§363bNunc ego hanc astutiam institui.
Epidicus: Now I have set this scheme in motion.
§364deveniam ad lenonem domum egomet solus, eum ego docebo, §365si quid ad eum adveniam, ut sibi essé datum argentum dicat §366pro fidicina, argenti minas se habere quinquaginta §367(quippe ego qui nudiustertius meis manibus denumeravi §368pro illa tua amica, quam pater suam filiam esse retur): §369ibi leno sceleratum caput suom imprudens alligabit, §370quasi pro illa argentum acceperit, quae tecum adducta nunc est.
I will go to the pimp's house by myself, and I will instruct him, if anyone comes to him, to say that the money was paid to him for the music-girl, and that he has fifty minae of silver ('since indeed the day before yesterday I counted it out with my own hands for that mistress of yours, whom your father believes to be his daughter'); there the pimp, without realizing it, will bind his own scoundrel's neck, as if he had received the money for that woman who has now been brought with you.
§371Vorsutior es quam rota figularis.
Stratippocles: You are quicker than a potter's wheel.
§371bIam ego parabo §372aliquam dolosam fidicinam, nummo conducta quae sit, §373quae se emptam simulet, quae senes duo dócte ludificetur.
Epidicus: Now I shall get ready some crafty music-girl, hired for a trifling coin, who will pretend she was bought, and who will cleverly mock the two old men.
§374eam ducet simul Apoecides ad tuom patrem.
Apoecides will lead her along to your father.
§374bVt parate.
Stratippocles: How well prepared!
Epidicus: Well-rehearsed, and loaded with my tricks and wiles, I shall send her.
sed nimis longum loquor, diu me éstis demorati.
But I speak too long, you have delayed me a long time.
§377haec scitis iam ut futura sint.
You know now how these things are to be.
abeo. — §377bBene ambulato.
I am off.— Stratippocles: Good luck to you.
§378Nimis dóctus ille est ad male faciendum.
Chaeribulus: He is too clever at doing mischief.
Stratippocles: Indeed he certainly saved me by his counsels.
§379bAbeamus intro hinc ad me.
Chaeribulus: Let us go inside here to my house.
§380Atque aliquantó lubentius quam abs te sum egressus intus; §381virtute atque auspicio Epidici cum praeda in castra redeo. — §382Non oris causa modo homines aequom fuit §383sibi habere speculum, ubi os contemplarent suom, §384sed qui perspicere possent cor sapientiae, §386ubi id inspexissent, cogitarent postea, §387vitam ut vixissent olim in adulescentia.
Stratippocles: And with somewhat greater pleasure than when I came out of your house; by the valour and auspices of Epidicus, I return to camp with booty.— Periphanes: It was proper for men to have a mirror not just for the sake of the face, to contemplate their own face, to be fitting, but so that they might be able to look into the heart of wisdom, so that when they had looked into it, they might reflect afterwards, how they had spent their lives once in their youth.
§388vel ego, qui dudum fili causa coeperam §389ego med excruciare animi, quasi quid filius §390meus déliquisset me erga aut quasi non plurima §391male facta mea essent solida in adulescentia.
As in my case, who just now on account of my son had begun to torment myself in mind, as if my son had failed in anything toward me, or as if very many misdeeds of my own had not been solid in my youth.
§392profecto deliramus interdum senes.
Indeed, we old men sometimes play the fool.
§394sed meus sodalis it cum praeda Apoecides.
But my friend Apoecides is coming with the booty.
§395venire salvom mercatorem gaudeo.
I am glad the merchant arrives safe.
§396quid fit?
How goes it?
§396bDi deaeque te adiuvant.
Apoecides: The gods and goddesses are helping you.
§396cOmen placet.
Periphanes: I like the omen.
§397Quin omini omnes suppetunt res prospere.
Apoecides: Indeed, all things turn out prosperously for the omen.
§398sed tu hanc iubé sis intro abduci.
But please order this woman to be taken inside.
§398bHeus, foras
Periphanes: Hey, someone come out here.
§399exite huc aliquis. duce istam intro mulierem.
Lead that woman inside.
§400atque audin?
And do you hear?
§400bQuid vis?
Slave: What do you wish?
Periphanes: Take care that you do not allow her to associate with my daughter or even to see each other.
iam tenes?
Do you understand now?
§402in aediculam istanc sorsum concludi volo.
I want her to be shut up separately in that little room.
§403divortunt mores virgini longe ac lupae.
The manners of a maiden and a courtesan differ widely.
§404Docte et sapienter dicis.
Apoecides: You speak cleverly and wisely.
† num nimis potest §405pudicitiam quisquam suae servare filiae.
No one can preserve the chastity of his own daughter too much.
By Pollux, indeed we have bought this woman in good time for your son.
§407bQuid iam?
Periphanes: Why so indeed?
Apoecides: Because someone told me just now that he had seen your son here; by Pollux, he was preparing this very matter.
§409bPlanum hercle hoc quidem est.
Periphanes: By Hercules, this indeed is plain.
Apoecides: Indeed you have an excellent slave, of any value whatsoever, he is not dear at his weight in gold.
ut ille fidicinam §412fecit sese ut nesciret esse emptam tibi!
How he managed so that the music-girl did not know she had been bought for you!
§413ita ridibundam atque hilaram huc adduxit simul.
Thus he brought her along with him all laughing and cheerful.
§414Mirum hoc qui potuit fieri.
Periphanes: I wonder how that could have been done.
Apoecides: He said that you were going to perform a sacred rite at home for your son, because he returned safe from Thebes.
§416bRectam institit.
Periphanes: He took the right path.
Apoecides: Nay, he himself told her that she was hired, to assist you here at the sacred rite.
And I, moreover, was pretending there in this way: as if foolish, I made myself out to be dull.
§421bEm istuc decet.
Periphanes: Well, that is fitting.
Apoecides: A great affair of a friend is being transacted at the forum; I wish to go as his advocate.
Periphanes: But I beg you, when you have leisure, return to me immediately.
§424bContinuo hic ero. — §425Nihil homini amicost opportuno amicius: §426sine tuo labore quod velis actumst tamen.
Apoecides: I shall be here straightway.— Periphanes: Nothing is friendlier to a man than a convenient friend: without your labor, what you wish is nevertheless done.
§427ego si allegavissem aliquem ad hoc negotium §428minus hominem doctum minusque ad hanc rem callidum, §429os sublitum esset, itaque me albis dentibus §430meus dérideret filius meritissumo.
If I had dispatched someone else to this business, a man less clever and less cunning in this matter, I would have been fooled, and so with white teeth my son would mock me, most deservedly.
§435sed quis hic est quém ego huc advenientem conspicor,
But who is this whom I spy coming here?