Miles Gloriosus, or The Braggart Captain (928b-960)

Well, go you in then; apply yourselves to this business with all your skill.

Trust me for that[*].

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.

We’ll do so; trust us for that.

Do you only attend to the business; I’ll now polish him off with a pretty burden on his back.

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?

⋯ 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.

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.

You are delaying us with your talk.

’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.

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.

Well then, I lay all other things aside, and I give my attention to you. Speak out: my ears, in fact, I surrender at your disposal.

Look around, then, that no one here may be an eavesdropper for our discourse; for this business was entrusted me to transact with you in private.

(looks around). There’s no one near.

In the first place, receive from me this pledge of affection. (Gives him the ring.)

What’s this? Whence comes it?

From a charming and a handsome lady, one who loves you, and dotes upon your extreme beauty.

Her maid just now gave me the ring that I might then give it to you.