Leon.

  Hoc testamento Servitus legat tibi.

      Precisely what you are down for yourself in Slavery’s will.

Lib.

  Verbivelitationem fieri compendi volo.
  quid istud est negoti?

      Let’s cut short this war of words.  What’s that business of
      yours?

Leon.

  Certum est credere,

      I’ve determined to trust you.

Lib.

  Audacter licet.

      You can—­boldly.

Leon.

Sis amanti subvenire familiari filio, tantum adest boni inproviso, verum commixtum malo:  310 omnes de nobis carnificum concelebrabuntur dies.  Libane, nunc audacia usust nobis inventa et dolis. tantum facinus modo inveni ego, ut nos dicamur duo omnium dignissumi esse, quo cruciatus confluant,

If you’ve got a mind to help the young master in his love affair, there’s such an unexpected supply of good luck come to hand—­mixed with bad, though—­that the public torturers will have a regular festival at our expense every day.  Libanus, now we need grit and guile.  I’ve just now come upon such a deed for us to do, that we two will be called the worthiest men alive—­to be where the torture’s thickest.

Lib.

  Ergo mirabar quod dudum scapulae gestibant mihi,
  hariolari quae occeperunt, sibi esse in mundo malum.
  quidquid est, eloquere.

      (dryly) Aha!  I was wondering what made my shoulders
      tingle a while ago:  they began prognosticating trouble was
      in pickle for ’em.  Whatever it is, out with it!

Leon.

  Magna est praeda cum magno malo.

      It’s a big prize and a big risk.

Lib.

  Si quidem omnes coniurati cruciamenta conferant,
  habeo opinor familiare tergum, ne quaeram foris.

      No matter if they all combine to pile the torments on,
      I fancy I’ve got a back of my own, without having to look
      for one outside.

Leon.

  Si istam firmitudinem animi optines, salvi sumus. 320

      That’s the spirit, hold to it and we’re safe.

Lib.

  Quin si tergo res solvenda est, rapere cupio publicum: 
  pernegabo atque obdurabo, periurabo denique.

Pooh! if it’s my back that is to pay the score, I’m ripe for sacking the Treasury:  then I’ll say up and down I didn’t, stick to it I didn’t, yes, yes, take my solemn oath I didn’t.

Leon.

  Em ista virtus est, quando usust qui malum fert fortiter;
  fortiter malum qui patitur, idem post potitur bonum.

      There!  That’s courage—­to take hard knocks like a man when
      occasion calls.  The chap that endures hard knocks like a man
      enjoys a soft time later on.