Beware of a mischief Of a mischief : Malo seems here to be a preferable reading to malum . He alludes to the punishment, to which Lydus, as a slave, is liable. , and forbear to speak of him unjustly. LYDUS Hold your peace. You’re a foolish man, who cannot bear to have him badly spoken of who does badly. But I would rather have him draw upon my mishaps than upon my savings Upon my savings : He seems to mean, that he had rather put up with insult, or violence even, from his pupil, than be responsible for his misdeeds in which latter case, probably, some part of his peculium , or savings, would be taken away from him, in the shape of fines. . PHILOXENUS Why so? LYDUS Because, if he were to draw upon my mishaps, he would each day be making them less. MNESILOCHUS Why, Lydus, are you censuring your pupil, my friend? LYDUS Your friend is ruined. MNESILOCHUS May the Gods forbid it. LYDUS ’Tis so as I say. And further, I myself saw it when he was undone; I am not censuring him from hearsay. MNESILOCHUS What has been done by him? LYDUS He is disgracefully doting upon a harlot. MNESILOCHUS Won’t you be silent now?