nam me hodie oravit Argyrippus filius, uti sibi amanti facerem argenti copiam; et id ego percupio obsequi gnato meo.[4] (76) quamquam illum mater arte contenteque habet, (78) patres ut consueverunt:  ego mitto omnia haec.

Well now, this very day my boy Argyrippus begged me to supply him with some money, saying he was in love:  and I heartily desire to oblige the dear lad.  No matter if his mother does keep a firm, tight rein on him and play the ordinary father’s part, none of that for me.

praesertim quom is me dignum quoi concrederet 80 habuit, me habere honorem eius ingenio decet; quom me adiit, ut pudentem gnatum acquomst patrem, cupio esse amicae quod det argentum suae.

And seeing he has regarded me as worthy of his confidence, I have special reason to respect his inclinations.  Now that he has applied to me, as a respectful son should to his father, I am desirous that he should have some money for his mistress.

Lib.

  Cupis id quod cupere te nequiquam intellego.
  dotalem servom Sauream uxor tua
  adduxit, cui plus in manu sit quam tibi.

      You’re desirous of something you’ll desire in vain, sir,
      I reckon.  Your wife’s brought along Saurea, that dower slave
      of hers, to have more power than you.

Dem.

Argentum accepi, dote imperium vendidi. nunc verba in pauca conferam quid te velim. viginti iam usust filio argenti minis:  face id ut paratum iam sit.

(bitterly) Sold myself!  Gave up my authority for a dowry! (pause) Now, in a word, here is what I want of you.  My son needs eighty pounds[B] at once:  will you see it is procured at once.

[Footnote B:  It has seemed advisable to use the terms of the English coinage system throughout this version; the value of the money metals, however, has shrunk very considerably since Plautus’s day.]

Lib.

  Unde gentium? 90

      Where in the world from?

Dem.

  Me defraudato.

      Cheat me out of it.

Lib.

Maxumas nugas agis:  nudo detrahere vestimenta me iubes. defraudem te ego? age sis, tu sine pennis vola. tene ego defraudem, cui ipsi nihil est in manu, nisi quid tu porro uxorem defraudaveris?

What awful nonsense you do talk!  You’re telling me to strip the clothes off a naked man.  I cheat you out of it?  Come, sir, will you kindly fly without wings!  I cheat you out of it, when you don’t own a thing, unless you’ve played the same game and cheated your wife out of something?

Dem.