The Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 229 pages of information about The Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter.

The Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 229 pages of information about The Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter.

On this Gito, who stood behind him, burst out a laughing; which the other taking notice of, fell upon the boy; and, “Do you,” said he, “laugh too, you curl-pated chattering magpye?  O the Saturnals!  Why how now, sirrah! is it the month of December?  When were you twenty, I pray?  What would this collop dropt from the gibbet, this crows-meat, be at?  I’ll find some or other way for Jupiter to plague thee, and him that bred thee no better, or never let me eat a good meals-meat again:  I could, sirrah, but for the companies sake, I spare thee; tho’ either we understand not aright, or they are sots themselves that carry no better a hand over thee; for without doubt it is true, like master like man.  I am hot by nature, and can scarce contain my self; give me but a mess of peaseporridge, and I care not two-pence for my mother.  Very well, I shall meet thee abroad, thou mouse; nay, rather mole-hill.  May I never thrive more, but I’ll drive that master of thine into a blade of rue; nor shalt thou (so help me Hercules) ’scape me, tho’ thou couldst call in Jupiter to thy aid:  I shall off with those locks, and take thee when that trifling master of thine shall be out of the way; thou wilt certainly fall into my hands, and either I know not my self, or I’ll make thee leave that buffoonry:  Tho’ thy beard were of gold, I’ll have thee bruised in a mortar, and him that first taught thee:  I never studied geometry, criticism, and meer words without sence, but I understand the fitting of stones for buildings; can run you over a hundred things, as to metal, weight, coin, and that to a tittle; if you have a mind you and I will try it between us:  I’ll lay thee a wager, thou wizard, and tho’ I am wholly ignorant of rhetorick, thou’lt presently see thou hast lost:  Let no one run about the bush to me; I come up to him:  Resolve me, I say, ’which of us runs, yet stirs not out of his place:  which of us grows bigger, and yet is less.’  Do you scamper?  Can’t you tell what to make of it, that you look so like a mouse in a trap?  Therefore either hold thy tongue, or don’t provoke a better man than thy self, who does not think thee fram’d of nature, unless thou fansiest me taken with those yellow curl’d locks, which thou hast already vowed to some whore or other.  O lucky opportunity!  Come, let’s walk the exchange, and see which of us can take up money:  You’ll be satisfied then, this iron has credit upon’t; a pretty thing, is it not! a drunken fox.  So may I gain while I live, and die well; but the people will brain me if I follow not that coat on thy back, which is not for thy wearing, where-ever thou goest:  He’s a precious tool too, whoever he were, that taught thee; a piece of green cheese, no master.  I have learn’d as well as another man, and my master said it would be my own another day.  Save your worship! get home as fast as you can, but look well about you, and have a care how you speak irreverently of your betters, or vie estates with them; he that does it, his purse shall feel it:  For my self, that you see me as I am, I thank my stars for the art I have.”

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The Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.