Filius Profusus

From The Seven Sages of Rome

Filius Profusus

A country couple have a child, whom they name Rudolf and raise proudly to have the finest education. As part of this, they send him to Peru, where he squanders their money on entertainment with friends, regularly asking for more. His mother is suspicious of his behaviour and asks for him to return, which he does. The father is overjoyed at his return, but Rudolf misses his amusements and begs to be allowed to travel. When his mother denies this request, Rudolf persecutes her so much that she dies. His father allows him to go abroad, selling his estate to fund the trip and only keeping a small farm to sustain himself. Rudolf soon squanders this too and writes to his father pretending to have found a rich wife who wishes to care for them both and asking him to sell the farm and travel to him. His father is delighted and rushes to his son, who secretly unloads the money into his own carriage and runs off with it. His father is left to work for the rest of his life in an unknown city.

(From Murko, summarised by Ava Byrne)

Note

Entered by Ava Byrne

Full translation of Murko's reproduction below.

A country gentleman who lacked neither property nor wealth lived in the greatest contentment with his beloved wife, who had borne him a son in the sixth year of their marriage. This child was their greatest joy in the world; they had longed a long while for him, in order to obtain an heir to their vast estates. When the little son came to a more mature reason, they tried to have him educated as much as possible whilst he was still of tender age. The more time passed, the more Rudolf showed his abilities, until he was completely witty and intelligent.

The caring father spared no expenses in increasing Rudolf’s knowledge, so that one day he could have the greatest pride in his son. He sent him to the capital city of Peru, where he was to receive a higher education. This large city, with no shortage of various activities and entertaining companions, satisfied Rudolf quite well, so much so that he sought out entertainment more than a useful education. However, this required a lot of money, and so he wrote frequently to his parents under various pretexts to empty their purses. His mother often argued with her husband, urging him not to send Rudolf so much money, as it could ruin him. The husband talked her out of it in every way that he could and, in order to avoid this reproach, decided to keep it all a secret from his wife in the future.  

When Rudolf realised that things were going his way, he continued with this lifestyle, constantly thinking about what new entertainment he could indulge in with his friends. If you have enough money, everything will go your way. Rudolf was diligent in writing to his father and promised him that he would repay everything in the future; he told him all the skills he was learning, how many languages he understood, and how he had often distinguished himself above all others in the art of chivalry and received public praise for this. All these lying reports moved his fatherly heart to decide to spend everything on his son.

The blind love of the careless father for his son knew no bounds; even though he had already noticed the significant losses to his fortunes, he thought constantly of the great honour and joy of Rudolf, whom he hoped to find happiness through.

When seven years had passed since Rudolf left his parents, his mother demanded that the master call Rudolf home so that he could represent himself in the household. The nobleman happily fulfilled his wife’s wish and sent for Rudolf.  

The father received his son with such joy, when he noticed his magnificent stature and his still handsome face! He kissed him for a long time and paid him almost undue honours. His wise wife showed no great joy in her son, for she knew how Rudolf had diminished their wealth, but felt that she could prevent him from future extravagance when she saw him. However, her plan did not have a happy ending, for Rudolf had only been with his parents for a short while and was already showing great dissatisfaction at not having his merry companions with him. He begged his father to allow him to travel to foreign lands, as he hoped to find his fortune elsewhere and make both himself and his parents happy. The careless father immediately agreed to his son’s wish, but his mother would not allow it under any circumstances. The ungrateful son thus began to persecute his mother so much that she soon died.

The death of his venerable mother meant that the world was open to Rudolf. Because he knew that he would receive anything he wanted from his father, he made his request again not after his mother’s death and obtained his permission easily. However, due to the large debts already incurred through Rudolf’s extravagance, the father was now forced to sell his estate and retain only a farm to support himself. The prodigal son felt no pity for his father, who had squandered all his wealth for his sake. After gathering all the money, he equipped himself with everything that he would need on the journey and, accompanied by two servants, left his weeping father for foreign lands.  

Along the way, especially in large cities, he once more found many cheerful companions who helped him open his chest of ducats. Because he knew how to keep himself entertained in all sorts of social groups, he always had everything that money could get him.  

He was not yet fifty miles from home, but he had already pulled half the bags out of the chest and emptied them. By the end, all that remained was the horses and the carriage. He dismissed his servants and remembered his father for the first time. He thought about what to do for a short while, until it occurred to him that his father still had a farm to support him.  

He immediately wrote a lengthy letter, but it was full of lies, how great luck had struck him and that a rich and beautiful countess had chosen him as her husband. His father therefore could sell his farm and all his possessions and go to him for a comfortable life, since his wife awaited him daily with unspeakable joy and pleasure.

This flattering and deceitful letter awakened new love in the father’s heart. He hastened to carry out his son’s advice, sold everything, and set out on his journey with great joy that he could embrace his son all the sooner.  

His desire to see his son shortened his journey, and so he arrived in the city sooner than expected. Oh, with what longing he thought of the house that his son promised in his letter! Just as he entered, his wayward son approached him from the stairs. When he recognised his father, he kissed him with joy and led him into his room. Rudolf’s first question was where his father had left the carriage. When he was told this, he immediately sent for the money, had the chest brought into the room, paid the coachman, and ordered him to return.

He then began to tell his father what good fortune had befallen him there: “Dearest father,” he said, “my wife has left the estate to arrange all matters for her arrival; this entire house has been designated by the countess for your convenience. So that when she returns, she does not think that we are poor, put out the money, even though no one will need it.”

The father opened the chest with pleasure and gave the last of the money to his son, who carried the little bags into another room and, after the last one, said: “A little patience, kind father! I must send for the countess, who is eagerly awaiting your arrival.” Meanwhile, this debauched, wasteful son smuggled the money out through another door into his carriage and left the city.  

When the grieving father could wait no longer for his wayward son, he was forced to ask after him; but he never saw him again. Because of his unreasonable love for his son, he had to earn his living in the city until his death.

Critical Literature
Murko (1890)Nishimura (2001)
Filius Profusus appears in the following versions and secondary versions
Filius Profusus is narrated in the following occurrences
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