§249quasi retruderet hominum me vis invitum.
Epidicus: As if the force of the crowd were pushing me back against my will.
§249bIntellego.
Periphanes: I understand.
§250Ibi illa interrogavit illam:
qui scis? quis id dixit tibi?
Epidicus: Then she asked the other: "How do you know?
§251“quin hodie adlatae tabellae sunt ad eam a Stratippocle, §252eum argentum sumpsisse apud Thébas ab danista faenore, §253id paratum et sese ob eam rem id ferre. ” §253bCerto ego occidi.
Who told you that?" "Because today writing-tablets were brought to her from Stratippocles, that he had borrowed money at interest in Thebes from a moneylender, and that it was ready, and he was bringing it for that reason." Periphanes: Certainly I am ruined.
§254Haec sic aibat: sic audivisse ex eapse atque epistula.
Epidicus: She said this: that she had heard so from her very self and from the letter.
§255Quid ego nunc faciam? consilium a te expetesso, Apoecides.
Periphanes: What shall I do now? I seek advice from you, Apoecides.
§256Reperiamus aliquid calidi conducibilis consili.
Apoecides: Let us find some quick and useful plan.
§257nam ille quidem aut iam hic aderit, credo hercle, aut iam adest.
For he indeed will either be here soon, I believe by Hercules, or is already present.
§257bSi aequom siet §258me plus sapere quam vos, dederim vobis consilium catum, §259quod laudetis, ut ego opino, uterque, §259bErgo ubi id est, Epidice?
Epidicus: If it should be right that I should be wiser than you, I would give you a clever plan, which, I think, both of you would praise, Periphanes: Then where is it, Epidicus?
§260Atque ad eam rem conducibile.
Epidicus: And useful for that matter.
§260bQuid istuc dubitas dicere?
Periphanes: Why do you hesitate to speak of it?
Epidicus: It is fitting for you to be first, and for us to speak later, you who are wiser.
§262bEia vero, age díc.
Periphanes: Come now, do speak.
§262cAt deridebitis.
Epidicus: But you will laugh at me.
§263Non edepol faciemus.
Periphanes: By Pollux, we will not.
Epidicus: Nay, if it pleases you, use it; if the plan does not please you, find a better one.
§265mihi istic nec seritur nec metitur, nisi ea quae tu vis volo.
For me, there is neither sowing nor reaping there, except that I want what you want.
§266Gratiam habeo; fac participes nos tuae sapientiae.
Periphanes: I am grateful; make us sharers of your wisdom.
§267Continuo arbitretur uxor tuo gnato atque ut fidicinam §268illam quam is volt liberare, quae illum corrumpit tibi, §269ulciscare atque ita curetur, usque ad mortem ut serviat.
Epidicus: Immediately let a wife be decided upon for your son, and as for that music-girl whom he wants to set free, who is ruining him for you, take vengeance on her, and let it be so managed that she serves until death.
§270Fieri oportet.
Periphanes: It must be done.
§270bFacere cupio quidvis, dum id fiat modo.
I desire to do anything, if only that may happen.
§270cEm, §271nunc occasiost faciundi, prius quam in urbem advenerit, §272sicut cras hic aderit, hodie non venit.
Epidicus: Look, now is the opportunity to do it, before he arrives in the city, as he will be here tomorrow, he does not come today.
§272bQui scis?
Periphanes: How do you know?
§272cScio.
Epidicus: I know.
§273quia mihi alius dixit qui illinc venit, mane hic adfore.
Because another person who came from there told me that he would be here in the morning.
§274Quin tu eloquere, quid faciemus?
Periphanes: Why don't you speak out, what shall we do?
§274bSic faciundum censeo §275quasi tu cupias liberare fidicinam animi gratia §276quasique ames vehementer tu illam.
Epidicus: I think it should be done in this way: as if you desire to free the music-girl for your own pleasure, and as if you love her intensely.
§276bQuam ad rem istuc refert?
Periphanes: What does that matter to the purpose?
§276cRogas?
Epidicus: You ask?
§277ut enim praestines argento, prius quam veniat filius, §278atque ut eam te in libertatem dicas emere, §278bIntellego.
So that you may buy her beforehand with money, before your son arrives, and so that you may say you are buying her for freedom, Periphanes: I understand.
Epidicus: When she has been bought, so that you may remove her somewhere out of the city; unless your opinion is otherwise.
§280bImmo docte.
Periphanes: Nay, cleverly thought.
§280cQuid tua autem, Apoecides?
And what about yours, Apoecides?
§281Quid ego iam nisi te commentum nimis astute intellego?
Apoecides: What do I understand now, except that you have devised this extremely shrewdly?
Epidicus: Then at the same time all discussion of marriage will be removed from him, lest he be displeased with what you wish.
§284bTum tu igitur calide quidquid acturu'sacturus es age.
Apoecides: Then quickly do whatever you are going to do.
§285Rem hercle loquere.
Periphanes: By Hercules, you speak the truth.
§285bEt repperi, haec te qui abscedat suspicio.
Epidicus: And I have found a way how this suspicion may leave you.
§286Sine me scire.
Periphanes: Let me know.
§286bScibis, audi.
Epidicus: You shall know, listen.
§286cSapit hic pleno pectore.
Apoecides: This fellow is wise with a full heart.
Epidicus: There is need of a man to carry the money thither for the music-girl; for I do not want you to go, nor is there need for it to be done.
§288bQuid iam?
Periphanes: Why so?
Epidicus: Lest he think that you are doing it for the son's sake, Periphanes: Clever.
Epidicus: By which you may keep him away from her; lest any difficulty arise because of that suspicion.
§291Quém hominem inveniemus ad eam rem utilem?
Periphanes: What man shall we find useful for that purpose?
Epidicus: This one will be the best, this one will be able to take precaution properly, who knows the laws and statutes.
§293Epidico habeas gratiam.
Apoecides: You should be grateful to Epidicus.
§293bSed ego istuc faciam sedulo: §294ego illum conveniam atque adducam hunc ad eum quoiast fidicina, §295atque argentum ego cum hoc feram.
But I will do this diligently: I will meet him and lead him to the one who owns the music-girl, and I will carry the money with him.
§295bQuanti émi potest minimo?
Periphanes: What is the lowest price she can be bought for?
§295cIllane?
Epidicus: Her?
§296ad quadraginta fortasse eam posse emi minimo minis.
Perhaps she can be bought for forty minae at the least.
§297verum si plus dederis, referam, nihil in ea re captiost.
But if you give more, I will bring it back, there is no trickery in this matter.
§298atque id non decem occupatum tibi erit argentum dies.
And that money will not be tied up for you for ten days.
§299Quidum?
Periphanes: How so?
§299bQuia enim mulierem alius illam adulescens deperit, §300auro opulentus, magnus miles Rhodius, raptor hostium, §301gloriosus: is emet illam de te et dabit aurum lubens.
Epidicus: Because indeed another young man is desperately in love with that woman, wealthy in gold, a great officer from Rhodes, a plunderer of enemies, a boastful soldier; he will buy her from you and gladly give the gold.
§302face modo, est lucrum hic tibi amplum.
Just do it, there is an ample profit for you here.
§302bDeos quidem oro.
Periphanes: I pray to the gods.
§302cImpetras.
Epidicus: You will obtain your prayer.
§303Quin tu is intro atque huic argentum promis? ego visam ad forum.
Why don't you go inside and promise him the money? I will go see to the forum.