Nunc senex est in tostrina, nunc iam cultros attinet. ne id quidem, involucrum inicere, voluit, vestem ut ne inquinet. sed utrum strictimne adtonsurum dicam esse an per pectinem, nescio; verum, si frugist, usque admutilabit probe.

(aside, cheerfully) Now the old fellow is in the barber’s chair, yes, now we have the clippers on him.  And master not even willing to throw a towel over him to keep his clothes clean!  Is it going to be a close crop, I wonder, or just a trim?—­that’s the question.  If he knows his business, though, he’ll dock him handsomely.

Hegio

  Quid tu? servosne esse an liber mavelis, memora mihi. 270

      See here, would you prefer to be a slave or a free man, tell
      me that?

Philocr.

  Proxumum quod sit bono quodque a malo longissume,
  id volo; quamquam non multum fuit molesta servitus,
  nec mihi secus erat quam si essem familiaris filius.

The maximum of pleasure and 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.