17
There was Gniphon the usurer, too, bitterly reproaching himself for having died without ever knowing the taste of wealth, leaving all his money to his nearest relation and heir-at-law, the spendthrift Rhodochares, when he might have had the enjoyment of it himself. When I saw him, I laughed as if I should never stop: to think of him as he used to be, pale, wizened, with a face full of care, his fingers the only rich part of him, for they had the talents to count,—scraping the money together bit by bit, and all to be squandered in no time by that favourite of Fortune, Rhodochares!—But what are we waiting for now? There will be time enough on the voyage to enjoy their woebegone faces, and have our laugh out.
17
Come on board, and then the ferryman can haul up the anchor.
18
Now, now! What are you doing here? The boat is full, You wait till to-morrow. We can bring you across in the morning.
18
What right have you to leave me behind,—a shade of twenty-four hours’ standing? I tell you what it is, I shall have you up before Rhadamanthus. A plague on it, she’s moving! And here I shall be left all by myself. Stay, though: why not swim across in their wake? No matter if I get tired; a dead man will scarcely be drowned. Not to mention that I have not a penny to pay my fare.
18
Micyllus! Stop! You must not come across that way; Heaven forbid!
18
Ha, ha! I shall get there first, and I shouldn’t wonder.
18
This will never do, We must get to him, and pick him up.... Hermes, give him a hand up.
19
And where is he to sit now he is here?_ We are full up, as you may see,
19
What do you say to the tyrant’s shoulders?
19
A good idea that.
19
Up with you then; and make the rascal’s back ache. And now, good luck to our voyage!
19
Charon, I may as well tell you the plain truth at once. The penny for my fare is not forthcoming; -I have nothing but my wallet, look, and this stick, But if you want a hand at baling, here I am; or I could take an oar; only give me a good stout one, and you shall have no fault to find with me.
