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!"
So unexpected a thing drove the colour from our cheeks; I especially, as in a trance, was a long time speechless; when, trembling with fear, I pull'd Eumolpus by the coat, who was now asleep; and "I beseech you, father," said I, "do you know the owner of this vessel, or who the passengers are?" He was very angry to be disturbed: "And was it for this reason," said he, "that we chose the most private place in the ship; that none but your self might disturb us: or what will it signifie if I tell you, that one Lycas a Tarentine owns her, and is carrying one Tryphœna to Tarentum?"
For a while I stood like one thunder-struck, when opening my bosom, I trembling, cry'd out; "At last, Fortune, you have ruin'd every part of me:" for Gito, my better half, lean'd on my breast, as if he had breath'd his last: when our sweating through fear, had a little recover'd our spirits: I fell at Eumolpus feet, and intreated him to have compassion of two dying wretches: that is, to assist us in the means of escaping the impending mischief: "Tho' death," I added, "wou'd be more grateful to us, if the happiness of enjoying you, did not make us envy life."
Eumolpus was glad to serve us, and swore by all that's sacred, he was privy to no design against us; and that he had very innocently brought us hither, for no other end, than for our company, having hir'd the vessel before he was acquainted with us: "But what designs on your lives are here?" added he, "Or have we a pyrate Hannibal on board?" "Lycas," continued he, "a very honourable man, is not only master and owner of this vessel, but of a good estate, and having inclinations to traffick, freights his vessel himself: Is this the terrible Cyclops? Is this the dreadful cut-throat, we must pay our carriage to? And besides him, is the beautiful Tryphœna that other emblem of terrour, who for her pleasure only goes with Lycas."
"These are the very two," reply'd Gito, "we strove to avoid": and, in a low voice, made Eumolpus, that trembled at the story, at once understand the occasions of their malice to us, and our present danger.
Eumolpus was so distracted in his thoughts, he cou'd not advise, but bid each of us give him his opinion; "And presume," says he, "we had just enter'd the Cyclops den, where Jove's thunderbolts are made. We must seek a means of delivery, except we design to free us from all danger, by sinking the vessel."
"No, no," began Gito, "rather offer the pilot a reward, to direct the vessel to some port: and affirm the sea so disagrees with your friend, that if he is not so kind, you fear he'll dye: you may colour the pretence with tears, and appear much concern'd, that, mov'd with compassion, the pilot may befriend you."
Eumolpus reply'd, that could not be effected, for not only the difficulty of guiding so great a ship to a port, but a suspicion he wou'd necessarily have, that his friend cou'd not be so suddenly very ill, conspir'd against it: Then next perhaps, Lycas wou'd have a curiosity to visit his sick passenger: "Can you propose to escape by a means that will discover ye to him ye'd avoid? But presuming the ship cou'd be stopt in her rapid course, and that Lycas shou'd not visit his sick on board: How can we get out, but all must see us? With our heads muffled, or bare? If cover'd, we move every one to lend a hand to sick persons; if bare, we discover our selves."
"A desperate disease," said I, "must have a desperate cure; I know no better expedient of our delivery, than to slide into the long boat, and cutting the cord, leave the rest to Fortune: Nor do I desire Eumolpus to share the danger: For what wou'd it signifie to involve an innocent person in other mens deserv'd misfortunes? We shall think our selves happy, if Fortune be kind."
"'Twas not ill advised," said Eumolpus, "if it cou'd be done; for do you think to stir in the ship unobserved, when the distant motion of the stars themselves can't escape the pilot's diligence? You must pass the only guarded part of the ship near which place the rope that holds the boat is tyed: Besides, Encolpius, I wonder you did not remember that one seaman was upon constant duty night and day in the boat it self; nor will be mov'd from his post, without you cut his throat, or fling him overboard; which consider whether you can dare attempt; for my part, to go with you I would refuse no danger that could give me the least hopes of getting off; but to put so low a value on life, to throw it away as a useless thing, I believe even your selves are unwilling: Hear whether you like my proposal; I'll put ye into two mantles I have here, and making holes to breathe and eat through, will place you amongst my other goods for baggage, next morning I allarm the whole ship, crying out, my servants, fearing a greater punishment, in the night jump into the sea; that when the ship made to land, I might carry you off for baggage."