slave-dealer off, with very little ceremony, before the nearest magistrate, to answer both for his breach of contract and his attempt at sacrilege. And with this scene ends the third act of the drama.
Then there is an interval of time before the commencement of the fourth act. Gripns, one of Dæmones's slaves, has been out fishing. He has taken no fish; but has had a haul which will prove, he hopes, to be of more importance. He has brought up in his net a heavy wallet, and feels certain that it contains gold; enough, no doubt, to purchase his freedom, and to make him a rich man for the rest of his life besides. His soliloquy, as to what he will do with all his riches, reminds us not a little of the dream of Alnaschar.
Now, this shall be my plan—I'm quite determined:
I'll do it cunningly; I'll go to my master,
With just a little money from time to time,
To buy my freedom: then, when I am free,
I'll buy a farm—I'll build a house—I'll have
A great many slaves. Then I shall make a fortune
By my big merchant-ships. I shall be a prince,
And talk to princes. Then I'll build a yacht,
Just for a fancy, and like Stratonicus
Sail round the seaport towns.[1] When my renown
Spreads far and wide, then—then, I'll found a city;
I'll call it "Gripè," in memory of my name
And noble acts; I'll found an empire there.
I do resolve great things within this breast (striking his chest);
- ↑ Stratonicus was treasurer to Philip and Alexander, and probably thought himself a greater man than either of his masters. The allusion to Alexandria in "Gripè" is obvious.
