_Chr._ Excuse me, 11 My good friend; and your spade, pray you, awhile put down. You must stop working.
_Chr._ I can’t allow it indeed. (_Taking the spade._)
_Chr._ Hey! My word! what a weight it is!
_Chr._ Come! what’s all this? well take it again, but don’t refuse me A moment’s attention.
_Chr._ ’Tis a matter concerns you nearly: So leave your work, and come outside, and sit on the bench, Where we may talk.
_Men._ Whatever you have to say, Chremes, May be said here.
_Chr._ No doubt; but better as I propose: 20 I will not detain you long.
_Men._ (_sitting_). Well, as you will. And now in as few words as may be ... I am at your service.— Explain.
_Chr._ Menedemus, although our acquaintance has been but short, And only dates from the day you bought this piece of land. And came to live close by me: for little or nought but that Occasioned it, as you know: yet my respect for you, Or else your being a neighbour, for that itself, I take it, Counts in some sort as friendship, makes me bold and free To give you a piece of advice: the fact is, you seem to me 30 To be working here in a manner, which both to your time of life And station, is most unsuitable. What, in Heaven’s name, Can be your object? what do you drive at? To guess your age You are sixty years at least. There’s no one hereabouts Can shew a better farm, nor more servants upon it: And yet you do the work yourself, as tho’ you had none. Never do I go out, however early in the morning, Never come home again, however late at night, But here I see you digging, hoeing, or at all events Toiling at something or other. You are never a moment idle, 40 Nor shew regard for yourself. Now all this can’t be done For pleasure, that I am sure of, and as for any profit, Why, if you only applied half the energy To stirring up your servants, both you and your farm Would do much better.
_Men._ Have you so much spare time then, Chremes, Left from your own affairs to meddle with other people’s? The which moreover do not concern you.
_Chr._ I am a man. Nought which concerns mankind concerns not me, I think. Ere I advise, I’d first enquire what ’tis you do; 49 If well, to learn by example; if ill, then to dissuade.
_Men._ My duty is this: do you as best may suit yourself.