The Dream, or the Cock (31-33)

Do you see him awake with his worries like the other, computing his interests and wearing his fingers tothe bone? And yet he will soon have to leave all this behind and become a beetle or a gnat or a dogfly.

I see an unfortunate, senseless man who even now lives little better than a beetle or a gnat. And how completely run down he is from his computations! Let’s go and see another.

Your friend Eucrates, if you like. See, this door has opened too, so let’s go in.

All this belonged to me a little while ago.

Why, are you still dreaming of your wealth? Do you see Eucrates and his servant, old man as he is. . .?

Yes, by Heaven, I see lust and sensuality and lewdness ill befitting a human being; and in another quarter I see his wife and the cook . . .

How about it? Would you be willing to inherit all this too, Micyllus, and have all that belongs to Eucrates?

Not on your life, cock! [I starve first! ‘To the deuce with your gold and your dinners; two obols is a fortune to me in comparison with being an easy mark for the servants.

Well, the day is just breaking, so let’s go home now; you shall see the rest of it some other time.