Rudens, or The Fisherman's Rope (565-627b)

Surely, they are mine.

Surely, I know nothing about that.

Of what appearance are they?

Good-looking; I could even fall in love with either of them, if I were well liquored.

Surely, they are the damsels.

Surely, you are a nuisance; be off, go in and see, if you like.

These must be my wenches in here, my dear Charmides.

Jupiter confound you, both if they are and still if they are not.

I’ll straightway burst into this Temple of Venus here.

Into the bottomless pit, I would rather. (LABRAX rushes into the Temple, and shuts the door.) Prithee, stranger, show me some spot where I may go to sleep.

Go to sleep there, wherever you please (points to the ground); no one hinders, it’s free to the public.

But do you see me, in what wet clothes I’m dressed? Do take me under shelter; lend me some dry clothes,

while my own are drying; on some occasion I’ll return you the favour.

See, here’s my outer coat, which alone is dry; that, if you like, I’ll lend you. (Takes it off and holds it out to him.) In that same I’m wont to be clothed, by that same protected, when it rains. Do you give me those clothes of yours; I’ll soon have them dried.

How now, are you afraid that, as I’ve been washed bare[*] last night at sea, I mayn’t be made bare again here upon shore?

Wash you bare, or anoint you well, I don’t care one fig[*]. I shall never entrust anything to you unless upon a pledge being taken. Do you either sweat away or perish with cold, be you either sick or well. I’ll put up with no stranger-guest in my house; I’ve had disagreements enough.

What, are you off? (A pause.) He’s a trafficker in slaves for money[*]; whoever he is,

he has no bowels[*] of compassion. But why in my wretchedness am I standing here, soaking? Why don’t I rather go away from here into the Temple of Venus, that I may sleep off this debauch which I got with drinking last night against the bent of my inclination? Neptune has been drenching us with salt water as though we were Greek wines[*], and so he hoped that our stomachs might be vomited up with his salt draughts.

What need of words? If he had persisted in inviting us a little longer, we should have gone fast asleep there; as it is, hardly alive has he sent us off home. Now I’ll go see the Procurer, my boon companion, what he’s doing within.

In wondrous ways[*] do the Gods make sport of men, in wondrous fashions do they send dreams in sleep.

Not the sleeping, even, do they allow to rest. As, for example, I, this last night which has gone by, dreamed a wonderful and a curious dream. A she-ape seemed to be endeavouring to climb up to a swallow’s nest;

and she was not able thence to take them out. After that, the ape seemed to come to me to beg me to lend a ladder to her. I in these terms gave answer to the ape, that swallows are the descendants of Philomela[*] and of Progne.

I expostulated with her, that she might not hurt those of my country. But then she began to be much more violent, and seemed gratuitously to be threatening me with vengeance. She summoned me to a court of justice. Then, in my anger, I seemed to seize hold of the ape by the middle, in what fashion I know not;

and I fastened up with chains this most worthless beast. Now to what purpose I shall say that this dream tends, never have I this day been able to come to any conclusion. (A loud noise is heard in the Temple.) But what’s this noise that arises in this Temple of Venus, my neighbour? My mind’s in wonder about it.

O citizens of Cyrene, I implore your aid, countrymen, you who are near neighbours to these spots, bring aid to helplessness, and utterly crush a most vile attempt. Inflict vengeance, that the power of the wicked, who wish themselves to be distinguished by crimes, may not be stronger than of the guiltless.

Make an example for the shameless man, give its reward to modest virtue; cause that one may be allowed to live here rather under the control of the laws than of brute force. Hasten hither into the Temple of Venus; again do I implore your aid, you who are here at hand and who hear my cries.

Bring assistance to those who, after the recognized usage, have entrusted their lives to Venus and to the Priestess of Venus, under their protection.

Wring ye the neck of iniquity before it reaches yourselves.

What’s all this to-do?

By these knees of yours, I do entreat you, old gentleman, whoever you are—