Miles Gloriosus
Plautus, Titus Maccius
Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 1. Riley, H. T., translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1912.
- Whither are you betaking yourself?
- I am sent elsewhere: I’ll come back here just now.
- Who has sent you?
- Philocomasium.
- Go; be back directly.
- If it is divided, prithee do you only take my share of the punishment while I’m away. (Exit LUCRIO.)
PALAESTRIO, alone.PALAESTRIO
- So—I understand what scheme the lady is upon. Because Sceledrus is asleep, she has sent her under-keeper away out of doors, whilst she may pass from our house to next door. That’s all right. Looks down the street. But Periplecomenus is bringing here a woman of very comely appearance, her, for whom I commissioned him. By my faith, the Gods are helping us in this matter. How becomingly drest she struts along[*](She struts along: By the use of the word incedit, he probably refers to the assumed stateliness of her gait.), not like a Courtesan. This business is prospering charmingly in our hands. Stands aside.
Enter PERIPLECOMENUS, with ACROTELEUTIUM and MILPHIDIPPA.PERIPLECOMENUS ACROTELEUTIUM PERIPLECOMENUS
- as he advances. I have explained the whole affair, Acroteleutium, to you, and, Milphidippa, to you as well. If you don’t well understand this device and plan, I wish you to hear it all over again. If you comprehend it aright, there is something else that we may speak of in preference.
- I’ faith, it would be folly, and ignorance, and foolishness, for me to engage in the service of another, or to promise you my assistance, if, in its fabrication, I did not know how to be either mischievous or clever at deceiving.
- But, ’tis better for you to be instructed.