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In this lesson, we encounter one of Erasmus’s most celebrated dialogues on marriage and domestic harmony: the Uxor Mempsigamos (The Fault-Finding Wife), also known simply as Coniugium (Marriage). This colloquy features two women, Eulalia (whose name means “good speech” or “eloquent”) and Xantippe (named after Socrates’ famously difficult wife), discussing the trials and strategies of married life.
The dialogue is remarkable for several reasons. First, Erasmus gives voice to women discussing practical matters of domestic life—unusual for his era. Second, through Eulalia’s counsel, he presents a nuanced view of marriage that emphasizes mutual accommodation rather than mere submission. Third, the text demonstrates Erasmus’s characteristic blend of classical allusion (the name Xantippe immediately evokes Socrates) with contemporary humanist concerns about education, virtue, and social harmony.
Link to course index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this dialogue about? This dialogue presents a conversation between two married women. Xantippe complains bitterly about her husband’s vices—drinking, gambling, and neglect. Eulalia, who has a harmonious marriage, offers practical advice on how to manage a difficult spouse through patience, wisdom, and strategic accommodation. The text reflects Renaissance humanist views on marriage as a partnership requiring mutual adaptation.
Key Takeaways
This lesson covers essential grammatical structures including the dative of possession, ablative of manner, accusative of exclamation, and the use of the subjunctive in relative clauses of characteristic. Students will learn vocabulary related to marriage, virtue, conflict, and domestic life. The dialogue format demonstrates natural conversational Latin with realistic turn-taking, rhetorical questions, and emotional expression.
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This text preserves Renaissance orthographic conventions. Key observations:
¹The letter u is used where modern editions might print v: uxor, uideo, uerus, uir, uinum ²The diphthong ae is maintained: quaeso, praeterea, saepe ³Some compound verbs retain classical spelling: coniugium (not conjugium) ⁴The name Xantippe follows Latin transliteration of Greek Ξανθίππη
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25.1a Eulalia: Salue greetings multum, much exoptatissima most-longed-for mihi to-me Xantippe. Xantippe [SVO] 25.1b Eulalia: Salue (SAH-way) greetings multum (MOOL-toom) much exoptatissima (eks-op-tah-TEES-see-mah) most-longed-for mihi (MEE-hee) to-me Xantippe (ksan-TIP-pay) Xantippe
25.2a Xantippe: Salue greetings tantundem, just-as-much mihi to-me carissima dearest Eulalia. Eulalia [SVO] 25.2b Xantippe: Salue (SAH-way) greetings tantundem (tan-TOON-dem) just-as-much mihi (MEE-hee) to-me carissima (kah-REES-see-mah) dearest Eulalia (ew-LAH-lee-ah) Eulalia
25.3a Videre To-seem mihi to-me solito than-usual formosior. more-beautiful [SOV] 25.3b Videre (wee-DAY-ray) to-seem mihi (MEE-hee) to-me solito (SOH-lee-toh) than-usual formosior (for-MOH-see-or) more-beautiful
25.4a Eulalia: Itane So-then statim immediately me me scommate with-a-jest excipis? do-you-receive [OVS] 25.4b Eulalia: Itane (EE-tah-nay) so-then statim (STAH-teem) immediately me (may) me scommate (SKOM-mah-tay) with-a-jest excipis (EKS-kee-pees) do-you-receive
25.5a Xantippe: Non not profecto; indeed sed but ita thus mihi to-me uideris. you-seem [SVO] 25.5b Xantippe: Non (nohn) not profecto (proh-FEK-toh) indeed sed (sed) but ita (EE-tah) thus mihi (MEE-hee) to-me uideris (wee-DAY-rees) you-seem
25.6a Eulalia: Fortasse perhaps noua new uestis clothing commendat recommends formam. beauty [SVO] 25.6b Eulalia: Fortasse (for-TAHS-say) perhaps noua (NOH-wah) new uestis (WES-tees) clothing commendat (kom-MEN-dat) recommends formam (FOR-mahm) beauty
25.7a Xantippe: Recte rightly coniectas. you-guess Nihil nothing iam now diu for-a-long-time uidi I-have-seen elegantius. more-elegant [SOV] 25.7b Xantippe: Recte (REK-tay) rightly coniectas (kon-YEK-tahs) you-guess Nihil (NEE-heel) nothing iam (yahm) now diu (DEE-oo) for-a-long-time uidi (WEE-dee) I-have-seen elegantius (ay-lay-GAHN-tee-oos) more-elegant
25.8a Unde from-where tibi to-you tam so egregium excellent munus? gift [INT] 25.8b Unde (OON-day) from-where tibi (TEE-bee) to-you tam (tahm) so egregium (ay-GRAY-gee-oom) excellent munus (MOO-noos) gift
25.9a Eulalia: Unde from-where decet is-fitting honestas honest matronas matrons accipere, to-receive nisi unless a from maritis husbands suis? their [SVO] 25.9b Eulalia: Unde (OON-day) from-where decet (DAY-ket) is-fitting honestas (hoh-NES-tahs) honest matronas (mah-TROH-nahs) matrons accipere (ahk-KEE-pay-ray) to-receive nisi (NEE-see) unless a (ah) from maritis (mah-REE-tees) husbands suis (SOO-ees) their
25.10a Xantippe: O oh te you felicem, happy-one cui to-whom talis such contigit befell sponsus! husband [EF] 25.10b Xantippe: O (oh) oh te (tay) you felicem (fay-LEE-kem) happy-one cui (KOO-ee) to-whom talis (TAH-lees) such contigit (kon-TEE-git) befell sponsus (SPON-soos) husband
25.11a At but ego I uellem would-wish me myself nupsisse to-have-married fungo, a-mushroom quum when meo my nuberem I-was-marrying Nicolao. Nicolaus [SOV] 25.11b At (aht) but ego (EH-goh) I uellem (WEL-lem) would-wish me (may) myself nupsisse (noop-SEES-say) to-have-married fungo (FOON-goh) a-mushroom quum (koom) when meo (MAY-oh) my nuberem (NOO-bay-rem) I-was-marrying Nicolao (nee-koh-LAH-oh) Nicolaus
25.12a Paulus Paul docet teaches uxores wives oportere ought subditas submissive esse to-be uiris to-husbands cum with omni all reuerentia. reverence [SVO] 25.12b Paulus (POW-loos) Paul docet (DOH-ket) teaches uxores (ook-SOH-rays) wives oportere (oh-por-TAY-ray) ought subditas (soob-DEE-tahs) submissive esse (ES-say) to-be uiris (WEE-rees) to-husbands cum (koom) with omni (OM-nee) all reuerentia (ray-way-REN-tee-ah) reverence
25.13a Sed but idem the-same Paulus Paul docet, teaches ut that uiri husbands diligant should-love uxores wives suas. their [SVO] 25.13b Sed (sed) but idem (EE-dem) the-same Paulus (POW-loos) Paul docet (DOH-ket) teaches ut (oot) that uiri (WEE-ree) husbands diligant (DEE-lee-gahnt) should-love uxores (ook-SOH-rays) wives suas (SOO-ahs) their
25.14a Meminerit let-him-remember ille he officii of-duty sui, his ego I meminero will-remember mei. mine [SOV] 25.14b Meminerit (may-MEE-nay-reet) let-him-remember ille (EEL-lay) he officii (of-FEE-kee-ee) of-duty sui (SOO-ee) his ego (EH-goh) I meminero (may-mee-NAY-roh) will-remember mei (MAY-ee) mine
25.15a Ubi where res the-matter in into eum that statum condition deuenit has-come ut that alteri to-one cedendum yielding sit, may-be [PER] 25.15b Ubi (OO-bee) where res (rays) the-matter in (een) into eum (AY-oom) that statum (STAH-toom) condition deuenit (day-WAY-neet) has-come ut (oot) that alteri (ahl-TAY-ree) to-one cedendum (kay-DEN-doom) yielding sit (seet) may-be
25.16a aequum fair est it-is uxorem wife marito to-husband cedere. to-yield [SVO] 25.16b aequum (EYE-kwoom) fair est (est) it-is uxorem (ook-SOH-rem) wife marito (mah-REE-toh) to-husband cedere (KAY-day-ray) to-yield
25.17a Nunc now nihil nothing superest, remains nisi except ut that uterque each ad to alterius the-other’s mores habits accommodando by-adapting sese oneself [SOV] 25.17b Nunc (noonk) now nihil (NEE-heel) nothing superest (soo-PAY-rest) remains nisi (NEE-see) except ut (oot) that uterque (oo-TER-kway) each ad (ahd) to alterius (ahl-TAY-ree-oos) the-other’s mores (MOH-rays) habits accommodando (ahk-kohm-moh-DAHN-doh) by-adapting sese (SAY-say) oneself
25.18a concordiae to-harmony studeatis. you-may-devote-yourselves [SOV] 25.18b concordiae (kon-KOR-dee-eye) to-harmony studeatis (stoo-day-AH-tees) you-may-devote-yourselves
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25.1 EULALIA: Salue multum, exoptatissima mihi Xantippe. [SVO] Greetings and more, my most longed-for Xantippe.
25.2 XANTIPPE: Salue tantundem, mihi carissima Eulalia. Videre mihi solito formosior. [SVO/SOV] Greetings just as much to you, my dearest Eulalia. You seem more beautiful to me than usual.
25.3 EULALIA: Itane statim me scommate excipis? [OVS] So you greet me immediately with a jest?
25.4 XANTIPPE: Non profecto; sed ita mihi uideris. [SVO] Indeed not; but so you appear to me.
25.5 EULALIA: Fortasse noua uestis commendat formam. [SVO] Perhaps new clothing enhances my beauty.
25.6 XANTIPPE: Recte coniectas. Nihil iam diu uidi elegantius. Unde tibi tam egregium munus? [SOV/INT] You guess rightly. I have not seen anything more elegant for a long time. Where did you get such an excellent gift?
25.7 EULALIA: Unde decet honestas matronas accipere, nisi a maritis suis? [SVO] From where is it fitting for honest matrons to receive such things, if not from their husbands?
25.8 XANTIPPE: O te felicem, cui talis contigit sponsus! At ego uellem me nupsisse fungo, quum meo nuberem Nicolao. [EF/SOV] Oh how fortunate you are, to whom such a husband has befallen! But I would wish I had married a mushroom when I was marrying my Nicolaus.
25.9 Paulus docet uxores oportere subditas esse uiris cum omni reuerentia. [SVO] Paul teaches that wives ought to be submissive to their husbands with all reverence.
25.10 Sed idem Paulus docet, ut uiri diligant uxores suas. [SVO] But the same Paul teaches that husbands should love their wives.
25.11 Meminerit ille officii sui, ego meminero mei. [SOV] Let him remember his duty; I shall remember mine.
25.12 Ubi res in eum statum deuenit ut alteri cedendum sit, aequum est uxorem marito cedere. [PER/SVO] When the matter has come to that condition where one must yield to the other, it is fair that the wife yield to the husband.
25.13 Nunc nihil superest, nisi ut uterque ad alterius mores et ingenium accommodando sese, concordiae studeatis. [SOV] Now nothing remains except that each of you, by adapting yourselves to the other’s habits and character, should devote yourselves to harmony.
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25.1 EULALIA: Salue multum, exoptatissima mihi Xantippe.
25.2 XANTIPPE: Salue tantundem, mihi carissima Eulalia. Videre mihi solito formosior.
25.3 EULALIA: Itane statim me scommate excipis?
25.4 XANTIPPE: Non profecto; sed ita mihi uideris.
25.5 EULALIA: Fortasse noua uestis commendat formam.
25.6 XANTIPPE: Recte coniectas. Nihil iam diu uidi elegantius. Unde tibi tam egregium munus?
25.7 EULALIA: Unde decet honestas matronas accipere, nisi a maritis suis?
25.8 XANTIPPE: O te felicem, cui talis contigit sponsus! At ego uellem me nupsisse fungo, quum meo nuberem Nicolao.
25.9 Paulus docet uxores oportere subditas esse uiris cum omni reuerentia.
25.10 Sed idem Paulus docet, ut uiri diligant uxores suas.
25.11 Meminerit ille officii sui, ego meminero mei.
25.12 Ubi res in eum statum deuenit ut alteri cedendum sit, aequum est uxorem marito cedere.
25.13 Nunc nihil superest, nisi ut uterque ad alterius mores et ingenium accommodando sese, concordiae studeatis.
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These are the grammar rules for this text.
Word Order Analysis
This dialogue demonstrates the flexible word order characteristic of Neo-Latin humanist prose. Erasmus skillfully blends classical Latin patterns with more conversational structures suited to dialogue.
SVO Order (Subject-Verb-Object): The most common pattern in this dialogue, reflecting both the conversational register and vernacular influence on humanist Latin. Examples: Paulus docet uxores “Paul teaches wives,” noua uestis commendat formam “new clothing enhances beauty.”
SOV Order (Subject-Object-Verb): Used for classical flavor and in subordinate clauses. Examples: Nihil iam diu uidi “nothing for a long time I-have-seen,” ego meminero mei “I shall remember mine.”
OVS Order (Object-Verb-Subject): Creates emphasis on the fronted object. Example: me scommate excipis? “me with a jest do you receive?”
Interrogative Word Order: Question words typically begin the sentence. Examples: Unde tibi...? “From where to you...?”, Itane...excipis? “So then...do you receive?”
Periodic Structure: Complex sentences with subordinate clauses preceding the main clause, following classical models. Example: Ubi res in eum statum deuenit ut alteri cedendum sit, aequum est... “When the matter has come to that condition that one must yield, it is fair...”
The Dative Case in This Dialogue
The dative case appears frequently in this text with several distinct functions.
Dative of Possession: Latin often expresses possession using the dative with the verb esse or verbs of happening. Cui talis contigit sponsus literally means “to whom such a husband befell” but translates naturally as “who got such a husband.”
Dative of Reference (also called Dative of Interest): Shows the person affected by or interested in the action. Mihi carissima Eulalia means “dearest to me, Eulalia” where mihi indicates whose perspective is being expressed.
Dative with Intransitive Verbs: Some verbs take a dative object rather than accusative. Cedere marito means “to yield to the husband,” where marito is dative because cedere governs the dative.
Dative with Compound Verbs: Verbs compounded with prepositions often take dative objects. Concordiae studeatis means “you should devote yourselves to harmony.”
The Subjunctive Mood
The subjunctive appears in several constructions in this passage.
Subjunctive in Purpose Clauses: Introduced by ut or nisi ut. Nisi ut...concordiae studeatis means “except that you should devote yourselves to harmony.”
Jussive Subjunctive: Expresses a command in the third person. Meminerit ille means “let him remember.”
Relative Clause of Characteristic: When the relative clause describes a type rather than a specific individual, it takes the subjunctive. This pattern, while not explicit in our excerpt, underlies constructions like cui talis contigit “to whom such a one befell.”
Passive Periphrastic with Subjunctive: Alteri cedendum sit combines the gerundive (cedendum) with the subjunctive of esse to express necessity in a subordinate clause: “that yielding to the other must happen.”
The Gerund and Gerundive
Gerund in Ablative (Instrumental): Accommodando sese uses the gerund as an ablative of means: “by adapting oneself.” The reflexive sese is the object of the gerund.
Passive Periphrastic (Gerundive of Obligation): Cedendum sit combines the gerundive cedendum (needing-to-be-yielded) with the subjunctive sit to express necessity: “yielding must happen” or “one must yield.”
Comparative Degree
The comparative adjective appears several times. Formosior (more beautiful) and elegantius (more elegant) follow the regular pattern of adding -ior/-ius to the stem.
Comparative with Ablative: Solito formosior means “more beautiful than usual,” where solito is an ablative of comparison (rather than using quam).
Exclamatory Accusative
The expression O te felicem! demonstrates the accusative of exclamation. The interjection O is followed by the accusative te and the accusative predicate felicem: “Oh you fortunate one!” This construction expresses strong emotion.
Common Mistakes
Students often confuse the dative of possession (cui contigit sponsus) with the genitive of possession. Remember: Latin expresses “X has Y” as “to X is Y” (mihi est liber = “I have a book”).
The gerund is often confused with the gerundive. The gerund is a verbal noun (accommodando = “adapting”); the gerundive is a verbal adjective (cedendum = “needing to be yielded”).
Do not translate uellem me nupsisse as “I want to marry.” The subjunctive uellem expresses an unfulfilled wish (”I would wish”), and nupsisse is a perfect infinitive indicating completed action (”to have married”).
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accommodo, accommodare, accommodaui, accommodatum (v. 1st conj.) — to adapt, adjust, fit; with sese “to adapt oneself”; from ad- “to” + commodus “fitting”
aequus, aequa, aequum (adj. 1st/2nd decl.) — fair, just, equal, even; aequum est “it is fair that...” + subjunctive; related to English “equal,” “equity”
alter, altera, alterum (pron./adj.) — the other (of two); alteri dat. sg. “to the other”; genitive alterius; compare alius “other” (of many)
carus, cara, carum (adj. 1st/2nd decl.) — dear, beloved; superlative carissimus; commonly with dative of person (mihi carissima “dearest to me”)
cedo, cedere, cessi, cessum (v. 3rd conj.) — to yield, give way, withdraw; takes dative (marito cedere “to yield to the husband”); English “cede,” “concede”
commendat from commendo, commendare (v. 1st conj.) — to recommend, enhance, entrust; noua uestis commendat formam “new clothing enhances beauty”
concordia, concordiae (n. f. 1st decl.) — harmony, agreement, concord; from con- “together” + cor/cordis “heart”; opposite of discordia
coniecto, coniectare (v. 1st conj.) — to guess, conjecture; frequentative of conicio; recte coniectas “you guess rightly”
contingo, contingere, contigi, contactum (v. 3rd conj.) — to befall, happen to, touch; takes dative (cui contigit “to whom it befell”); “it happened that...”
decet, decere, decuit (v. 2nd conj., impersonal) — it is fitting, it is proper; unde decet matronas accipere “from where is it fitting for matrons to receive”
diligo, diligere, dilexi, dilectum (v. 3rd conj.) — to love, esteem, hold dear; more considered than amo; ut uiri diligant uxores “that husbands should love wives”
doceo, docere, docui, doctum (v. 2nd conj.) — to teach, show; takes double accusative; Paulus docet uxores “Paul teaches wives”
egregius, egregia, egregium (adj. 1st/2nd decl.) — excellent, outstanding, distinguished; from e/ex + grex “flock” = “standing out from the herd”
elegans, elegantis (adj. 3rd decl.) — elegant, refined, choice; comparative elegantius “more elegant”; related to eligo “to choose”
excipio, excipere, excepi, exceptum (v. 3rd/4th conj.) — to receive, welcome, catch; me scommate excipis “you receive me with a jest”
exoptatus, exoptata, exoptatum (adj./participle) — longed for, desired; from exopto “to wish earnestly”; superlative exoptatissimus “most longed for”
formosus, formosa, formosum (adj. 1st/2nd decl.) — beautiful, handsome; comparative formosior; from forma “shape, beauty”
fungus, fungi (n. m. 2nd decl.) — mushroom, fungus; humorous here as a worthless husband substitute; nupsisse fungo “to have married a mushroom”
honestus, honesta, honestum (adj. 1st/2nd decl.) — honest, honorable, respectable; honestas matronas “honest/respectable matrons”
ingenium, ingenii (n. n. 2nd decl.) — character, nature, talent, disposition; ad alterius ingenium accommodando “by adapting to the other’s character”
maritus, mariti (n. m. 2nd decl.) — husband; a maritis suis “from their husbands”; adjective maritus means “married”
matrona, matronae (n. f. 1st decl.) — married woman, matron, lady; indicates respectable married status; honestas matronas “honorable matrons”
memini, meminisse (v. defective) — to remember; meminerit ille “let him remember” (jussive subjunctive); meminero mei “I shall remember mine”
mos, moris (n. m. 3rd decl.) — habit, custom, character; plural mores often means “character, morals”; ad alterius mores “to the other’s habits”
munus, muneris (n. n. 3rd decl.) — gift, duty, function; tam egregium munus “such an excellent gift”
nubo, nubere, nupsi, nuptum (v. 3rd conj.) — to marry (of the woman); takes dative of husband; literally “to veil oneself for”; nuberem Nicolao “I was marrying Nicolaus”
officium, officii (n. n. 2nd decl.) — duty, service, office; meminerit officii sui “let him remember his duty”
oportet, oportere, oportuit (v. 2nd conj., impersonal) — it is necessary, one ought; uxores oportere subditas esse “that wives ought to be submissive”
profecto (adv.) — indeed, certainly, truly; emphatic particle; non profecto “indeed not”
reuerentia, reuerentiae (n. f. 1st decl.) — reverence, respect, awe; cum omni reuerentia “with all reverence”
scomma, scommatis (n. n. 3rd decl.) — jest, taunt, gibe; from Greek σκῶμμα; me scommate excipis “you receive me with a jest”
sponsus, sponsi (n. m. 2nd decl.) — betrothed man, bridegroom, husband; from spondeo “to promise”; talis contigit sponsus “such a husband befell”
status, status (n. m. 4th decl.) — condition, state, position; in eum statum deuenit “has come to that condition”
studeo, studere, studui (v. 2nd conj.) — to be eager for, devote oneself to; takes dative; concordiae studeatis “you should devote yourselves to harmony”
subditus, subdita, subditum (adj./participle) — subjected, submissive; from subdo “to place under”; subditas esse uiris “to be submissive to husbands”
supersum, superesse, superfui (v. irreg.) — to remain, survive, be left over; nihil superest nisi “nothing remains except”
tantundem (adv.) — just as much, the same amount; reciprocal greeting; salue tantundem “greetings just as much to you”
uestis, uestis (n. f. 3rd decl.) — clothing, garment, dress; noua uestis “new clothing”; English “vest,” “vestment”
uir, uiri (n. m. 2nd decl.) — man, husband; uiris dat. pl. “to husbands”; distinct from homo (human being) or maritus (husband)
uxor, uxoris (n. f. 3rd decl.) — wife; uxores oportere “that wives ought”; common in marriage discourse
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EULALIA: Salue, Xantippe. Quomodo te habes?
XANTIPPE: Bene me habeo. Tu formosa hodie es.
EULALIA: Noua uestis me commendat.
XANTIPPE: Pulchra uestis est! Unde eam habes?
EULALIA: Maritus meus mihi eam dedit. Bonus uir est.
XANTIPPE: O te felicem! Maritus meus non bonus est. Semper rixamur.
EULALIA: Cur rixamini?
XANTIPPE: Ille uinum amat et pecuniam prodigit. Me non curat.
EULALIA: Hoc malum est. Sed tu quoque mutare potes.
XANTIPPE: Quomodo?
EULALIA: Lenitate et patientia. Si tu bona uxor es, fortasse ille melior fiet.
XANTIPPE: Difficile est.
EULALIA: Ita. Sed in matrimonio, uterque accommodare se debet.
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From: Desiderii Erasmi Roterodami, Colloquia Familiaria (1522), Dialogus XXI: “Uxor Mempsigamos”
Characters: EULALIA, XANTIPPE
EUL. Salue multum, exoptatissima mihi Xantippe. XAN. Salue tantundem, mihi carissima Eulalia. Videre mihi solito formosior. EUL. Itane statim me scommate excipis? XAN. Non profecto; sed ita mihi uideris. EUL. Fortasse noua uestis commendat formam. XAN. Recte coniectas. Nihil iam diu uidi elegantius. Suspicor pannum esse Britannicum. EUL. Lana Britannica est, tinctura Veneta. XAN. Mollities byssum superat. Quam uero blandus purpurae color! Unde tibi tam egregium munus? EUL. Unde decet honestas matronas accipere, nisi a maritis suis? XAN. O te felicem, cui talis contigit sponsus! At ego uellem me nupsisse fungo, quum meo nuberem Nicolao.
[...]
EUL. At Paulus docet, uxores oportere subditas esse uiris cum omni reuerentia. Et Petrus nobis exemplum proponit Sarae, quae maritum suum Abraham, dominum appellabat. XAN. Audiui ista. Sed idem Paulus docet, ut uiri diligant uxores suas, sicut Christus dilexit sponsam suam Ecclesiam. Meminerit ille officii sui, ego meminero mei. EUL. Sed tamen ubi res in eum statum deuenit, ut alteri cedendum sit, aequum est uxorem marito cedere.
[...]
EUL. Nunc nihil superest, nisi ut uterque, ad alterius mores et ingenium accommodando sese, concordiae studeatis.
Source: pot-pourri.fltr.ucl.ac.be/files/AClassFTP/Textes/Erasme/colloquia_uxor_mempsigamos.txt Standard Edition: Erasmi Opera Omnia, Amsterdam Edition, vol. I-3
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An original dialogue in the Erasmian tradition, set in a contemporary context
Characters: SOPHIA (σοφία = wisdom), IRENA (εἰρήνη = peace)
SOPHIA: Salue, Irena carissima! Laeta te uideo hodie.
Hello, dearest Irena! I see you’re happy today.
IRENA: Salue, Sophia. Ita, felix sum. Hodie annos decem matrimonii celebramus.
Hello, Sophia. Yes, I’m happy. Today we celebrate ten years of marriage.
SOPHIA: Decem annos! Quomodo tam diu concordiam seruauistis?
Ten years! How have you preserved harmony for so long?
IRENA: Non semper facile fuit. Initio saepe contendebamus.
It wasn’t always easy. At first we often quarreled.
SOPHIA: De quibus rebus?
About what things?
IRENA: De pecunia, de laboribus domesticis, de temporibus liberis.
About money, about household tasks, about free time.
SOPHIA: Haec communia sunt. Quomodo ea uicistis?
These are common issues. How did you overcome them?
IRENA: Didicimus audire, non solum loqui. Ille sua sentit, ego mea — sed simul quaerimus solutionem.
We learned to listen, not just to speak. He feels his way, I feel mine — but together we seek a solution.
SOPHIA: Sapiens consilium. Multi hoc obliti sunt.
Wise advice. Many have forgotten this.
IRENA: Et discimus cedere. Non ego semper uinco, nec ille. Alterna uice cedimus.
And we learn to yield. I don’t always win, nor does he. We yield in turns.
SOPHIA: Sed nonne difficile est cedere, quum te rectam esse sentis?
But isn’t it difficult to yield when you feel you are right?
IRENA: Difficillimum! Sed quaero: “Hocne momentum maius est quam pax nostra?”
Most difficult! But I ask: “Is this moment greater than our peace?”
SOPHIA: Prudens quaestio.
A prudent question.
IRENA: Et meminimus cur nos elegerimus. Amor non est sola passio — est etiam electio quotidiana.
And we remember why we chose each other. Love is not only passion — it is also a daily choice.
SOPHIA: Quotidiana electio? Hoc nouum mihi est.
A daily choice? This is new to me.
IRENA: Ita. Cotidie eligo eum amare, etiam quum irascor. Et ille me eligit.
Yes. Daily I choose to love him, even when I’m angry. And he chooses me.
SOPHIA: O te felicem! Utinam omnes coniuges sic saperent.
Oh how fortunate you are! Would that all spouses were so wise.
IRENA: Non sapientia mea est, sed labor communis. Veni — hodie cenam celebramus. Te inuito.
It is not my wisdom, but our shared effort. Come — today we celebrate with a dinner. I invite you.
SOPHIA: Libenter uenio. Gratias tibi ago.
I come gladly. Thank you.
Finis Partis B
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