Indeed, I will not do that, nor will I advise you to do so, but that we entreat him.
novi ego nostros: exorabilest.
I know our father: he is easy to be entreated.
§75Principium ego quo pacto cum illis occipiam, id ratiocinor: §76utrum ego perplexim lacessam oratione ad hunc modum, §77quasi numquam quicquam in eas simulem, quasi nil indaudiverim §78eas in se meruisse culpam, an potius temptem saeviter, §80si manere hic sese malint potius quam alio nubere.
[Antipho] I am reflecting on how I should begin with them: whether I should challenge them obscurely with a speech in this manner, as if I never suspect anything against them, as if I have heard nothing at all that they have deserved blame, or rather test them harshly, whether they would prefer to remain here rather than marry elsewhere.
§81non faciam.
I will not do it.
quid mi ópust decurso aetatis spatio cum meis §82gerere bellum, quom nil, quam ob rem id faciam, meruisse arbitror?
What need have I, now that my span of life is run, to wage war with my own, when I think they have deserved nothing for which I should do so?
§83minime, nolo turbas, séd hoc mihi optumum factu arbitror: §85perplexabilitér earum hodie perpavefaciam pectora; §86post id igitur deinde, ut animus meus erit, faciam palam.
By no means, I do not want disturbances, but I think this is the best thing for me to do: I will thoroughly terrify their hearts today in an obscure way; after that, then, as my mind shall be, I will make it plain.
§87multa scio faciunda verba.
I know many words must be made.
ibo intro.
I will go inside.
sed apertast foris.
But the door is open.
§88Certo enim míhi paternae vocis sonitus auris accidit.
[Sister] Surely indeed the sound of my father's voice strikes my ears.
§89Is est ecastor.
It is he, by Castor.
ferre advorsum homini occupemus osculum.
Let us hasten to meet the man with a kiss.
§90Salve, mi pater.
Salutations, my father.
§90bEt vos ambae.
[Antipho] And to both of you.
ílico agite assidite.
Come, sit down immediately.
§91cQuí, amabo, pater?
Why so, pray, father?
§92Quia ita meae animae salsura evenit.
Because my breath's seasoning has turned out so.
§92bAsside hic, pater.
Sit here, father.
§93Non sedeo istic, vos sedete; ego sedero in subsellio.
I am not sitting there, you sit; I will sit on the bench.
§94Mane pulvinum.
Wait, a cushion.
§94bBene procuras.
You take good care.
mihi satis sic fultumst.
It is sufficiently supported for me thus.
sede.
Sit.
§95Sine, pater.
Allow me, father.
§95bQuid opust?
What is the need?
§95cOpust.
There is need.
§95dMórem tibi geram.
I will comply with your wish.
atque hoc est satis.
And this is enough.
§96Numquam enim nímis curare possunt suom parentem filiae.
For daughters can never care too much for their parent.
§97quem aequiust nós potiorem habere quam te? postidea, pater,
Whom is it more just for us to hold more important than you?
§98viros nostros, quibus tú voluisti ésse nos matres familias.
And after that, father, our husbands, whom you wished us to have as mothers of families.
§99Bonas ut aequomst facere facitis, quom tamen apsentis viros §100proinde habetis quasi praesentes sint.
You act as it is right for good wives to do, since indeed you hold your absent husbands just as if they were present.
It is chastity, father, for us to honor those who took us to themselves as companions.
§102Num quis hic ést alienus nostris dictis auceps auribus?
Is there any stranger here as a bird-catcher with ears for our words?
§103Nullus praeter nosque teque.
None except us and you.
§103bVostrum animum adhiberi volo; §104nám ego ad vos nunc imperitus rerum et morum mulierum, §105discipulus venio ad magistras: quibus matronas moribus,
I wish your attention to be applied; for I now come to you, unskilful in the affairs and manners of women, as a disciple to mistresses: with what manners is it fitting for matrons, who are the best, to be?
§106quae optumae sunt, esse oportet? sed utraque ut dicat mihi.
But let each of you tell me.
§107Quid istuc est quod huc éxquaesitum mulierum mores venis?
What is that, that you come here to inquire into the manners of women?
§108Pol ego uxorem quaero, postquam vostra mater mortuast.
By Pollux, I am looking for a wife, since your mother died.
§109Facile invenies et peiorem et peius moratam, pater, §110quam illa fuit: meliorem neque tu reperies neque sol videt.
You will easily find both a worse woman and one of worse manners, father, than she was: but a better one neither will you find, nor does the sun behold.
§111At ego ex te éxquaero atque ex istac tua sorore.
But I am inquiring of you and of that sister of yours.
By Pollux, father, I know how she ought to be: if they are—just as I think is right.
§113Volo scire ergo, ut aequom censes.
I wish to know, then, how you think is right.
That, when they walk through the city, they should stop everyone's mouth, so that no one may deservedly speak ill of them.
§115Dic vicissim nunciam tu.
Now you speak in turn.
§115bQuid vis tibi dicam, pater?
What do you wish me to say to you, father?
§116Vbi facillime spectatur mulier, quae ingenio est bono?
Where is a woman who is of good character most easily observed?
§117Quoi male faciundi est potestas, quae ne id faciat temperat.
In one who has the power of doing evil, but restrains herself from doing it.
§121Qui potest mulier vitare vitiis?
How can a woman avoid faults?
By daily taking care on the day before, lest she do what she may regret the day after.
§123Quae tibi muliér videtur multo sapientissuma?
Which woman seems to you by far the wisest?
§124Quae tamen, cum res secundae sunt, se poterit noscere, §125et illa quae aequo animo patietur sibi esse peius quam fuit.
She who, nevertheless, when affairs are prosperous, will be able to know herself, and she who will endure with an even mind that it is worse for her than it was.
§126Edepol vos lepide temptavi vostrumque ingenium ingeni.
By Pollux, I have tested you and the character of your character nicely.
§127sed hoc est quod ad vos venio quodque esse ambas conventas volo:
But this is why I come to you and why I want both of you to be met: