Chapter 67

Question 1

praegestit animus iam videre primum lautos iuvenes mulieris beatae ac nobilis familiares,

Answer 1

My spirit is now very eager to see first the elegant young men, close friends of the blessed and noble woman,

Question 2

deinde fortes viros ab imperatrice in insidiis atque in praesidio balnearum collocatos;

Answer 2

secondly, the brave men who were stationed by the female general in an ambush in the garrison of the baths;

Question 3

ex quibus requirant quonam modo latuerint aut ubi,

Answer 3

I might ask of them how they lay hidden or where,

Question 4

alveusne ille an equus Troianus fuerit qui tot invictos viros muliebre bellum gerentes tulerit ac texerit.

Answer 4

whether it was that famous bathtub or a Trojan horse, which carried and concealed so many invincible men, waging a womanly war.

Question 5

illud vero respondere cogam cur tot viri ac tales hunc et unum et tam imbecillum, quam videtis,

Answer 5

But I will force them to reply to the following, why so many men, and of such a kind, neither arrested this man who was both on his own and so weak, as you see,

Question 6

non aut stantem comprehenderint aut fugientem consecuti sint;

Answer 6

while he was standing there nor pursued him as he was fleeing;

Question 7

qui se numquam profecto, si in istum locum processerint, explicabunt.

Answer 7

these men will certainly never explain themselves, if (ever) they advance into that place.

Question 8

quam volent in conviviis faceti, dicaces, nonnumquam etiam ad vinum diserti sint,

Answer 8

However humorous they might wish [to be] at feasts, however witty, however eloquent they might even be at times over wine,

Question 9

alia fori vis est, alia triclini, alia subselliorum ratio, alia lectorum;

Answer 9

the force of the forum is one thing, that of the dining room another, the business of the judges’ benches is one thing, that of the dining couches another;

Question 10

non idem iudicium comissatorumque conspectus; lux denique longe alia est solis, alia lychnorum.

Answer 10

the perspective of judges is not the same as that of revellers; and finally, the light of the sun is a very different thing to that of lamps.

Question 11

quam ob rem excutiemus omnes istorum delicias, omnes ineptias, si prodierint. sed me audiant:

Answer 11

For this reason we will shake off all of their delicate airs, all of their follies, if they come forward. But let them listen to me:

Question 12

navent aliam operam, aliam ineant gratiam, in aliis se rebus ostentent,

Answer 12

let them assist some other work, let them curry favour elsewhere, let them show off in other matters,

Question 13

vigeant apud istam mulierem venustate, dominentur sumptibus, haereant, iaceant, deserviant;

Answer 13

let them flourish in their charms in that woman’s house, let them be supreme in their spending, let them cling to her, lie (with her), be her servants;

Question 14

capiti vero innocentis fortunisque parcant.

Answer 14

but let them spare the life and fortunes of an innocent man.