Rudens, or The Fisherman's Rope (963b-1002b)

What do you mean?

And in what manner it was lost.

But I know in what manner it was found;

and I know the person who found it, and who is now the owner. That, I’ faith, is not a bit the more your matter than it is my own. I know the person to whom it now belongs; you, the person to whom it formerly belonged. This shall no individual get away from me; don’t you be expecting to get it in a hurry.

If the owner comes, shan’t he get it away?

That you mayn’t be mistaken, no born person is there that’s owner of this but my own self—who took this in my own fishing.

Was it really so?

Which fish in the sea will you say is my own? When I catch them, if indeed I do catch them, they are my own; as my own I keep them. They are not claimed as having a right to freedom[*] nor does any person demand a share in them. In the market I sell them all openly as my own wares.

Indeed, the sea is, surely, common to all persons.

I agree to that; prithee, then, why any the less is it proper that this wallet should be common to me? It was found in the sea.

Assuredly you are an outrageously impudent fellow; for if this is justice which you are saying, then fishermen would be ruined. Inasmuch as, the moment that the fish were exposed upon the stalls,

no one would buy them; every person would be demanding his own share of the fish for himself; he would be saying that they were caught in the sea that was common to all.

What do you say, you impudent fellow? Do you dare to compare a wallet with fish? Pray, does it appear to be the same thing?

The matter doesn’t lie in my power; when I’ve cast my hook and net into the sea, whatever has adhered I draw out.

Whatever my net and hooks have got, that in especial is my own.

Nay but, I’ faith, it is not; if, indeed, you’ve fished up any article that’s made[*]

Philosopher, you.

But look now, you conjurer, did you ever see a fisherman who caught a wallet-fish, or exposed one for sale in the market? But, indeed, you shan’t here be taking possession of all the profits that you choose;

you expect, you dirty fellow, to be both a maker of wallets[*] and a fisherman. Either you must show me a fish that is a wallet, or else you shall carry nothing off that wasn’t produced in the sea and has no scales.

What, did you never hear before to-day that a wallet was a fish?

Villain, there is no such fish.

Yes, there certainly is; I, who am a fisherman, know it.

But it is seldom caught; no fish more rarely comes near the land.

It’s to no purpose; you hope that you can be cheating me, you rogue. Of what colour is it?

Of this colour very few are caught: some are of a purple skin, there are great and black ones also.

I understand; by my troth, you’ll be turning into a wallet-fish I fancy, if you don’t take care;

your skin will be purple, and then afterwards black.

What a villain this that I have met with to-day!

We are wasting words; the day wears apace. Consider, please, by whose arbitration do you wish us to proceed?

By the arbitration of the wallet.