Well, if you are able carefully to remember that, 1 have some hope in this scheme of ours.

(Enter HEGIO, from his house, speaking to those within.)HEGIO I shall return in-doors just now, when I shall have discovered from these people what I want to know. (To the SLAVES.) Where are those persons whom I ordered to be brought out of doors here, before the house ?PHILOCRATES By my faith, I find that you have taken due precaution that we shouldn’t be missed by you, so walled in are we with chains and keepers.HEGIOHe that takes precaution that he mayn’t be deceived, is hardly on his guard, even while he’s taking precaution; even when he has supposed that he has taken every precaution, full often is this wary man outwitted. Was there not good reason, indeed, for me to watch you carefully, whom I purchased with so large a sum of ready money?PHILOCRATESTroth, it isn’t fair for us to hold you to blame, because you watch us closely; nor yet for you us, if we go away hence, should there be an opportunity.HEGIO As you are here, so is my son a captive there among your people.PHILOCRATES He, a captive? HEGIO Even so.PHILOCRATES We, then, have not proved the only cowardsThe only cowards: He alludes to the notion in the heroic times, that it was the duty of a warrior to conquer or to die, and that it was disgraceful to be made prisoner..HEGIO(to PHILOCRATES, supposing him to be the SERVANT of the other.)Step you aside this way, for there are some things that I wish to enquire of you in private, on which subjects I would have you not to be untruthful to me.(They step aside.)PHILOCRATES I will not be, as to that which I shall know; if I shall not know anything, that which I don’t know I’ll tell you of.TYNDARUS(aside.)Now is the old fellow in the barber’s shop; now, at this very instant, is Philocrates wielding the razorWielding the razor: It is hard to say whether by the word cultros, in this passage, razors or scissors are meant.. He hasn’t cared, indeed, to put on the barber’s clothTo put on the barber’s cloth: He probably means by thus expression that Philocrates has made no preamble, and shown no hesitation, in commencing at once to dupe the old man., so as not to soil his dress. But whether to say that he’s going to shave him close, or trim himOr trim him: He alludes here to the two kinds of shaving and trimming the beard used by the barbers among the ancients. The one was close strictim, when they shaved to the skin; the other was, when with a pair of scissors they clipped the hair, with the interposition of a comb. The former fashion was called by the Greeks δκάφιον; the latter method, which was borrowed from the Persians, κῆπιος;. Esse in tonstrinâ, to be in the barber’s shop, was a proverbial expression to denote being imposed upon. Tyndarus is wondering to what extent Philocrates is going to impose upon Hegio. through the combThrough the comb: The Greeks and Romans made their combs of boxwood, much of which was imported from Paphlagonia. The Egyptians used them made of wood and of ivory, and toothed on one side only; while those of the Greeks had teeth on both sides., I don’t know; but if he’s wise, he’ll scrape him right well to the very quick.HEGIO(to PHILOCRATES.) Which would you? Would you prefer to be a slave, or a free man?—Tell me.PHILOCRATES That which is the nearest to good, and the furthest off from evil, do I prefer; although my servitude hasn’t proved very grievous to me, nor has it been otherwise to me than if I had been a son in the family.TYNDARUS(aside.) Capital! I wouldn’t purchase, at a talent’s price even, Thales the MilesianThales the Milesian: A talent would be a low price for such a learned slave as Thales the Milesian, who was one of the seven wise men of Greece. He says, however, that Thales at such a low price would be nothing in comparison with Philocrates for the same money.;for compared with this man’s wisdom, he was a very twaddler. How cleverly has he suited his language to the slave’s condition.HEGIO Of what family is this Philocrates born?PHILOCRATES The PolyplusianThe Polyplusian: This word is coined by Philocrates for the occasion, as being the name of his family, from the Greek word πολμπλομσιὸς,very wealthy; probably with the idea of raising the expectations of Hegio and making him the more ready to promote an exchange of his own son for a member of so opulent a family.; which one family is flourishing there, and held in highest esteem.HEGIOWhat is he himself? In what esteem is he held there?PHILOCRATES In the highest, and that by the very highest men.HEGIO Since, then, he is held in such great respect among the Eleans, as you tell of, what substance has he?—Of large amount?PHILOCRATES Enough for him, even, when an old man, to be melting out the tallowMelting out the tallow: Hegio asks him if his riches are very abundant, and in doing so uses the word opimae, of which the primary meaning was fat; the other answers, Yes, so fat that he can be melting the tallow out of them even when he is an old man; meaning thereby that he is amply provided with means.. HEGIO What is his father? Is he living? PHILOCRATES When we departed thence, we left him alive; whether he’s living now or not, Orcus, forsooth, must know that.TYNDARUS(aside.) The matter’s all right; he’s not only lying, but he’s even philosophizing now.HEGIO What’s his name? PHILOCRATES ThesaurochrysonicocrœsidesThesaurochrysonicocrœsides: This is a name made up of several Greek words, and seems to mean a son of Crœsus, abounding in treasures of gold, in allusion to Crœsus, the wealthy king of Lydia. The author indulges m similar pleasantry in the Miles Gloriosus..HEGIO That name has been given, I suppose, by reason of his wealth, as it were.