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.

Upon which the more lustful Tryphoena askt, and made me tell her, what those wanton caresses meant; she was inspired with new heat at the relation; and mindful of our old amours, offer’d to revive our former commerce; but worn off my legs with those employments, I gave her invitations but an ill return; yet she with all the desires of a woman transported by her passion, threw her arms about me, and so closely lockt me in her imbraces, I was forc’d to cry out; one of her maids came in at the noise, and easily believing I wou’d force from her the favours I had deny’d her mistress, rusht between, and loos’d the bands:  Tryphoena meeting with such a repulse, and even raging with desire, took it more grievous at my hands, and with threats at her going off, flew to Lycas; not only to raise his resentments against me, but to join with him in pursuit of revenge.

By the way observe, I had formerly been well receiv’d by this attendant of Tryphoena, when I maintain’d a commerce with her mistress, upon that score she resented my converse with Tryphoena, and deeply sighing, made me eager to know the occasion; when she, stepping back, thus began, “If you had any sparks of the gentleman in you, you’d value her no more than a common prostitute; if you were a man you wou’d not descend to such a jakes.”  These thoughts not a little disturb’d her; but I was asham’d of nothing more, than that Eumolpus, suspecting the occasion, shou’d in his next verses make our suppos’d quarrel the subject of his drollery; and lest my care to avoid it shou’d prove no means of discovering it.

When I was contriving how to prevent his suspicion, Eumolpus himself came in, already acquainted with what was done; for Tryphoena had communicated her grief to Gito, and endeavour’d at his cost to compensate the injury I had offer’d her.  Upon which Eumolpus was on fire, and the more, because her wantonness was an open breach of the articles she had sign’d.

When the old doctor saw me, pitying my misfortune, he desir’d to know the whole scene from my self; I freely told him of the gamesomeness of the lewd Lycas, and Tryphoena’s lustful assault, that he was already well inform’d of; upon which, in a solemn oath, he swore to vindicate our cause, and that Heaven was too just to suffer so many crimes to go unpunisht.

While we were thus ingag’d a storm arose; now thick clouds, and th’ inrag’d flood eclypst the day, the seamen fly to their posts as fast as fear cou’d make ’em; and, pulling down the sails, leave the vessel to the mercy of the tempest; for the uncertain winds made them hopeless of any direct course; nor did the pilot know which way to steer; sometimes the unguided ship was forc’d on the coast of Sicily, often by contrary winds ’twas tost near Italy; and what was more dangerous than all, on a sudden the gathering clouds spread such horrid darkness all around, that the pilot cou’d not see over the fore-castle; upon which all despair’d of safety; when Lycas threw himself before me, and lifting up his trembling hands, “I beseech you Encolpius,” began he, “assist the distress’d, that is restore the sacred vest and timbrel you took from the image of the goddess Isis; be merciful as you are wont.’’ At what time a whirlwind snatcht him up, and threw him howling midst the flood, and soon a spiteful wave just shew’d him us, and drew him back again.

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