Miles Gloriosus
Plautus, Titus Maccius
Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 1. Riley, H. T., translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1912.
- Why shouldn’t I think so?
- 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.
- Do you only mind the business that you are upon.
- That, indeed, is resolved upon. For if she will not go out of her own accord, I’ll turn her out by force.
- 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.
- By my troth, I wish she would.
- I think you’ll easily prevail upon her. But go indoors; don’t linger here.
- I obey you. Goes into his house.
- 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
- Follow me; at the same time look around, that there may be no overlooker.