOR (3/4) MORTUUS SUM — die, expire, pass away, wither away; fail; decay [occasionally treated as 4th
conjugation: e.g., inf. moriri]
MŎROR (1) — intrans.: delay, tarry, stay, wait, remain, linger, loiter; trans: delay, retard, detain, cause to wait;
hinder; devote attention to [nil moror — care nothing for (+ acc.)] [contrast mōratus, -a, -um]
MORS, MORTIS (3 F.) — death; annihilation
MORTALIS, -E — mortal, transient; human, of human origin; subst. — a human being, mortal, man
MORTUALIA, -IUM (3N.) — funeral songs, dirges (sc. carmina); winding sheet (for corpse) (sc. vestimenta)
MORTUUS, -A, -UM — dead, deceased; limp
MOS, MORIS (3N.) — custom, habit; mood, manner, fashion; pl. — character, behavior, morals [morem alicui
gerere — to do the will of a person; to humor, gratify, obey someone]
MOVEO (2) MOVI, MOTUS — move, stir, agitate, affect, provoke, disturb; [the pass. is employed in a reflexive sense:
move or bestir oneself]
MOX (ADV.) — soon, next (time or position)
MULIER, MULIERIS (3F.) — woman; wife
MULSUM, -I (2N.) — honeyed wine (common Roman drink)
MULTA, -AE (1F.) — fine; penalty
MULTO (ADV.) — much, by much, a great deal, very; most; by far; long (before or after)
MUNDUS, -A, -UM — clean, cleanly, nice, neat, elegant [in mundo (esse/habere) — to be or to have something in
readiness; to be ready or waiting]
MUNUS, -ERIS (3N.) — service; duty, office, function, role, “part”; gift; tribute, offering
MURRA, -AE (1F.) — myrrh, an aromatic gum
MUTUUS, -A, -UM — borrowed, lent
NAM (CONJ.) — for (to introduce a confirmation or explanation); (in questions: emphatic, expressing wonder or
emotion in the questioner — cf. the use of Engl. “but” in such contexts)
NANCISCOR (3) NANCTUS/NACTUS SUM — obtain, get; find, meet with, receive, stumble on, light on
NARRO (1) — tell, tell about, relate, narrate, recount, describe
NAUCLERICUS, -A, -UM — captain’s, of or belonging to a ship’s captain [Grk.]
NAUTEA, -AE (1 F.) — qualm, nausea; offensive liquid (phps. bilgewater)
NE (ADV.) = Grk. ναί/νή (used to express strong affirmation: yea, verily, truly; yes)
NE (ADV./CONJ.) — [employed in various constructions involving the subjunctive and in the construction ne …
quidem: see dictionary]
-NE: emphatic enclitic particle, used to add emphasis (egone/egon, hicin/hicine, hoccine/hoccin)
-NE: interrogative enclitic particle, used to introduce a question (see, further, Morris 1889)
NEC = neque
NECESSE (NEUT. ADJ.) — necessary, essential; unavoidable, compulsory, inevitable [necesse est — it is necessary
(+ inf.)]
NECESSUS, -A, -UM — necessary, imperative; unavoidable, compulsory, inevitable [necessum est — it is necessary
(+ inf.)]
NEGO (1) — deny, refuse; say … not
NEGOTIOSUS, -A, -UM — active, occupied, busy
NEGOTIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — pain, trouble, annoyance, distress; work, business, activity, job
NEMO, NEMINIS (3M./F.) — no one, nobody; (occasionally = nullus)
NEMPE (CONJ.) — truly, certainly, of course; indeed, without doubt, to be sure, assuredly; [in questions, to ask a
more precise or emphatic statement of something already said]

Glossary
NEQUAM (INDECL.) — wicked, licentious, depraved; naughty, roguish; worthless, useless, good for nothing
NEQUE (ADV.) — not; and not; (in P., occasionally = ne); correl. — neither, nor
NEQUEO, NEQUIRE (4), NEQUI(V)I, NEQUITUS — be unable, cannot
NEQUIQUAM (ADV.) — in vain, to no purpose, fruitlessly; without punishment, with impunity
NEQUISSIMUS, -A, -UM — superl. of nequam
NEQUITER (ADV.) — badly; wickedly; inefficiently, indifferently
NERVUS, -I (2 M.) — sinew, muscle, nerve; hamstring; tendon (as material); stringed instrument (pl.); strength; vigor,
nerve, force, power; sexual power, virility; penis (rude); string, cord; bowstring; bow; (leather) thong; fetter (for
prisoner)
NESCIO (4) NESCIVI, - — not know, be ignorant; [nescio quis/quid — someone/something]
NESCIOQUIS, -QUID — see nescio
NI (ADV.) — not (mainly in the expression quid ni? / quidni? — “Why not?”)
NI (CONJ.) = nisi
NICTO (1) — blink
NIHIL (INDECL. N.) — nothing; nothingness, which does not exist; something valueless; no respect; [as adv. — a
strengthened equivalent of non]
NIHILUM, -I (2N.) — nothing
NIHILI (INDECL.) — of no value, worthless (gen. of value)
NIL = nihil
NIMIS (ADV.) — too much, overmuch, excessively, beyond measure; exceedingly, quite, altogether
NISI (CONJ.) — if not, unless, except
NOCEO (2) — harm, hurt; injure (+ dat. of person or thing harmed)
NOCTU (ADV.) — by night, at night
NOCTURNUS, -A, -UM — nocturnal, of night, at night, by night
NOLO, NOLLE, NOLUI, - — refuse, be unwilling; object, reject [noli/nolite + inf. employed to introduce
prohibitions]
NOMEN, NOMINIS (3N.) — name; [t.t. — name employed to record the items of debt in an account-book: heading,
account]
NOMINO (1) — name, call, mention
NOS, NOSTRI/NOSTRUM (PRON.) — we
NOSCO (3) NOVI, NOTUS — get to know; learn, find out; become cognizant of, become acquainted or familar with;
examine, study, inspect [novi (pfct. with pres. force) — know]
NOSTER, NOSTRA, NOSTRUM (POSS. ADJ.) — our
NOVUS, -A, -UM — new, fresh, young; unusual, extraordinary
NOX, NOCTIS (3F.) — night
NOX (ADV.) — in the night, at night, by night [archaic gen. — noctes/noctis —> noct-s —> nox]
NUBO (3) NUPSI, NUPTUS — veil oneself, marry, be married to (properly: with woman as subject)
NUDUS, -A, -UM — nude; bare, stripped
NUGAE, -ARUM (1F.) — trifles, nonsense; trash; frivolities; bagatelle(s); [nugas agere — to talk nonsense, play the
fool]
NULLUS, -A, -UM — not any, none; of no account or moment, insignificant, trifling, of no value [subst. = nemo —
no one, nobody] [(colloq.) = non — not, not at all] [nullus sum — I am lost, undone, it’s all over with me]
NUM (ADV.) — surely … not (posing a question that expects a negative response); if, whether (introducing an indir.
question)
NUMELLA, -AE (1 F.) — kind of shackle or fetter
NUMERO (1) — count, add up, reckon, compute; count out, pay
NUMMUS, -I (2M.) — coin; cash; money; [in P., unless otherwise specified, nummus is regularly employed of a
silver coin of modest value (likely the Attic τετρώβολον, minted by Philip of Macedon) — the equivalent of the
Roman sesterce]
NUMQUAM (ADV.) — never; by no means, not at all
NUMQUIDNAM = num quidnam [the latter with adv. force (limiting acc.): “Surely not at all …?”]
NUNC (ADV.) — now
NUNCIAM (ADV.) — here and now; at this very time; now at last (emphatic for nunc — often printed as two words)
NUNTIO (1) — announce, report, bring word, give warning; convey, deliver, or relate message
NUPTUS, -A, -UM — married, wedded
NUSQUAM (ADV.) — nowhere; on no occasion

Glossary
NUTO (1) — nod

OB (PREP.) — on account of, for the sake of, for; instead of; right before
OBDURO (1) — be hard, persist, endure, hold out
OBICIO (3/4) OBIECI, OBIECTUS — throw before or to, cast; object, oppose; upbraid; throw in one’s teeth; present,
hand over
OBLECTO (1) — delight, please, amuse; delay, detain; pass time agreeably
OBLIVISCOR (3) OBLITUS SUM — forget (+ gen. or acc.)
OBNOXIUS, -A, -UM — liable; guilty; obliged, under obligation, beholden, indebted
OBSCAEVO (1) — give or bring a bad omen, augur ill for (+ dat.)
OBSECRO (1) — entreat, beseech, implore, pray [Often used parenthetically, = “please,” “I ask you”]
OBSECUNDO (1) — be compliant, show obedience; comply with, humor
OBSEQUELLA, -AE (1F.) — compliance
OBSEQUENTIA, -AE (1F.) — compliance, complaisance, obsequiousness
OBSEQUOR (3) OBSECUTUS SUM — yield to, comply with, indulge, humor (+ dat. of person benefitted; acc. of matter
in which one complies) [obsequens — employed as a cult title of the goddess Fortuna]
OBSERVO (1) — watch, observe; heed; guard
OBSIDIO, -ONIS (3F.) — siege; blockade
OBSTINATE (ADV.) — resolutely, obstinately
OBSTO (1) OBSTITI, - — oppose, hinder; (+ dat.)
OBSUM, OBESSE, OFFUI, OFFUTURUS — hurt; be a nuisance to, tell against
OBTESTOR (1) — call to witness; implore
OBTINEO (2) OBTINUI, OBTENTUS — get hold of, obtain; maintain; hold fast to
OBTINGO (3) OBTIGI, - — befall, occur (to one’s advantage or disadvantage); fall to as one’s lot
OBVENIO (4) OBVENI, OBVENTUS — meet, happen; fall to the lot of, present oneself
OBVIAM (ADV.) — in the way; against; towards, to meet (+ dat.)
OCCALLESCO (3) OCCALLUI, - — become calloused; acquire a thick skin
OCCASIO, -ONIS (3F.) — opportunity; chance; pretext, occasion
OCCEDO (3) OCCESSI, OCCESSUS — go towards, go so as to confront, meet [occedere obviam alicui — to go to meet
someone, run across someone, cross someone’s path]
OCCIPIO (3/4) OCCEPI, OCCEPTUS — begin
OCCLUDO (3) OCCLUSI, OCCLUSUS — shut up, close up
OCCUPATUS, -A, -UM — taken up, occupied, employed, busy, engaged; (by extension) married, devoted
OCCUPO (1) — take possession of, seize, occupy; take up, fill; fall upon, attack, invade; get the start of, be
beforehand with, anticipate, do a thing first; engross, take up, employ
OCELLUS, -I (2M.) — (little) eye; darling
OCIUS (ADV.) — more swiftly
OCTO (INDECL.) — eight
OCULATUS, -A, -UM — having eyes; catching the eye, conspicuous
OCULUS, -I (2 M.) — eye
ODIUM, -I (2N.) — hatred, disgust; a source of hatred or disgust; annoying conduct, insolence
OENOPOLIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — wine-shop [Grk.]
OFFERO, OFFERRE, OBTULI, OBLATUS — offer; present; cause; bestow
OFFICIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — duty, obligation; kindness; service, office
OFFUNDO (3) OFFUDI, OFFUSUS — pour or spread over, scatter
OGGANNIO (4) -, - — speak threateningly, snarl, growl at
OH (INTERJ.) — oh! ah!
OHE (INTERJ.) — hey! hey there!
OLEO (2) OLUI, - — smell of, smell like, give off the smell of, exude (+ acc.)
OLIM (ADV.) — formerly; once, once upon a time
OLIVUM, -I (2N.) — olive-oil; wrestling
OMITTO (3) OMISI, OMISSUS — lay aside; omit; let go; disregard
OMNINO (ADV.) — altogether, wholly, entirely, utterly
OMNIS, OMNE — entire; all
ONAGOS — an ass-driver (Grk.)
ONUS, ONERIS (3N.) — load, burden; cargo

Glossary
OPERA, -AE (1F.) — work, care; aid; service, effort, trouble; [dare operam — bestow care or pains upon; render
service to; pay attention to, give one’s attention to] [operā meā (abl.) — through my agency, thanks to me]
[una/eadem opera — at the same time, in the same manner, just as much, equally]
OPILIO, -ONIS (3M.) — shepherd, herdsman (for sheep, goats)
OPIMITAS, -ATIS (3 M.) — plentifulness, abundance, prosperity (often in pl.)
OPINOR (1) — suppose, imagine
OPORTET (2) OPORTIT, - — it is right, proper, or necessary; it is becoming; it behooves; it ought [+ acc. + inf.]
OPPERIOR (4) OPPERITUS SUM — wait (for); await
OPPETO (3) OPPETIVI, OPPETITUS — meet, encounter (usually of something unpleasant: misfortune, death); perish
OPPIDO (ADV.) — very much, exceedingly, utterly, altogether
OPPORTUNE (ADV.) — suitably; advantageously; conveniently, opportunely, favorably
OPPRIMO (3) OPPRESSI, OPPRESSUS — press down; suppress; press together, close, shut; overthrow; crush,
overwhelm, bear down, overcome; fall upon, surprise, take by surprise, come upon unexpectedly, seize, catch
OPS, OPIS (3 F.) — power, might; help; influence; (pl.) means, resources; wealth
OPTIME (ADV.) — very well, most agreeably
OPTIMUS, -A, -UM — superl. of bonus
OPTIO, -ONIS (3M.) — adjutant, assistant, helper; junior officer chosen by centurion as assistant
OPTO (1) — choose, select; wish, wish for, desire
OPUS, OPERIS (3N.) — work, labor, job; fortifications; need; (pl.), works; [opus est — there is need of (+ abl. or,
in P., acc.)]
ORATIO, -ONIS (3F.) — speech, oration; eloquence; prayer
ORCUS, -I (2M.) — god of the underworld, Dis; death; the underworld
ORIOR (3/4) ORTUS SUM — rise (sun, river); arise, emerge, crop up; get up (wake); begin; originate from
ORNATUS, -US (4M.) — splendid dress, attire, apparel, trappings
ORO (1) — beg, ask for, pray; beseech, plead, entreat
OS, ORIS (3N.) — mouth, speech, expression; face; pronunciation
OSCULOR (1) — kiss; exchange kisses
OSOR, -ORIS (3M.) — a hater
OSTENDO (3) OSTENDI, OSTENSUS/OSTENTUS — show; reveal; make clear, point out, display, exhibit
OSTIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — doorway; front door; starting gate; enterance (underworld); (river) mouth
OTIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — leisure; spare time; holiday; ease, rest, peace, quiet; tranquility, calm; lull
OVIS, OVIS (3F.) — sheep
PACISCO (3) -, PACTUS — make a bargain or agreement; agree, enter into a marriage contract; negotiate
PACTUM, -I (2N.) — bargain, agreement [abl. pacto (like ratione and modo): manner, way, means (abl. of manner)]
PACTUS, -A, -UM — settled, agreed upon, stipulated (from pacisco)
PALAM (ADV.) — openly, publicly; plainly [palam est / palam factum est — it is public knowledge, well known]
PALLA, -AE (1F.) — palla, a lady’s outer garment
PANIS, PANIS (3M.) — bread; loaf
PANNUS, -I (2 M.) — cloth, garment; charioteer’s colored shirt; rags
PAPILLA, -AE (1 F.) — nipple, teat; breast; dug (of mammals)
PAR, PARIS — equal, equal to; like; suitable
PARASITUS, -I (2M.) — a parasite (hanger-on, toady — a stock figure of 4th-century Grk. New Comedy and the
Roman comic tradition)
PARCO (3) PEPERCI, PARSUS — forbear, refrain from; spare; show consideration; be economical or thrifty with
PARENS, -ENTIS (3 M./F.) — parent, father, mother
PAREO (2) — obey (+ dat.), be subject or obedient to; submit, yield, comply; pay attention; attend to; appear, be
visible, be seen; be clear, evident
PARIES, -ETIS (3M.) — wall, house wall
PARIO (3/4) PEPERI, PARTUS — bear; give birth to; beget, bring forth; produce, lay (eggs); create; acquire
PARITER (ADV.) — equally, together
PARO (1) — prepare; furnish, supply, provide; produce; obtain, get; buy; raise; put up; plan
PARRA, -AE (1F.) — barn owl
PARS, PARTIS (3 F.) — part, region; share; direction; portion, piece; party, faction, side; role (of actor); (in partem
— for one’s share, in turn; to the best of one’s ability)
PARTIO (4) — (= partior) share, divide up, distribute
PARUM (ADV.) — too little, very little, not enough, insufficiently

Glossary
PARVUS, -A, -UM — small, petty, puny, inconsiderable

PASCO (3) PAVI, PASTUS — pasture, drive to pasture, feed, attend to the feeding of; nourish, support; (of animals)
graze, browse
PASSERCULUS, -I (2M.) — little sparrow
PATEO (2) PATUI, - — stand open, be open; extend; be well known; lie open, be accessible
PATER, PATRIS (3 M.) — father
PATINARIUS, -A, -UM — of or belonging to a dish or pan; stewed in a pan with sauce
PATIOR (3/4) PASSUS SUM — suffer; allow; undergo, endure; permit
PATRO (1) — bring to pass, execute, perform, achieve, accomplish, bring about, effect
PATRONA, -AE (1F.) — protectress, patroness
PATRONUS, -I (2M.) — patron; advocate; defender, protector
PAUCUS, -A, -UM — little, small in quanity or extent; few (usu. pl.); just a few; small number of
PAULISPER / PAULLISPER (ADV.) — for (only) a short time or brief while
PAULULUM / PAULLULUM (ADV.) — little; to small extent, somewhat; only a small amount; a short while or distance
PECTUS, -ORIS (3N. ) — breast, heart; feeling, soul, mind
PECULIARIS, -E — personal, private, special, peculiar, specific, one’s own; singular, exceptional
PECULIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — small savings; private property (esp. of that which is granted by a master to a slave as the
latter’s personal property)
PECUNIA, -AE (1F.) — money; property
PEDICA, -AE (1F.) — shackle, fetter; snare
PEDISEQUA, -AE (1F.) — female attendant; waiting woman; handmaiden
PEIIERO (1) = periuro
PEIIEROR (1) = periuro
PEIOR, PEIUS — comparative of malus, -a, -um
PELLAEUS, -A, -UM — of or relating to Pella, city of remote antiquity in Macedonia, the birthplace of Alexander the
Great
PELLEGO (3) PELLEGI, PELLECTUS — read over or through (silently or aloud); scan, survey, run one’s eyes over
[per + lego]
PENDEO (2) — pependi, - — (intrans.) hang, hang down
PENDO (3) PEPENDI, PENSUS — weigh out; pay, pay out; value, esteem, regard
PENITUS, -A, -UM — inner, inward, innermost
PENNA, -AE (1 F.) — feather, wing
PER ( PREP.) — through (space); during (time); by, by means of (agency); by, in the name of (in oaths and prayers);
[per me, per te, etc. — as far as concerns me, you, etc.]
PERCIEO (2) –CIVI/II, -ITUM / PERCIO (4) —move or rouse greatly; stir up, excite; attack with words, abuse, or call
aloud
PERCIPIO (3/4) PERCEPI, PERCEPTUS — secure, gain; perceive, learn, feel
PERCONTOR (1) — ask particularly, question strictly, inquire, interrogate, investigate [percontari aliquem ex aliquo
— to make inquiries about someone from someone else; ask (from) others about some person]
PERCUPIO (3/4) PERCUPIVI, PERCUPITUS — wish greatly, desire earnestly; long
PERCUTIO (3/4) PERCUSSI, PERCUSSUS — beat, strike; pierce
PERDISCO (3) PERDIDICI, - — learn thoroughly
PERDO (3) PERDIDI, PERDITUS — ruin, destroy; lose; waste [perdere aliquem capitis — to charge with a capital
offence]
PERDUINT = 3rd pl. pres. subj. act. of perdo
PEREGRE (ADV.) — to or from abroad
PEREGRINUS, -A, -UM — foreign, strange, alien; exotic
PEREO, PERIRE, PERI(V)I, PERITUS — die, pass away; be ruined, be destroyed; go to waste [perii — I am done for,
ruined!]
PERFICIO (3/4) PERFECI, PERFECTUS — complete, finish; execute; bring about, accomplish; do thoroughly
PERFICITO — 2nd sg. fut. act. imperative of perficio
PERFIDIA, -AE (1 F.) — faithlessness, treachery, perfidy
PERFODIO (3/4) PERFODI, PERFOSSUS — bore, dig, or make hole through; dig, pierce, stab, perforate
PERGO (3) PERREXI, PERRECTUS — go on, proceed
PERICULUM, -I (2N.) — danger, peril, risk; trial, experiment, attempt, proof
PERIPHANES, -IS/-EI — a proper name

Glossary
PERIS — 2nd sg. pres. ind. of pereo

PERIURIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — false oath, perjury
PERIURO (1) — swear falsely
PERLECEBRA, -AE (1 F.) — enticement, allurement
PERMITIES, -EI (5F.) — destruction, annihilation [= pernicies]
PERNEGO (1) — deny altogether; to deny steadily, stoutly, or flatly
PERPETIOR (3/4) PERPESSUS SUM — endure to the full, endure throughout (a certain period)
PERPETUUS, -A, -UM — continuous, uninterpreted; whole; perpetual, lasting; everlasting
PERPLEXABILIS, -E — obscure, ambiguous, perplexing [hapax]
PERSEQUOR (3) PERSECUTUS SUM — follow up, pursue; overtake; attack; take vengeance on; accomplish; imitate,
copy
PERTICA, -AE (1F.) — pole, long staff; measuring rod; perch
PERTRACTO (1) — touch, feel, handle, fondle
PES, PEDIS (3M.) — foot (human or animal); also as a measure of length
PESSIMUS, -A, -UM — superl. of malus
PESTIS, -IS (3F.) — plague, pestilence, curse, pest, bane; destruction, ruin, death
PETO (3) PETIVI, PETITUS — attack; aim at; desire; beg, entreat, ask (for); reach towards, make for
PHILAENIUM, -I (2F.) — the prostitute with whom Argyrippus has fallen in love
PHILIPPUS, -I (2M.) — name of several kings of Macedonia, the most celebrated of whom was the son of Amyntas,
and father of Alexander the Great; a gold coin (stater) struck by King Philip worth 20 dr.
PHILIPPEUS, -A, -UM — of or belonging to Philip, king of Macedonia; [in P., used in particular in reference to the
gold coin minted by Philip (q.v.)]
PHILODAMUS, -I (2M.) — proper name
PICTOR, -ORIS (3 M.) — painter
PICTURA, -AE (1F.) — painting, picture
PICUS, -I (2M.) — woodpecker
PIETAS, -ATIS (3F.) — responsibility, sense of duty; loyalty; tenderness, goodness; pity; piety
PINGO (3) PINXI, PICTUS — paint, draw; depict, portray
PINSITO (1) — frequentative of pinso (3) pinsui, pinsitus — stamp, pound, crush
PIO (1) — appease, propitiate; cleanse, expiate; honor with religious rites, celebrate
PISCIS, -IS (3M.) — fish
PISCOR (1) — fish
PISTOR, -ORIS (3M.) — pounder of far (emmer wheat); miller, baker [In P., always of millers.]
PLACEO (2) — please, satisfy, give pleasure to (+ dat.); [3rd sg. used impersonally (+ dat.): it is pleasing to (freq.
of decisions that have been taken: = I, you, etc. have decided)]
PLACIDE (ADV.) — gently, calmly, gradually, peacefully, quietly; in a conciliatory manner
PLAGA, -AE (1 F.) — stroke, blow, stripe, cut; wound, gash, injury; scar
PLANE (ADV.) — clearly, plainly, distinctly; wholly, entirely, completely, quite; by all means; (in affirmative
responses) — certainly, to be sure, exactly so
PLANUS, -A, -UM — even, level, flat, plane
PLAUDO (3) PLAUSI, PLAUSUS — clap, strike (with flat hand), pat; beat (wings); applaud
PLAUSUS, -US (4M.) — clapping; applause
PLENUS, -A, -UM — full, plump; satisfied
PLUS, PLURIS ( COMP. ADJ.) — more (see dictionary)
PLUS (COMP. ADV.) — more
POCULUM, -I / POCLUM, -I (2N.) — drinking cup; drink [see ad 771]
POEMA, -ATIS (3N.) — short poem, composition in verse; (pl.) poetry [Grk.]
POENA, -AE (1 F.) — penalty, punishment; revenge, retribution; [poena dare — to pay the penalty]
POETA, -AE (1M.) — poet [Grk.]
POL (INTERJ.) — by Pollux; truly; really [employed by both male and female characters]
POLENTA, -AE (1F.) — peeled barley, pearl-barley (i.e., barley that has been processed to remove its hull and bran)
POLLEO (2) -, - — exert power or influence; be strong
POLLINCTOR, -ORIS (3 M.) — one who washes corpses and prepares them for burning, an undertaker
PONDO (ADV.) — in or by weight
PONO (3) POSUI, POSITUS — put, place, set; station
POPULUS, -I (2 M.) — people, nation, State; public, populace, multitude, crowd; a following

Glossary
PORRO (ADV.) — at distance, further on, far off, onward; of old, formerly; hereafter, again, in turn; furthermore,
besides, further
PORTENDO (3) PORTENDI, PORTENTUS — predict, foretell; point out
PORTISCULUS, -I (2M.) — truncheon or hammer with which the master of the rowers gave signals and beat time to
indicate the proper stroke; guidance, direction
PORTITOR, -IS (3M.) — ferry man; carter, wagoner
PORTO (1) — carry, bring
PORTORIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — port duty; customs duty; tax
PORTUS, -US (4 M.) — port, harbor; refuge, haven, place of refuge
POSCO (3) POPOSCI, - — ask, demand [poscere aliquem aliquid — to ask someone for something, demand something
of someone]
POSSUM, POSSE, POTUI, - — be able
POST (ADV.) — afterwards, thereafter; prep. (+ acc.) — after; behind; besides, except
POSTE = post
POSTEA (ADV.) — afterwards
POSTERIUS (ADV.) — later, at a later time; by and by
POSTHAC (ADV.) — after this, in the future, hereafter, from now on; thereafter, from then on
POSTIDEA (ADV.) — afterwards [= postea]
POSTREMO (ADV.) — at last, finally, ultimately
POSTULO (1) — demand, claim; require; ask or pray for; desire; expect (+ inf. or acc. + inf.)
POTESTAS, -ATIS (3F.) — power, rule, force; strength, ability; chance, opportunity
POTIO (4) — put someone [acc.] under the power of another [gen.]; [potitus sum eorm = “I have been captured or
taken prisoner by them”] [cf. potior]
POTIOR (4) — get possession of, acquire, become master of (+ gen. or abl. or acc.) [cf. potio]
POTISSIMUM (ADV.) — chiefly, principally, especially; eminently; above all; absolutely
POTITO (1) — drink (freq. of poto)
POTIUS (ADV.) — rather, more, preferably
POTO (1) — drink
PRAEBEO (2) — (= praehibeo) present, show, put forward; offer; expose physically oneself; expose, submit, allow;
make available, supply, provide; be the cause, occasion, produce; render
PRAECEDO (3) PRAECESSI, PRAECESSUS — go before, precede; surpass, excel
PRAECEPTUM, -I (2N.) — teaching, lesson, precept; order, command
PRAECIPIO (3/4) PRAECEPI, PRAECEPTUS — take or receive in advance; anticipate; warn; order; instruct, teach
(something [acc.] to someone [dat.])
PRAECO, -ONIS (3 M.) — a crier, herald, in a court of justice, in popular assemblies, at auctions, at public spectacles,
games, or processions
PRAEDA, -AE (1F.) — booty, loot, spoils, plunder, prey; booty, spoil, gain, profit
PRAEDICO (1) — proclaim, declare, make known, publish, announce formally; praise, recommend; relate, assert
[often a comically formal equivalent of dico]
PRAEFISCINI / PRAEFISCINE (ADV.) — without offence; without incurring ill-will (human or divine); without vanity
[derivation uncertain: traditionally taken to imply “without attracting the evil eye (fascinum),” “meaning no
evil”]
PRAEGNAS, -ATIS [= praegnans]— with child, pregnant; swelling, swollen
PRAEHIBEO (2) — (= praebeo) hold forth, offer, furnish, grant, give, supply
PRAERIPIO, PRAERIPERE, PRAERIPUI, PRAEREPTUS — snatch away (before the proper time); seize first; carry off
PRAESENS, -ENTIS — present; at hand; existing; prompt, in person; propitious
PRAESERTIM (ADV.) — especially; particularly
PRAESIDIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — protection; guard; garrison, detachment; post, station; aid, help, assistance
PRAESTO (ADV.) — at hand, present, here; ready, available, waiting, at one’s service
PRAETER (PREP.) — besides, except, contrary to; beyond (rank), in front of, before; more than (+ acc.)
PRECATOR, -ORIS (3M.) — suppliant, intercessor
PRECOR (1) — beg, implore, entreat; wish, pray for or to; pray, supplicate, beseech
PREHENDO (3) PREHENDI, PREHENSUS — catch, capture; take hold of, take possession of, take in hand, arrest; occupy;
seize, grasp; catch up with
PREMO (3) PRESSI, PRESSUS — press, press hard, pursue; oppress; overwhelm
PRENDO (3), PRENDI, PRENSUS = prehendo

Glossary
PRESSO (1) — press, squeeze

PRETIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — price, value, worth; reward, pay; money [in pretio esse: be of worth, value, or estimation;
be in repute]
PRIMUM (ADV.) — at first; in the first place; (with adv. or other expression of time): for the first time
PRIMUS, -A, -UM — first, foremost, best, chief, principal; nearest, next
PRIUS (ADV.) — earlier, before, previously, first; in former times, formerly
PRIVO (1) — deprive, rob, free
PRO ( PREP.) — on behalf of; before; in front or instead of; for; about; according to; as, like; the same as, just as, the
equivalent of; in exchange for, in return for (+ abl.)
PROBE (ADV.) — properly, rightly; quite
PROCEDO (3) PROCESSI, PROCESSUS — proceed; advance; appear
PROCLIVIS, -E — sloping down; downward; prone (to); easy [in proclivi = easy]
PROCUL (ADV.) — at distance, far off
PRODUCO (3) PRODUXI, PRODUCTUS — lead forward, bring out; induce; promote; prolong; lead out for burial; bring
up, rear, educate
PROELIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — battle, fight, bout, conflict, dispute; armed or hostile encounter; contest of strength
PROFECTO (ADV.) — surely, certainly, to be sure
PROFERO, PROFERRE, PROTULI, PROLATUS — bring forward, offer, produce
PROFLUO (3) PROFLUXI, PROFLUCTUS — flow forth or along; emanate (from)
PROHIBEO (2) — hold back, keep in check, restrain, hinder, prevent, avert, keep or ward off from
PROINDE (ADV.) — just so, in the same manner, in like manner, equally, just, even; hence, therefore, accordingly,
then (in expressions of advice, exhortation, encouragement, where it freq. introduces an imperative)
PROLOGUS, -I (2M.) — prologue
PROMEREO (2) — deserve, merit; deserve well of; earn; gain
PROMISCUS, -A, -UM (= promiscuus) — mixed, not separate or distinct, without distinction, in common,
indiscriminate, promiscuous
PROMITTO (3) PROMISI, PROMISSUS — promise
PROMO (3) PROMPSI/ PROMSI, PROMPTUS — take, give, or bring out; draw forth; produce; bring into view; disclose,
utter, tell, express, relate
PROPEDIEM (ADV.) — before long, shortly
PROPENDEO (2) PROPENDI, PROPENSUS — hang down; be inclined; weigh more (i.e., cause the balance to swing to
your side)
PROPERO (1) — hurry, speed up; be quick
PROPINO (1) — drink to anyone (his/her health) by taking the cup, toasting them, and then handing them the cup to
drink in turn
PROPITIUS, -A, -UM — favorably inclined, well-disposed, propitious
PROPTEREA (ADV.) — therefore, for this reason; [propterea quod/quia — because]
PRORSUS (ADV.) — forwards, right onward; absolutely, entirely, utterly, by all means; in short
PROSERO (3) PROSERUI, PROSERTUS — stretch forth, extend
PROSERPO (3) -, - — creep forward, crawl
PROVIDEO (2) PROVIDI, PROVISUS — foresee; provide for, make provision (+ dat.); see beforehand, at an earlier time
PROXIMUM, -I (2N.) — neighborhood, vicinity
PROXIMUS, -A, -UM — nearest, closest, next; most recent, immediately preceding, last
PUBLICUS, -A, -UM — public; common, of the people [publicum (2n.) — public property, territory; the public
coffers, state treasury]
PUDENS, -ENTIS — shameful; bashful, modest, shy, chaste, honorable
PUDET (3) PUDIT, PUDITUM EST — it shames, makes ashamed (impers.); [+ acc. of person who experiences shame;
+ obj. gen. of the thing of which one is ashamed, or of the person before whose judgment one feels shame]
PUDEO (3) — cause one shame (+ acc.) [with personal subject — rare]
PUER, -I (2 M.) — boy, lad, young man; slave, servant; (male) child
PUERE = puer (voc. sg.)
PUGNO (1) — fight, give battle, engage, contend
PUGNUS, -I (2 M.) — fist
PULCHRE (ADV.) — fine, beautifully
PULLUS, -I (2M.) — chicken, young hen
PULTO (1) — knock, strike

Glossary
PURUS, -A, -UM — pure, clean, unsoiled; free from defilement; blameless, innocent
PUTILLUS, -A, -UM — tiny, eensy-teensy
PUTO (1) — think, believe, suppose, hold; reckon, estimate, value
QUA (ADV.) — where; by which route, way, means [sc. viā]
QUADRIDUUM, -I (2N.) — period of four days; [quadriduo — in the four days from now, within four days]
QUADRIGA, -AE (1F.) — four horse chariot (sg. or pl.); chariot team of four horses; any team
QUADRUPEDUS, -A, -UM — going on four feet; galloping; [quadrupedo (sc. cursu) — at a gallop (adv.)]
QUAERITO (1) — seek, search for [freq. of quaero]
QUAERO (3) QUAESIVI, QUAESITUS — search for, seek, strive for; ask, inquire, demand; get, procure, obtain, acquire
QUAESO (3) -, - — beg, ask, ask for, seek (often employed parenthetically, = “please”)
QUAESTUS, -US (4M.) — gain, profit; way of making money, a business, occupation, employment, trade
QUALIS, -E — how constituted, of what sort, of what nature, what kind of a
QUAM (ADV.) — (comp.) than; (correl.) — (as much) as; (interrog.) — how?; (exclam.) how! [see dictionary]
QUAMQUAM — (conj.) though, although; (particle) yet; nevertheless
QUANDO (ADV.) — (interrog.) when, at what time; (indef.) at any time; (conj.) when, since, because [si
(ali)quando — if ever]
QUANTUM (ADV.) — as much as, so much as; how much; how far
QUAPROPTER (ADV.) — wherefore, why, for what?
QUASI (ADV.) — as if, just as if, as though; as it were; about [+ pres. subj. to introduce an unreal comparison]
QUASSO (1) — shake repeatedly; wave, flourish; batter; weaken; intrans. — shake (oneself), toss oneself about,
tremble, quiver
QUEO, QUIRE, QUI(V)I, QUITUS — be able
QUEROR (3) QUESTUS SUM — complain; protest, grumble, lament (+ acc; de + abl.; etc.)
QUI, QUAE, QUOD (REL. PRON.) — who, that
QUI, QUAE, QUOD (INTERROG. ADJ.) — what x?
QUI (ADV.) — (interrog.) — in what manner? how? whereby? by what means? why?; (rel.) — wherewith, whereby,
wherefrom, how; that, in order that; (indef.) — [see next entry] [archaic abl. of qui, quae, quod]
QUI (PARTICLE) — in some way, somehow, surely [only in expressions of emphasis and assurance: following at,
ut, quippe, and various exclamations (pol, edepol, ecastor, hercle)]
QUIA (CONJ.) — because; [introducing an object-clause (= quod): that, the fact that]
QUICQUE — see quisque
QUICUMQUE, QUAECUMQUE, QUODCUMQUE — whoever, whatever, whosoever, whatsoever, every one who,
everything that, all that
QUID (ADV.) — how?, why?, wherefore? [after si, num, nisi, and ne, quis/quid represent an original
aliquis/aliquid]
QUIDEM (ADV.) — indeed (postpositive), certainly, even, at least; (ne … quidem — not … even)
QUIDNI — (used to present a rhetorical question) why? how not? (i.e., of course, to be sure)
QUIDUM = qui (adv.) + dum (emphatic suffix) — how does it happen that …; why, pray, …; whatever makes you
say that?
QUIESCO (3) QUIEVI, QUIETUS — rest, keep quiet or calm, be at peace, rest; be inactive or neutral; permit; sleep
QUILIBET, QUAELIBET, QUODLIBET/QUIDLIBET (INDEF. PRON.) — anyone, anyone without distinction, whom you will,
no matter who, the first that comes, any, all
QUIN (INTERROGATIVE PARTICLE) — why not …? why don’t you …? (+ ind.) [employed in exhortations rather
than to elicit information: Bennett 1910: 24]
QUIN (REL. PARTICLE) — who … not, that not, but that, but (often = Engl. “without” + participial clause); (in
corroboration): but to be sure, indeed, really, indeed; (in corrections): nay, rather [see dictionary]
QUIPPE (ADV.) — of course; as you see; obviously; naturally; by all means, to be sure [quippe qui — see
dictionary s.v. qui 1 and 3 (above)]
QUIQUAM = abl. sg. of quisquam
QUIS, QUID (INTERROG. PRONOUN) — who? what? [after si, num, nisi, and ne, in particular, quis/quid represent an
original aliquis/aliquid]
QUISNAM, QUAENAM, QUIDNAM — who then? who in the world? just who? which, I insist?
QUISQUAM, QUAEQUAM, QUICQUAM/QUIDQUAM (INDEF. PRON ./ADJ.) — anyone, anybody, anything, something; as
adj. — any (= ullus, but somewhat more emphatic)
QUISQUE, QUAEQUE, QUODQUE/QUICQUE/QUIDQUE (INDEF. PRON.) — whoever it be, whatever, each, each one, every,
everybody, every one, everything (of more than two) [also used in P. as a synonym of quisquis]

Glossary
QUISQUIS, QUAEQUE, QUODQUOD/QUICQUID/QUIDQUID — whoever, whosoever, whatever, whatsoever, every one

who, everything which [also used in P. as a synonym of quisque]
QUIVIS, QUAEVIS, QUODVIS/QUIDVIS (INDEF. PRON./ADJ.) — whoever it be, whom you please, any one, any whatever,
anything
QUO (ADV.) — whither, to what place or point, where; to what end, for what purpose, wherefore, why; to any place
whatsoever
QUOAD (ADV.) — as long as, as far as, as much as
QUOD (NEUT. ACC. SG. EMPLOYED AS CONJ.) — that, in that, because; wherefore, why, that
QUOD (NEUT. ACC. SG. EMPLOYED IN ADV. SENSE) — as much as, as far as, what; = quantum
QUOI = cui
QUOIA = cuia (from cuius, -a, -um)
QUOIQUAM = cuiquam
QUOIUS = cuius
QUOIUS, -A, -UM — pertaining to whom? of whom? whose?
QUOM = cum (conj.) [vs. cum — prep.]
QUONIAM ( CONJ.) — since (+ ind. of fact; + subj. of assumed or reported reasoning); [in P., freq. in a temporal
sense, = postquam]
QUOQUAM (ADV.) — to anyplace, whithersoever, anywhere
QUOQUE (CONJ.) — also, too
QUOR = cur
QUOT (INDECL. ADJ.) — how many; of what number; as many
QUOTIENS (ADV.) — (interrog.) how often?; (rel.) as often as
QUOVIS (ADV.) — to any place whatever, whither you will [abl. of quivis]
RAPIO (3/4) RAPUI, RAPTUS — seize and carry off; snatch, tear, drag, draw, or hurry away
RECENS, -ENTIS — fresh, recent; rested
RECEPTIO, -ONIS (3F.) — recovery; receiving, reception [A verbal noun that retains its original verbal force in P. —
+ acc.]
RECIPIO (3/4) RECEPI, RECEPTUS — keep back; recover; undertake; guarantee; accept, take in; take back; [refl.:
betake oneself anywhere, retire, retreat; recover, collect, or restore oneself]
RECTE (ADV.) — vertically; rightly, correctly, properly, well
RECTUS, -A, -UM — right, proper; straight; honest
RECURRO (3) RECURRI, - — run or hasten back; return; have recourse (to)
REDDO (3) REDDIDI, REDDITUS — return; restore; deliver, hand over; pay; make or cause a thing to be or appear
something or somehow, render
REDEO, REDIRE, REDIVI(II), REDITUS — return, go back
REDIGO (3) REDEGI, REDACTUS — drive back; reduce; render
REDIMO (3) REDEMI, REDEMPTUS — buy back, recover; make good, fulfil (promise); redeem; atone for; ransom a
prisoner; release a slave (by purchasing his or her freedom)
REDITO — 2nd and 3rd sg. fut. act. imperative of redeo
REFERIO (4) -,- — strike back or in return
REFERO, REFERRE, RETTULI, RELATUS — bring or carry back; move, draw, or force back; give or pay back, render,
tender; report (on), bring back news
REICIO (3/4) REIECI, REIECTUS — throw back; drive back; repulse, repel; refuse, reject, scorn
RELIGIOSUS, -A, -UM — pious, devout, religious, scrupulous; supertitious; taboo; sacred; reverent, devout
RELICUUS, -A, -UM = RELIQUUS
RELIQUUS, -A, -UM — rest of, remaining, available, left; surviving; future, further; yet to be, owed [reliquum, -i
(2n.) as subst.]
REMEATO — 2nd sg. fut. act. imperative of remeo
REMEO (1) — go or come back, return
REMIGIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — rowing, oarage
REMITTO (3) REMISI, REMISSUS — send back; throw back, relax, diminish; remit, pay
REMUS, -I (2M.) — oar
REOR, RERI, RATUS SUM — think, regard; deem; suppose, believe, reckon
REPERIO (4) REPPERI, REPERTUS — discover, learn; light on; find, obtain, get; find out; invent
REPONO (3) REPOSUI, REPOSITUS — put back; restore; store; lay aside, lay down, lay by, put away [reposivi — alt.
1st sg. pfct. ind. act.]

Glossary
REPROMITTO (3) REPROMISI, REPROMISSUS — promise in return, engage or bind one’s self; [commonly used in
business transactions]
REQUIRO (3) REQUISIVI, REQUISITUS — require, seek, ask for; need; miss, pine for
RES, REI (5F.) — thing; event, business; fact; cause; property; condition, circumstances, fortune, financial interests;
affair, matter of business, business
RESCISCO (3) RESCIVI, RESCITUS — learn, find out, ascertain; bring to light
RESIDO (3) RESEDI — sit down, settle; abate
RESPONDEO (2) RESPONDI, RESPONSUS — answer
RETE, RETIS (3N.) — net, snare
RETENTO (1) — hold back firmly, keep back, hold fast
RETINEO (2) RETINUI, RETENTUS — hold back, restrain; uphold; delay; hold fast; retain, preserve, detain
REVENIO (4) REVENI, REVENTUS — come back, return
REX, REGIS (3M.) — king; chief, head, master, patron
RHODOS, -I (2F.) — Rhodes
RIDEO (2) RISI, RISUS — laugh; smile; laugh at (+ dat.), ridicule
RIDICULARIUS, -A, -UM — laughable, droll [n. pl. — jests, drolleries]
RIDICULUS, -A, -UM — laughable, funny, comic, amusing; absurd, silly, ridiculous
RISUS, -US (4M.) — laughter
RIVALIS, -IS (3M.) — rival (esp. in love); orig. — one who shares use of a stream (i.e., a neighboring landowner)
ROGITO (1) — frequentative of rogo
ROGO (1) — ask, ask for; enquire; invite
ROSA, -AE (1 F.) — rose; (also as term of endearment)
RUFULUS, -A, -UM — reddish, rather red; red-headed, red-haired
RUS, RURIS (3N.) — country (vs. town), farm [rure — from the countryside] [rus — to the countryside]
SACER, SACRA, SACRUM — sacred, holy, consecrated; accursed, horrible, detestable
SAEPE (ADV.) — often, frequently
SALUS, -UTIS (3F.) — health; prosperity; good wishes; greeting; salvation, safety
SALUTO (1) — greet; wish well; visit; hail, salute
SALVEO (2) -, - — be well or in good health; [salve/salvete = hello, hail, greetings; I hope you are well; farewell,
goodbye] [salvere iubeo — I bid you good-day, welcome, etc.]
SALVUS, -A, -UM — well, unharmed, sound; alive; safe, saved
SANE (ADV.) — soundly; soberly, sensibly; certainly, truly, really, to be sure (adding force to a statement or alone,
in an affirmative answer); (with adjs. and advs.) decidedly, quite [employed with imperatives in impatient or
peremptory commands: then, if you will]
SANUS, -A, -UM — sound; healthy; sensible; sober; sane
SAPIENS, -ENTIS — rational; sane, of sound mind; wise, judicious, understanding; discreet
SAPIO (3/4) SAPIVI, - — taste of; understand; have sense
SAT (ADV.) — enough, adequately; well enough, quite; fairly, pretty [= satis] [+ gen. — enough of x] [for sat
agere see satago]
SATAGO (3) SATEGI, SATACTUS — bustle about, fuss, busy oneself with; be hard-pressed, have one’s hands full
SATIS (ADV.) — enough, adequately; sufficiently; well enough, quite; fairly, pretty [satis facio — give satisfaction,
satisfy, content; (by payment or security) pay or secure a creditor (+ dat.)] [satis est (+ dat.) — it is good
enough for, it satisfies]
SAUREA, -AE (1M.) — atriensis (head slave) of Demaenetus’ household, devoted to Demaenetus’ wife Artemona
SAVIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — kiss; puckering of the mouth [CL suavium]
SCAPULA, -AE (1F.) — shoulder-blades (pl.); shoulder, back
SCELESTUS, -A, -UM — infamous, wicked; lying under a curse, accursed; unlucky, unfortunate
SCIENS, -ENTIS — knowing, understanding; skilled, expert
SCILICET (ADV.) — one may know, certainly; of course (scire + licet) [In Plaut., the literal sense of scire + licet is
still to be felt in many contexts, and will lead scilicet to introduce an acc. + inf. noun clause (ind. disc.) where
those elements of the noun clause that can be understood from the context are suppressed: e.g., 787 — ita scilicet
facturam = licet scire eam ita facturam esse.]
SCIO (4) — know, understand
SCIPIO, -ONIS (3 M.) — ceremonial rod, baton; walking stick
SCITO — 2nd and 3rd sg. fut. act. imperative of scio
SCITUS, -A, -UM — having practical knowledge of, neat, ingenious; nice, excellent

Glossary
SCORTOR (1) - — consort with prostitutes; act like a prostitute, behave promiscuously
SCORTUM, -I (2N.) — prostitute; male prostitute; skin, hide
SCRIBO (3) SCRIPSI, SCRIPTUS — write; compose; give a note or bond for (+ nummos)
SCYPHUS, -I (2M.) — bowl, goblet, cup (Grk.)
SE, SUI — 3rd sg./pl. refl. pron.
SECEDO (3) SECESSI, SECESSUS — withdraw, go or come aside
SECUNDUS, -A, -UM — favorable, propitious, fortunate; agreeable (opp. adversus)
SECUS (ADV.) — otherwise; differently, in another way; contrary to what is right or expected
SEDEO (3) SEDI, SESSUS — sit, remain; settle; encamp
SEDUCO (3) SEDUXI, SEDUCTUM — lead aside, draw aside, lead away
SEGNITIES, -EI (5F.) — sloth, sluggishness, inertia; weakness, feebleness; disinclination for action
SEGREGO (1) — remove, separate
SEMEL (ADV.) — once, a single time, once and for all
SEMIDOCTUS, -A, -UM — half-taught
SEMPER (ADV.) — always
SENATUS, -US (4M.) — senate
SENECTUS, -UTIS (3F.) — age; extreme age; senility; old men; gray hairs
SENEX, SENIS (3M.) — old man
SENTENTIA, -AE (1F.) — opinion, feeling, way of thinking; thought, meaning, sentence; purpose
SENTIO (4) SENSI, SENSUS — perceive, feel, experience; think, realize, see, understand
SEORSUM (ADV.) — asunder, separate, apart, aside
SEQUOR (3) SECUTUS — follow
SERIO (ADV.) — seriously, in earnest
SERMO, -ONIS (3M.) — conversation, discussion; rumor; diction; speech; talk; the word
SERTUM, -I (2N.) — wreath; chains of flowers (pl.), garlands, festoons [“Coronae are chaplets for the head, serta
festoons for the doors, etc.” (Gray)]
SERVIO (4) — serve; be a slave to (+ dat.)
SERVITUS, -UTIS (3 F.) — slavery; slaves; servitude
SERVO (1) — watch over; protect, store, keep, guard, preserve, save; give heed to, pay attention to; watch, observe
SERVULUS, -I (2 M.) — dimin. of servus (often in disparaging sense)
SERVUS, -I (2M.) — slave
SESE = se
SI (CONJ.) — if
SIC (ADV.) — so, thus, in this way, as follows
SICCUS, -A, -UM — dry; abstemious, temperate, sober
SICINE (ADV.) — so? thus?
SICUT (ADV.) — as, just as; like; in same way; as if; as it certainly is; as it were [Lindsay 116: often to give a
particular instance or proof of a statement (sic ut)]
SIES = sis
SIET = sit
SIMILIS, -IS — like, similar to (+ gen. or dat.) [always + gen. in P. (Gray)]
SIMILO (1) — imitate, copy; pretend (to have or be); look like; simulate; counterfeit; feint
SIMUL (ADV.) — at same time; likewise; also; simultaneously; at once
SIMULO (1) — imitate, copy; pretend (to have or be); look like; simulate; counterfeit
SINE ( PREP.) — without; (sometines after object) (+ abl.)
SINO (3) SIVI, SITUS — allow, permit [the imperative sine = “never mind,” “very well”]
SIQUIDEM (CONJ.) — accordingly; if indeed, if in fact, if it is possible, even supposing; since, in that
SIS = si vis [Sis is often employed parenthetically (= “please”), but occasionally in P. it has its full force: “if you
wish, want”]
SISTO (3) STITI, STATUS — stop, check; cause to stand; set up
SOCIUS, -(I) (2M.) — associate, companion; ally
SOCORDIA, -AE (1F.) — sluggishness, torpor, inaction
SOL, SOLIS (3M.) — sun
SOLEO (2) SOLITUS SUM — be in the habit of; be accustomed to
SOLITUDO, -INIS (3 F.) — solitude, loneliness; deprivation; wilderness
SOLON, -ONIS (3M.) — famous legislator of the Athenians, one of the seven sages of Greece

Glossary
SOLOR (1) — comfort, console, solace; soothe, ease, lighten, lessen, relieve, assuage, mitigate
SOLUS, -A, -UM — only, single; lonely; alone; having no companion, friend, or protector; unique
SOLVO (3) SOLVI, SOLUTUS — loosen, release, unbind, untie, free; open; set sail; scatter; loose, remove, cancel
[rem solvere — free one’s property and person (rem familiarem) from debts, pay something off]
SORDIDATUS, -A, -UM — shabby, in dirty clothes; meanly dressed
SORDIDUS, -A, -UM — dirty, unclean, foul, filthy; vulgar, sordid; low, base, mean, paltry; vile
SOSPES, SOSPITIS — safe and sound; auspicious
SOSPITO (1) — preserve, defend
SPECTATOR, -ORIS (3M.) — spectator
SPECTO (1) — observe, watch, look at, see; test; consider; have in view, bear in mind
SPERO (1) — hope for; trust; look forward to; hope
SPES, SPEI (5F.) — hope, anticipation, expectation
SPLENDOR, -ORIS (3M.) — brilliance, luster, sheen; magnificence, sumptuousness, grandeur, splendor
SPURCUS, -A, -UM — dirty, foul; morally polluted
STATUA, -AE (1F.) — statue; image
STATUO (3) STATUI, STATUTUS — set up, establish, set, place, build; decide, think
STATURA, -AE (1F.) — height, stature
STERCUS, -ORIS (3N.) — filth, manure
STERTO (3) STERTUI, - — snore
STICHUS, -I (2M.) — male slave’s name
STIMULUS, -I (2M.) — goad for driving cattle; spur, inducement; prick, sting, cause of torment; torture instrument
STOMACHUS, -I (2M.) — gullet; stomach; annoyance; ill-temper; displeasure, irritation, vexation
STRATO, -ONIS (3M.) — proper name
STRUO (3) STRUXI, STRUCTUS — build, construct; contrive, instigate
STUDEO (2) STUDUI, - — desire, be eager for; busy oneself with (+ dat.)
STUDIUM –(I)I (2N.) — eagerness, enthusiasm, zeal, spirit; devotion, pursuit, study; fondness, inclination, desire
SUADEO (2) SUASI, SUASUS — urge, recommend; suggest; induce; propose, persuade, advise
SUAVIS, -E — agreeable, pleasant, gratifying, sweet; charming, attractive
SUAVITAS, -ATIS (3F.) — charm, attractiveness; sweetness, pleasantness, agreeableness
SUAVIUM, -(I)I (2N.) — kiss; sweetheart
SUBAUSCULTO (1) — listen secretly, eavesdrop
SUBBLANDIOR (4) — caress or fondle; flatter, attempt to ingratiate oneself by displays of kindness (+ dat.)
SUBDOMO (1) — subject by taming, tame, subdue [hapax]
SUBDUCO (3) SUBDUXI, SUBDUCTUS — lead up, carry off; transfer; haul off [with refl. pron. — to steal away,
withdraw secretly]
SUBLIMEN (adv.) — uplifted, aloft (a suspect form found only in P.: some edd. substitute a form of sublimis)
SUBLIMIS, -E — uplifted, high, lofty, exalted, elevated; borne aloft, elevated, raised up
SUBTERO , SUBTRIVI, SUBTRITUM — rub off or wear away underneath; rub, bruise, or grind to pieces
SUBVECTO (1) — support and carry, hold up and convey, transport
SUBVENIO (4) SUBVENI, SUBVENTUS — come to help, assist; rescue
SUCUS, -I (2 M.) — juice, sap; moisture; drink, draught, potion, medicinal liquor; flavor, taste; vitality, spirit
SUDO (1) — sweat, perspire
SUFFERO, SUFFERRE, SUSTULI, SUBLATUS — bear, endure, suffer
SULTIS = si vultis
SUM, ESSE, FUI, FUTURUS — to be; exist
SUMMUS, -A, -UM — highest, the top of; greatest; last; the end of [freq. of seating at a convivium]
SUMO (3) SUMPSI, SUMPTUS — take, take up, lay hold of; begin; suppose, assume; select; purchase; exact
(punishment); obtain
SUMPTUS, -US (4 M.) — cost, charge, expense
SUPERBUS, -A, -UM — arrogant, overbearing, haughty, proud
SUPERO (1) — be superior, overcome, surpass, excel, outdo
SUPERSTES, -ITIS — outliving, surviving; standing over or near; present, witnessing
SUPERSUM, SUPERESSE, SUPERFUI, - — be left over; survive; be in excess or superfluous (to); live after, outlive
SUPPEDITO (1) — be supplied in abundance, be at hand, be in store; be enough or sufficient for, suffice (+ dat.);
furnish, afford, supply, or procure in abundance; (of persons) have the resources for, be adequate to (a task)
SUPPETO (3) SUPPETIVI, SUPPETITUS — be at hand; be equal to; be sufficient for

Glossary
SUPPILO (1) — steal underhand, filch, pilfer, purloin; (with pers. object) rob, strip, pluck, fleece
SUPPLICIUM, -(I) (2N.) — punishment, suffering; torture; penalty
SUPPLICO (1) — kneel down or humble one's self to, pray or beg humbly, beseech, implore, supplicate (+ dat.)
SUPREMUS, -A, -UM — greatest, last, highest
SUPTERDUCO = subduco
SURGO (3) SURREXI, SURRECTUS — lift or raise up, raise, erect, elevate; (intrans.) rise, arise, get up, stand up
SURRIPIO (3/4) SURRIPUI, SURREPTUS — snatch away, steal, purloin
SURSUM (ADV.) — up, on high
SUSCENSEO (2) SUSCENSUI, SUSCENSUS (SUCCENSEO) — be angry; be indignant with (+ dat.)
SUSPENDO (3) SUSPENDI, SUSPENSUS — hang up, suspend, hang
SUSPICIO, -ONIS (3F.) — suspicion; mistrust
SUSPICOR (1) — mistrust, suspect; suppose
SUSTINEO (2) SUSTINUI, SUSTENTUS — support; check; put off; put up with; sustain; hold back
SUUS, -A, -UM
SYCOPHANTIA, -AE (1F.) — cunning, craft; deceit [Grk.]
SYNGRAPHUS, -I (2 M.) — written contract, agreement [Grk.: orig. a 1st-decl. fem. noun, syngraphe/syngrapha;
whereas Cic. employs the 1st decl. fem., P. opts for the 2nd decl. masc. form]
TABULA, -AE (1F.) — writing tablet (wax covered board); records (pl.); document, deed, will; list; plank, board, flat
piece of wood; picture, painting; wood panel for painting
TACEO (2) — be silent; pass over in silence; leave unmentioned, be silent about something (+ acc.)
TACITUS, -A, -UM — silent, in silence; passed over in silence, not spoken of, kept secret, unmentioned
TALENTUM, -I (2N.) — talent; sum of money (Grk.; = 60 minae = 6000 drachmas — approx. 3000 days’ pay in 4th-
century Athens)
TALUS, -I (2 M.) — ankle; anklebone; sheep knucklebone (marked for dice); dice game (pl.)
TAM (CORREL. ADV.) — so much, to such a degree, so
TAMEN (ADV.) — notwithstanding, nevertheless, for all that, however, yet, still
TAMQUAM (CONJ.) — as, just as, just as if; as it were, so to speak; as much as; so as
TANDEM (ADV.) — finally; at last, in the end; after some time, eventually; at length; (esp. in questions) — really, I
ask you, after all (freq. expressing strong sense of protest, indignation, or impatience)
TANGO (3) TETIGI, TACTUS — touch
TANTISPER (ADV.) — for such time (as); for so long (as); for the present, for the meantime; all the time
TANTUM (ADV.) — so much, so far; hardly, only
TANTUS, -A, -UM — so much, so great
TED = te
TEMERARIUS, -A, -UM — casual, rash; accidental, random; reckless
TEMPERI (ADV.) — at the right or best time, seasonably
TEMPUS, -ORIS (3N.) — time; crucial moment, opportunity
TENEBRA, -AE (1F.) — darkness (pl.), obscurity; night; shadows, gloom; dark corner; ignorance; concealment
TENEO (2) TENUI, TENTUS — hold, keep; comprehend, understand; possess; master; preserve; represent; support;
restrain, confine, govern
TERGUM, -I (2N.) — back, rear; reverse, far side; outer covering, surface [terga vertere — flee] [At 319, some regard
tergum as a masc. form.]
TERMINUS, -I (2 M.) — boundary, limit, end
TERO (3) TRIVI, TRITUS — rub, wear away, grind, wear out; tread
TERRA, -AE (1F.) — earth, land, ground; country, region [pl. — the earth, the world]
TESTAMENTUM, -I (2N.) — will, testament; covenant (testamento — by someone’s last will and testament, in
accordance with their will)
THESAURUS, -I (2 M.) — treasure chamber, vault, repository; treasure; hoard
TINNIO (4) TINNIVI, TINNITUS — ring, clang, jangle (metal); ring (ears); utter a shrill metallic sound; scream, shriek
TOLLO (3) SUSTULI, SUBLATUS — lift, raise; destroy; remove, steal; take away
TOLUTIM (ADV.) — on a trot, full trot
TONSOR, -ORIS (3 M.) — barber
TONSTRINA, -AE (1F.) — barber’s shop
TORQUIS, -IS (3M.) — twisted neck-chain, necklace, collar; coupling-collar for oxen
TOT (ADV.) — so many, such a number of; as many, so many; such a great number of
TOTUS, -A, -UM — whole, entire

Glossary
TRABES, -IS (3 F.)— tree trunk; log, club, spear; beam, timber, rafter; wooden crossbar used to secure hands in
torture
TRACTO (1) — draw, haul, pull, drag about; handle, treat, discuss; manage, wield, have charge of [frequentative of
traho]
TRADO (3) TRADIDI, TRADITUS — hand over, surrender; deliver; bequeath; relate
TRANSLEGO (3) - LEGI, -LECTUS — read through [hapax]
TRAPEZITA, -AE (1M.) — money-changer, banker (Grk.)
TREMO, TREMERE, TREMUI, - — tremble, shake, shudder at
TRES, TRIA — three
TRESVIRI, -ORUM (2M.) — board of three officials, three joint commissioners (see ad 131)
TRIDUUM, -I (2N.) — three days, period of three days
TRISTIS, -E — glum, gloomy, peevish, morose, ill-humored (of behavior, etc. toward others) (+ dat.)
TRIUMPHUS, -I (2M.) — triumph, victory parade
TRUCULENTUS, -A, -UM — ferocious, aggressive
TRUDO (3) TRUSI, TRUSUS — thrust, push, shove; drive, force; drive on
TU, TUI (PRON.) — you (sg.)
TUM — (adv.) then (temporal, or denoting logical consequence); (co-ordinating conj., introducing an additional
assertion or thought) — and then, besides, also, moreover, on the other hand
TUNDO (3) TUTUDI, TUSUS — beat; bruise, pulp, crush
TURBA, -AE (1 F.) — commotion, uproar, turmoil, tumult, disturbance; crowd, mob, multitude
TUSSIO (4) —, - — cough; suffer from a cough
TUTE = tu
TUUS, -A, -UM ( POSS. ADJ.) — your (sg.)
UBI (ADV.) — (interrog.): where? when?; under what circumstances? (rel.): where, when [ubi terrarum —
where on earth?
UBICUMQUE (ADV.) — wherever, in whatever place; in any place, wherever that may be
UBINAM (ADV.) — where in the world?
UBIUBI (ADV.) — wherever, wheresoever; = ubicumque
ULCISCOR (3) ULTUS SUM — take revenge on, punish; take vengeance for, avenge
ULLUS, -A, -UM
ULMEUS, -A, -UM — of elm [applied humorously to slaves that are beaten with elm rods]
ULMUS, -I (2F.) — elm tree; elm-rod employed to beat slaves
ULTRO (ADV.) — besides, beyond; to or on the further or other side; voluntarily, of one’s own accord
UMERUS, -I (2M.) — upper arm, shoulder
UNA (ADV.) — in one and the same place, at the same time, in company with, together with, along with
UNDE (ADV.) — from where, whence, from what or which place; from which; from whom; [unde gentium — from
where on earth?]
UNGUENTUM, -I (2N.) — perfumed oil, ointment
UNGULA, -AE (1F.) — hoof; bird claw, talon; (torture); toe nail
UNICE (ADV.) — alone, solely, singularly, especially, in an extraordinary degree
UNICUS, -A, -UM — only, sole, single, singular, unique; uncommon, unparalleled; one of a kind
UNUS, -A, -UM — one; single; alone
UNUSQUISQUIS, UNUMQUICQUID [= unus quisquis, unum quicquid (= unusquisque) — see L&S s.v. unus II.B.5&6]
— each individually
USQUAM (ADV.) — anywhere, in any place; to any place
USQUE (ADV.) — all the way to or from any limit of space, time, etc.; all the way, right on; all the time,
continuously, at every point, always; without stop, constantly, incessantly
USUS, -US (4M.) — occasion, need, want, necessity [usus est (+ abl. or inf.) — there is need for or to]
UT — (adv.) how (interrog./exclam.), as (comp.); (conj. + ind.) when; (+ subj. to introduce clauses indicating
purpose, result, indir. commands, what one fears might not happen, etc.) [see dictionary]
UTERQUE, UTRAQUE, UTRUMQUE — each (of two), either, each one, one and the other, one as well as the other, both
UTI = ut
UTINAM (ADV.) — if only, would that (used to introduce wishes)
UTOR (3) USUS SUM — use, make use of, enjoy; enjoy the friendship of anyone, be familiar or intimate with,
associate with a person (+ abl. or acc.)
UXOR, -ORIS (3 F.) — wife

Glossary
UXORIUS, -A, -UM —of or belonging to a wife; of marriage; excessively fond of one’s wife
VAE (INTERJ.) — woe to …, alas for … (used in both curses and cries of or for sympathy) [+ dat. or, more rarely,
acc. of person concerned]
VAH (INTERJ.) — ha! oh! ah!; bah! (exclamation of pain or dismay, of contempt or anger, of surprise or joy)
VALE — “farewell,” “goodbye” (2nd sg.)
VALEO (2) — be strong, powerful, influential, healthy; suffice; prevail [vale/valete — farewell]
VALIDUS, -A, -UM — strong, powerful; valid
VAPULO (1) — be beaten [act. form with pass. meaning: cf., e.g., veneo, pereo]
-VE (ENCLITIC CONJ.): or (used in negative sentences, in place of –que)
VECTURA, -AE (1F.) — transportation, conveying (by carriage or ship)
VEHO (3) VEXI, VECTUS — bear, carry, convey
VEL (ADV.) — even, actually; or even, indeed
VEL (CONJ.) — or [vel … vel — either … or]
VELUM, -I (2N.) — sail, covering; curtain
VENDO (3) VENDIDI, VENDITUS — sell
VENERIUS, -A, -UM — of or belonging to Venus [also spelled Venereus]; [in dice: Venerius iactus — the optimal
throw, where all four tali come up with a different number]
VENIO (4) VENI, VENTUM — come, arrive
VENOR (1) — hunt
VENTRIOSUS, -A, -UM — large-bellied
VENUS, -ERIS (3F.) — Venus
VENUSTULUS, -A, -UM — lovely, charming, delightful
VERBERO (1) — beat, strike, lash
VERBERO, -ONIS (3 M.) — scoundrel
VERBIVELITATIO, -ONIS (3F.) — verbal skirmishing
VERBUM, -I (2N.) — word
VERECUNDUS, -A, -UM — modest, diffident, respectful
VERO (ADV.) — yes; in truth; certainly; truly, to be sure; however; [enim vero (not postpositive) — yes indeed,
yes truly, of a truth, to be sure, certainly, indeed]
VERSO (1) — keep turning or going round, spin, whirl; turn over and over; stir; maneuver; treat, manage;
discompose, disturb, vex, agitate
VERSUTUS, -A, -UM — full of stratagems or shifts wily cunning, adroit
VERTO, VERTERE, VERTI, VERSUS — trans.: turn, direct (something) in some direction or to some end; turn to
account, make profitable; render, translate; slant one’s interpretation of something in a particular direction,
interpret, construe; intrans. — turn one’s self, direct one’s way, to turn about, to turn; turn out
VERUM (ADV.) — yes; in truth; certainly; truly, to be sure; [often used to indicate assent while inserting a
qualification: “but at the same time” — cf. verumtamen]
VERUM, -I (2N.) — what is true or real; the truth, the reality, the fact
VERUMTAMEN (CONJ.) — but yet, notwithstanding, however, nevertheless (often separated [verum … tamen] or
printed as two separate words)
VERUS, -A, -UM — true, real, genuine, actual; well founded; right, fair, proper, just
VESPER, VESPERI (2 M.) — evening; evening star; west
VESTER, -RA, -RUM (POSS. ADJ.) — your (pl.)
VESTIMENTUM, -I (2N.) — garment, robe; clothes
VETO (1) — forbid, prohibit; reject, veto; be an obstacle to; prevent (+ acc. + inf.)
VETULUS, -A, -UM — elderly, aging [dimin. of vetus]
VETUS, VETERIS — old, aged, ancient; former; veteran, experienced; long standing, chronic
VIA, -AE (1F.) — way, road, street; journey
VICARIUS, -I (2 M.) — substitute, deputy, one acting for another; successor; slave assistant
VICISSIM (ADV.) — in turn, again
VIDELICET = videre licet — it is plain to see that (+ acc. + inf.) [In CL, videlicet serves as a particle: clearly,
plainly, evidently, manifestly] [cf. ad scilicet]
VIDEO (2) VIDI, VISUS — see; take care, see to it, make sure [+ jussive noun clause]
VIGINTI (INDECL.) — 20
VINARIUS, -I (2 M.) — vintner, wine merchant
VINCIO (4) VINXI, VINCTUS — bind, fetter; restrain

Glossary
VINGINTI = viginti
VINNULUS, -A, -UM — delightful, sweet, wheedling [hapax]
VINUM, -I (2N.) — wine
VIR, -I (2M.) — man; husband
VIRGA, -AE (1F.) — twig, sprout, stalk; switch, rod; staff, wand; stripe, streak
VIRGATOR, -ORIS (3M.) — one who beats with rods, a flogger
VIRTUS, -UTIS (3 F.) — strength, power; courage, bravery; worth, manliness, virtue, character, excellence
VIS, VIRIS (3F.) — strength (bodily) (pl.), force, power, might, violence; resources; large body
VIS, VIS (IRREG. FEM.) — strength, force, power, might, violence
VITA, -AE (1F.) — life; lifetime; way of life
VITELLUM, -I (2N.) — little calf; (term of endearment); yolk, yolk of egg
VITIUM, -I (2N.) — fault, vice, crime, sin; defect, blemish
VIVO (3) VIXI, VICTUM — live; pass one’s life; reside, dwell, be (in any place or manner)
VIVUS, -A, -UM — alive, fresh; living
VIX (ADV.) — hardly, scarcely, barely, only just; with difficulty, not easily; reluctantly
VOCO (1) — call; call upon, summon, invoke; call together; invite
VOLO (1) — fly
VOLO, VELLE, VOLUI, - — wish
VOLUP (ADV.) — agreeably, delightfully, satisfactorily, to one’s satisfaction; [+ facere — act agreeably to (+ dat.)]
VOLUPTAS, -ATIS (3F.) — pleasure, delight, enjoyment
VORSO = verso
VORTO = verto
VOS, VESTRUM/VESTRI ( PRON.) — you (pl.)
VOTO (1) VOTUI, VOTITUS = veto
VOX, VOCIS (3 F.) — voice, tone, expression; cry, utterance

Plautus Asinaria A Grammatical Commentar

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Plautus Asinaria A Grammatical Commentar

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Plautus’ Asinaria

A Grammatical Commentary for Students

Last Revised: 6/16/19 (formatting)

Two points should be addressed in particular:

Introduction to The Asinaria

1 Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019)

Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019) 2

3 Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019)

associated with Menandrian comedy.

Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019) 4

5 Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019)

Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019) 6

Amanti argento filio auxiliarier

7 Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019)

gregique huic et dominis14 atque conductoribus.

I.i LIBANVS DEMAENETVS

Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019) 8

teque opsecro hercle ut quae locutu’s despuas.

9 Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019)

DEM. argentum accepi, dote imperium vendidi.

Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019) 10

DIABOLUS sicine hoc fit? foras aedibus me eici?

I.iii CLEARETA DIABOLUS28

CLEARETA unum quodque istorum verbum nummis Philippis aureis

11 Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019)

CLEAR. magis istuc percipimus lingua dici quam factis fore.

Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019) 12

usque adhaerebatis: quod ego iusseram, quod volueram

LIBANVS hercle vero, Libane, nunc te meliust expergiscier

13 Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019)

serva erum, cave tu | idem faxis alii quod servi solent,

II.ii LEONIDA LIBANVS

LEONIDA ubi ego nunc Libanum requiram aut familiarem filium,

Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019) 14

15 Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019)

viginti minas, sed eum se non nosse hominem qui siet,

II.iii MERCATOR LIBANVS

MERCATOR ut demonstratae sunt mihi, | hasce aedis esse oportet

Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019) 16

si | istoc exemplo omnibus qui quaerunt respondebis.

II.iv LEONIDA MERCATOR LIBANVS

17 Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019)

Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019) 18

pro dictis vostris maledicis poenae pendentur mi hodie.]39

III.i CLEARETA PHILAENIVM

CLEARETA nequeone ego ted interdictis facere mansuetem40 meis?

19 Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019)

illos qui dant eos derides; qui deludunt deperis.

III.ii LIBANVS LEONIDA

LIBANVS Perfidiae laudes gratiasque habemus merito magnas, 545

Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019) 20

ubi prensus in furto sies manufesto et verberatus,

III.iii ARGYRIPPVS PHILAENIVM LIBANVS LEONIDA

ARGYRIPPVS quor me retentas? PHILAENIVM quia tui | amans abeuntis egeo.

21 Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019)

ARGYR. ego te? quam si | intellegam deficere vita, iam ipse

Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019) 22

hic pone, hic istam colloca cruminam in collo plane.

23 Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019)

postidea ad pistores dabo, | ut ibi cruciere currens.

IV.i DIABOLVS PARASITVS

DIABOLVS agedum istum ostende quem conscripsti syngraphum

Asinaria — A Student Commentary (© J.R. Porter, 2019) 24