Hear the rest. Besides that, when elsewhere the harvest of wheat is most abundant, there it comes up less by one-fourth than what you have sowed.PHILTOAh! bad habits ought to be sown on that spot, if in the sowing they can be killed.STASIMUSAnd never is there any person to whom that piece of land belongs, but that his affairs turn out most unfortunate. Of those to whom it has belonged, some have gone away in banishment; some are dead outright; some, again, have hanged themselves. See this man, now, to whom it belongs, how he has been brought to a regular backgammoned stateBackgammoned state: Ad incitas redactus,brought to a standstill, was a term borrowed from the game of Duodecim Scripta, or twelve points, and was applied when one of the parties got all his men on the twelfth point, and, being able to move no further, lost the game in consequence. Probably the game partook of the nature of both backgammon and chess..PHILTOPreserve me from this piece of land.STASIMUSPreserve me from it, you would say still more, if you were to hear everything from me. For there every other tree has been blasted with lightning; the hogs dieThe hogs die: From Pliny the Elder we learn that angina, or swelling of the throat, was a common distemper among hogs. there most shockingly of inflammation in the throat; the sheep are scabby, as bare of all wool, see, as is this hand of mine. And then, besides, there is not one of the Syrian nativesThe Syrian natives: He makes mention of the Syrians, because living in a hot climate, they would be most likely to be able to endure extreme heat., a race which is the most hardy of men, who could exist there for six months; so surely do all die there of the solstitial feverThe solstitial fever: He seems to mean, that if a person went to live there at the beginning of the year, he could not possibly live there beyond six months, being sure to die of fever at the time of the Solstice, or Midsummer..PHILTOI believe, StasimusI believe, Stasimus: Philto only says so for peace sake, as no man in his senses was likely to believe a word of it. As he does not want the piece of land for his son, he wishes to make no words about it., that it is so; but the CampanianBut the Campanian: He just makes this remark casually, probably to show Stasimus that he knows about things in general as well as he does. Some think, however, that he intends to correct Stasimus, and to tell him that even the Campanians, who were considered an effeminate race, could boast of more hardihood than the Syrians. race much outdoes that of the Syrians in hardiness. But, really, that piece of land, as I have heard you describe it, is one to which it were proper for all wicked men to be sent for the public good. Just as they tell of the Islands of the Blest,where all meet together who have passed their lives uprightly: on the other hand, it seems proper that all evildoers should be packed off there, since it is a place of such a character.STASIMUS’Tis a very receptacle of calamity. What need is there of many words? Look for any bad thing whatsoever, there you may find it.PHILTOBut, i’ faith, you may find it there and elsewhere too.STASIMUSPlease, take care not to say that I told you of this.PHILTOYou have told it me in perfect secrecy.STASIMUSFor he, indeed (pointing at LESBONICUS), wishes it to be got rid of from himself, if he can find any one to impose uponTo impose upon: Os quoi sublinat—literally, can besmear his face. This expression alludes to the practical joke of making a fool of a person by painting his face while he is asleep. about it.PHILTOI’ faith, this land shall never become my property.STASIMUSAye, if you keep in your senses.(Aside.) I’ faith, I have cleverly frightenedI have cleverly frightened: As before remarked, he is probably much mistaken in thinking so. the old fellow away from this land; for, if my master had parted with it, there is nothing for us to live upon. PHILTOLesbonicus, I now return to you.LESBONICUSTell me, if you please, what has he been saying to you?PHILTOWhat do you suppose? He is a manHe is a man: His meaning seems to be, he is a man, with feelings like ourselves, and naturally wishes for his freedom,; he wishes to become a free man, but he has not the money to give.LESBONICUSAnd I wish to be rich, but all in vain.STASIMUS(aside.)You might have been, if you had chosen; now, since you have nothing, you cannot be.LESBONICUSWhat are you talking about to yourself, Stasimus?STASIMUSAbout that which you were saying just now: if you had chosen formerly, you might have been rich; now you are wishing too late.PHILTONo terms can be come to with me about the marriage-portion;whatever pleases you, do you transact it yourself with my son. Now, I ask for your sister for my son; and may the matter turn out well. What now? are you still considering?LESBONICUSWhat—about that matter? Since you will have it so—may the Gods prosper it—I promise her.PHILTONever, by my troth, was a son born so ardently longed for by any one, as was that expression I promise her, when born for me.