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INTRODUCTION FOR TEACHERS The English version of this playlet appeared on the Internet in the LatinTeach list. It was first given the title in English 'Saturnalia skit' by Matthew Web mdwjcl@altavista.net ("by Deborah Carter (Teacher), Brian Ballantine and Ryan Tuccinardi of Linganore High School in Frederick Maryland") on 3rd December 1999, and then "tinkered around ... in order to bring in some C.L.C. references" by Ichester Ichester@massed.net on 12th December. Ginney Lindzey, respected Editor and Webmistress, urged me twice to make a Latin version, simply because I had suggested that someone more learned, with more free time, more energetic and braver than I should do it to assist in teaching the language that we love practically and with fun. As yet, however, I have seen nothing. Therefore, in the little free time during the celebrations of Saturnalia, Christmas and the New Year, I decided to attempt the task myself. It seemed appropriate to me that it should use only the vocabulary and grammar to be found in the 'Cambridge Latin course' and the 'Defined vocabulary list' of the Midland Examining Group, a British examining board, for the G.C.S.E. Higher Tier for pupils around 16 years old. I have used other words that seem near enough to modern English words (forgive me, you of other languages!), or which derive from combinations of the selected words, even with prefixes. A few other words that I have used are explained, using the selected words, in a list. I have used the same spelling conventions in the play as the majority currently use; problems between nominatives and ablatives of the first declension and between nominatives and genitives or plurals or the fourth declension, I have shown by -a/-ƒ and -us/--s. I consider that these rules will sufficiently suit those using other course books for the language and other boards for the examination. I suggest that those who make a video film should make vesions (a) wholly in Latin, (b) wholly in their modern language, (c) in Latin with subtitles in their modern mother tongue and (d) in their modern mother tongue with subtitles in Latin. An example is the videocassette 'Julia in urbe Pompeiis' by Channel 4 Schools in Britain (e-mail sales@schools.channel4.co.uk ). So that this could be understand by our colleagues who do not speak English, I have written the introduction in Latin, and so that it could be understood by our English speaking colleages, I have made an English version. If my version of the playlet is compared with the originals, I believe it will be seen that I have: -- added a plot, logic and shape; -- made parts for women; -- used the wiliness of the slaves; -- made the verb tenses consistent; -- explained phrases like "already several days into the holiday season", "now it has finally arrived", although the play takes place on the day before ("the festival of Saturnalia begins tomorrow on December 17"); -- not known why on what authority they say "... it lasted anywhere form/from three to seven days", which could confuse our pupils. There is now time before the coming year's Saturnalia at once to correct and improve this playlet, for example by composing an English version in rhyming couplets and a Latin one in Plautus' verse forms. For there are many subscribers who are cleverer than I am. In that way we can have a fully accurate and polished version ready to welcome in the next Saturnalia. Brennus Legranus Main sources on the Saturnalia: --Frazer, Sir James -- 'The golden bough' -- Ch.LVIII, sect.3,
pp.583-587 -- Wordsworth Editions, 1993 -- ISBN 1-85326-310-9. Vocabulary outside the selected word tables alea -- dice SATURNALIA SKIT Dramatis personae Narrator (who is allowed to hold a script) Various non-speaking parts from Cambridge Latin course at the
director's discretion: Scene One (Narrator, Grumio, Clemens) (Scene: outside Caecilius' villa in the city. Grumio is pacing and trying to figure out a way to make Saturnalia come earlier.) Narrator: Here we are outside the house of a wealthy citizen of Pompeii, the banker Lucius Caecilius Iucundus. It is the 17th day before the Kalends of January -- or (addresses audience) December 16th to you, dear audience -- and the festival of Saturnalia will start tomorrow, on December 17th. This most joyous of holidays, in honor of the god Saturn, lasts many days. One of the traditions during Saturnalia is for masters to free their slaves -- temporarily, of course. As our play begins, one slave is waiting eagerly for his moment of freedom. (Grumio enters) Let the play commence. Grumio: (addressing audience): Here we are on the 17th day before the Kalends of January, and soon the festival will begin. I don't think I can wait another moment for my cap of freedom -- the cap of freedom that my master will give me to wear during the Saturnalia. I wonder if there is any way to speed up this sundial here, to trick him into giving me my pilleum a day early? (He walks around the imaginary sundial, contemplating.) (Clemens enters.) Clemens: Io Saturnalia, Grumio! Grumio: Not yet, Clemens. We'll have to wait another day to use that greeting, unless I can think of a way to hurry time along. Just think -- tomorrow when we wake up, the master and his family will be serving our breakfast instead of the other way around! Clemens: Yes, but the best part about Saturnalia is being allowed to gamble openly and in public. I am going to win enough money to buy my freedom permanently! Then I'll save all the denarii that I earn so that I can buy Melissa's freedom and make her my wife. Grumio: You are a dreamer. All you ever do is lose money when you gamble, whether it's in public or in secret. And you stand as much chance of winning the affections of the lovely Melissa as Quintus does. She pays more attention to Cerberus here (snoring loudly as he sleeps in the garden beneath the sundial). But I, who am cleverer than you will love Melissa, because I know what to do. Clemens: No way. You will not even be elected the King of the Saturnalia, that lucky person who gets to order everyone else around for seven days! (Clemens exits. Melissa enters) Scene Two (Grumio, Melissa, Narrator) Grumio: Melissa, my dearest. I have a plan so that I can marry you and make you rich. Melissa: It can't be done. Grumio: Listen. You must persuade the master that Saturnalia is starting today. Come with me and I shall tell you what you have to do. (Grumio and Melissa exeunt). Narrator (to the audience): Everybody in this household is still preparing for the Saturnalia. Although almost the entire month of December has been spent in celebrating some holiday or another, it is the Saturnalia that everyone looks forward to. There will be no school during this time, no business. No one will have to work at all. Oh, the other celebrations are very nice, especially the solstice festival for Sol Invictus -- the unconquered sun -- and the Kalends of January, or New Year, in honor of Janus. But Saturnalia is the one called "the best of days" by the great poet Catullus... (HERE THERE IS A LARGE LACUNA IN THE MANUSCRIPT) ... But what is happening? See our master is coming. He seems extremely happy. Melissa is helping him as he walks. He has had too much wine to drink. Clemens is carrying the liberty caps in his hands. Scene Three (Caecilius, Melissa and Clemens enter, Melissa helping hold Caecilius up). Melissa (in a loud voice): Io Saturnalia! Io Saturnalia!! Caecilius (confused): I-i-is i-i-t already S-s-saturnalia day? All the slaves (loudly): Io Saturnalia! Io Saturnalia! Caecilius (in a weak voice): I can hear you alright. Io Saturnalia! Today I am not your master. Today we are all equal! (To Grumio) Here is your cap of freedom. Be thou free. (To Clemens) Here is your cap of freedom. Be thou free. (To Melissa) Here is your cap of freedom, my dear. Be thou free. (He gives each slave a cap to wear.) Grumio. At last! And where is my breakfast? Caecilius (wavers and them remembers): I shall call my wife at once. Grumio: Stop, sir! Caecilius: Not at all. You must be served at once. Metella, wife, come here!. (Metella enters). Scene Four (Metella, Caecilius, Grumio, Clemens, Metella, Narrator) Metella: I'm coming. But what's happening? Why are the slaves wearing their liberty caps? Let go of your master! Caecilius you have acted badly. This is a bad omen. What will the members of your college of priests say? Disaster! Grumio: Mistress, kindest of all mistresses. Be kind to us. We trusted you so much, we wished so much to worship the great god Saturn, and our master, your husband loves us slaves so much that without delay we started at home a little bit of the Saturnalia. Noone knows; noone is harmed. Clemens: Mistress, Master, it is a very serious matter. But may I suggest something to you? Noble sir: Saturn can be satisfied by a silent sacrifice. Generous sir: if you give our Mistress, whom we all love, your wife, that beautiful jewel which she has long desired, the wives of your colleagues will know nothing. Noone from this household will speak about this outside. Consider your good name, I beg. Metella: Also, since you have freed Grumio, Clemens and Melissa, it is not right for you to take their freedom away. Clemens will marry Melissa and run the shop; we shall make Grumio the King of the Saturnalia and afterwards he will oversee the slaves in our fields. Caecilius: I agree. Tomorrow I and my wife will bring your Saturnalia food to you. Then we shall all go out to the Temple of Saturn to witness the priests as they ceremoniously untie the woollen bonds around the feet of the god Saturn. That will symbolize the freedom for all Romans. At nightfall tomorrow we shall all dine in informal dress. I myself shall give a huge bone to our Cerberus for guarding the house all the year. Now let us all go to be for Saturnalia begins tomorrow. Narrator: Now audience, show the pleasure you have deserved with your hands in a way that is deserved. Farewell to all. T H E E N D |
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Home Page | Main Menu Last update December 17, 2000. This site was re-created August 1998 by Ginny Lindzey, Webmistress, Texas Classical Association. All text and graphics are copyrighted. Original photo of arch by Roger Robison. To report problems and to get permission to reprint articles, please contact Ginny at ginlindzey@lindzey.us |
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Saturnalia Skit & More
