Aulularia, or The Concealed Treasure (570-635)

By my troth, I really must not drink.

But I’ll order one cask of old wine to be brought from my house.

I’ faith, I won’t have it; for I’ve determined to drink water.

I’ll have you well drenched this day, if I live, you who have determined to drink water.

I know what plan he’s upon;

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.

Unless you want me for anything, I’m going to bathe, that I may sacrifice.

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

not to change thy name against me, if I entrust this to thee. Faith, I’ll come to thee, relying on thy fidelity.

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,

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

To thy fidelity[*] have I entrusted the gold; in thy grove and Temple is it placed.

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.

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.

It wasn’t for nothing that the raven was just now croaking on my left hand[*];

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?

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.

By my faith, you juggler, I’ll receive you now after a disagreable fashion.

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?

You out-and-out whipping-post, do you even ask that, you, not thief, but thrice-dotted thief.

What have I stolen from you?

Give me that back here, if you please.

What do you want me to give you back?

Do you ask me that?

As for me, I’ve taken nothing away from you.