Miles Gloriosus

Plautus, Titus Maccius

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

  1. to PALAESTRIO. Why the plague are you standing idle? Why don’t you hold her on the other side?
PALAESTRIO
  1. I don’t choose to bring the business down upon my back. How do I know but that this is not Philocomasium, but is some other female that resembles her?
PHILOCOMASIUM
  1. Will you let me go, or will you not let me go?
SCELEDRUS
  1. No; by force and against your will, in spite of you, I’ll drag you home, unless you’ll go of your own accord.
PHILOCOMASIUM
  1. pointing to the house of PERIPLECOMENUS. This is my lodging here abroad[*](Lodging here abroad: Hosticum domicilium, my lodging when abroad.Hostisoriginally meant merely a foreigner; whereas its later signification was an enemy.), at Athens is my home.
SCELEDRUS
  1. But your master lives here pointing to the CAPTAIN’S house.
PHILOCOMASIUM
  1. I have nothing to do with that house, nor do I know or understand yourselves what persons you are.
SCELEDRUS
  1. Proceed against me[*](Proceed against me: Lege agito.Lege agerewas a technical expression, meaning to bring an action, or to sue a person at law. It is said to have been the formal expression in commencing an action or suit.) at law. I’ll never let you go, until you give me your solemn word that you will go indoors here pointing to the CAPTAIN’S house if I let go of you.
PHILOCOMASIUM
  1. You are compelling me by force, whoever you are. I give you my word, that if you let go of me, I will go into that house where you bid me.
SCELEDRUS
  1. Then, now I let go of you.
PHILOCOMASIUM
  1. And, as I’m let go, I’ll go in here. Runs into the house of PERIPLECOMENUS.
SCELEDRUS
  1. She has acted with a woman’s honour.
PALAESTRIO
  1. Sceledrus, you’ve lost the prey through your hands; as sure as possible she is the lady of our master. Do you intend to act in this matter with spirit?
SCELEDRUS
  1. How am I to act?
PALAESTRIO
  1. Bring me a sword out here from in-doors.
SCELEDRUS
  1. What will you do with it?
PALAESTRIO
  1. I’ll break right into the house[*](Into the house: The mock rage of Palaestrio here is admirably drawn); and whatever man I see in-doors there caressing Philocomasium, I’ll behead him on the spot.
SCELEDRUS
  1. And do you think that it was she?
PALAESTRIO
  1. I’ faith, it was she, sure enough.
SCELEDRUS
  1. But how she did dissemble.