T. Maccius Plautus Miles Gloriosus 4.4

ACROTELEUTIUM

Follow me; at the same time look around, that there may be no overlooker.

MILPHIDIPPA

Faith, I see no one, only him whom we want to meet.

PALAESTRIO

Just as I want you.

MILPHIDIPPA

How do you do, our master-plotter?

PALAESTRIO

I, the master-plotter? Nonsense.

MILPHIDIPPA

How so?

PALAESTRIO

Because, in comparison with yourself, I am not worthy to fix a beam in a wall.

1140

ACROTELEUTIUM

Aye, indeed so.

PALAESTRIO

She’s a very fluent and a very clever hand at mischief. How charmingly she did polish off the Captain.

MILPHIDIPPA

But still, not enough.

PALAESTRIO

Be of good courage all the business is now prospering under our hands. Only do you, as you have begun, still give a helping hand;

for the Captain himself has gone in-doors, to entreat his mistress to leave his house, with her mother and sister, for Athens .

1145

PLEUSICLES

Very good—well done.

PALAESTRIO

Besides, all the gold trinkets and apparel which he himself has provided for the damsel, he gives her to keep as a present for herself—so have I recommended him.

PLEUSICLES

Really, it’s easily done, if both she wishes it, and he desires it as well.

PALAESTRIO

Don’t you know that when, from a deep well, you have ascended up to the top, there is the greatest danger lest you should thence fall back again from the top. This affair is now being carried on at the top of the well. If the Captain should have a suspicion of it, nothing whatever of his will be able to be carried off. Now, most especially, we have need of clever contrivances.

1150

PLEUSICLES

I see that there is material enough at home for that purpose—

three women, yourself the fourth, I am the fifth, the old gentleman the sixth.

1155

PALAESTRIO

What an edifice of stratagems has been erected by us! I know for certain. that any town seems as though it could be taken by these plans: only do you lend your assistance.

ACROTELEUTIUM

For that purpose are we come to you, to see if you wish for anything.

PALAESTRIO

You do what’s à propos. Now to you do I assign this department ¹ .

ACROTELEUTIUM

General, you shall assign me whatever you please, so far as I am capable.

1160

PALAESTRIO

I wish this Captain to be played off cleverly and adroitly.

ACROTELEUTIUM

I’ faith, you’re assigning me what’s a pleasure to me.

PALAESTRIO

But do you understand how?

ACROTELEUTIUM

You mean that I must pretend that I am distracted with love for him.

PALAESTRIO

Right—you have it.

ACROTELEUTIUM

And as though by reason of that love I had foregone ² my present marriage, longing for a match with him.

PALAESTRIO

Everything exactly in its due order; except only this one point; you must say that this house (pointing to the house of PERIPLECOMENUS) was your marriage-portion; that the old man had departed hence from you after you had carried out the divorce, lest he should be afraid just now to come here into the house of another man.

ACROTELEUTIUM

You advise me well.

PALAESTRIO

But when he comes out from in-doors, I wish you—standing at a distance there—

so to make pretence, as though in comparison with his beauty you despised your own, and as though you were struck with awe at his opulent circumstances; at the same time, too, praise the comeliness of his person, the beauty of his face. Are you tutored enough?

1170

ACROTELEUTIUM

I understand it all. Is it enough that I give you my work so nicely finished off that you cannot find a fault with it.

PALAESTRIO

I’m content. Now (addressing PLEUSICLES), in your turn, learn what charge I shall give to you. So soon as this shall be done, when she shall have gone in, then do you immediately take care to come here dressed in the garb of a master of a ship. Have on a broad-brimmed hat ³ of iron-grey, a woollen shade ⁴ before your eyes; have on an iron-grey cloak ⁵ (for that is the seaman’s colour);

1175

have it fastened over the left shoulder, your right arm projecting out ⁶ , your clothes some way well girded up, pretend as though you are some master of a ship. And all these requisites are at the house of this old gentleman, for he keeps fishermen.

1180

PLEUSICLES

Well, when I’m dressed out, why don’t you tell me what I’m to do then?

PALAESTRIO

Come here, and, in the name of her mother, bring word to Philocomasium, that, if she would return to Athens , she must go with you to the harbour directly, and that she must order it to be carried down to the ship if she wishes anything to be put on board; that if she doesn’t go, you must weigh anchor, for the wind is favourable.

11841185

PLEUSICLES

I like your plan much: do proceed.

PALAESTRIO

The Captain will at once advise her to go speedily that she may not delay her mother.

PLEUSICLES

Every way you are clever.

PALAESTRIO

I shall tell him that she asks for me as a helper to carry her baggage down to the harbour. I shall go, and, understand you, I shall immediately be off with you straight to Athens .

PLEUSICLES

And when you have reached there, I’ll never let you be ashore three days before you’re free.

PALAESTRIO

Be off speedily and equip yourself.

1195

PLEUSICLES

Is there anything besides?

PALAESTRIO

Only to remember all this.

PLEUSICLES

I’m off.

(Exit.)

PALAESTRIO

And do you (to ACROTELEUTIUM and MILPHIDIPPA) be off hence in-doors this instant, for I’m quite sure that he’ll just now be coming out hence from in-doors.

ACROTELEUTIUM

With us your command is as good as law.

PALAESTRIO

Come, then, begone. But see, the door opens opportunely.

(The women go into the house of PERIPLECOMENUS.)