Ecce Romani Chapter 33 Translation and Some Exercises

 Chapter 33 Translation:  

Cornelius gives the signal to the slave-women. First water is being brought by the slave-women, and the guests wash (their) hands. While they are doing this, wine sweetened with honey is given to all the guests. Next dishes are carried out of the kitchen, on which there are hors d'oeuvres-eggs, black olives, asparagus, and mushrooms sprinkled with garum. Meanwhile many stories are being told by the guests, affairs of the city are being told: one tells about fires, another about the plague in the city, another about the amphitheater, a huge building that will soon be dedicated. To hear something new pleases everyone. While the guests tell these stories and many other things, the hors d'oeuvres are being eaten, the wine sweetened with honey is being drunk. Then the slaves carry away the hors d'oeuvres; next a large dish is being carried by the same slaves into the dining room, (and it) is being placed in the middle of the table. On this is a huge pig, and around the pig (are) the dormice that Aurelia had brought. The guests' goblets are being filled with excellent wine by other slaves. While the guests look at these things, a great uproar is being heard outside the dining room. Suddenly Titus Cornelius bursts into the dining room with a loud clattering. The guests murmur, "Why is our Titus accustomed to coming late and (why) does he never excuse himself?" But Titus, walking slowly to his own place, says, "Greetings, all (my) friends! Greetings, my brother! I ran into a certain friend in a bar" Gaius, although he was the most annoyed, however said nothing because he was not wanting to scold his brother this time. Immediately he gave the servants a signal. At that moment some(slaves) were carving out the pig, other slaves carrying meat to the guests. Some pork was not given to all: indeed scraps of chicken have been given to the clients. "Boy," said Gaius to the servant, "Give my brother scraps of chicken also! Do not give him some pork!" Now all were having food and wine. All were praising dinner. Even the clients, although only having scraps, were shouting with the rest, "Hurray! Gaius Cornelius is accustomed to giving the best dinners. No one has a better cook. Surely we ought to praise the cook himself?" And so the cook has been summoned and has been praised by all. At last the trays have been carried out by the slaves. At the same time, Gaius orders the slaves dessert to be carried into the dining room. The slaves, although they were tired, were running this way and that. Grapes, apples, and pears have been carried into the dining room. Raisin Wine has been placed on the table and has been given to all.

Exercise B:

1. The banqueters, because they had been invited to dinner, were kindly greeted by Cornelius himself.

2. The slave women, although they had been ordered to hurry, carried water slowly to the guests.

3. The guests, after they had been led into the dining room, reclined on the couches.

4. A large tray, which had been brought from the kitchen by the slaves, was placed in the middle of the table.

5. The slaves, because they had been ordered by Gauis, gave scraps of chicken to his brother.

6. The pig, after it had been sliced by the slaves, was carried to the table. 

7. The grapes, after they had been carried into the dining room, were given to all the guests.

8. The excellent dinner, after it had been given by Cornelius, was praised by all. 

9. The cook, because he had been praised by all, was happy. 

10. Titus, after he had been led into the dining room, said, “Hello my brother!” 

Exercise C:

When I was still a slave, I lived in the city of Brundisium. At that time I loved Mellisa, the most beautiful slave woman who lived in the country house and farm. By chance my master had gone away to the nearby city; I therefore decided to go visit Melissa, however I refused to go alone. However there was a certain friend, who could come with me. He was a soldier, a brave and bold man.

We departed at midnight. The moon shined just as if it was noon. We came to the tombs located near the road. The soldier friend goes amongst the tombs; I sit down and count the tombstones. Then we saw a wonderful thing: all the clothes having been taken off by my friend were deposited on the ground near the road.  Good heavens! I am not telling a joke! He  was suddenly made into a wolf! I was standing just as if I was dead. However the wolf howled and fled into the woods.

First I was frightened. My soul was in my nose! Then I moved forward to the tombstone because I wanted to examine his clothing. Nevertheless the clothing was set down on a stone. For a short time I was motionless. Nevertheless I drew a sword and killed the shadows until I arrived at the country house and farm. Melissa met me at the villa gate. “I am sorry” I said, “that I did not come previously; we needed help. For a wolf entered the house and killed all the livestock just like a butcher. However he did not get the last laugh because our slave wounded him with a sword. 

When I heard this, I was frightened. I could neither sleep nor remain in the villa, but rather with the greatest speed escaped. When I arrived home my soldier friend was lying on the couch like a cow.He was being taken care of by a doctor. Then I understood that the soldier was a werewolf. Thereafter I was unable to eat bread with him or call him my friend.