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Quer.

Lar.

Are never wise.

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Quer.
Why, then, are no men happy?
Lar. Some are: not those you think so.
Quer.
If I show you
One rich and healthy too, is he not happy?
Lar. You see the healthy body: not the mind:
That may be sick with envy, hope, or fear,
Ambition, avarice unsatisfied.
The face shows not the heart.
Joyous, he mourns at home?

What if, in public
Loves not his wife?

Or loves too much, and dies with jealousy?

Querolus gives up the discussion, and leaves his fate to his Lar. Ty Lar tells him, he shall be rich in spite of himself; he shall do all in power to send away his good luck, but it shall force itself upon him: v several other ambiguities of prophecy, over which he leaves Ques marvelling. Querolus, after a soliloquy, in which he expresses his perplex goes in.

Mandrogerus enters, with Sycophanta and Sardanapalus. Mandroge has laid a scheme for getting possession of the buried treasure, wit giving any portion of it to Querolus, and has selected the other two have as his instruments.

Mandrogerus exults in his anticipated success. But Sycophants! had a dream of bad omen:

Syc.

Mand.

Syc.

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I saw

Pieces of gold: but only as a glimpse,

Through barbed hooks and rings, and little chains.
Mand. Didst thou not dream of fetters too, and lashes?
Sard. Oh, inauspicious dreamer! I explode thee,
And thy ill omens. I had my dream too:

'Twas of a funeral.

Mand.
The gods prosper thee!
Sard. We paid the last rites to I know not whom.
Mand. 'Tis well.

Sard.
And wept the dead, although a stranger.
Mand. These are good signs: dreams go by contraries:
Funerals show joy: and tears belong to laughter.
I also had my dream. I know not who

Syc.

Told me, the fates assigned to none but me,
To find the buried gold; but it should profit me,
Only so much as I might swallow from it.

Most admirable dream! What other use
Can we have for it, but to eat and drink it?

They proceed to reconnoitre the locality, according to the indications received from Euclio: a little temple: a silversmith's shop: a lofty hous with oaken doors. They remark that the upright bars are wide apart, and not defended with tenter-hooks; showing an inhabitant who has nothing to fear from thieves. Mandrogerus then inquires, if they exactly remember the description of the interior. They repeat it accordingly. The portico on the right hand of the entrance. Three little images in the sacrari An altar in the middle. The gold before the altar. So far all is right. They thoroughly understand their parts. The business of Mandrogerus to divine. That of the other two is to lie. Mandrogerus goes out to abide

* Sacrarium here signifies a place set apart to sacred purposes in a private dwelling. The nearest corresponding modern term is oratory.

3 time. His accomplices watch the coming of Querolus, who enters wellsposed, by his previous interview with the Lar, to credulity in supertural matters. They stand aside, pretending not to see him, and talking if they did not mean to be heard. He catches some sounds which induce m to listen.

Sard. I have known magi and astrologers;

But never one like this. Soon as he sees you,

He calls you by your name: expounds your parents,
Slaves, family the history of your life:

:

All you have done, and will do.

This must be

Quer. (apart)

A man worth seeing.

Sard.

Let us lose no time

In seeking him.

Syc.

I would most willingly;

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Syc.

But, at this moment, I have not the leisure.
Quer. I would fain seek him too. Hail, friends.

We answer

Thy friendly salutation.

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In divination. Who, or whence, I know not.

Quer. Is he so deep in art?

Sard.

Syc.

Most absolute :

Wherefore, I pray you, Sycophanta, come
Straightway to visit him.

I have friends at home,
Awaiting me on urgent business.

Sardanapalus over-rules Sycophanta's objections. Querolus entreats to be of their party. They make many difficulties, and at last consent. Sycophanta suggests to Sardanapalus, that the astrologer may be an impostor; and, anticipating all the scruples that Querolus might have raised, completes the conquest of his confidence. While they are discussing, Mandrogerus most opportunely comes in sight, walking slowly onward, in profound meditation. They stop him, and respectfully request to be permitted to consult him, and imbibe some portion of his wisdom. He answers, like one overflowing with it, and most bountiful in its distribution, that he is at leisure, and will answer any questions they please to ask.

They begin with questions, respecting the powers to be propitiated; the offerings to be made to them; the secondary instruments through which they deliver their oracles: stars; celestial and terrestrial prodigies; consecrated animals; harpies, geese, and cynocephali: a very curious enumeration of powers, never otherwise than malevolently exerted, unless under the influence of abundant gifts and sacrifices, though it is not the god himself who exacts them, but his door-keeper: in all which, while popular superstitions are obviously and ostensibly, Klinkhämer thinks the corruptions and oppressions of the several authorities of the state are covertly, satirised.

Sycophanta receives this exposition as thoroughly discouraging all application to the powers in question; and solicits an explanation of some more simple method of solving the mysteries of destiny.

Mand. First, much depends upon the natal hour,
Whether a man be born to a good fate:

Next, by propitiation of the Genii,

Who govern Fate's decrees, to make that good

Which at the first was ill: by their kind power,
If Evil Fortune dwell within the walls,

She may be charmed, and bound, and carried forth.
Quer. This were most excellent: but that we may
With confidence obey you, having told us

Much that you know, tell something that you know not. Mand. Assuredly, I know none of you three,

Sard.

By any previous knowledge.

That is certain.

Mand. First, then, to thee. Thy name is Sardanapalus :
Poor and low-born.

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Sard.

Eh! Mandrogerus!
I did not ask thee to proclaim my vices.
Mand. I may not lie. What hast thou more to ask?
Sard. I have heard too much already. If thou hast
Aught more, reserve it for my private hearing.
Now to my turn, Mandrogerus: tell my fortune:
So much of it as may be good: no more.
Mand. I must begin from the beginning: Thou
Art Sycophanta, and of noble birth.
'Tis true.

Syc.

Syc.
Mand.

Syc. Alas!

A worthless subject from the first.

Mand. Pressed down by wrongs, compassed by perils
From steel, and fire, and water.

Syc.

Mand.

That thou hadst lived with me.

It would seem

Nought of thy own
Is left to thee: but much of other men's.*
Syc. Too much too much. Pray favour me no further.
Turn to this worthy man.

Mand.

Step forward, friend:

Thy name is Querolus.

Quer.

"Tis even so.

Mand. What is the hour? Between the sixth and seventh.
Quer. Nothing escapes him: he propounds his question
And straightway answers it, like a clepsydra.t
Mand. Mars now is trigon. Saturn looks to Venus.
Jupiter is quadrate.__ Mercury is wroth with him.
The sun is round. The moon is in her spring.
I have combined thy genealogy,

Querolus. Evil Fortune presses thee.

Quer. It is too true.

Mand.

Quer.

Mand.

Thy father left thee nothing.

Thy friends give nothing. Thou hast a bad neighbour;
A worthless slave.

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Quer. 'Tis manifest.

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† Clepsydra: a water-clock, by which time was measured, as by an

hour-glass.

Mand. Shall I describe thy house? Full well thou knowest
I ne'er was in it.

Quer.
I would gladly hear.
Mand. Entering, the portico is on the right;
And the sacrarium opposite.

Quer.

Exactly.

Mand. In the sacrarium are three little statues :

One of the household God; two of the Genii.*

Quer. Thou hast proved thy knowledge. Now produce the remedy
Of my ill fortune.

That is quickly done;
Without delay or cost. Is the sacrarium
Secret and solitary?

Mand.

Quer.
Mand. Nothing concealed there?

Even so.

Quer.
Mand.

Nothing there at all;

Except the images.

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Quer.
Mand.

Quer.

There must be performed
A solemn rite: but thee and every one
That rite excludes.

So be it.

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Mand. Could we find any on so short a notice :

"Twere well and opportune, if these would aid us.

The two knaves, on the invitation of Querolus, very obligingly promise their assistance: and Querolus desires Pantolabus to run for his friend and neighbour, the Arbiter.† Mandrogerus, who does not like this sort of witness, urges Querolus not to delay. The hour is auspicious. The combination of stars is most promising. Mandrogerus asks Querolus if he has an empty box. Querolus replies, he is too well provided with empty boxes. One will be necessary, says Mandrogerus, to carry out the lustrum. And they go in to perform their ceremonies.

:

:

The next scene brings in Pantolabus, who indulges himself in a long soliloquy first complaining of his master's unreasonableness in objecting to petty thefts and waste of property in keeping strict accounts, and requiring the full change of his money: in begrudging his domestics their own quantities of sleep and wine: in requiring them, when he gives them holidays, to return to their day: in storming, if he sees finger-marks on his drinking-cups: in discovering immediately, if an amphora has been cracked and sealed up again, or if an abstracted portion of wine has been replaced by water: in detecting abrasions of silver and gold. And his friend the Arbiter is worse than himself. He gives half-allowance of food and double allowance of work. Querolus feeds his household well, and is not exacting of hard labour. He is the best of the two, but too much given to scolding, and too liberal with his whip. But the life of domestic slaves is not so bad as some think. They are thought drowsy and stupid, because they sleep in the day. But this they do, because they keep it up at night. The night is their day. Then they bathe, then they feast, then they enjoy themselves. The worst of thieves are masters, who sit up late themselves, and steal part of the night from their servants. In many respects, the master is their servant. He has to find the revenue, they have to consume it.

The Genius Loci: and the Genius Domini.

Arbiter. The Arbiter was a magistrate, whose especial duty was the determination and apportionment of inheritances. He is sent for by Querolus, only as a friend: but in the concluding scene, his peculiar office is brought into play.

The lustrum is the residue of the purification, in which residue, the evil or pollution to be removed, is absorbed and included.

He then fancies he hears his master calling, to know why he loiters; and thinking it very hard that he cannot take his own time about his errand, utters a string of maledictions, and takes his departure.

Now come in the three rogues, and Querolus with the box.
Mand. Lay down the burthen. Thou hast done enough
To satisfy religion, in thyself

Aiding to bear Ill Fortune out of doors.

Quer. Thy art is mighty. What a sudden weight
Has come into this box! 'Twas light for one,
And now o'erburthens two.

Mand.

Dost thou not know

Nothing is heavier than Evil Fortune?
Quer. Too well I know it.
Mand."

The Gods favour thee.
No house was ever purified as thine is.
All the bad luck it held is here made fast.
We'll bear it to the river's deepest pool,
Where its own weight shall send it to the bottom.
But Evil Fortune, even from that depth,
May rise to trouble thee. Therefore observe,

To keep thy doors close bolted night and day,

Till three days end. Admit nor friends nor kindred:
Not even Good Fortune, shouldst thou hear her knocking
That period past, thy house is clear for ever.

Quer. I shall observe.

Mand.

Shut close. Bars, locks, and chains.
Quer. No fastening shall be spared. Farewell, great Master.

The accomplices are now in undisturbed possession of their prize. The had kept Querolus out of the sacrarium, while they whipped the urn into the box; and now determine on proceeding to a solitary spot on the river-sa where they may break up the vessel, and after abstracting the treasure, si the fragments in some unfathomable pool.

These being gone, Pantolabus comes in with the Arbiter. In reply to some inquiries of the Arbiter concerning his master, Pantolabus thanks hi for the good advice he gives, and the good example he sets, to Querolus, i relation to the treatment of servants.

Pant. Would that he had your manners: were as gracious,
Indulgent, patient, kind, as you with yours.
Arb. I take your praise, Pantolabus, at its value:
You do me too much honour.

Pant.

We all know you,

And give you all the thanks you so well merit.
Would all we have wished for you might betide you!
Arb. And may you feel, in your own bones and skins,
Whatever favours you would shower on me.

Pantolabus excuses himself from any double meaning. The Arbiter is satisfied. He expresses his surprise at finding the doors closed. They knock, and call, and receive no answer. Pantolabus conducts him to small back-door, which, even if that be also closed, he knows how to open. The accomplices return, full of lamentation and superstitious terror. They had dug up, and carried off, a funeral urn.

Mand. Oh me, unhappy!

Syc.

Oh me, miserable!

Sard. Oh me, most miserable, naked and shipwrecked!
Mand. Oh, Sycophanta!

Syc.

Oh, Sardanapalus!

Sard. Oh, great Mandrogerus-father and master!
Unhappy comrades, veil your heads in mourning.
This is much worse than to have lost a man.

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