1cum adhuc servirem, amare coepi Melissam, uxorem Terentii
When I was still a slave, I fell in love with Melissa, the wife of Terentius
2cauponis, pulcherrimum bacciballum. huius contubernalis ad
the inkeeper, a really beautiful little peach. Her partner
3villam supremum diem obit. itaque per scutum per ocream egi
met his last day at their country place. Therefore I tried all possible means
4aginavi quemadmodum ad illam pervenirem: nam in angustiis amaici apparent.
and plotted how I might get to her: for it is in emergencies that friends are revealed.
5forte dominus Capuam exierat ad negotium expediendum. ego
By chance, my master had gone off to Capua to sort out some business. So I,
6occasionem nactus persuado hospiti nostro ut mecum ad
siezing the opportunity, persuaded one of our guests to
7quintum miliarium veniat. erat autem miles, fortis tanquam Orcus.
come with me as far as the fifth milestone. Well he was a soldier, brave as hell.
8apoculamus nos circa gallincinia; luna lucebat tamquam meridie.
We set off around cock-crow; the moon was shining as though it was midday.
9venimus inter monimenta: homo meus coepit ad stelas facere;
We came amongst some monuments: my chap started to go over towards the tombstones;
10sedeo ego cantabundus et stelas numero.
I sat there singing and counted the tombstones.
11deinde ut resoexi ad comitem, ille exuit se et omnia vestimenta
Next when I looked towards my companion, he stripped off and laid all his clothes
12secundum viam postuit. mihi anima in naso esso; stabam
beside the road. My soul was in my nose, I just stood there
13tanquam mortuus. at ille circumminxit vestimenta sua, et
as though dead. Meanwhile he piddled around his clothes, and
14subito lupus factus est. nolite me iocari putare; ululare coepit
suddenly he turned into a wolf. Don't think I'm joking; he started to howl
15et in silvas fugit. ego primo nesciebam ubi essem; deinde
and ran off into the woods. At first I didn't know where I was; then
16accessi ut vestimenta eius tollerem: illa autem lapidea facta sunt.
I went over to pick up his clothes; but they had turned to stone.
17paene timore mortuus sum. gladium tamen strinxi et in tota via
I almost died with fright. However, I drew my sword and slashed at shadows all along the road.
18umbras cecidi, donec ad villam amicae meae pervenirem. ut
until I reached my girlfriend's country place. I entered
19larva intravi, paene animam ebullivi, sudor mihi per crura
like a ghost, I almost poured out my spirit, sweat was running down my legs,
20fluebat, oculi motui; vix umquam refectus sum. Melissa mea
my eyes were dead; I hardly ever recovered. My Melissa
21mirari coepit quod tam sero ambularem. 'si ante' inquit
began to show surprise that I was out walking so late. 'If you had come sooner,' she said,
22'venisses, saltem nos adiuvisses; lupus enim villam intravit et
'at least you could have helped us; for a wolf entered the farm and
23omnia pecora oppugnavit; tamquam lanius sanguinem illis
attacked all our sheep; he let out their blood like a butcher.
24misit. nec tamen derisit, etiam si fugit; servus enim noster
However, he didn't have the last laugh, even if he did escape; for one of our slaves
25lancea collum eius traiecit.' haec ut audivi, operire oculos
pierced his neck wiht a spear.' When I heard this, I couldn't shut my eyes
26amplius non potui, sed luce clara domum fugo; et postquam
any longer, but rushed home in broad daylight; and when
27veni in illum locum in quo lapidea vestimenta erant facta, nihil
I came to the place where the clothes had turned to stone,
28inveni nisi sanguinem. ut vero domum veni, iacebat miles meus
I found nothing except some blood. When I actually got home, my soldier friend was lying
29in lecto tamquam bos, et collum eius medicus curabat. intellexi
in bed like an ox, and a doctor was attending to his neck. Then I understood
30illum versipellem esse, nec postea cum illo panem gustare
that he was a werewolf, and after that I was never able to eat bread with him,
31potui, non si me occidisses.
not if you had killed me.