Dramatis PersonaeCURCULIO, the Parasite of Phaedromus. THERAPONTIGONUS, a Captain of . PHAEDROMUS, a young man in love with Planesium. PALINURUS,Servants of Phaedromus. COOK, LYCO, a Banker. CAPPADOX, a Procurer. THE CHOREGUS (or, Director of the Chorus). AN ACTOR. PLANESIUM, a young woman belonging to Cappadox. AN OLD WOMAN, a Procuress. (Scene—Epidaurus, in Peloponnesus; before the houses of PHAEDROMUS and CAPPADOX, and the Temple of Aesculapius.)THE SUBJECT. PHAEDROMUS is desperately in love with Planesium, who is in the possession of Cappadox, an avaricious Procurer. Not having the means of obtaining her freedom, Phaedromus sends Curculio, his Parasite, to Caria, to borrow the money from a friend. The friend being unable to lend it, Curculio by accident meets a military officer, named Therapontigonus, and is invited by him to dinner. The Captain accidentally mentions to him that he has agreed to purchase Planesium of the Procurer, and that the money is deposited with Lyco, the banker, who, has been ordered, on receiving a letter signed with the Captain’s signet, to have the young woman delivered to the bearer. While the Captain is overpowered with wine, Curculio steals his signet, and hastens back to Epidaurus, where he forges a letter by means of it, which he delivers to Lyco, as though from the Captain. The money is paid to the Procurer, and Planesium is handed over to Curculio; a condition having been previously made, that if she should turn out to be a free woman by birth, the money shall be repaid to the purchaser. Curculio then delivers Planesium to Phaedromus. The same day, the Captain arrives at Epidaurus, and is soon after recognized by Planesium as her brother, through the medium of the ring, which had belonged to her father. To corroborate her assertion, Planesium produces another ring, which Therapontigonus had presented to her when a child as a birthday present. On this, she is given by her brother in marriage to Phaedromus; and Cappadox, much against his will, is forced to refund the money to the Captain.THE ACROSTIC ARGUMENT. [Supposed to have been written by Priscian the Grammarian.]On an errand of Phaedromus, Curculio (Curculio) goes to Caria, that (Ut) he may obtain some money; there he despoils the rival (Rivalem) of Phaedromus of his ring. He writes a letter, and seals it with that seal. Lyco, when he sees it, recognizes (Cognoscit) the seal of the Captain; that (Ut) he may send him his mistress, he pays the money to the Procurer. The Captain threatens to summon Lyco (Lyconem) and the Procurer to justice: he himself (Ipsus) discovers his sister that was lost, at whose request (Oratu) he gives her in marriage to Phaedromus.

(Before daybreak.) Enter at one side of the stage PHAEDROMUS, with a lighted torch, and followed by SLAVES with wine and provisions for an entertainment, and PALINURUS on the opposite side.)PALINURUS Whither away must I say that you are going out of doors at this time o’ night, Phaedromus, with that dress and with this trainAnd with this train: As it is supposed to be before daybreak, he is holding a lighted torch, and is attended by a train of slaves, who are carrying wine and other provisions for the entertainment, or early breakfast, which he is about to give. He has also a gay dress on for the occasion.?PHAEDROMUS Whither Venus and Cupid summon me, and Love persuades me; whether ’tis the midnight or whether the earliest twilight, if the day is fixedIf the day is fixed: Status condictus dies. This term properly applies to a day appointed for pleading a cause. for pleading your cause with your antagonist, still must you go where they command you, whether you will or no.PALINURUS But pray, pray— PHAEDROMUSPray — you are annoying to me.PALINURUS Really that is neither pretty nor befitting you to say. You are your own servantYour own servant: Puer may signify either servant or boy in this passage. In the former case, Palinurus would mean, you are acting as your own servant, in carrying the torch; in the latter, the allusion would probably be to the fact that boys, handsomely drest, used, at the nuptial ceremony, to carry lighted torches before the bride and bridegroom.; in your fine garb you are showing the light with your waxen torchYour waxen torch: It is not improbable that the flambeaux, or torches, used by the higher classes, were of wax; while those in more common use were made of pine-wood, tow, and other inflammable substances..PHAEDROMUS And ought I not to carry that which is gathered by the labour of the little bees—which has its birth in sweets—to my own sweet one, my little honey?PALINURUS But whither must I say that you are going?PHAEDROMUS If you ask me that, I’ll tell, so that you may know.PALINURUS If I make the enquiry, what would you answer me?PHAEDROMUS This is the Temple (pointing to it) of Aesculapius.PALINURUS That I have known for more than a twelvemonth past.PHAEDROMUS Close to it is that door, dear as my very eyes. (Points to the door of CAPPADOX.) Hail to you! door, dear as my very eyes; have you been quite well of late?PALINURUS Did a fever leave youA fever leave you: He asks his master this, as he is in doubt whether he is in his senses or not. It was a notion among the ancients that fasting was very apt to produce delirium. but yesterday, or the day before, and did you take your dinner yesterday?PHAEDROMUS Are you laughing at me? PALINURUS Why then, madman, are you enquiring whether the door is well or not?PHAEDROMUS I’ faith, I’ve known it as a door most comely and most discreet: never one word does it whisper; when it is opened, it is silent; and when, by night, she secretly comes out to me, it holds its peace.PALINURUS And are you not, Phaedromus, doing, or contemplating the doing of, some deed which is unworthy of yourself or of your family? Are you not laying a snare for some modest fair one, or for one that should be modest?PHAEDROMUS For no one; and may Jupiter not permit me to do so.PALINURUS I wish the same. Ever, if you are wise, so bestow your love, that if the public should know the object which you love, it may be no disgrace to you. Ever do you take care that you be not disgracedBe not disgraced: Intestabilis. One who is, infamous, and whose evidence cannot be taken as a witness in the courts of law. Lambinus suggests that here, as in other instances where the word is used by Plautus, an indelicate pun is intended.. PHAEDROMUS What means that expression? PALINURUS For you to proceed with caution on your path; the object that you love, love in the presence of witnesses.PHAEDROMUS Why, ’tis a Procurer that lives here.(He points.)PALINURUS No one drives you away from there, nor yet forbids you, if you have the money, to buy what’s openly on sale.