that it was better for me to remain your slave, well fed and
clothed at your expense, than to come to beggary
there at home where it would disgrace us most.

_Hegio_

Non ego omnino lucrum omne esse utile homini existimo (325)
scio ego, multos iam lucrum lutulentos homines reddidit,
est etiam ubi profecto damnum praestet facere quam lucrum.
odi ego aurum: multa multis saepe suasit perperam.

I am not a man who regards each and every acquisition of
money as a blessing: plenty of people have been tainted
before now by this money getting, I know that. There are
even times when it certainly is more profitable to lose
money than to make it. Gold! I despise it: it has led many a
man into many a wrong course.

nunc hoc animum advorte, ut ea quae sentio pariter scias.
filius meus illic apud vos servit captus Alide: 330
eum si reddis mihi, praeterea unum nummum ne duis;
et te et hunc amittam hinc. alio pacto abire non potes.

Now give me your attention. I want you to understand
thoroughly what I have in mind. (_slowly and emphatically_)
My son is a prisoner in Elis, a slave there among your
countrymen: get him back to me, and without your giving me
a single penny in addition, I will let you go home, and your
servant, too. On no other terms can you get off.

_Tynd_

Optumum atque aequissumum oras optumusque hominum es homo.
sed is privatam servitutem servit illi an publicam?

A very fair and reasonable proposition, sir, and you are the
very fairest of men. Does he belong to some private person,
though, or to the state?

_Hegio_

Privatam medici Menarchi.

To a private person, a doctor named Menarchus.

_Tynd_

Pol is quidem huius est cliens.
tam hoc quidem tibi in proclivi quam amber est quando pluit.

(_aside_) Jove! why, he's a client of master's! (_aloud_)
Why, this will be just as easy for you as rain when it pours.

_Hegio_

Fac is homo ut redimatur.

Have him ransomed.

_Tynd_

Faciam. sed te id oro, Hegio--

I will. But thus much I beg of you Hegio,--

_Hegio_

Quid vis, dum ab re ne quid ores, faciam.

(_eagerly_) Anything you please, provided my interests don't
suffer by it.

_Tynd._

Ausculta, tum scies.
ego me amitti, donicum ille huc redierit, non postulo
verum quaeso ut aes