Petronius 28-29 Flashcards
Sequimur nos admiratione iam saturi et cum Agamemnone ad ianuam pervenimus, in cuius poste libellus erat cum hac inscriptione fixus: “quisquis ser-
vus sine dominico iussu foras exierit, accipiet plagas centum”.
We follow, now satisfied with wonder and with Agamemnon, we arrive to the door, on the post of which was attached a little book with this inscription: ‘whichever slave exits out of these doors without the order of the master, will recieve one hundred blows.’
In aditu autem ipso stabat ostiarius prasinatus, cerasino succinctus cingulo, atque in lance argentea pisum purgabat.
however in the entrance itself a doorman in leek green clothing was standing, surrounded with a cherry coloured belt, and he was cleaning peas in a silver plate.
Super limen autem cavea pendebat aurea, in qua pica varia intrantes salutabat. Ceterum ego dum omnia stupeo, paene resupinatus crura mea fregi.
but above the boundary a gold cage was hanging in which a spotted magpie was greeting those entering. while i was amazed at all these things, i nearly fell backwards and broke my leg.
Ad sinistram enim intrantibus non longe ab ostiarii cella canis ingens, catena vinctus, in pariete erat pictus superque quadrata littera scriptum “cave canem”.
For at the left hand side when you wrestle entering not far from the porter’s room there was a huge dog, bound with a chain, painted on the wall and above him was written with squared letters: ‘beware the dog’.
Et collegae quidem mei riserunt, ego autem collecto spiritu non destiti totum parietem persequi.
And indeed my colleagues laughed at me, but after catching my breath i did not stop following the whole wall.
Erat autem venalicium <cum> titulis pictum, et ipse Trimalchio capillatus caduceum tenebat Minervaque ducente Romam intrabat.</cum>
But there was a painting of slave-selling with labels, and Trimalchio himself with long hair was holding a staff and with Minerva leading was entering Rome.
Hinc quemadmodum ratiocinari didicisset deinque dispensator factus esset, omnia diligenter curiosus pictor cum inscriptione reddiderat.
The devoted artist had rendered it all carefully with an inscription, about how he had learnt to calculate and next became a treasurer.
In deficiente vero iam porticu levatum mento in tribunal excelsum Mercurius rapiebat. Praesto erat Fortuna <cum> cornu abundanti [copiosa] et tres Parcae aurea pensa torquentes.</cum>
Now indeed in the the colonnade, nearly at it’s end, Mercury lifting him by his chin and was taking him to the lofty tribunal. Fortune was present with her horn of plenty and the three Fates spinning their golden threads.
Notavi etiam in porticu gregem cursorum cum magistro se exercentem. Praeterea grande armarium in angulo vidi, in cuius aedicula erant Lares argentei positi Venerisque signum marmoreum et pyxis aurea non pusilla, in qua barbam ipsius conditam esse dicebant
also in the colonnade, i noticed a group of runners exercising with their teacher. furthermore, i saw a large cabinet in the corner containing a small shrine in which the silver Lares (household gods) were placed, and a marble statue of Venus and a not so small golden box, in which they said he beard was contained.
Interrogare ergo atriensem coepi, quas in medio picturas haberent. “Iliada et Odyssian”, inquit, “ac Laenatis gladiatorium munus”.
therefore I began to question the steward about the paintings which they had in the centre. He said ‘the Iliad and Odyssey and the gladiatorial games put on by Laenas.’
