§722ad aliquem regem in saginam erus sése coniciet meus; §723credo ad summos bellatores acrem fugitorem fore §724et capturum spolia ibi illum quí ero adversus venerit.
My master will cast himself upon some king for fatting; I believe he will be a fierce runaway against the greatest warriors, and will capture spoils there from him who comes against him.
§725egomet autem quom extemplo arcum et pharetram et ságittas sumpsero, §726cassidem in caput, dormibo placide ín tabernaculo.
But as for me, as soon as I have taken up my bow, quiver, and arrows, and a helmet on my head, I shall sleep peacefully in my tent.
§727ad forum ibo: nudius sextus quoi talentum mutuom §728dedi, reposcam, ut habeam, mecum quod feram, viaticum. — §729Vt mihi rem narras, Callicles, nullo modo
I will go to the forum: to whom six days ago I lent a talent, I will demand it back, so that I may have travel money to carry with me.— As you tell me the matter, Callicles, in no way can it possibly be but that a dowry is given to the maiden.
§730potest fíeri prosus quin dos detur virgini. §731Namque hercle honeste fieri ferme non potest, §732ut eam perpetiar ire in matrimonium §733sine dote, quom eius rem penes me habeam domi.
For indeed, by Hercules, it can hardly be done with honor, that I should permit her to go into marriage without a dowry, when I have her property in my hands at home.
The dowry is ready at home; unless you wish to wait for her brother to bestow her in marriage without a dowry.
Afterward you yourself may go to Philto and tell him that you are giving a dowry to her, and say you do it on account of friendship with his father.
§738verum hoc ego vereor, ne istaec pollicitatio §739te in crimen populo ponat atque infamiam; §740non temere dicant te benignum virgini: §741datam tibi dotem, ei quam dares, eius a patre, §742ex ea largiri te illi, neque ita ut sit data §743columem te sistere illi, et detraxe autument.
But I fear this, lest that promise of yours should bring you into accusation and infamy among the people; not without reason would they say you are kind to the maiden: that a dowry had been given to you by her father for you to give her, that you are bestowing it upon her from that, and they would say that you have not kept it safe as it was given and delivered it to her intact, but have detracted from it.
§744nunc si opperiri vis adventum Charmidi, §745perlongumst: huic ducendi interea abscesserit §746lubido; atque ea condicio huic vel primaria est.
Now if you wish to await the arrival of Charmides, it is too long: in the meantime, this man's desire to marry her will have departed; and this match is even first-rate for her.
§747Nam hercle omnia istaec veniunt in mentem mihi.
For indeed, by Hercules, all those things come to my mind.
§748vide si hóc utibile magis atque in rem deputas, §749ut adeam Lesbonicum, edoceam ut res se habet.
See if you consider this more useful and to the purpose, that I should go to Lesbonicus and explain to him how the matter stands.
But am I now to point out the treasure to a young man unbridled, full of love and wantonness?
§752minime, minime hercle vero.
By no means, by no means indeed, by Hercules.
nam certo scio, §753locum quoque illum omnem, ubi situst, comederit; §754quem fodere metuo, sonitum ne ille exaudiat §755neu rem ipsam indaget, dotem dare si dixerim.
For I know for certain, he would devour even that whole place where it is situated; I fear to dig it up, lest he should hear the sound or investigate the matter itself, if I should say that I am giving a dowry.
§756Quo pacto ergo igitur clam dos depromi potest?
In what way then, therefore, can the dowry be secretly taken out?
Until an opportunity for that matter is found, in the meantime I might ask for a loan of money from some friend.
§759Potin est ab amico alicunde exorari?
Can it be obtained by entreaty from some friend?
§759bPotest.
It can.
§760Gerrae.
Nonsense.
ne tu illud verbum actutum inveneris: §761mihi quidem hercle non est quod dem mutuom. §762Malim hercle ut verum dicas, quam ut des mutuom. §763Sed vide consilium, si placet.
You will immediately find this word said to you: 'By Hercules, indeed, I have nothing that I can lend.' 'By Hercules, I would rather you spoke the truth than lent me the money.' But consider my plan, if you please.
§763bQuid consilist?
What plan is it?
§764Scitum, ut ego opinor, consilium inveni.
I have found a clever plan, in my opinion.
§764bQuid est?
What is it?
§765Homo cónducatur aliquis iam, quantum potest, §768ignota facie, quae hic non visitata sit; §769mendacilocum aliquem §770falsidicum, confidentem.
Let some man be hired now, as quickly as possible, of unknown face, who has not been seen here; some lying, untruthful, and confident fellow.
§770bQuid tum postea?
What then afterward?
§767Is homo exornetur graphice in peregrinum modum; §771quasi ad adulescentem a patre ex Seleucia §772veniat, salutem ei nuntiet verbis patris: §773illum bene gerere rem et valere et vivere, §774et eum rediturum actutum; ferat epistulas §775duas, éas nos consignemus, quasi sint a patre: §776det alteram illi, álteram dicat tibi §777dare sese velle.
Let this man be dressed up elegantly in foreign fashion; as if he came to the young man from his father from Seleucia, let him deliver a greeting to him in his father's words: that he is doing business well, and is well and alive, and that he will return immediately; let him carry two letters, which we will seal, as if they were from his father: let him give one to the youth, and let him say that he wishes to give the other to you.
§777bPerge porro dicere.
Go on telling me.
And let him say that he brings gold from the father as a dowry for the maiden, and that the father ordered that gold to be given to you.
§780tenes iam?
Do you grasp it now?
§780bPropemodo, atque ausculto perlubens.
Almost, and I listen with great pleasure.
Then you indeed at last will give the gold to the young man, when the maiden has been placed in marriage.
§783Scite hercle sane.
Cleverly indeed, by Hercules.
§783bHoc, ubi thensaurum effoderis, §784suspicionem ab adulescente amoveris: §785censebit aurum esse a patre allatum tibi, §786tu de thensauro sumes.
By this, when you have dug up the treasure, you will have removed suspicion from the young man: he will think the gold was brought to you by his father, and you will take it from the treasure.
Clever enough and proper; although at my age I am ashamed to play the trickster.
§788sed epistulas quando opsignatas adferet, §789nonne arbitraris eum adulescentem anuli §790paterni signum novisse?
But when he brings the sealed letters, do you not think that young man knows the signet of his father's ring?
§790bEtiam tu taces?
Are you still not silent?