Nāvis iam per undās celeriter prōgrediēbātur, omnēsque ē puppī lītus lēniter ē cōnspectū recēdēns cōnspiciēbant. Ac postrēmō Drūsilla: “Quīnque iam sunt annī,” inquit, “cum in hanc terram barbaram iter fēcimus. Quam gaudeō nōbīs dēnique licēre domum revertī, ut tandem patriam et parentēs meōs vīsāmus!”

The ship now sets out quickly through the waves, and everyone looks out from the stern watching the shore slowly recede from sight. And finally Drusilla says: "There are already five years since we made the journey into this barbaric land. How happy I am for us to finally be allowed to return home to finally see my parents and country!"

Tum Cornēlius: “Rēctē dīcis,” inquit. “Sed dum hīc morābāmur, multa mīranda et iūcunda vīdimus, nec mē paenitet hīs in locīs longinquīs quīnquennium trānsēgisse. Sed nunc domī esse maximē cupiō, ut Pūblius noster et Sextus omnia discant, quae cīvibus Rōmānīs nōta esse dēbent. Et ego ipse forum templaque deōrum libentissimē iterum aspiciam.”

Then Cornelius said: "You speak correctly. But while we remained here, we saw many amazing and pleasing things, nor do I regret having spent these long five years in this place. But now I am very eager to be home so that our Publius and Sextus may learn everything that should be known for Roman citizens. And I myself am very happy to see the forum and temples of the gods again."

“Urbem vix reminiscī possum,” inquit Cornēlia; “tam eram parvula, cum hūc profectī sumus.” Tum subitō conversa ad Lūcium, quem in gremiō Anna sagō contēctum tenēbat: “Et Lūcius noster eam omnīnō numquam aspexit.” Quae cum dīxisset, frātrem parvum artē amplexa est.

"I can barely remember the city," said Cornelia; "I was so little when we set out here." Then immediately turned to Lucius, whom Anna was holding in a blanket in her lap: "And our Lucius saw none of it altogether." When she had said this, she hugged her little brother tightly.

“Suādeō, uxor,” inquit Cornēlius, “ut cum cēterīs tū nunc in cameram redeās; nam ventus incrēbrēscit. Sed ego et fīliī paulō diūtius in puppī ambulābimus.”

"I urge you wife," said Cornelius, "to return with the others now into the cabin; for the wind is increasing. But I and our little sons will walk for a while on the deck."

Cum Drūsilla in cameram cum līberīs servīsque sē recēpisset, tum Pūblius, dum ultrō citrōque ambulant, patrī: “Videor mihi recordārī,” inquit, “quondam perīculōsum fuisse in marī Aegaeō nāvigāre propter pīrātās, quī ubique castella habērent, unde in nāvēs mercātōrum impetūs facerent subitōs.”

When Drusilla had withdrawn herself into the cabin with the children and slaves, then Publius, while they walked to and fro, said to his father: "I seem to remember," he said, "once it had been dangerous to sail in the Aegean sea because of pirates who had forts everywhere from where they made sudden attacks on merchant ships."

“Per multōs annōs rēs ita sē habēbat,” inquit Cornēlius; “et mercātōrēs hōc modō saepe periērunt, nāvēsque eōrum aut incēnsae sunt aut in marī submersae. Quīn etiam pīrātae istī postrēmō impūnitāte tam audācēs factī sunt, ut nāvīs quoque adorīrentur, quibus vehēbantur magistrātūs nostrī.”

"Through many years things were thus," said Cornelius; "and merchants often perished in this way, and their ships were either burned or sunk in the sea. Indeed also those pirates through impunity were made so bold that they also attacked ships which carried out magistrates."

“Papae!” inquit Sextus. “Nōnne nōmen magnum populī Rōmānī veritī sunt? Cūr nōn nāvēs longae istōs scelestōs statim ē marī fugāvērunt?”

"Whew!" said Sextus. "Surely they fearedthe great name of the Roman people didn't they? Why didn't our long ships immediately put those criminals to flight from the sea?"

“Saepe id temptātum est,” inquit pater; “sed, ut est in vetere prōverbiō, ‘Incipere multō est quam impetrāre facilius.’ Quō modō factum est ut, cum aliōs navēs cōnsectārentur, aliī procul praedēs agerent; nec fīnis fuit, priusquam custōdia tōtius ōrae maritimae Gnaeō Pompeiō Magnō commissa est. Is tam ācriter pīrātās lacessīvit, ut omnēs sexāgintā diēbus aut fugerent aut lēgātōs pācis petendae causā ad eum mittere cōgerentur.”

"It has often been attempted," father said, "as it is in the old proverb, 'To begin is much easier than to accomplush.' In such a way it was done that when other ships pursued, others drove their loot far awat; nor was it ended before Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus was commissioned with control of the whole sea coast. He so fiercely challenged the pirates that within sixty days all were put to flight or were forced by him to send envoys seeking peace."

Tum Pūblius: “Nōnne Caesar dictātor in potestātem istōrum pīrātārum ōlim ipse pervēnit?”

Then Publius: "Surely the dictator Caesar was once sent into the power of the pirates wasn't he?"

“Rēctē quaeris,” inquit Cornēlius. ‘Nam ille adhūc iuvenis īnsulam Rhodum adīre volēbat, ut Apollōnium Molōnem clārissimum dīcendī magistrum ibi audīret. Hūc cum hībernīs mēnsibus trānsīret, ā pīrātīs captus, apud eōs mānsit diēs ferē quadrāgintā.

"You ask correctly," said Cornelius. "For he still a young man wanted to go to the island of Rhodes so that he may hear the speaking of the very famous teacher Apollonius Molo. When he was crossing to here in the winter months, he was captured by pirates and remained with them around forty days."

“Interim comitēs Rōmam dīmissī sunt pecūniam quaesītum,quā redimerētur. Ipse, inter hostēs relictus, cum pīrātīs cōmiter iocātus saepe adfirmāvit sē reversum dē eīs supplicium summum sūmptūrum.

"Meanwhile, the companions were sent away to Rome seeking money with which they could be redeemed. Himself, having been left among the enemies, often boasted to the pirates that he would return and take the utmost vengeance on them.

“Illī scīlicet tum adrīsērunt. Sed Caesar, cum, pecūniā dēmum adlātā, in lītore dēsertō expositus esset, Mīlētum statim perrēxit; ubi classe dēductā pīrātās abeuntēs secūtus est, eōsque omnēs suppliciō eō adfēcit, quod anteā quasi per iocum minātus erat.”

"They of course then laughed. But Caesar, when finally brought the money, had been placed on the deserted shore, immediately continued to Miletus; where having led out the fleet, followed the departing pirates, and inflicted them with all punishments that he threatened before as if in jest."

“Quam vellem,” inquit Sextus, “pīrātae hodiē quoque in hōc marī nāvigārent! Sī nostram nāvem adoriantur, ego eīs capita prius abscīdam, quam in puppim ēscendere possint.”

"How I wish," says Sextus, "pirates were also sailing today in this sea! If they attacked our ship, I would cut off their heads before they could come up onto the deck."

“Heia!” inquit Pūblius, cum sē horrēscere simulāret; “quam bene pīrātīs accidit Sextum nostrum illīs temporibus maria nōn nāvigāsse!”

"Heia!" says Publius, when he pretended to be afraid; "how fortunate for the pirates that our Sextus did not sail the seas in those times!"

Tum Sextus īrā incēnsus: ‘Nōlī tē iactāre, Pūblī; nam etsī maior nātū es, ego tamen sum fortior.”

Then Sextus burning with anger: "Do not hurl yourself Publius, for even if you are larger by birth, nevertheless I am braver."

“Agite, fīliī meī,” inquit Cornēlius. “Inter vōs dēsinite altercārī. Tālēs dissēnsiōnēs indecōrae sunt; et exīstimō iam Onēsimum cūrāsse ut esset quod ederēmus. Eāmus intrō.” Quae cum dīxisset, ad cameram pedem convertit; ac Pūblius et Sextus, qui male ēsuriēbant, libenter subsecūtī sunt.

"Come on my sons," says Cornelius. "Stop fighting among yourselves. Such conflicts are unbecoming; and I think now has prepared in order that we may eat. Let us go inside." Which when he had said this, he turned his step to the cabin; and Publius and Sextus, who were badly hungry, gladly followed.

Illā nāve vehēbantur hominēs plūrimī; sed diēs complūrēs tam asperum erat mare, ut plērīque graviter nauseā adficerentur, paucīque in puppī ambulāre possent. Mīrus et molestissimus est hic morbus; quī enim eō adficitur, primō timet nē moriatur, tum metuit nē in vitā retineātur.

Many people were being carried by the ship; but several days the sea was so rough that many were affected with serious nausea, and few were able to walk on deck. This illness was strange and very troublesome; for he who was afflicted with it, first fears that the would die, then fears that he would be held in life.

Postrēmō autem omnibus melius est factum, rārīque in puppim prōdiērunt. In eīs erat senex quīdam, quī linguā barbarā ūtēbātur, nec quisquam plānē intellegere poterat quid ille dīcere vellet.

But finally all were made better, and a few proceeded onto the deck. Among them was a certain old man who used a barbarian language, and no one could understand clearly what he wanted to say to them.

Dēnique mercātor dīves, quī frūstrā cum sene loquī cōnātus erat: “Nōnne hīc adest quisquam,” inquit, “cui lingua huius peregrīnī nota sit?”

Finally the rich merchant, who tried in vain to speak with the old man says: "Is there anyone here who knows his foreign language?"

Forte Stasimus haud procul stābat. Quī cum haec audīvisset, ut erat vafer, “Mihi,” inquit, “omnēs linguae nōtae sunt. Sī exposueris quid rogāre velīs, ego libenter cum sene loquar.” Quō dictō, ad senem accessit, et sermō huius modī īnstitūtus est:

By chance Stasimus was standing not far away. When he had heard this, to be a rascal says, "All languages are known to me. If you will explain what you want to ask, I will gladly speak with the old man."

• Stasimus. Salvē multum, senex.
• Senex. Avo. Dōnni.
• Mercātor. Quid dīcit, obsecrō?
• Stasimus. Dīcit sē iubēre tē salvēre, et tibi dōnum dare velle.
• Mercātor. Benignē facit. Sed quaere, quis sit homō, aut unde veniat.
• Senex. Mē har bocca.

• Stasimus. Many greetings old man.
• Senex. [Gibberish]
• Mercātor. What did he say please?
• Stasimus. He says greetings to you and wants to give you a gift
• Mercātor. He does kindly. But ask who the man is or where he comes from
• Senex. [Gibberish]

• Stasimus. Dīcit buccam dolēre.
• Mercātor. Fortasse nōs esse medicōs putat. Quaere, sīs; nam hospitem sīc errāre nōlō.
• Senex. Murph ursa mvulc.
• Mercātor. Quid nunc dīcit?
• Stasimus. Dicit sē ursās vēndere velle.
• Mercātor. Forsitan bēstiās comparet in amphitheātrō exhibendās.
• Senex. Pālu mer ged etha.
• Stasimus. Dīcit sē pālās quoque vēndere.
• Mercātor. Ad terram effodiendam, crēdō. Sed vix intellegere possum cūr negōtia tam dīversa cōnfundat.

• Stasimus. He says his mouth hurts.
• Mercātor. Perhaps he thinks us to be doctors. Ask please for I don't want to err the guest.
• Senex. [Gibberish]
• Mercātor. What is he saying now?
• Stasimus. He says he wants to sell bears.
• Mercātor. Perhaps he will compare the beasts to be exhibited in the amphitheater.
• Senex. [Gibberish]
• Stasimus. He says he also has spades to sell.
• Mercātor. For digging up earth I believe. But I can hardly understand why he confuses such different jobs.

• Senex. Murphonnium sucorhim.
• Mercātor. Quid dīcit, obsecrō?
• Stasimus. Tē iubet sub corbulam rēpere.
• Mercātor. Papae! Dēlīrat profectō.

• Senex. [Gibberish]
• Mercātor. What is he saying I ask?
• Stasimus. He commands you to crawl under a basket.
• Mercātor. Wow! He is certainly insane.

Cum hic sermō habērētur, Pūblius et Sextus prope stābant, vix sē continentēs quōminus in cachinnōs ērumperent. Sed iam ē camerā prōcessit Cornēlius; et Stasimus celeriter in puppim extrēmam sē recēpit. Quō factō, Cornēliō mercātor: “Estne,” inquit, “ille Stasimus servus tuus?”

While this conversation was had, Publius and Sextus standing nearby were hardly able to contain themselves before bursting out into laughter. But now Cornelius comes out of the cabin and Stasimus quickly brings himself into the outer deck. When this was done, the merchant says to Cornelius: "Is that Stasimus your servant?"

“Ita,” inquit Cornēlius; “nec usquam est puer scelestior.”

"Yes," Cornelius says: "and there is not a more criminal boy."

“Haud ita mihi vidētur,” inquit mercātor; “nam modo mihi operam benignē dedit, cum hunc peregrīnum quaedam rogāre vellem.”

"It does not seem that way to me," the merchant says, "for he has just acted kindly to me when I wanted to ask this foreigner something."

“Quō modō, obsecrō, ille tē adiuvāre potuit?” inquit Cornēlius. ‘‘Multīs linguīs ego ūtor; sed nē ego quidem paulō ante intellegere poteram quid hic ignōtus dīcere vellet, cum mē appellāret. Stasimus autem nihil nisi Latinē scit.” “Suspicor igitur eum mē lūdificāsse,” inquit mercātor ridēns. “Sed sine dubiō omnia per iocum fēcit; ac spērō dē eō supplicium tē nōn sūmptūrum.”

Tum Cornēlius: “Dolīs eius interdum īrā tantopere incendor, ut vix mē continēre possim quōminus eum in crucem statim agam. Cum autem tū tam clēmenter suādeās, poenās nōn dabit——dōnec aliam noxiam commeruerit.”

Dum illī ita inter sē loquuntur, peregrīnus, ā spē omnī dēstitūtus, caput quassāns trīstis discessit; atque interim Pūblius et Sextus ad prōram prōcesserant, ubi flūctūs magnōs admīrantēs diū stābant.

Tum Sextus: “Hīsne in regiōnibus,” inquit, “pugna nāvālis umquam commissa est?”

“Ōlim,” inquit Pūblius, ‘in marī Pamphȳliō Hannibal cum Rhodiōrum classe cōnflīxit. Sed multō est mīrābilior pugna, quā Eumenem, rēgem Pergamēnum, Poenus īdem fugāvit.”

“Dē hāc numquam audīvī,” inquit Sextus. ‘Quid factum est, obsecrō?”

Tum Pūblius: ‘Modo librum Cornēli Nepōtis legēbam, quī rem gestam ita trādit: Hannibal nāvium numerō superābātur; itaque dolō eī pugnandum erat. Quārē suōs iussit venēnātās serpentēs vīvās quam plūrimās colligere, eāsque in vāsa fictilia conicere. Cum diēs pugnae vēnisset, imperāvit ut omnēs in Eumenis ipsīus concurrerent nāvem, cēterās autem neglegerent.

“Quod ubi factum est, nāvis Eumenis fugā salūtem petere coācta est, sed cēterae undique classem Hannibalis vehementer premēbant. Tum in eās repente vāsa fictilia, dē quibus suprā mentionem fēcī, coniecta sunt. Quibus in puppēs frāctīs, nāvēs hostium brevī serpentium plēnae erant; atque illī, novā rē territī, terga vertērunt rēgemque Eumenem intrā praesidia, quae in proximō lītore collocāta erant, celeriter subsecūtī sunt.”

“Hahahae!” inquit Sextus. “Hannibal certē dux callidus erat. Vix turpe fuit ā tantō imperātōre vincī.”

Tum Pūblius, post sē respiciēns: “Putō,” inquit, “nōs nunc redīre posse. Stasimus poenās effūgisse vidētur, neque usquam hospes in cōnspectū est.”

Itaque ā prōrā cum recessissent, sē patrī cēterīsque reddidērunt, quī iam passim in puppī sedēbant.

Posterō diē nautae procul terram aspexērunt,⁠ omnēsque cupidē ad latus nāvis properāvērunt, quō⁠ melius eam vidērent. Tum Cornēliō Sextus: "Quam terram, pater," inquit, "iam aspicimus?"

"Crētam eam esse crēdō, mī fīlī," inquit Cornēlius. "Īnsula est magna, ibique multae rēs mīrābilēs factae esse dīcuntur. Abī, sorōrī nūntiā⁠ ut hūc veniat. Fortasse ego quaedam reminīscī possum, quae vōs libenter audiātis."

"Euax!" inquit Sextus. "Abeō." Et celeriter in cameram sē recēpit, unde brevī cum Cornēliā et quibusdam līberīs aliīs ēgressus est."

"Quantō plūrēs, tantō melius,"⁠ inquit Cornēlius rīdēns. "Hūc accēdite, līberī; in vēlī umbrā sedeāmus, dum vōbīs fābulam nārrō." Tum, cum omnēs ad audiendum compositī et intentī essent, ita loquī incipit:

"Multōs abhinc annōs Crētā⁠ Athēnās vēnit Androgeōs,⁠ Mīnōis⁠ fīlius, ut ibi dēscenderet in certāmina, quae Panathēnāica vocantur. ubīque victor erat. Quārē Aegeus, rēx Athēniēnsium, invidiā commōtus, iuvenī negōtium⁠ dedit, ut taurum Marathōnium occīderet, hōc modō ratus sē hospitem ingrātum facile sublātūrum. Neque haec rēs eum fefellit; nam iuvenis ā mōnstrō ipse dīlaniātus est."

"Ubi haec Crētam sunt dēlāta, Mīnōs dolēns et īrā commōtus magnum exercitum in fīnēs Athēniēnsium dūxit, eōrumque urbem obsēdit; ac paulō post pestis⁠ quoque tam dīra incidit in eōs, ut condiciōnēs pācis petere cōgerentur. Quās acerbissimās accēpērunt; nam Mīnōs postulāvit ut quotannīs⁠ septem puerī nōbilēs totidemque puellae Crētam mitterentur, ubi dīlaniārentur⁠ ā mōnstrō quōdam, quod ipse domī alēbat.⁠ Eī mōnstrō erat nōmen Mīnōtaurus, quia taurī caput sed corpus hūmānum habēbat."

"Horrēscō audiēns," inquit Cornēlia, cum ad patrem propius accēderet; "quam gaudeō tālia mōnstra hīs temporibus nusquam reperīrī!"

"Mihi autem," inquit Sextus, "maximō dolōrī⁠ est omnia ista iam occīsa esse; complūra occīdere pervelim."

At Cornēlius: "Nōnne oblītus es, mī fīlī, mē fābulam nārrāre?"

"Peccāvī, pater," inquit Sextus. "Veniam dā, obsecrō. Posteā nihil⁠ interpellābō."

Tum Cornēlius: "Mīnōtaurus in labyrinthō latēbat, ubi vorābat adulēscentēs miserōs, quī multiplicibus⁠ errōribus impedītī numquam exitum invenīre poterant, cum semel eō⁠ intrōductī erant."

"Per multōs annōs Athēniēnsēs illud tribūtum⁠ horrendum solverant, cum Thēseus, rēgis Athēniēnsis fīlius, postulāvit ut sibi licēret esse ē numerō iuvenum, quī illō annō Crētam mitterentur. Pater scīlicet fīlium tantō perīculō obicere nōluit. Thēseus autem obstinātā mente in sententiā persevērāvit, rēxque postrēmō concēdere coāctus est."

"Vēla nāvis, quā adulēscentēs īnfēlīcēs vehēbantur, semper sordida erant, quod illī miserī quasi ad fūnus abībant. Sed iam Aegeus imperāvit candida⁠ quoque comparārī, fīliōque praecēpit ut, sī omnia prōsperē cessissent, domum rediēns sordida vēla illīs candidīs⁠ mūtāret,⁠ quō signō procul omnibus nōtum foret⁠ Mīnōtaurum occīsum esse."

"Lēnī ventō vectus Thēseus Crētam pervēnit; ubi Ariadna, Mīnōis fīlia, amōre hospitis statim incēnsa est. Gladium igitur eī dedit et fīlum, quō vēstīgia regeret, cum ē labyrinthō exīre cōnārētur. Quō modō Thēseus, mōnstrō occīsō, incolumis ē locō horrendō sē recēpit. Tum cum Ariadnā clam fūgit ex urbe, et eādem nāve domum profectus est."

"Spērō," inquit Cornēlia, "eōs salvōs Athēnās pervēnisse. Sine dubiō cīvēs Ariadnae grātiam maximam rettulērunt, quod⁠ Thēseum tam callidē adiūverat."

Tum Cornēlius: "Ariadna numquam Athēnās vīdit. Nam Thēseus eam quādam in īnsulā relīquit, cum domum iter faceret."

"Rem⁠ quam foedam!" inquit Cornēlia. "Spērō eum prō perfidiā tantā poenās maximās dedisse."

"Ille vērō erat satis īnfēlīx," inquit pater; "nam oblītus est signum dare, quō patrī ostenderet omnia prōsperē cessisse. Itaque cum nāvis iuvenēs gaudentēs in portum veheret, Aegeus, ē scopulīs prōspiciēns, sordida vēla procul vīdit. Quārē ratus fīlium mortuum esse, ē vertice⁠ scopulōrum sē praecipitāvit ac corpus in saxa ēlīsum est. Ita accidit ut Thēseus tantum⁠ ad fūnus patris cūrandum domum pervenīret."

Postquam haec dicta sunt, omnēs aliquamdiū tacitī sēdērunt, cum aspicerent⁠ terram, quae usque propius accēdere vidēbātur. Tum Pūblius ē camerā prōdiit, et ille: "Gaudeō," inquit, "nōs Crētam tam plānē vidēre posse. Semper enim voluī aspicere hanc terram, quō⁠ Hannibal exsul⁠ ōlim dēvertit."

"Sed mihi nunc abeundum est," inquit Cornēlius. "Tū autem, Pūblī, in librō Cornēlī Nepōtis profectō lēgistī, quō modō Hannibal incolās istīus īnsulae ēlūserit. Certō sciō hōs līberōs id audīre velle."

Tum Cornēlia: "Nārrā, sīs, frāter. Nōs omnēs ad audiendum compositī sumus."

"Fābula haud longa est," inquit Pūblius. "Postquam Poenī Zamae⁠ dēvictī sunt, aliquamdiū Hannibal in Āfricā mānsit, et multīs modīs patriam suam adiūvit.⁠ Postrēmō autem Rōmā lēgātī Carthāginem vēnērunt. Eōs suī poscendī causā missōs ratus, Hannibal nāvem cōnscendit atque in Syriam ad rēgem Antiochum sē contulit; cui persuāsit ut bellum Rōmānīs īnferret."

"Antiochō victō, veritus nē Rōmānīs dēderētur, Crētam Poenus fūgit. Sēcum pecūniam grandem portābat; quam nē raperent Crētēnsēs, cōnsilium tāle⁠ iniit: Amphorās aliquot complēvit plumbō,⁠ summās⁠ autem aurō et argentō operuit. Hās, praesentibus magistrātibus,⁠ in templō Diānae collocāvit, cum simulāret sē fortūnās suās ibi custōdiendās⁠ relinquere. Interim quāsdam statuās cavās pecūniā suā complēverat, eāsque domī summā neglegentiā⁠ servābat, quasi nihilī⁠ essent."

"Crētēnsēs, sīc in errōrem inductī, templum magnā cūrā custōdiēbant, nē Hannibal cum suā pecūniā clam abīret. Ille autem, occāsiōne oblātā, statuās in nāvem imposuit, et, fortūnīs ita cōnservātīs, in Pontum incolumis pervēnit."

"Quantō plūra dē Hannibale audiō," inquit Sextus, "tantō⁠ magis eius sollertiam admīror. Minimē mīrum est eum totiēns imperātōrēs nostrōs superāsse. Sed nunc mē exercēre paulisper iussus sum." Quae cum dīxisset, surrēxit, omnēsque aliī in aliam⁠ partem discessērunt.

Circiter merīdiem Cornēlius, cum quaedam Onēsimō dictāvisset,⁠ in puppī cum fīliīs ultrō citrōque ambulābat. Iam propter nebulās īnsula Crēta vix cernī poterat, et Sextus: "Quō modō fit,⁠ pater," inquit, "ut tantō circuitū in Italiam iter faciāmus? Nōnne est ūlla via brevior, quā ad fīnem dēstinātum perveniāmus?"

"Aliquantō brevior est via," inquit pater, "sī terrestrī⁠ itinere per Achaiam pergere velīs.⁠ Et semel et iterum initum est cōnsilium Isthmī⁠ perfodiendī,⁠ ut eā⁠ ex Aegaeō⁠ in Īōnium mare nāvēs trānsīre possent. Dictātor Caesar hoc opus prīmus cōgitāvit. Deinde Caligula ad loca dīmētienda centuriōnem mīsit. Postrēmō Nerō rē vērā initium fēcit; quīn etiam ipse rāstrō⁠ humum prīmus effōdit et corbulae congestam umerīs extulit. Sed adhūc incohātum⁠ modo⁠ opus est."

Dum Cornēlius ita loquitur, in puppim prōdiērunt et mercātor, dē quō ante mentiōnem fēcimus, et⁠ peregrīnus īnfēlīx, cuius lingua nēmini nōta erat. Quōs cum aspexisset, mercātōrī Cornēlius: "Illīus īnfēlīcis mē vehementer miseret,"⁠ inquit."

"Mē quoque eius miseret," inquit mercātor; "et libenter haec ā tē audiō. Nam bene sciō plērōsque cīvēs nostrōs peregrīnōs paene omnēs nihilī facere."

Tum Cornēlius rīdēns: "Fābulamne umquam audīvistī dē peregrīnīs, quī, cum Rōmam pervēnissent, quaerēbant cīvem, quī pollicitus erat sē eōs rēgiē⁠ hospitiō acceptūrum, sī quandō in Italiam iter fēcissent?"

"Numquam, quod⁠ sciam," inquit mercātor. "Nōnne vīs eam nārrāre?"

"Hic cīvis," inquit Cornēlius, "ōlim ōtiōsus in forō ambulābat, cum subitō occurrērunt duo hospitēs, quōs splendidē invītāverat, cum ipse peregrīnārētur.⁠ Quā rē homō prīmō conturbātus est; nam vērō⁠ eī erat domus parva et rēs familiāris tenuis."

"Tum autem, callidē trepidātiōnem suam dissimulāns:⁠ 'Gaudeō,' inquit, 'vōs salvōs advēnisse; sed fēcissētis rēctius, sī statim ad mē vēnissētis.' 'Id fēcissēmus,' inquiunt illī, 'sī domum tuam nōvissēmus.' 'Hoc quidem perfacile est,' inquit homō; 'omnēs enim dēmōnstrāre possunt aedēs, ubi habitō. Sed īte mēcum.'

"Sequuntur illī, cum intereā⁠ eius sermō omnis in ostentātiōne cōnsūmitur: in agrīs quaerit frūmenta⁠ quō modō prōveniant, quasi omnia sua sint; queritur quod vīlla sua nūper incēnsa sit."

"Interim, dum tālia loquitur, forte animadvertit aedēs⁠ cuiusdam civis locuplētis, ubi convīvae multī exspectābantur; cumque iānitōrī nōtus esset, hospitēs intrōdūxit, quibus: 'Hic,' inquit, 'habitō.' Interim īnspicit argentum, quod erat expositum, triclīnium vīsit, omnia probat."

"Brevī autem accessit servus, quī hominī clārē dīxit dominum iam ventūrum, sī exīre vellent.⁠ 'Itane?' inquit ille. Tum hospitibus: 'Nunc eāmus; frāter enim ex Siciliā vēnit. Ego eī obviam eō; vōs autem hūc decimā hōrā redīte.'

"Hospitēs nihil suspicantēs discessērunt, homō vērō celeriter domum sē contulit. Hōrā cōnstitūtā ad aedēs cīvis locuplētis rediērunt peregrīnī; unde dērīsī in dēversōrium rūrsus sē recipere coāctī sunt."

"Postrīdiē in forō hominem vīdērunt, eumque incūsāvērunt. Ille autem dīxit eōs similitūdine aedium dēceptōs esse, sēque domī multam ad noctem⁠ exspectāsse."

"Interim servō suō imperāverat ut ā vīcīnō vāsa, vestīmenta, et eius modī alia ūtenda⁠ rogāret. Quae cum comparāta esse putāret, hospitēs domum dēdūxit, cum simulāret⁠ sē maiōrēs aedēs suās amīcō cuidam ad nūptiās commodāsse."

"Dum ibi cēnant, subitō puer⁠ nūntiat argentum repetī; nam sollicitus factus erat is, quī id commodāverat. 'Apage!' inquit cīvis noster ēgregius; 'aedēs commodāvī, familiam⁠ dedī. Argentum quoque vult? Etsī hospitēs habeō, tamen id quoque commodābō; nōs interim Samiīs⁠ dēlectābimur.'"

"Hahahae!" inquit mercātor. "Spērō hospitēs miserōs cēnam saltem gustāsse, priusquam ea quoque auferrētur."

"Nihil amplius adeptī sunt," inquit Cornēlius; "et iūre exīstimāvērunt sēcum male āctum esse."

At alter:⁠ "Hīs⁠ audītīs etiam magis mē omnium peregrīnōrum īnfēlīcium miseret. Et maximē doleō exīstimātiōnem⁠ populī Rōmānī pendēre cōgī tālibus ex cīvibus, quālem tū modo dīcēbās."⁠ Quae cum dīxisset, in sōle cōnsēdit; Cornēlius autem cum fīliīs ambulāre persevērāvit, dōnec accessit Cornēlia, quae: "Exīstimō," inquit, "mē avēs quāsdam volantēs procul cernere. Eāsne vidēs, Sexte?"

"Paucās cernere mihi videor," inquit Sextus. "Ex altō⁠ in īnsulam refugere videntur. Fortasse tempestātem coorīrī sentiunt."

"Quod⁠ ōmen dī āvertant!" inquit Cornēlius. "Nam brevī in marī maximō versābimur. Sī nūbēs ātrae in caelō tum cōgentur, nec sōlem nec lūnam aut stellās vidēre poterimus, nec gubernātor sciet quō⁠ nāvem dīrigat."

"Saepe dē avibus scrīptōrēs nostrī mentiōnem faciunt," inquit Pūblius. "Nōnne sunt quī⁠ putent eārum volātū⁠ rēs futūrās⁠ portendī?"

"Maximē vērō," inquit pater. "Et profectō tū saepe audīvistī dē pullīs, quōs eī cōnsulunt, quī perīcula sunt aditūrī."

"Haec mihi nārrā, sīs," inquit Cornēlia; "ego enim numquam audīvī."

"Pullī illī," inquit Cornēlius, "in caveīs custōdiuntur. Cum perīculum adest, ēdūcuntur, cibusque eīs obicitur. Sī edere nōlunt, trīste ōmen; sīn autem vorant tam cupidē ut aliquid ē rōstrīs excutiātur, id est ōmen optimum."

At Cornēlia: "Estne vērō ēventus semper tālis, quālem pullī portendunt?"

"Vix id audeō dīcere," inquit pater. "Etsī ōlim bellō Pūnicō prīmō⁠ populī Rōmānī dētrīmentō⁠ magnō nōnnūllīs vidētur plānum factum esse haud impūne tālia portenta⁠ neglegī."

"Nam P. Claudius pullōs, quī caveā līberātī edere nōllent, in marī mergī iussit, cum dīceret⁠ eīs⁠ bibendum saltem esse, etiam sī edere nōllent. Cuius temeritātem⁠ deī graviter ulcīscī vidēbantur, cum classis eius ad pugnam profecta clāde maximā vincerētur."

"Homō quam impius erat ille Claudius!" inquit Cornēlia. "Certē dignus erat, quī⁠ poenās maximās solveret."

"Ille vērō," inquit pater, "ā populō condemnātus⁠ est; et eius collēga, L. Iūnius, quī alibī nōn pāruerat auspiciīs classemque tempestāte āmīserat, sē ipse interfēcit."

Dum haec dīcuntur, Drūsilla et Anna cum Lūciō ē camerā prōdiērunt; quō vīsō, gaudiō exsiluērunt līberī, quī cum frātre parvulō lūdere iam diū cupiēbant⁠.

Lūcius autem iam patrem aspexerat, manūsque statim ad eum tendēbat. Tum: "Quam bellus est ille parvulus," inquit mercātor. "Quem cum videō, admoneor dē versibus illīs lepidīs poētae Catullī:

• Torquātus volŏ⁠ parvulus
• Mātris ē gremiō suae
• Porrigēns tenerās manus
• Dulce⁠ rīdeat⁠ ad patrem
• Sēmihiante⁠ labellō.

"Scīsne," inquit Sextus, "Pūblium quoque nostrum esse poētam? Versūs lepidōs paene cottīdiē facit."

Quō audītō, Pūblius ērubuit, et: "Tacē, sīs, Sexte," inquit. "Nōnne tē pudet⁠ tam stultē⁠ loquī?"

"Quīn⁠ herī," inquit Sextus, "tē in umbrā vēlī sedentem vīdī, cum aliquid summā cūrā cōnficerēs."

"Age, fīlī mī," inquit Cornēlius rīdēns; "verēcundārī⁠ nōn tē decet.⁠ Audiāmus quae scrīpserīs."

Tālī cohortātiōne inductus, Pūblius chartam haud invītus prōtulit, et: "Abhinc paucōs diēs," inquit, "Annam audīvī, cum vesperī lēniter caneret, quō⁠ facilius Lūcius obdormīret."

"Canēbat dē labōribus⁠ cīvium suōrum, quī domō expulsī Babylōnem in exsilium dēductī sunt. Dulcissimus erat ille cantus, sed etiam maestissimus; cum⁠ autem Anna suā linguā ūterētur, vix intellegere potuī quid esset, dē quō dīceret. Sed paulō post mē omnia docuit⁠; ac verbōrum sententiam ego nostrīs modīs exprimere sīc cōnātus sum:

• Sedēmus amnīs ad⁠ Babylōniōs,
• Nostrōrum amārīs⁠ fūnera lacrimīs,
• Sīōne victā, conquerentēs⁠
• Exsiliīque gravīs labōrēs.

• Iam victor atrōx increpitāns⁠ iocō,
• 'Sīōnis,' inquit, 'laetificīs⁠ modīs
• Cantāte laudēs. Cūr sedētis
• Cōnsimilēs⁠ ovibus⁠ tacentēs?'

• 'Hīc ut canāmus⁠ nōs patrium deum
• Maestī exsulantēs, barbaricā⁠ in domō⁠?
• Sīōn⁠, male hostēs sīc cadant⁠ ut⁠
• Tē cinerēsque tuōs verēbor.'

"Euge" inquit mercātor; "mihi quidem hī versūs optimī esse videntur. Sī fēlīciter fēceris prōgressum⁠, aliquandō poēta vērus esse poteris."

At nunc Drūsilla līberīs: "Fortasse vōbīs Anna quoque aliquid nārrābit. Eam rogāte." (Anna enim cum Lūciō interim discesserat, iamque haud procul sedēbat.)

Illa, cum cognōvisset quid līberī vellent: "Multa," inquit, "sunt clāra facta virōrum gentis meae; diēsque me dēficiat, sī vōbīs omnia nārrāre cōner. Audīvistisne umquam dē homine omnium validissimō?"

"Herculem, ut opīnor, dīcis,"⁠ inquit Sextus. "Nam ferunt⁠ eum omnēs vīribus⁠ superāsse."

"Herculem nōn dīcō," inquit Anna, "sed Samsōnem, quī manibus ipsīs⁠ leōnem dīlaniāvit."

"Idem fēcit Herculēs quoque," inquit Sextus; "nam cum⁠ leōnem Nemeaeum nec clāvā⁠ nec sagittīs⁠ vincere potuisset, manibus ipsīs mōnstrum occīdit."

"Sed omnia nōndum dīxī," inquit Anna. "Samsōn, cum in quādam urbe hostēs eum obsidērent, clam noctū ex oppidō ēgressus, postēs⁠ portae umerīs abstulit."

"Eugepae!" inquit Sextus. "Vix crēdō Herculem ipsum id facere potuisse."

At Anna: "Postrēmō hostēs certiōrēs factī sunt vīrēs Samsōnis in capillō sitās⁠ esse; dolōque eum aggressī, capillō prīvāvērunt.⁠ Tum ille facile in eōrum potestātem pervēnit; quem, cum oculōs ēripuissent, in pīstrīnum⁠ dēdūxērunt, ubi in tenebrīs molam⁠ versāre coāctus est."

"Ēheu," inquit Cornēlia; "quam mē istīus īnfēlīcis miseret!"

"Ipse sē pulchrē⁠ ultus est," inquit Anna. "Nam ōlim, cum quaedam fēriae⁠ habērentur et multitūdō maxima convēnisset, puerum ōrāvit ut manūs suās in columnās⁠ templī impōneret (nam ipse iam caecus erat). Quō factō, Samsōn, cui⁠ capillus interim rūrsus prōmittēbātur, omnibus vīribus cōnīsus⁠ columnās disiēcit,⁠ et ruīnā templī hostēs plūrimōs sēcum oppressit."

"Haec est fābula adprīmē lepida," inquit Sextus. "Potesne aliquid dē bellātōribus clārīs nārrāre?"

Tum Anna: "Annālēs gentis nostrae exemplīs tālibus abundant. Longum est⁠ etiam pauca nārrāre. Sed ōlim erat pāstor, quī vixdum⁠ iuvenis ingentem occīdit hostem, ā quō nostrī verbīs contumēliōsīs⁠ ad proelium prōvocātī⁠ erant."

"Dē istō nārrā, sīs," inquit Sextus. "Audīre cupimus."

At Anna: "Hostis erat gigās, quōcum congredī nēmō audēbat; quārē omnēs crēdēbant hunc iuvenem dēlīrāre, quī certāmen tam impār⁠ inīre vellet.⁠ Accēdēbat ut⁠ armīs mīlitāribus ūtī nescīret; quam ob rem in proelium prōdiit cum fundā tantum⁠ et lapidibus quibusdam lēvibus."

"Āmēns profectō fuit," inquit Sextus, "quī sīc armātus cum bellātōre ingentī congrederētur."

"Nūllō modō," inquit Anna; "nam ā deō auxilium spērābat, neque rēs eum fefellit; priusquam enim hostis propius accēdere posset, lapidem in eius frontem tantā fēlīcitāte⁠ impēgit,⁠ ut bellātor ingēns subitō corruēns humī prōnus iacēret. Tum adulēscēns, gladiō ipsīus arreptō, caput hostis abscīdit sanguineque cruentum ad rēgem rettulit."

"Vāh!" inquit Cornēlia. "Facta tālia audiēns horrēscō. Nōnne quidquam laetius nārrāre potes?"

Tum Anna: "Multa laeta quoque commemorāre possum. Quīn etiam recordor quaedam dē hōc ipsō pāstōre adulēscente, quī posteā rēx noster factus est."

"Ōlim, cum bellum cum fīnitimīs gereret, illīque⁠ praesidiō occupāvissent urbem, quae erat ipsīus patria,⁠ tum rēx, sitī obortā,⁠ mīlitibus audientibus: 'Utinam,' inquit, 'nunc bibere possem ē fonte gelidō, quī ad portam patriae est!'

"Quō cognitō, trēs mīlitēs virtūtis maximae, clam ex castrīs ēgressī, per statiōnēs hostium viā gladiīs factā, ad fontem pervēnērunt illum; tum, aquā inde celeriter haustā, ad rēgem incolumēs sē recēpērunt. Quī cum cognōvisset quantō perīculō aqua illa adlāta esset, bibere nōluit eamque lībāns⁠ humī perfūdit."

"Rēgem optimum!" inquit Cornēlia. "Huius modī fābulīs maximē dēlector."

Sed iam Lūcius, quī diū tacitus sēderat, querellās ēdere coepit, Annaque eum in cameram ad mātrem dēdūxit. Līberī interim abiērunt, sī forte⁠ Stasimum invenīre possent.