Plautus Miles Gloriosus 1.1

Henry Thomas Riley (Translator)

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

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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.) — 1.1 focus

Notes on the current edition

Miles Gloriosus, or The Braggart Captain

1. Pyrgopolinices: The literal meaning of the name of the swaggering Captain is the much-conquering tower, or something similar. Artotrogus means bread-eater. The word Parasite properly denotes one person who dines with another. The name was originally given to persons who were assistants to the priests and high magistrates, and, consequently, had a respectable signification. The hangers-on, who are called Parasites by the Comic writers of Greece and Rome , first received that name from Alexis, the Greek Comedian. It has been well remarked, that their chief characteristics were importunity, love of sensual pleasures, and the desire of getting a good dinner without paying for it. They may be subdivided into the jesting, the officious, and the flattering Parasite ( assentator), of which latter kind Artotrogus is an admirable specimen. From ancient writers we find that it was their method to frequent the Courts of justice, market-places, baths, places for exercise, and other objects of public resort, with the view of obtaining a dinner, at the price of being the butt of their entertainer, and cheerfully submitting to the greatest humiliations.
2. Gorgonidonian: These three crackjaw names are coined by Plautus much in the style of the names of the characters in Bombastes Furioso. They are mere gibberish, though the two latter are derived from Greek or Latin words; the first of which signifies a son of a fighter at the sound of the trumpet.
3. ’Tis not the fact that: This line is read in many different ways, and is evidently in a most corrupt state. Ritschel suggests, Unum epityrum apud illum estur insane bene, which we follow as nearly as is consistent with the English idiom.
4. Mess of olive pottage:— Epityrum was the name of a dish much used by the people of Sicily, who ate it together with cheese. We learn from Cato (on Rural Matters), that it was made of various kinds of olives minced up, and mixed with oil, vinegar coriander, cummin, fennel, rue, and mint, and then preserved in jars.
5. The fore-leg: Brachium is supposed by some to mean the trunk of the elephant; but it seems more probable that it here means the fore-leg.
6. My appetite creates: He now addresses the Spectators, and honestly confesses why he is a Parasite.
7. Mayn’t have time: Dentes dentire is that which we call teething. He says that he acts the flatterer that his teeth may not have time to grow through want of employment.
8. Got your tablets: The tabulae, or tabellae, used by the ancients for the purpose of writing, were pieces of wood, mostly of an oblong shape, covered with wax, on which an impression was made with the stylus, or iron pen. They were sometimes made of ivory, but more frequently of citron-wood, beech, or fir The inside only of the tablet was covered with wax, the outer consisting of wood. The leaves were fastened at the back with wires, and opened and shut like the books of the present day. There was a raised margin to each leaf of the tablet, for the purpose of preventing the wax of the one from rubbing against the other. From two to five, six, or even more of these leaves were joined together, which were accordingly called diptycha, triptycha, and so on. Those tablets which contained legal documents were pierced through the outer edges with holes, through which a triple thread or string was passed, on which a seal was placed, in order to prevent forgery and to show that the deed was duly executed.
9. Intending to enlist: Rogare. Soldiers, when enlisted, were asked ( regabantur) whether they would take the oath. Hence the word rogare means something tantamount to our word enlist, or recruit.The Parasite asks him if he is going to enlist, as the tablets would be wanted in the Forum, or Court of justice, for the purpose of taking down the oaths, and entering the names as the parties were sworn.
10. Should first occur: Praevolat mihi. Literally, should fly to me beforehand.
11. Cryphiolathronia: This word is mere gibberish: it is compounded of Greek words, which would make it to mean the place of hidden secrecy. The part of the flatterer seems to be a little overdone here.
12. ’Tis the flesh-pots: Offae monent. Offa properly means a lump of flesh, from which it came to signify victuals in general.
13. By way of a sight: Pompam. Strictly speaking, this word means the escort of a procession, whence it came to signify the procession itself.
14. Seleucus: The King of that part of Asia Minor where Ephesus was situated.