Perde 3
[Textpart 3]
Will you be silent now? Reasons innumerable may be found for that circumstance. That which he used to have he has lost, and he has since had another new one made. Then, if he should bring them not sealed at all, this might be said,—that they had been unsealed for him by the custom-house officers The custom-house officers: The portitores were the officers who collected the portorium, or import duty, on goods brought from foreign countries. These portitores, to whom it was frequently farmed, greatly annoyed the merchants by their unfair conduct and arbitrary proceedings. At Rome, all commodities, including slaves, which were imported for the purpose of selling again, were subject to the portorium. The present instance is an illustration of the license of their proceedings, for we can hardly suppose that they were entitled as of right to break open the seals of letters from foreign countries.,
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MEGARONIDES
and had been examined. On matters of this kind, however, ’tis mere idleness to spend the day in talk; although a long discussion might be spun out. Go now, at once, privately to the treasure; send to a distance the men-servants and the maids; and—do you hear?
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MEGARONIDES
Take care that you conceal this matter from that same wife of yours as well; for, i’ faith, there is never any subject which they can be silent upon. Why are you standing now? Why don’t you take yourself off hence, and bestir yourself? Open the treasure, take thence as much gold as is requisite for this purpose; at once close it up again, but secretly,
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as I have enjoined you; turn all out of the house.
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MEGARONIDES
But, really, we are continuing too long a discourse; we are wasting the day, whereas there is need now of all expedition. There is nothing for you to fear about the seal; trust me for that. This is a clever excuse to give, as I mentioned,
that they have been looked at by the officers. In fine, don’t you see the time of day? What do you think of him being of such a nature and disposition? He is drunk already; anything you like may be proved for him. Besides, what is the greatest point of all, this person will say that he brings, and not that he applies for, money.
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CALLICLES
Now, that’s enough.
MEGARONIDES
I am now going to hire a sharper A sharper: Sycophanta. At an early period there was a law at Athens against the exportation of figs. In spite, however, of prohibitions and penalties; the fig-growers persisted in exporting the fruit. To inform the authorities against the practice was deemed mean and vexatious, so the statute came in time to be looked upon as obsolete. Hence, the term δυκοφαντεῖν, to inform relative to the exportation of figs, came to be applied to all mean and dishonest accusations. In time, the word sycophant came to be applied to a man who was a cunning and villanous character, and who, as it has been justly observed, in Dr Smith’s Dictionary, was a happy compound of the common barretor, informer, pettifogger, busybody, rogue, liar, and slanderer. In fact, he was such a person as we mean by the epithet swindler or sharper. Information being encouraged by the policy of Athens, and the informer gaining half the reward, it was upon this honourable calling that the sycophantae in general thrived They were ready, however, for any other job, however dishonorable, and perjury would not be declined by them if they could obtain their price. They would, consequently be much in the neighbourhood of the Courts of justice; and the Forum, as in the present instance, would not be an unlikely place to meet with them. from the Forum, and then I will seal the two letters; and I’ll send him thither (pointing to the house of CHARMIDES), well tutored in his part, to this young man.
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CALLICLES
I am going in-doors then to my duty in consequence. Do you see about this matter.
MEGARONIDES
I’ll take care it’s done in the very cleverest style.
