This is our master-plotter. ACROTELEUTIUM Health to you, master-plotter. PALAESTRIO And health to you. But, tell me, has he any way given you full instructions?PERIPLECOMENUS I bring them both thoroughly prepared.PALAESTRIO I’d like to hear how. I’m afraid lest you should be making some mistake.PERIPLECOMENUS I have added to your instructions nothing new of my own.ACROTELEUTIUM I suppose you wish the Captain, your master, to be gulled.PALAESTRIO You’ve said what’s true.ACROTELEUTIUM Cleverly and skilfully, adroitly and pleasantly, the whole thing is planned.PALAESTRIO In fact, I wish you to pretend to be his wife. Points to PERIPLECOMENUS. ACROTELEUTIUM That shall be done. PALAESTRIO To pretend as though you had set your affection on the Captain.ACROTELEUTIUM And so it shall be.PALAESTRIO And as though this affair is managed through me, as the go-between, and your servant-maid.ACROTELEUTIUM You might have made a good prophet; for you tell what is to be.PALAESTRIO As though this maid of yours had conveyed from you this ring to me, which I was then to deliver to the Captain, in your name.ACROTELEUTIUM You say what’s true. PERIPLECOMENUS What need is there to mention these things now, which they remember so well?ACROTELEUTIUM Still, it is better. For think of this, my patron; when the shipwright is skilful, if he has once laid down the keel exact to its lines, ’tis easy to build the ship, when Now this keel of ours has been skilfully laid and firmly placed; the workmen and the master-builders are not unskilled in this business. If he who furnishes the timberWho furnishes the timber
: Lambinus has thus explained this metaphorical expression. The ship is the contrivance for deceiving the Captain; the keel is the main-plot and foundation of it; Periplecomenus, Acroteleutium, and her servant, are the workmen; Palaestrio is the master-shipwright; while the Captain himself is the materiariusor person that supplies the timber.
does not retard us in giving what is needed, I know the adroitness of our ingenuity—soon will the ship be got ready.PALAESTRIO You know the Captain, my master, then?