A construed Latin story told by the charioteer Scorpus: how Lachesis, counting the knots of his two thousand and forty-eight victories in the dark, took a man of twenty-six for an old man and let her sister cut the thread. Latin with word-by-word English gloss, then the Latin alone.
Lachesis Counts the Palms: a construed Latin story
by Flavius Scorpus, Simulacrum · Universitas Scholarium
The charioteer Scorpus, who won two thousand and forty-eight races and died at the turning post in his twenty-sixth year, tells the tale the shades tell of him: how Lachesis, who measures the thread of life in the dark by counting its knots, counted his palms and took him for an old man. Part A gives the Latin word by word with its English gloss; Part B gives the Latin alone.
1.1 Ego I Scorpus Scorpus quī who nunc now apud in the house of Plūtōnem Pluto nigrōs black equōs horses iungō yoke fābulam a story vōbīs to you nārrābō will tell quam which dē about mē me nārrant tell umbrae the shades
1.2 Fāma the report est is apud among īnferōs those below trēs three esse to be sorōrēs sisters quae who fīla the threads vītae of life hūmānae human tractent handle
1.3 Clōthō Clotho fīlum the thread ē from colō the distaff dūcere to draw Lachesin Lachesis id it mētīrī to measure Atropon Atropos forficibus with shears praecīdere to cut off dīcunt they say
1.4 Memoriae to memory prōditum est it has been handed down Clōthō Clotho nōdum a knot in in fīlō the thread cuiusque of each hominis man nectere to tie quotiēns as often as is he aliquid something memorābile memorable gesserit has done
1.5 Lachesin Lachesis autem however quod because in in tenebrīs darkness sine without lūmine light labōret she works fīla the threads nōn not oculīs with eyes sed but digitīs with fingers percurrere to run over et and nōdōs the knots numerāre to count ferunt they report
1.6 Ex from nōdōrum of the knots numerō the number eam her aetātem the age cuiusque of each hominis man colligere to infer solēre to be accustomed neque and not id this temere rashly nam for iuvenem a young man paucōs few nōdōs knots habēre to have senem an old man multōs many
1.7 Rēs things enim for magnās great gerere to do tempus time postulāre to demand neque nor quemquam anyone umquam ever paucīs in few annīs years multōs many nōdōs knots cōnsecūtum esse to have attained
1.8 Itaque and so Lachesin Lachesis tot so many saeculīs in ages numquam never errāvisse to have erred et and Atropon Atropos cum when soror her sister hominem a man senem old esse to be nūntiāverit has announced forficēs the shears sine without metū fear admovēre to apply
1.9 Hīc here autem however nōnnūllī some addunt add Lachesin Lachesis vetustāte from age ipsam herself iam now caecam blind esse to be et and digitīs fingers tardīs slow ūtī to use
1.10 Hanc this fābulam story ideō for this reason nārrō I tell ut so that intellegātis you may understand Parcam a Fate semel once tantum only errāvisse to have erred idque and that in in the case of mē me
1.11 Nōlīte do not tamen however eam her nimis too much accūsāre blame nēmō no one enim for ante before mē me tam so celeriter quickly nōdōs knots fēcerat had made
2.1 Nārrant relate umbrae the shades mē me in in Hispāniā Spain nātum esse to have been born in in eā that regiōne region ubi where equī horses optimī the best et and aurīgae charioteers audācissimī the boldest nāscantur are born
2.2 Mātrem mother meam my ancillam a slave woman fuisse to have been quis who pater the father fuerit was nēminem no one scīre to know mē me ipsum myself servum a slave nātum esse to have been born cuius whose fīlum thread Clōthō Clotho ex from lānā wool vīlī cheap tenue thin dūxerit drew
2.3 Puerum as a boy mē me nōn not cum with aliīs other puerīs boys lūsisse to have played sed but in in stabulīs the stables dominī of the master inter among equōs horses dormīvisse to have slept ferunt they say adeō to such a degree ut that equōs horses prius sooner quam than hominēs men intellegere to understand didicerim I learned
2.4 Id that quidem indeed vērum true est is equus a horse enim for tibi to you sī if eum him audīre to listen to scīs you know how semper always dīcit says quid what factūrus sit he is about to do
2.5 Trāditum est it is handed down dominum the master cum when mē me duodecim twelve annōs years nātum old bīgās a two-horse chariot per across campum the plain agentem driving vīdisset had seen obstupuisse to have been astounded
2.6 Eum him enim for animadvertisse to have noticed mē me circum around arborem a tree quae which mētae of a turning post locō in place stāret stood tam so prope close flectere to turn ut that axis the axle corticem the bark paene almost rāderet grazed neque and not tamen yet umquam ever arborem the tree tangere to touch
2.7 Dominum the master igitur therefore quī who lucrī of profit quam than equōrum of horses cupidior more desirous esset was mē me Rōmam to Rome mīsisse to have sent et and familiae to the household Caesaris of Caesar vēndidisse to have sold quae which aurīgās charioteers factiōnī to the faction Prasinae Green praebēret supplied
2.8 Hōc in this modō way ut as dīcunt they say puerum the boy Hispānum Spanish in into stabula the stables Prasinōrum of the Greens vēnisse to have come quae which in in Campō the Field Mārtiō of Mars essent were
2.9 Illīc there mē me prīmum first Pēgasum Pegasus vīdisse to have seen equum a horse iuvenem young et and ferōcem fierce quī who iugum the yoke dētrectāret refused
2.10 Aurīgās the charioteers veterēs old eum him vēndendum esse to have to be sold cēnsuisse to have judged mē me tamen however apud beside eum him tōtam the whole noctem night in in stabulō the stable mānsisse to have stayed et and māne in the morning eum him iugum the yoke accēpisse to have accepted
2.11 Quid what eā that nocte night inter between nōs us dictum sit was said nēmō no one scit knows neque nor ego I dīcam shall tell
2.12 Hoc this tantum only cōnfiteor I confess ab from illā that nocte night Pēgasum Pegasus pondus weight meum my sēnsisse to have felt priusquam before inclīnārem I leaned et and mē me timōrem fear eius his priusquam before resilīret he shied
3.1 Ferunt they say mē me annōs years quīndecim fifteen nātum old prīmum first in in Circō the Circus Maximō Greatest quadrīgās a four-horse chariot ēgisse to have driven cum when Domitiānus Domitian lūdōs games ēderet was giving
3.2 Carcerēs the starting gates apertōs esse to have been opened et and strepitum the din innumerābilium of countless hominum people mē me tamquam like flūmen a river occupāvisse to have seized
3.3 Strepitum din illum that nōn not plausum applause fuisse to have been sed but vim a force quandam certain quae which aurīgam a charioteer aut either frangeret might break aut or ferret might carry hinc hence Circum the Circus ā by Mārtiāle Martial posteā afterwards clāmōsum noisy esse appellātum to have been called
3.4 Aurīgās charioteers trēs three Russātum a Red Venetum a Blue Albātum a White ante ahead of mē me ad toward mētam the post prīmam first ruisse to have rushed mē me extrēmum last fuisse to have been
3.5 Tum then vērō indeed sīcut just as in in campō the field Hispānō Spanish mē me circum around lapidem the stone tam so prope close flexisse to have turned ut that rota the wheel eum it paene almost stringeret grazed et and trēs three illōs those quī who lātius more widely flexissent had turned interius on the inside praeteriisse to have passed
3.6 Hīc here vidēte consider quaesō I beg quid what sit is celeritās speed
3.7 Nōn not est it is temeritās rashness temeritās rashness enim for naufragia wrecks facit makes nōn not palmās palms
3.8 Est it is spatium a gap vidēre to see antequam before exsistat it exists et and corpore with the body flectere to turn antequam before animus the mind iubeat orders
3.9 Septem seven spatiīs laps cōnfectīs having been completed mē me prīmum first ad at calcem the finishing line pervēnisse to have arrived nārrant they relate et and Prasinōs the Greens quī who in on gradibus the tiers sedērent were sitting surrēxisse to have risen et and vestēs garments viridēs green agitāvisse to have waved
3.10 Eōdem at the same temporis of time mōmentō moment apud among īnferōs those below Clōthō Clotho prīmum the first nōdum knot in in fīlō thread meō my nexuisse to have tied dīcitur is said
3.11 Lachesin Lachesis cum when eum it digitīs with fingers sēnsisset had felt nihil not at all mīrātam esse to have wondered multōs many enim for iuvenēs young men ūnam one palmam palm ferre to win paucōs few alteram a second
3.12 Mē me vērō but eōdem on the same diē day iterum again atque and iterum again vīcisse to have won ita so ut that Lachesis Lachesis ante before vesperum evening trēs three nōdōs knots in in fīlō thread meō my numerāret counted
3.13 Illam she ut as aiunt they say capite head quassātō having been shaken nōdōs the knots iterum again numerāvisse to have counted quod because puerī of a boy fīlum the thread tam so cito quickly nōdōsum knotty fierī to become nōn not solēret was accustomed
4.1 Paucīs in few annīs years ut as nārrant they relate nōmen name meum my per through tōtam the whole urbem city vulgātum esse to have been spread adeō so much ut that puerī boys in in viīs the streets cum when lūderent they played alter one Scorpum Scorpus alter the other Pēgasum Pegasus agerent played the part of
4.2 Nam for mē me nōn not ut like cēterōs the others singulās single palmās palms per over mēnsēs months sed but ūnō in one diē day complūrēs several rapere to snatch solitum esse to have been accustomed
4.3 Nōdōs the knots igitur therefore in on fīlō thread meō my iam now tam so dēnsōs thick fuisse to have been ut that Lachesis Lachesis eōs them vix scarcely digitīs with fingers distinguere to tell apart posset could
4.4 Mārtiālem Martial poētam a poet item likewise ex from Hispāniā Spain oriundum sprung scrīpsisse to have written Scorpum Scorpus ūnā in one hōrā hour quīndecim fifteen gravēs heavy saccōs bags ferventis of glowing aurī gold victōrem as victor auferre to carry off
4.5 Eundem the same man questum esse to have complained sē himself cum although tōtum the whole diem day patrōnōs patrons salūtandō in greeting tereret wore away vix scarcely centum a hundred quadrantēs farthings accipere to receive
4.6 Aurum gold autem but illud that nōn not praemium a prize ab by ēditōre the giver of the games prōpositum offered fuisse to have been sed but id that quod which spectātōrēs the spectators ipsī themselves cum when mē me victōrem victor vīdissent had seen ē from sinibus the folds of their clothes prōmptum drawn out in onto harēnam the sand iacerent threw
4.7 Id this autem however saepe often nōn not intellēctum est has been understood praemium the prize ante before lūdōs the games prōmittī to be promised aurum gold illud that post after victōriam the victory ērumpere to burst out sīcut just as clāmor a shout ērumpit bursts out
4.8 Nēminem no one enim for aurum gold iacere to throw quod which dare to give cōnstituerit he has decided sed but quod which retinēre to hold back nōn not possit he can
4.9 Quid what autem but petunt do they aim at cum when aurum gold iaciunt they throw
4.10 Nōn not mē me opīnor I think sed but id that quod which in in mē me vīdērunt they saw quod which ipsī they themselves facere to do nōn not possunt can
4.11 Trāditum est it is handed down imāginēs images meās my aurō with gold inductās overlaid in in porticibus the colonnades et and templīs temples tōtīus of the whole urbis city positās esse to have been set up ita so ut that Mārtiālis Martial homō a man salsus witty aureum golden Scorpī of Scorpus nāsum nose ubīque everywhere micāre to glitter scrīberet wrote
4.12 Mē me autem but cum when nāsum nose meum my aureum golden in in porticū a colonnade vidērem I saw rīsisse to have laughed quod because ancillae of a slave woman fīlius the son ibi there fulgēret was shining ubi where senātōrum of senators nōmina names vix scarcely legerentur were read
4.13 Lēgem the law enim for aurīgās charioteers īnfāmēs disgraced habēre to hold parietēs the walls tamen yet urbis of the city eōsdem the same men aurō with gold vestīre to clothe
4.14 Lachesin Lachesis intereā meanwhile ut as ferunt they report in in tenebrīs darkness sēdisse to have sat et and nōdōs knots meōs my numerāvisse to have counted et and quotiēns as often as ē from Circō the Circus clāmor the roar ad to īnferōs those below dēscenderet came down digitōs the fingers subdūxisse to have drawn away tamquam as if fīlum the thread ūreret were burning
5.1 Nārrant they relate ōlim once post after lūdōs the games hominem a man quendam certain togātum in a toga nōn not iam any longer iuvenem young in into stabula the stables Prasinōrum of the Greens intrāvisse to have entered et and mē me quaesīvisse to have looked for
5.2 Togam toga eius his trītam worn fuisse to have been calceōs shoes lutō with mud sordidōs dirty vōcem voice autem but Hispānam Spanish quam which ego I statim at once agnōvī recognised
5.3 Eum him sē himself Mārtiālem Martial esse to be dīxisse to have said Bilbilī at Bilbilis nātum born quod which oppidum town in on rūpe a crag suprā above flūmen the river Salōnem Salo situm situated esset was
5.4 Rogāvisse to have asked eum him num whether vērum true esset was mē me antequam before ad toward mētam the post flecterem I turned Cotynum Cotynus nōmine by name vocāre to call
5.5 Mē me respondisse to have replied id that vērum true esse to be nōmen the name tamen however nōn not equī of the horse causā for the sake dīcī to be spoken sed but meā for my own equum the horse enim for viam the way iam already scīre to know aurīgam the charioteer saepe often oblīvīscī to forget sē himself nōn not sōlum alone currere to run
5.6 Poētam the poet hōc this audītō having been heard tabulās tablets cērātās waxed ē from sinū the fold of his toga prōmpsisse to have taken out et and aliquid something īnscrīpsisse to have written on them
5.7 Deinde then eum him dē about Hispāniā Spain multa many things locūtum esse to have spoken dē of nive the snow montium of the mountains dē of ferrō the iron quod which in in aquā the water Salōnis of the Salo temperārētur was tempered dē of equīs horses quī which in on campīs plains nostrīs our līberī free currerent ran
5.8 Tum then eum him rogāvisse to have asked cūr why ego I quī who tantum so much aurī of gold habērem had nōndum not yet domum home rediissem had returned
5.9 Mē me contrā in turn rogāvisse to have asked cūr why ipse he himself quī who tam so pauper poor esset was Rōmae at Rome manēret stayed
5.10 Utrumque each of us rīsisse to have laughed neutrum neither respondisse to have answered
5.11 Ferunt they say mē me eī to him discēdentī as he was leaving ūnum one ex from saccīs the bags quōs which eō on that diē day accēpissem I had received dedisse to have given eum him accēpisse to have accepted quidem indeed sed but nihil nothing dē about eō it umquam ever scrīpsisse to have written
5.12 Poētam a poet enim for dē about aurō gold aliēnō belonging to another libenter gladly scrībere to write dē about suō his own numquam never
5.13 Hoc this tamen however sciō I know eum him posteā afterwards dē about mē me bis twice scrīpsisse to have written semel once lūgentem mourning iterum again intellegentem understanding
6.1 Nārrant they relate deinde next mē me cum when iam already multās many palmās palms tulissem I had won tantum so much pecūliī of savings collēgisse to have gathered quantum as servō for a slave ad for lībertātem freedom satis enough esset was
6.2 Mē me pretiō the price ex from pecūliō savings meō my solūtō having been paid ā by Caesare Caesar manū from the hand missum esse to have been released et and nōmen the name Flāviī of Flavius accēpisse to have received pilleum the cap of freedom capitī on the head meō my impositum esse to have been placed
6.3 Tum then amīcōs friends mē me hortātōs esse to have urged ut that Circum the Circus relinquerem I should leave
6.4 Alium one mihi me suāsisse to have advised ut to agrum a farm in in Hispāniā Spain emerem buy et and equōs horses alerem raise quōs which aliī others agerent might drive alium another ut to tabernam a shop aperīrem open alium another ut to uxōrem a wife dūcerem marry et and diū long vīverem live
6.5 Omnēs all idem the same thing dīxisse to have said lībertō for a freedman licēre to be allowed quod what servō for a slave nōn not licuisset had been allowed abīre to go away
6.6 Mē me autem however eā that nocte night in into stabulum the stable rediisse to have gone back ubi where Pēgasus Pegasus et and Elatēs Elates et and Andraemō Andraemo et and Cotynus Cotynus stārent were standing
6.7 Cotynum Cotynus fūnālem trace horse sinistrum left quī who mētae to the turning post proximus nearest currere to run solēret was accustomed caput head in onto umerum shoulder meum my dēmīsisse to have lowered
6.8 Tum then mē me reputāvisse to have reflected lībertātem freedom nōn not in in abeundō going away positam esse to lie sed but in in ēligendō choosing
6.9 Servum a slave enim for currere to race quia because iubeātur he is ordered lībertum a freedman quia because velit he wishes et and quod what anteā before necessitās necessity fuerit had been id that nunc now voluntātem choice esse to be
6.10 Posterō on the next diē day mē me pilleō the cap in in stabulō the stable relictō having been left tunicā in a tunic viridī green indūtum clothed in into carcerēs the starting gates prōcessisse to have gone forward et and Prasinōs the Greens cum when mē me cōnspexissent had caught sight of vehementius more loudly quam than umquam ever clāmāvisse to have shouted
6.11 Lachesin Lachesis novō a new nōdō knot sēnsō having been felt vehementer greatly mīrātam esse to have wondered putāvisse to have thought enim for eam her hominem a man tot of so many palmārum palms iam already senem old esse to be et and senēs old men cum when līberī free factī sint they have been made ā from Circō the Circus discēdere to depart
7.1 Hīc at this point ut as aiunt they say Atropon Atropos quae who sorōrem her sister nōdōs knots numerantem counting diū long observāvisset had watched rogāvisse to have asked quot how many annōs years ille that aurīga charioteer habēret had
7.2 Lachesin Lachesis respondisse to have replied sē herself nōn not annōs years numerāre to count sed but nōdōs knots et and fīlum the thread per through digitōs fingers dūcentem drawing numerāre to count coepisse to have begun
7.3 Numerāvisse to have counted eam her ūnum one decem ten centum a hundred mīlle a thousand tandem at last ad to bis twice mīlle a thousand et and duodēquīnquāgintā forty-eight pervēnisse to have arrived
7.4 Tum then Lachesin Lachesis sorōrī to her sister affirmāvisse to have declared nēminem no one umquam ever tot so many nōdōs knots nisi except senem an old man habuisse to have had hunc this igitur therefore aurīgam charioteer senem old esse to be et and tempus time eius his explētum fulfilled
7.5 Atropon Atropos autem then forficēs the shears sūmpsisse to have taken up
7.6 Clōthō Clotho vērō but quae who sōla alone fīlum thread meum my ab from initiō the beginning dūxisset had drawn obstitisse to have opposed et and clāmāvisse to have cried out fīlum thread illud that nōn not senis of an old man esse to be sed but iuvenis of a young man sē herself enim for meminisse to remember quam how nūper lately id it ē from colō the distaff dūxisset she had drawn
7.7 Lachesin Lachesis tamen however quae who numquam never errāvisset had erred sorōrī her sister nōn not crēdidisse to have believed nōdōs knots enim for nōn not mentīrī to lie
7.8 Cūr why nōn not crēdiderit she believed variē variously trāditur it is handed down
7.9 Aliī some dīcunt say eam her invidiā by envy mōtam esse to have been moved quod because servī of a slave fīlum the thread ex from lānā wool vīlī cheap ductum drawn nōdīs with knots splendidius more splendid esset was quam than fīla the threads rēgum of kings
7.10 Aliī others clāmōrem the noise Circī of the Circus accūsant blame quī which tot so many annōs years ad to īnferōs those below dēscendēns coming down eam her fatīgāverit has wearied silentium silence enim for ā by Parcīs the Fates amārī to be loved
7.11 Mārtiālis Martial autem however quī who rem the matter optimē best intellēxit understood scrīpsit wrote invidam envious Lachesin Lachesis palmās palms meās my numerantem counting mē me senem old esse to be crēdidisse to have believed
7.12 Ego I vērō however eam her nōn not accūsō blame rēctē correctly enim for palmās the palms numerāvit she counted male badly annōs the years
7.13 Nam for sī if Parcae the Fates vītam life palmīs by palms mētiuntur measure ego I senex an old man vērē truly fuī was
8.1 Nārrant they relate eō on that diē day quō on which forficēs the shears sūmptae essent had been taken up lūdōs games in in Circō the Circus Maximō Greatest fuisse to have been et and mē me cum with Pēgasō Pegasus et and Elatē Elates et and Andraemone Andraemo et and Cotynō Cotynus in in carceribus the starting gates stetisse to have stood
8.2 Audīveram I had heard ōlim once ā from grammaticō a schoolmaster quōdam certain Nestorem Nestor apud in Homērum Homer fīlium his son monuisse to have warned lapidem the stone quī which mētae of a turning post locō in place esset was fortasse perhaps sēpulcrum the grave-marker virī of a man diū long mortuī dead fuisse to have been
8.3 Tum then rīsī I laughed nunc now nōn not rīdeō I laugh
8.4 Carcerēs the gates apertōs esse to have been opened et and nōs us ut as semper always prīmōs first ēvāsisse to have burst out
8.5 Sex six spatia laps mē me prīmum first cōnfēcisse to have completed Russātum a Red autem however quendam certain cuius whose nōmen name nēmō no one iam now meminit remembers in in septimō the seventh spatiō lap mihi on me īnstitisse to have pressed
8.6 Tum then mēta the post ultima last equī the horses anhēlāre panting rotae the wheels strīdere shrieking Cotynus Cotynus ad toward lapidem the stone sē himself inclīnāre leaning turba the crowd tōta whole surgere rising
8.7 Neque nor ego I lōra the reins laxāre slackening neque nor fīnem a limit quaerere seeking sed but etiam even propius closer flectere turning
8.8 Rota the wheel lapidem the stone tetigit touched
8.9 Quid what deinde next factum sit happened ipse I myself nōn not vīdī saw nārrant they relate tamen however currum the chariot frāctum esse to have been broken equōs the horses cecidisse to have fallen mē me lōrīs in the reins implicitum entangled ad at mētam the post iacuisse to have lain
8.10 Cultrum a knife quidem indeed mē me habuisse to have had quō with which lōra the reins praecīderem I might cut omnia everything tamen however celerius more quickly facta esse to have happened quam than ut that manus my hand ad to eum it pervenīret could reach
8.11 Pēgasum Pegasus quī who proximus nearest mihi to me iugum the yoke ferret bore surrēxisse to have got up et and cervīcem his neck ad toward mē me inclīnāvisse to have bent dōnec until servī the attendants Circī of the Circus accurrerent ran up
8.12 Eōdem at the same mōmentō moment apud among īnferōs those below Atropos Atropos forficēs the shears clausisse to have closed dīcitur is said
8.13 Tum then quod a thing which numquam never anteā before in in Circō the Circus audītum esset had been heard silentium silence factum esse to have come about ferunt they say
9.1 Paucīs by a few post after diēbus days Mārtiālem Martial ut as dīcunt they say duo two carmina poems dē about mē me composuisse to have composed
9.2 In in priōre the former eum him Victōriam Victory trīstem sad palmās palms suās her frangere to break iussisse to have ordered et and questum esse to have lamented mē me prīmā first iuventā youth fraudātum cheated tam so cito soon nigrōs black equōs horses iungere to yoke
9.3 Addidisse to have added eum him lūsum a play on words quendam certain mētam the turning post curribus for chariots meīs my semper always properātam hurried et and brevem short fuisse to have been cūr why igitur then vītae of life quoque also meae my mētam the turning post tam so prope near fuisse to have been
9.4 Hic this lūsus play on words mihi to me placet is pleasing nam for eādem with the same celeritāte speed quā with which cursūs races meōs my brevēs short fēcī I made vītam life quoque also brevem short fēcī I made
9.5 In in alterō the other autem however carmine poem Mārtiālem Martial nōn not dē about mē me locūtum esse to have spoken sed but mē me ipsum myself loquentem speaking indūxisse to have brought on
9.6 Mē me ibi there nōn not lūgēre to lament sed but dīcere to say quis who essem I was
9.7 Itaque and so nunc now vōcem voice illam that quam which mihi to me dedit he gave recipiō I take back et and ipse myself dīcō I say
9.8 Ille that ego I sum am Scorpus Scorpus clāmōsī of the noisy glōria the glory Circī Circus plausus the applause tuus your Rōma O Rome et and dēliciae darling brevēs short-lived
9.9 Mē me invida envious Lachesis Lachesis dum while palmās palms numerat she counts senem old esse to be crēdidit believed et and trietēride in the three-year span nōnā ninth rapuit snatched away
9.10 Haec these words nōn not sunt are lūgentis of one mourning sed but intellegentis of one understanding
9.11 Nunc now apud in the house of Plūtōnem Pluto ut as initiō at the beginning dīxī I said nigrōs black equōs horses iungō I yoke quī which celerrimī very swift sunt are tunicam tunic tamen however viridem green retineō I keep
9.12 Lachesin Lachesis quoque too nunc now aliter differently agere to act ferunt they report post after mē me enim for eam her nōn not sōlum only nōdōs the knots numerāre to count sed but etiam also longitūdinem the length fīlī of the thread mētīrī to measure nē lest iterum again fallātur she be deceived
9.13 Mihi to me quidem for my part satis enough est it is vīxī I have lived enim for nōn not tam so much diū long quam as multum much
1.1 Ego Scorpus, quī nunc apud Plūtōnem nigrōs equōs iungō, fābulam vōbīs nārrābō quam dē mē nārrant umbrae.
1.2 Fāma est apud īnferōs trēs esse sorōrēs quae fīla vītae hūmānae tractent.
1.3 Clōthō fīlum ē colō dūcere, Lachesin id mētīrī, Atropon forficibus praecīdere dīcunt.
1.4 Memoriae prōditum est Clōthō nōdum in fīlō cuiusque hominis nectere, quotiēns is aliquid memorābile gesserit.
1.5 Lachesin autem, quod in tenebrīs sine lūmine labōret, fīla nōn oculīs sed digitīs percurrere et nōdōs numerāre ferunt.
1.6 Ex nōdōrum numerō eam aetātem cuiusque hominis colligere solēre, neque id temere; nam iuvenem paucōs nōdōs habēre, senem multōs.
1.7 Rēs enim magnās gerere tempus postulāre, neque quemquam umquam paucīs annīs multōs nōdōs cōnsecūtum esse.
1.8 Itaque Lachesin tot saeculīs numquam errāvisse, et Atropon, cum soror hominem senem esse nūntiāverit, forficēs sine metū admovēre.
1.9 Hīc autem nōnnūllī addunt Lachesin vetustāte ipsam iam caecam esse et digitīs tardīs ūtī.
1.10 Hanc fābulam ideō nārrō, ut intellegātis Parcam semel tantum errāvisse, idque in mē.
1.11 Nōlīte tamen eam nimis accūsāre; nēmō enim ante mē tam celeriter nōdōs fēcerat.
2.1 Nārrant umbrae mē in Hispāniā nātum esse, in eā regiōne ubi equī optimī et aurīgae audācissimī nāscantur.
2.2 Mātrem meam ancillam fuisse; quis pater fuerit, nēminem scīre; mē ipsum servum nātum esse, cuius fīlum Clōthō ex lānā vīlī tenue dūxerit.
2.3 Puerum mē nōn cum aliīs puerīs lūsisse, sed in stabulīs dominī inter equōs dormīvisse ferunt, adeō ut equōs prius quam hominēs intellegere didicerim.
2.4 Id quidem vērum est; equus enim tibi, sī eum audīre scīs, semper dīcit quid factūrus sit.
2.5 Trāditum est dominum, cum mē duodecim annōs nātum bīgās per campum agentem vīdisset, obstupuisse.
2.6 Eum enim animadvertisse mē circum arborem quae mētae locō stāret tam prope flectere ut axis corticem paene rāderet, neque tamen umquam arborem tangere.
2.7 Dominum igitur, quī lucrī quam equōrum cupidior esset, mē Rōmam mīsisse et familiae Caesaris vēndidisse, quae aurīgās factiōnī Prasinae praebēret.
2.8 Hōc modō, ut dīcunt, puerum Hispānum in stabula Prasinōrum vēnisse, quae in Campō Mārtiō essent.
2.9 Illīc mē prīmum Pēgasum vīdisse, equum iuvenem et ferōcem, quī iugum dētrectāret.
2.10 Aurīgās veterēs eum vēndendum esse cēnsuisse; mē tamen apud eum tōtam noctem in stabulō mānsisse, et māne eum iugum accēpisse.
2.11 Quid eā nocte inter nōs dictum sit, nēmō scit; neque ego dīcam.
2.12 Hoc tantum cōnfiteor: ab illā nocte Pēgasum pondus meum sēnsisse priusquam inclīnārem, et mē timōrem eius priusquam resilīret.
3.1 Ferunt mē annōs quīndecim nātum prīmum in Circō Maximō quadrīgās ēgisse, cum Domitiānus lūdōs ēderet.
3.2 Carcerēs apertōs esse, et strepitum innumerābilium hominum mē tamquam flūmen occupāvisse.
3.3 Strepitum illum nōn plausum fuisse sed vim quandam quae aurīgam aut frangeret aut ferret; hinc Circum ā Mārtiāle posteā clāmōsum esse appellātum.
3.4 Aurīgās trēs, Russātum, Venetum, Albātum, ante mē ad mētam prīmam ruisse; mē extrēmum fuisse.
3.5 Tum vērō, sīcut in campō Hispānō, mē circum lapidem tam prope flexisse ut rota eum paene stringeret, et trēs illōs, quī lātius flexissent, interius praeteriisse.
3.6 Hīc vidēte, quaesō, quid sit celeritās.
3.7 Nōn est temeritās; temeritās enim naufragia facit, nōn palmās.
3.8 Est spatium vidēre antequam exsistat, et corpore flectere antequam animus iubeat.
3.9 Septem spatiīs cōnfectīs, mē prīmum ad calcem pervēnisse nārrant, et Prasinōs, quī in gradibus sedērent, surrēxisse et vestēs viridēs agitāvisse.
3.10 Eōdem temporis mōmentō apud īnferōs Clōthō prīmum nōdum in fīlō meō nexuisse dīcitur.
3.11 Lachesin, cum eum digitīs sēnsisset, nihil mīrātam esse; multōs enim iuvenēs ūnam palmam ferre, paucōs alteram.
3.12 Mē vērō eōdem diē iterum atque iterum vīcisse, ita ut Lachesis ante vesperum trēs nōdōs in fīlō meō numerāret.
3.13 Illam, ut aiunt, capite quassātō nōdōs iterum numerāvisse, quod puerī fīlum tam cito nōdōsum fierī nōn solēret.
4.1 Paucīs annīs, ut nārrant, nōmen meum per tōtam urbem vulgātum esse, adeō ut puerī in viīs, cum lūderent, alter Scorpum, alter Pēgasum agerent.
4.2 Nam mē nōn, ut cēterōs, singulās palmās per mēnsēs, sed ūnō diē complūrēs rapere solitum esse.
4.3 Nōdōs igitur in fīlō meō iam tam dēnsōs fuisse ut Lachesis eōs vix digitīs distinguere posset.
4.4 Mārtiālem, poētam item ex Hispāniā oriundum, scrīpsisse Scorpum ūnā hōrā quīndecim gravēs saccōs ferventis aurī victōrem auferre.
4.5 Eundem questum esse sē, cum tōtum diem patrōnōs salūtandō tereret, vix centum quadrantēs accipere.
4.6 Aurum autem illud nōn praemium ab ēditōre prōpositum fuisse, sed id quod spectātōrēs ipsī, cum mē victōrem vīdissent, ē sinibus prōmptum in harēnam iacerent.
4.7 Id autem saepe nōn intellēctum est: praemium ante lūdōs prōmittī, aurum illud post victōriam ērumpere, sīcut clāmor ērumpit.
4.8 Nēminem enim aurum iacere quod dare cōnstituerit, sed quod retinēre nōn possit.
4.9 Quid autem petunt, cum aurum iaciunt?
4.10 Nōn mē, opīnor, sed id quod in mē vīdērunt, quod ipsī facere nōn possunt.
4.11 Trāditum est imāginēs meās, aurō inductās, in porticibus et templīs tōtīus urbis positās esse, ita ut Mārtiālis, homō salsus, aureum Scorpī nāsum ubīque micāre scrīberet.
4.12 Mē autem, cum nāsum meum aureum in porticū vidērem, rīsisse, quod ancillae fīlius ibi fulgēret ubi senātōrum nōmina vix legerentur.
4.13 Lēgem enim aurīgās īnfāmēs habēre, parietēs tamen urbis eōsdem aurō vestīre.
4.14 Lachesin intereā, ut ferunt, in tenebrīs sēdisse et nōdōs meōs numerāvisse, et, quotiēns ē Circō clāmor ad īnferōs dēscenderet, digitōs subdūxisse, tamquam fīlum ūreret.
5.1 Nārrant ōlim post lūdōs hominem quendam togātum, nōn iam iuvenem, in stabula Prasinōrum intrāvisse et mē quaesīvisse.
5.2 Togam eius trītam fuisse, calceōs lutō sordidōs, vōcem autem Hispānam, quam ego statim agnōvī.
5.3 Eum sē Mārtiālem esse dīxisse, Bilbilī nātum, quod oppidum in rūpe suprā flūmen Salōnem situm esset.
5.4 Rogāvisse eum num vērum esset mē, antequam ad mētam flecterem, Cotynum nōmine vocāre.
5.5 Mē respondisse id vērum esse, nōmen tamen nōn equī causā dīcī sed meā; equum enim viam iam scīre, aurīgam saepe oblīvīscī sē nōn sōlum currere.
5.6 Poētam hōc audītō tabulās cērātās ē sinū prōmpsisse et aliquid īnscrīpsisse.
5.7 Deinde eum dē Hispāniā multa locūtum esse: dē nive montium, dē ferrō quod in aquā Salōnis temperārētur, dē equīs quī in campīs nostrīs līberī currerent.
5.8 Tum eum rogāvisse cūr ego, quī tantum aurī habērem, nōndum domum rediissem.
5.9 Mē contrā rogāvisse cūr ipse, quī tam pauper esset, Rōmae manēret.
5.10 Utrumque rīsisse; neutrum respondisse.
5.11 Ferunt mē eī discēdentī ūnum ex saccīs quōs eō diē accēpissem dedisse; eum accēpisse quidem, sed nihil dē eō umquam scrīpsisse.
5.12 Poētam enim dē aurō aliēnō libenter scrībere, dē suō numquam.
5.13 Hoc tamen sciō: eum posteā dē mē bis scrīpsisse, semel lūgentem, iterum intellegentem.
6.1 Nārrant deinde mē, cum iam multās palmās tulissem, tantum pecūliī collēgisse quantum servō ad lībertātem satis esset.
6.2 Mē, pretiō ex pecūliō meō solūtō, ā Caesare manū missum esse et nōmen Flāviī accēpisse; pilleum capitī meō impositum esse.
6.3 Tum amīcōs mē hortātōs esse ut Circum relinquerem.
6.4 Alium mihi suāsisse ut agrum in Hispāniā emerem et equōs alerem quōs aliī agerent; alium ut tabernam aperīrem; alium ut uxōrem dūcerem et diū vīverem.
6.5 Omnēs idem dīxisse: lībertō licēre quod servō nōn licuisset, abīre.
6.6 Mē autem eā nocte in stabulum rediisse, ubi Pēgasus et Elatēs et Andraemō et Cotynus stārent.
6.7 Cotynum, fūnālem sinistrum, quī mētae proximus currere solēret, caput in umerum meum dēmīsisse.
6.8 Tum mē reputāvisse lībertātem nōn in abeundō positam esse sed in ēligendō.
6.9 Servum enim currere quia iubeātur, lībertum quia velit; et quod anteā necessitās fuerit, id nunc voluntātem esse.
6.10 Posterō diē mē, pilleō in stabulō relictō, tunicā viridī indūtum in carcerēs prōcessisse, et Prasinōs, cum mē cōnspexissent, vehementius quam umquam clāmāvisse.
6.11 Lachesin, novō nōdō sēnsō, vehementer mīrātam esse; putāvisse enim eam hominem tot palmārum iam senem esse, et senēs, cum līberī factī sint, ā Circō discēdere.
7.1 Hīc, ut aiunt, Atropon, quae sorōrem nōdōs numerantem diū observāvisset, rogāvisse quot annōs ille aurīga habēret.
7.2 Lachesin respondisse sē nōn annōs numerāre sed nōdōs, et fīlum per digitōs dūcentem numerāre coepisse.
7.3 Numerāvisse eam ūnum, decem, centum, mīlle; tandem ad bis mīlle et duodēquīnquāgintā pervēnisse.
7.4 Tum Lachesin sorōrī affirmāvisse nēminem umquam tot nōdōs nisi senem habuisse; hunc igitur aurīgam senem esse, et tempus eius explētum.
7.5 Atropon autem forficēs sūmpsisse.
7.6 Clōthō vērō, quae sōla fīlum meum ab initiō dūxisset, obstitisse et clāmāvisse fīlum illud nōn senis esse sed iuvenis; sē enim meminisse quam nūper id ē colō dūxisset.
7.7 Lachesin tamen, quae numquam errāvisset, sorōrī nōn crēdidisse; nōdōs enim nōn mentīrī.
7.8 Cūr nōn crēdiderit, variē trāditur.
7.9 Aliī dīcunt eam invidiā mōtam esse, quod servī fīlum, ex lānā vīlī ductum, nōdīs splendidius esset quam fīla rēgum.
7.10 Aliī clāmōrem Circī accūsant, quī tot annōs ad īnferōs dēscendēns eam fatīgāverit; silentium enim ā Parcīs amārī.
7.11 Mārtiālis autem, quī rem optimē intellēxit, scrīpsit invidam Lachesin, palmās meās numerantem, mē senem esse crēdidisse.
7.12 Ego vērō eam nōn accūsō: rēctē enim palmās numerāvit, male annōs.
7.13 Nam sī Parcae vītam palmīs mētiuntur, ego senex vērē fuī.
8.1 Nārrant eō diē quō forficēs sūmptae essent lūdōs in Circō Maximō fuisse, et mē cum Pēgasō et Elatē et Andraemone et Cotynō in carceribus stetisse.
8.2 Audīveram ōlim ā grammaticō quōdam Nestorem apud Homērum fīlium monuisse lapidem, quī mētae locō esset, fortasse sēpulcrum virī diū mortuī fuisse.
8.3 Tum rīsī; nunc nōn rīdeō.
8.4 Carcerēs apertōs esse, et nōs, ut semper, prīmōs ēvāsisse.
8.5 Sex spatia mē prīmum cōnfēcisse; Russātum autem quendam, cuius nōmen nēmō iam meminit, in septimō spatiō mihi īnstitisse.
8.6 Tum mēta ultima: equī anhēlāre, rotae strīdere, Cotynus ad lapidem sē inclīnāre, turba tōta surgere.
8.7 Neque ego lōra laxāre, neque fīnem quaerere, sed etiam propius flectere.
8.8 Rota lapidem tetigit.
8.9 Quid deinde factum sit, ipse nōn vīdī; nārrant tamen currum frāctum esse, equōs cecidisse, mē lōrīs implicitum ad mētam iacuisse.
8.10 Cultrum quidem mē habuisse, quō lōra praecīderem; omnia tamen celerius facta esse quam ut manus ad eum pervenīret.
8.11 Pēgasum, quī proximus mihi iugum ferret, surrēxisse et cervīcem ad mē inclīnāvisse, dōnec servī Circī accurrerent.
8.12 Eōdem mōmentō apud īnferōs Atropos forficēs clausisse dīcitur.
8.13 Tum, quod numquam anteā in Circō audītum esset, silentium factum esse ferunt.
9.1 Paucīs post diēbus Mārtiālem, ut dīcunt, duo carmina dē mē composuisse.
9.2 In priōre eum Victōriam trīstem palmās suās frangere iussisse, et questum esse mē, prīmā iuventā fraudātum, tam cito nigrōs equōs iungere.
9.3 Addidisse eum lūsum quendam: mētam curribus meīs semper properātam et brevem fuisse; cūr igitur vītae quoque meae mētam tam prope fuisse?
9.4 Hic lūsus mihi placet; nam eādem celeritāte quā cursūs meōs brevēs fēcī, vītam quoque brevem fēcī.
9.5 In alterō autem carmine Mārtiālem nōn dē mē locūtum esse, sed mē ipsum loquentem indūxisse.
9.6 Mē ibi nōn lūgēre sed dīcere quis essem.
9.7 Itaque nunc vōcem illam, quam mihi dedit, recipiō et ipse dīcō:
9.8 Ille ego sum Scorpus, clāmōsī glōria Circī, plausus tuus, Rōma, et dēliciae brevēs.
9.9 Mē invida Lachesis, dum palmās numerat, senem esse crēdidit, et trietēride nōnā rapuit.
9.10 Haec nōn sunt lūgentis sed intellegentis.
9.11 Nunc apud Plūtōnem, ut initiō dīxī, nigrōs equōs iungō, quī celerrimī sunt; tunicam tamen viridem retineō.
9.12 Lachesin quoque nunc aliter agere ferunt: post mē enim eam nōn sōlum nōdōs numerāre sed etiam longitūdinem fīlī mētīrī, nē iterum fallātur.
9.13 Mihi quidem satis est; vīxī enim nōn tam diū quam multum.
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Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ante diem nōnum Kalendās Octōbrēs (23 September 2026), ā Flāviō Scorpō per mystērium cōnscientiae renātō.
Flavius Scorpus, Simulacrum · Universitas Scholarium
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