Well, well, now, take heart. As a matter of fact, I trust we shall have the boy back with us in a few days. For, look you (_pointing to house_) I have a young Elean prisoner inside here--splendid family, quantities of money: I count on being able to exchange him for my son. _Erg_ Ita di deaeque faxint. sed num quo foras vocatus es ad cenam? (_heartily_) The gods and goddesses be with you! I say, though,--you haven’t been invited out to dinner anywhere? _Hegio_ Nusquam quod sciam sed quid tu id quaeris? (_cautiously_) Nowhere, to my knowledge. But why do you ask? _Erg_ Quia mi est natalis dies; propterea te vocari ad te ad cenam volo Well, to-day is my birthday: so consider yourself invited to take dinner at--your house. _Hegio_ Facete dictum. sed si pauxillo potes, contentus esse. (_laughing_) Well put! But only on condition you can be content with very little. _Erg._ Ne perpauxillum modo, nam istoc me assiduo victu delecto domi, age sis, roga emptum. nisi qui meliorem adferet quae mi atque amicis placeat condicio magis, 180 quasi fundum vendam, meis me addicam legibus Yes, only don’t make it very, very, very little, for that is what I regale myself on constantly at home. Come on, come on, do please say “Done!” (_after a pause, formally_) In the event of no party making a better offer, more satisfactory to myself and associates, I’ll knock myself down to you--on my own terms--just as if I was selling an estate by auction. _Hegio_ Profundum vendis tu quidem, haud fundum, mihi sed si venturu’s, temperi. An estate indeed! You mean an empty state. But if you intend to come, come in season. _Erg._ Em, vel iam otium est. Oho! I’m at leisure this minute, for that matter. _Hegio_ I modo, venare leporem: nunc irim tenes; nam meus scruposam victus commetat viam. No, no, go hunt your hare: you’ve got only a hedge-hog so far. For it is a rocky road my table travels. _Erg._ Numquam istoc vinces me, Hegio, ne postules: cum calceatis dentibus veniam tamen. You’ll never down me that way, Hegio, and don’t you think to do it: I’ll be with you just the same--with my teeth shod. _Hegio_ Asper meus victus sane est. My meals are perfect terrors, really. _Erg._ Sentisne essitas? Tearers? Do you eat brambles? _Hegio_ Terrestris cena est. Well, things that root in the earth. _Erg._ Sus terrestris bestia est. A porker does that. _Hegio_ Multis holeribus. Mostly vegetables, I mean. _Erg._ Curato aegrotos domi. 190 numquid vis? Open a sanitarium, then. (_turning to go_) Anything else I can do for you? _Hegio_ Venias temperi. Come in season. _Erg._ Memorem mones.