’Tis a wonder if it isn’t Pseudolus.(To HARPAX.) How now, you! of what appearance was the person to whom you delivered the token?HARPAXA certain red-haired fellow Red-haired fellow: Some Commentators fancy that in these lines Plautus intends to give a description of himself. If so, he certainly was not so handsome as he was ingenious., pot-bellied, with thick calves, swarthy, with a big head, sharp eyes, red face,and very large feet.BALLIOYou prove our undoing, when you mention the feet. It was Pseudolus himself. It’s all up with me. I’m dying now, Simo.HARPAXBy my troth, I shan’t let you die, unless the money’s returned me-twenty minae.SIMOAnd another twenty minae to me as well.BALLIO(to SIMO.)And is the sum to be taken of me that I promised by way of a joke?SIMOFrom unprincipled men it’s proper for both their money and their plunder to be taken.BALLIOAt least you might give up Pseudolus to me.SIMOI, give up Pseudolus to you? What has he done amiss? Did I not tell you a hundred times that you were to beware of him?BALLIOHe has ruined me.SIMOAnd on me he has laid a fine of twenty fair minae.BALLIOWhat am I to do then?HARPAXWhen you have given me the money—go hang yourself.BALLIOThe Gods confound you. (To HARPAX.) Follow me, then, this way, please, to the Forum, that I may pay you.HARPAXI follow you.SIMOWhat am I to do?BALLIOStrangers I’ll pay at once; to-morrow I’ll settle with fellow-citizens. Pseudolus has been holding a council-general A council-general: Centuriata habuit comitia. Literally, has held the comitia centuriata. These were the largest and most important meetings of the centuries or classes of all the Roman citizens, who there met together for the purpose of electing the superior magistrates by their votes, making laws, deciding upon war, and in later times, of concluding peace with foreign nations As these important things were done with due deliberation, Ballio borrows a figure thence, and means that Pseudolus has been giving all attention to the promotion of the success of the plot which he has laid against him. against my life, in sending that fellow to me to-day to carry off the woman. (To HARPAX.) Do you follow me, (To the AUDIENCE.) Now don’t you be expecting that I shall be returning home this way.As matters stand, I’ve determined to go through the alleys.HARPAXIf you had walked at the rate you talk, you’d by this have been at the Forum.BALLIOI’m determined to make this, instead of my birthday, my dying day.(Exit BALLIO, HARPAX following.)

(SIMO, alone)SIMOI’ve touched this fellow handsomely, and cleverly has my servant managed his adversary. Now am I resolved to lie in ambush for Pseudolusin a different manner to what’s done in other plays, where people lie in wait with goads or whips. Without revenge will I at once pay down the twenty minae which I promised if he should effect it. I’ll carry them to him of my own accord. This creature is very clever, very cunning, very artful. Pseudolus has surpassed the Trojan stratagem The Trojan stratagem: He probably- alludes to the contrivance at the Wooden Horse, which was first suggested by Ulysses and Ulysses too.Now I’ll be off in-doors. I’ll take out the money; I’ll lie in ambush for Pseudolus.(Goes into his house.)

(Enter PSEUDOLUS, drunk, with a chaplet on his head.)PSEUDOLUS(staggering.)How’s this? And is it the fact? Feet-are you standing or not? Or is it this you want, some; one to pick me up here as I lie? But, by my faith, if I do fall down, yours will be the fault. Are you going to go? Heigho! I must wait upon myself. This is the great fault in wine; it first lays hold of the feet; ’tis a cunning wrestler. By my faith, assuredly am I now come off right well drenched; with such exquisite viands, with such becoming elegance, in such a delightful place, have we been delightfully entertained. What’s the need for me to make much prosing? This is the thing for a man, an object for him to pass his life for; here are all pleasures and all delights. I think that the ecstasy is equal to that of the Deities, when the lover embraces his mistress, when he places lip to lip, when melting kisses are exchanged, when breast is pressed to breast, or else, if they please, they are locked in strict embrace; then for your most loving mistress, with her white hand, to be pledging you in the luscious goblet, for no one there to be disagreable to another, for no one to be indulging in silly conversation; for unguents and perfumes, ribbons Ribbons: Lemniscos. According to Festus, lemnisci were purple ribbons wrapped round one another, and hanging down from the wreaths which the ancients wore on their heads at their entertainments. From a passage in Pliny it would appear that these ribbons were in general only worn by persons of distinction. The translation of l. 1260 has necessarily been somewhat modified. and festive wreaths, to be provided in profusion; and for the rest of the entertainment, too, to be provided in no niggardly style. That no one may have to question me then, in this manner have myself and my young master been spending this day in jollity.