UGARIT - Translation Alignment Editor ::: Alexander von Humboldt Lehrstuhl für Digital Humanities

Humi sedebat scissili palliastro semiamictus , paene alius lurore , admiseram maciem deformatus , qualia solent fortunaedetrimina [ * ] stipes in triviis erogare . Hunc talem , quamquam necessarium et summe cognitum , tamen dubia mente propius accessi . Hem inquam Mi Socrates , quid istud ? Quae facies ? Quod flagitium ? Atvero domi tuae iam defletus et conclamatus es ; liberis tuis tutoresiuridici provincialis decreto dati ; uxor persolutis inferialibus [ * ] officiis , luctu et maerore diuturno deformata , diffletis paene adextremam captivitatem oculis suis , domus infortunium novarum nuptiarum gaudiis a suis sibi parentibus hilarare compellitur . At tu hic larvale simulacrum cum summo dedecore nostro viseris . Aristomene , inquit [ * ] Ne tu fortunarum lubricas ambages et instabilesincursiones et reciprocas vicissitudines ignoras ! Et cum dicto sutilicentunculo faciem suam iamdudum punicantem prae pudore obtexit , ita ut ab umbilico pube tenus cetera corporis renudaret . Nec deniqueperpessus ego tam miserum aerumnae spectaculum , iniecta manu utassurgat [ * ] [ * ]

enitor .

At ille , ut erat , capite velato Sine , sine inquit Fruatur diutius trophaeoFortuna quod fixit ipsa .
Effeci sequatur et simul unam e duabus laciniis meis exuo eumquepropere vestio dicam an contego , et illico lavacro trado ; quod unctui , quod tersui , ipse praeministro ; sordium enormem eluviem operoseeffrico ; probe curatum , ad hospitium , lassus ipse fatigatum aegerrimesustinens , perduco ; lectulo refoveo , cibo satio , poculo mitigo , fabulispermulceo . Iam allubentia proclivis est sermonis et ioci et scitum etcavillum ; iam dicacitas tinnula , [ * ] cum ille imo de pectore cruciabilemsuspiritum ducens , dextra saeviente frontem replaudens , Me miseruminfit Qui , dum voluptatem gladiatorii spectaculi satis famigcrabilisconsector , in has aerumnas incidi . Nam ut scis optime , secundum quaestum Macedoniam profectus , dum mense decimo ibidem attentus nummatior revortor , modico priusquam Larissam accederem , pertransitum spectaculum obiturus , in quadam avia et lacunosa convallia vastissimis latronibus obsessus atque omnibus privatus tandemevado et , utpote ultime affectus , ad quandam cauponam Meroen , anum sed admodum scitulam , devorto , eique causas et peregrinationis diuturnae et domuitionis anxiae et spoliationisdiuturnae et miserae refero : quae me [ * ]

nimis quam humane tractare adorta cenae gratae atque gratuitae acmox , urigine percita , cubili suo applicat . Et statim miser ut cum illaacquievi , ab unico congressu annosam ac pestilentemluem [ * ] contraho et ipsas etiam lacinias , quas boni latronescontegendo mihi concesserant , in eam contuli , operulas etiam , quasadhuc vegetus saccariam faciens merebam , quoad me ad istamfaciem , quam paulo ante vidisti , bona uxor et mala fortuna perduxit .

Pol quidem tu dignus inquam Es extrema sustinere , si quid est tamen novissimo extremius , qui voluptatem veneriam et scortum scorteumLari et liberis praetulisti . At ille , digitum a pollice proximum ori suo admovens et in stuporem attonitus , Tace , tace inquit , etcircumspiciens tutamenta sermonis , Parce inquit ( In feminamdivinam , ne quam tibi lingua intemperante noxam contrahas Aintandem ? inquam Potens illa et regina caupona quid mulieris est ? Sagainquit Et divina , potens caelum deponere , terram suspendere , fontesdurare , montes diluere , manes sublimare , deos infimare , sideraextinguere , Tartarum ipsum illuminare . Oro te inquam Aulaeumtragicum dimoveto et siparium scaenicum complicato et cedo verbis [ * ]

communibus . Vis inquit " Unum vel alterum , immo plurima eiusaudire facta ? Nam ut se ament efflictim non modo incolae , verumetiam In di vel Aethiopes utrique , vel ipsi Antichthones , folia sunt artiset nugae merae . Sed quod in conspectum plurium perpetravit , audi .

Amatorem suum , quod in aliam temerasset , unico verbo mutavit inferam castorem , quod ea bestia captivitati metuens ab insequentibusse praecisione genitalium liberat , ut illi quoque simile , quod venerem habuit in aliam , proveniret . Cauponem quoque vicinum atque ob idaemulum deformavit in ranam et nunc senex ille dolio innatans vini sui adventores pristinos in faece summissus officiosis ronchis raucusappellat . Alium de foro quod adversus eam locutus esset , in arietemdeformavit et nunc aries ille causas agit . Eadem amatoris sui uxoremquod in eam dicacule probrum dixerat , iam in sarcina praegnationisobsaepto utero et repigrato fetu perpetua praegnatione

damnavit et , ut cuncti numerant , iam octo annorum onere misella illa velut elephantum paritura distenditur .

Quae cum subinde ac multis noceret , publicitus indignatiopercrebruit , statutumque ut in eam dic altera severissime saxorumiaculationibus vindicaretur : quod consilium virtutibus cantionumantevortit et , ut illa Medea unius dieculae a Creone impetratis induciistotam eius domum filiamque cum ipso sene flammis coronalibusdeusserat , sic haec devotionibus sepulchralibus in scrobemprocuratis , ut mihi temulenta narravit proxime , cunctos in suis sibidomibus tacita numinum violentia clausit , ut toto biduo non claustraperfringi , non fores evelli , non denique parietes ipsi quiverintperforari , quoad mutua hortatione consone clamitarent , quam sanctissime deierantes sese neque ei manus ad molituros , et si quisaliud cogitant , salutare laturos subsidium : et sic illa propitiata totam civitatem absoluit . At vero coetus illius auctorem nocte intempestacum tota domo , id est parietibus et ipso solo et omni fundamento , uterat , clausa ad centesimum lapidem in aliam civitatem summo vertice montis exasperati sitam , et ob id ad aquas sterilem , transtulit . Et quoniam densa inhabitantium aedificia locum novo hospiti nondabant , ante portam proiecta domo

discessit . "

" Suddenly I caught sight of my old friend Socrates , sitting on the ground , half-concealed in a ragged old cloak , so pale I hardly knew him , sadly thin and shrunken , like one of those Fate discards to beg at street corners . In that state , even though I knew him well , I approached him with doubt in my mind : ‘Well , Socrates , my friend , what’s happened ? How dreadful you look ! What shame ! Back home they’ve already mourned , and given you up for dead . By the provincial judge’s decree guardians have been appointed for your children ; and your wife , the funeral service done , her looks marred by endless tears and grief , her sight nearly lost from weeping , is being urged by her parents to ease the family misfortune with the joy of a fresh marriage . And here you are , looking like a ghost , to our utter shame ! ’ ‘Aristomenes , ’ he said , ‘you can’t know the slippery turns of Fortune ; the shifting assaults ; the string of reverses . ’ With that he threw his tattered cloak over a face that long since had blushed with embarrassment , leaving the rest of himself , from navel to thighs , bare . I could endure the sight of such terrible suffering no longer , grasped him and tried to set him on his feet . But he remained as he was ; his head shrouded , and cried : ‘No , no , let Fate have more joy of the spoils she puts on display ! ’ I made him follow me , and removing one or two of my garments clothed him hastily or rather hid him , then dragged him off to the baths in a trice . I myself found what was needed for oiling and drying ; and with effort scraped off the solid layers of dirt ; that done , I carried him off to an inn , tired myself , supporting his exhausted frame with some effort . I laid him on the bed ; filled him with food ; relaxed him with wine , soothed him with talk . Now he was ready for conversation , laughter , a witty joke , even some modest repartee , when suddenly a painful sob rose from the depths of his chest , and he beat his brow savagely with his hand . ‘Woe is me , ’ he cried , ‘I was chasing after the delights of a famous gladiatorial show , when I fell into this misfortune . For , as you know well , I’d gone to Macedonia on a business trip , and after nine months labouring there I was on my way back 9 home a wealthier man . Just before I reached Larissa , where I was going to watch the show by the way , walking along a rough and desolate valley , I was attacked by fierce bandits , and stripped of all I had . At last I escaped , weak as I was , and reached an inn belonging to a mature yet very attractive woman named Meroe , and told her about my lengthy journey , my desire for home , and the wretched robbery . She treated me more than kindly , with a welcome and generous meal , and quickly aroused by lust , steered me to her bed . At once I was done for , the moment I slept with her ; that one bout of sex infected me with a long and pestilential relationship ; she’s even had the clothes those kind robbers left me , and the meagre wages I’ve earned heaving sacks while I still could , until at last evil Fortune and my good ‘wife’ reduced me to the state you saw not long ago . ’ " By Pollux ! " I said " You deserve the worst , if there’s anything worse than what you got , for preferring the joys of Venus and a wrinkled whore to your home and kids . " " But shocked and stunned he placed his index finger to his lips : " Quiet , quiet ! " he said then glancing round , making sure it was safe to speak : " Beware of a woman with magic powers , lest your intemperate speech do you a mischief . " " Really ? " I said , " What sort of a woman is this high and mighty innkeeper ? " " A witch " he said , " with divine powers to lower the sky , and halt the globe , make fountains stone , and melt the mountains , raise the ghosts and summon the gods , extinguish the stars and illuminate Tartarus itself . " " Oh come , " said I , " dispense with the melodrama , away with stage scenery ; use the common tongue . " " Do you , " he replied " wish to hear one or two , or more , of her doings ? Because the fact she can make all men fall for her , and not just the locals but Indians , and the Ethiopian savages of orient and occident , and even men who live on the opposite side of the Earth , that’s only a tithe of her art , the merest bagatelle . Just listen to what she’s perpetrated in front of witnesses . One of her lovers had misbehaved with someone else , so with a single word she changed him into a beaver , a creature that , fearing capture , escapes from the hunters by biting off its own testicles to confuse the hounds with their scent , and she intended the same for him , for having it off with another woman . Then there was another innkeeper , nearby , in 10 competition , and she changed him into a frog ; now the old man swims in a vat of his own wine , hides in the dregs , and calls out humbly to his past customers with raucous croaks . And because he spoke against her she turned a lawyer into a sheep , and now as a sheep he pleads his case . When the wife of a lover of hers , who was carrying at the time , insulted her wittily , she condemned her to perpetual pregnancy by closing her womb to prevent the birth , and according to everyone’s computation that poor woman’s been burdened for eight years or more and she’s big as an elephant ! As it kept happening , and many were harmed , public indignation grew , and the people decreed the severest punishment , stoning to death next day . But with the power of her chanting she thwarted their plan . Just as Medea , in that one short day she won from Creon , consumed his daughter , his palace , and the old king himself in the flames from the golden crown , so Meroe , by chanting necromantic rites in a ditch , as she told me herself when she was drunk , shut all the people in their houses , with the dumb force of her magic powers . For two whole days not one of them could break the locks , rip open the doors , or even dig a way through the walls , until at last , at everyone’s mutual urging , they called out , swearing a solemn oath not to lay hands on her themselves , and to come to her defence and save her if anyone tried to do so . Thus propitiated she freed the whole town . But as for the author of the original decree , she snatched him up in the dead of night with his whole house – that’s walls and floor and foundations entire – and shifted them , the doors still locked , a hundred miles to another town on the top of a rugged and arid mountain ; and since the densely-packed homes of those folk left no room for the new guest , she dropped the house in front of the gates and vanished . " " What you relate is marvellous , dear Socrates , " I said , " and wild . In short you’ve roused no little anxiety , even fear , in me too . I’m struck with no mere pebble here , but a spear , lest with the aid of those same magic forces that old woman might have heard our conversation . So let’s go to bed early , and weariness relieved by sleep , leave before dawn and get as far away as we can . "

Wherefore towards night being very weary , I went to the Baines to refresh my selfe , and behold , I fortuned to espy my companion Socrates sitting upon the ground , covered with a torn and course mantle ; who was so meigre and of so sallow and miserable a countenance , that I scantly knew him : for fortune had brought him into such estate and calamity , that he verily seemed as a common begger that standeth in the streets to crave the benevolence of the passers by . Towards whom ( howbeit he was my singular friend and familiar acquaintance , yet half in despaire ) I drew nigh and said , Alas my Socrates , what meaneth this ? how faireth it with thee ? What crime hast thou committed ? verily there is great lamentation and weeping for thee at home : Thy children are in ward by decree of the Provinciall Judge : Thy wife ( having ended her mourning time in lamentable wise , with face and visage blubbered with teares , in such sort that she hath well nigh wept out both her eyes ) is constrained by her parents to put out of remembrance the unfortunate losse and lacke of thee at home , and against her will to take a new husband . And dost thou live here as a ghost or hogge , to our great shame and ignominy ?
Then he answered he to me and said , O my friend Aristomenus , now perceive I well that you are ignorant of the whirling changes , the unstable forces , and slippery inconstancy of Fortune : and therewithall he covered his face ( even then blushing for very shame ) with his rugged mantle insomuch that from his navel downwards he appeared all naked .
But I not willing to see him any longer in such great miserie and calamitie , took him by the hand and lifted him up from the ground : who having his face covered in such sort , Let Fortune ( quoth he ) triumph yet more , let her have her sway , and finish that which shee hath begun . And therewithall I put off one of my garments and covered him , and immediately I brought him to the Baine , and caused him to be anointed , wiped , and the filthy scurfe of his body to be rubbed away ; which done , though I were very weary my selfe , yet I led the poore miser to my Inne , where he reposed his body upon a bed , and then I brought him meat and drinke , and so wee talked together : for there we might be merry and laugh at our pleasure , and so we were , untill such time as he ( fetching a pittifull sigh from the bottom of his heart , and beating his face in miserable sort ) , began to say .

How Socrates in his returne from Macedony to Larissa was spoyled and robbed , and how he fell acquainted with one Meroe a Witch .
Alas poore miser that I am , that for the onely desire to see a game of triall of weapons , am fallen into these miseries and wretched snares of misfortune . For in my returne from Macedonie , wheras I sould all my wares , and played the Merchant by the space of ten months , a little before that I came to Larissa , I turned out of the way , to view the scituation of the countrey there , and behold in the bottom of a deep valley I was suddenly environed with a company of theeves , who robbed and spoiled me of such things as I had , and yet would hardly suffer me to escape . But I beeing in such extremity , in the end was happily delivered from their hands , and so I fortuned to come to the house of an old woman that sold wine , called Meroe , who had her tongue sufficiently instructed to flattery : unto whom I opened the causes of my long peregrination and careful travell , and of myne unlucky adventure : and after that I had declared to her such things as then presently came to my remembrance , shee gently entertained mee and made mee good cheere ; and by and by being pricked with carnall desire , shee brought me to her own bed chamber ; whereas I poore miser the very first night of our lying together did purchase to my selfe this miserable face , and for her lodging I gave to her such apparel as the theeves left to cover me withall .
The I understanding the cause of his miserable estate , sayd unto him , In faith thou art worthy to sustaine the most extreame misery and calamity , which hast defiled and maculated thyne owne body , forsaken thy wife traitorously , and dishonoured thy children , parents , and friends , for the love of a vile harlot and old strumpet . When Socrates heard mee raile against Meroe in such sort , he held up his finger to mee , and as halfe abashed sayd , Peace peace I pray you , and looking about lest any body should heare , I pray you ( quoth he ) I pray you take heed what you say against so venerable a woman as shee is , lest by your intemperate tongue you catch some harm . Then with resemblance of admiration , What ( quoth I ) is she so excellent a person as you name her to be ? I pray you tell me . Then answered hee , Verily shee is a Magitian , which hath power to rule the heavens , to bringe downe the sky , to beare up the earth , to turne the waters into hills and the hills into running waters , to lift up the terrestrial spirits into the aire , and to pull the gods out of the heavens , to extinguish the planets , and to lighten the deepe darknesse of hell . Then sayd I unto Socrates , Leave off this high and mysticall kinde of talke , and tell the matter in a more plaine and simple fashion . Then answered he , Will you hear one or two , or more of her facts which she hath done , for whereas she enforceth not onely the inhabitants of the countrey here , but also the Indians and the Ethiopians the one and the other , and also the Antictons , to love her in most raging sort , such as are but trifles and chips of her occupation , but I pray you give eare , and I will declare of more greater matters , which shee hath done openly and before the face of all men .

How Meroe the Witch turned divers persons into miserable beasts .
In faith Aristomenus to tell you the truth , this woman had a certaine Lover , whom by the utterance of one only word she turned into a Bever , because he loved another woman beside her : and the reason why she transformed him into such a beast is , for that it is his nature , when hee perceiveth the hunters and hounds to draw after him , to bite off his members , and lay them in the way , that the hounds may be at a stop when they find them , and to the intent it might so happen unto him ( for that he fancied another woman ) she turned him into that kind of shape .
Semblably she changed one of her neighbours , being an old man and one that sold wine , into a Frog , in that he was one of her occupation , and therefore she bare him a grudge , and now the poore miser swimming in one of his pipes of wine , and well nigh drowned in the dregs , doth cry and call with an hoarse voice , for his old guests and acquaintance that pass by . Like wise she turned one of the Advocates of the Court ( because he pleaded and spake against her in a rightful cause ) into a horned Ram , and now the poore Ram is become an Advocate . Moreover she caused , that the wife of a certain lover that she had should never be delivered of her childe , but according to the computation of all men , it is eight yeares past since the poore woman first began to swell , and now shee is encreased so big , that shee seemeth as though she would bring forth some great Elephant : which when it was knowne abroad , and published throughout all the towne , they tooke indignation against her , and ordayned that the next day shee should most cruelly be stoned to death . Which purpose of theirs she prevented by the vertue of her inchantments , and as Medea ( who obtained of King Creon but one days respit before her departure ) did burn all his house , him , and his daughter : so she , by her conjurations and invocations of spirits , ( which she useth in a certaine hole in her house , as shee her selfe declared unto me the next day following ) closed all the persons in the towne so sure in their houses , and with such violence of power , that for the space of two dayes they could not get forth , nor open their gates nor doore , nor break downe their walls , whereby they were inforced by mutuall consent to cry unto her , and to bind themselves strictly by oaths , that they would never afterwards molest or hurt her : and moreover , if any did offer her any injury they would be ready to defend her . Whereupon shee , mooved by their promises , and stirred by pitty , released all the towne . But shee conveyed the principal Author of this ordinance about midnight , with all his house , the walls , the ground , and the foundation , into another towne , distant from thence an hundred miles , scituate and beeing on the top of an high hill , and by reason thereof destitute of water , and because the edifices and houses were so nigh built together , that it was not possible for the house to stand there , she threw it downe before the gate of the towne . Then I spake and said O my friend Socrates you have declared unto me many marvellous things and strange chances , and moreover stricken me with no small trouble of minde , yea rather with great feare , lest the same old woman using the like practice , should fortune to heare all our communication . Wherefore let us now sleepe , and after that we have taken our rest , let us rise betimes in the morning , and ride away hence before day , as far as we can possible .

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