Miles Gloriosus

Plautus, Titus Maccius

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

  1. Come, be of good heart; I’ll make you free from exit, too. But I used all endeavours, if I could by any method persuade her to go away, and not take you with her, she forced me, however.
PALAESTRIO
  1. In the Gods and yourself I’ll place my trust. Yet, at the last, although it is bitter to me that I must be deprived of an excellent master, yourself, at least it is a pleasure to me that, through my means, by reason of the excellence of your beauty, this has happened to you with regard to this lady neighbour, whom I am now introducing to you.
PYRGOPOLINICES
  1. What need of words? I’ll give you liberty and wealth if you obtain her for me.
PALAESTRIO
  1. I’ll win her.
PYRGOPOLINICES
  1. But I’m impatient.
PALAESTRIO
  1. But moderation is requisite; curb your desires; don’t be over anxious. But see, here she is herself; she is coming out of doors.
Enter ACROTELEUTIUM and MILPHIDIPPA from the house of PERIPLECOMENUS.
MILPHIDIPPA
  1. in a low voice. Mistress, see! the Captain’s near.
ACROTELEUTIUM
  1. in a low voice. Where is he?
MILPHIDIPPA
  1. Only look to the left. Eye him askance, that he mayn’t perceive that we are looking at him.
ACROTELEUTIUM
  1. I see him. Troth, now’s the time, in our mischief, for us to become supremely mischievous.