Marcus et Lucia cum patre in Forum Romanum ambulant. Viae plenae sunt virorum et feminarum. Marcus spectat et dicit: “Pater, quid illa femina vendit?”
Pater respondet: “Fructus vendit: mala, pira, uvas.”
Lucia dicit: “Pater, possumusne uvas emere?”
Pater ridet et nummum Luciae dat. “I ad tabernam et uvas eme,” inquit. Lucia ad tabernam currit. Ibi femina fructus vendit.
Lucia dicit: “Salve. Quanti sunt uvae?”
Femina respondet: “Duo denarii.”
Lucia dicit: “Duo denarii? Hoc nimium est!”
Femina ridet et dicit: “Sunt uvae bonae. Unus denarius non satis est.” Lucia suspirat et ad patrem redit.
“Pater,” dicit Lucia, “uvae sunt nimis cara.”
Pater respondet: “Lucia, roga iterum. Forte pretium minuit.” Lucia iterum ad tabernam redit.
Lucia dicit: “Si unum denarium dabo, mihi uvas dabisne?”
Femina cogitat et dicit: “Bene. Accipio unum denarium. Ecce uvae tuae.” Lucia laeta uvas capit et ad patrem redit.
Marcus, qui tabernam panis videt, dicit: “Pater, panem emamus! Esurio!”
Pater et Marcus ad tabernam eunt. Tabernarius dicit: “Hic panis novus est. Tres denarii.”
Pater dicit: “Nimis carus est.”
Tabernarius ridet et dicit: “Est panis optimus!” Pater tamen panem emit et cum liberis ad locum quietum it. Omnes pariter comedunt.
Dum comedunt, Marcus in terra nummum invenit. “Pater, quid est hoc?”
Pater dicit: “Est denarius. Vide! Augustus est in nummo.”
Lucia ridet et dicit: “Marcus, nunc dives es! Fortasse cras fructus emes!”
Sole descendente, pater cum liberis domum it.
Marcus and Lucia walk with their father into the Roman Forum. The streets are full of men and women. Marcus looks around and says, “Father, what is that woman selling?”
The father replies, “She is selling fruits: apples, pears, and grapes.”
Lucia says, “Father, can we buy grapes?”
The father laughs and gives a coin to Lucia. “Go to the stall and buy grapes,” he says. Lucia runs to the stall. There, a woman is selling fruits.
Lucia says, “Hello. How much are the grapes?”
The woman replies, “Two denarii.”
Lucia says, “Two denarii? That is too much!”
The woman laughs and says, “The grapes are good. One denarius is not enough.” Lucia sighs and goes back to her father.
“Father,” Lucia says, “the grapes are too expensive.”
The father replies, “Lucia, ask again. Perhaps she will lower the price.” Lucia goes back to the stall.
Lucia says, “If I give one denarius, will you give me the grapes?”
The woman thinks and says, “Fine. I will take one denarius. Here are your grapes.” Lucia happily takes the grapes and goes back to her father.
Marcus, who sees a bread stall, says, “Father, let’s buy bread! I’m hungry!”
The father and Marcus go to the stall. The bread seller says, “This bread is fresh. Three denarii.”
The father says, “That is too expensive.”
The bread seller laughs and says, “It is the best bread!” The father, however, buys the bread and goes with the children to a quiet place. They all eat together.
While they are eating, Marcus finds a coin on the ground. “Father, what is this?”
The father says, “It is a denarius. Look! Augustus is on the coin.”
Lucia laughs and says, “Marcus, now you are rich! Perhaps tomorrow you will buy fruits!”
As the sun sets, the father goes home with the children.