Trinummus: The Three Pieces of Money (988c-1040)

His own very self. Begone hence out of my sight.

Since you really have made your appearance here thus late,

you shall be beaten both at my own award[*] and that of the new Aediles.

And are you abusing me as well?

Yes; seeing that you have arrived in safety[*], may the Gods confound me, if I care a straw for you, had you perished first. I have received the money for this job; you, I devote to bad luck. But who you are, or who you are not, I care not one jot.

I’ll go and carry word[*] to him who gave me the three pieces, that he may know that he has thrown them away. I’m off. Live with a curse, and fare you ill; may all the Gods confound you, Charmides, for coming from abroad[*].

Since this fellow has gone, at last a time and opportunity seem to have arrived for speaking out without restraint.

Already does this sting pierce my breast—what business he could have before my house? For these letters summon apprehensions into my heart; those thousand pieces, too—what purpose they were to serve. I’ faith, a bell[*] is never rung for no purpose;

unless some one handles it or moves it, ’tis mute, ’tis dumb. But who is this, that is beginning to run this way along the street? I should like to observe what he is about. I’ll step aside this way.

Stasimus, make you haste with all speed; away with you to your master’s house, lest on a sudden, through your folly, fears should arise for your shoulder-blades[*].

Quicken your pace, make haste; ’tis now a long while since you left the house. If you shall be absent when inquired after by your master, take you care, please, that the smacks of the bull’s-hide[*] don’t clatter thick upon you. Don’t you cease running. See now, Stasimus, what a worthless fellow you are; and isn’t it the fact that you have forgotten your ring[*] at the liquor- shop[*] after you have been washing your throat with warm drink?

Turn about, and run back now, to seek it, while the thing has but just happened.

Whoever he is, his throat is his taskmaster[*]; that teaches this fellow the art of running.

What, good-for-nothing fellow, are you not ashamed of yourself? having lost your memory after only three cups? And really, because you were there drinking together with such honest fellows, who could keep their hands off[*] the property of another without difficulty;

—is it among such men that you expect you may recover your ring?

Chiruchus was there, Cerconicus, Crimnus, Cricolabus, Collabus[*], whipped-necks[*], whipped-legs, iron-rubbers, whipped-knaves.

By my faith, any one of these could steal the sole of his shoe from a running footman[*].

So may the Gods love me, a finished thief.

Why should I go seek what is gone for ever?

Unless I would bestow my pains, too, by way of addition over and above to my loss. Why, then, don’t you consider that what is gone is gone? Tack about, then[*]. Betake yourself back to your master.

This fellow is no runaway; he remembers his home.

I wish that the old-fashioned ways of old-fashioned days, and the old-fashioned thriftiness, were in greater esteem here, rather than these bad ways.

Immortal Gods! this man really is beginning to talk of noble doings! He longs for the old-fashioned ways; know that he loves the old-fashioned ways, after the fashion of our forefathers.

For, now-a-days, men’s manners reckon of no value what is proper, except what is agreable. Ambition now is sanctioned by usage, and is free from the laws. By usage, people have the license to throw away their shields, and to run away from the enemy.

To seek honor thereby in place of disgrace is the usage.

A shameless usage.

Now-a-days, ’tis the usage to neglect the brave.

Aye, ’tis really shocking.

The public manners have now got the laws in their power; to them they are more submissive than are parents to their children[*]. In their misery, these laws are even hung up[*] against the wall with iron nails,

where it had been much more becoming for bad ways to be fixed up.