Aulularia, or The Concealed Treasure

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 579 sections

3.5.505
Now, go where you will, you may see more carriages among the houses than in the country when you go to a farm-house. But this is even light, in comparison with when they ask for their allowance; there stands the scourer, the embroiderer, the goldsmith, the woollen-manufacturer, retail dealers in figured skirts, dealers in women’s under-clothing,
3.5.510
dyers in flame-colour, dyers in violet, dyers in wax-colour, or else sleeve-makers, or perfumers; wholesale linendrapers, shoemakers, squatting cobblers, slipper-makers; sandal makers stand there; stainers in mallow colour stand there;
3.5.515
hairdressers make their demands, botchers their demands; boddice-makers stand there; makers of kirtles take their stand. Now you would think them got rid of; these make way, others make their demands; three hundred duns are standing in your hall; weavers, lace-makers, cabinet-makers,
3.5.520
are introduced; the money’s paid them. You would think them got rid of by this; when dyers in saffron colours come sneaking along; or else there’s always some horrid plague or other which is demanding something.
3.5.523
I would accost him, if I didn’t fear that he would cease to descant upon the ways of women; for the present I’ll leave him as he is.
3.5.525
When the money has been paid to all the nicknack mongers, for these saffron-coloured garments and stomachers, your wife’s expenses, then at the last comes the tax-gatherer and asks for money. You go, your account is being made up with your banker; the tax-gatherer waits, half-starved, and thinks the money will be paid. When the account has been made up with the banker,
3.5.530
even already is the husband himself in debt to the banker, and the hopes of the tax-gatlherer are postponed to another day. These, and many others, are the inconveniences and intolerable expenses of great portions; but she who is without portion is in the power of her husband;
3.5.535
the portioned ones overwhelm their husbands with loss and ruin. But see; here’s my connexion by marriage before the house! How do you do, Euclio?
3.6.537
With very great pleasure have I listened to your discourse.
3.6.538
Did you hear me?
3.6.538b
Everything from the very beginning.
3.6.539
Still, in my way of thinking indeed, you would be acting a little more becomingly
3.6.540
if you were more tidy at the wedding of your daughter.
3.6.541
Those who have display according to their circumstances and splendour according to their means, remember themselves, from whence they are sprung; neither by myself, Megadorus, nor by any poor man, are better circumstances enjoyed than appearances warrant.
3.6.545
Surely they are; and may the Gods, I hope, make them so to be, and more and more may they prosper that which you now possess.
3.6.547
That expression don’t please me, which you now possess. He knows that I’ve got this, as well as I do myself: the old woman has discovered it to him.
3.6.549
Why do you separate yourself thus alone, apart from the Senate ?
3.6.550
Troth, I was considering whether I should accuse you deservedly.
3.6.550b
What’s the matter?
3.6.551
Do you ask me what’s the matter? You who have filled every corner in my house, for wretched me, with thieves? You who have introduced into my dwelling five hundred cooks, with six hands a-piece, of the race of Geryon,
3.6.555
whom were Argus to watch, who was eyes all over, that Juno once set as a spy upon Jupiter, he never could watch them; a music-girl besides, who could alone drink up for me the Corinthian fountain of Pirene, if it were flowing with wine?
3.6.560
And then as to provisions—
3.6.560b
Troth, there’s enough for a procurer even. I sent as much as a lamb.
3.6.561b
Than which lamb, I, indeed, know right well that there is nowhere a more curious beast existing.
3.6.563
I wish to know of you why is this lamb curious?
3.6.564
Because it’s all skin and bone, so lean is it with care;
3.6.565
why, even when alive, by the light of the sun you may look at its entrails; it’s just as transparent as a Punic lantern.
3.6.567
I bought it to be killed.
3.6.567b
Then it’s best that you likewise should bargain for it to be carried out for burial; for I believe it’s dead by this time.
3.6.569
Euclio, I wish this day to have a drinking with you.
3.6.570
By my troth, I really must not drink.
3.6.570b
But I’ll order one cask of old wine to be brought from my house.
3.6.572
I’ faith, I won’t have it; for I’ve determined to drink water.
3.6.573
I’ll have you well drenched this day, if I live, you who have determined to drink water.
3.6.574b
I know what plan he’s upon;
3.6.575
he’s aiming at this method, to overcome me with wine, and after that, to change the settlement of what I possess: I’ll take care of that, for I’ll hide it somewhere out of doors. I’ll make him lose his wine and his trouble together.
3.6.579
Unless you want me for anything, I’m going to bathe, that I may sacrifice.
3.6.580
By my faith, you pot (taking it from under his cloak), you surely have many enemies, and that gold as well which is entrusted to you! Now this is the best thing to be done by me, to take you away, my pot, to the Temple of Faith, where I’ll hide you carefully. Faith, thou dost know me, and I thee; please, do have a care
3.6.585
not to change thy name against me, if I entrust this to thee. Faith, I’ll come to thee, relying on thy fidelity.
4.1.587
This is the duty of a good servant, to do what I’m intending, not to consider the commands of his master a bore or trouble to him. For that servant who resolves to serve his master with hearty goodwill,
4.1.590
him it behoves to act expeditiously for his master, slowly for himself; but if he sleeps, let him so sleep as to bethink himself that he is a servant. But he who lives in servitude to one in love, as I am serving, if he sees love overcoming his master, this I think to be the duty of the servant; to restrain him for his safety, not to impel him onwards towards his own inclination.
4.1.595
Just as a float of bulrushes is placed beneath boys who are learning to swim, by means of which they may labour less, so as to swim more easily and move their hands; in the same way do I consider that it is proper for the servant to be a buoy to his master thus in love, so as to bear him up lest he should go to the bottom; and so should he learn the will of his master, that his eyes should know what his mouth chooses not to speak.
4.1.600
What he orders, he should hasten to perform more swiftly than the swift steeds. He who shall have a care for these things, will escape the castigation of the ox’s hide, nor by his own means will he ever bring the fetters to brightness. Now, my master’s in love with the daughter of this poor man, Euclio; word has just now been brought to my master that she is given to Megadorus here:
4.1.605
he has sent me here to spy out, that he may be made acquainted with the things that are going on. Now, without any suspicion, I’ll sit here by the sacred altar . From this spot I shall be able, in this direction and that, to witness what they are about.
4.2.608
O Goddess Faith, do thou but take care not to discover to any person that my gold is there. I have no fear that any one will find it, so well is it concealed in its hiding place.
4.2.610
By my troth, he will surely have a charming booty there, if any one shall meet with that pot loaded with gold. But I entreat thee, Faith, to hinder that. Now I shall go wash me, that I may perform the sacrifice; so that I may not delay my new connexion by marriage, but that, when he sends to me, he may forthwith take my daughter home. Over and over again now, Goddess Faith, do thou take care that I shall carry away the pot safe from thy Temple.
4.2.615
To thy fidelity have I entrusted the gold; in thy grove and Temple is it placed.
4.2.616
Immortal Gods, what a deed did I hear this person speaking of, how that he had hidden here, in the Temple of Faith, a pot filled with gold; prithee, beware you, how you are more faithful to him than to myself! And he, as I fancy, is the father of her whom my master’s in love with.
4.2.620
I’ll go hence into it; I’ll thoroughly ransack the Temple, to see if I can anywhere find the gold, while he’s engaged. But if I do find it, O Goddess Faith, I’ll offer to thee a gallon jug full of honeyed wine, that I’ll surely offer to thee; but I’ll drink it up myself, when I have offered it.
4.3.624
It wasn’t for nothing that the raven was just now croaking on my left hand;
4.3.625
he was both scratching the ground with his feet and croaking with his voice. At once my heart began to jump about , and to leap within my breast. But why do I delay to run?
4.4.628
Out, out, you earthworm, who have this instant crept out of the earth; who just now were nowhere seen, and now that you are seen shall die for it.
4.4.630
By my faith, you juggler, I’ll receive you now after a disagreable fashion.
4.4.631
What the curst plague does ail you? What business have you with me, old fellow? Why do you torment me? Why are you dragging me? For what reason are you beating me?
4.4.633
You out-and-out whipping-post, do you even ask that, you, not thief, but thrice-dotted thief.
4.4.634
What have I stolen from you?
4.4.634b
Give me that back here, if you please.
4.4.634c
What do you want me to give you back?
4.4.634d
Do you ask me that?
4.4.635
As for me, I’ve taken nothing away from you.
4.4.635b
But give up that which you have taken away for yourself. Are you going to do so?
4.4.636b
Do what?
4.4.636c
You can’t carry it off.
4.4.636d
What do you want?
4.4.637
Lay it down.
4.4.637b
Troth, for my part, I think that you are in the habit of quizzing, old gentleman.
4.4.638
Put that down, please; cease your quibbling; I’m not trifling now.
4.4.639
What am I to put down? Why don’t you mention it, whatever it is, by its own name?
4.4.640
By my faith, I really have neither taken nor touched anything.
4.4.640b
Show me your hands, here.
4.4.641
Well, I do show them; see, here they are.
4.4.641b
I see them. Come, show me the third, as well.
4.4.642
Sprites, and frenzy, and madness, possess this old fellow. Are you doing me an injustice, or not?
4.4.643b
A very great one, I confess, inasmuch as you are not strung up; and that too shall be done this moment, un less you do confess.
4.4.644b
What am I to confess to you?
4.4.645
What it was you took away hence.
4.4.645b
May the Gods confound me, if I’ve taken away anything of yours, (aside) and if I don’t wish I had taken it away.
4.4.646b
Come then, shake out your cloak.
4.4.647
At your pleasure.
4.4.647b
You haven’t it among your under-clothing?
4.4.647c
Search where you please.
4.4.648
Pshaw! how civilly the rascal speaks, that I mayn’t suppose he has taken it away! I know your tricks. Come, show me here again that right hand.
4.4.650b
Here it is.
4.4.650c
Now show me your left.
4.4.650d
Well, then, I show you both, in fact.
4.4.651
Now I leave off searching. Give back that here.
4.4.651b
Give back what?
4.4.651c
Are you trifling with me? You certainly have got it.
4.4.652b
I, got it? Got what?
4.4.652c
I shan’t say; you want to hear. Whatever you have of mine, give it back.
4.4.653b
You are mad; you’ve searched me all over at your own pleasure, and yet you’ve found nothing of yours in my possession.
4.4.655
Stop, stop; who was that? Who was the other that was within here, together with yourself? Troth, I’m undone; he’s now rummaging about within. If I let this one go, he’ll escape. At last, I’ve now searched this one all over; he has got nothing. Be off where you please;
4.4.658
Jupiter and the Gods confound you!
4.4.658b
He returns his thanks not amiss.
4.4.659
I’ll go in here now, and I’ll at once throttle this accomplice of yours. Will you not fly hence from my sight? Will you away from here, or no?
4.4.660b
I’m off.
4.4.660c
Take you care, please, how I see you.
4.5.661
I would rather that I were dead outright, by a shocking death, than not lay an ambush this day for that old fellow. But he’ll not venture now to hide his gold here; he’ll now be carrying it with him, I guess, and be changing the spot.
4.5.665
But hark! there’s a noise at the door. (Looking in the direction of the Temple.) See, the old fellow’s bringing out the gold with him! Meanwhile, I’ll step aside here to the door.
4.6.667
I had thought that there was the very greatest dependence upon Faith; very nearly had she played me a pretty trick. If the raven hadn’t come to my assistance, to my sorrow I should have been undone.

Perseus Latin. CTS URN phi0119.phi003.perseus-eng2. Via the Perseus Digital Library / Open Greek and Latin TEI corpora. Licence: Available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source.