And as though this affair is managed through me, as the go-between, and your servant-maid.ACROTELEUTIUM You might have made a good prophet; for you tell what is to be.PALAESTRIO As though this maid of yours had conveyed from you this ring to me, which I was then to deliver to the Captain, in your name.ACROTELEUTIUM You say what’s true. PERIPLECOMENUS What need is there to mention these things now, which they remember so well?ACROTELEUTIUM Still, it is better. For think of this, my patron; when the shipwright is skilful, if he has once laid down the keel exact to its lines, ’tis easy to build the ship, when Now this keel of ours has been skilfully laid and firmly placed; the workmen and the master-builders are not unskilled in this business. If he who furnishes the timberWho furnishes the timber: Lambinus has thus explained this metaphorical expression. The ship is the contrivance for deceiving the Captain; the keel is the main-plot and foundation of it; Periplecomenus, Acroteleutium, and her servant, are the workmen; Palaestrio is the master-shipwright; while the Captain himself is the materiarius or person that supplies the timber. does not retard us in giving what is needed, I know the adroitness of our ingenuity—soon will the ship be got ready.PALAESTRIO You know the Captain, my master, then?ACROTELEUTIUM ’Tis strange you should ask me. How could I not know that scorn of the public, that swaggering, frizzle-headed, perfumed debauchee?PALAESTRIO But does he know you? ACROTELEUTIUM He never saw me: how, then, should he know who I am?PALAESTRIO ’Tis most excellent what you say. For that reason, i’ faith, the thing will be able to be managed all the more cleverly.ACROTELEUTIUM Can you only find me the man, and then be easy as to the rest? If I don’t make a fool of the fellow, do you lay all the blame on me.PALAESTRIO Well, go you in then; apply yourselves to this business with all your skill.ACROTELEUTIUM Trust me for thatTrust me for that: Alia cura; literally, take care of something else; meaning, trust us in the present instance, or, as Thornton expresses it, never fear us.. PALAESTRIO Come, Periplecomenus, do you conduct them at once in-doors. I’m off to the Forum; I’ll meet him, and give him this ring, and will tell him that it has been delivered to me from your wife, and that she is dying for him. As soon as we shall have come from the Forum, do you send her (points to MILPHIDIPPA) to our house as though she were privately sent to him.PERIPLECOMENUS We’ll do so; trust us for that.PALAESTRIO Do you only attend to the business; I’ll now polish him off with a pretty burden on his back. (Exit.)PERIPLECOMENUS Go, with good luck to you, manage the matter cleverly. (To ACROTELEUTIUM.) But now, if I shall manage this adroitly, that my guest can this day gain the mistress of the Captain, and carry her off hence to Athens; if, I say, this day we shall succeed in this plan, what shall I give you for a present?ACROTELEUTIUM If now the lady seconds our efforts on her part, I think it will be right cleverly and adroitly managed. When a comparison shall be made of our artifices, I have no fear that I shall not prove superior in the cleverness of my contrivances.PERIPLECOMENUS Let’s go in-doors, then, that we may deeply weigh these plans, that carefully and cautiously we may carry out what is to be done, so that, when the Captain comes, there may be no tripping.ACROTELEUTIUM You are delaying us with your talk. (They go into the house of PERIPLECOMENUS.)

(Enter PYRGOPOLINICES and PALAESTRIO.)PYRGOPOLINICES ’Tis a pleasure what you do, if it succeeds agreably and to your mind. For I this day have sent my Parasite to King Seleucus, to lead those soldiers, that I have levied, hence to Seleucus; in order that they may defend his kingdom till I have leisure to attend in person.PALAESTRIO Why don’t you attend to your own concerns rather than those of Seleucus. What a charming new proposal is being offered to you through me as the negotiator.