Saturnalia

​PRIEST O Cronus, for you seem to rule, at least as things now stand, and sacrifice has been made and auspicious offerings offered to you by us, what might I receive from you by asking especially upon these sacrifices? CRONUS This indeed it is well for you yourself to have considered, what you should pray for, unless you also wish the ruler to be a diviner at the same time, so as to know what is more pleasant for you to ask. But I, for my part, will not refuse your prayer as far as possible things are concerned. PRIEST But I have long since considered. For I shall speak of these common and obvious things—wealth and much gold, and to be master of fields, and to possess many slaves, and bright and soft garments, and silver and ivory, and all other things that are prized. Give me, therefore, O best Cronus, some of these, so that I myself too may enjoy your rule in some way, and not be the only one without a share through my whole life.

​CRONUS Do you see? You have asked this not in accordance with my power. For it is not mine to distribute such things. So do not be vexed if you should fail to obtain them, but ask from Zeus, whenever the rule passes over to him in a little while. For I receive the sovereignty on specified terms. My whole reign is of seven days, and if I go beyond the term of these, I am immediately a private citizen and just one of the great multitude. And during these seven days, it is not permitted to me to administer anything serious or public, but to drink and be drunk, and shout and play, and play at dice, and appoint rulers, and feast the servants, and sing naked, and clap hands while trembling slightly, and sometimes even to be pushed headlong into cold water, with one’s face smeared with soot—these things are permitted to me to do. But those great things, wealth and gold, Zeus distributes to whomever he wishes.

​PRIEST But not even he, O Cronus, gives them easily and readily. I, at any rate, have already grown weary of asking with a loud voice, but he does not listen at all, but shaking his aegis and brandishing his thunderbolt, looking fiercely, he terrifies those who trouble him. And if ever he does nod assent to someone and make him rich, there is much lack of discernment there, and sometimes passing by the good and sensible men, he pours wealth over utterly wicked and foolish men, scourged slaves or effeminates, for the most part. However, I wish to know what those things are that are possible for you.

​CRONUS Not small at all, nor altogether contemptible, if they are examined in relation to the power of my whole reign—unless indeed it seems a small thing to you to win when playing at dice and, while the die rolls to the ace for others, for you the six always appears on top. Many, at least, have provisioned themselves to satiety from such a thing, to whom the die, gracious and favorable, nods assent; while others on the contrary have swum out naked, their vessel shattered for them upon such a small reef as the die. And furthermore, to drink to the highest pleasure, and to be thought to sing more musically than anyone else at the banquet, and when they are being served, that the others indeed fall into the water—for this is the penalty of clumsy service—but you are proclaimed victorious and carry off the sausage as a prize—do you see how great a good that is? Furthermore, also to become sole king over everyone by winning with the knucklebones, so that you would neither be commanded ridiculous commands, and you yourself would be able to command, to one to shout out something shameful about himself, to another to dance naked and, lifting up the flute-girl, to carry her three times around the house—how are these too not proofs of my munificence? And if you object that such a kingship is not real or lasting, you will act unfairly, seeing that I myself, who distribute these things, hold my rule for a short time. Therefore, of these things which are possible for me to give—dice-playing, ruling, singing, and the things I have enumerated—ask with confidence, knowing that I will in no way terrify you with the aegis and the thunderbolt.