Miles Gloriosus
Plautus, Titus Maccius
Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 1. Riley, H. T., translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1912.
- How so?
- Because, in comparison with yourself, I am not worthy to fix a beam in a wall.
- Aye, indeed so.
- She’s a very fluent and a very clever hand at mischief. How charmingly she did polish off the Captain.
- But still, not enough.
- Be of good courage all the business is now prospering under our hands. Only do you, as you have begun, still give a helping hand; for the Captain himself has gone in-doors, to entreat his mistress to leave his house, with her mother and sister, for Athens.
- Very good—well done.
- Besides, all the gold trinkets and apparel which he himself has provided for the damsel, he gives her to keep as a present for herself—so have I recommended him.
- Really, it’s easily done, if both she wishes it, and he desires it as well.
- Don’t you know that when, from a deep well, you have ascended up to the top, there is the greatest danger lest you should thence fall back again from the top. This affair is now being carried on at the top of the well. If the Captain should have a suspicion of it, nothing whatever of his will be able to be carried off. Now, most especially, we have need of clever contrivances.
- I see that there is material enough at home for that purpose—three women, yourself the fourth, I am the fifth, the old gentleman the sixth.
- What an edifice of stratagems has been erected by us! I know for certain. that any town seems as though it could be taken by these plans: only do you lend your assistance.
- For that purpose are we come to you, to see if you wish for anything.
- You do what’s à propos. Now to you do I assign this department[*](This department: Impero provinciam.This term was properly applied to the Senate when bestowing a province upon a Proconsul or Propraetor.).
- General, you shall assign me whatever you please, so far as I am capable.
- I wish this Captain to be played off cleverly and adroitly.
- I’ faith, you’re assigning me what’s a pleasure to me.
- But do you understand how?
- You mean that I must pretend that I am distracted with love for him.