Rudens, or The Fisherman's Rope (1215-1245)

But do make haste.

Very well.

Take care and let a dinner be prepared here at once.

Very well.

What, all very well?

Very well. But do you know what it is I want of you? That you’ll remember what you promised, that this day I’m to be free.

Very well[*].

Take care and entreat Plesidippus to give me my freedom.

Very well.

And let your daughter request it; she’ll easily prevail.

Very well.

And that Ampelisca may marry me, when I’m a free man.

Very well.

And that I may experience a pleasing return to myself in kindness for my actions.

Very well.

What, all very well?

Very well. Again I return you thanks. But do you make haste to proceed to the city forthwith, and betake yourself hither again.

Very well. I’ll be here directly. In the meanwhile, do you make the other preparations that are necessary.

Very well—

may Hercules ill befriend him with his very-welling[*]; he has so stuffed my ears with it. Whatever it was I said, very well was the answer.

How soon may I have a word with you, Daemones?

What’s your business, Gripus?

Touching that wallet, if you are wise, be wise; keep what goods the Gods provide you.

Does it seem right to you, that, what belongs to another I should assert to be my own?

What, not a thing that I found in the sea?

So much the better does it happen for him who lost it; none the more is it necessary that it should be your wallet.

For this reason are you poor because you are too scrupulously righteous.

O Gripus, Gripus, in the life of man very many traps there are, in what they are deceived by guile. And, by my troth, full often is a bait placed in them, which bait if any greedy person greedily snaps at, through his own greediness he is caught in the trap.

He who prudently, skilfully, and warily, takes precaution, full long he may enjoy that which is honestly acquired. This booty seems to me[*] to be about to be made a booty of by me, that it may go hence with a greater blessing than it first came. What, ought I to conceal what I know was brought to me as belonging to another?

By no means will my friend Daemones do that. ’Tis ever most becoming for prudent men to be on their guard against this, that they be not themselves confederates with their servants in evil-doing. Except only when I’m gaming, I don’t care for any gain.