The Satyricon of Petronius ArbiterPetronius Arbiter
General
The Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter
Petronius Arbiter
Rome -- Fiction; Satire, Latin -- Translations into English
Enothea, entring, plac'd the fire, that with broken sticks she had got
together, and having heapt more wood upon those, began to excuse her
stay, that her friend wou'd not let her go before she had, against the
laws of drinking, taken off three healths together. When looking
about her, "What," said she, "have you been doing in my absence?
Where's the bean?"
I, who thought I had behav'd my self very honourably, told her the
whole fight; and to end her grief for the loss of her bean, presented
the goose: when I shew'd the goose, the old woman set up such an
out-cry, that you wou'd have thought the geese were re-entring the
place.
In confusion and amaz'd at so strange a humour, I askt the meaning of
her passion? or why she pity'd the goose rather than me.
But wringing her hands, "you wicked wretch," said she, "d'ye speak
too? D'ye know what you've done? You've killed the gods delight, a
goose the pleasure of all matrons: And, lest you shou'd think your
self innocent, if a magistrate shou'd hear of it, you'd be hang'd.
You have defil'd with blood my cell, that to this day had been
inviolate. You have done that, for which, if any's so malicious, he
may expel me my office."
She said, and trembling, rends her aged hairs,
And both her cheeks with wilder fury tears:
Sad murmurs from her troubl'd breast arise,
A shower of tears there issu'd from her eyes.
And down her face a rapid deluge run,
Such as is seen, when a hills frosty crown,
By warm Favonius is melted down.
Upon which, "I beseech you," said I, "don't grieve, I'll recompence
the loss of your goose with an ostrich."
While amaz'd I spoke, she sat down on the bed, lamented her loss; at
what time Proselenos came in with the sacrifice, and viewing the
murder'd goose, and enquiring the cause, began very earnestly to cry
and pity me, as it had been a father, not a goose I had slain. But
tired with this stuff, "I beseech ye," said I, "tell me, tho' it had
been a man I kill'd, won't gold wipe off the guilt? See here are two
pieces of gold: with these you may purchase gods as well as geese."
Which, when Enothea beheld, "Pardon me, young man," said she, "I am
only concern'd for your safety, which is an argument of love, not
hatred; therefore we'll take what care we can to prevent a discovery:
You have nothing to do, but intreat the gods to forgive the sin."
"Who e're has money may securely sail,
On all things with all-mighty gold prevail.
May Danae wed, or rival amo'rous Jove,
And make her father pandar to his love.
May be a poet, preacher, lawyer too:
And bawling win the cause he does not know:
And up to Cato's fame for wisdom grow.
Wealth without law will gain at bar renown,
How e're the case appears, the cause is won,
Every rich lawyer is a Littleton.
In short of all you wish you are possest,
All things prevent the wealthy man's request,
For Jove himself's the treasure of his chest."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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