Rudens, or The Fisherman's Rope (877-935)

Do you still resist?

I’m undone.

I trust that may prove the truth. You, my dear Palaestra and Ampelisca, do you remain here in the meanwhile, until I return hither.

I would advise them

rather to go to our house, until you return.

I’m quite agreable; you act obligingly.

You are thieves to me.

How, thieves?

Lead him along.[*]

I pray and entreat you, Palaestra.

Follow, you hang-dog.

Guest, Charmides!

I am no guest of yours; I repudiate your hospitality.

What, do you slight me in this fashion?

I do so; I’ve been drinking with you once already[*].

May the Deities confound you.

To that person of yours, say that. (PLESIDIPPUS leads LABRAX off, followed by the SERVANTS.) I do believe that men are transformed, each into a different beast. That Procurer, I guess, is transformed into a stock-dove[*]; for, before long, his neck will be in the stocks. He’ll to-day be building his nest in the gaol.

Still, however, I’ll go, that I may be his advocate,—if by my aid he may possibly be sentenced any the sooner.

’Twas rightly done, and it is a pleasure this day for me to have given aid to these young women; I have now found some dependants, and both of them of comely looks and youthful age.

But my plaguy wife is watching me in all ways, lest I should be giving any hint to the young women. But I wonder what in the world my servant Gripus is about, who went last night to the sea to fish. Troth, he had done wiser if he had slept at home;

for now he throws away both his pains and his nets, seeing what a storm there now is and was last night. I’ll thoroughly cook upon my fingers what he has caught to-day; so violently do I see the ocean heaving. (A bell rings.) But my wife’s calling me to breakfast; I’ll return home.

She’ll now be filling my ears with her silly prating.

These thanks do I return to Neptune, my patron, who dwells in the salt retreats, the abode of fishes, inasmuch as he has despatched me finely laden on my return from his retreats, and from his Temples, laden with most abundant booty,

with safety to my boat, which in the stormy sea made me master of a singular and rich haul. In a wondrous and incredible manner has this haul turned out prosperously for me, nor yet have I this day taken a single ounce weight of fish, but only that which I am here bringing with me in my net.

For when I arose in the middle of the night, and without sloth, I preferred profit to sleep and rest; in the raging tempest, I determined to try how I might lighten the poverty of my master and my own servitude, not sparing of my own exertions.

Most worthless is the man that is slothful, and most detestably do I hate that kind of men. It behoves him to be vigilant who wishes to do his duty in good time; for it befits him not to be waiting until his master arouses him to his duties. For those who sleep on for the love of it, rest without profit to themselves and to their own cost.

But now I, who have not been slothful, have found that for myself through which to be slothful if I should choose.

(Points to the wallet.) This have I found in the sea to-day; whatever’s in it, it’s something heavy that’s in it; I think it’s gold that’s in it. And not a single person is there my confidant in the matter. Now, Gripus, this opportunity has befallen you, that the Praetor[*] might make you a free man from among the multitude. Now, thus shall I do, this is my determination; I’ll come to my master cleverly and cunningly, little by little I’ll promise money for my freedom, that I may be free.

Now, when I shall be free, then, in fine, I’ll provide me land and houses[*] and slaves: I’ll carry on merchandize with large ships: among the grandees I shall be considered a grandee. Afterwards, for the sake of pleasing myself, I’ll build me a ship and I’ll imitate Stratonicus[*], and I’ll be carried about from town to town. When my greatness is far-spread, I shall fortify some great city: to that city I shall give the name of Gripus,

a memorial of my fame and exploits, and there I’ll establish a mighty kingdom. I am resolving here in my mind to prepare for mighty matters. At present I’ll hide this booty. But this grandee (pointing to himself) is about to breakfast upon vinegar[*] and salt, without any good substantial meat.