Elise Larres LAT 530 Dr. Christenson

PLAUTUS AS TRANSLATOR

The Roman Translation Project

• Widescale adoption/translation of Greek literature into Latin • 240 BCE – first Roman play by Livius Andronicus, based on Greek model(s) • aemulatio (rivaling the ST)

Plautus and early Roman drama

• Prologues of Plautus and Terence = first explicit reference to translation in Rome (McElduff 2013: 62). • 6 prologues of Plautus directly mention a Greek source text (Asinaria, Casina, Mercator, Miles Gloriosus, Poenulus, and Trinummus) • vortit barbare • Hellenocentric • Authenticating force (Handley 1975: 119) • Playwrights parading Greek source texts = literary equivalent of triumphing generals who parade their foreign spoils (Connors 2004: 204)

Plautus and His Source Text

• We do not have the Greek source texts for much of Plautus’ work. • Menander papyrus discovered containing fragments of the Dis Exapaton, Plautus’ ST for the Bacchides.

Comparing the Texts

ἀρνήσεται μέν, οὐκ [ἄ]δηλόν ἐστί μοι— ἰταμὴ γάρ—εἰς μέσον τε π[ά]ντες οἱ θεοὶ ἥξουσι. μὴ τοίνυν [.]ον[...... ] νὴ Δία. κακὴ κακῶς τοίνυν—ἐ[π]άν[αγε, Σ]ώστρατε· ἴσως σε πείσει· δοῦλο[ς ...... ]ρα[. . . . . (20–24)

Oh, she’ll deny it, that much is clear to me. For she’s bold, and all the gods have come into the middle (called by her oaths). (suddenly acting as Chrysis) “Well then, I hope it does me no good at all!” (as himself again, angrily responding) (Ha! It won’t,) by Zeus! (Chrysis-voice) “Then let me, wretched, (die) wretchedly!” (as himself again, to himself) [wait,] Sostratus: maybe she’ll persuade you— (Chrysis-voice) “So you’re here as your father’s slave?”

ne illa illud hercle cum malo fecit . . . meo; nam mihi diuini numquam quisquam creduat, ni ego illam exemplis plurumis planeque . . . amo. ego faxo hau dicet nactam quem derideat. nam iam domum ibo atque . . . aliquid surrupiam patri. (503–6)

But by Hercules, she has made sure that there is a price to pay… mine, that is. But let no one believe me when I swear an oath unless I absolutely in every possible way clearly show that I… love her. I will see to it that she won’t say that she has found someone to make fun of. In fact, I will go straight home and… steal something from my father.

ΜΟΣ: εἶτ᾿ ἀκούσας ἐνθάδε εἶναί με, ποῦ γῆς ἐστι; χαῖρε, Σώστρατε. ΣΩΣ: καὶ σύ. (102–4)

MOSCHOS: If he’s heard that I am here, where in the world is he? Oh! Hullo Sostratus! SOSTRATOS: Hello to you.

PIS: estne hic meus sodalis? MNE: estne hic hostis quem aspicio meus? PIS: certe is est. MNE: is est. PIS: adibo contra. MNE: [et] contollam gradum. PIS: saluos sis, Mnesiloche. MNE: salue. (534–6)

PISTOCLERUS: (aside) is this my friend? MNESILOCHUS: (aside) is this man whom I see my enemy? PIS: (aside) Certainly it is. MNE: (aside) Yes, it’s him. PIS: (aside) I’ll approach him. MNE: (aside) I’ll confront him. PIS: Hello, Mnesilochus! MNE: Hello.

Analysis

• Plautus engaging in aemulatio with Greek source texts – sometimes translating very closely, sometimes omitting/expanding entire passages • Expansion • Changing/dropping scenes both creatively and to fit within the Roman arc (spoken iambics/song/accompanied trochaics) • Shift in tone and effect

• Out-Greeking the Greek: Syros / Chrysalus • Bi-lingual pun on χρυσός (‘gold’): opus est χρυςῷ Chrysalo (Bacchides 240; Goldie needs gold)

• Pun on Latin crux (‘torture’): credo hercle adveniens nomen mutabit mihi facietque extemplo Crucisalum me ex Chrysalo. (Bacchides 361–2)

(By Hercules, I bet that when he comes back he’ll change my name from Chrysalus to Crossalus on the spot!)

• Mouthpiece of metacomic statements: non mihi isti placent Parmenones, Syri, qui duas aut tris minas auferunt eris. (Bacchides 361–2)

I don’t much like those Parmenos, those Syruses, who lift two or three minae from their masters.

Bibliography

Arnott, W., trans. 1997. Menander. Volume 1. Harvard University Press.

Bain, D. 1979. Creative Imitation and Latin Literature. Cambridge University Press.

Christenson, D., ed. 2020. Plautus: Pseudolus. Cambridge University Press.

Cirilo de Melo, W., trans. 2011. Plautus. Harvard University Press.

Connors, C. 2004. “Monkey Business: Imitation, Authenticity, and Identity from Pithekoussai to Plautus.” Classical Antiquity 23: 179–207.

Feeney, D. 2016. Beyond Greek: The Beginnings of Latin Literature. Harvard University Press.

Fontaine, M. and Scafuro, A., eds. 2014. The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Comedy. Oxford University Press.

Fraenkel, E. 1955. “Ein Motif aus Euripides in einer Szene der neuen Komödie,” in L. Banti, ed. Studi in onore di U.G. Paoli I (Florence) 293–304.

Handley, E. 1975. “Plautus and his Public: Some Thoughts on New Comedy in Latin.” Dioniso 46: 117–32.

McElduff, S. 2013. Roman Theories of Translation: Surpassing the Source. Routledge.