Asinaria, or The Ass-Dealer (327b-369b)

Well, well, I’ll wait your pleasure, even, in fact, till you die.

Where’s our master, pray?

The old one is at the Forum, the young one is here in-doors.

That’s enough for me then.

Is it then that you’ve become a rich man?

Leave off your raillery.

I’ll have done; for my ears are in expectation of what you are bringing me.

Give your attention, that equally with myself you may learn this.

I’m silent, then.

You oblige me. Don’t you remember that our chamberlain sold some Arcadian asses to a dealer of Pella[*]?

I remember it; after that, what then?

Well, he has sent some money here then to be paid to Saurea, for the asses; a young man has just now come who has brought this money.

Where is this person?

You think he ought to be devoured this instant, if you could see him.

Aye, to be sure. But, however, you are speaking, I suppose, of those asses,

aged and lame, whose hoofs were quite worn away to their very thighs?

Those same ones, that carried the elm twigs hither from the country, for your use.

I understand you; and the same ones carried you from here, bound, into the country[*].

You say what’s quite correct. But as I was sitting in the barber’s shop, he began to make enquiries of me, whether I knew a certain Demaenetus, the son of Strato.

At once I said that I knew him, and that I was his servant; and I pointed out our house.

After that, what then?

He said that he was bringing the money for the asses to the chamberlain Saurea, twenty minae in amount; but that he himself didn’t know the individual, who he was, but that he knew Demaenetus quite well.

Since he spoke thus to this effect—

What then?

Listen then, and you’ll know. At once I made myself courteous, and a person of consequence. I said that I was the chamberlain. Thus, in these terms did he answer me: Upon my faith, I don’t know Saurea, nor yet of what appearance he is. It isn’t fair for you to blame me; but if you like, bring here Demaenetus, your master, whom I do know; I’ll not prevent you taking the money then.

I said that I would bring him, and that I should be at home immediately. He’s about to go to the baths[*], from there he’ll afterwards come here. What plan do you think, now, I ought to adopt? Tell me.

Why, I’m thinking of this, how to get between the money, and the stranger, and Saurea.

At present this matter is rough-hewn; but if this stranger brings here the money first, then are we both at once shut out from it. But the old man to-day took me apart at a distance from the house, and threatened me and yourself that we should be tasters of the elm twigs, if Argyrippus didn’t this very day get twenty mine of silver.

He commanded that we should cheat either the chamberlain or his own wife, and said that he would give the aid he promised. Now, do you go to the Forum to our master, and tell him this, how we are going to manage; that you, from Leonida, are going to be the chamberlain Saurea, until the dealer has brought the money for the asses.

I’ll do as you request me.