Mer.

  Illic homo a me sibi malam rem arcessit iumento suo.

      Yon wight doth summon me to wallop his beast’s back for him.

Sos.

  Non equidem ullum habeo iumentum.

      (aside) Never a beast do I own, not I.

Mer.

  Onerandus est pugnis probe.

      He needs a lusty load of buffets.

Sos.

  Lassus sum hercle, navi ut vectus huc sum:  etiam nunc nauseo;
  vix incedo inanis, ne ire posse cum onere existimes. 330

(in low tone) Oh Lord! and me all done up with that sea trip home!  I’m seasick even now.  It’s all I can do to stump along empty handed, so don’t think I can travel with a load.

Mer.

  Certe enim his nescio quis loquitur.

      Yea, of a truth some one is talking here.

Sos.

  Salvos sum, non me videt: 
  nescioquem loqui autumat; mihi certo nomen Sosiaest.

      (in lower tone) Saved!  He doesn’t see me.  It’s Some
      one he says is talking:  and my same is Sosia, I know that
      for a fact.

Mer.

  Hinc enim mihi dextra vox auris, ut videtur, verberat.

      Yes, a voice from the right here, as it seems, doth strike
      my ear.

Sos.

  Metuo, vocis ne vicem hodie hic vapulem, quae hunc verberat.

      (aside) I’m afraid he’ll soon pummel me instead of my
      voice for its striking him. (steps forward timidly)

Mer.

  Optume eccum incedit ad me.

      Oho!  Splendid!  He moves this way.

Sos.

Timeo, totus torpeo. non edepol nunc ubi terrarum sim scio, si quis roget, neque miser me commovere possum prae formidine. ilicet, mandata eri perierunt una et Sosia. verum certum est confidenter hominem contra conloqui, qui possim videri huic fortis, a me ut abstineat manum. 340

(aside) I’m scared, I’m simply stiff!  Good gracious, I don’t know where in the world I am, not if anyone asked me.  Oh dear, I can’t move a step for fear!  This ends me!  Master’s orders are done for, and Sosia, too.  But I’m resolved—­I’m going to speak right up to him boldly, so that I can make him think I’m a dangerous character and let me be. (tries to swagger)

Mer.

  Quo ambulas, tu qui Volcanum in cornu conclusum geris?

      Whither dost stroll, thou who conveyest (pointing to
      lantern) Vulcan pent within yon horn?

Sos.

  Quid id exquiris tu, qui pugnis os exossas hominibus?

      What dost want to know for, thou who bonest folks’ faces for
      ’em with yon fists?

Mer.

  Servosne es an liber?