Book 2
7
I HAVE a long while been attending [to you], and would fain speak a few words [in return; but, being] a slave, I am afraid. "What, Davus?" Yes, Davus, a faithful servant to his master Frugi quod sit satis; hoc est. The common people have always imagined that persons of eminent merit do not live so long as others. From thence the proverb, "Too witty to live long." and an honest one, at least sufficiently so: that is, for you to think his life in no danger. "Well (since our ancestors would have it so), use the freedom of December: speak on."
