It’s alarm that impedes my words. But, prithee, do tell my wife, that I entreat her to prevail upon her to put down the sword, and allow me to return in-doors.PARDALISCA I’ll tell her. STALINO And do you entreat her.PARDALISCA And I’ll entreat her.STALINO And in soft language, in your usual way. But do you hear me? If you manage this, I’ll give you a pair of shoesA pair of shoes: Perhaps these would prove very acceptable to Pardalisca, who, as a slave, was probably condemned to wear the heavy sculponeae before mentioned, in l. 478. and a gold ringAnd a gold ring: Slaves were not in general allowed to wear other than iron rings, called condalia. See the Notes to the Trinummus, l. 1014, Meursius, as quoted by Limiers, goes so far as to suppose that this is an implied promise of her liberty to Pardalisca, because of this inability of the slaves to wear gold rings. That seems, however, to be a very far-fetched notion. for your finger, and plenty of nice things.PARDALISCA I’ll do my best. STALINO Take care and prevail.PARDALISCA Now then I’ll be off; unless you detain me for anything.STALINO Be off, and take care.PARDALISCA(aside.) Look, his assistant is returning, at last, with the provisions; he’s bringing a train after him. (She goes into the house.)

(Enter OLYMPIO, a COOK, and his ASSISTANTS, with provisions.)OLYMPIO(to the COOK.)See, you thief, that you lead on your briars beneath their bannersBriars beneath their banners: This figure is derived partly from gardening, partly from military tactics. The assistants of the Cook are compared to briars, because they tear and carry off everything they meet; and their leader is requested to keep them sub signis,beneath the banners, lest, like soldiers on a march, leaving their ranks, they should stroll about to plunder and steal. The bad character of the hired cooks has been referred to in the Pseudolus. It will be also found enlarged upon in the Aulularia..A COOK But how are they briars?OLYMPIO Because that which they have touched, they instantly seize hold of; if you go to snatch it from them, they instantly rend it; so, wherever they come, wherever they are, with a twofold lossWith a twofold loss: Probably, pilfering in all directions, and then getting paid for their services. do they mulct their masters.A COOK Heyday, indeed!OLYMPIO Well, well! This way I’m delaying to go meet my master with a magnificent, patrician, and patronizing air. (He struts along.) STALINO My good man, save you. OLYMPIO I admit that so I amI admit that so I am: Fateor. His conscience pricking him for his disgraceful conduct, he is glad to catch the opportunity of alleging that he really is a bonus vir vice thus paying homage to virtue..STALINO How goes it?OLYMPIO You are in love, but I’m hungering and thirsting.STALINO You have come capitally provided.OLYMPIO Pooh! pooh!(Goes towards the door.)STALINO But stop you, although you do hold me in contempt—OLYMPIO O dear, O dear! your converse has a bad smell to me. (Moving away.) STALINO What’s the matter? OLYMPIO(pointing to the baskets of provisions.)That’s the matter.STALINOWill you not stop there?Part of line 728b in the Latin. OLYMPIOWhy, really, you are causing me ennui Causing me ennui : This is in Greek in the original—πράνματα μοι παρέχεις. More literally, You give me trouble. It was a phrase generally used by a superior when annoyed by an inferior, and aptly shows the degraded position to which Stalino has reduced himself by his base associations with his servant Olympio. An attempt has been made in the translation, perhaps not very successfully, to portray the impression intended to be conveyed by the passage by the use of the French word ennui..Part of line 728b in the Latin. STALINO I shall be giving you a grand coup A grand coup : Μέγα κάκον. Literally, A great mischief., I fancy, if you don’t stand still forthwith. (Catches hold of him.) OLYMPIOO mon DieuO mon Dieu: Ὦ Ζεύ. Literally, O Zeus! or O Jupiter!! Can’t you get away from me, unless you would like me to be sick just now?