the minimum of pain, that's my
preference, sir; but being a slave hasn't bothered me much,
though: I wasn't treated any differently than if I'd been a
son of the house.

_Tynd._

Eugepae, Thalem talento non emam Milesium,
nam ad sapientiam huius[8] nimius nugator fuit.
ut facete orationem ad servitutem contulit.

(_aside_) Well done my boy! I wouldn't buy Milesian Thales
at a thousand thalers: why, he was nothing but the veriest
amateur of a wise man compared with master here. How
cleverly he's dropped into the servant jargon!

_Hegio._

Quo de genere natust illic Philocrates?

Who are Philocrates' people there in Elis?

_Philocr._

Polyplusio:
quod genus illi est unum pollens atque honoratissumum.

The Goldfields, sir,--the most influential and respected
family in those parts easily.

_Hegio_

Quid ipsus hic? quo honore est illic?

And the young man himself? How does he stand?

_Philocr._

Summo, atque ab summis viris.[9] 279

Very high indeed, sir,--belongs to the highest circles.

_Hegio_

Quid divitiae, suntne opimae?

How about his property? Pretty fat one, eh?

_Philocr._

Unde excoquat sebum senex. (281)

Fat? Old Goldfields could get dripping out of it.

_Hegio_

Quid pater, vivitne?

What about his father? Is he living?

_Philocr._

Vivom, cum inde abimus, liquimus;
nunc vivatne necne, id Orcum scire oportet scilicet.

He was when we left home, whether he's alive now or not, of
course you had better inquire below as to that, sir.

_Tynd._

Salva res est, philosophatur quoque iam, non mendax modo est.

(_aside_) The situation is saved! Now he not only lies but
moralizes.

_Hegio_

Quid erat ei nomen?

What was his name?

_Philocr._

Thensaurochrysonicochrysides.

Ducatsdoubloonsandpiecesofeightson.

_Hegio_

Videlicet propter divitias inditum id nomen quasi est.

A sort of name applied to him on account of his money,
I take it.

_Philocr._

Immo edepol propter avaritiam ipsius atque audaciam.[10]

(_apparently struck by a new idea_) Lord, no! on account of
his being so greedy and grasping, sir.

_Hegio_

Quid tu ais? tenaxne pater est eius?

What's that? His father's rather close, is he?