glad news, reporting and announcing matters which most
contribute to your common good (for ye doubtless are aware
ere now that ’tis to me the other gods have yielded and
granted plenipotence o’er messages and profits); according
as ye would have me bless you in these things, then in such
degree will ye (_suddenly dropping his pomposity_) keep
still while we are acting this play and all be fair and
square judges of the performance.

Nunc cuius iussu venio et quam ob rem venerim
dicam simulque ipse eloquar nomen meum.
Iovis iussu venio, nomen Mercurio est mihi.
pater huc me misit ad vos oratum meus, 20
tam etsi, pro imperio vobis quod dictum foret,
scibat facturos, quippe qui intellexerat
vereri vos se et metuere, ita ut aequom est Iovem;

Now I will tell you who bade me come, and why I came, and
likewise myself state my own name. Jupiter bade me come: my
name is Mercury (_pauses, evidently hoping he has made an
impression_). My father has sent me here to you to make a
plea, yea, albeit he knew that whatever was told you in way
of command you would do, inasmuch as he realized that you
revere and dread him as men should Jupiter.

verum profecto hoc petere me precario
a vobis iussit, leniter, dictis bonis.
etenim ille, cuius huc iussu venio, Iuppiter
non minus quam vostrum quivis formidat malum:
humana matre natus, humano patre,