Gaius, dominus Romanus, in atrio domus suae sedet. Servus eius, nomine Marcus, prope stat. “Marce,” inquit Gaius, “hodie amici mei ad cenam veniunt. Parare debes. Eme panem bonum, olivas, et vinum optimum in urbe. Celeriter age!”
Marcus respondet: “Ita, domine. Quid aliud vis?”
“Carne non opus est,” inquit Gaius. “Iam coquus apud culinam id parat. Sed vinum pretiosum eme; amici mei id amant. Ne tarde redeas!”
Marcus ex domo exit et in forum it. Viae plenae sunt venditorum et clamorum. Prope macellum Marcus tabernam panis videt. “Salve!” clamat Marcus. “Quanti est panis tuus?”
“Duo denarii,” respondet pistor.
“Panem magnum da mihi,” inquit Marcus, “et hic sunt duo denarii.” Pistor panem dat, et Marcus eum in sacco ponit.
Postea Marcus ad tabernam olearii it. Olearius multa dolia olivarum habet. “Salve,” inquit Marcus. “Olivas nigras cupio. Suntne recentes?”
“Sunt recentes, optime serve,” respondet olearius. “Quantum vis?”
“Da mihi unum sextarium,” dicit Marcus. Olearius sextarium olivarum in sacco ponit, et Marcus pretium solvit.
Denique Marcus ad vinarium properat. Ibi vasa magna vini sunt. “Ave, serve!” clamat vinarius. “Quod vinum quaeris?”
Marcus respondet: “Domino meo vinum optimum opus est. Estne hoc Falernum bonum?”
“Hoc Falernum est optimum!” inquit vinarius. “Sed non vile est.”
“Pretio non curo,” respondet Marcus. “Da mihi unum amphoram.” Vinarius amphoram dat, et Marcus pretium magnum solvit.
Marcus ad domum redit, saccos et amphoram portans. In atrio, Gaius eum exspectat. “Marce,” inquit Gaius, “omnia parata sunt?”
“Domine, panem, olivas, et vinum optimum attuli,” respondet Marcus.
“Bene factum!” clamat Gaius. “Nunc i in culinam et omnia parata fac.”
Marcus in culinam it, ubi coquus iam laborat. Panem in mensa ponit et olivas in scutula collocat. Amphoram vini aperit et pocula implet. Postea ad Gaium redit et dicit: “Domine, cena tua parata est.”
Amici Gaii adveniunt et in triclinio discumbunt. “Gai,” inquit unus, “vinum tuum semper optimum est!”
“Gratias tibi ago,” respondet Gaius. “Sed gratias etiam Marco dare debes. Ipse vinum et cibum in urbe emit.”
Omnes rident et pocula tollunt. “Vinum Falernum!” clamat alius. “Ad Gaium et ad Marcum!”
Nocte progrediente, Marcus in culina manet, sed risus et voces ex triclinio audire potest. Laetus est, quod dominus eius et hospites cenam laudant.
Gaius, a Roman master, sits in the atrium of his house. His servant, named Marcus, stands nearby. “Marcus,” says Gaius, “today my friends are coming to dinner. You must prepare. Buy good bread, olives, and excellent wine in the city. Be quick!”
Marcus replies, “Yes, master. What else do you need?”
“There is no need for meat,” says Gaius. “The cook is already preparing that in the kitchen. But buy expensive wine; my friends like it. Do not return late!”
Marcus leaves the house and goes into the forum. The streets are full of vendors and noise. Near the marketplace, Marcus sees a bread shop. “Hello!” Marcus calls out. “How much is your bread?”
“Two denarii,” the baker replies.
“Give me a large loaf,” says Marcus, “and here are two denarii.” The baker gives him the bread, and Marcus places it in a sack.
Afterwards, Marcus goes to the olive seller’s shop. The olive seller has many jars of olives. “Hello,” says Marcus. “I want black olives. Are they fresh?”
“They are fresh, excellent servant,” replies the olive seller. “How much do you want?”
“Give me one sextarius,” says Marcus. The olive seller places a sextarius of olives into a sack, and Marcus pays the price.
Finally, Marcus hurries to the wine shop. There, large containers of wine are displayed. “Greetings, servant!” the wine seller calls. “What wine are you looking for?”
Marcus replies, “My master needs the best wine. Is this Falernian good?”
“This Falernian is excellent!” says the wine seller. “But it is not cheap.”
“I do not care about the price,” replies Marcus. “Give me one amphora.” The wine seller gives him the amphora, and Marcus pays a large sum.
Marcus returns home, carrying the sacks and the amphora. In the atrium, Gaius awaits him. “Marcus,” says Gaius, “is everything ready?”
“Master, I have brought bread, olives, and excellent wine,” replies Marcus.
“Well done!” exclaims Gaius. “Now go to the kitchen and prepare everything.”
Marcus goes to the kitchen, where the cook is already working. He places the bread on the table and arranges the olives in a bowl. He opens the amphora of wine and fills the cups. Then he returns to Gaius and says, “Master, your dinner is ready.”
Gaius’s friends arrive and recline in the dining room. “Gaius,” says one, “your wine is always the best!”
“Thank you,” replies Gaius. “But you should also thank Marcus. He bought the wine and food in the city.”
Everyone laughs and raises their cups. “Falernian wine!” shouts another. “To Gaius and to Marcus!”
As the night goes on, Marcus stays in the kitchen, but he can hear the laughter and voices from the dining room. He is happy because his master and the guests praise the dinner.