§140Subigis maledictis me tuis, Megaronides, §141novo modo adeo, ut quod meae concreditumst §142taciturnitati clam, fide et fiduciae, §143ne enuntiarem quoiquam neu facerem palam, §144ut mihi necesse sit iam id tibi concredere.
You compel me with your reproaches, Megaronides, in such a novel way indeed, that what was entrusted secretly to my silence, in trust and confidence, that I should not announce it to anyone nor make it public, it is now necessary for me to entrust to you.
§145Mihi quod credideris sumes ubi posiveris.
What you entrust to me, you will take back where you have placed it.
Look around you, lest any witness be present near us, and I pray you, look around again and again.
§148Ausculto si quid dicas.
I am listening to what you say.
§148bSi taceas, loquar.
If you would be silent, I will speak.
§149quoniam hinc est profecturus peregre Charmides, §150thensaurum demonstravit mihi in hisce aedibus, §151hic in conclavi quodam—sed circumspice.
Since Charmides was about to depart hence abroad, he showed me a treasure in this house, here in a certain chamber—but look around.
§152Nemost.
There is no one.
§152bNummorum Philippeum ad tria milia.
Up to three thousand Philippean coins.
§153id solus solum per amicitiam et per fidem §154flens me obsecravit suo ne gnato crederem §155neu quoiquam unde ad eum id posset permanascere.
He, weeping, alone with me alone, by our friendship and trust, implored me not to trust it to his son, nor to anyone from whom it might leak through to him.
§156nunc si ille huc salvos revenit, reddam suom sibi; §157si quid eo fuerit, certe illius filiae, §158quae mihi mandatast, habeo dotem únde dem, §159ut eam in se dignam condicionem conlocem.
Now if he returns here safe, I will restore his own to him; if anything should happen to him, certainly for his daughter, who was entrusted to me, I have a source from which to give a dowry, so that I may settle her in a match worthy of her.
By the immortal gods, with how few words, how quickly you have made me another man; I had come to you as another.
§162sed ut occepisti, perge porro proloqui.
But as you have begun, go on to speak further.
§163Quid tibi ego dicam, qui illius sapientiam
What should I say to you?
He, that worthless youth, has almost utterly ruined his father's wisdom, my loyalty, and all the secrets.
§166Quidum?
How so?
§166bQuia, ruri dum sum ego unos sex dies, §167me apsente atque insciente, inconsultu meo, §168aedis venalis hasce inscripsit litteris.
Because, while I was in the country for just some six days, during my absence and without my knowledge, and without my consent, he put up this house for sale by a notice.
§169Adesurivit magis et ínhiavit acrius §170lupus, observavit dum dormitarent canes: §171gregem universum voluit totum avortere.
The wolf hungered more and gaped more eagerly; he watched until the dogs should fall asleep: he wanted to carry off the entire flock completely.
§172Fecisset edepol, ni haec praesensisset canes.
By Pollux, he would have done so, if this dog had not scented it beforehand.
But now, I want to ask you in turn: what was my duty to do?
§175utrum indicare me ei thensaurum aequom fuit, §176adversum quam eius me opsecravisset pater, §177an ego alium dominum paterer fieri hisce aedibus?
Let me know; was it right for me to reveal the treasure to him, contrary to what his father had implored of me, or should I have suffered another master to be made for this house?
§178qui emisset, eius essetne ea pecunia?
Would that money have belonged to him who bought it?
I bought the house myself instead, and paid the money for the sake of the treasure, so that I might hand it over safe to my friend.
And indeed, I did not buy this house for myself, nor for my own use: I bought it back for him, and paid the money from my own pocket.
These are the facts: whether they have been done rightly or wrongly, I confess that I did them, Megaronides.
Behold my misdeeds, behold my greed for you; is it on account of these things that they spread slanderous rumors?
Stop! You have conquered your chider: you have shut my tongue, there is nothing for me to answer.
Now I ask you to help me with your effort and counsel, and share this duty of mine with me.
§191Polliceor operam.
I promise my effort.
§191bErgo ubi eris paulo post?
Therefore, where will you be a little later?
§191cDomi.
At home.
§192Numquid vis?
Is there anything else you want?
§192bCures tuam fidem.
Take care of your trust.
§192cFíet sedulo.
It shall be done diligently.
§193Sed quid ais?
But what do you say?
§193bQuid vis?
What do you want?
§193cVbi nunc adulescens habet?
Where does the young man live now?
§194Posticulum hoc recepit, quom aedis vendidit.
He reserved this back-building when he sold the house.
§195Istuc volebam scire.
That is what I wanted to know.
i sane nunciam.
Go on now.
§196sed quid ais? quid nunc virgo? nempe apud te ést?
But what do you say? What about the maiden? She is with you, of course?
§197bRecte facis.
You do rightly.
Is there anything you would ask me before I go?— Farewell.
§199nihil est profecto stultius neque stolidius §200neque mendaciloquius neque argutum magis, §201neque confidentiloquius neque peiurius, §202quam urbani assidui cives, quos scurras vocant.
Indeed, there is nothing more foolish, nor more stupid, nor more lying, nor more talkative, nor more impudently speaking, nor more perjured, than those busy city-dwellers whom they call idle gossips.
§203atque egomet me adeo cum illis una ibidem traho, §204qui illorum verbis falsis acceptor fui, §205qui omnia se simulant scire neque quicquam sciunt.
And indeed, I drag myself into the same class with them, since I was a believer in their false words— they who pretend to know all things, and yet know nothing.
§206quod quísque in animo habet aut habiturust sciunt, §207sciunt íd quod in aurem rex reginae dixerit, §208sciunt quod Iuno fabulatast cum Iove; §209quae neque futura neque sunt, tamen illi sciunt.
They know what everyone has in mind or is about to have; they know what the king whispered in the queen's ear; they know what Juno chatted with Jupiter; things which neither will be nor are, they nevertheless know.