Pythius

• C. Canius, eques Romanus, cum se Syracusas contulisset, dicebat se hortulos aliquos emere velle,

  Gaius Canius, a Roman knight, when he had travelled to Syracuse, was saying that he was wanting to buy some small estate,
• quo invitare amicos et ubi se oblectare sine interpellatoribus posset.

  to which he would be able to invite his friends and where he would be able to amuse himself without interrupters.
• Quod cum percrebuisset, Pythius quidam, qui argentariam faciebat Syracusis, ei dixit se hortos habere, non venales quidem sed quibus Canius uti posset, si vellet, ut suis:

  When this had become well known, a certain Pythius, who used to run a bank in Syracuse, said to him that he had an estate, not indeed for sale but which Canius was able to use, if he wished, as if his own
• et simul ad cenam hominem in hortos invitavit.

  : and at the same time, he invited the man for dinner at his estate.
• cum ille promisisset, tum Pythius piscatores ad se convocavit,

  When he had accepted [the invitation], then Pythius summoned the fishermen to him,
• et ab eis petivit ut ante suos hortulos postridie piscarentur, dixitque quid eos facere vellet.

  and asked them to fish in front of his estate on the following day, and he said what he wished them to do
• ad cenam tempore venit Canius. cumbarum ante oculos multitudo; pro se quisque, quod ceperat, adferebat; ante pedes Pythii pisces deiciebantur.

  Canius came to dinner on time. Before his eyes there was a crowd of fishing boats; each man, according to his ability, was bring forth what he had caught. The fish were being thrown down at Pythius' feet.
• tum Canius "Quaeso" inquit "quid est hoc, Pythi? Quare tot pisces, tot cumbae?"

  Then Canius said: I ask, what is this, Pythius? Why so many fish? So many fishing boats?
• et ille "Quid mirum?" inquit "quidquid est piscium Syracusis est in hoc loco."

  And he said: 'What is surprising? All the fish there are in Syracuse are in this place.
• incensus Canius cupiditate contendit a Pythio ut venderet. recusavit ille primo.

  Canius, enflamed with desire begged Pythius to sell (the estate). At first, he refused.
• tandem tamen emit homo cupidus et dives tanti, quanti Pythius voluit.

  However, at last the greedy and rich man bought it for as much money as Pythius wanted.
• invitat Canius postridie familiares suos; venit ipse mature; cumbam nullam videt. quaerit a proximo vicino num feriae piscatorum essent."

  On the following day, Canius invited his close friends; he himself went early; he saw no fishing boat. He asked a nearby neighbour whether there was a fisherman's holiday.
• nullae, quod sciam" inquit "sed hic piscari nulli solent. itaque heri mirabar quid accidissent."

  He said 'there is no holiday, that I know of, but none are accustomed to fish here. And so, yesterday I was surprised at what had happened.
• iratissimus Canius; sed quid faceret?

  Canius was very angry, but what could he do?