Perde 4
[Textpart 3]
For, now-a-days, men’s manners reckon of no value what is proper, except what is agreable. Ambition now is sanctioned by usage, and is free from the laws. By usage, people have the license to throw away their shields, and to run away from the enemy.
STASIMUS
To seek honor thereby in place of disgrace is the usage.
1035
CHARMIDES
A shameless usage.
1035
STASIMUS
Now-a-days, ’tis the usage to neglect the brave.
CHARMIDES
Aye, ’tis really shocking.
STASIMUS
The public manners have now got the laws in their power; to them they are more submissive than are parents to their children Parents to their children: This is said satirically in reference to the corruptness of the age, in which all the relations and duties of life were turned upside down.. In their misery, these laws are even hung up Are even hung up: He alludes to the custom among the Romans of writing or engraving the laws and ordinances on wood or brass, and hanging them up for public inspection upon pegs or rails in the Capitol, Forum, and Curiae, or Court-houses. against the wall with iron nails,
where it had been much more becoming for bad ways to be fixed up.
1040
CHARMIDES
I’d like to go up and accost this person; but I listen to him with much pleasure, and I’m afraid, if I address him, that he may begin to talk on some other subject.
STASIMUS
And, for these ways, there is nothing rendered sacred by the law. The laws are subservient to usage; but these habits are hastening to sweep away both what is sacred and what is public property.
CHARMIDES
By my troth, ’twere right for some great calamity to befal these bad customs.
1045
STASIMUS
Ought not this state of things to be publicly censured? For this kind of men are the enemies of all persons, and do an injury to the entire people. By a non-observance of their own honour, they likewise destroy all trust even in those who merit it not; inasmuch as people form an estimate of the disposition of these from the disposition of those fellows.
If you lend If you lend: Stasimus has experienced this, and has applied for the talent which he lent, but in vain; unless, indeed, his meaning is that he got back the talent, but lost his friend. Shakspeare has a somewhat similar passage in Hamlet: Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loseth both itself and friend. a person any money, it becomes lost for any purpose as one’s own. When you ask for it back again, you may find a friend made an enemy by your kindness. If you begin to press still further, the option of two things ensues—either you must part with that which you have entrusted, or else you must lose that friend.
As to how this suggests itself to me, I have by actual experience been lately put in mind of it.
1050
CHARMIDES
Surely this is my servant Stasimus?
1055
STASIMUS
For as to him to whom I lent the talent, I bought myself an enemy with my talent, and sold my friend. But I am too great a simpleton to be attending to public matters rather than (what’s my immediate interest) obtain safety for my back. I’ll go home.
1055
CHARMIDES
Hallo, you! Stop, this instant! Harkye; hallo, you!
STASIMUS
What if I myself don’t want you to want me.
1060
CHARMIDES
Why, Stasimus, you are behaving very rudely.
1060
