Perde 2
[Textpart 2]
By my troth now! a fellow spoken of boldly, and as on familiar terms;—one, indeed, who has never dissipated his fortune by any good means, and is now in want. I cannot brook that, with qualities of that description, he should be your friend.
335
LYSITELES
’Tis because he is without any bad disposition that I wish to relieve his wants.
PHILTO
He deserves ill of a beggar who gives him what to eat or to drink;
for he both loses that which he gives and prolongs for the other a life of misery. I do not say this because I am unwilling and would not readily do what you desire; but when I apply these expressions to that same person, I am warning you beforehand, so to have compassion on others, that others may not have to pity you.
340
LYSITELES
I am ashamed to desert him, and to deny him aid in his adversity.
PHILTO
I’ troth, shame is preferable to repentance by just as many letters By just as many letters: Commentators differ as to the meaning of this passage, which is somewhat obscure. Philto seems to say that shame before doing an unwise action is every way preferable to repentance after having done it; preferable, indeed, by each individual letter it is composed of, or, as we should say in common parlance, every inch of it. as it consists of.
345
LYSITELES
In good sooth, father, by the care of the Gods, and of my forefathers, and your own, I may say that we possess much property, honestly obtained. If you do a service to a friend, it ought not to make you repent that you have done so; it ought rather to cause you shame if you do not do it.
PHILTO
If from great wealth you subtract something, does it become more or less?
LYSITELES
Less, father. But do you know what is wont to be repeated to the niggardly citizen Niggardly citizen: Immunis means one that does not bear his share in the taxes and tribute of the state, or, in other words, pay his scot and lot. Hence, with an extended signification, it means one that will not out of his abundance assist the distress of others, and who is, consequently, a niggardly and covetous person.? That which thou hast mayst thou not have, and mayst thou have that misfortune which thou hast not; since thou canst neither endure it to be enjoyed by thyself nor by another.
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PHILTO
I know, indeed, that so it usually is: but, my son, he is the truly niggardly man Truly niggardly man: Philto here alludes to the primary meaning of the word immunis; and hints that it may be more properly applied to Lesbonicus, who has reduced himself to poverty by his extravagance, than to himself; inasmuch as he is now perforce immunis, not having wherewithal to pay the public dues and taxes. that has nought with which to pay his dues.
LYSITELES
By the care of the Gods, we have, father, both enough for us to enjoy ourselves, and with which to do kind offices to kind-hearted men.
355
PHILTO
Troth, I am not able to refuse you anything that you; ask of me. Whose poverty do you wish to relieve? Speak out boldly to your father.
LYSITELES
That of this young man Lesbonicus, the son of Charmides, who lives there.
PHILTO
Why, hasn’t he devoured both what he had, and what he had not What he had not: That is, by the dishonest expedient of running to debt for it.?
360
LYSITELES
Censure him not, my father: many things happen to a man which he likes, many, too, which he does not like.
PHILTO
Troth, you say falsely, son; and you are doing so now not according to your usual wont. For the prudent man, i’ faith, really frames his own fortunes for himself: many things, therefore, do not happen which he does not like, unless he is a bungling workman.
LYSITELES
Much labour is requisite for this workmanship in him who seeks to be a clever workman in fashioning his life—but he is still very young.
365
PHILTO
Not by years but by disposition is wisdom acquired. Age is the relish of wisdom—wisdom is the nutriment of old age. However, come, say what you wish now to give him.
LYSITELES
Nothing at all, father.
Do you only not hinder me from accepting it if he should give anything to me.
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