The Cock (30-31)

Such, Mikyllos, is the state of affairs with Simon. Let us be off to some one else while there is still a little of the night left.

Poor devil, what a life he leads. May my enemies get rich like him! I want to give him one good thump and then go off.

Who struck me? I am robbed, wretched man!

Bemoan yourself and lie awake, and stick to your gold till you turn to the color of it! Let us go, if you please, to see Gniphon, the money-lender. He lives near by. This door, too, opened of itself.

See, he is awake with his cares like the other, calculating his interest with his fingers stiff already. He must soon leave all these behind and turn to a book-worm or a carrion-fly.

I see a wretched, senseless human being, whose life now is not much better than a worm's or a gnat's. He, too, is worn to the bone with his accounts.