Miles Gloriosus

Plautus, Titus Maccius

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

  1. Would you know for certain?
SCELEDRUS
  1. I should like to.
PERIPLECOMENUS
  1. Go you this instant into your own house: see whether your lady is within.
SCELEDRUS
  1. Very well: you’ve advised me rightly. I’ll be out again to you this instant. Goes into the CAPTAIN’S house.
PERIPLECOMENUS
  1. I’ faith, I never saw any man more cleverly fooled, and by more singular devices. But here he is coming.
Enter SCLEDRUS from the CAPTAIN’s house.
SCELEDRUS
  1. Periplecomenus, by Gods and men, and by my own folly, and by your knees! I do beseech you—
PERIPLECOMENUS
  1. What now?
SCELEDRUS
  1. Pardon my ignorance and my folly; now, at length, I know that I am half-witted, blind, and thoughtless; for, behold! Philocomasium is at home.
PERIPLECOMENUS
  1. How, then, hang-dog[*](Hang-dog: Furcifer.Literally, bearer of the furca. Slaves are repeatedly thus called in these plays, as, by way of punishment for their misdeeds, they were compelled to carry a furca, or two pieces of wood shaped like the letter V, round their necks, with their hands tied to the ends of the instrument.). Have you seen them both?
SCELEDRUS
  1. I have seen them.