Miles Gloriosus
Plautus, Titus Maccius
Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 1. Riley, H. T., translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1912.
- I struck the blow without an effort.
- Troth, if, indeed, you had put forth your strength, your arm would have passed right through the hide, the entrails, and the frontispiece of the elephant.
- I don’t care for these things just now.
- I’ faith, ’tis really not worth the while for you to tell me of it, who know right well your prowess. (Aside) ’Tis my appetite creates[*](My appetite creates: He now addresses the Spectators, and honestly confesses why he is a Parasite.) all these plagues. I must hear him right out with my ears, that my teeth mayn’t have time[*](Mayn’t have time: Dentes dentire is that which we call teething. He says that he acts the flatterer that his teeth may not have time to grow through want of employment.) to grow, and whatever lie he shall tell, to it I must agree.
- What was it I was saying?
- O, I know what you were going to say just now. I’ faith ’twas bravely done; I remember its being done.
- What was that?
- Whatever it was you were going to say.
- Have you got your tablets[*](Got your tablets: The tabulae, or tabellae, used by the ancients for the purpose of writing, were pieces of wood, mostly of an oblong shape, covered with wax, on which an impression was made with the stylus, or iron pen. They were sometimes made of ivory, but more frequently of citron-wood, beech, or fir The inside only of the tablet was covered with wax, the outer consisting of wood. The leaves were fastened at the back with wires, and opened and shut like the books of the present day. There was a raised margin to each leaf of the tablet, for the purpose of preventing the wax of the one from rubbing against the other. From two to five, six, or even more of these leaves were joined together, which were accordingly called diptycha, triptycha, and so on. Those tablets which contained legal documents were pierced through the outer edges with holes, through which a triple thread or string was passed, on which a seal was placed, in order to prevent forgery and to show that the deed was duly executed.)?
- Are you intending to enlist[*](Intending to enlist: Rogare. Soldiers, when enlisted, were asked (regabantur) whether they would take the oath. Hence the word rogaremeans something tantamount to our word enlist, or recruit.The Parasite asks him if he is going to enlist, as the tablets would be wanted in the Forum, or Court of justice, for the purpose of taking down the oaths, and entering the names as the parties were sworn.)? I have them, and a pen as well.