The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Family Life in Ancient Rome" (Semeynyie dela v Drevnem Rime) the performer of the song "Vladimir Vysotsky"

One evening, the patricians

Gathered by the Capitol

To share the latest news and

To drink a little alcohol,

For who would chat with sober minds?

Mark the Patrician didn't fuss -

He drank the nectar in large doses

And got terribly nectared thus.

And underneath an ancient column

He let out curses from his lips:

"Oh, from my honorable matron

I shall soon divorce, my peeps!

She got entangled with the poets,

Got obsessed with the theatres -

All she does is roam with tickets

For the visiting gladiators!

"I," she cries, "from lack of culture

Will soon become hysterical!" -

In short, she rages like a Fury

Encouraged by her little sister!

They just mock and sneer at me...

Oh, pour me "doubles" once again!

Even slaves are giggling in my face -

I need a war, but there is none!

I shall break all the traditions -

I cannot handle both of them, -

I'm descending, O patricians,

Drinking bitter with plebeians!

I shall leave her the house in Persia -

Let her take her Megaera-sister, -

With my father's sesterces

I'll get myself a hetaera.

Though they're more immoral, the hetaerae,

They are not quite so insane,

And while their charms are more apparent,

At least their relatives are slain!

There I'll manage to recover, and

From my binge I'll soon be free!"

... And the patricians went back home

Envying drunken Mark, you see.

Как-то вечером патриции

Собрались у Капитолия

Новостями поделиться и

Выпить малость алкоголия

Не вести ж бесед тверёзыми!

Марк-патриций не мытарился –

Пил нектар большими дозами

И ужасно нанектарился

И под древней под колонною

Он исторг из уст проклятия:

"Эх, с почтенною матрёною

Разойдусь я скоро, братия!

Она спуталась с поэтами

Помешалась на театрах –

Так и шастает с билетами

На приезжих гладиаторов!

"Я, – кричит, – от бескультурия

Скоро стану истеричкою!" –

В общем, злобствует как фурия

Поощряема сестричкою!

Только цыкают и шикают...

Ох, налейте снова мне "двойных"!

Мне ж – рабы в лицо хихикают

На войну бы мне, да нет войны!

Я нарушу все традиции –

Мне не справиться с обеими, –

Опускаюсь я, патриции

Дую горькую с плебеями!

Я ей дом оставлю в Персии –

Пусть берет сестру-мегерочку, –

На отцовские сестерции

Заведу себе гетерочку

У гетер хотя безнравственней

Но они не обезумели

У гетеры пусть всё явственней

Зато родственники умерли

Там сумею исцелиться и

Из запоя скоро выйду я!"

... И пошли домой патриции

Марку пьяному завидуя

Vladimir Vysotsky's song "Family Matters in Ancient Rome" presents a satirical sketch of life among the Roman aristocracy. Using grotesque humor and irony, the author ridicules the hypocrisy, superficiality, and debauchery of Roman society.

The protagonist, Mark the patrician, complains about his wife, accusing her of indulging in "lowly" entertainment: attending the theater and gladiatorial combats. He, allegedly suffering from her "lack of culture," seeks solace in wine and the company of equally idle patricians. Vysotsky employs hyperbole to emphasize the absurdity of Mark's claims to high morals: he drinks himself into a stupor, behaves rudely, and insults his slaves.

In reality, the true reason for Mark's dissatisfaction lies not in his wife's "spiritual pursuits" but in his own lust. He makes no secret of his desire to get rid of his wife and sister ("that shrew of a sister") for the sake of a young hetaera. At the same time, Mark hypocritically justifies his desire to "heal" himself from family life, while in fact seeking only new pleasures.

The image of patrician society is also presented satirically. Drunkenness, gossip, envy, and contempt for the lower classes – these are the preoccupations of the "cream" of Roman society. The final scene, where the patricians envy the drunken Mark, emphasizes their moral bankruptcy.

Thus, the song "Family Matters in Ancient Rome" is a sharp satire on the vices of society, relevant even today. Using historical context, Vysotsky addresses timeless issues: hypocrisy, satiation, and lack of spirituality. The song's humor, bordering on sarcasm, makes one ponder the true values and meaning of life.