Plautus, Miles Gloriosus, Henry Thomas Riley (Translator), 5.1

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Scene

← Previous Next →

1394 (Enter PERIPLECOMENUS from his house, with CARIO and other SERVANTS, dragging PYRGOPOLINICES.¹

PERIPLECOMENUS

Bring that fellow along. If he doesn’t follow, drag him, lifted on high², out of doors.

Make him to be between heaven and earth; cut him in pieces.
1395
(They beat him.)

PYRGOPOLINICES

By my troth, I do entreat you, Periplecomenus.

PERIPLECOMENUS

By my troth, you do entreat in vain. Take care, Cario, that that knife of yours is very sharp.

CARIO

Why, it’s already longing to rip up the stomach of this letcher. I’ll make his entrails hang just as a bauble hangs from a baby’s neck.

PYRGOPOLINICES

I’m a dead man.
1400

PERIPLECOMENUS

Not yet; you say so too soon.

CARIO

Shall I have at this fellow now?

PERIPLECOMENUS

Aye,—but first let him be thrashed with cudgels.

CARIO

True, right lustily.

PERIPLECOMENUS

Why have you dared, you disgraceful fellow, to seduce another man’s wife?

PYRGOPOLINICES

So may the Gods bless me, she came to me of her own accord.

PERIPLECOMENUS

It’s a lie. Lay on.

(They are about to strike.)

PYRGOPOLINICES

Stay, while I tell—

PERIPLECOMENUS

Why are you hesitating?

PYRGOPOLINICES

Will you not let me speak?

PERIPLECOMENUS

Speak, then.
1405

PYRGOPOLINICES

I was entreated to come here.

PERIPLECOMENUS

How did you dare? There’s for you, take that.

(Strikes him.)

PYRGOPOLINICES

O! O! I’ve had enough. Prithee, now.

CARIO

Am I to begin cutting him up at once?

PERIPLECOMENUS

As soon as you like. Stretch the fellow out, and spread out his pinions³ in opposite ways.

PYRGOPOLINICES

By heavens, prithee, do hear my words before he cuts me.

PERIPLECOMENUS

Speak before you’re made of no sex.

PYRGOPOLINICES

I supposed that she was a widow; and so her maid, who was her go-between, informed me.

PERIPLECOMENUS

Now take an oath that you won’t injure any person for this affair, because you have been beaten here today, or shall be beaten hereafter, if we let you go safe hence, you dear little grandson of Venus⁴.

PYRGOPOLINICES

I swear by Dione⁵ and Mars that I will hurt no one

because I have been beaten here this day; and I think that it was rightfully done; and if I don’t go hence further injured, I am rightly punished for the offence.
1415

PERIPLECOMENUS

But what if you don’t do so?

PYRGOPOLINICES

Then, may I always have my word not to be trusted⁶

CARIO

Let him be beaten once more; after that I think he may be dismissed.

PYRGOPOLINICES

May the Gods ever bless you, since you so kindly come as my advocate.

CARIO

Give us a golden mina⁷, then.
1420

PYRGOPOLINICES

For what reason?

CARIO

That we may now let you go hence unmaimed, you little grandson of Venus; otherwise you shall not escape from here; don’t you deceive yourself.

PYRGOPOLINICES

It shall be given you.

CARIO

You’re very wise. As for your tunic, and your scarf⁸, and sword, don’t at all hope for them; you shan’t have them.

A SERVANT.

Shall I beat him again, or do you let him go?

PYRGOPOLINICES

I’m tamed by your cudgels. I do entreat you.

PERIPLECOMENUS

Loose him.

PYRGOPOLINICES

I return you thanks.

PERIPLECOMENUS

If I ever catch you here again, I’ll insert a disqualifying clause.

PYRGOPOLINICES

Well: I make no objection.

PERIPLECOMENUS

Let’s go in, Cario.

(PERIPLECOMENUS, CARIO, and SERVANTS go into his house.)

Miles Gloriosus. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1912.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by NSF, NEH: Digital Libraries Initiative, Phase 2.

Current edition Perseus

Miles Gloriosus, or The Braggart Captain (English) (Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 1. Riley, Henry Thomas, translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1912.)

Editions (1)

Miles Gloriosus Perseus (Plautus. Plauti Comoediae, Volume 2. Leo, Friedrich, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1896.) — 5.1 focus

1394

Periplectomenvs

Dúcite istum; sí non sequitur, rápite sublimén foras,

facite inter terram atque caelum ut sit situs, discindite.
1395

Pyrgopolinices

Obsecro hercle, Periplectomene, te.

Periplectomenvs

Nequiquam hercle obsecras.

vide ut istic tibi sit acutus, Cario, culter probe.

Cario

Quin iamdudum gestit moecho hóc abdomen adimere,

ut ea iam quasi puero in collo pendeant crepundia.

Pyrgopolynices

Perii.
1400

Periplectomenvs

Haud etiam, numero hoc dicis.

Cario

Iamne in hominem ínvolo?

Periplectomenvs

Immo etiam prius vérberetur fustibus.

Cario

Multum quidem.

Periplectomenvs

Cur es ausus subigitare álienam uxorem, impudens?

Pyrgopolynices

Ita me di ament, ultro ventumst ad me.

Periplectomenvs

Mentitur, feri.

Pyrgopolynices

Mane, dum narro.

Periplectomenvs

Quid cessatis?

Pyrgopolynices

Non licet mihi dicere?

Periplectomenvs

Dic.
1405

Pyrgopolynices

Oratus sum, ad eam ut irem.

Periplectomenvs

Quor ire ausus esausu's? em tibi.

Pyrgopolynices

Oiei, satis sum verberatus. obsecro.

Cario

Quam mox seco?

Periplectomenvs

Vbi lubet: dispennite hominem divorsum et distendite.

Pyrgopolynices

Obsecro hercle te, ut mea verba aúdias prius quam secat.

Periplectomenvs

Loquere.

Pyrgopolynices

Non volui nec factum est: viduam hercle esse censui,

itaque ancilla, conciliatrix quaé erat, dicebat mihi.
1410

Periplectomenvs

Iura te non nociturum esse hómini de hac re nemini,

quod tu hódie hic verberatus esverberatu's aut quod verberabere,

si te salvom hinc amittemus Venerium nepotulum.

Pyrgopolynices

Iuro per Iovem et Mavortem, me nociturum nemini,

quod ego hic hodie vapularim, iureque id factum arbitror;
1415

et si intestatus non abeo hinc, bene agitur pro noxia.

Periplectomenvs

Quid si id non faxis?

Pyrgopolynices

Vt vivam semper intestabilis.

Cario

Verberetur etiam, postibi amittendum censeo.

Pyrgopolynices

Di tibi bene faciant semper, quom advocatus mihi venis.

Cario

Ergo des minam auri nobis.
1420

Pyrgopolynices

Quam ob rem?

Cario

Salvis testibus

ut te hódie hinc amittamus Venerium nepotulum;

aliter hinc non ibis, ne sis frustra.

Pyrgopolynices

Dabitur.

Cario

Magis sapis.

de tunica et chlamyde et machaera ne quid speres, non feres.

Cario

Verberon etiam, an iam mittis?

Pyrgopolynices

Mitis sum equidem fustibus.

opsecro vos.
1425

Periplectomenvs

Solvite istunc.

Pyrgopolynices

Gratiam habeo tibi.

Periplectomenvs

Si posthac prehendero ego te híc, carebis testibus.

Pyrgopolynices

Causam haud dico.

Periplectomenvs

Eamus intro, Cario. —

Pyrgopolynices

Servos meos

eccos video. Philocomasium iam profecta est? dic mihi.

Servvs

Iam dudum.

Pyrgopolynices

Ei mihi.

Servvs

Magis dícas, si scias quod ego scio.

nam ille qui lánam ob oculum habebat laevom, nauta non erat.
1430

Pyrgopolynices

Quis erat igitur?

Servvs

Philocomasio amator.

Pyrgopolynices

Qui tu scis?

Servvs

Scio.

nam postquam porta exierunt, nil cessarunt ilico

osculari atque amplexari inter se.

Pyrgopolynices

Vae misero mihi,

verba mihi data esse video. scelus viri Palaestrio,

is me in hanc inlexit fraudem. iure factum iudico;
1435

si sic aliis moechis fiat, minus hic moechorum siet,

magis metuant, minus has res studeant. eamus ad me. plaudite.

Notes on the current edition

Miles Gloriosus, or The Braggart Captain

1. Thornton here remarks, that

there cannot be a stranger proof of the absurdities into which the ancients were forced by a preservation of the unity of place than the present passage. The Captain is surprised in Periplecomenus’s own house, carrying on an intrigue with the old gentleman’s pretended wife, in consequence of which they proceed to frighten him with the cook’s threatening to go to work upon him with his knife. Can anything be more unnatural or improbable than that for this purpose they should drag him out of the house and into the public street!

2. Lifted on high: He means, take him in your arms, or hoist him on your shoulders.

3. Spread out his pinions: Dispennite. He means, stretch him out as you would spread out to their utmost length the wings of a bird.

4. Grandson of Venus: This is an allusion to the Captains own boast in Act IV. s. 4, that he was the grandson of Venus.

5. By Dione: Dione, according to Homer, was the name of the mother of Venus; but the name is much more frequently used, as in the present instance, to signify Venus herself. He appropriately swears by these guardian Deities of intrigue. The translation of l. 1416 is somewhat modified.

6. Not to be trusted: Intestabilis. A gross pun is here intended, and in l. 1420 as well. The word here signifies forsworn, or perjured, so infamous, that his testimony will never be received in a Court of justice.

7. A golden mina: The golden mina was worth ten silver ones, or one thousand drachmae, of about ninepence three-farthings each.

8. And your scarf: The chlamys was an outer garment worn among the Greeks and Oriental nations, somewhat resembling our scarfs. That worn by the Captain would probably be of great value, which of course would tempt the cupidity of his persecutors. The translation of l. 1426 is somewhat modified.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

PERIPLECOMENUS Bring that fellow along. If he doesn’t follow, drag him, lifted on high 2 , out of doors. Make him to be between heaven and earth; cut him in pieces. 1395 (They beat him.)

PYRGOPOLINICES By my troth, I do entreat you, Periplecomenus.

PERIPLECOMENUS By my troth, you do entreat in vain. Take care, Cario, that that knife of yours is very sharp.

CARIO Why, it’s already longing to rip up the stomach of this letcher. I’ll make his entrails hang just as a bauble hangs from a baby’s neck.

PYRGOPOLINICES I’m a dead man. 1400

PERIPLECOMENUS Not yet; you say so too soon.

CARIO Shall I have at this fellow now?

PERIPLECOMENUS Aye,—but first let him be thrashed with cudgels.

CARIO True, right lustily.

PERIPLECOMENUS Why have you dared, you disgraceful fellow, to seduce another man’s wife?

PYRGOPOLINICES So may the Gods bless me, she came to me of her own accord.

PERIPLECOMENUS It’s a lie. Lay on. (They are about to strike.)

PYRGOPOLINICES Stay, while I tell—

PERIPLECOMENUS Why are you hesitating?

PYRGOPOLINICES Will you not let me speak?

PERIPLECOMENUS Speak, then. 1405

PYRGOPOLINICES I was entreated to come here.

PERIPLECOMENUS How did you dare? There’s for you, take that. (Strikes him.)

PYRGOPOLINICES O! O! I’ve had enough. Prithee, now.

CARIO Am I to begin cutting him up at once?

PERIPLECOMENUS As soon as you like. Stretch the fellow out, and spread out his pinions 3 in opposite ways.

PYRGOPOLINICES By heavens, prithee, do hear my words before he cuts me.

PERIPLECOMENUS Speak before you’re made of no sex.

PYRGOPOLINICES I supposed that she was a widow; and so her maid, who was her go-between, informed me.

PERIPLECOMENUS Now take an oath that you won’t injure any person for this affair, because you have been beaten here today, or shall be beaten hereafter, if we let you go safe hence, you dear little grandson of Venus 4 .

PYRGOPOLINICES I swear by Dione 5 and Mars that I will hurt no one because I have been beaten here this day; and I think that it was rightfully done; and if I don’t go hence further injured, I am rightly punished for the offence. 1415

PERIPLECOMENUS But what if you don’t do so?

PYRGOPOLINICES Then, may I always have my word not to be trusted 6

CARIO Let him be beaten once more; after that I think he may be dismissed.

PYRGOPOLINICES May the Gods ever bless you, since you so kindly come as my advocate.

CARIO Give us a golden mina 7 , then. 1420

PYRGOPOLINICES For what reason?

CARIO That we may now let you go hence unmaimed, you little grandson of Venus; otherwise you shall not escape from here; don’t you deceive yourself.

PYRGOPOLINICES It shall be given you.

CARIO You’re very wise. As for your tunic, and your scarf 8 , and sword, don’t at all hope for them; you shan’t have them.

A SERVANT. Shall I beat him again, or do you let him go?

PYRGOPOLINICES I’m tamed by your cudgels. I do entreat you.

PERIPLECOMENUS Loose him.

PYRGOPOLINICES I return you thanks.

PERIPLECOMENUS If I ever catch you here again, I’ll insert a disqualifying clause.

PYRGOPOLINICES Well: I make no objection.

PERIPLECOMENUS Let’s go in, Cario. (PERIPLECOMENUS, CARIO, and SERVANTS go into his house.)

Current edition Perseus

Periplectomenvs Dúcite istum; sí non sequitur, rápite sublimén foras, facite inter terram atque caelum ut sit situs, discindite. 1395

Pyrgopolinices Obsecro hercle, Periplectomene, te.

Periplectomenvs Nequiquam hercle obsecras. vide ut istic tibi sit acutus, Cario, culter probe.

Cario Quin iamdudum gestit moecho hóc abdomen adimere, ut ea iam quasi puero in collo pendeant crepundia.

Pyrgopolynices Perii. 1400

Periplectomenvs Haud etiam, numero hoc dicis.

Cario Iamne in hominem ínvolo?

Periplectomenvs Immo etiam prius vérberetur fustibus.

Cario Multum quidem.

Periplectomenvs Cur es ausus subigitare álienam uxorem, impudens?

Pyrgopolynices Ita me di ament, ultro ventumst ad me.

Periplectomenvs Mentitur, feri.

Pyrgopolynices Mane, dum narro.

Periplectomenvs Quid cessatis?

Pyrgopolynices Non licet mihi dicere?

Periplectomenvs Dic. 1405

Pyrgopolynices Oratus sum, ad eam ut irem.

Periplectomenvs Quor ire ausus esausu's? em tibi.

Pyrgopolynices Oiei, satis sum verberatus. obsecro.

Cario Quam mox seco?

Periplectomenvs Vbi lubet: dispennite hominem divorsum et distendite.

Pyrgopolynices Obsecro hercle te, ut mea verba aúdias prius quam secat.

Periplectomenvs Loquere.

Pyrgopolynices Non volui nec factum est: viduam hercle esse censui, itaque ancilla, conciliatrix quaé erat, dicebat mihi. 1410

Periplectomenvs Iura te non nociturum esse hómini de hac re nemini, quod tu hódie hic verberatus esverberatu's aut quod verberabere, si te salvom hinc amittemus Venerium nepotulum.

Pyrgopolynices Iuro per Iovem et Mavortem, me nociturum nemini, quod ego hic hodie vapularim, iureque id factum arbitror; 1415 et si intestatus non abeo hinc, bene agitur pro noxia.

Periplectomenvs Quid si id non faxis?

Pyrgopolynices Vt vivam semper intestabilis.

Cario Verberetur etiam, postibi amittendum censeo.

Pyrgopolynices Di tibi bene faciant semper, quom advocatus mihi venis.

Cario Ergo des minam auri nobis. 1420

Pyrgopolynices Quam ob rem?

Cario Salvis testibus ut te hódie hinc amittamus Venerium nepotulum; aliter hinc non ibis, ne sis frustra.

Pyrgopolynices Dabitur.

Cario Magis sapis. de tunica et chlamyde et machaera ne quid speres, non feres.

PERIPLECOMENUS

Bring that fellow along. If he doesn’t follow, drag him, lifted on high², out of doors.

Make him to be between heaven and earth; cut him in pieces.
1395
(They beat him.)

PYRGOPOLINICES

By my troth, I do entreat you, Periplecomenus.

PERIPLECOMENUS

By my troth, you do entreat in vain. Take care, Cario, that that knife of yours is very sharp.

CARIO

Why, it’s already longing to rip up the stomach of this letcher. I’ll make his entrails hang just as a bauble hangs from a baby’s neck.

PYRGOPOLINICES

I’m a dead man.
1400

PERIPLECOMENUS

Not yet; you say so too soon.

CARIO

Shall I have at this fellow now?

PERIPLECOMENUS

Aye,—but first let him be thrashed with cudgels.

CARIO

True, right lustily.

PERIPLECOMENUS

Why have you dared, you disgraceful fellow, to seduce another man’s wife?

PYRGOPOLINICES

So may the Gods bless me, she came to me of her own accord.

PERIPLECOMENUS

It’s a lie. Lay on.

(They are about to strike.)

PYRGOPOLINICES

Stay, while I tell—

PERIPLECOMENUS

Why are you hesitating?

PYRGOPOLINICES

Will you not let me speak?

PERIPLECOMENUS

Speak, then.
1405

PYRGOPOLINICES

I was entreated to come here.

PERIPLECOMENUS

How did you dare? There’s for you, take that.

(Strikes him.)

PYRGOPOLINICES

O! O! I’ve had enough. Prithee, now.

CARIO

Am I to begin cutting him up at once?

PERIPLECOMENUS

As soon as you like. Stretch the fellow out, and spread out his pinions³ in opposite ways.

PYRGOPOLINICES

By heavens, prithee, do hear my words before he cuts me.

PERIPLECOMENUS

Speak before you’re made of no sex.

PYRGOPOLINICES

I supposed that she was a widow; and so her maid, who was her go-between, informed me.

PERIPLECOMENUS

Now take an oath that you won’t injure any person for this affair, because you have been beaten here today, or shall be beaten hereafter, if we let you go safe hence, you dear little grandson of Venus⁴.

PYRGOPOLINICES

I swear by Dione⁵ and Mars that I will hurt no one

because I have been beaten here this day; and I think that it was rightfully done; and if I don’t go hence further injured, I am rightly punished for the offence.
1415

PERIPLECOMENUS

But what if you don’t do so?

PYRGOPOLINICES

Then, may I always have my word not to be trusted⁶

CARIO

Let him be beaten once more; after that I think he may be dismissed.

PYRGOPOLINICES

May the Gods ever bless you, since you so kindly come as my advocate.

CARIO

Give us a golden mina⁷, then.
1420

PYRGOPOLINICES

For what reason?

CARIO

That we may now let you go hence unmaimed, you little grandson of Venus; otherwise you shall not escape from here; don’t you deceive yourself.

PYRGOPOLINICES

It shall be given you.

CARIO

You’re very wise. As for your tunic, and your scarf⁸, and sword, don’t at all hope for them; you shan’t have them.

A SERVANT.

Shall I beat him again, or do you let him go?

PYRGOPOLINICES

I’m tamed by your cudgels. I do entreat you.

PERIPLECOMENUS

Loose him.

PYRGOPOLINICES

I return you thanks.

PERIPLECOMENUS

If I ever catch you here again, I’ll insert a disqualifying clause.

PYRGOPOLINICES

Well: I make no objection.

PERIPLECOMENUS

Let’s go in, Cario.

(PERIPLECOMENUS, CARIO, and SERVANTS go into his house.)

Periplectomenvs

Dúcite istum; sí non sequitur, rápite sublimén foras,

facite inter terram atque caelum ut sit situs, discindite.
1395

Pyrgopolinices

Obsecro hercle, Periplectomene, te.

Periplectomenvs

Nequiquam hercle obsecras.

vide ut istic tibi sit acutus, Cario, culter probe.

Cario

Quin iamdudum gestit moecho hóc abdomen adimere,

ut ea iam quasi puero in collo pendeant crepundia.

Pyrgopolynices

Perii.
1400

Periplectomenvs

Haud etiam, numero hoc dicis.

Cario

Iamne in hominem ínvolo?

Periplectomenvs

Immo etiam prius vérberetur fustibus.

Cario

Multum quidem.

Periplectomenvs

Cur es ausus subigitare álienam uxorem, impudens?

Pyrgopolynices

Ita me di ament, ultro ventumst ad me.

Periplectomenvs

Mentitur, feri.

Pyrgopolynices

Mane, dum narro.

Periplectomenvs

Quid cessatis?

Pyrgopolynices

Non licet mihi dicere?

Periplectomenvs

Dic.
1405

Pyrgopolynices

Oratus sum, ad eam ut irem.

Periplectomenvs

Quor ire ausus esausu's? em tibi.

Pyrgopolynices

Oiei, satis sum verberatus. obsecro.

Cario

Quam mox seco?

Periplectomenvs

Vbi lubet: dispennite hominem divorsum et distendite.

Pyrgopolynices

Obsecro hercle te, ut mea verba aúdias prius quam secat.

Periplectomenvs

Loquere.

Pyrgopolynices

Non volui nec factum est: viduam hercle esse censui,

itaque ancilla, conciliatrix quaé erat, dicebat mihi.
1410

Periplectomenvs

Iura te non nociturum esse hómini de hac re nemini,

quod tu hódie hic verberatus esverberatu's aut quod verberabere,

si te salvom hinc amittemus Venerium nepotulum.

Pyrgopolynices

Iuro per Iovem et Mavortem, me nociturum nemini,

quod ego hic hodie vapularim, iureque id factum arbitror;
1415

et si intestatus non abeo hinc, bene agitur pro noxia.

Periplectomenvs

Quid si id non faxis?

Pyrgopolynices

Vt vivam semper intestabilis.

Cario

Verberetur etiam, postibi amittendum censeo.

Pyrgopolynices

Di tibi bene faciant semper, quom advocatus mihi venis.

Cario

Ergo des minam auri nobis.
1420

Pyrgopolynices

Quam ob rem?

Cario

Salvis testibus

ut te hódie hinc amittamus Venerium nepotulum;

aliter hinc non ibis, ne sis frustra.

Pyrgopolynices

Dabitur.

Cario

Magis sapis.

de tunica et chlamyde et machaera ne quid speres, non feres.

Cario

Verberon etiam, an iam mittis?

Pyrgopolynices

Mitis sum equidem fustibus.

opsecro vos.
1425

Periplectomenvs

Solvite istunc.