r in his love
affair, there's such an unexpected supply of good
luck come to hand--mixed with bad, though--that the public
torturers will have a regular festival at our expense every
day. Libanus, now we need grit and guile. I've just now come
upon such a deed for us to do, that we two will be called
the worthiest men alive--to be where the torture's thickest.

_Lib._

Ergo mirabar quod dudum scapulae gestibant mihi,
hariolari quae occeperunt, sibi esse in mundo malum.
quidquid est, eloquere.

(_dryly_) Aha! I was wondering what made my shoulders
tingle a while ago: they began prognosticating trouble was
in pickle for 'em. Whatever it is, out with it!

_Leon._

Magna est praeda cum magno malo.

It's a big prize and a big risk.

_Lib._

Si quidem omnes coniurati cruciamenta conferant,
habeo opinor familiare tergum, ne quaeram foris.

No matter if they all combine to pile the torments on,
I fancy I've got a back of my own, without having to look
for one outside.

_Leon._

Si istam firmitudinem animi optines, salvi sumus. 320

That's the spirit, hold to it and we're safe.

_Lib._

Quin si tergo res solvenda est, rapere cupio publicum:
pernegabo atque obdurabo, periurabo denique.

Pooh! if it's my back that is to pay the score, I'm ripe
for sacking the Treasury: then I'll say up and down I
didn't, stick to it I didn't, yes, yes, take my solemn
oath I didn't.

_Leon._

Em ista virtus est, quando usust qui malum fert fortiter;
fortiter malum qui patitur, idem post potitur bonum.

There! That's courage--to take hard knocks like a man when
occasion calls. The chap that endures hard knocks like a man
enjoys a soft time later on.

_Lib._

Quin rem actutum edisseris? cupio malum nanciscier.

Why don't you hurry up and unfold your tale? I long for some
hard knocks.

_Leon._

Placide ergo unum quidquid rogita, ut adquiescam. non vides
me ex cursura anhelitum etiam ducere?

Easy then with each question, so that I can get a rest.
Don't you see I'm still puffing after that run of mine?

_Lib._

Age, age, mansero
tuo arbitratu, vel adeo usque dum peris.

All right, all right, I'll wait till you're ready, yes,
ready to expire, for that matter.

_Leon._

Ubinam est erus?

(_afte