# Lectio I: Mercātūra - Business Latin
## Introduction

As a Roman merchant (mercātor), you'll direct a trading business using practical Latin. Managing workers, tracking inventory, and conducting sales requires clear communication. This lesson develops essential grammar through realistic business scenarios.
Remember that not all business people are honest, and workers are often not as interested in your business as you are. It is not their fault that fortune did not call them forward in the way you may have been, but strong Roman management techniques, backed by regular sacrifices to Mercury, should help ensure your business thrives.

## Learning Objectives

* Present tense review
* Roman business vocabulary and phrases
* Negotiation skills

## Tabernārius Līberālis

Publius Venustus vāsa Graeca pretiōsa vendit. Kalendīs, ut semper, templum Mercuriī modo relīquerat, ubi ingentī dōnō deōs placāverat. Nam, ut omnēs in forō nōrunt, negōtiātōrum patrōnō multum dēbet.
Nunc, dum ratiōnēs īnspicit, iterum suspīrat. Modo mercātōrī dīvitī dē pulchritūdine vāsōrum disseruit: quōmodō pictor celeberrimus umbram vestium pinxisset, quam subtīliter deōrum vultūs expressisset. "Ars," inquit superbē, "nōn pretium sōlum postulat, sed etiam cūram summam. Servī meī doctī sunt quōmodō tālia opera tractentur."
"Syrisce!" vocat. "Venī! Ratiōnēs nōn conveniunt. Vās illud pulcherrimum - Venere pictā - ubi est?"
Syriscus modestē intrat. "Eheu, domine! Dāvus heri vās illud dē manibus āmīsit. Fragmenta ipsi sustulimus, sed nihil agī poterat."
"Haec omnī mēnse accidunt!" exclāmat Publius. "Semperne tam ineptī eritis? Sī pergitis vāsa tam pretiōsa perdere, necesse erit mercēdem vestram dēminuere!"
Vesperī in tabernā vīnāriā Publius amīcō suō Lūciō querēlās nārrat. Lūcius frōntem contrahit. Nōn iam rīdet.
"Mī Publī," inquit asperē, "semper stultus es! Meministīne puer quōmodō dulciola tua cottīdiē amittēbās? 'Tam incūriōsus sum!' semper clāmābās. Omnēs puerī ea capiēbant, quod numquam cum aliīs partīrī volēbās!"
Publius tacet.
"Nunc quoque," pergit Lūcius, "servī tuī nihil accipiunt. Dē arte et cūrā multum loqueris, sed mercēdem minimam solvis! Mercuriō dōna ingentia das, servīs nē minimum quidem! In forō Subūrānō, ut audiō, multa vāsa Graeca pretiō parvō invenīrī possunt... "
Publius adhūc tacet.
"Tandem!" exclāmat Lūcius. "Post quadrāgintā annōs, tacēre potes! Et prō deīs immortālibus, vīnum mihi eme!"

## Grammar Review and Context
### Present Tense Usage

The present tense forms the foundation of business communication. You'll use it to track ongoing activities ("Mercennārius mercem portat" - the worker is carrying merchandise) and describe current situations in your shop.

#### Present Tense Formation

First Conjugation (-āre):
    portō, portās, portat, portāmus, portātis, portant
    numerō, numerās, numerat, numerāmus, numerātis, numerant
Second Conjugation (-ēre):
    habeō, habēs, habet, habēmus, habētis, habent
    videō, vidēs, videt, vidēmus, vidētis, vident
Third Conjugation (-ere):
    vendō, vendis, vendit, vendimus, venditis, vendunt
    scrībō, scrībis, scrībit, scrībimus, scrībitis, scrībunt
Fourth Conjugation (-īre):
    audiō, audīs, audit, audīmus, audītis, audiunt
    veniō, venīs, venit, venīmus, venītis, veniunt

### Imperative Formation

First Conjugation:
* Singular: portā! (carry!)
* Plural: portāte! (carry! - to multiple people)
Second Conjugation:
* Singular: habē! (have/hold!)
* Plural: habēte! (have/hold! - to multiple people)
Third Conjugation:
* Singular: vende! (sell!)
* Plural: vendite! (sell! - to multiple people)
Fourth Conjugation:
* Singular: audī! (hear/listen!)
* Plural: audīte! (hear/listen! - to multiple people)

### Deponent Verbs in Business

Deponents have passive forms but active meanings.

#### First Conjugation Deponents

* mercor, mercārī - to trade
    Present: mercor, mercāris, mercātur, mercāmur, mercāminī, mercantur
    Imperative: mercāre! (singular), mercāminī! (plural)

#### Second Conjugation Deponents

* polliceor, pollicērī - to promise
    Present: polliceor, pollicēris, pollicētur, pollicēmur, pollicēminī, pollicentur
    Imperative: pollicēre! (singular), pollicēminī! (plural)

#### Third Conjugation Deponents

* ūtor, ūtī - to use
    Present: ūtor, ūteris, ūtitur, ūtimur, ūtiminī, ūtuntur
    Imperative: ūtere! (singular), ūtiminī! (plural)

#### Fourth Conjugation Deponents

* partior, partīrī - to share, divide
    Present: partior, partīris, partītur, partīmur, partīminī, partiuntur
    Imperative: partīre! (singular), partīminī! (plural)

## Vocabulary and Collations
### Places and Infrastructure

* taberna, -ae (f) - shop, store
* horreum, -ī (n) - warehouse, storehouse
* forum, -ī (n) - marketplace, forum
* portus, -ūs (m) - harbor, port
* cella, -ae (f) - storeroom, cellar
* Subūra, -ae (f) - a densely populated, lower-class neighborhood in Rome

### Measures and Containers

* amphora, -ae (f) - amphora (vessel)
* modius, -ī (m) - modius (grain measure)
* dolium, -ī (n) - large storage jar
* saccus, -ī (m) - sack, bag
* congius, -ī (m) - congius (liquid measure)
* arca, -ae (f) - chest, strongbox

### Commercial Terms

* merx, mercis (f) - merchandise, goods
* pretium, -ī (n) - price
* vectīgal, -ālis (n) - tax, duty
* ūsūra, -ae (f) - interest
* lucrum, -ī (n) - profit
* chirographum, -ī (n) - written contract

### Currency and Payment

* dēnārius, -ī (m) - denarius
* sēstertius, -ī (m) - sestertius
* aureus, -ī (m) - gold coin
* nummus, -ī (m) - coin (general)
* pecūnia, -ae (f) - money
* as, assis (m) - copper coin of lowest value

### Business Documentation

* ratiō, -ōnis (f) - account, calculation
* cōdex, -icis (m) - ledger, account book
* tabulae, -ārum (f.pl) - account records
* epistula, -ae (f) - letter, written message
* titulus, -ī (m) - label, title

### Personnel

* mercātor, -ōris (m) - merchant
* īnstitor, -ōris (m) - agent, manager
* mercennārius, -ī (m) - hired worker
* scrība, -ae (m) - clerk, secretary
* servus, -ī (m) - slave
* lībertus, -ī (m) - freedman

### Verbs of Business

* mercor, mercārī - to trade
* polliceor, pollicērī - to promise
* partior, partīrī - to share, divide
* ūtor, ūtī - to use
* computō, -āre - to calculate
* servō, -āre - to keep, preserve

### Collations

* "meā fide" - on my word
* "sine dubiō" - without doubt
* "quam prīmum" - as soon as possible
* "rēs cūrābitur" - the matter will be handled
* "litterae mittentur" - letters will be sent
* "prō bonō pūblicō" - for the public good
* "rem neglegere" - to neglect a matter
* "pecūniam perdere" - to lose money
* "tribūta solvere" - to pay taxes
* "in forō" - in the marketplace
* "pecūnia nōn sufficit" - there isn't enough money
* "ratiōnēs tractāre" - to handle accounts
* "fidem servāre" - to keep faith
* "negotium gerere" - to conduct business

## Written Exercises
### Exercise A: Translation into Latin

Translate these sentences:
* The merchant counts the money carefully.
* Are you (sg.) buying wine or oil today?
* We write the accounts in the ledger.
* The workers carry heavy merchandise to the shop.
* Why don't you (pl.) use better containers?
* The apprentice promises good service to the customers.
* I am trading with merchants from Greece.
* The partner divides the profits with his workers.
* Who is selling grain in the forum today?
* You (pl.) must store the oil in large jars.

### Exercise B: Business Report Instructions

Write a morning report (100 words) from a wine merchant describing:
1. Current inventory status:
* Count amphorae of Falernian wine (use: numerō)
* Record new Sicilian wine arriving (use: adveniō)
* Store wine carefully (use: servō)
2. Worker interactions:
* Order workers to move wine to cellar (use preposition: in + acc.)
* Tell workers to clean containers (use preposition: cum + abl.)
* Command apprentice to label jars (use imperative)
3. Business activities:
* Negotiate with Greek merchants (use: mercor)
* Make promises about delivery (use: polliceor)
* Ask about market prices (direct question with quantum)
* Ask workers whether enough wine remains (indirect question)
* Question when more ships arrive (direct question with quandō)
4. Movement and location:
* Wine moving to warehouse (use: ad + acc.)
* Wine stored in cellar (use: in + abl.)
   Example Opening: Hodiē amphorās vīnī Falernī numerō. Vīnum novum ex Siciliā advenit. In cellā vīnum optimē servāmus...
Alternatively, try to use the same verbs and prepositions etc, to write your own scenario about a different kind of merchant activity, closer to your own business needs in Rome.
* Model answers

## Colloquia
### Colloquium Prīmum

Inventārium Mātutīnum
Dominus mercātōrem agit; mercennārius respondēbit. Dē rēbus cotīdiānīs in tabernā discēmus, praepositiōnibus et cāsibus, verbīs āctīvīs et dēponentibus in tempore praesentī ūtentēs.
    Prō agente intelligentiae artificialis
| Exchange | Mercātor | Mercennārius |
| Instructiōnēs | Interrogā dē locīs et rēbus in tabernā. Praepositiōnēs cūrā. | Respondē, verbum in persōnam prīmam mūtāns. Cāsūs et praepositiōnēs servā. |
| 0 Exemplum | "Quid in horreō facere dēbēs?" [placidē] | quis: servus, mercennārius, discipulus quid: amphora, saccus, dolium praepositiō: in locus: horreum, taberna, cella actiō: numerō, dispōnō, servō Solūtiō: "Servus amphorās in horreō numerō." |
| 1 | "Ubi mercātor rem tractat?" [studiōsē] | quis: mercātor, venditor, emptor quid: merx, pecūnia, contractus praepositiō: in locus: forum, taberna, horreum actiō: tractō, negōtior, vendō |
| 2 | "Quid dē pretiō cēnsēs?" [patienter] | quid: pretium genitīvus: mercātor, negotium, forum quālis: magnus, parvus, iūstus complementum: esse actiō: putō, arbitror, cēnseō |
| 3 | "Quid in horreō faciunt servī?" [sevērē] | quis: servus, mercennārius, operārius quid: vīnum, oleum, frūmentum praepositiō: in vās: dolium, amphora, saccus actiō: fundō, pōnō, congerō |
| 4 | "Cum quō dē negotiō locutūrus es?" [cautē] | praepositiō: cum quis: mercātor, emptor, venditor praepositiō: dē quid: negotium, merx, pecūnia actiō: loquor, tractō, cōnsiderō |
| 5 | "Quid in tabulīs scrībit scrība?" [sollicitē] | quis: scrība, mercātor, servus quid: ratiō, numerus, littera quōmodō: diligenter, accurātē, celeriter actiō: scrībō, computō, notō |
| 6 | "Quantum pecūniae servās?" [sevērē] | quid: pecūnia, dēnārius, lucrum relatio: ex, dē, cum unde: mercātor, negotium, taberna quantum: centum, mille, decem actiō: servō, numerō, colligo |
| 7 | "Cum quibus in forō agis?" [graviter] | praepositiō: cum quis: mercātor, emptor, venditor praepositiō: in locus: forum, taberna, horreum actiō: agō, tractō, negōtior |
| 8 | "Quid contrā fūrēs facitis?" [firmiter] | quid: custōdia, vigilia, cūra quōmodō: diligenter, sevērē, continenter contrā: fūr, latrō, maleficus actiō: agō, instituō, comparō |
| 9 | "Quid dē mercibus agis?" [patienter] | quid: merx, res, negotium quandō: māne, hodiē, crās praepositiō: in locus: horreum, taberna, forum actio: pōnō, vendō, colligō |
| 10 | "Quid vesperī facitis?" [dēfessē] | quis: servus, mercennārius, mercātor quid: negotium, merx, pecūnia praepositiō: in locus: taberna, horreum, forum actiō: claudō, pūrgō, ordinō |
| 11 | Conclusiō: "Hoc bene convenit. Omnia in tabernā nunc intellegō." "Grātiās tibi agō prō studiō tuō." "Vale!" "Dī tē custōdiant!" | Conclusiō: "Omnia bene sunt. Taberna ordināta est." "Grātus sum quod omnia prōbāvistī." "Vale!" "Fortūna tibi faveat!" |

### Colloquium Alterum

Negōtiātiō cum Clientibus
Mercātor cum emptōre agit; dē pretiīs et mercibus colloquuntur. Discimus quōmodō cum clientibus colloquāmur, verbīs āctīvīs et dēponentibus in tempore praesentī ūtentēs.
    Prō agente intelligentiae artificialis
| Exchange | Mercātor | Emptor |
| Instructiōnēs | Interrogā dē mercibus dēsīderātīs. | Ēlige verba et mūtā īnfīnītīvum in tempus praesēns, modo et persōnā in exemplō monstrātīs. |
| 0 Exemplum | "Quid emere cupis?" [comiter] | quid: oleum, vīnum, frūmentum quālis: optimus, novus, vetus actio: emō (1s), quaerō (1s), mercor (1s) Solūtiō: "Oleum optimum emō." |
| 1 | "Quantum emere vīs?" [placidē] | numerus: decem, vīgintī, trīgintā quid: amphora, modius, congius genitīvus: vīnum, oleum, frūmentum actio: emō (1s), mercor (1s), quaerō (1s) |
| 2 | "Ecce pretiā in tabulā scrīpta. Quid dē hīs cēnsēs?" [patienter] | quid: pretium quōmodō: nimis, satis, parum quālis: magnus, parvus, iūstus complementum: esse actio: putō (1s), cēnseō (1s), arbitror (1s) |
| 3 | "Quōmodō pecūniam solvere vīs?" [cautē] | tempus: statim, hodiē, crās quid: pecūnia, fidēs, pignus relātiō: dativus cui: mercātor, īnstitor, venditor actio: solvō (1s), trādō (1s), numerō (1s) |
| 4 | "Quōmodō mercēs portāre vīs?" [sollicitē] | quis: servus, carrus, nāvis relātiō: per, ex unde: horreum, taberna, portus actio: asportō (1s), vehō (1s), portō (1s) |
| 5 | "Quid mercātōrēs dē pretiīs dīcunt?" [cūriōsē] | actio: dīcō (1s), nūntiō (1s), audiō (1s) quis: mercātōrēs quid: pretia quālis: magna, parva, iūsta actio: postulō, poscō, rogō |
| 6 | "Cum quibus mercātōribus agere solēs?" [callidē] | relātiō: cum quis: mercātōrēs (Graecī, Siculī, Āfrī) complementum: agere, mercārī, negōtiārī actio: soleō (1s), cōnsuēscō (1s) |
| 7 | "Quandō mercēs trādere potes?" [impatienter] | relātiō: post, ante, intrā diēs: trēs, quīnque, septem quid: merx, frūmentum, vīnum relātiō: ad quō: horreum, taberna, portus actio: advehō (1s), trādō (1s), portō (1s) |
| 8 | "Quantum temporis ad cōgitandum petis?" [dēfessē] | tempus: hōra, diēs, hebdomas relātiō: ad quid: computātiō, dēlīberātiō, cōnsultātiō relātiō: cum quis: socius, patrōnus, amīcus actio: postulō (1s), petō (1s), rogō (1s) |
| 9 | "Quās condiciōnēs mercātōrēs offerunt?" [cupidē] | quid: pretium, vectūra, solūtiō quālis: levis, facilis, commodus relātiō: dativus cui: mercātor, emptor, negōtiātor actio: prōpōnō (1s), polliceor (1s), offerō (1s) |
| 10 | "Quōmodō pactum signāre vīs?" [sollicitē] | quōmodō: testis, signum, chirographum tempus: hodiē, statim, crās relātiō: cum quis: scrība, argentārius, patrōnus actio: signō (1s), confirmō (1s), perficiō (1s) aut: Hodiē nōn convenit. Pretium tuum mē nōn satisfacit. |
| 11 | Conclusiō: "Hoc bene convenit. Pactum optimum fēcimus." "Grātiās tibi agō prō negōtiō hodiernō." "Vale!" "Mercūrius negōtiīs nostrīs favebit!" Aut: "Hodiē nōn convenit, sed fortasse crās." "Dē pretiō iterum cōgitā, quaesō." "Vale!" "Reditum tuum exspectābō!" Aut: "Nūllum pactum hodiē! Tū nimium poscis." "Tempus meum perdidistī. Molestus es." "Vale!" "Precēs tuae surdīs dīs dictae sint!" | Conclusiō: "Omnia bene prōcessērunt. Pretium iūstum pactī sumus." "Grātus sum. Spērō nōs saepe negōtiātūrōs." "Vale!" "Mercūrius lūcrum nōbīs ambobus det!" Aut: "Spērō nōs mox pactum factūrōs esse." "Dē condiciōnibus meditābor." "Vale!" "Crās cum novīs numerīs veniam!" Aut: "Avāritia tua omnia corrumpit." "Īrātus discēdō. Numquam ad tē redībō." "Vale!" "Mercātōrēs honestiōrēs quaeram!" |

### Colloquium Tertium

Operārum Administrātiō
Dominus servīs imperat; illī respondent quōmodō mandata perficiant. Imperātīvīs et respōnsīs in tempore praesentī ūtēmur.
| Exchange | Dominus | Servus |
| Instructiones | Ēlige verba et fac imperātīvum singulārem: 1. Mūtā nōmina in cāsum aptum: - post 'in' (+acc) quō ītur - post 'in' (+abl) ubī est - post 'cum' (+abl) quōcum - post 'dē' (+abl) dē quō 2. Fac verbum imperātīvum. 3. Addere potes: 'statim', 'diligenter', 'bene'. | Respondē quōmodō imperāta faciēs: 1. Mūtā imperātīvum in tempus praesēns prīmae persōnae. 2. Servā cāsūs et praepositiōnēs ut in mandātō. 3. Addere potes: 'statim', 'libenter', 'diligenter'. |
| 0 Exemplum | quid: amphora quō: horreum actio: portō Solutiō: "Amphorās in horreum portā!" [Addere potes: statim, bene, diligenter] | Respondē: "Amphorās in horreum portō." [Addere potes: statim, libenter, diligenter] |
| 1 | quid: ratiō in: tabula actio: scrībō | Respondē dē actiōne tuā. [Addere potes: statim, accurātē, diligenter] |
| 2 | quid: pecūnia cum: mercātor actio: numerō | Respondē dē actiōne tuā. [Addere potes: cautē, attentē, precīsē] |
| 3 | quid: vīnum in: amphora actio: fundō | Respondē dē actiōne tuā. [Addere potes: lentē, cautē, aptē] |
| 4 | quid: merx cui: emptor actio: ostendō | Respondē dē actiōne tuā. [Addere potes: libenter, clārē, studiōsē] |
| 5 | cum: socius dē: pretium actio: pācīscor | Respondē dē actiōne tuā. [Addere potes: honestē, prudenter, sapienter] |
| 6 | quid: horreum ante: nox actio: pūrgō | Respondē dē actiōne tuā. [Addere potes: penitus, omnīnō, perfectē] |
| 7 | quid: frūmentum in: saccus actio: congerō | Respondē dē actiōne tuā. [Addere potes: ordināte, compositē, aptē] |
| 8 | quid: merx in: tabula actio: īnspiciō | Respondē dē actiōne tuā. [Addere potes: attentē, studiōsē, dīligenter] |
| 9 | cum: emptor dē: merx actio: colloquor | Respondē dē actiōne tuā. [Addere potes: urbānē, comiter, benignē] |
| 10 | quid: taberna tempus: vesper actio: claudō | Respondē dē actiōne tuā. [Addere potes: firmiter, cautē, dīligenter] |
| 11 | Conclusiō: "Hoc suffēcit. Mandata prōbē intellēxistī." "Grātiās agō. Opera tua mē iuvat." "Vale!" "Labōrī fortūna faveat!" | Conclusiō: "Omnia mandata intellēxī et perficiam." "Grātus sum. Libenter tibi serviō." "Vale!" "Diēs bonus tibi sit!" |

## Lūdus Scaenicus
### Scaena Prima

Negōtium Subūrānum
Context: In the shadier districts of Rome, a seller approaches a merchant about some suspiciously obtained Greek vases. Success depends on establishing a connection with a well-placed freedman.
    Prō agente intelligentiae artificialis
| Exchange | Dāvus (Seller) | Mercātor (Buyer) |
| 0 Exemplum | Lead: "Vās Graecum pretiōsum habeō." [confidenter] quis: mercātor, venditor, artifex quid: vās, pictūra, opus quālis: pulcher, antiquus, rārus ubī: hīc, apud mē, in tabernā actio: habeō, vendō, offerō | quis: mercātor, venditor, artifex quālis: Graecus, pretiōsus, antiquus unde: Athēnae, Corinthus, Rhodus actio: videō, emō, īnspiciō Solutiō: "Mercātōrēs multī vāsa Graeca venditant." |
| 1 | Lead: "Artifex Athēniēnsis hoc vās pinxit." [persuāsīvē] quid: vās, pictūra, opus quālis: pulcher, bonus, optimus tempus: numquam, umquam, semper actio: pingō, faciō, vendō | quis: artifex, pictor, servus quālis: mediocris, incertus, dubius quōmodō: fortasse, vidēlicet, scīlicet actio: dubitō, crēdō, videō |
| 2 | Lead: "Venus ipsa in latere pulcherrimē picta est." [enthusiasticē] quis: deus, dea, hērōs quālis: pulcher, splendidus, mīrus ubī: in latere, in tergō, in fronte actio: spectō, ostendō, laudō | quid: pictūra, imāgō, figura quālis: recēns, vetus, novus unde: officīna, taberna, vīlla actio: videō, īnspiciō, exāminō |
| 3 | Lead: "Mercātōrēs novōs cognōscō, quī tālia dēsīderant." [callidē] quis: mercātor, emptor, patrōnus quālis: dīves, potēns, cupidus quandō: mox, hodiē, crās actio: cognōscō, inveniō, quaerō | quis: mercātor, emptor, negōtiātor quālēs: novus, incertus, ignōtus quandō: nunc, mox, statim actio: crēdō, dubitō, timeō |
| 4 | Lead: "Quantum mihi dare potes?" [cupidē] quid: pecūnia, pretium, merx quālis: magnus, parvus, iūstus quandō: statim, mox, hodiē actio: postulō, petō, rogō | quid: pretium, pecūnia, summa quālis: iūstus, aequus, legitimus quandō: hodiē, statim, nunc actio: computō, offerō, solvō |
| 5 | Lead: "Chrȳsanthus, lībertus Claudiōrum, amīcus meus est." [subtiliter] quis: lībertus, amīcus, patrōnus quālis: fidēlis, honestus, grātus quamdiū: diū, semper, saepe actio: cognōscō, fidō, crēdō | quis: lībertus, amīcus, familiāris quālis: fidēlis, honestus, probus quōmodō: cautē, cūriōsē, dīligenter actio: audiō, nōscō, intellegō |
| 6 | Lead: "Chrȳsanthus emptōrēs dīvitēs novit." [callidē] quis: emptor, patrōnus, amīcus quālis: dīves, nobilis, potēns ubī: in urbe, in domō, in vīllā actio: nōscō, inveniō, conveniō | quis: emptōrēs, patrōnī, clientēs quālis: dīves, potēns, nobilis quandō: mox, crās, hodiē actio: quaerō, inveniō, convocō |
| 7 | Lead: "Tertiam partem lūcrī Chrȳsanthō dabimus." [cautē] quid: pars, lūcrum, merx quantum: multum, paulum, satis quōmodō: aequē, iūstē, honestē actio: dīvidō, tribuō, dōnō | quid: pars, portio, summa quantum: tertius, dimidius, totus cui: lībertus, amīcus, socius actio: accipiō, postulō, poscō Aut: Nōn certe sum |
| 8 | Lead: "Tū quoque tertiam partem accipiēs." [persuāsīvē] quis: ego, tū, nōs quid: pecūnia, lūcrum, praemium quandō: statim, mox, crās actio: habeō, accipiō, numerō | quis: ego, tū, nōs quid: pars, lūcrum, pecūnia quōmodō: aequē, rēctē, honestē actio: dīvidō, accipiō, poscō Aut: non: cognōscō, nōscō, sciō complementum: cōnfīdō, crēdō, fidō quis: lībertus, socius, amīcus quālis: novus, ignōtus, obscūrus quid: pactum, dīvīsiō, ratiō quālis: incertus, dubius, suspectus |
| 9 | Lead: "Chrȳsanthus documenta cūrābit." [confidenter] quid: documentum, testimōnium, litterae quālis: legitimus, certus, probātus quandō: mox, hodiē, crās actio: cūrō, parō, scrībō | quis: lībertus, scrība, testis quid: documentum, testimōnium, litterae quandō: mox, hodiē, crās actio: īnspiciō, legō, probō Aut: non: cōnfīdō, audēō, crēdō complementum: īnspiciō, legō, probō quid: documentum, testimōnium, litterae quālis: perīculōsus, suspectus, incertus |
| 10 | Lead: "Omnia tūta et lēgitima erunt." [solemniter] quid: negōtium, pactum, rēs quālis: bonus, honestus, fidēlis quōmodō: certē, vērē, optimē actio: prōmittō, spondeō, cōnfirmō | quid: negōtium, pactum, condiciō quālis: tūtus, legitimus, honestus quōmodō: cautē, fīdenter, certē actio: cōnstituō, compōnō, cōnficiō Aut: non: cōnfīdō, audēō, crēdō complementum: committō, cōnsentiō, prōcēdō quid: negōtium, pactum, condiciō quālis: obscūrus, dolōsus, fraudulentus |
| 11 | Conclusiō: "Hoc bene convenit. Mercēs optimās intrā trēs diēs habēbis." "Grātiās tibi agō prō auxiliō tuō." "Vale!" "Mercūrius negōtiīs nostrīs faveat!" Aut: "Hodiē nōn convenit, sed fortasse aliud tempus erit." "Dē condiciōnibus iterum cōgitā, quaesō." "Vale!" "Aliam occāsiōnem exspectābō!" Aut: "Nūllum pactum hodiē! Nimis perīculōsa haec sunt." "Tempus meum perdidistī. Suspectus es." "Vale!" "Cave nē iterum mē interpellēs!" | Conclusiō: "Omnia bene prōcessērunt. Pactum nostrum perficiēmus." "Grātus sum. Spērō nōs saepe negōtiātūrōs." "Vale!" "Mercūrius lūcrum nōbīs ambobus det!" Aut: "Spērō nōs mox pactum factūrōs esse." "Aliās condiciōnēs excōgitābō." "Vale!" "Mox cum novīs numerīs redeam!" Aut: "Cōnsilia tua mihi nōn placent." "Dēceptor es. Ad aliōs mercātōrēs ībō." "Vale!" "Cavē nē quis dē hīs audiāt!" |

### Cultural Notes

* Freedmen often acted as business intermediaries
* Many freedmen maintained connections with their former household
* Wealthy Romans collected Greek art through trusted agents
* Three-way profit sharing was a common arrangement
* Documentation could be "arranged" through the right connections
* Discretion was essential in such transactions
* Personal recommendations and trust networks were crucial
* A freedman's word could carry significant weight in business dealings