14
He had a cousin who was enormously rich, named Drimylus. This fellow while he was alive never gave apenny to Simon—why should he, when he himself did not touch his money? But since his death the other day all his property is Simon’s by law, and now he, the man with the dirty rags, the man that used to lick the pot, takes the air pleasantly, dressed in fine woollens and royal purple, the owner of servants and carriages and golden cups and_ ivory-legged tables, receiving homage from everybody and no longer even giving a glance at me. Recently, for example, I saw him coming toward me and said, “Good-day, Simon’; but he replicd: “Tell that pauper not to abbreviate my name; it is not Simon but Simonides.”He adopts a name better suited to his new position in society; ef. Timon 22.1 What is more, the women are actually in love with him now, and he flirts with them and slights them, and when he receives some and is gracious to them the others threaten to hang themselves on account of his neglect. You see, don’t you, what blessings gold is able to bestow, when it transforms ugly people and renders them lovely, like the girdle in poetry?The girdle of Aphrodite: /liad 14, 214 ff. And you have heard the poets say: “O gold, thou choicest treasure,”Euripides, from the lost Danae: Nauck, Vrag. Graec. Frag. 324. and Tis gold that over mortal men doth rule. Source unknown; Nauck, ibid., adesp. 294. But why did you interrupt me by laughing, cock?
15
Because in your ignorance, Micyllus, you have gone just as far astray as most people in regard to the rich. Take my word for it, they live a much more wretched life than we. I who talk to you have been both poor and rich repeatedly, and have tested every kind of life: after a little you shall hear about it all.
15
Yes, by Heaven, it is high time now for you to talk and tell me how you got transformed and what you know of each existence.
15
Listen; but first let me tell you thus much, that I have never seen anyone leading a happier life than you.
