Metaphors and Word-plays in Petronius ...

Verberabat. Scourged with whips.

Of being scourged with kisses. 26.5: et me tanquam furtivis subinde osculis verberabat. 132.2: manifestis matrona contumeliis verberata tandem ad ultionem decurrit (of being harrassed with insults).

4. Slavery.

Liberos. Not even the hair free.

To show enslavement by debt. 38.12: sestertium suum vidit decies, sed male vacillavit. non puto illum capillos liberos habere.

Missionem. Giving freedom to a slave.

Of giving freedom to a dish, not partaken of at a former meal. 66.7: nam pernae missionem dedimus.

Notae. Brand on a slave.

Brand of character in men, in good sense. 116.5: sin autem urbanioris notae homines sustinetis semper mentiri, recta ad lucrum curritis. 126.7: ex hac nota domina est mea (of a class of people). 132.12: guam ne ad cognitionem quidem admittere severioris notae homines solerent (men of a more serious nature).

Pilleatus. Provided with a cap of freedom.

Of a wild boar not eaten at a former dinner, and so wearing the cap of freedom. 40.3: secutum est hos respositorium, in quo positus erat primae magnitudinis aper, et quidem pilleatus (also in 41.1). 66.7: ova pilleata (eggs with the cap of freedom on, eggs in shell, part of a bill of fare at dinner).

STIgMAM. Brand on slaves.

Branded by disgrace. 45.9: itaque quamdiu vixerit, habebit stigmam, nec illam nisi Orcus delebit.

Servulum. A little slave.

Of a devotee to oratory. 46.3: iam quattuor partis dicit; si vixerit, habebis ad latus servulum. nam quicquid illi vacat, caput de tabula non tollit.

Vindicasset. Claiming as one's slave.

Of the claim of the former dinner on the boar, with libertus and dimissus, continues the figure in pilleatus (41.1). 41.4: hic aper, cum heri summa cena eum vindicasset, a convivis dimissus est; itaque hodie tanquam libertus in convivium revertitur.

D. BUSINESS RELATIONS.

1. Trade And Occupations.

Acia ET acu. Needle and thread.

Of minute detail. 76.11: hic mihi dixit etiam ea, quae oblitus eram; ab acia et acu mi omnia exposuit; intestinas meas noverat.

CONTExTu. Weaving.

Of a succession of stories. 20.5: Ascyltos iam deficiente fabularum contextu "quidf ego" inquit "non sum dignus qui bibamf

Centonarius. Maker of rag covers to put out fire.

Applied to Echion who smothers the talk of Ganymedes. 45.1: "oro te" inquit Echion centonarius "melius loquere".

Classis. Fleet and crew.

Of a number of slaves, another crew. 74.7: "abite, ut alii veniant ad officium." subiit igitur alia classis.

Exonerata. Unloading.

Of getting rid of Greek influence. 5.16: et modo Graio exonerata sono mutet suffusa saporem. 103.5: qui acclinatus lateri navis exonerabat stomachum nausea gravem (of vomiting). 107. 13: voluerunt enim antequam conscenderent, exonerare capita molesto et supervacuo pondere (of shaving the head). 132.13: quid autem ego mali feci, si dolorem meum naturali convicio exoneravi (of getting rid of sorrow)?

Filo. Of good thread.

Of the cleverness of a boy. 46.3: ingeniosus est et bono filo.

Fullo. A fuller who wears away clothes.

Of a bath and its wearing effects on an infrequent bather. 42.2: ego non cotidie lavor; baliscus enim fullo est.

Imputem. Charging up to an account.

Of charging up to heaven. 127.6: habebo tamen quod caelo imputem, si nos fata coniunxerint.

Intexuit. Weaving by winding slender threads.

Of the c^mstruction of a poem. 118.1: nam ut quisque versum pedibus instruxit sensumque teneriorem verborum ambitu intexuit 118.5: ne . . . sed intexto vestibus colore niteant (interweaving color into garments, of brilliant style).

Laniones Et Unguentarii. Butchers and ointment dealers, who weigh their wares. Of men born under the sign of the balance, a word-play. 39.11: in libra (nascuntur) laniones et unguentarii et quicunque aliquid expediunt.

Mercator. Selling and a buyer of merchandise.

Applied to sexual intercourse. 126.4: sive ergo nobis vendis quod peto, mercator paratus est, sive quod humanius est, commodas, effice ut beneficium debeamus.

Micarius. Crumb-gatherer.

Of being economical. 73.6: hodie servus meus barbatoriam fecit, homo praefiscini frugi et micarius.

Modio. Measuring money by the peck.

Of having a large amount. 37.3: uxor Trimalchionis Fortunata appellatur, quae nummos modio metitur.

Navem. Ship for carrying stone.

Of a man carrying a heavy burden. 117.12: quid vos iumentum me putatis esse aut lapidariam navem?

Navigat. Sailing with a favorable breeze.

Of being prosperous in business. 137.9: quisquis habet nummos. secura navigat aura fortunamque suo temperat arbitrio.

Nectit. Weaving.

Of making quarrels. 18.6: nam sane et sapiens contemptus iurgia nectit (cf. Ov. Am. 2.2.35).

Negotio. Putting out of business.

Of getting the better of. 56.7: iam etiam philosophos de negotio deiciebat.

Oneratas. Loading.

Of overdressing. 32.2: circaque oneratas veste cervices laticlaviam immiserat mappam fimbriis hinc et illinc pendentibus 90.4: ego quoque sinum meum saxis onerabo, ut quotiescunque coeperis a te exire, sanguinem tibi a capite mittam (of putting stones in the pocket).

Rationem. Balancing an account.

Of making up a quarrel. 10.7: iam enim amoliri cupiebam custodem molestum, ut veterem cum Gitone meo rationem reducerem.

Staminatas Weaving term, stamen without subtemen, warp only. Of wine without water. 41.12: staminatas duxi, et plane matus sum.

Textorum. Fabric in weaving.

Of the kind of words used. 33.3: interim dum ille omnium textorum dicta inter lusum consumit.

Velis. With full sails.

Of outstripping another completely. 45.11: scias oportet plenis velis vinciturum (cf. Plin. Ep. 6.33.10).

Vendis. Selling merchandise.

Of a woman giving sexual privileges. 126.4: sive ergo nobis vendis quod peto, mercator paratus est. (s. v. mercator).

2. MONEY, MlNERALS, ETC.

Auri. You see so much gold.

Of the value of a woman. 37.7: tantum auri vides.

Asse. Bread bought for an as.

Of a large amount for a small sum. 44.10: asse panem quem emisisses non potuisses cum altero devorare.

Dupundii. Of the value of two asses.

Of insigniflcant value. 58.4: sed cum coepi, matrem meam dupundii non facio (I do not care a cent for). 58.13: nemo dupondii evadit (no one of the two cent variety graduates). 74.15: et ego homo dipundiarius, sestertium centies accipere potui (of a man who has very little being able to marry money).

Flaturae. Of some coinage.

Of the physical strength and training of a gladiator. 45.12: unus alicuius flaturae Thraex.

Margaritum. Pearl.

Of the value of a favorite slave. 63.3: ipsimi nostri delicatus decessit, mehercules margaritum.

Plumbum. Lead becoming gold.

Of becoming very prosperous. 43.7: plane Fortunae filius, in manu illius plumbum aurum fiebat.

Reddidissem. Paying back money.

Of getting even in a quarrel, "settle with". 58.3: alioquin iam tibi depraesentiarum reddidissem.

Remunerabat. Paying back money.

Of making corresponding movements in sexual intercourse. 140. 8: ille lente parebat imperio puellaque artificium pari moto remunerabat.

Respondit. Paying debts.

Of the belly performing its duties, "paying the sheriff". 47.2: ignoscite mihi, amici, multis iam diebus venter mihi non respondit

Sestertiarius. Worth a sesterce.

Of a sorry fellow. 45.8: Glyco autem, sestertiarius homo, dispensatorem ad bestias dedit. 45.11: dedit gladiatores sestertiarios iam decrepitos, quos si sufflasses, cecidissent (of worthless gladiators).