Petronius 61-62

Question 1

Haec ubi dicta dedit talem fabulam exorsus est:
“Cum adhuc servirem, habitabamus in vico angusto; nunc Gavillae domus est.

Answer 1

When he gave these words, he began such a story: ‘when i was still a slave, we were living on a narrow street, now it is the house of Gavilla.

Question 2

Ibi, quomodo dii volunt, amare coepi uxorem Terentii coponis: noveratis Melissam Tarentinam, pulcherrimum bacciballum.

Answer 2

There, as the gods willed it, i began to love the wife of Terentius the innkeeper: you knew Melissa Tarentina, a most beautiful round bottom jar.

Question 3

Sed ego non mehercules corporaliter aut propter res venerias curavi, sed magis quod benemoria fuit.

Answer 3

But by Hercules, i did not care for her because of her or for sexual reaons, but rather because she was good hearted.

Question 4

Si quid ab illa petii, nunquam mihi negatum; fecit assem, semissem habui; in illius sinum demandavi, nec unquam fefellitus sum.

Answer 4

If i sought anything from her, she never denied me;
if she earned a penny, i had half; I entrusted it all to her care, and she never cheated me.

Question 5

Huius contubernalis ad villam supremum diem obiit. Itaque per scutum per ocream egi aginavi, quemadmodum ad illam pervenirem: nam, ut aiunt, in angustiis amici apparent.

Answer 5

Her companion met his last day at the villa. So by might and main I schemed and i contrived, how i might get her: for, as they said, friends appear in times of trouble.

Question 6

“Forte dominus Capuae exierat ad scruta scita expedienda. Nactus ego occasionem persuadeo hospitem nostrum, ut mecum ad quintum miliarium veniat.

Answer 6

’ by chance my master had gone out to Capua to take care of some important affairs. I seized the opportunity and persuaded our guest that he should come with me as far as the fifth milestone.

Question 7

Erat autem miles, fortis tanquam Orcus. Apoculamus nos circa gallicinia; luna lucebat tanquam meridie.

Answer 7

But he was a soldier, as brave as Orcus. We set out around the cockcrow; the moon was shining as if it were noon.

Question 8

Venimus inter monimenta: homo meus coepit ad stelas facere; sedeo ego cantabundus et stelas numero.

Answer 8

We came among the tombs: my man began to urinate against the gravestones; i sat singing and counting the gravestones.

Question 9

. Deinde ut respexi ad comitem, ille exuit se et omnia vestimenta secundum viam posuit.

Answer 9

Then when i looked back to my companion, that man stripped himself and placed all his clothes by the side of the road.

Question 10

Mihi anima in naso esse; stabam tanquam mortuus. At ille circumminxit vestimenta sua, et subito lupus factus est.

Question 11

Nolite me iocari putare; ut mentiar, nullius patrimonium tanti facio. Sed, quod coeperam dicere, postquam lupus factus est, ululare coepit et in silvas fugit.

Question 12

Ego primitus nesciebam ubi essem; deinde accessi, ut
vestimenta eius tollerem: illa autem lapidea facta sunt.

Question 13

Qui mori timore nisi ego?