Because you trouble yourself about things that don’t concern your own clothing and food.DINARCHUSIt’s yourselves have made me a gentleman at ease.ASTAPHIUMWhy so? DINARCHUSI’ll explain it to you. I’ve lost my property; with my property you’ve robbed me of occupation.If I had preserved my property, there had been something with which I might have been occupied.ASTAPHIUMAnd do you suppose that you can possibly well manage the affairs of state, or those of love, on any other terms without being a gentleman at ease?DINARCHUSIt was she held a public employment, not I; you misinterpret me. But, against the law, in spite of my tax paid for pasturageTax paid for pasturage: Scripturam. This passage is somewhat difficult to be understood. Dinarchus seems to say that he is reduced to idleness from having squandered his property upon Phronesium, and retorts upon Astaphium, by saying that he himself has no public office, but that Phronesium is a publican, alluding to her calling as a public courtesan; and he then proceeds to accuse her of letting the public pasture, for which he had paid the rent or tax (scripturam), to another. Part of the Roman revenue arose from the letting of the uncultivated lands, through the medium of publicani, or farmers of the public revenue, who used to sublet them to private persons. He therefore means to say, that Phronesium has undertaken the duties of a publican, but has failed in duly performing them. It is possible that a pun may be intended on the word scriptura, which also signifies a writing or deed, and may allude to some preceding compact which had been made between Phronesium and himself., she has received other cattle beside myself.ASTAPHIUMMost persons who manage their property badly, do the same as you are doing; when they haven’t wherewith to pay the tax, they blame the farmers of the taxes.DINARCHUSMy pasturage contract with you turns out but badly; now in its turn, I wish to have, according to my narrow circumstances, a little bit of arable land here with you.ASTAPHIUMHere is no arable, but the field is pasture land. If you desire some ploughing, you had better go to thoseGo to those: The whole of this passage has been somewhat modified in the translation, as the meaning of Astaphium is gross in the extreme, and so much to the discredit of Dinarchus, that any compassion for the ill-treatment he afterwards experiences would be quite thrown away upon him. who are in the habit of ploughing; we hold this public emolument, the right of pasturage; those are farmers of other taxes.DINARCHUSFull well enough do I know both sides.ASTAPHIUMI’ troth, it’s that way you are a gentleman at ease, since you’ve been going wrong both in that direction and in this. But the acquaintance of which do you like the best?DINARCHUSYou are the more exacting, but they are perjured.Whatever’s given to them is lost outright, nor with themselves is there any show at all of it; you, if you gain anything, do at least drink and feast it away. In short, they are unprincipled; you are good-for-nothings, and full of airs.ASTAPHIUMAll this abuse which, Dinarchus, you are uttering against us and them, you utter against yourself, both as respects us and them.DINARCHUSHow’s that? ASTAPHIUMI’ll tell the reason;because he who accuses another of dishonesty, him it behoves to look into himself. You who are so prudent, have got nothing from us; we, who are good-for-nothings, have got all out of you.DINARCHUSO Astaphium! you were not in the habit of speaking to me in that fashion formerly, but courteously, when I myself possessed that which is now in your possession.ASTAPHIUMWhile he’s alive, you may know a person; when he’s dead, you may keep yourself quiet. I used to know you when you were alive.DINARCHUSDo you consider me to be dead?ASTAPHIUMPrithee, how can it be plainer? He who formerly was esteemed a first-rate lover, for him to be bringing to his mistress nought but lamentationsNought but lamentations: Meras querimonias Literally, mere complaints..DINARCHUSI’ faith, through your own faults it was done, who in former days were in haste to plunder me. You ought to have done it leisurely, that, unscathed, I might last the longer for you.ASTAPHIUMA lover is like an enemy’s fortress.DINARCHUSOn what ground? ASTAPHIUMThe sooner the lover can be taken by storm, the better it is for the mistress. DINARCHUSI confess it; but far different is the friend from the lover. I’ faith, for sure, the oldest friend’s the best one possible for a man.I’ faith, my lands and tenements are not yet all gone.