m opprimere hanc, quae obvenit, studet,
maximas opimitates, gaudio exfertissimas
suis eris ille una mecum pariet, gnatoque et patri,
adeo ut aetatem ambo ambobus nobis sint obnoxii,
nostro devincti beneficio.

For if this chance is let slide, he'll never catch it again,
by Jove, not with a chariot and four, white[D] horses. He'll
be leaving his master under siege and increasing the courage
of his enemies. But if he's ready to take part with me and
pounce on this opportunity that's turned up, he'll be my
partner in hatching the biggest, joy-stuffedest jubilee that
ever was for his masters, son and father both, yes, and put
the pair of 'em under obligations to the pair of us for
life, too, chained tight by our services.

[Footnote D: White horses were supposed to be the fastest.]

_Lib._

Vinctos nescio quos ait;
non placet: metuo, in commune ne quam fraudem frausus sit.

(_aside_) Chained, he says: some one or other chained!
I don't like it. I'm afraid he's been trumping up some
trumpery that'll involve the both of us.

_Leon._

Perii ego oppido, nisi Libanum invenio iam, ubiubi est gentium.

(_quivering with excitement_) I'm absolutely done for, if I
don't find Libanus at once, wherever he is.

_Lib._

Illic homo socium ad malam rem quaerit quem adiungat sibi.
non placet: pro monstro extemplo est, quando qui sudat tremit.

That chap's after a mate to yoke with in a race for a
thrashing. I don't like it! it means something bad soon,
when a man in a sweat shivers.

_Leon._

Sed quid ego his properans concesso pedibus. lingua largior? 290
quin ego hanc iubeo tacere, quae loquens lacerat diem?

But why am I holding in my feet and letting out my tongue,
and I in such a hurry? Why don't I tell it to shut up, with
its wagging the day to shreds?

_Lib._

Edepol hominem infelicem, qui patronam conprimat.
nam si quid sceleste fecit, lingua pro illo perierat.

(_aside_) Good Lord! Poor devil--choking off his patroness!
Why, once he's been up to some rascality, it's that same
tongue perjures herself for him.

_Leon._

Adproperabo, ne post tempus praedae praesidium parem.

I'll cut along, so as not to procure protection for the
prize when it's too late. (_moves away_)

_Lib._

Quae illaec praeda est? ibo advorsu