Mercator, or The Merchant (537b-573c)

Immortal Gods! Isn’t he even to sleep with his wife?

Prithee, is he a married man? He neither is nor will he be.

Indeed, I wish he wasn’t. I’ faith, the fellow has been committing perjury.

No young man do I more ardently love.

Why, really he’s a child, you simpleton; for, in fact, it’s not so very long a time since his teeth fell out.

What? His teeth?

It’s no matter? Follow me this way, please; he requested that I would find you room for one day in my house, since my wife is away in the country.

At last I’ve managed to ruin myself;

a mistress has been purchased for me without the knowledge of my wife and son. I’m resolved on it; I’ll have recourse again to former habits and enjoy myself. In my allotment of existence, almost now run through, the little that there remains of life, I’ll cheer up with pleasure, wine, and love. For it’s quite proper for this time of life to enjoy itself.

When you are young, then, when the blood is fresh, it’s right to devote your exertions to acquiring your fortune; and then when at last, you are an old man, you may set yourself at your ease; drink, and be amorous; this, the fact that you are living, is now so much profit. This, as I say, I’ll carry out in deed.

Meanwhile, however, I’ll take a look in-doors here at my house; my wife has been some time expecting me at home quite hungry: now, she’ll be worrying me to death with her scolding, if I go in-doors. But, in fine, whatever comes of it, i’ faith, I’ll not go, but I’ll first meet this neighbour of mine before I return home;

I want him to hire some house for me, where this damsel may dwell. And, see, he’s coming out of doors.

I’ll bring him to you directly, if I meet him.

He’s meaning me.

How say you, Demipho?

Is the damsel at your house?

What do you suppose?

What if I go see her?

Why making such haste? Stay.

What am I to do?

What you ought to do; take care and consider.

Consider what? Why troth, for my own part, I think there’s need for my doing this, going in-doors there, I mean.

What, is it so, you old wether? Would you be going in?

What should I do else?

First listen to this, and attend; there’s something even before this that I think it proper you should do.

For if you now go in-doors to her, you’ll be wishing to embrace her, chatting with her, and kissing her.

Really you know my feelings; you understand what I would be at.

You will be doing wrong.

What, with that which you love?

So much the less reason. Would you, full of hungriness, with a foul breath,