nam iniusta ab iustis impetrari non decet, iusta autem ab iniustis petere insipientia est; quippe illi iniqui ius ignorant neque tenent. nunc iam huc animum omnes quae loquar advortite. debetis velle quae velimus:  meruimus et ego et pater de vobis et re publica; 40

It would be unfitting, of course, for unjust favours to be obtained from the just, while looking for just treatment from the unjust is folly; for unfair folk of that sort neither know nor keep justice.  Now then, pay attention all of you to what I am about to say.  Our wishes should be yours:  we deserve it of you, my father and I, of you and of your state.

nam quid ego memorem,—­ut alios in tragoediis vidi, Neptunum Virtutem Victoriam Martem Bellonam, commemorare quae bona vobis fecissent,—­quis bene factis meus pater, deorum regnator[6] architectust[7] omnibus?

Ah well, why should I—­after the fashion of other gods, Neptune, Virtue, Victory, Mars, Bellona, whom I have seen in the tragedies recounting their goodness to you—­ rehearse the benefits that my father, ruler of the gods, hath builded up for all men?

sed mos numquam illi fuit patri meo,[8] ut exprobraret quod bonis faceret boni; gratum arbitratur esse id a vobis sibi meritoque vobis bona se facere quae facit.

It never was a habit of that sire of mine to twit good people with the good he did them; he considers you grateful to him for it and worthy of the good things he does for you.

Nunc quam rem oratum huc veni primum proloquar, 50 post argumentum huius eloquar tragoediae. quid? contraxistis frontem, quia tragoediam dixi futuram hanc? deus sum, commutavero.

Now first as to the favour I have come to ask, and then you shall hear the argument of our tragedy.  What?  Frowning because I said this was to be a tragedy?  I am a god:  I’ll transform it.

eandem hanc, si voltis, faciam ex tragoedia comoedia ut sit omnibus isdem vorsibus. utrum sit an non voltis? sed ego stultior, quasi nesciam vos velle, qui divos siem.

I’ll convert this same play from tragedy to comedy, if you like, and never change a line.  Do you wish me to do it, or not?  But there! how stupid of me!  As if I didn’t know that you do wish it, when I’m a deity.

teneo quid animi vostri super hac re siet:  faciam ut commixta sit:  sit tragicomoedia. nam me perpetuo facere ut sit comoedia, 60 reges quo veniant et di, non par arbitror. quid igitur? quoniam his servos quoque partes habet, faciam sit, proinde ut dixi, tragicomoedia.

I understand your feelings in the matter perfectly.  I shall mix things up:  let it be tragi-comedy.  Of course it would never do for me to make it comedy out and out, with kings