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966
(Enter MESSENIO.)
MESSENIO
(to himself.)
This is the proof of a good servant, who takes care of his master’s business, looks after it, arranges it, thinks about it, in the absence of his master diligently to attend to the affairs of his master, as much so as if he himself were present, or even better.
It is proper that his back
1
should be of more consequence than his appetite, his legs than his stomach, whose heart is rightly placed. Let him bear in mind, those who are good for nothing, what reward is given them by their masters—lazy, worthless fellows. Stripes, fetters,
970
the mill, weariness, hunger, sharp cold; these are the rewards of idleness. This evil do I terribly stand in awe of. Wherefore ’tis sure that to be good is better than to be bad. Much more readily do I submit to words, stripes I do detest; and I eat what is ground much more readily than supply it ground by myself
2
.
975
Therefore do I obey the command of my master, carefully and diligently do I observe it; and in such manner do I pay obedience, as I think is for the interest of my back. And that course does profit me. Let others be just as they take it to be their interest; I shall be just as I ought to be.
980
If I adhere to that, I shall avoid faultiness; so that I am in readiness for my master on all occasions, I shall not be much afraid. The time is near, when, for these deeds of mine, my master will give his reward.
After I had deposited the goods and the servants in the inn, as he ordered me, thus am I come to meet him.
(Going to the door of EROTIUM’S house.) Now I’ll knock at the door, that he may know that I’m here, and that out of this thick wood
3
of peril I may get my master safe out of doors. But I’m afraid that I’m come too late, after the battle has been fought.
This is the proof of a good servant, who takes care of his master’s business, looks after it, arranges it, thinks about it, in the absence of his master diligently to attend to the affairs of his master, as much so as if he himself were present, or even better.
It is proper that his back
1
should be of more consequence than his appetite, his legs than his stomach, whose heart is rightly placed. Let him bear in mind, those who are good for nothing, what reward is given them by their masters—lazy, worthless fellows. Stripes, fetters,
970
the mill, weariness, hunger, sharp cold; these are the rewards of idleness. This evil do I terribly stand in awe of. Wherefore ’tis sure that to be good is better than to be bad. Much more readily do I submit to words, stripes I do detest; and I eat what is ground much more readily than supply it ground by myself
2
.
975
Therefore do I obey the command of my master, carefully and diligently do I observe it; and in such manner do I pay obedience, as I think is for the interest of my back. And that course does profit me. Let others be just as they take it to be their interest; I shall be just as I ought to be.
980
If I adhere to that, I shall avoid faultiness; so that I am in readiness for my master on all occasions, I shall not be much afraid. The time is near, when, for these deeds of mine, my master will give his reward.
After I had deposited the goods and the servants in the inn, as he ordered me, thus am I come to meet him.
(Going to the door of EROTIUM’S house.) Now I’ll knock at the door, that he may know that I’m here, and that out of this thick wood
3
of peril I may get my master safe out of doors. But I’m afraid that I’m come too late, after the battle has been fought.
Menaechmi. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1912.
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