Aulularia, or The Concealed Treasure (835f-838f)

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.

Megadorus, and you, Eunomia, please come here, I beg of you; the business finished, you shall return directly.

Who’s calling us? Ha! Lyconides!

Ha! Strobilus, what is the matter? Say.

’Tis a short matter.

What is it?

I’m calling you as witnesses. If I bring here a four pound pot full of gold and give it up to Lyconides, Lyconides makes me a free man, and orders me to be my own master. (To LYCONIDES.) Do you not promise me so?

I do promise so.

Have you heard now what he has said?

We have heard.

Swear, then, by Jupiter.

Alas! to what I am reduced by the misfortunes of others! You are too insulting; still, I’ll do what he bids me.

Hark you, our generation hasn’t much confidence in people: the documents are signed; the twelve witnesses are present; the registrar writes down the time and the place; and still, the pleader is found to deny that it has been done.

But release me speedily, please.

Here, take this stone.

If I knowingly deceive you, so may Jupiter reject from me his blessings, the city and citadel safe, as I do this stone. (He throws it.) Have I now satisfied you?

I am satisfied; and I’m going to bring the gold.

Go with the speed of Pegasus, and return devouring the road with your rapid steps. (Exit STROBILUS.) Any impertinent slave, that wishes to be more wise than his master, is a nuisance to a decent man. Let this Strobilus be off as a free man to utter perdition, if he only brings me the pot full of pure gold, so that I may restore Euclio, my father-in-law, from his grief to joy, and obtain the favour of his daughter, who is just brought to bed by reason of my debauching her. But see! Strobilus is returning, loaded; as I guess, he’s bringing the pot; and, for sure, it is the pot that he’s carrying.

Lyconides, I bring you my findings that I promised—the four pound pot of gold; have I been long?

Why, yes. (He takes some of the gold out of the pot.) O immortal Gods, what do I behold? Or what is it I hold? More than six hundred Philippean pieces, three or four times over. But let’s call out Euclio forthwith.

Ho, Eucho, Euclio!

Euclio, Euclio!

What’ the matter?

Come down to us, for the Gods will you to be saved; we’ve got the pot.

Have you got it, or are you trifling with me?

We’ve got it, I say. Now, if you can, fly down hither.