The Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter. Petronius Arbiter
never left till she had found out our private amours, and gave a hint of it to Lycas; whose jealousie having got the upper hand of his love, ran all to revenge; but Doris, advertis'd by Tryphœna's woman, to divert the storm, forbore any such meetings.
As soon as I perceiv'd it, having curs'd the treachery of Tryphœna, and the ingratitude of Lycas, I began to make off, and fortune favour'd me: For a ship consecrated to the Goddess Isis, laden with rich spoils, had the day before run upon the rocks.
Gito and I laid our heads together, and he was as willing as my self to be gone; for Tryphœna having drawn him dry, began now not to be so fond of him. Early the next morning therefore we march'd to sea-ward, where with the less difficulty we got on board the ship, because we were no strangers to Lycas's servants then in wait upon her: They still honouring us with their company, it was not a time to filch any thing; but, leaving Gito with them, I took an opportunity of getting into the stern, where the image of Isis stood, and strip'd her of a rich mantle, and silver taber, lifting other good booty out of the master's cabin, I stole down by a rope, unseen by any but Gito; who also gave them the slip and sculk'd after me.
As soon as I saw him I shew'd him the purchase, and both of us resolv'd to make what haste we could to Ascyltos, but Lycurgus's house was not to be reach'd the same day: When we came to Ascyltos we shew'd him the prize, and told him in short the manner of getting it, and how we were made a meer may-game of love: He advis'd us to prepossess Lycurgus with our case, and make him our friend ere the others could see him; and withal boldly assert it, that the trick Lycas would have served them, was the only cause why they stole away so hastily; which when Lycurgus came to understand, he swore he would at all times protect us against our enemies.
Our fight was unknown till Tryphœna and Doris were got out of bed; for we daily attended their levy, and waited on them while they were dressing; but, when contrary to custom they found us missing, Lycas tent after us, and especially to the sea-side, for he had heard we made that way, but not a word of the pillage, for the ship lay somewhat to sea-ward, and the master had not yet return'd on board.
But at last it being taken for granted we had run away, and Lycas becoming uneasie for want of us, fell desperately foul on his wife, whom he suppos'd to be the cause of our departure: I'll take no notice of what words and blows past between them; I know not every particular: I'll only say, Tryphœna, the mother of mischief, had put Lycas in the head, that it might so be, we had taken sanctuary at Lycurgus's, where she persuaded him to go in quest of the runnagates, and promis'd to bear him company, that she might confound our impudence with just reproaches.
The next day they accordingly set forward, and came to his house; but we were out of the way: For Lycurgus was gone to a festival in honour of Hercules, held at a neighbouring village, and had taken us with him, of which when the others were inform'd, they made what haste they could to us, and met us in the portico of the temple. The sight of them very much disordered us: Lycas eagerly complained of our flight to Lycurgus, but was received with such a bended brow, and so haughty a look, that I grew valiant upon't, and with an open throat charg'd him with his beastly attempts upon me, as well at Lycurgus's as in his own house; and Tryphœna endeavouring to stop my mouth, had her share with him, for I set out her harlotry to the mob, who were got about us to hear the scolding: And as a proof of what I said, I shew'd them poor sapless Gito, and my self also, whom that itch of the whore had even brought to our graves.
The shout of the mob put our enemies so out of countenance that they went off heavily, but contriving a revenge; and therefore observing how we had put upon Lycurgus, they went back to expect him at his house, and set him right again. The solemnity ending later than was expected, we could not reach Lycurgus's that night, and therefore he brought us to a half-way house, but left us asleep next morning, and went home to despatch some business, where he found Lycas and Tryphœna waiting for him, who so ordered the matter with him, that they brought him to secure us. Lycurgus naturally barbarous and faithless, began to contrive which way to betray us, and sent Lycas to get some help, whilst he secured us in the village.
Thither he came, ard at his first entry, treated us as Lycas had done: After which wringing his hands together, he upbraided us with the lye we had made of Lycas, and taking Ascyltos from us, lock'd us up in the room where we were, without so much as hearing him speak in our defence; but carrying him to his house, set a guard upon us, till himself should return.
On the road Ascyltos did what he could to mollifie Lycurgus; but neither entreaties, nor love, nor tears doing any good on him, it came into our comerades head to set us at liberty, and being all on fire at Lycurgus's restiness, refus'd to bed with him that night, and by that means the more easily put in execution what he had been thinking on.
The family was in their dead sleep when Ascyltos took our fardels on his shoulders, and getting through a breach in the wall, which he had formerly taken notice of, came to the village by break of day, and meeting no one to stop him, boldly enter'd it and came up to our chamber; which the guard that was upon us, took care to secure; but the bar being of wood, he easily wrenched it with an iron crow, and waken'd us; for we snor'd in spight of fortune.
Our guard had so over-watched themselves, that they were fall'n into a dead sleep, and we only wak'd at the crack. To be short, Ascyltos came in and briefly told us what he had done for our sakes: On this we got up; and as we were rigging our selves, it came into my head to kill the guard, and rifle the village; I told Ascyltos my mind. He liked the rifling well enough, but gave us a wish'd delivery without blood, for being acquainted with every corner of the house, he pick'd the lock of an inner-room where the movables lay, and bringing us into it, we lifted what was of most value, and got off while it was yet early in the morning; avoiding the common road, and not resting till we thought our selves out of danger.
Then Ascyltos having got heart again, began to amplifie the delight he took in having pillag'd Lycurgus; of whose miserableness he, not without cause, complain'd; for he neither paid him for his nights service, nor kept a table that had either meat, or drink on't, being such a sordid pinch-peny; that, notwithstanding his infinite wealth, he deny'd himself the common necessaries of life.
Unhappy Tantalus, amidst the flood,
Where floating apple on the surface roll'd,
Ever pursu'd them with a longing eye,
Yet could not thurst nor hunger satisfie.
Such is the miser's fate; who midst his store,
Fearing to use, is miserably poor.
Ascyltos would have been for Naples the same day, had I not told him how imprudent it was to take up there, where, forasmuch as could be conjectur'd, we were most likely to be sought after: "And therefore,'' said I, "let's keep out of the way for the present, and, since we have enough to keep us from want, stroul it about till the heat be over." The advice was approv'd, and we set forward for a pleasant country-town, where we were sure to meet some of our acquaintance that were taking the benefit of the season: But we were scarce got half way, when a shower of rain emptying it self upon us like buckets, forc'd us into the next village; where entring the inn, we saw a great many others that had also struck in, to avoid the storm. The throng kept us from being taken notice of, and gave us the opportunity of prying here and there, what we might filch in a crowd, when Ascyltos, unheeded of any one, took a purse from the ground, in which he found several pieces of gold; we leap'd for joy at so fortunate a beginning; but fearing, lest some or other might seek after it, we slunk out at a back-door, where we saw a groom saddling his horses; but, as having forgotten somewhat, he run into the house leaving behind him an embroider'd mantle, mail'd to one of the saddles: In his absence I cut the straps and under the covert of some out-sheds we made off with it to a neighbouring forest. Being more out of danger among the thickets we cast about where we should hide the gold that we might not be either charg'd with the felony, or robb'd of it our selves: At last we concluded to sow it in the lining of an old patcht coat which I threw over my shoulders and entrusted the care of the mantle to Ascyltos, in design to get to the city by cross-ways: But as we were going out we heard somewhat on our left hand to this purpose: "They shall not escape us; they came into the wood; let's separate ourselves and beat about, that we may the better discover and take them." This put us into such a fright that Ascyltos and Gito fled through briars and brambles