Miles Gloriosus

Plautus, Titus Maccius

Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 1. Riley, H. T., translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1912.

  1. And he, too, is he a very fine fellow?
PALAESTRIO
  1. Away with you, if you please. What have you[*](What have you: This passage is somewhat modified above.) to do with him? You have your hands quite full enough with the women. Attend to this for the present.
PYRGOPOLINICES
  1. As to that advice you were giving me, I wish you to have a few words with her upon that subject. For, really, a conversation on that subject with her is more becoming[*](Is more becoming: He thinks it not suitable to his dignity to speak on the subject himself, and therefore wishes to put the task upon Palaestrio.) for you.
PALAESTRIO
  1. What is more advisable than for you to go yourself, and transact your own concerns? You must say that it is absolutely necessary for you to marry: that your relations are persuading, your friends are urging, you.
PYRGOPOLINICES
  1. And do you think so?
PALAESTRIO
  1. Why shouldn’t I think so?
PYRGOPOLINICES
  1. I’ll go in, then. Do you, in the mean time, keep watch here before the house, that when the other woman comes out you may call me out.
PALAESTRIO
  1. Do you only mind the business that you are upon.
PYRGOPOLINICES
  1. That, indeed, is resolved upon. For if she will not go out of her own accord, I’ll turn her out by force.
PALAESTRIO
  1. Do you take care how you do that; but rather let her go from your house with a good grace[*](With a good grace: Per gratiam bonam.Bonâ gratiâwas a legal term used in the case of amicable divorces with the consent of both parties.), and give her those things that I mentioned. The gold trinkets and apparel, with which you furnished her, let her take away.
PYRGOPOLINICES
  1. By my troth, I wish she would.
PALAESTRIO
  1. I think you’ll easily prevail upon her. But go indoors; don’t linger here.
PYRGOPOLINICES
  1. I obey you. Goes into his house.
PALAESTRIO
  1. to the AUDIENCE. Now, does he really appear to be anything different from what, awhile ago, I told you he was, this wenching Captain? Now it is requisite that Acroteleutium should come to me, her maid too, and Pleusicles. O Jupiter! and does not opportunity favour me in every respect? For those whom I especially wished to see, I perceive at this moment coming out here from our neighbour’s.
Enter ACROTELEUTIUM, MILPHIDIPPA, and PLEUSICLES from the house of PERIPLECOMENUS.
ACROTELEUTIUM
  1. Follow me; at the same time look around, that there may be no overlooker.
MILPHIDIPPA
  1. Faith, I see no one, only him whom we want to meet.
PALAESTRIO
  1. Just as I want you.
MILPHIDIPPA
  1. How do you do, our master-plotter?
PALAESTRIO
  1. I, the master-plotter? Nonsense.