38 Latin Stories Chapter 35

Menedemus: Filium unum adulescentem habeo. Ah, cur dixi me habere? Immo habui, Chreme; nunc utrum habeam necne incertum est.

I have one young son. Ah why did I say that I have one son? I had one, Chremes; now

ME: Et tu!

And you!

Ego arbitror te non adverso in filium tuum ingenio esse et illum quidem velle tibi parere.Sed nec tu illum satis noveras, nec te

I suppose that you are not of hostile disposition against your son and that man even wishes to obey you. But neither you don't know him enough, nor he knows you. You never showed him of how much you value him , nor did he dare to trust you ever. But I hope that he will approach you as safe. Spare yourself, Menedemus! An absent son wants you to do this.

CH: Si ita vis, bene vale!

If you want it so, be well!

ME: Scies. Puellam pauperem ille nimis amare coeperat. Illum semper admonebam: "Debes,

You will know. That son began to love the poor girl too much. I was always warning that boy: "You ought, my son, to study riches and honors, not deceitful games of love. I, when I was at that age of yours, found the rewards and glory in the army."

CH: Quid ais?

What you say?

Chremes: Cur?

Why?

Utinam ne ei persuasissem! Meo filio, quem adiuvare debebam, gravissime nocui! Mihi ignoscere non possum. Itaque, dum Clinia propter me multa mala patitur, poenas ipse etiam dabo, in agro laborans, opibus parcens, illi absenti serviens.

Would that I had not persuaded him! I harmed most seriously my son whom I ought to help. I am not able to forgive myself. And so, while Clinia suffered many evils on account of me, I myself will even pay penalties, laboring in the field, sparing my riches, serving him being absent.

ME: Tu non debes mirari, si laborare potius desidero.

You ought not to be amazed, if I desire to rather work.