How so—fly-boat? PALAESTRIO This is her maid that is coming out of the house, she that brought that ring which I delivered to you. PYRGOPOLINICES I’ faith, she too is a prettyish wench.PALAESTRIO This one is a little monkey and an owlAnd an owl
: Spinturniciumwas the name of some ugly, ill-omened bird; of what kind it is not now known. in comparison with the other. Do you see how she hunts around with her eyes, and goes fowling about with her ears. They stand aside.
Enter MILPHIDIPPA.MILPHIDIPPAas she enters. My Circus, thenMy Circus, then
: This is an allusion to the Circus at Rome, where the public games were exhibited., is before the house, where my sports are to take place. I’ll make pretence, as though I didn’t see them, or knew as yet that they are here.PYRGOPOLINICES Hush! let’s quietly listen, whether any mention is made of me.MILPHIDIPPAaloud. Is there no one near at hand here, to attend to another’s business rather than his own?—to prowl afterTo prowl after
: Aucupois properly applied to a birdcatcher, or fowler, who watches his nets. me to see what I’m about? No one who is feeding this eveningFeeding this evening
: Qui de vesperi vivat suo.She is supposed to mean those who are not out on the hunt for a supper, but have got one of their own at home. These latter persons, she thinks, living at their ease, and not having to satisfy a hungry stomach, are likely to have more leisure for prying into the concerns of other people, than those who are put to their shifts for a meal. at his own expense? I dread such men as these, lest they should now come in the way, or prove an hindrance somehow, should my mistress privately pass from her house this way, who is so enamoured of his person, who so dotes upon this very charming man with his exceeding beauty—the Captain PyrgopolinicesPYRGOPOLINICES And doesn’t she dote upon me, too? She is praising my beauty.PALAESTRIO I’ faith, her language stands in need of no ashesIn need of no ashes
: He says that she is so very clean spoken (laute et minime sordide) that she needs no ashes with which to scour her words; the figure being derived from the custom of scouring brass vessels with pounded ashes..PYRGOPOLINICES For what reason?