I’d like to go up and accost this person; but I listen to him with much pleasure, and I’m afraid, if I address him, that he may begin to talk on some other subject. STASIMUS And, for these ways, there is nothing rendered sacred by the law. The laws are subservient to usage; but these habits are hastening to sweep away both what is sacred and what is public property. CHARMIDES (behind.) By my troth, ’twere right for some great calamity to befal these bad customs. STASIMUS Ought not this state of things to be publicly censured? For this kind of men are the enemies of all persons, and do an injury to the entire people. By a non-observance of their own honour, they likewise destroy all trust even in those who merit it not; inasmuch as people form an estimate of the disposition of these from the disposition of those fellows. If you lend If you lend : Stasimus has experienced this, and has applied for the talent which he lent, but in vain; unless, indeed, his meaning is that he got back the talent, but lost his friend. Shakspeare has a somewhat similar passage in Hamlet: Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loseth both itself and friend. a person any money, it becomes lost for any purpose as one’s own. When you ask for it back again, you may find a friend made an enemy by your kindness. If you begin to press still further, the option of two things ensues—either you must part with that which you have entrusted, or else you must lose that friend. As to how this suggests itself to me, I have by actual experience been lately put in mind of it. CHARMIDES (behind.) Surely this is my servant Stasimus? STASIMUS For as to him to whom I lent the talent, I bought myself an enemy with my talent, and sold my friend. But I am too great a simpleton to be attending to public matters rather than (what’s my immediate interest) obtain safety for my back. I’ll go home. (Moves as if going.) CHARMIDES Hallo, you! Stop, this instant! Harkye; hallo, you! STASIMUS I’ll not stop. CHARMIDES I want you. STASIMUS What if I myself don’t want you to want me. CHARMIDES Why, Stasimus, you are behaving very rudely. STASIMUS ’Twere better for you to buy some one to give your commands to. CHARMIDES I’ faith, I have bought one, and paid the money, too. But if he is not obedient to my orders, what ani I to do? STASIMUS Give him a severe punishment. CHARMIDES You give good advice; I am resolved to do so. STASIMUS Unless, indeed, you are under obligations to him. CHARMIDES If he is a deserving person, I am under obligations to him; but if he is otherwise, I’ll do as you advise me. STASIMUS What matters it to me whether you have good or bad slaves? CHARMIDES Because you have a share in this matter both of the good and of the bad. STASIMUS The one share I leave to yourself; the other share, that in the good, do you set down Do you set down : Appone. This word is used figuratively, it being employed to mean, in mercantile matters, to set down to one’s account. So Horace says: Quem sors dierum cumque dabit, lucro Appone— Whatever lot each day shall bring, set that down as clear gain. This, we may here observe, is a similar sentiment to that conveyed in the remark of Callicles, L. 65. to my account. CHARMIDES If you shall prove deserving, it shall be so. Look back at me—I am Charmides. STASIMUS Ha! what person is it that has made mention of that most worthy man? CHARMIDES ’Tis that most worthy man himself. STASIMUS O seas, earth, heavens, by my trust in you—do I see quite clearly with my eyes? Is this he, or is it not? ’Tis he! ’Tis certainly he; ’tis he beyond a doubt! O my most earnestly wished-for master, health to you! CHARMIDES Health to you, too, Stasimus! STASIMUS That you are safe and sound, I— CHARMIDES (interruptitng him.) I know it, and I believe you. But wave the rest; answer me this; how are my children, my son and daughter, whom I left here?