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.

At last, with tears, I beseech’d him to be friends with me too, for that it was not in a rival’s power to bound his rage; yet, that I wou’d try neither to say, or do any thing that may offend him:  and hop’d so wise and good a man as he, wou’d leave in his mind no sign of a former quarrel:  for ’twas with men as with countrys, on rude neglected grounds snows lay very long, but where the fruitful earth was improv’d by culture, they presently melt off, and hardly leave a print behind:  Thus unfashion’d minds can’t discharge their passions suddenly, but where souls are inrich’d with instruction, they but appear and vanish.

“And to confirm the truth of what you say,” return’d Eumolpus, “all my heat expires in this kiss; but, to prevent the designs of your enemies, hasten with your wallets, and either follow me, or, if ye like it, act the leaders.”

He had not done speaking, when, hearing the door move, we turn’d about, and saw a seaman, with a beard that made him appear terribly grim:  who saluted Eumolpus with a “Why dy’e stay, as if you did not know how near the time ’twas?”

All immediately prepared for the march, Eumolpus loads his servants, who had been all this while asleep; I, and Gito, pack’d our things together, and, thanking our stars, enter’d the vessel.

We fixt our selves, as much out of the way as we could, under deck:  and it being not yet day, Eumolpus fell a-sleep:  I, and Gito, cou’d not take a wink:  when reflecting afresh, that I had harbour’d in my acquaintance, a rival more powerful than Ascyltos; I began to be much troubled:  but wisely allaying my grief, I thus reason’d with my self:  Is it so troublesom to share what we love? when the best of nature’s works are in common?  The sun throws his rays on all.  The moon, with her infinite train of stars, serves to light even beasts to their fodder:  What below can boast an excellence of nature above the waters?  Yet they flow in publick for the use of all:  only love seems sweeter stol’n than when it’s given us:  so it is, we esteem nothing, unless ’tis envy’d by others; but what have I to fear in a rival, that age and impotence conspire to render disagreeable?  Who, when he has an inclination, his body jades under him before he can reach the goal.

When I had cheated my self with this assurance, I muffled my head in my coat, and feign’d my self asleep:  but on a sudden, as if fortune had resolv’d to ruin my quiet; I heard one above deck groaning out:  “And has he scorn’d me?” This struck me with a trembling, for it was a man’s voice, and one I was afraid I knew:  but at a greater distance, with the same heat, I heard a woman lamenting:  “O that some god,” said she, “wou’d bring my Gito to my arms; tho’ he banish’d himself thence; how kindly wou’d I receive him!”

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