And do you reproach me, because you have acted aright? For yourself have you done so, not for me: my life, indeed, is nearly pastIs nearly past: It is worthy of remark that this line is quoted by Cicero in his second Epistle to Brutus: Sed de hoc tu videris. De me possum dicere idem quod Plautinus pater in Trinummo, mihi quidem aetas acta ferme est.As for that matter, it is your concern. For my own part, I may say with the father in the Trinummus of Plautus, my life is nearly past; this matter principally concerns your own. Keep on overlayingKeep on overlaying: Philto is most probably alluding to the metaphorical expression, sarta tecta, used just before by his son; and he tells him that the only way to keep rain from coming in at the roof (that is, to keep evil thoughts out of the mind) is to overlay one good deed with another, just as tile is laid upon tile. good deeds with other good deeds, that the rain may not come through. He is the upright man who is not content with it, however upright and however honest he may chance to be. He who readily gives satisfaction to himself, is not the upright man, nor is he really honest: he who thinks but meanly of himself, in him is there a tendency to well-doing.LYSITELESFor this reason, father, I have thought that since there is a certain thing that I wish for, I would request it of you.PHILTOWhat is it? I am already longing to give assent.LYSITELESA young man here, of noble family, my friend and years’ mate, who has managed his own affairs but heedlessly and unthinkingly—I wish, father, to do him a service, if you are not unwilling.PHILTOFrom your own means, I suppose?LYSITELESFrom my own means—for what is yours is mine, and all mine is yours.PHILTOWhat is he doing? Is he in want?LYSITELESHe is in want.PHILTOHad he property? LYSITELESHe had.PHILTOHow did he lose it? Was he connected with public businessWith public business: He means by this expression, has he been farming the taxes or the public lands? which of course would be a pursuit attended with considerable risk., or with commercial matters? Had he merchandise or wares to sell, when he lost his property?LYSITELESNone of these. PHILTOWhat then?LYSITELESI’ faith, my father, by his good-nature. Besides, to indulge his tastes, he wasted some part of it in luxury.PHILTOBy my troth now! a fellow spoken of boldly, and as on familiar terms;—one, indeed, who has never dissipated his fortune by any good means, and is now in want. I cannot brook that, with qualities of that description, he should be your friend.LYSITELES’Tis because he is without any bad disposition that I wish to relieve his wants.PHILTOHe deserves ill of a beggar who gives him what to eat or to drink;for he both loses that which he gives and prolongs for the other a life of misery. I do not say this because I am unwilling and would not readily do what you desire; but when I apply these expressions to that same person, I am warning you beforehand, so to have compassion on others, that others may not have to pity you.LYSITELESI am ashamed to desert him, and to deny him aid in his adversity.PHILTOI’ troth, shame is preferable to repentance by just as many lettersBy just as many letters: Commentators differ as to the meaning of this passage, which is somewhat obscure. Philto seems to say that shame before doing an unwise action is every way preferable to repentance after having done it; preferable, indeed, by each individual letter it is composed of, or, as we should say in common parlance, every inch of it. as it consists of.LYSITELESIn good sooth, father, by the care of the Gods, and of my forefathers, and your own, I may say that we possess much property, honestly obtained. If you do a service to a friend, it ought not to make you repent that you have done so; it ought rather to cause you shame if you do not do it.PHILTOIf from great wealth you subtract something, does it become more or less?LYSITELESLess, father. But do you know what is wont to be repeated to the niggardly citizenNiggardly citizen: Immunis means one that does not bear his share in the taxes and tribute of the state, or, in other words, pay his scot and lot. Hence, with an extended signification, it means one that will not out of his abundance assist the distress of others, and who is, consequently, a niggardly and covetous person.? That which thou hast mayst thou not have, and mayst thou have that misfortune which thou hast not; since thou canst neither endure it to be enjoyed by thyself nor by another.PHILTOI know, indeed, that so it usually is: but, my son, he is the truly niggardly manTruly niggardly man: Philto here alludes to the primary meaning of the word immunis; and hints that it may be more properly applied to Lesbonicus, who has reduced himself to poverty by his extravagance, than to himself; inasmuch as he is now perforce immunis, not having wherewithal to pay the public dues and taxes. that has nought with which to pay his dues.LYSITELESBy the care of the Gods, we have, father, both enough for us to enjoy ourselves, and with which to do kind offices to kind-hearted men. PHILTOTroth, I am not able to refuse you anything that you; ask of me. Whose poverty do you wish to relieve? Speak out boldly to your father.LYSITELESThat of this young man Lesbonicus, the son of Charmides, who lives there.(He points to the house of CHARMIDES.)PHILTOWhy, hasn’t he devoured both what he had, and what he had notWhat he had not: That is, by the dishonest expedient of running to debt for it.?