young doves. Whatever I
fancied, you fancied, and nothing else. You used to keep
clinging to me. I ordered a thing, wished a thing,--you used
to do it: I disliked a thing, forbade a thing,--you used to
take pains to avoid doing it: you didn't dare attempt to do
it then. Now you don't care tuppence what I like, or don't
like, you vile wretches!

_Cle._

Non tu scis? hic noster quaestus aucupi simillimust.
auceps quando concinnavit aream, offundit cibum;
aves adsuescunt: necesse est facere sumptum qui quaerit lucrum;
saepe edunt: semel si sunt captae, rem solvent aucupi.
itidem his apud nos: aedes nobis area est, auceps sum ego, 219,220
esca est meretrix, lectus inlex est, amatores aves;

(_still cheerfully superior_) You miss the point? This
profession of ours is a great deal like bird-catching. The
fowler, when he has his fowling-floor prepared, spreads food
around; the birds become familiarized: you must spend money,
if you wish to make money. They often get a meal: but once
they get caught they recoup the fowler. It is quite the same
with us here: our house is the floor, I am the fowler, the
girl the bait, the couch the decoy, the lovers the birds.

bene salutando consuescunt, compellando blanditer,
osculando, oratione vinnula, venustula.
si papillam pertractavit, haud est ab re aucupis;
savium si sumpsit, sumere eum licet sine retibus.
haecine te esse oblitum, in ludo qui fuisti tam diu?

They become familiar through pleasant greetings, pretty
speeches, kisses, cooey, captivating little whispers. If he
cuddles her close in his arms, well, no harm to the fowler.
If he takes a naughty kind of kiss, he can be taken himself,
and no net needed. You to forget all this, and so long in
the school, too?

_Argyr._

Tua ista culpa est, quae discipulum semidoctum abs te amoves.

It's your fault, if I have: you expelled your pupil when he
was half taught.

_Cle._

Remeato audacter, mercedem si eris nactus; nunc abi.

Trot along back to us boldly, if you find the tuition fee:
for the present run away. (_turns to go in_)

_Argyr._

Mane, mane, audi. dic, quid me aequom censes pro illa tibi dare,
annum hunc ne cum quiquam alio sit?

Wait, wait, listen! Tell me, what do you think I ought to
give you to have her all to myself th