Mostellaria 1:2:5-6 hominem cuius rei

[cinefactus]

A question on Plautus:

Recordatus multum et diu cogitavi
argumentaque in pectus institui multa
ego, atque in meo corde, si est quod mihi cor,
eam rem volutavi et diu disputavi
hominem cuius rei, quando natus esset
similem esse arbitrarer simulacrumque habere

The first part is easy, but how on earth do you extract the meaning from the last two verses? What is cuius rei referring to?

 

[Pacifica]

Cuius rei goes with similem and simulacrum. "Similar to what thing" and "the likeness of what thing".

 

[cinefactus]

Thanks so:
diu disputavi cuius rei arbitrarer hominem similem esse quando natus esset?

It seems very convoluted...

 

[Pacifica]

Thanks so:
diu disputavi cuius rei arbitrarer hominem similem esse quando natus esset?

Yes, in a slightly more English-like word order, that's it, though there is the simulacrum habere bit as well, so diu disputavi cuius rei arbitrarer hominem similem esse simulacrumque habere quando natus esset.

It seems very convoluted...

I wouldn't say very, but it is slightly convoluted.