Au. Indeed they do nothing else but hear.  I’ll attempt it with Grammatica’s Assistance.  “You know that Verbs of buying and selling, and some others, are of a like Signification, to which these Genitives are put alone, without Substantives, tanti, quanti, pluris, minoris, tantidem, quantivis, quanticunque:  But in Case Substantives be not added, which, if they happen to be put, they are both turned into the Ablative Case; so that if a certain Price be set down, you put it in the Ablative Case; if by an Adjective put substantively, you put it in the Ablative Case, unless you had rather make Use of an Adverb.”

Ch. What are those Verbs that you speak of?

Au. “They are commonly emo, mereor; redimo, (that is a Thing either taken or lost) vendo, venundo; revendo, (that is, I sell again that which was sold to me) veneo, (that is, I am sold) whose Prater Tense is venivi, or venii, the Supine venum; hence comes venalis; and from that, i.e. vendo, comes vendibilis; mereo, for inservio et stipendium facio, i.e. to serve under (as a Soldier). Comparo, that is, to buy, or commit. Computo, I change, I exchange with. Cambire is wholly barbarous in this Sense. AEstimo, to tax. Indico, for I estimate, rate. Liceor, liceris; licitor, licitaris, to cheapen, to bid. Distrahor, i.e. I am carried about to be sold. Metior, for I estimate or rate. Constat, for it is bought. Conducere, to let to hire. Faenero, I put to Interest. Faeneror, I take at Interest (to Usury.) Paciscor, pactus sum pango, pepigi, i.e. I make a Bargain.”

Ch. Give an Example.

* * * * *

Of selling and buying.

The Forms.

Au. How much do you lett that Field for by the Year.  We will answer.  For twenty French Pounds.  Whoo!  You lett it too dear.  Nay, I have lett it for more before now.  But I would not give so much for it.  If you hire it for less I’ll be hang’d.  Nay, your Neighbour Chremes offer’d me a Field, and asks for it—­How much?  Just as much as you ask for yours.  But it is much better.  That’s a Lye.  I do as they use to do who cheapen a Thing.  Do you keep it yourself at that Price.  What, do you cheapen, ask the Price, when you won’t buy any Thing.  Whatsoever you shall lett it me for shall be paid you very honestly.

Of Selling and Buying.

Another Example.

How much do you sell that Conger Eel for?