Take ye care that the lustre of my shield is more bright than the rays of the sun are wont to be at the time when the sky is clear; that when occasion comes, the battle being joined, ’mid the fierce ranks right opposite it may dazzle the eyesight of the enemy. But, I wish to console this sabre of mine, that it may not lament nor be downcast in spirits, because I have thus long been wearing it keeping holiday, which so longs right dreadfully to make havoc of the enemy. But where is Artotrogus? ARTOTROGUS Here he is; he stands close by the hero, valiant and successful, and of princely form. Mars could not dare to style himself a warrior so great, nor compare his prowess with yours. PYRGOPOLINICES Him you mean whom I spared on the Gorgonidonian 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. plains, where Bumbomachides Clytomestoridysarchides, the grandson of Neptune, was the chief commander? ARTOTROGUS I remember him; him, I suppose, you mean with the golden armour, whose legions you puffed away with your breath just as the wind blows away leaves or the reed-thatched roof. PYRGOPOLINICES That, on my troth, was really nothing at all. ARTOTROGUS Faith, that really was nothing at all in comparison with other things I could mention— (aside) which you never did. If any person ever beheld a more perjured fellow than this, or one more full of vain boasting, faith let him have me for himself, I’ll resign myself for his slave; if ’tis not the fact that ’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. my one mess of olive pottage 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. is eaten up by me right ravenously. PYRGOPOLINICES Where are you? ARTOTROGUS Lo! here am I. I’ troth in what a fashion it was you broke the fore-leg 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. of even an elephant, in India , with your fist. PYRGOPOLINICES How?—the fore-leg? ARTOTROGUS I meant to say this—the thigh. PYRGOPOLINICES I struck the blow without an effort. ARTOTROGUS Troth, if, indeed, you had put forth your strength, your arm would have passed right through the hide, the entrails, and the frontispiece of the elephant. PYRGOPOLINICES I don’t care for these things just now. ARTOTROGUS I’ faith, ’tis really not worth the while for you to tell me of it, who know right well your prowess. (Aside) ’Tis my appetite creates My appetite creates : He now addresses the Spectators, and honestly confesses why he is a Parasite. all these plagues. I must hear him right out with my ears, that my teeth mayn’t have time 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. to grow, and whatever lie he shall tell, to it I must agree. PYRGOPOLINICES What was it I was saying? ARTOTROGUS O, I know what you were going to say just now. I’ faith ’twas bravely done; I remember its being done. PYRGOPOLINICES What was that? ARTOTROGUS Whatever it was you were going to say. PYRGOPOLINICES Have you got your tablets 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. ? ARTOTROGUS Are you intending to enlist 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. ? I have them, and a pen as well. PYRGOPOLINICES How cleverly you do suit your mind to my own mind. ARTOTROGUS ’Tis fit that I should know your inclinations studiously, so that whatever you wish should first occur Should first occur : Praevolat mihi .Literally, should fly to me beforehand. to me. PYRGOPOLINICES What do you remember? ARTOTROGUS I do remember this. In Cilicia there were a hundred and fifty men, a hundred in Cryphiolathronia 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. , thirty at Sardis , sixty men of Macedon, whom you slaughtered altogether in one day. PYRGOPOLINICES What is the sum total of those men? ARTOTROGUS Seven thousand. PYRGOPOLINICES It must be as much: you keep the reckoning well. ARTOTROGUS Yet I have none of them written down; still, so I remember it was. PYRGOPOLINICES By my troth, you have a right good memory. ARTOTROGUS aside . ’Tis the flesh-pots ’Tis the flesh-pots : Offae monent . Offa properly means a lump of flesh, from which it came to signify victuals in general. give it a fillip.