Miles Gloriosus

Plautus, Titus Maccius

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

  1. aloud. Prithee, did you see him yourself? Aside. don’t spare your voice, so that he may hear.
MILPHIDIPPA
  1. aloud. By my troth, I talked with his own self, at my ease, as long as I pleased, at my leisure, at my own discretion, just as I wished.
PYRGOPOLINICES
  1. to PALAESTRIO. Do you hear what she says?
PALAESTRIO
  1. to PYRGOPOLINICES. I hear. How delighted she is because she had access to you.
ACROTELEUTIUM
  1. aloud. O happy woman that you are!
PYRGOPOLINICES
  1. How I do seem to be loved!
PALAESTRIO
  1. You are deserving of it.
  1. aloud. By my troth, ’tis passing strange what you say, that you had access to him and prevailed. They say that he is usually addressed, like a king, through letters or messengers.
MILPHIDIPPA
  1. aloud. But, i’ faith, ’twas with difficulty I had an opportunity of approaching and beseeching him.
PALAESTRIO
  1. to PYRGOPOLINICES. How renowned you are among the fair
PYRGOPOLINICES
  1. to PALAESTRIO. I shall submit, since Venus wills it so.
ACROTELEUTIUM
  1. aloud. By heavens! I return to Venus grateful thanks, and her I do beseech and entreat, that I may win him whom I love and whom I seek to win, and that to me he may prove gentle, and not make a difficulty about what I desire.
MILPHIDIPPA
  1. aloud. I hope it may be so; although many ladies are seeking to win him for themselves, he disdains them and estranges himself from all but you alone.
ACROTELEUTIUM
  1. aloud. Therefore this fear torments me, since he is so disdainful, lest his eyes, when he beholds me, should change his sentiments, and his own gracefulness should at once disdain my form.
MILPHIDIPPA
  1. aloud. He will not do so; be of good heart.
PYRGOPOLINICES
  1. to PALAESTRIO. How she does slight herself!
ACROTELEUTIUM
  1. aloud. I fear lest your account may have surpassed my looks.
MILPHIDIPPA
  1. aloud. I’ve taken care of this, that you shall be fairer than his expectations.
ACROTELEUTIUM
  1. aloud. Troth, if he shall refuse to take me as his wife, by heavens I’ll embrace his knees and entreat him! If I shall be unable to prevail on him, in some way or other, I’ll put myself to death. I’m quite sure that without him I cannot live.