Amphitryo, Asinaria, Aulularia, Bacchides, Captivi | Page 9

sibi
eventurum, id contigit, ut salvi poteremur domi. victores victis hostibus
legiones reveniunt domum, duello exstincto maximo atque internecatis
hostibus.
What I never dreamed would happen nor anyone else on our side, either,
has happened, and here we are safe and sound. (magnificently) Our
legions come back victorious, our foes vanquished, a mighty contest
concluded and our enemies massacred to a man.
quod multa Thebano poplo acerba obiecit funera, 190 id vi et virtute
militum victum atque expugnatum oppidum est imperio atque auspicio
eri mei Amphitruonis maxime. praeda atque agro adoriaque adfecit
populares suos regique Thebano Creoni regnum stabilivit suom.
The town that has brought an untimely death to many a Theban citizen
has been crushed and captured by the strength and valour of our

soldiery, aye, and chiefly under the command and auspices of my own
master, Amphitryon. He has furnished forth his countrymen with booty
and land and fame, and fixed King Creon firm upon his Theban throne.
me a portu praemisit domum, ut haec nuntiem uxori suae, ut gesserit
rem publicam ductu imperio auspicio suo. ea nunc meditabor quo modo
illi dicam, cum illo advenero. si dixero mendacium, solens meo more
fecero.
(subsiding) As for me, he has sent me on ahead home from the harbour
to tell his wife the news: how the state was served under the leadership,
command, and auspices of--his very own self. (meditating) Now let me
think how I am to tell her the tale when I get there. If I do work in a lie
or two, it won’t be anything extraordinary for me.
nam cum pugnabant maxume, ego tum fugiebam maxume; verum quasi
adfuerim tamen simulabo atque audita eloquar. 200 sed quo modo et
verbis quibus me deceat fabularier, prius ipse mecum etiam volo his
meditari. sic hoc proloquar.
The fact is, it was just when they were doing their hardest fighting that
I was doing my hardest running. Oh well, I’ll pretend I was there
just the same, and recite what I heard tell about it. But the neatest way
to narrate my story-- and the words to use--I must practise a bit by
myself beforehand here.
Principio ut illo advenimus, ubi primum terram tetigimus, continuo
Amphitruo delegit viros primorum principes; eos legat, Telobois iubet
sententiam ut dicant suam; si sine vi et sine hello velint rapta et
raptores tradere, si quae asportassent redderent, se exercitum extemplo
domum reducturum, abituros agro Argivos, pacem atque otium dare
illis; sin aliter sient animati neque dent quae petat, sese igitur summa vi
virisque eorum oppidum oppugnassere. 210
(pauses) Here’s how we’ll begin. (_lays lantern down and
addresses supposed Alcmena importantly_) First and foremost, when
we reached there, as soon as we had touched land, straightway
Amphitryon picks out the most illustrous of his captains. These he

sends forth as legates and bids convey his terms to the Teloboians, to
wit: should they wish, without contention and without strife, to deliver
up pillage and pillagers and restore whatsoever they had carried off, he
himself would lead his army home forthwith and the Argives would
leave their land and grant them peace and quietude; but were they
otherwise disposed, and disinclined to yield what he sought, he would
thereupon with all the force at his command make onslaught on their
city.
Haec ubi Telobois ordine iterarunt quos praefecerat Amphitruo,
magnanimi viri freti virtute et viribus superbe nimis ferociter legates
nostros increpant, respondent bello se et suos tutari posse, proinde uti
propere irent, de suis finibus exercitus deducerent. haec ubi legati
pertulere, Amphitruo castris ilico producit omnem exercitum. Teloboae
contra ex oppido legiones educunt suas nimis pulcris armis praeditas.
When Amphitryon’s ambassadors had duly made this proclamation
to the Teloboians, they, doughty warriors, confiding in their courage
and glorying in their strength, made right rough and haughty answer to
our embassy, saying that they could defend themselves and theirs by
force of arms, and that accordingly they should depart at once and lead
their troops out from the Teloboian borders. On receiving this report
from his legates, Amphitryon at once led forth his whole army from
camp. And from the city, too, the Teloboians led out their legions in
goodly panoply.
postquam utrimque exitum est maxima copia, dispertiti viri, dispertiti
ordines, 220 nos nostras more nostro et modo instruximus legiones,
item hostes contra legiones suas instruont.
After both sides had marched out in full force, troops arrayed, and
ranks arrayed, we drew up our legions according to our usual method
and manner: our foemen likewise draw up their legions facing ours.
deinde utrique imperatores in medium exeunt, extra turbam ordinum
colloquontur simul. convenit, victi utri sint eo proelio, urbem agrum
aras focos seque uti dederent.

Then forward into the centre of the field stride the leaders of both hosts,
and there out beyond the serried lines they hold