A whirlwind A whirlwind: Turbo may mean either a spinning- or whipping-top, or a whirlwind, here. is not so ready as he.PSEUDOLUSIs he shrewd at all?CHARINUSIn mischievous tricks In mischievous tricks: Argutus, as an adjective, signifies clever, shrewd. As the past participle of the verb arguo, it means accused. Pseudolus asks if he is shrewd, argutus to which the other answers evasively, O yes (he has been accused, argutus), of mischievous tricks very often. very often.PSEUDOLUSHow, when he’s caught in the fact?CHARINUSHe’s a very eel; he slips out.PSEUDOLUSIs this fellow an experienced one?CHARINUSA public ordinance A public ordinance: The plebiscita among the Romans were the public ordinances, which were proposed by the Tribunes at the Comitia Tributa of the people. He puns upon the resemblance of the word scitus, which means knowing, and scitum signifying an ordinance. Is he scitus, knowing? O yes, a public ordinance scitum, is not more knowing, scitus, than he is is not more experienced.PSEUDOLUSHe is a suitable person, according to what I hear you say.CHARINUSAye, and from this you may know it. When he looks at you he’ll tell, of his own accord, what it is you want with him. But what are you about to do?PSEUDOLUSI’ll tell you. When I’ve dressed up my man, I intend to make him become the pretended servant of the Captain; let him take this token to the procurer, with five minae of silver. There’s the whole plot for you. As for the rest, in what way he is to do each thing, I’ll instruct himself.CALIDORUSWhy, therefore, do we stand here then?PSEUDOLUSBring the fellow to me just now, dressed out with all his accoutrements, to Aeschinus, the banker’s. But make all haste.CALIDORUSWe’ll be there before you.PSEUDOLUSGet you gone there quickly. (CALIDORUS and CHARINUS go into SIMO’S house.) Whatever before was uncertain or doubtful in my mind, is now clear-now fined to the dregs; my heart has now an open path. All my legions will I lead forth under their standards with happy omen With happy omen: Ave sinistrâ Literally, with a bird on the left hand. This was considered to be a favorable omen. with favorable auspices, and to my heart’s content. I have a certainty that I can rout my enemies. Now will I go to the Forum, and load Simmia with my instructionswhat he is to do, that he may not be tripping at all, and that he may cleverly lay the train for this plot. Soon now shall I cause the town of this procurer to be carried by storm.(Exit.)

(Enter a BOY from the house of BALLIO.)A BOYOn that Boy on whom the Gods bestow servitude under a procurer, when they add a base occupation as well, assuredly do they, so far as I now understand in my mind, bestow upon him a great misfortune and miseries manifold. Just as this servitude has turned out to me, where I am set over duties great and small; nor am I able to find any admirer to love me, so that at length I might be fitted out in a little better guise. Now this day is the birthday of this procurer. The procurer has made a determination, from the lowest to the highest, that if each one does not this day send him a present, he shall perish to-morrow with the greatest torments. Now, faith, I know not what to do in my line,for, unless I shall send a present to the procurer this day, to-morrow must I swallow down fullers’ produce Fullers’ produce: As fullers used hands, feet, and sticks is beating the cloth, fructus fullonius would mean kicks and bruises.. And yet I cannot do that which they who can are wont to do. Alas! how little am I, even still for this vocation. And by my troth, now, to my misfortune how fearfully do I dread punishment.If any one lays on If any one lays on: It is supposed by some that an indecent collusion is obscurely made in this line; it is, however, doubtful if such really is the fact. whose hand is too heavy, although they say that it generally is done amid great weeping, I think that I am able in some measure to keep my teeth closed. But I must keep close my lips and my talking, for see, my master is betaking himself home, and bringing a Cook with him.(Stands at a distance.)

(Enter BALLIO and a COOK.)BALLIOThose who call it the cook’s market, call it so foolishly; for ’tis not a cook’s market, but a thieves’ market. For if, upon oath, I were to seek out the worst of men, I couldn’t have brought a worse one than this fellow that I’m bringing, one, chattering, bragging, silly, and worthless.Why, for this very reason Orcus has declined Orcus has declined: Orcus is an epithet of Pluto, the king of the Infernal regions, and, sometimes, of the place itself. to take him to himself, that he might be here to cook a banquet for the dead; for here he is able to cook a thing to please them alone.A COOK.If you thought of me in this manner that you are mentioning, why did you hire me?BALLIOFrom scarcity; there wasn’t another. But why, if you were a cook, were you sitting in the market-place, you alone behind the rest?A COOK.I’ll tell you. By reason of the avarice of men have I become an inferior cook, not through my own inclination.BALLIOFor what reason is that?