He who hired me, when he had hired me, took me to his house; he told me what he wanted to be done; he taught and showed me beforehandhow I was to do everything. If, then, I should add anything more, my employer will on that account the better forward his plan through me. As he dressed me out, so am I now equipped; his money did that. He himself borrowed my costume, at his own risk, from the theatrical wardrobeThe theatrical wardrobe: Chorego—literally, from the Choregus. It was the duty of this person at Athens to provide the Choruses for tragedies and comedies, the Lyric Choruses of men and boys, the dancers for the Pyrrhic dance, the Cyclic Choruses, and the Choruses of flute-players for the religious festivals of Athens. He also had to provide the Chorus with the requisite dresses, wreaths, and masks—whence the application to him on the present occasion.; if I shall be able, now, to impose on this man through my garb, I will give him occasion clearly to find that I am a very trickster.CHARMIDES(behind.)The more I look at him, the less does the appearance of the fellow please me. ’Tis a wonder if that fellow there is not either a night-robberA night-robber: Dormitator seems to mean a thief, who slept during the day and pursued his avocations by night. Sector zonarius is a cutter of girdles, similar to our cutpurse. It was the custom of persons of the middle and lower classes to wear their purses suspended from the zona, or girdle, round the waist; and sometimes they used the folds of the girdle itself for the purpose of depositing their money therein. or a cutpurse. He is viewing the locality; he is looking around him and surveying the houses; troth, I think he is reconnoitring the spot for him to come and rob bye and bye.I have a still greater desire to watch what he is about: I’ll give attention to this matter.A SHARPER.This employer of mine pointed out these localities to me; at this house are my devices to be put in practice. I’ll knock at the door.CHARMIDES(behind.)Surely this fellow is making in a straight line for my house; i’ faith, I think I shall have to keep watch this night of my arrival.A SHARPER.(knocks at the door of the house of CHARMIDES.)Open this door!—open it! Hallo, there! who now has the care of this doorCare of this door: It was not the usage to enter a house without giving notice to those within. This was done among the Spartans by shouting, while the Athenians, and other nations, either used the knocker of the door or rapped with the knuckles or a stick. In the houses of the rich a porter was always in attendance to open the door. He was commonly a slave or eunuch, and was, among the Romans, chained to his post. A dog was also in general chained near the entrance, and the warning, Cave canem,Beware of the dog, was sometimes written near the door.?CHARMIDES(coming up to him.)Young man, what do you want? hat is it you wish? Why are you knocking at this door?A SHARPER.Eh! old gentleman; I am inquiring here for a young man named Lesbonicus, where in this quarter he lives —and likewise for another person, with such white hairs on his head as yours; he that gave me these letters said his name was Callicles.CHARMIDES(aside.)In fact, this fellow is looking for my own son Lesbonicus and my friend Callicles, to whom I entrusted both my children and my property.A SHARPER.Let me know, respected sirRespected sir: Pater, literally. father., if you are acquainted with it, where these persons live. CHARMIDESWhy are you inquiring for them? Or who are you?—Or whence are you?—Or whence do you cone?A SHARPER.I gave the return correctly to the CensorTo the Censor: Juratori. It was the duty of the Censor, among the Romans, to make these inquiries of every person when taking the Census. As the Censors were bound by an oath to the faithful discharge of their duties they were, in common with all persons so bound, called juratores, oathsmen. The Sharper gives Charmides an impudent answer, saying that he has answered the Censor on these points, and that is enough., when I was questioned by him—CHARMIDESA SHARPER.You ask a number of things in the same breath; I know not which in especial to inform you upon. If you will ask each thing singly, and in a quiet manner, I’ll both let you know my name, and my business, and my travels.CHARMIDESI’ll do as you desire. Come then; in the first place, tell me your name.A SHARPER.You begin by demanding an arduous task.CHARMIDESHow so?A SHARPER.Because, respected sir, if you were to begin before daylight, i’ faith, to commence at the first part of my nameBeginning of my name: He probably alludes to his varied calling, commensurate with everything in the line of roguery. See the Note to line 815., ’twould be the dead of the night before you could get to the end of it.CHARMIDESAccording to your story, a person should have a long journey’s provision crammed tightly in for your name.A SHARPER.I have another name somewhat less,—about the size of a wine-casksSize of a wine cask: He alludes, probably, to the amphora, or large earthen jar, in which wine was kept. This was, perhaps, a cant saying, just as if we should say, As little as a hogshead..CHARMIDESWhat is this name of yours, young man?A SHARPER.Hush, that’s my nameHush, that is my name: Pax. This word was used to enjoin silence, like our word Hush, or Whist. He seems to allude to his own thieving avocation, which often required him to be as mute as a mouse. Some of the editions nave tax, as though from tango, to prig, or steal. This, Thornton renders Touchit.; that’s my every-day one.CHARMIDESI’ faith, ’tis a scampish name; just as thoughJust as though: This passage is of obscure signification. A note of exclamation ought to be inserted after pax, and then the meaning of the old man seems to be, that, as in conversation a stop is instantly put to the discourse on saying hush! so, if anything is entrusted to him, it is as easily done for (periisse), and that it vanishes the instant you call him by his name. Thin is the explanation given by Lindemann. Ritschel reads pax, but most of the old Commentators have tax, which seems the more probable reading. The passage is thus rendered in Thornton’s translation: SHARP. ’Tis Touchit;—that, sir, is my name. A common one.CHARM. A very knavish name: As though you meant to say if anything Was trusted to you, touch it, and ’tis gone. you were to say, Hush, if I were confiding anything to you, and then it is at an end forthwith. (Aside.) This fellow is evidently a sharper. What say you, young man—?A SHARPER.What is it now?