§25..Arbitrium vestrum, vestra existimatio §26..Valebit; quamobrem omnes vos oratos volo, §27..Ne plus iniquum possit quam aequum oratio.
judgment, your opinion will have power; I wish you all to be entreated, an unfair speech should have more power than a fair one.
§28..Facite aequi sitis: date crescendi copiam §29..Novarum qui spectandi faciunt copiam §30..Sine vitiis; ne ille pro se dictum existimet, §31..Qui nuper fecit servo currenti in via
sure that you are fair: give an opportunity of growing those who provide an opportunity of watching new plays without defects; that man should think that this was said in his own defense, recently represented that the people made way for a running slave in the street.
§32..Decesse populum. Cur insano serviat?
Why should he serve a mad slave?
his faults the author will say more when he produces new plays, unless he makes an end to his slanders.
§35..Adeste aequo animo; date potestatem mihi §36..Statariam agere ut liceat per silentium; §37..Ne semper servus currens, iratus senex, §38..Edax parasitus, sycophanta autem impudens, §39..Avarus leno, assidue agendi sint mihi, §40..Clamore summo, cum labore maximo.
with a fair mind; give me the power that I may be allowed to act a quiet play in silence; always a running slave, an angry old man, greedy parasite, a shameless sycophant, a covetous pander must be acted by me constantly the greatest shouting and the utmost labor.
my sake, bring your minds to believe that this cause is just, so that some part of the labor may be lessened for me.
§43..Nam nunc novas qui scribunt nihil parcunt seni: §44..Si qua laboriosa est, ad me curritur; §45..Sin lenis est, ad alium defertur gregem.
now those who write new plays spare the old man not at all: any play is laborious, people run to me; if it is gentle, it is carried to another company.
§46..In hac est pura oratio.
this play there is pure language.
Experimini §47..In utramque partem ingenium quid possit meum.
Experience my talent can achieve in both directions.
§48..Si nunquam avare pretium statui arti meae, §49..Et eum esse quaestum in animum induxi maximum, §50..Quam maxime servire vestris commodis; §51..Exemplum statuite in me, ut adolescentuli §52..Vobis placere studeant potius quam sibi.
I have never greedily set a price on my art, have brought my mind to believe that the greatest gain is serve your convenience as much as possible; an example in me, so that young poets study to please you rather than themselves.
§53..Quanquam haec inter nos nupera notitia admodum est, §54..Inde adeo quod agrum in proximo hic mercatus es, §55..Nec rei fere sane amplius quicquam fuit; §56..Tamen vel virtus tua me, vel vicinitas, §57..Quod ego in propinqua parte amicitiae puto, §58..Facit ut te audacter moneam et familiariter, §59..Quod mihi videre praeter aetatem tuam §60..Facere, et praeter quam res te adhortatur tua.
[Chremes] Although this acquaintance between us is very recent, from the very time you bought this land next door, there has been virtually no other relationship between us; either your virtue or our neighborhood, I consider a close part of friendship, me admonish you boldly and familiarly, that which you seem to me to be doing to your age, and beyond what your estate demands.
§61..Nam proh Deum atque hominum fidem, quid vis tibi?
, by the faith of gods and men, what do you want for yourself?
§62..Quid quaeris? annos sexaginta natus es,
do you seek?
§63..Aut plus eo ut coniicio: agrum in his regionibus §64..Meliorem, neque preti maioris, nemo habet; §65..Servos complures: proinde quasi nemo siet, §66..Ita tute attente illorum officia fungere.
You are sixty years old, more than that as I conjecture: no one in these parts has better or more valuable farm; have many slaves: yet, just as if there were none, yourself perform their duties so diligently.
§67..Nunquam tam mane egredior, neque tam vesperi §68..Domum revertor, quin te in fundo conspicer §69..Fodere, aut arare, aut aliquid ferre.
never go out so early, nor return home so late the evening, without seeing you on your farm, or plowing, or carrying something.
Denique §70..Nullum remittis tempus, neque te respicis.
In short, relax no time, nor do you spare yourself.
§71..Haec non voluptati tibi esse satis certo scio.
know well enough that these things are not a pleasure to you.
§72..At enim dices, "Quantum hic operis fiat, poenitet. " §73..Quod in opere faciendo operae consumis tuae, §74..Si sumas in illis exercendis, plus agas.
you will say, "I am dissatisfied with how much work is done here." you were to spend the labor of your own that you consume in doing the work exercising them, you would accomplish more.
[Menedemus] Chremes, do you have so much leisure from your own affairs care for another's, and those things which do not concern you at all?
§77..Homo sum: humani nihil a me alienum puto.
[Chremes] I am human: I consider nothing human alien to me.
§78..Vel me monere hoc, vel percontari puta.
that I am either warning you of this or asking you.
§79..Rectum est? ego ut faciam: non est? te ut deterream.
it right? Let me do it. Is it not? Let me deter you.
§80..Mihi sic est usus: tibi ut opus facto est, face.
[Menedemus] This is my way: you do what is necessary for you to do.
§81..An cuiquam est usus homini se ut cruciet?
[Chremes] Is there any need for any man to torment himself?
§81b..Mihi.
[Menedemus] For me.
§82..Si quid laboris est, nollem: sed quid istuc mali est,
[Chremes] If there is any trouble, I am sorry; but what is that trouble, pray?
§83..Quaeso? quid de te tantum meruisti?
What have you done to deserve so much from yourself?
§83b..Eheu!
[Menedemus] Alas!
§84..Ne lacrima: atque istuc quicquid est fac me ut sciam: §85..Ne retice: ne verere: crede, inquam, mihi, §86..Aut consolando, aut consilio, aut re iuvero.
[Chremes] Do not weep, and make me know whatever that is; not keep silent; do not fear; trust me, I say, will help you either by consoling, or by advice, or in reality.
§87..Scire hoc vis?
[Menedemus] Do you wish to know this?
§87b..Hac quidem causa qua dixi tibi.
[Chremes] Indeed for this reason which I told you.
§88..Dicetur.
[Menedemus] It shall be told.
[Chremes] But meanwhile, nevertheless, lay aside rakes; do not work.
§89b..Minime.
[Menedemus] Not at all.
§89c..Quam rem agis?
[Chremes] What are you doing?
[Menedemus] Allow me to give myself no leisure time from labor.
§91b..Non sinam, inquam.
[Chremes] I will not allow it, I say.
§91c..Ah, non aequum facis.
[Menedemus] Ah, you do not do what is fair.
§92..Hui, tam graves hos, quaeso?
[Chremes] Oh, so heavy as these, pray?
§92b..Sic meritum est meum.
[Menedemus] Such is my desert.
§93..Nunc loquere.
[Chremes] Now speak.
[Menedemus] I have an only son, young man; ah, why did I say that I have?
§95..Nunc habeam necne incertum est.
Rather, I had, Chremes; whether I have him or not is uncertain.
§95b..Quid ita istuc?
[Chremes] How so?
§95c..Scies.
[Menedemus] You shall know.
§96..Est e Corintho hic advena anus paupercula:
was a poor old stranger-woman here from Corinth;