Miles Gloriosus
Plautus, Titus Maccius
Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 1. Riley, H. T., translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1912.
- What’s this? Whence comes it?
- From a charming and a handsome lady, one who loves you, and dotes upon your extreme beauty. Her maid just now gave me the ring that I might then give it to you.
- What? Is she free born or a freed woman, made free from a slave by the Praetor’s rod[*](By the Praetor’s rod: Festucais the same with vindicta, the rod, or wand, which the Praetor used to lay on the head of the slave when he was made free.)?
- Pshaw! Should I presume to be the bearer of a message to you from a person once a slave, who cannot sufficiently answer the demands of the free women who are longing for you?
- Is she wife, or is she widow?
- She is both wife and widow.
- In what way is it possible for the same woman to be a wife and a widow?
- Because she is a young woman married to an old man.
- That’s good.
- She is of genteel and charming person.
- Beware of misrepresenting.
- It is alone worthy to be compared with your own charms.
- By my faith, you make her out to be a beauty. But who is she?
- The wife of that old gentleman, Periplecomenus, next door. She is dying for you, and wishes to leave him; she hates the old fellow. Now she has begged me to entreat and beseech you that you will give her your support and assistance.
- I’ faith, I’m ready for my part if she desires it.
- Doesn’t she long for it?
- What shall we do with that mistress of mine, who is at my house?
- Why, do you bid her to be gone about her business, wherever she chooses; as her twin-sister has come here to Ephesus, and her mother, and they are come to fetch her.
- Ha! what’s that you say? Has her mother come to Ephesus?
- Those say so who know it.