"'Twas I," quoth Eumolpus, "commanded it, not wishing ill to the ship, but ease to my self; for they are my slaves, and having long staring hairs, I order'd the uncomely sight to be taken away; not only that I might not seem to make a prison of the ship; but that the mark of their villany might more plainly appear; and to let you know how richly they deserve the punishment; among other rogueries, they rob'd me of a considerable sum of money, and spent it with all the luxury of rich debauches, on a trull that was at both their services, whom I catcht them with last night. In short, they yet smell of the wine they profusely gave themselves with my money."
Lycas, that the offenders might atone for their crime, order'd each of them forty stripes; we were immediately brought to the place of execution; where the enrag'd seamen set upon us with ropes-ends, and try'd to offer our blood a sacrifice for their safety. I bore three stripes very heroically. Gito, who had not so much passive valour at the first blow, set up such an out-cry that the known sound of his voice reach'd Tryphœna's ear; who in great disorder attended with her maids, that were all like her self surpriz'd at the voice, run to the sufferer.
Gito's admirable beauty had soften'd their rage, and seem'd without speaking to intreat their favour; when the maids unanimously cry'd out, "'tis Gito, 'tis Gito; hold your barbarous hands, help madam, 'tis Gito!"
Tryphœna to their cry inclin'd her ears, that already had anticipated her belief, and with eager haste flew to the boy.
Upon which Lycas that knew me very well, as much satisfied as he had heard my voice, ran to me, and taking my other parts on content, sed contiguo ad inguina mea luminibus deflexis movit officiosam manum "your servant Encolpius," says he, "'twill be no wonder how Euryclea that nurs'd Ulysses, at his return after twenty years absence, shou'd know him by a scar on his forehead, when 'tis consider'd, the most discreet Lycas, not beholden to the marks of any seen part of the body, so judiciously discover'd me by the most hid:" Tryphœna, having cheated herself into a belief that those marks of slavery we wore on our foreheads were real, wept; and began in a low voice, to inquire what prison cou'd stop us in our rambles; or whose cruel hands cou'd finish such a punishment without reluctancy. "I confess," added she, "they deserve some punishment with whom their masters are so justly angry."
Lycas was in great heat at Tryphœna's tenderness. "And thou foolish woman," said he, "can you believe, those marks were cut before the ink was laid? We should be too happy were those stains not to be rub'd off, and had justly been, as they design'd us, the subject of their laughter, if we had suffer'd our selves to be so grossly impos'd on in a sham inscription."
Tryphœna, who was not yet unmindful of our former amours, wou'd have pity'd us. When Lycas, still resenting the abuse he received in his vitiated wife, and the affronts at the porch of Hercules' temple, with greater rage cry'd out, "I thought you had been convinc'd, Tryphœna, that Heaven has the care of humane affairs, when it not only brought our enemies into our power, which they strove to avoid, but reveal'd it in a vision to us both; see what you'l get by pardoning them, whom Heaven it self has brought to punishment, for my part, I am not naturally so cruel, but am afraid the judgment I shou'd prevent from justly falling upon others, may light on my own head."
This superstitious harangue, turn'd Tryphœna from hindring our punishment to hasten its execution. When she began afresh as highly to resent the former affronts that was offer'd her, as Lycas did the repute of his modesty that he had lost in the peoples esteem.
When Lycas found Tryphœna was with himself eagerly inclin'd to revenge, he order'd to increase our punishments, which when Eumolpus perceiv'd, he endeavour'd to mitigate after this manner.
"I pity the wretches," said he, "that lie at your mercy. Lycas, they implore your compassion, and choosing me as a man not altogether unknown to 'em to perform the office, desire to be reconcil'd to them they once held most dear. Can you believe, 'twas by accident they fell into your hands, when all passengers make it their chief business to enquire to whose care they are to trust themselves? When you are satisfied of their intentions, can you be so barbarous to continue your revenge, but suffer free-born men to go uninjur'd where they have design'd. Even barbarous and implacable masters allay their cruelty when their slaves repent; and all give quarter to the enemy that surrenders himself. What can you, or will you desire more? You have at your feet repenting supplicants; they're gentlemen, and men of worth; and what's more prevailing than both, were once caress'd as your dearest friends. Had they rob'd you of your money, or betray'd your trust, by Hercules the punishment they've inflicted on themselves might have satisfied your rage; don't you see the marks of slaves on their faces; who, though free, to attone their injuries to you, proscrib'd themselves."