Aulularia
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
813b
813b
LYCONIDES
813b
’Tis no other.
813c
813c
STROBILUS
813c
I’ll accost him.
813d
813d
LYCONIDES
813d
I’ll step outI’ll step out: It must be supposed that Strobilus is a good way down a street, which emerges on the stage right opposite the Spectators; while Lyconides is in the front of the stage, and consequently beyond the nearer end of the street. towards him. I do think that he has been, as I requested him, to the old woman, the nurse herself of this damsel.
338
338
STROBILUS
338
Why don’t I tell him that I’ve found this prize, and speak out? For that reason, I’ll beg of him to make me free. I’ll go and speak to him. (Addressing him.) I’ve found—
818b
818b
LYCONIDES
818b
What have you found?
818c
818c
STROBILUS
818c
Not that which the boys cry out that they’ve found in the beanFound in the bean: This is explained as meaning a little worm or weevil, which boys used to seek for in beans and other pulse, and which they called Midas.
819b
819b
LYCONIDES
819b
And are you trifling with me then, as you are in the habit of doing?
339
339
STROBILUS
339
Master, stop; I’ll speak out then; do listen.
820b
820b
LYCONIDES
820b
Come then, tell me.
820c
820c
STROBILUS
820c
I’ve found to-day, master very great riches.
821b
821b
LYCONIDES
821b
Where, pray?
821c
821c
STROBILUS
821c
A four pound potA four pound pot: Quadrilibris probably alludes to the capacity of the pot, and not its weight. It was probably a jar made to contain four pounds weight of liquid., I say, full of gold!
340
340
LYCONIDES
340
What crime is this that I hear of from you?
822a
822a
STROBILUS
822a
I’ve stolen it from this old fellow, Euclio.Part of line 822 in the Latin.
341
341
LYCONIDES
341
Where is this gold?
823b
823b
STROBILUS
823b
In my box at home; I now wish to be made free.
342
342
LYCONIDES
342
I, make you free, you fellow,
343
brimful of wickedness?
344
344
STROBILUS
344
Out upon you, master, I know what you would be at. Troth, I’ve cleverly tried your inclination; you were just getting ready to take it away from me; what would you do, if I had found it?
828b
828b
LYCONIDES
828b
You can’t make good your pretences. Come, give up the gold!
829b
829b
STROBILUS
829b
I, give up the gold?
829c
829c
LYCONIDES
829c
Give it up, I say, that it may be given back to him.
829d
829d
STROBILUS
829d
Where am I to get it from?
345
345
LYCONIDES
345
That which you confessed just now to be in your box.
830b
830b
STROBILUS
830b
I’ faith, I’m in the habit of talking nonsense;
831b
’twas in that way I was speaking.
831c
831c
LYCONIDES
831c
But do you know what?—
832b
832b
STROBILUS
832b
Even kill me outright, i’ faith, you never shall get it hence of me
834a
834a
STROBILUS
834a
— the pot belonging to the old fellow, which I’ve not got.
834b
834b
LYCONIDES
834b
I will have it, whether you will or no; when I’ve tied you up all fours, and torn asunder your body for you tied up to the beam. But why do I delay to rush upon the jaws of this rascal, and why this instant do I not compel his soul to take its journey before its timeBefore its time: —The expression used here by Urceus is capable of two modes of translation; the most delicate one has been preferred.? Are you going to give it me or not?
834c
834c
STROBILUS
834c
I will give it you.
834d
834d
LYCONIDES
834d
I want you to give it me now, and not at a future time.
834e
834e
STROBILUS
834e
I’ll give it now; but I entreat you to allow me to recover breath. (LYCONIDES lets him go.) Aha! What is it you want me to give you, master?
834f
834f
LYCONIDES
834f
Don’t you know, you rascal? And do you dare to refuse me the four pound pot full of gold which you just now said you had stolen? (Calling at the door.) Hallo there! Where now are the flogging men?
834g
834g
STROBILUS
834g
Master, do hear a few words. Lyc. I won’t hear; floggers, hallo there—hallo!
835a
835a
SLAVE.
835a
What’s the matter?
835b
835b
LYCONIDES
835b
I want the chains to be got ready.
835c
835c
STROBILUS
835c
Listen to me, I beg of you; afterwards order them to bind me as much as you please.
835d
835d
LYCONIDES
835d
I will hear you; but hasten the matter very quickly.
835e
835e
STROBILUS
835e
If you order me to be tortured to death, see what you obtain; in the first place, you have the death of your slave. Then, what you wish for you cannot get. But if you had only allured me by the reward of dear liberty, you would already have obtained your wish. Nature produces all men free, and by nature all desire freedom. Slavery is worse than every evil, than every calamity; and he whom Jupiter hates, him he first makes a slave.
835f
835f
LYCONIDES
835f
You speak not unwisely
835g
835g
STROBILUS
835g
Now then hear the rest. Our age has produced masters too grasping, whom I’m in the habit of calling Harpagos, Harpies, and Tantali, poor amid great wealth, and thirsty in the midst of the waters of Ocean; no riches are enough for them, not those of Midas, not of Crœsus; not all the wealth of the Persians can satisfy their Tartarean maw. Masters use their slaves rigorously, and slaves now obey their masters but tardily; so on neither side is that done which would be fair to be done. Their provisions, kitchens, and store-cellars, avaricious old fellows shut up with a thousand keys. Slaves, thievish, doubledealers, and artful, open for themselves things shut up with a thousand keys, which the owners hardly like to be granted to their lawful children, and stealthily do they carry off, consume, and lick them up—fellows that will never disclose their hundred thefts even at the gibbet; thus in laughter and joking do bad slaves take revenge upon their slavery. So then, I come to the conclusion that liberality renders slaves faithful.
835h
835h
LYCONIDES
835h
Rightly, indeed, have you spoken, but not in a few words, as you promised me. But if I do make you free, will you give me back what I’m asking for?
835i
835i
STROBILUS
835i
I will give it back; but I wish for witnesses to be present; you’ll pardon me, master, I trust you but little.
835j
835j
LYCONIDES
835j
Just as you please; let there be present even a hundred; then I shouldn’t care about it.
835k
835k
STROBILUS
835k
Megadorus, and you, Eunomia, please come here, I beg of you; the business finished, you shall return directly.
836a
836a
MEGADORUS
836a
Who’s calling us? Ha! Lyconides!
836b
836b
EUNOMIA
836b
Ha! Strobilus, what is the matter? Say.
836c
836c
LYCONIDES
836c
’Tis a short matter.
836d
836d
MEGADORUS
836d
What is it?
836e
836e
STROBILUS
836e
I’m calling you as witnesses. If I bring here a four pound pot full of gold and give it up to Lyconides, Lyconides makes me a free man, and orders me to be my own master. (To LYCONIDES.) Do you not promise me so?
836f
836f
LYCONIDES
836f
I do promise so.
836g
836g
STROBILUS
836g
Have you heard now what he has said?
836h
836h
MEGADORUS
836h
We have heard.
836i
836i
STROBILUS
836i
Swear, then, by Jupiter.
836j
836j
LYCONIDES
836j
Alas! to what I am reduced by the misfortunes of others! You are too insulting; still, I’ll do what he bids me.
836k
836k
STROBILUS
836k
Hark you, our generation hasn’t much confidence in people: the documents are signed; the twelve witnesses are present; the registrar writes down the time and the place; and still, the pleader is found to deny that it has been done.
836l
836l
LYE.
836l
But release me speedily, please.
836m
836m
STROBILUS
836m
Here, take this stone.
836n
836n
LYCONIDES
836n
If I knowingly deceive you, so may Jupiter reject from me his blessings, the city and citadel safe, as I do this stone. (He throws it.) Have I now satisfied you?
836o
836o
STROBILUS
836o
I am satisfied; and I’m going to bring the gold.
836p
836p
LYCONIDES
836p
Go with the speed of Pegasus, and return devouring the road with your rapid steps. (Exit STROBILUS.) Any impertinent slave, that wishes to be more wise than his master, is a nuisance to a decent man. Let this Strobilus be off as a free man to utter perdition, if he only brings me the pot full of pure gold, so that I may restore Euclio, my father-in-law, from his grief to joy, and obtain the favour of his daughter, who is just brought to bed by reason of my debauching her. But see! Strobilus is returning, loaded; as I guess, he’s bringing the pot; and, for sure, it is the pot that he’s carrying.
837a
837a
STROBILUS
837a
Lyconides, I bring you my findings that I promised—the four pound pot of gold; have I been long?
837b
837b
LYCONIDES
837b
Why, yes. (He takes some of the gold out of the pot.) O immortal Gods, what do I behold? Or what is it I hold? More than six hundred Philippean pieces, three or four times over. But let’s call out Euclio forthwith.
838a
838a
LYCONIDES
838a
Ho, Eucho, Euclio!
838b
838b
MEGADORUS
838b
Euclio, Euclio!
838c
838c
EUCLIO
838c
What’ the matter?
838d
838d
LYCONIDES
838d
Come down to us, for the Gods will you to be saved; we’ve got the pot.
838e
838e
EUCLIO
838e
Have you got it, or are you trifling with me?
838f
838f
LYCONIDES
838f
We’ve got it, I say. Now, if you can, fly down hither.
838g
838g
EUCLIO
838g
O great Jupiter! O household Divinity and Queen Juno! and Alcides, my treasurer! that at length you do show pity upon a wretched old man. (Taking the pot in his arms.) O my pot! O how aged I, your friend, do clasp you with joyful arms, and receive you with kisses; with a thousand embraces even I cannot be satisfied. O my hope! my heart! that dissipates my grief.
838h
838h
LYCONIDES
838h
I always thought that to be in want of gold was the worst thing for both boys and men, and all old people. Indigence compels boys to be guilty of misdeeds, men to thieve, and old men themselves to become beggars. But ’tis much worse, as I now see, to abound in gold beyond what’s necessary for us. Alas! what miseries has Euclio endured on account of the pot, that a little while since was lost by him!
838i
838i
EUCLIO
838i
To whom shall I give deserved thanks? Whether to the Gods, who show regard for good men, or to my friends, upright men, or to them both? Rather to both, I think; and first to you, Lyconides, the origin and author of so great a good; you do I present with this pot of gold; accept it with pleasure. I wish it to be your own, and my daughter as well, in the presence of Megadorus, and his good sister, Eunomia.
838j
838j
LYCONIDES
838j
The favour is received, and is returned, in thanks, as you deserve, Eucho, a father-in-law most acceptable to me.
838k
838k
EUCLIO
838k
I shall think the favour sufficiently returned to me, if you now receive with pleasure my gift, and myself as well for your father-in-law.
838l
838l
LYCONIDES
838l
I do receive it; and I wish my house to be that of Euclio.
838m
838m
STROBILUS
838m
What still remains, master,—remember now that I’m to be free.
838n
838n
LYCONIDES
838n
You’ve well put me in mind. Be you a free man, O Strobilus, for your deserts; and now prepare in-doors the dinner that has been so disturbed.
838o
838o
STROBILUS
838o
Spectators, the avaricious Euclio has changed his nature; he has suddenly become liberal; so, too, do you practise liberality; and if the play has pleased you well, loudly clap your hands.