Читать книгу The Greatest Works of Roman Classical Literature - Луций Анней Сенека - Страница 26

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Enter Syrus, from the house of Micio.

Syr. (speaking to Æschinus within.) Say no more; I myself will arrange with him; I’ll make him glad to take the money at once, and say besides that he has been fairly dealt with. (Addressing Sannio.) Sannio, how is this, that I hear you have been having some dispute or other with my master?

San. I never saw a dispute on more unequal terms37 than the one that has happened to-day between us; I, with being thumped, he, with beating me, were both of us quite tired.

Syr. Your own fault.

San. What could I do?

Syr. You ought to have yielded to the young man.

San. How could I more so, when to-day I have even afforded my face to his blows?

Syr. Well—are you aware of what I tell you? To slight money on some occasions is sometimes the surest gain. What!—were you afraid, you greatest simpleton alive, if you had parted with ever so little38 of your right, and had humored the young man, that he would not repay you with interest?

San. I do not pay ready money for hope.

Syr. Then you’ll never make a fortune. Get out with you, Sannio; you don’t know how to take in mankind.

San. I believe that to be the better plan—but I was never so cunning as not, whenever I was able to get it, to prefer getting ready money.

Syr. Come, come, I know your spirit; as if twenty minæ were any thing at all to you in comparison to obliging him; besides, they say that you are setting out for Cyprus——

San. (aside.) Hah!

Syr. That you have been buying up many things to take thither; and that the vessel is hired. This I know, your mind is in suspense; however, when you return thence, I hope you’ll settle the matter.

San. Not a foot do I stir: Heavens! I’m undone! (Aside.) It was upon this hope they devised their project.

Syr. (aside.) He is alarmed. I’ve brought the fellow into a fix.

San. (aside.) Oh, what villainy!—Just look at that; how he has nicked me in the very joint.39 Several women have been purchased, and other things as well, for me to take to Cyprus.40 If I don’t get there to the fair, my loss will be very great. Then if I postpone this business, and settle it when I come back from there, it will be of no use; the matter will be quite forgotten. “Come at last?” they’ll say. “Why did you delay it? Where have you been?” So that I had better lose it altogether than either stay here so long, or be suing for it then.

Syr. Have you by this reckoned41 up what you calculate will be your profits?

San. Is this honorable of him? Ought Æschinus to attempt this? Ought he to endeavor to take her away from me by downright violence?

Syr. (aside.) He gives ground. (To Sannio.) I have this one proposal to make; see if you fully approve of it. Rather than you should run the risk, Sannio, of getting or losing the whole, halve it. He will manage to scrape together ten minæ42 from some quarter or other.

San. Ah me! unfortunate wretch, I am now in danger of even losing part of the principal. Has he no shame? He has loosened all my teeth; my head, too, is full of bumps with his cuffs; and would he defraud me as well? I shall go nowhere.

Syr. Just as you please. Have you any thing more to say before I go?

San. Why yes, Syrus, i’ faith, I have this to request. Whatever the matters that are past, rather than go to law, let what is my own be returned me; at least, Syrus, the sum she cost me. I know that you have not hitherto made trial of my friendship; you will have no occasion to say that I am unmindful or ungrateful.

Syr. I’ll do the best I can. But I see Ctesipho; he’s in high spirits about his mistress.

San. What about what I was asking you?

Syr. Stay a little.