Miles Gloriosus
Plautus, Titus Maccius
Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 1. Riley, H. T., translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1912.
- Behold us here obedient to your call.
- The sway is easy over the good. But I wish to know, if we are to carry out the matter on the same plan that we formed within?
- Why, in fact there’s nothing can be more conducive to our purpose. Well, what say you, Pleusicles?
- Can that displease me which pleases yourselves? What person is there more my friend than your own self?
- You speak kindly and obligingly.
- Faith, and so he ought to do.
- But this affair shockingly distresses me, and torments my very heart and body.
- What is it that torments you? Tell me.
- That I should cause childish actions in a person of your years, and that I should require of you deeds that neither become yourself nor your virtues; and that, with all your might, for my sake you are striving to aid me in my passion, and are doing actions of such a kind, as, when done, these years of yours are wont rather to avoid than follow. I am ashamed that I cause you this trouble in your old age.
- You are a person in love after a new fashion. If, in fact, you are ashamed of anything you do, you are nothing of a lover. You are rather the shadow of those who are in love, than a true lover, Pleusicles.