Aulularia, or The Concealed Treasure (731-832b)

What person is it that speaks there?

'Tis I, wretch that I am.

Yes, and so am I, and wretchedly ruined, whose lot is misfortune so great and sorrow.

Be of good courage.

How, prithee, can I be so?

Because that deed which is afflicting your mind, I did it, and I confess it.

What is it I hear from you?

That which is the truth.

What evil, young man, have I deserved, by reason of which you should do thus, and go to ruin both me and my children?

A Divinity was my prompter; he prompted me to do it

How?

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.

Why did you dare do so, to touch that which was not your own?

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.

But I believe that the Gods have willed that I should be the death of you in fetters.

Don't say that!

What business then have you to touch what is my own against my will?

Because I did it under the evil influence of wine and love.

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, 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.

But I come to you of my own accord to supplicate you on account of my folly.

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

Therefore, inasmuch as I did dare to touch, I make no objection to keep by all means.

You, keep what is my own against my will?

Against your will, I do not ask; but I think that that which was yours ought to be mine

Now really, on my word, I'll drag you to the Prætor and take proceedings[*] against you,

Make restitution of what to you?

What you've stolen of mine.

I, stolen of yours? Whence, or what is it?

So shall Jupiter love you, how ignorant you are about it!

Unless, indeed, you tell me what you are enquiring for.

The pot of gold, I say, I'm asking back of you, which you confessed to me that you had taken away.

By my faith, I've neither said so, nor have I done it.

Do you deny it?

Yes, I do utterly deny it; for neither the gold nor yet this pot, what it means, do I know or understand.

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.

You are not in your senses, to call me a thief; I thought, Euclio, that you 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.

Tell me, in good faith, have you not stolen that gold?

In good faith, No.

Nor know who has taken it away?

In good faith, No, to that as well.

But if you should know who has taken it away, will you discover it to me?

I will do so.

Nor accept of a share from him, whoever he is, for yourself, nor harbour the thief?

Even so.

What if you deceive me?

Then may great Jupiter do unto me what he pleases.

I'm satisfied. Come, then, say what you wish.

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; Eunomia is my mother.

I know the family; now, what do you want?

I want to know this. You have a daughter of yours?

Why, yes, she's there at home.

You have, I think, recently betrothed her to my uncle?

You have the whole matter.

He has now bade me announce to you his refusal of her

A refusal, when the things are got ready, and the wedding's prepared? 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!

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.

May the Gods so grant.

And for me, too, may the Gods so grant it. Now, then, do you listen. 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 on the festival of Ceres, by reason of wine and the impulse of youth.

Woe is me! What shocking deed do I hear of you?

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

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. He goes into his house.

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, 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. Moves as if going.

to himself. 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?

to himself. Why, surely, I seemed just now to hear the voice of some one speaking here.

to himself. Ha! do I not see my master?

to himself. Do I see Strobilus now, my servant?

to himself. 'Tis he himself.

to himself. 'Tis no other.

to himself. I'll accost him.

to himself. I'll step out[*] towards him. I do think that he has been, as I requested him, to the old woman, the nurse herself of this damsel.

to himself. Why don't I tell him that I've found this prize, and speak out? For that reason, I'll beg of him to make me free. I'll go and speak to him. Addressing him. I've found—

What have you found?

Not that which the boys cry out that they've found in the bean[*].

And are you trifling with me then, as you are in the habit of doing? He turns as if to go away.

Master, stop; I'll speak out then; do listen.

Come then, tell me.

I've found to-day, master very great riches.

Where, pray?

A four pound pot

What crime is this that I hear of from you?

I've stolen it from this old fellow, Euclio.

Where is this gold?

In my box at home; I now wish to be made free.

I, make you free, you fellow, brimful of wickedness?

Out upon you, master, I know what you would be at. Troth, I've cleverly tried your inclination; you were just getting ready to take it away from me; what would you do, if I had found it?

You can't make good your pretences. Come, give up the gold!

I, give up the gold?

Give it up, I say, that it may be given back to him.

Where am I to get it from?

That which you confessed just now to be in your box.

I' faith, I'm in the habit of talking nonsense; 'twas in that way I was speaking.

seizinq him. But do you know what?—

Even kill me outright, i' faith, you never shall get it hence of me ⋯ [*] A SUPPLEMENT TO THE AULULARIA BY CODRUS URCEUS.

— the pot belonging to the old fellow, which I've not got.

I will have it, whether you will or no; when I've tied you up all fours, and torn asunder your body for you tied up to the beam. But why do I delay to rush upon the jaws of this rascal, and why this instant do I not compel his soul to take its journey before its time[*]? Are you going to give it me or not?

I will give it you.

I want you to give it me now, and not at a future time.

I'll give it now; but I entreat you to allow me to recover breath. LYCONIDES lets him go. Aha! What is it you want me to give you, master?

Don't you know, you rascal? And do you dare to refuse me the four pound pot full of gold which you just now said you had stolen? Calling at the door. Hallo there! Where now are the flogging men?

Master, do hear a few words. Lyc. I won't hear; floggers, hallo there—hallo!

What's the matter?

I want the chains to be got ready.

Listen to me, I beg of you; afterwards order them to bind me as much as you please.

I will hear you; but hasten the matter very quickly.

If you order me to be tortured to death, see what you obtain; in the first place, you have the death of your slave. Then, what you wish for you cannot get. But if you had only allured me by the reward of dear liberty, you would already have obtained your wish. Nature produces all men free, and by nature all desire freedom. Slavery is worse than every evil, than every calamity; and he whom Jupiter hates, him he first makes a slave.

You speak not unwisely

Now then hear the rest. Our age has produced masters too grasping, whom I'm in the habit of calling Harpagos, Harpies, and Tantali, poor amid great wealth, and thirsty in the midst of the waters of Ocean; no riches are enough for them, not those of Midas, not of Crœsus; not all the wealth of the Persians can satisfy their Tartarean maw. Masters use their slaves rigorously, and slaves now obey their masters but tardily; so on neither side is that done which would be fair to be done. Their provisions, kitchens, and store-cellars, avaricious old fellows shut up with a thousand keys. Slaves, thievish, doubledealers, and artful, open for themselves things shut up with a thousand keys, which the owners hardly like to be granted to their lawful children, and stealthily do they carry off, consume, and lick them up—fellows that will never disclose their hundred thefts even at the gibbet; thus in laughter and joking do bad slaves take revenge upon their slavery. So then, I come to the conclusion that liberality renders slaves faithful.

Rightly, indeed, have you spoken, but not in a few words, as you promised me. But if I do make you free, will you give me back what I'm asking for?

I will give it back; but I wish for witnesses to be present; you'll pardon me, master, I trust you but little.

Just as you please; let there be present even a hundred; then I shouldn't care about it.

going to the door of the house of MEGADORUS. Megadorus, and you, Eunomia, please come here, I beg of you; the business finished, you shall return directly.