_Pistoc._

Estne hic meus sodalis?

(_approaching Nicobulus's house_) Isn't that my chum?

_Mnes._

Estne hic hostis, quem aspicio, meus?

Isn't that my enemy I see?

_Pistoc._

Certe is est.

(_beaming_) It certainly is.

_Mnes._

Is est.

(_glowering_) It is.

_Pistoc._

Adibo contra et contollam gradum.
salvos sis, Mnesiloche.

I'll step up and meet him. (_hurries to him_) Mnesilochus!
bless you!

_Mnes._

Salve.

(_gruffly_) Same to you.

_Pistoc._

Salvos quom peregre advenis,
cena detur.

(_enthusiastically_) We must have a dinner, now you're safe
back from abroad.

_Mnes._

Non placet mi cena quae bilem movet.

I have no desire for a dinner that stirs my bile.

_Pistoc._

Numquae advenienti aegritudo obiecta est?

(_wonderingly_) You haven't met with any trouble on your
return, have you?

_Mnes._

Atque acerruma.

Yes, of the worst sort.

_Pistoc._

Unde?

What caused it?

_Mnes._

Ab homine quem mi amicum esse arbitratus sum antidhac.

A man I always took for a friend till now.

_Pistoc._

Multi more isto atque exemplo vivont, quos cum censeas 540
esse amicos, reperiuntur falsi falsimoniis,
lingua factiosi, inertes opera, sublesta fide.
nullus est quoi non invideant rem secundam optingere;
sibi ne invideatur, ipsi ignavia recte cavent.

(_indignantly_) There are plenty of fellows amongst us
of that character and description, fellows you regard as
friends only to find 'em treacherous traitors--energetic
talkers, lazy doers, and ready deserters. There's no one
they don't envy his good luck. As for themselves, they take
proper care no one envies them--their own inertness looks
out for that.

_Mnes._

Edepol ne tu illorum mores perquam meditate tenes.
sed etiam unum hoc: ex ingenio malo malum inveniunt suo:
nulli amici sunt, inimicos ipsi in sese omnis habent.
ei se cum frustrantur, frustrari alios stolidi existumant.
sicut est his, quem esse amicum ratus sum atque ipsus sum mihi:
ille, quod in se fuit, accuratum habuit quod posset mali 550
faceret in me, inconciliaret copias omnis meas.

(_dryly_) Well, well! You certainly have a very intimate
acquaintance with their characteristics. But there's this
one thing to add: they're cursed