Cataplus

And he was not the only one that I laughed at. When I saw the usurer Gnipho groaning and regretting that he had not enjoyed his money but had died without sampling it, abandoning his property to that wastrel Rhodochares, who was nextof kin to him and had the first claim on the estate according to law, I could not control my laughter, : especially when I called to mind how pale and unkempt he always was, with a forehead full of worries, feeling his riches only with the fingers with which he reckoned up thousands and tens of thousands ashe gathered in, little by little, what was soon to be poured out by that lucky dog Rhodochares. But why not gonow? We can finish our laughing during: the sail as we see them crying.

CHARON Hi, fellow! Where are you going so fast? The boat is fullalready. Wait there till to-morrow ; we'll set you across first thing in the morning.

MICYLLUS You are committing a misdemeanour, Charon, in leaving behind you a dead man who is already high. No fear, I'll have you up before Rhadamanthus for breaking the law. Oh, Lord! What hard luck! They are sailing already, “and I'll be left behind here all alone.”[*](The words form a trimeter in the Greek, perhaps a line of comedy.) But why not swim across in their wake? I’m not afraid of giving out and drowning, seeing that I’m already dead! Besides, I haven’t an obol to pay my passage.

CLOTHO What’s this? Wait, Micyllus; you mustn’t cross that way.

MICYLLUS See here, perhaps I'll beat you to the shore.

CLOTHO No, no! Come, let’s row up and take him in. Hermes, lend a hand to pull him in.

CHARON Where shall he sit? The boat’s full, as you see.

HERMES On the shoulders of the tyrant, if you like.

CLOTHO A happy thought, that of Hermes !

CYNISCUS Charon, I may as well tell you the truth here and now. I shan’t be able to pay you your obol when we come to land, for I have nothing more than the wallet which you see, and this club here. However, I am ready either to bale, if you like, or to row; you will have no fault to find if you only give me a stout, well-balanced oar. ,

CHARON Pull an oar ; that will be enough to exact of you.

CYNISCUS Shall I strike up a song, too?

CHARON Yes, by all means, if you know any of the sailors’ chanties,

CYNISCUS I know plenty of them, Charon; but as you see, these people are competing with our music by crying, so that we shall be put out of tune in our song.

THE DEAD (one) Alas, my wealth! (anoTuer) Alas, my farms! (aNoTHER) Alackaday, what a house I left behind me! (anotuer) To think of all the thousands my heir will come into and squander! (aNoruer) Ah, my new-born babes! (anorner) Who will get the vintage of the vines I set out last year ?

MICYLLUS Get out with you! I have no reason to lament while the wind is fair.

HERMES Do cry, however, even if only a little, for custom’s sake,

MICYLLUS Well, I'll lament, then, since you wish it, Hermes. —Alas, my scraps of leather! Alas, my old shoes ! Alackaday, my rotten sandals! Unlucky man that I am, never again will I go hungry from morning to night or wander about in winter barefooted and halfnaked, with my teeth chattering for cold! Who is to get my knife and my awl ?

HERMES Enough weeping ; we are almost in now.