young girl--middle-aged, as a matter of
fact. I'll see about it for you, brother, if you want.

_Mega._

Num non vis me interrogare te?

You don't mind my asking you a question, I dare say?

_Eun._

Immo, si quid vis, roga.

Why, of course not; anything you like.

_Mega._

Post mediam aetatem qui media ducit uxorem domum,
si eam senex anum praegnatem fortuito fecerit,
quid dubitas, quin sit paratum nomen puero Postumus?

Now supposing a man pretty well on in life marries a lady
of maturity and this aged female should happen to show
intentions of making the old fellow a father--can you doubt
but that the name in store for that youngster is Postumus?[A]

[Footnote A: The last born, or born after the father's
death.]

nunc ego istum, soror, laborem demam et deminuam tibi.
ego virtute deum et maiorum nostrum dives sum satis.
istas magnas factiones, animos, dotes dapsiles,
clamores, imperia, eburata vehicla, pallas, purpuram,
nil moror quae in servitutem sumptibus redigunt viros.

See here, sister, I'll relieve you of all this and save
you trouble. I'm rich enough, thanks be to heaven and our
forbears. And I have no fancy at all for those ladies of
high station and hauteur and fat dowries, with their
shouting and their ordering and their ivory trimmed
carriages and their purple and fine linen that cost a
husband his liberty.

_Eun._

Dic mihi, quaeso, quis ea est quam vis ducere uxorem?

For mercy's sake tell me who you do want to marry, then!

_Mega._

Eloquar. 170
nostin hunc senem Euclionem ex proximo pauperculum?

I'm going to. You know the old gentleman--rather hard up,
poor fellow,--that lives next door, Euclio?

_Eun._

Novi, hominem haud malum mecastor.

Yes indeed. Why, he seems quite nice.

_Mega._

Eius cupio filiam
virginem mihi desponderi. verba ne facias, soror.
scio quid dictura es: hanc esse pauperem. haec pauper placet.

It's his daughter--there's the engagement I'm eager for. Now
don't make a fuss, sister. I know what you're about to say--
that she's poor. But this particular poor girl suits me.

_Eun._

Di bene vortant.

God's blessing on your choice, dear!

_Mega._

Idem ego spero.

I trust so.

_Eun._

Quid me