Trinummus: The Three Pieces of Money (730-777b)

be but that a portion must be given to the girl.

Why, troth, it would hardly be honestly done on my part, if I were to allow her to contract a marriage without a portion, when I have her property in my possession at home. ⋯

⋯ A portion is ready at your house; unless you like to wait

until her brother has disposed of her in marriage without a portion. After that, you might go to Philto yourself, and might say that you present her with a portion, and that you do it on account of your intimacy with her father. But I dread this, lest that offer might bring you into crimination and disgrace with the public.

They would say that you were so kind to the girl not without some good reason; that the dowry which you presented her was given you by her father; they would think that you were portioning her out of that, and that you had not kept it safe for her just as it was given, and that you had withheld some part. Now, if you wish to await the return of Charmides,

the time is very long; meanwhile, the inclination to marry her may leave this Lysiteles; this proposal, too, is quite a first-rate one for her.

All these very same things suggest themselves to my mind.

Consider if you think this more feasible and more to the purpose: go to the young man himself, and tell him how the matter really stands.

Should I now discover the treasure to a young man, ill-regulated, and brimful of passion and of wantonness? No, faith, most assuredly, by no means. For I know, beyond a doubt, that he would devour even all that spot where it is buried. I fear to dig for it, lest he should hear the noise;

lest, too, he might trace out the matter itself, if I should say I will give her a portion.

By what method, then, can the portion be secretly taken out?

Until an opportunity can be found for that business, I would, in the meanwhile, ask for a loan of the money from some friend or other.

Can it be obtained from some friend or other?

It can.

Nonsense; you’ll certainly meet with this answer at once: O, upon my faith, I really have not anything that I can lend you.

Troth, I would rather they would tell me the truth than lend me the money with a bad grace.

But consider this plan, if it pleases you.

What is the plan?

I have found out a clever plan, as I think.

What is it?

Let some person, now, be hired,

of an appearance as much unknown as possible, such as has not been often seen.

Let this person be dressed up to the life after a foreign fashion, just as though he were a foreigner.

What is he to understand that he must do after that?

It is necessary for him to be some lying,

deceiving, impudent fellow—a lounger from the Forum.

And what then, after that?

Let him come to the young man as though from Seleucia, from his father; let him pronounce his salutation to him in the words of his father, say that he is prospering in business, and is alive and well, and that he will be shortly coming back again. Let him bring two letters;

let us seal these, as though they are from his father. Let him give the one to him, and let him say that he wishes to give the other to yourself.

Go on, and tell me still further.