Ecce Romani Chaper 11 Translation

All the Corneliuses are now in the carriage. They will go to Rome through the Appian Way. Meanwhile, in the country house, Davus is worried. Davus is Cornelius’ farm manager, and, if the master is away, the manager himself takes care of the master's country house. Therefore, Davus orders all the slaves to come into the threshing floor, which is close to the country house. In a short time, the threshing floor is full of slaves and slave women who make a great noise. "Listen to me! Although the master is away, we need to work strenuously." Then the slaves murmur "Davus wants to be master. Behold! He has a stick. He can beat us. We need to do what he says" Therefore, they return to the fields because they fear the farm manager’s stick. But Greta doesn't return. He neither loves the farm manager nor fears his anger. Therefore, at night, because he no longer wants to work in the fields, he prepares food and flees from the country house. No one sees him, so no one stops him. Now he hurries through the fields, and now along the road. When it is day, he hides in the branches of a tree. He sleeps there. Meanwhile, although it is not yet light, Davus wakes up all the slaves. He orders them to go into the fields and work there. But he doesn't see Greta. Where is Greta? Davus therefore is angry, then worried. He stands at the gate of the countryhouse and watches the road, but he does not see Greta.