Chapter 4

(Enter CHARMIDES.)

CHARMIDES: To Neptune, potent o’er the deep and most powerful, the brother of aethereal Jove, joyously and sincerely do I proffer praise, and return my grateful thanks; to the salt waves, too, with whom lay supreme power over myself,—one, too, that existed over my property and my life, —inasmuch as from their realms they have returned me safe and sound even to my own native city. And, Neptune, before the other Deities, do I both give and return to you extreme thanks.

For all people talk of you as being cruel and severe, of voracious habits, filthy, unsightly, unendurable, and outrageous; on the other hand, I have experienced your kindly aid. For, in good sooth, I have found you mild and merciful upon the deep, even to that degree that I wished. This commendation, too, I had already heard with these ears before of you among men,—that you were accustomed to spare the poor, and to depress and overawe the rich.

Adieu! I commend you; you know how to treat men properly, according as is just. This is worthy of the Gods; they should ever prove benignant to the needy; to men of high station, quite otherwise. Trusty have you proved, though they are in the habit of saying that you cannot be trusted. For, without you, it would have happened, I am very sure, that on the deep your attendants would have shockingly torn in pieces and rent asunder wretched me, and, together with me, my property as well, in every direction throughout the azure surface of ocean.

But just now, like raging dogs, and no otherwise, did the winds in hurricane beset the ship; storms and waves, and raging squalls were about to roar, to break the mast, to bear down the yards, to split the sails; had not your favouring kindness been nigh at hand. Have done with me, if you please; henceforth have I now determined to give myself up to ease; enough have I got. With what pains have I struggled, while I was acquiring riches for my son.

But who is this that is coming up the street with his new-fangled garb and appearance? I’ faith, though I wish to be at home, I’ll wait awhile; at the same time, I will give my attention to see what business this fellow is about. (He retires aside.)

(Enter the SHARPER.)

A SHARPER.: To this day I give the name of The Festival of the Three Pieces (Trinummus); for, on this day, have I let out my services in a cheating scheme for three pieces of money.

I am just arrived from Seleucia, Macedonia, Asia, and Arabia,—places which I never visited either with my eye or with my foot. See now, what business poverty brings upon the man that is wretchedly destitute; inasmuch as I am now obliged, for the sake of three pieces of money, to say that I received these letters from a certain person, about whom I don’t know, nor have I ever known, who the man is, nor do I know this for certain, whether he was ever born or not.

CHARMIDES: (behind.) Faith, this fellow’s surely of the mushroom genus; he covers himself entirely with his top. The countenance of the fellow appears to be Illyrian; he comes, too, in that garb.

A SHARPER.: He who hired me, when he had hired me, took me to his house; he told me what he wanted to be done; he taught and showed me beforehand how I was to do everything. If, then, I should add anything more, my employer will on that account the better forward his plan through me. As he dressed me out, so am I now equipped; his money did that. He himself borrowed my costume, at his own risk, from the theatrical wardrobe; if I shall be able, now, to impose on this man through my garb,

I will give him occasion clearly to find that I am a very trickster.

CHARMIDES: (behind.) The more I look at him, the less does the appearance of the fellow please me.’Tis a wonder if that fellow there is not either a night-robber or a cutpurse. He is viewing the locality; he is looking around him and surveying the houses; troth, I think he is reconnoitring the spot for him to come and rob bye and bye.

I have a still greater desire to watch what he is about: I’ll give attention to this matter.

A SHARPER.: This employer of mine pointed out these localities to me; at this house are my devices to be put in practice. I’ll knock at the door.

CHARMIDES: (behind.) Surely this fellow is making in a straight line for my house; i’ faith, I think I shall have to keep watch this night of my arrival.

A SHARPER.: (knocks at the door of the house of CHARMIDES.) Open this door!—open it! Hallo, there! who now has the care of this door?

CHARMIDES: (coming up to him.) Young man, what do you want? hat is it you wish? Why are you knocking at this door?

A SHARPER.: Eh! old gentleman;

I am inquiring here for a young man named Lesbonicus, where in this quarter he lives —and likewise for another person, with such white hairs on his head as yours;

he that gave me these letters said his name was Callicles.

CHARMIDES: (aside.) In fact, this fellow is looking for my own son Lesbonicus and my friend Callicles, to whom I entrusted both my children and my property.

A SHARPER.: Let me know, respected sir, if you are acquainted with it, where these persons live.

CHARMIDES: Why are you inquiring for them? Or who are you?—Or whence are you?—Or whence do you cone?

A SHARPER.: I gave the return correctly to the Censor, when I was questioned by him—

CHARMIDES:

A SHARPER.: You ask a number of things in the same breath; I know not which in especial to inform you upon. If you will ask each thing singly, and in a quiet manner, I’ll both let you know my name, and my business, and my travels.

CHARMIDES: I’ll do as you desire. Come then; in the first place, tell me your name.

A SHARPER.: You begin by demanding an arduous task.

CHARMIDES: How so?

A SHARPER.: Because, respected sir, if you were to begin before daylight, i’ faith, to commence at the first part of my name,’twould be the dead of the night before you could get to the end of it.

CHARMIDES: According to your story, a person should have a long journey’s provision crammed tightly in for your name.

A SHARPER.: I have another name somewhat less,—about the size of a wine-casks.

CHARMIDES: What is this name of yours, young man?

A SHARPER.: Hush, that’s my name;

that’s my every-day one.

CHARMIDES: I’ faith,’tis a scampish name; just as though you were to say, Hush, if I were confiding anything to you, and then it is at an end forthwith. (Aside.) This fellow is evidently a sharper. What say you, young man—?

A SHARPER.: What is it now?

CHARMIDES: Speak out; what do these persons owe you whom you are seeking?

A SHARPER.: The father of this young man, Lesbonicus, delivered to me these two letters;

he is a friend of mine.

CHARMIDES: (aside.) I have now caught him in the fact; he says that I gave him the letters. I will have some fine sport with the fellow.

A SHARPER.: As I have begun, if you will give attention, I will say on.

CHARMIDES: I’ll give you my attention.

A SHARPER.: He bade me give this letter to his son, Lesbonicus, and this other one, as well, he bade me give to his friend Callicles.

CHARMIDES: (aside.) Troth, but since he is acting the impostor, I, on the other hand, have an inclination to act the cheat as well. Where was he himself?

A SHARPER.: He was carrying on his business prosperously.

CHARMIDES: But where?

A SHARPER.: At Seleucia.

CHARMIDES: And did you receive these from himself?

A SHARPER.: With his own hands he himself delivered them into my hands.

CHARMIDES: Of what appearance is this person?

A SHARPER.: He is a person somewhere about half a foot taller than you.

CHARMIDES: (aside.) This is an odd matter, if in fact I am taller when absent than when present.

Do you know this person?

A SHARPER.: You are asking me a ridiculous question; together with him I was in the habit of taking my meals.

CHARMIDES: What is his name?

A SHARPER.: One, i’ faith, that belongs to an honorable man.

CHARMIDES: I would like to hear it.

A SHARPER.: Troth, his name (hesitating) —his—his— (Aside.) Woe to unfortunate me.

CHARMIDES: What’s the matter?

A SHARPER.: Unguardedly, I this moment swallowed the name.

CHARMIDES: I like not the man that has his friends shut up within his teeth.

A SHARPER.: And yet this moment’twas dwelling on the very edge of my lips.

CHARMIDES: (aside.) I’ve come to-day in good time before this fellow.

A SHARPER.: (aside.) To my sorrow I’m caught in the fact.

CHARMIDES: Have you now recollected the name?

A SHARPER.: ’Fore Gods and men, i’ faith, I’m ashamed of myself

CHARMIDES: See, now, how well you know this man.

A SHARPER.: As well as my own self. This is in the habit of happening: the thing you are holding in your hand, and seeing with your eyes, that same you are looking for as lost. I’ll recollect it letter by letter. C is the beginning of the name.

CHARMIDES: Is it Callias?

A SHARPER.: No: it isn’t that.

CHARMIDES: Callippus?

A SHARPER.: It isn’t that.

CHARMIDES: Callidemides?

A SHARPER.: It isn’t that.

CHARMIDES: Callinicus?

A SHARPER.: No: it isn’t that.

CHARMIDES: Or is it Callimachus?

A SHARPER.: ’Tis in vain you suggest; and, i’ faith, I really don’t care one fillip about it, since I recollect enough myself for my own purpose.

CHARMIDES: But there are many people here of the name of Lesbonicus; unless you tell me the name of his father,

I cannot show you these persons whom you are looking for. What is it like? Perhaps we can find it out by guessing.

A SHARPER.: It is something like this: Char—

CHARMIDES: Chares? Or Charicles? Or is it Charmides?

A SHARPER.: Ah! that’s he; may the Deities confound him.

CHARMIDES: I have said to you once before already that it is proper for you rather to speak well of a man that is your friend, than to curse him.

A SHARPER.: Isn’t it the fact that this most worthless fellow has lain perdu between my lips and my teeth?

CHARMIDES: Don’t you be cursing an absent friend.

A SHARPER.: Why, then, did this most rascally fellow hide himself away from me?

CHARMIDES: If you had only called him, he would have answered to his name. But where is he himself now?

A SHARPER.: Troth, I left him at Rhadama, in the isle of Apeland.

CHARMIDES:

(aside.) What person is there a greater simpleton than I, who myself am making inquiries where I am?

But it is by no means unimportant to this present purpose. What do you say as—?

A SHARPER.: What now?

CHARMIDES: I ask you this. What places have you visited?

A SHARPER.: Places exceedingly wonderful in astonishing ways.

CHARMIDES: I should like to hear about them, unless it is inconvenient.

A SHARPER.: Really I quite long to tell you. First of all we were conveyed to Pontus, to the land of Arabia.

CHARMIDES: How now; is Arabia then in Pontus?

A SHARPER.: It is. Not that Arabia where frankincense is produced, but where the wormwood grows, and the wild marjoram which the poultry love.

CHARMIDES: (aside.) An extremely ingenious knave this. But the greater simpleton I, to be asking of this fellow from what place I have come back, a thing which I know, and he does not know; except that I have a mind to try how he will get out of it at last. But what say you further? Whither did you go next from thence?

A SHARPER.: If you give me your attention, I will tell you.

To the source of the river which arises out of the heavens, from beneath the throne of Jupiter.

CHARMIDES: Beneath the throne of Jupiter?

A SHARPER.: Yes: I say so.

CHARMIDES: Out of the heavens?

A SHARPER.: Aye, out of the very middle.

CHARMIDES: How now; and did you ascend even to the heavens?

A SHARPER.: Yes: we were carried in a little skiff right on, up the river, against the tide.

CHARMIDES: And did you see Jupiter as well?

A SHARPER.: The other Gods said that he had gone to his country-house, to dole out the victuals for his slaves.

Then, after that—

CHARMIDES: Then after that—I don’t want you to relate anything more.

A SHARPER.: Troth, I’m silent, if it’s troublesome.

CHARMIDES: Why, no decent person ought to tell it, who has gone from the earth to heaven.

A SHARPER.: I’ll leave you, as I see you wish it. But point me out these persons whom I am looking for, and to whom I must deliver these letters.

CHARMIDES: What say you? If now perchance you were to see Charmides himself, him, I mean, who you say gave you these letters, would you know the man?

A SHARPER.: By my troth now, do you take me to be a brute beast, who really am not able to recognise the person with whom I have been spending my life? And would he have been such a fool as to entrust to me a thousand

Philippean pieces, which gold he bade me carry to his son, and to his friend Callicles, to whom he said that he had entrusted his affairs? Would he have entrusted them to me if he had not known me, and I him, very intimately?

CHARMIDES: (aside.) I really have a longing now to swindle this swindler, if I can cozen him out of these thousand Philippean pieces which he has said that I have given to him. A person, that I know not who he is, and have never beheld him with my eyes before this day, should I be entrusting gold to him? A man, to whom, if his life were at stake, I would not entrust a dump of lead. This fellow must be adroitly dealt with by me. Hallo! Mister Hush, I want three words with you.

A SHARPER.: Even three hundred, if you like.

CHARMIDES: Have you that gold which you received from Charmides?

A SHARPER.: Yes, and Philippeans, too, counted out on the table with his own hand, a thousand pieces.

CHARMIDES: You received it, you mean, from Charmides himself?

A SHARPER.: ’Twere a wonder if I had received it of his father, or of his grandfather, who are dead.

CHARMIDES: Then, young man, hand me over this gold.

A SHARPER.: (staring at him.) What gold am I to give you?

CHARMIDES: That which you have owned you received from me.

A SHARPER.: Received from you?

CHARMIDES: Yes, I say so.

A SHARPER.: Who are you?

CHARMIDES: I am Charmides, who gave you the thousand pieces of money.

A SHARPER.: I’ faith, you are not he; and this day, you never shall be he, for this gold, at any rate. Away with you, if you please, you impostor! (Aside.) You are trying to cheat the cheater.

CHARMIDES: I am Charmides.

A SHARPER.: I’ faith, you are so to no purpose, for I carry no gold. Right cleverly were you down upon me, at the very nick of time.

After I said that I was bringing the gold, that instant you became Charmides. Before I made mention of the gold, you were not he. It won’t do. Just, therefore, in such manner as you Charmidised yourself, do you again un-Charmidise yourself.

CHARMIDES: Who am I, then, if in fact I am not he who I really am?

A SHARPER.: What matters that to me? So long as you are not he whom I do not choose you to be, you may be who you like, for what I care.

Just now, you were not he who you were, now you are become he who then you were not.

CHARMIDES: Come, despatch, if you are going to do it.

A SHARPER.: What am I to do?

CHARMIDES: Give me back the gold.

A SHARPER.: You are dreaming, old gentleman.

CHARMIDES: Did you own that Charmides delivered the gold to you?

A SHARPER.: Yes—in writing.

CHARMIDES: Are you making haste or not, you night-robber, to be off with all speed this very instant from this neighbourhood, before I order you to be soundly cudgelled on the spot?

A SHARPER.: For what reason?

CHARMIDES: Because I am that self-same Charmides about whom you have been thus lying, and who you said gave the letters to you.

A SHARPER.: How now; prithee, are you really he?

CHARMIDES: I really am he.

A SHARPER.: Say you so, pray? Are you really he himself?

CHARMIDES: I do say so.

A SHARPER.: Are you his own self?

CHARMIDES: His own self, I say. I am Charmides.

A SHARPER.: And are you then his own self?

CHARMIDES: His own very self. Begone hence out of my sight.

A SHARPER.: Since you really have made your appearance here thus late, you shall be beaten both at my own award and that of the new Aediles.

CHARMIDES: And are you abusing me as well?

A SHARPER.: Yes; seeing that you have arrived in safety, may the Gods confound me, if I care a straw for you, had you perished first. I have received the money for this job; you, I devote to bad luck. But who you are, or who you are not, I care not one jot.

I’ll go and carry word to him who gave me the three pieces, that he may know that he has thrown them away. I’m off. Live with a curse, and fare you ill; may all the Gods confound you, Charmides, for coming from abroad. (Exit.)

CHARMIDES: Since this fellow has gone, at last a time and opportunity seem to have arrived for speaking out without restraint.

Already does this sting pierce my breast—what business he could have before my house? For these letters summon apprehensions into my heart; those thousand pieces, too—what purpose they were to serve. I’ faith, a bell is never rung for no purpose;

unless some one handles it or moves it,’tis mute,’tis dumb. But who is this, that is beginning to run this way along the street? I should like to observe what he is about. I’ll step aside this way. (He retires aside.)

(Enter STASIMUS.)

STASIMUS: (to himself.) Stasimus, make you haste with all speed; away with you to your master’s house, lest on a sudden, through your folly, fears should arise for your shoulder-blades.

Quicken your pace, make haste;’tis now a long while since you left the house. If you shall be absent when inquired after by your master, take you care, please, that the smacks of the bull’s-hide don’t clatter thick upon you. Don’t you cease running. See now, Stasimus, what a worthless fellow you are; and isn’t it the fact that you have forgotten your ring at the liquor- shop after you have been washing your throat with warm drink?

Turn about, and run back now, to seek it, while the thing has but just happened.

CHARMIDES: (behind.) Whoever he is, his throat is his taskmaster; that teaches this fellow the art of running.

STASIMUS: What, good-for-nothing fellow, are you not ashamed of yourself? having lost your memory after only three cups? And really, because you were there drinking together with such honest fellows, who could keep their hands off the property of another without difficulty;

—is it among such men that you expect you may recover your ring?

Chiruchus was there, Cerconicus, Crimnus, Cricolabus, Collabus, whipped-necks, whipped-legs, iron-rubbers, whipped-knaves.

By my faith, any one of these could steal the sole of his shoe from a running footman.

CHARMIDES: (behind.) So may the Gods love me, a finished thief.

STASIMUS: Why should I go seek what is gone for ever?

Unless I would bestow my pains, too, by way of addition over and above to my loss. Why, then, don’t you consider that what is gone is gone? Tack about, then. Betake yourself back to your master.

CHARMIDES: (behind.) This fellow is no runaway; he remembers his home.

STASIMUS: I wish that the old-fashioned ways of old-fashioned days, and the old-fashioned thriftiness, were in greater esteem here, rather than these bad ways.

CHARMIDES: (behind.) Immortal Gods! this man really is beginning to talk of noble doings! He longs for the old-fashioned ways; know that he loves the old-fashioned ways, after the fashion of our forefathers.

STASIMUS: For, now-a-days, men’s manners reckon of no value what is proper, except what is agreable. Ambition now is sanctioned by usage, and is free from the laws. By usage, people have the license to throw away their shields, and to run away from the enemy.

To seek honor thereby in place of disgrace is the usage.

CHARMIDES: (behind.) A shameless usage.

STASIMUS: Now-a-days,’tis the usage to neglect the brave.

CHARMIDES: (behind.) Aye,’tis really shocking.

STASIMUS: The public manners have now got the laws in their power; to them they are more submissive than are parents to their children. In their misery, these laws are even hung up against the wall with iron nails, where it had been much more becoming for bad ways to be fixed up.

CHARMIDES: (behind.) I’d like to go up and accost this person; but I listen to him with much pleasure, and I’m afraid, if I address him, that he may begin to talk on some other subject.

STASIMUS: And, for these ways, there is nothing rendered sacred by the law. The laws are subservient to usage; but these habits are hastening to sweep away both what is sacred and what is public property.

CHARMIDES: (behind.) By my troth,’twere right for some great calamity to befal these bad customs.

STASIMUS: Ought not this state of things to be publicly censured? For this kind of men are the enemies of all persons, and do an injury to the entire people. By a non-observance of their own honour, they likewise destroy all trust even in those who merit it not; inasmuch as people form an estimate of the disposition of these from the disposition of those fellows.

If you lend a person any money, it becomes lost for any purpose as one’s own. When you ask for it back again, you may find a friend made an enemy by your kindness. If you begin to press still further, the option of two things ensues—either you must part with that which you have entrusted, or else you must lose that friend.

As to how this suggests itself to me, I have by actual experience been lately put in mind of it.

CHARMIDES: (behind.) Surely this is my servant Stasimus?

STASIMUS: For as to him to whom I lent the talent, I bought myself an enemy with my talent, and sold my friend. But I am too great a simpleton to be attending to public matters rather than (what’s my immediate interest) obtain safety for my back. I’ll go home. (Moves as if going.)

CHARMIDES: Hallo, you! Stop, this instant! Harkye; hallo, you!

STASIMUS: I’ll not stop.

CHARMIDES: I want you.

STASIMUS: What if I myself don’t want you to want me.

CHARMIDES: Why, Stasimus, you are behaving very rudely.

STASIMUS: ’Twere better for you to buy some one to give your commands to.

CHARMIDES: I’ faith, I have bought one, and paid the money, too. But if he is not obedient to my orders, what ani I to do?

STASIMUS: Give him a severe punishment.

CHARMIDES: You give good advice; I am resolved to do so.

STASIMUS: Unless, indeed, you are under obligations to him.

CHARMIDES: If he is a deserving person, I am under obligations to him; but if he is otherwise, I’ll do as you advise me.

STASIMUS: What matters it to me whether you have good or bad slaves?

CHARMIDES: Because you have a share in this matter both of the good and of the bad.

STASIMUS: The one share I leave to yourself; the other share, that in the good, do you set down to my account.

CHARMIDES: If you shall prove deserving, it shall be so. Look back at me—I am Charmides.

STASIMUS: Ha! what person is it that has made mention of that most worthy man?

CHARMIDES: ’Tis that most worthy man himself.

STASIMUS: O seas, earth, heavens, by my trust in you—do I see quite clearly with my eyes? Is this he, or is it not?’Tis he!’Tis certainly he;’tis he beyond a doubt! O my most earnestly wished-for master, health to you!

CHARMIDES: Health to you, too, Stasimus!

STASIMUS: That you are safe and sound, I—

CHARMIDES: (interruptitng him.) I know it, and I believe you. But wave the rest; answer me this; how are my children, my son and daughter, whom I left here?

STASIMUS: They are alive, and well.

CHARMIDES: Both of them, say you?

STASIMUS: Both of them.

CHARMIDES: The Gods willed me to be safe and preserved from dangners. The rest that I want to know I will inquire about in-doors at my leisure. Let us go in-doors; follow me.

STASIMUS: Where are you going now?

CHARMIDES: Where else but to my house?

STASIMUS: Do you suppose that we are living here?

CHARMIDES: Why, where else should I suppose?

STASIMUS: Now—

CHARMIDES: What about now?

STASIMUS: This house is not our own.

CHARMIDES: What is it I hear from you?

STASIMUS: Your son has sold this house.

CHARMIDES: I’m ruined.

STASIMUS: For silver minae; ready money counted out.

CHARMIDES: How many?

STASIMUS: Forty.

CHARMIDES: I’m undone. Who has purchased it?

STASIMUS: Callicles, to whom you entrusted your affairs; he has removed here to live, and has turned us out of doors.

CHARMIDES: Where is my son now living?

STASIMUS: Here, in these back buildings. (Points to the side of the house.)

CHARMIDES: I’m utterly undone.

STASIMUS: I thought that this would be distressing to you when you heard of it.

CHARMIDES: To my sorrow, amid extreme dangers I have been borne over vast oceans, with the peril of my life I have preserved myself among robbers full many in number, and I have returned safe. Now, to my misery, I am here undone by reason of those same persons for whose sake I have been struggling at this time of life Grief is depriving me of my senses. Support me, Stasimus.

STASIMUS: Do you wish me to fetch you some water?

CHARMIDES: When my fortunes were in their mortal struggle, then was it befitting that water should be sprinkled upon them.

(Enter CALLICLES.)

CALLICLES: What noise is this that I hear before my house?

CHARMIDES: O Callicles! O Callicles! O Callicles!

to what sort of friend have I entrusted my property?

CALLICLES: To one good, and faithful, and trusty, and of strict integrity. Health to you, and I rejoice that you have arrived safe and sound.

CHARMIDES: How, health to me? Troth, I have no patience with such health. This I wish to know; how have you kept your trust, who, without my knowledge, have utterly destroyed my property and my children that I entrusted to you and committed to your charge when going hence abroad?

CALLICLES: I don’t think that it is fair, when you don’t understand the matter, to censure your old friend with harsh words. For you are both mistaken and you are doing me a very great injustice.

CHARMIDES: Have you not bought this house which you came out of just now, and driven thence my son Lesbonicus? Is this so as I say, or is it not? Answer me.

CALLICLES: I myself did buy the house; I bought it that I might keep it for you. And without that it would have happened that your son would have sold it to another person; and then you would have lost both it and that treasure together, which, concealed there, you had entrusted to my charge. See, I restore it safe to you; for you did I buy it, not for myself.

CHARMIDES: Prithee, what do you say? By my trust in Gods and men, you make me suddenly to be quite ashamed of my error in speaking unkindly to my friend in return for his services.

CALLICLES: How, then; do you now think that I am trusty and faithful?

CHARMIDES: I do think so, if all these matters are so as you relate them. But what means this garb of yours?

CALLICLES: I’ll tell you.

I was digging up the treasure indoors, as a marriage-portion to be given to your daughter. But I will relate to you both this and the rest in the house. Follow me.

CHARMIDES: Stasimus.

STASIMUS: Well!

CHARMIDES: Run with all haste to the Piraeus, and make but one run of it. There you will at once see the ship, on board of which I was carried hither.

Bid Sagario take care that the things are brought which I enjoined him, and do you go together with them. The duty has been already paid to the custom-house officer.

STASIMUS: I make no delay.

CHARMIDES: Get you gone with all speed; and be back directly.

STASIMUS: I am both there and here in an instant.

CALLICLES: (to CHARMIDES.) Do you follow me this way indoors.

CHARMIDES: I follow. (Exeunt CALLICLES and CHARMIDES into the house.)

STASIMUS: This man alone has remained a firm friend to my master; nor has he allowed his mind to swerve from unshaken fidelity, although I believe that he has undergone many troubles, by reason of the property and the children of my master. Still, this person, as I suspect, alone has maintained his fidelity. (Exit.)