Terentii Andria

[Matthaeus]

Pacis Principissa and I have decided to take a shot at translating this comedy. Any comments/suggestions welcome.

DIDASCALIA

INCIPIT ANDRIA TERENTI
ACTA LVDIS MEGALENSIBVS
M. FVLVIO M'. GLABRIONE AEDILIB. CVRVLIB.
EGERE L. AMBIVIVS TVRPIO L. HATILIVS PRAENESTINVS
MODOS FECIT FLACCVS CLAVDI
TIBIS PARIBVS TOTA
GRAECA MENANDRV
FACTA PRIMA
M. MARCELLO C. SVLPICIO COS.

PERSONAE

PROLOGUS
SIMO SENEX
SOSIA LIBERTVS
DAVOS SERVOS
MYSIS ANCILLA
PAMPHILVS ADVLESCENS
CHARINVS ADVLESCENS
BYRRIA SERVOS
LESBIA OBSTETRIX
GLYCERIVM MVLIER
CHREMES SENEX
CRITO SENEX
DROMO LORARIVS
_______________________________

DIDASCALIA (?)

TERENCE'S "THE WOMAN OF ANDROS" BEGINS
PERFORMED DVRING THE MAGALESIAN GAMES
VNDER THE CVRVLE AEDILESHIP OF M. FVLVIVS AND M. GLABRIO
PLAYED BY L. AMBIVIVS TVRPIO AND L. HATILIVS PRAENESTINVS
MVSIC (modos?) BY FLACCVS CLAVDIVS (or "son of Claudius", if Claudi is not an abbreviation...)
WITH SIMILAR REED-PIPES (LOL!)
IN WHOLE GRECE
THE FIRST ONE OF MENANDER TO HAVE BEEN MADE
VNDER THE CONSVLSHIP OF M. MARCELLVS AND C. SVLPICIVS

CHARACTERS

THE GVY WHO SPEAKS THE PROLOGVE (lol)
OLD SIMO
FREEDMAN SOSIA
SLAVE DAVOS
MAIDSERVANT MYSIS
ADOLESCENT PAMPHILVS
ADOLESCENT CHARINVS
SLAVE BYRRIA
MIDWIFE LESBIA
WOMAN GLYCERIVM (weird name for a woman, looks like neuter...)
OLD CHREMES
OLD CRITO
WHIPPER DROMO

 

[Matthaeus]

PERIOCHA
G. SVLPICI APOLLINARIS
Sororem falso creditam meretriculae
Genere Andriae, Glycerium, uitiat Pamphilus
Grauidaque facta dat fidem, uxorem sibi
Fore hanc; namque aliam pater ei desponderat,
Gnatam Chremetis, atque ut amorem comperit,
Simulat futuras nuptias, cupiens suus
Quid haberet animi filius cognoscere.
Daui suasu non repugnat Pamphilus.
Sed ex Glycerio natum ut uidit puerulum
Chremes, recusat nuptias, generum abdicat.
Mox Pamphilo, aliam dat Charino coniugem.

----------------------------------------------

SUMMARY OF GAIUS SULPICIUS APOLLINARIS


Pamphilus violates Glycerium, falsely attributed as a sister of a prostitute [of a family] from Andros; having made her pregnant, he swears that she will be his wife; on the other hand, his father had betrothed another to him, Chremes's daughter, and when he found out about the love affair, he pretends that a wedding will take place, wishing to find out what his son had in mind. Pamphilus does not oppose Davus's advice. But when Chremes sees that a little son is born to Glycerium, he rejects the marriage and disinherits his son-in-law. Soon he gives a spouse to Pamphilus, and another to Charinus.

 

[Pacifica]

PROLOGVS​

Poeta quom primum animum ad scribendum adpulit,​

id sibi negoti credidit solum dari,​

populo ut placerent quas fecisset fabulas.​

verum aliter evenire multo intellegit;​

nam in prologis scribundis operam abutitur, 5​

non qui argumentum narret sed qui malevoli​

veteris poetae maledictis respondeat.​

​

My translation:​

​

PROLOGUE​

As soon as the poet turned his mind to writing, he believed that the only task that was given to him was to make so that the stories he would write should please the public. But he understood that it was turning out very differently; for he spends too much effort in writing prologues, not because he tells the plot but because he responds to the insults of the malevolent old poet.​

Then with a little amelioration suggested by Matthaeus:

PROLOGUE
As soon as the poet turned his mind to writing, he believed that the only task that was given to him was to make so that the stories he would write should please the public. But he understood that it was turning out very differently; for he spends too much effort in writing prologues, not to tell the plot but to respond to the insults of the malevolent old poet.

 

[Pacifica]

MODOS FECIT FLACCVS CLAVDI

MVSIC (modos?) BY FLACCVS CLAVDIVS (or "son of Claudius", if Claudi is not an abbreviation...)

Finally I think it must rather be "son of Claudius", without filius and with the bare genitive in the Greek manner. An abbreviation would be weird there. (Btw, to be fair, this bit was (not so well) translated by me, not Matthaeus.)

 

[Matthaeus]

PROLOGVS v. 8-27


nunc quam rem vitio dent quaeso animum adtendite.
Menander fecit Andriam et Perinthiam.
qui utramvis recte norit ambas noverit: 10
non ita dissimili sunt argumento, et tamen
dissimili oratione sunt factae ac stilo.
quae convenere in Andriam ex Perinthia
fatetur transtulisse atque usum pro suis.
id isti vituperant factum atque in eo disputant 15
contaminari non decere fabulas.
faciuntne intellegendo ut nil intellegant?
qui quom hunc accusant, Naevium Plautum Ennium
accusant quos hic noster auctores habet,
quorum aemulari exoptat neglegentiam 20
potius quam istorum obscuram diligentiam.
de(h)inc ut quiescant porro moneo et desinant
male dicere, malefacta ne noscant sua.
favete, adeste aequo animo et rem cognoscite,
ut pernoscatis ecquid <spei> sit relicuom, 25
posthac quas faciet de integro comoedias,
spectandae an exigendae sint vobis prius.

Now please pay heed to what [thing] they corrupt. Menander wrote Andria and Perinthia. He (Terence?) who knows one of them, knows both. They are not so dissimilar in plot, but have been produced in a different language and pen. He admits to having transferred what was convenient/appropriate from Perinthia to Andria, and to having used it for his own. These fault-finders blame this act and argue on grounds that it isn't proper for plays to be corrupted. By understanding, do they make so that they understand nothing? When they accuse him, they also accuse Naevius, Plautus, and Ennius, authors of whom our present one is availing himself, whose negligence he greatly wishes to rival rather than their obscure carefulness. Henceforth I advise that they cease and desist their abuse [from now on] (kinda tautological), so that they may not know their mischief. Be favorable, patient, and learn the story, to examine thoroughly whether any hope is left, and whether the comedies, which the author will pen anew in the future, are first to be seen or hissed off the stage by you.

 

[Pacifica]

ACTVS I
Simo Sosia
SI. Vos istaec intro auferte: abite.-- Sosia,
ades dum: paucis te volo. SO. dictum puta:
nempe ut curentur recte haec? SI. immo aliud. SO. quid est 30
quod tibi mea ars efficere hoc possit amplius?
SI. nil istac opus est arte ad hanc rem quam paro,
sed eis quas semper in te intellexi sitas,
fide et taciturnitate. SO. exspecto quid velis.
SI. ego postquam te emi, a parvolo ut semper tibi 35
apud me iusta et clemens fuerit servitus
scis. feci ex servo ut esses libertus mihi,
propterea quod servibas liberaliter:
quod habui summum pretium persolvi tibi.
SO. in memoria habeo. SI. haud muto factum. SO. gaudeo 40
si tibi quid feci aut facio quod placeat, Simo,
et id gratum <fui>sse advorsum te habeo gratiam.
sed hoc mihi molestumst; nam istaec commemoratio
quasi exprobratiost inmemoris benefici.
quin tu uno verbo dic quid est quod me velis. 45

ACT 1
Simo - Sosia

Si. You, take those things inside: leave. --Sosia, come here now. I've got to talk to you.
So. Think it is said: certainly for these things to be taken care of properly?
Si. No, something else.
So. What more than this could my art do for you?
Si. There's no need for that art of yours for the thing I prepare, but for those things that I've always understood they were in you: loyalty and silence.
So. I'm waiting to hear what you want.
Si. You know how, after I bought you, service in my house from your childhood has been fair and clement for you. From my slave I made of you my freedman, for the reason that you were serving in a manner worthy of a free man. I payed to you what I considered to be the utmost price.
So. I remember.
Si. I don't change what's done.
So. I'm glad if I did or do anything that pleases you, Simo, and I'm grateful that it was grateful to you. But this pains me; for this reminder is like a reproach to someone forgetful of a kind act. Rather tell me in one word what it is that you want from me.

 

[Pacifica]

He (Terence?) who knows one of them, knows both.

I think that sentence is a general statement.

 

[Deleted member 13757]

PROLOGVS v. 8-27
nunc quam rem vitio dent quaeso animum adtendite.
Now please pay heed to what [thing] they corrupt.

vitio dare ~ to blame

Now look please what they blame [me/him/Terence] with.

qui utramvis recte norit ambas noverit:

whoever knows one, shall know the other.

quae convenere in Andriam ex Perinthia

quae = factae

quos hic noster auctores habet

whom this one holds in high regard

 

[Deleted member 13757]

PROLOGVS​

Poeta quom primum animum ad scribendum adpulit,​

id sibi negoti credidit solum dari,​

populo ut placerent quas fecisset fabulas.​

verum aliter evenire multo intellegit;​

nam in prologis scribundis operam abutitur, 5​

non qui argumentum narret sed qui malevoli​

veteris poetae maledictis respondeat.​

When first this poet took his pen,
he tought he'd write to please all men
wasting his time instead he does,
in self-defence against old fucks.

 

[Deleted member 13757]

PROLOGVS

When first this poet took his pen,
he thought he'd write to please all men
wasting his time instead he does,
in self-defence against old fucks.

just look what they accuse me of,
hehe... as if I would deny,
that story of Perinthia,
is now retold as mine.

I follow Énnius and Plautus,
whose works you know so well,
from them I took my stylus,
with them I'd share my cell.

Sit back... my freinds... relax...,
and let my Andria unfold,
the same Menander's story,
by me anew retold.

 

[Pacifica]

Free interpretation, but nice.

 

[Matthaeus]

Any other ideas/suggestions/corrections out there, guys?

 

[Matthaeus]

So what does διδασκαλια mean? Surely something to do with teaching, I suppose....

 

[limetrees]

Just on the didascalia:

MODOS FECIT FLACCVS CLAVDI
TIBIS PARIBVS TOTA
GRAECA MENANDRV
FACTA PRIMA
M. MARCELLO C. SVLPICIO COS.


Music for the whole play performed (composed?) by Flaccus, freedman (or slave) of Claudius, with two equal flutes
From the Greek of Menander
Performed (written?) for the first time under the consulship of Marcellus and Sulpicius.

TIBIS PARIBVS = tibis paribus dextris e sinistris = with equal flutes (right and left: either both treble or both bass)

 

[limetrees]

Really English corrections, and only tiny.
Neither of ye are native English speakers, am I right? (Amazing work ye are doing!)

Characters:
LORARIVS = Flogger (not “whipper”)

id sibi negoti credidit solum dari / populo ut placerent quas fecisset fabulas = believed that the only task that was given to him was that the stories he would write should please the people

 

[Pacifica]

Really English corrections, and only tiny.
Neither of ye are native English speakers, am I right?

I am not. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Matthaeus]

Neither am I.

 

[Pacifica]

But still closer to it than me lol.

 

[Matthaeus]

Well, I admit it's very difficult to render huge chunks of Latin into recognisably idiomatic English, whether it's your native tongue or not... we're doing our best!

 

[Pacifica]