Persa, or The Persian (247b-282)

Be off; he’s there at home. And I am carrying this pinewood tablet sealed, to Lemniselene, your mistress.

What’s written there.

If you don’t know, pretty much like yourself, I don’t know,

except soft words, perhaps.

I’m off.

And I’ll be off.

Move on then.

To Jove the opulent, the renowned, the son of Ops[*], the strong, the mighty in power, who riches, hopes, kind plenty does bestow, joyously and gratefully do I offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving,

inasmuch as in a friendly way they have bestowed for my friend this opportunity of satisfying his necessity and of borrowing the money, so that I can lend him aid in his need. Whereas I no more dreamed, or thought, or imagined that I should have this opportunity—that same has now fallen from heaven as it were.

For my master has sent me to Eretria[*]; he has given me the money to purchase some trained oxen for him; but he said that the fair would take place seven days hence;

a simpleton to trust this money to me whose propensity he knew; for this money I shall misapply in some other purpose: there were no oxen for me to buy. Now I’ll both promote the success of my friend, and will give my inclination full enjoyment. The pleasures that belong to a long time will I serve up in a single day. Crack, crack[*] it will be upon my back; I don’t care.

Now, to a person that is my friend I shall present these trained oxen from out of my purse; for this, in fact, is a delightful thing, handsomely to bite your thrice-dotted niggardly, antiquated, covetous, spiritless people, who against their servant seal up the saltcellar with the salt. It’s a virtue, when occasion prompts, to hold them in contempt. What will he do to me? He’ll order me to be beaten with stripes, the fetters to be put on. I may get a beating.

Don’t let him fancy that I shall go begging to him. Woe be unto him! Nothing new can now be inflicted upon me but what I have already experienced it. But see, here comes Paegnium, Toxilus’s boy.

My task that was set me I’ve finished; now I’m hastening home.

Stop, although you are in haste—Paegnium, listen to me.

You ought to buy a person, for you to desire to be obedient to you.

Stop there, I say.

You’d be giving some trouble, I fancy, if I were to be owing you anything,

who are now so troublesome.

You rascal, will you look back then?

I am aware of what age I am; for that reason you shall get off for this abuse with impunity.

Where is Toxilus, your master?

Wherever he pleases, and he don’t ask your advice.

Won’t you tell me, then, where he is, you villain?

I don’t know, I say, you elm-twig spoiler[*].

You are abusive to your senior.

As you deserved it first, do you put up with it. My master bade me hold my labour at his bidding, my tongue in freedom.

Will you not tell me, where is Toxilus?

I tell you that—you may go to perdition everlasting.

This day you shall be flogged with a rope’s end.