Aulularia, or The Concealed Treasure

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 579 sections

4.6.670
Troth, I very much wish that raven would come to me which gave me the warning, that I might say something kind to him; for I would as soon give him something to eat as lose it. Now I’m thinking of a lonely spot where I shall hide this. The grove of Sylvanus, outside of the wall, is unfrequented,
4.6.675
and planted with many a willow; there will I choose a spot. I’m determined to trust Sylvanus , rather than Faith.
4.6.677
Capital! capital! the Gods will me to be safe and preserved! Now will I run before to that place, and climb up into some tree, and thence will I watch where the old fellow hides the gold.
4.6.680
Although my master bade me remain here, I’m resolved rather to risk a mishap along with emolument.
4.7.682
I’ve told you all, mother; as well as I do myself, you understand all about the daughter of Euclio. Now, I do entreat you, my mother, make mention of it to my uncle, and I now unask of you, mother, that which before I entreated of you, to conceal this from Megadorus.
4.7.686
You know, yourself, that what you desire to be done, I desire, and I trust that I shall obtain this of my brother; and the reason is good, if ’tis so as you say, that in a drunken fit you debauched this damsel.
4.7.690
Could I, my mother, tell a falsehood in your presence?
4.7.691
I die, my nurse; my pangs are coming on! I entreat thee for thy protection, Juno Lucina!
4.7.692b
Ah! my mother, I see a more convincing proof for you; she’s crying aloud—she’s in the pangs of labour.
4.7.694
Come in-doors here, with me, my son, to my brother,
4.7.695
that I may obtain a grant from him of that which you beg of me.
4.7.696
Go; I’ll follow you this instant, mother. (EUNOMIA goes into the house.) But my servant, Strobilus, I wonder where he is, whom I ordered to wait here for me. Now I reflect with myself, if he’s lending me his assistance, it isn’t fair that I should be angry with him.
4.7.700
I’ll go in-doors, where they are sitting in judgment upon my life.
4.8.701
I, by myself, exceed the riches of the Griffins, who inhabit the golden mountains, For I’m unwilling to make mention of those other kings, beggarly fellows—I am the king Philip. O charming day!
4.8.705
for when I went from here, just now, I arrived there much the first, and, long before, I placed myself in a tree, and thence observed where the old fellow hid the gold. When he departed thence, I let myself down from the tree, and dug up the pot full of gold. Thence, from that spot,
4.8.710
I saw the old fellow betaking himself back again; he didn’t see me, for I turned a little on one side, out of the path. Heyday! here he comes himself. I’ll go and hide this away, at home.
4.9.713
I’m ruined! I’m done for! I’m murdered! Whither shall I run? Whither not run? Stop him—stop him. Whom? who? I don’t know. I see nothing! I’m going blindfold; and, in fact, whither I am going, or where I am, or who I am,
4.9.715
I can’t in my mind find out for certain. (To the AUDIENCE.) I beseech you, give me your aid (I beg and entreat of you), and point me out the person that has taken it away. What’s the matter? Why do you laugh? I’m acquainted with you all; I know that there are many thieves here, who conceal themselves with white clothes and chalk, and sit as though they were honest! (To one of the SPECTATORS.) What say you? You I’m resolved to believe; for I perceive, even by your looks, that you are honest.
4.9.720
Well then, none of these has got it? You’ve been the death of me! Tell me, then, who has got it? You don’t know? Oh,wretched, wretched me! I’m done for! wofully undone! In most sorry plight I go; so much groaning, and misfortune, and sorrow, has this day brought upon me, hunger and poverty, too. I’m the most utterly ruined of all men upon the earth! For what need of life have I, who have
4.9.725
lost so much gold that I so carefully watched? I pinched myself, and my inclinations, and my very heart! Now others are rejoicing at this, my loss and my misfortune! I cannot endure it.
4.9.727
What person, I wonder, is this before our house lamenting, and that utters complaints with his moaning? Why,surely, this is Euclio, as I imagine. I’m utterly undone! The thing’s all out; he knows now, as I suppose, that his daughter is brought to bed. I’m in a state of uncertainty now
4.9.730
what I shall do, whether go or remain, accost him or fly.
4.10.731
What person is it that speaks there?
4.10.731b
’Tis I, wretch that I am.
4.10.731c
Yes, and so am I, and wretchedly ruined, whose lot is misfortune so great and sorrow.
4.10.732b
Be of good courage.
4.10.733
How, prithee, can I be so?
4.10.733b
Because that deed which is afflicting your mind, I did it, and I confess it.
4.10.734b
What is it I hear from you?
4.10.735
That which is the truth.
4.10.735b
What evil, young man, have I deserved, by reason of which you should do thus, and go to ruin both me and my children?
4.10.737
A Divinity was my prompter; he prompted me to do it.
4.10.737b
How?
4.10.738
I confess that I have done wrong, and I know that I deserve censure; for that reason I’m come to beseech you, that, with feelings assuaged, you will pardon me.
4.10.740
Why did you dare do so, to touch that which was not your own?
4.10.741
What do you wish to be done? The thing has been done; it can’t be undone. I believe that the Gods willed it, for if they hadn’t willed it, I know it wouldn’t have happened.
4.10.743
But I believe that the Gods have willed that I should be the death of you in fetters.
4.10.744
Don’t say that!
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What business then have you to touch what is my own against my will?
4.10.745
Because I did it under the evil influence of wine and love.
4.10.745b
Most audacious man, that you should dare to come here to me with that speech, you impudent fellow! For if this is lawful, so that you may be able to excuse it—let us openly, in broad daylight, plunder their golden trinkets from ladies—after that, if we are caught, let us excuse ourselves, that we did it when intoxicated,
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by reason of being in love. Too cheap are wine and love, if one in liquor and in love is allowed to do with impunity whatever he pleases.
4.10.752
But I come to you of my own accord to supplicate you on account of my folly.
4.10.753
Persons don’t please me, who, when they’ve done wrong, excuse themselves. You knew that you had no right there; you oughtn’t to have touched.
4.10.755
Therefore, inasmuch as I did dare to touch, I make no objection to keep by all means.
4.10.756b
You, keep what is my own against my will?
4.10.757
Against your will, I do not ask; but I think that that which was yours ought to be mine. Moreover, Euclio, you’ll find, I say, that mine it ought to be.
4.10.759
Now really, on my word, I’ll drag you to the Praetor and take proceedings against you,
4.10.760
unless you make restitution.
4.10.760b
Make restitution of what to you?
4.10.760c
What you’ve stolen of mine.
4.10.761
I, stolen of yours? Whence, or what is it?
4.10.761b
So shall Jupiter love you, how ignorant you are about it!
4.10.762b
Unless, indeed, you tell me what you are enquiring for.
4.10.763
The pot of gold, I say, I’m asking back of you, which you confessed to me that you had taken away.
4.10.764b
By my faith, I’ve neither said so, nor have I done it.
4.10.764c
Do you deny it?
4.10.765
Yes, I do utterly deny it; for neither the gold nor yet this pot, what it means, do I know or understand.
4.10.766b
Give me up that pot which you took away from the wood of Sylvanus. Come, give it me back! I would rather give you the one-half of it. Although you are a thief to me, I’ll not be hard upon the thief. Give it me back.
4.10.769
You are not in your senses, to call me a thief; I thought, Euclio, that you
4.10.770
had come to the knowledge of another matter; as concerns myself, it is a great matter which I wish to speak with you upon at your leisure, if you are at leisure.
4.10.772
Tell me, in good faith, have you not stolen that gold?
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In good faith, No.
4.10.773
Nor know who has taken it away?
4.10.773b
In good faith, No, to that as well.
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But if you should know who has taken it away, will you discover it to me?
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I will do so.
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Nor accept of a share from him,
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whoever he is, for yourself, nor harbour the thief?
4.10.775b
Even so.
4.10.776
What if you deceive me?
4.10.776b
Then may great Jupiter do unto me what he pleases.
4.10.777
I’m satisfied. Come, then, say what you wish.
4.10.777b
If you know me but imperfectly, of what family I’m born: Megadorus here is my uncle; Antimachus was my father; my name is Lyconides;
4.10.780
Eunomia is my mother.
4.10.780b
I know the family; now, what do you want?
4.10.781b
I want to know this. You have a daughter of yours?
4.10.781c
Why, yes, she’s there at home.
4.10.782
You have, I think, recently betrothed her to my uncle?
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You have the whole matter.
4.10.783
He has now bade me announce to you his refusal of her.
4.10.784
A refusal, when the things are got ready, and the wedding’s prepared?
4.10.785
May all the immortal Gods and Goddesses confound him, so far as is possible, by reason of whom this day, unhappy wretch that I am, I have lost so much gold!
4.10.787
Be of good heart, and speak in kindly terms; now, a thing—may it turn out well and prosperously to you and your daughter.—May the Gods so grant—say.
4.10.789
May the Gods so grant.
4.10.789b
And for me, too, may the Gods so grant it. Now, then, do you listen.
4.10.790
The man that admits a fault is not so much to be despised, if he feels a sense of shame when he excuses himself. Now, Euclio, I do beseech you, that what unawares I have done wrong towards yourself or your daughter, you will grant me pardon for the same, and give her for a wife to me, as the laws demand. I confess that I did violence to your daughter
4.10.795
on the festival of Ceres, by reason of wine and the impulse of youth.
4.10.796
Woe is me! What shocking deed do I hear of you?
4.10.796b
Why do you exclaim? You whom I’ve made to be a grandfather now at the very wedding of your daughter. For your daughter has just been brought to bed in the ninth month after—calculate the number; for that reason, in my behalf, has my uncle sent his refusal.
4.10.800
Go in-doors; enquire whether it is so or not as I say.
4.10.800b
I’m undone utterly; so very many misfortunes unite themselves for my undoing. I’ll go in-doors, that I may know what of this is true.
4.10.802b
I’ll follow you this instant. This matter seems now to be pretty nearly in the haven of safety. Now, where to say my servant Strobilus is, I don’t know,
4.10.805
but yet I’ll wait here still a little while; after that I’ll follow this man indoors; now, in the meantime, I’ll give him leisure to enquire of the nurse about my doings, the attendant of his daughter, whether she knows the truth.
5.1.808
Immortal Gods, with what and how great delights do you present me! I’ve got a four pound pot filled with gold; who there is richer than I?
5.1.810
What man is there greater than I at Athens now; any one, I mean, to whom the Gods are propitious?
5.1.811
Why, surely, I seemed just now to hear the voice of some one speaking here.
5.1.811b
Ha! do I not see my master?
5.1.812b
Do I see Strobilus now, my servant?
5.1.813
’Tis he himself.

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.