Perde 2
[Textpart 2]
The man who is struggling with his inclination from his earliest age, whether he ought to prefer to be so, as his inclination thinks it proper that he should be, or whether, rather so as his parents and his relations wish him to be—if his inclination conquers that man, it is all over with him; he is the slave of his inclination and not of himself. But if he conquers his inclination, he truly lives and shall be famed as a conqueror of conquerors.
305
PHILTO
If you have conquered your inclination rather than your inclination you, you have reason to rejoice. ’Tis better by far that you should be such as you ought to be, than such as pleases your inclination. Those who conquer the inclination will ever be esteemed better men than those whom the inclination subdues.
310
LYSITELES
I have ever esteemed these maxims as the shield of my youthful age; never to betake myself to any place where vice was the order of the day Where vice was the order of the day: Damni conciliabulum. Literally, the place of counsel for wickedness.,
never to go to stroll about at night, nor to take from another that which is his. I have taken all precautions, my father, that I might not cause you uneasiness; I have ever kept your precepts in due preservation In due preservation: Buildings were said to be sarta tecta, in good repair, when the roof was proof against rain. The expression is here used figuratively, to signify, I have punctually observed your injunctions. by my own rule of conduct.
315
PHILTO
And do you reproach me, because you have acted aright? For yourself have you done so, not for me: my life, indeed, is nearly past Is nearly past: It is worthy of remark that this line is quoted by Cicero in his second Epistle to Brutus: Sed de hoc tu videris. De me possum dicere idem quod Plautinus pater in Trinummo, mihi quidem aetas acta ferme est. As for that matter, it is your concern. For my own part, I may say with the father in the Trinummus of Plautus, my life is nearly past; this matter principally concerns your own.
Keep on overlaying Keep on overlaying: Philto is most probably alluding to the metaphorical expression, sarta tecta, used just before by his son; and he tells him that the only way to keep rain from coming in at the roof (that is, to keep evil thoughts out of the mind) is to overlay one good deed with another, just as tile is laid upon tile. good deeds with other good deeds, that the rain may not come through. He is the upright man who is not content with it, however upright and however honest he may chance to be. He who readily gives satisfaction to himself, is not the upright man, nor is he really honest: he who thinks but meanly of himself, in him is there a tendency to well-doing.
320
LYSITELES
For this reason, father, I have thought that since there is a certain thing that I wish for,
I would request it of you.
325
PHILTO
What is it? I am already longing to give assent.
325
LYSITELES
A young man here, of noble family, my friend and years’ mate, who has managed his own affairs but heedlessly and unthinkingly—I wish, father, to do him a service, if you are not unwilling.
PHILTO
From your own means, I suppose?
LYSITELES
From my own means—for what is yours is mine, and all mine is yours.
PHILTO
What is he doing? Is he in want?
330
LYSITELES
He is in want.
330
PHILTO
Had he property?
330
PHILTO
How did he lose it? Was he connected with public business With public business: He means by this expression, has he been farming the taxes or the public lands? which of course would be a pursuit attended with considerable risk., or with commercial matters? Had he merchandise or wares to sell, when he lost his property?
330
LYSITELES
I’ faith, my father, by his good-nature. Besides, to indulge his tastes, he wasted some part of it in luxury.
