Clemens Takes up the Glass Trade and has to Deal with a Protection Racket.
taberna
| postquam ad urbem advenimus, ego Clementi diu tabernam quaerebam. | After we came to the city I was searching for a shop for Clemens for a long time. |
| tandem Barbillus, qui triginta tabernas possidebata, mihi tabernam optimam obtulit. | At length Barbillus, who owned twenty shops, showed me the best one. |
| haec taberna prope templum deae Isidis in haec parte urbis via est in qua omnes tabernarii vitrum vendunt. | This shopwas near the temple of the goddess Isis. In this part of the city is a street in which all of the shops sell glass. |
| taberna, quam Barbillus mihi offerebat, optimum situm habebat. Barbillus tamen dubitabat. | The shop which Barbillus showed to me ahd a good position. However Barbillus was doubtful. |
| ‘sunt multi latrones’, inquit,’in ille parte urbis. tabernarii latrones timent, quod pecunia, extorquent et vim inferunt. | There are many robbers, he said, in this art of the city. The shopkeepers are afraid of the thieves, because they extort money and use force. |
| latrones libertum meum interfecerunt, qui nuper illam tabernam tenebat. eum in via invenimus mortuum. | Thieves killed my freedman who was recently holding this shop. We found him dead in the street. |
| libertus, qui senex obstinatus erat, latronibus pecuniam dare noluit. latrones eum necaverunt tabernamque diripuerunt.’ | The freedman, who was an obstinate old man did not want to give money to the thieves. The thieves killed him and ransacked the shop. |
| ‘Clemens vir fortis, non senex infirmus est, ego Barbillo respondi. fortuna semper ei favet. | ‘Clemens is a brave man, not an infirm old man’ I repleid to Barbillus. Fortune always favours him |
| hanc tabernam Clementi emere volo. tibi centum aureos offero, placetne? | I wish to buy this shop for Clemens. I offer a hundred gold coins to you, does that suit you? |
| ‘mihi placet’, respondit Barbillus. ‘centum aurei sufficiunt.’ Barbillo igitur centum aureos tradidi. | It satisfies me, replied Barbillus. A hundred gold coins is enough. Therefore I handed Barbillus a hundred gold coins |
in officina Eutychi 1
1
| postquam tabernam Clementi dedi, ille mihi gratias maximas egit. statim ad viam, in qua taberna erat, festinavit: adeo cupiebat tabernam possidere. | After I gave the shop to Clemens, he gave me great thanks. Immediatel he hurried to the street where the shop was, so greatly did he wish to occupy the shop. |
| in via vitreariorum erat ingens turba. ibi Clemens tabrnam suam prope templum Isidis conspexit. valvas evulsas vidit, tabernam direptam. iratus igitur Clemens taberarium vicinum rogavit. | There was a huge crowd in the street of the glassmakers. There Clemens saw his shop near the temple of Isis. He saw the door wrenched off, the shop ransacked. Clemens therefore angrily questioned a neighbouring shopkeeper. |
| quis hoc fecit?’ ‘roga Eutychum!’ inquit tabernarius, qui perterritus erat. Clemens statim Eutachum quaesivit. facile erat Clementi eum invenire, quod officinam maximam possidebat. | Who did this? Ask Eutychus, said the shopkeeper, who was frightened. Clemens therefor immediately searched for Eutychus. It was easy for Clemens to find him, because he occupied a huge workshop. |
| pro officina Eutychi stabant quattuor servi Aegyptii. Clemens numquam homines ingentiores quam illos Aegyptios viderat. | In front of Eutychus’s workshop were standing four Egyptian slaves. Clemens had never seen such huge men as these Egyptians. |
| eos tamen non timebat. unum servum ex ordine traxit. /heus! Atlas! inquit Clemens. num dormis? Eutychum, dominum tuum, interrogare volo. | However, he was not afraid of them. he drew one slave from the row. hey, Atlas, said Clemens, maybe you are sleeping? I wish to question your master Eutychus.. |
| cur mihi obstas? non decorum est tibi liberto obstare.’ tum Clemens servuos attonitos praeteriit, et officina, Eutychi intravit. | Why do you obstruct me? It is not right for you to obstruct a freedman. Then Clemens went past the astonished slaves and entered the workshop of Eutychus. |
2
| Eutychus in lecto recumbebat; cibum e canistro gustebat. valde sudabat, et manus in capillis servi tergebat. postquam Clementem vidit,’ quis es, humuncule?’ inquit. | Eutychus was reclining on a couch. He was enjoying food from a basket. Indeed he was sweating, and was wiping his hands on the hair of a slave. Who are you little man? he said. |
| ”quis te huc admisit? quid vis?’ Quintus Caecilius Clemens sum’, respondit Clemens. | Who let you in? What do you want? I am Quintus Caecilius Clemens, replied Clemens. |
| ‘de taberna, quam latrones diripuerunt, cognoscere volo. nam illa taberna nunc mea est.’ | I wish to know about the shop that thieves ransacked because this shop is now mine. |
| Eutychus, postquam hoc audivit, Clementem amicissime salutavit, et eum per officinam duxit. ipse Clementi fabros suos demonstravit. | Eutychus, after he had heard this. greeted him in a friendly way, an lead him through the workshop. he showed Clemens his craftsmen. |
| in officina triginta vitriariii Aegyptii dilgenter laborant; aderat vilicus, qui virgam vibrabat. | In the workshop thirty Egyptians were working diligently. In attendance nearby an overseer, who was brandishing a rod. |
| Eutychus, postquam Clementi officinam ostendit, negotium agere coepit. periculosum est, mi amici, in via vitreariorim’, inquit. ‘multi fures ad hanc viam veniunt, multi latrones. | After he had shown Clemens the workshop Eutychus began to make a deal. It is dangerous, my friend, in the street of the glassmakers, he said. Many rogues come to this street, many thieves. |
| omnes igitur tabernarii auxilim a me petunt. tabernarii mihi pecuniam dant, ego eis praesidium. | Therefor all the shopkeepers are asking me for help. The shopkeepers give me money, I protect them. |
| tabernam tuam servare possum. omnes taberarii mihi decem aureos quotannis dare solent. paulum est. num tu praesidium meum recusare vis?’ | I am able to protect your shop. All the shopkeepers are accustomed to give me ten gold coins every year. It is little. Do you not wish to receive my protection? |
| Clemens tamen Euchyto non credebat. ‘ego ipse tabernam, in qua habito, servare possum’, inquit Clemens. ‘praesidum tuum recuso’ | Clemens, however, did not believe Eutychus. I myself stay in the shop. I am able to protect it said Clemens. I reject your protection. |
| tum libertus securus exiit. | Then the freedman went out without a care. |
Clemens tabernarius
| Clemens mox tabernam suam removavit. fabros conduxit, qui valvas murosque refecerunt. | Clemens soon restored his shop. He hired craftsmen, repaired glass and walls. |
| ceteri tabernarii, quamquam Eutychum valde timebant, Clementem libenter adiuvabant. nam Clemens comis erat et eis saepe auxilium dabat. | All the rest of the tradesmen nevertheless, who truly feared Eutychus encouraged the freedman, for Clemens was kind, and was always giving help to them. |
| haec taberna, ut duxi, prope templum deae Isidis erat. ad hoc templum Clemens, qui pius erat, cotidie adibat. | This shop, that I spoke of, was near the temple of Isis. To this temple Clemens, who was religious visited every day. |
| ibi deam Isidem adorabat et eis ornamentum vitrium saepe consecrebat. | There he worshipped the goddess Isis and often dedicated ornament of glass to her. |
| sacerdotes, qui templum administabant, mox Clementem cognoverunt. deinde Clemens Isiacis se coniuxit. | The priests who ran the temple, soon recognised Clemens. Then Clemens |
| sacerdotes ei librum sacrum dederunt, in quo mysteriis deae legere poterat. Clemens in templo cum sacerdotibus cenare solebat | The priests gave him a sacred book in which he could read the mysteries of the goddess. Clemens became accustomed to eat with the priests in the temple. |
| in cella templi habitabat felix sacra. Clemens eam semper mulcebat, et ei semper aliquid ex patera sua dabat. | A sacred cat was living in the sanctuary. Clemens would often stroke her and often gave her something from his bowl. |
| mox plurimus amicos Clemens habebat. nam tabernarii, qui Eutycho pecuniam inviti dabant, paulatim Clementi confidebant. | Soon Clemens had many friends. For the shopkeepers who were unwillingly giving money to Eutychus were gradually trusting Clemens. |
| tabernarii Eutychum inimicum putabant, Clementem vindicem. tandem omnes Eutycho pecuniam tradere noluerunt. | The shopkeeperes were believing Eutychus and enemy, Clemens a protector. Enventually, everybody did not wish to hand Eutychus money. |
| itaque Eutychus latrones collegit et eis fustes dedit. ‘iste Clemens’, inquit Eutychus, ‘molestissimus est. Necesse est ei poenas dare.’ | Finally Eutychus gathered thieves and gave them clubs. This Clemens, said Eutychus, is very troublesome. It is necessary to give him punishment. |
| latrones, postquam fustes ceperunt, ad tabernam Clementis contenderunt. | After they had taken up the clubs, the thieves hurried to Clemens’s shop |
pro taberna Clementis
| Clemens in tempo deae Isidis cum ceteris Isiacis saepe enebat. quondam, ubi templo, in cenaverat, domum redibat, amicum conspexit accurentem. | Clemens often dined in the temple of Isis with the other (followers) of Isis.Once, when he had dined at the temple he was returning home when he saw a friend running up. |
| ‘taberna ardet! taberna tua ardet!’ clamavit amicus. @tabernam tuam diripiunt Eutychus et latrones. | The shop is burning! Your shop is burning! cried his friend. eutychus and the theives are tearing your shop apart. |
| eos vidi valvas evellentes, vitrum frangentes, tabernam incendentes. fuge! fuge ex urbe! | I saw them tearing out your doors, smashing glass, burning the shop. Flee! Flee from the city! |
| Eutychus te interficere vult. nemo ei latronibusque resister potest.’ | Eutychus wants to kill you. Nobody can resist him and his thieves. |
| Clemens tamen non fugit, sed ad tabernam quam celerrime contendit. postquam illuc advenit, pro taberna stabata immotus. | Clemens however did not flee, but hurried as fast as he could to the shop. After he came there he stood immobile before the shop. |
| valvas evulsas, tabernam direptam vidit. Eutychus extra tabernam cum latronibus Aegyptiis stabat, ridebatque. | He saw the doors wrenched off, the shop ransacked. Eutychus was standing outside the shop with the Egyptian thieves and was laughing. |
| eutychus cachinnans ‘mi dulcissime!’ inquit. ‘nonne te de hac via monui? nonne amicos habes quos vocare potes? cur absunt? fortasse sapientores sunt quam tu’. | Eutychus, cackling said My dear fellow,Did I not warn you about this street? Don’t you have friends you are able to call? Why are they absent? Perhaps because they are wiser than you. |
| Clemens cum summa tranquillitate ei respondit, ‘absunt amici, sed dei me servare possunt. dei homine scelestos punire solent. | Clemens replied to him with great calmness. My friends are absent because the gods are able to watch over me. The gods are accustomed to punish wicked men. |
| Eutichus iratissimus ‘quid dicis?’ inquit.’tune mihi ita dicere audes?’ tum Eutychus latronibus signum dedit. | What are you saying said Eutychus very angrily.Do you dare to talk to me in this way? Then Eutychus gave the signal to the thieves. |
| statim quattuor Aegyptii cum fustibus Clementi appropinquabant. Clemens constitit. | Immediately four Egyptians with clubs approached Clemens. Clemens stood his ground. |
| via in qua stabat, erat deserta. tabernarii perterriti pervalvas tabernarum spectabant. omnes invit Clementem deseruerant, simultaque Eutychus et latrones advenerunt. | The street in which he was standing was deserted. The shopkeepers were watching terrified through their doorways. All had deserted Clemens at the same time as Eutychus and the thieves approached. |
| subito feles sacra, quam Clemens mulcere solebat e templo exiit. Clementem recta petivit. in umerum Clementis insiluit. omnes Aegyptii tatim fustes abiecerunt et ad pedes Clementis procuberunt. | Suddenly the sacred cat, that Clemens was accustomed to stroke, came out of the temple. She made straight for Clemens. She climbed onto Clemens’ shoulder. All the Egyptians immediately threw a.way their clubs and fell down at the feet of Clemens. |
| Clementem, quem feles sacra servabat, laedere non audebant. saerviebat Eutychus, sicut taurus iratus. tum feles in Eutychus insiluit, et caput vehementer rasit. | They did not dare to harm Clemens whom the sacred cate was protecting. Eutichus was in a rage like an angry bull. Then the cat jumped on Eutychus, and scratched his head violently. |
| Eutychus cum latronibus perterritu fugit. postea neque Clementem neque tabernarios laedere temptabat. nunc Clemens est princeps tabernariorum. | Eutychus fled in terror with the thieves. Afterwards he was not tempted to harm either the shopkeepers or Clemens. Now Clemens is the chief of the shopkeepers. |