Perde 3
[Textpart 3]
I am all attention to you.
PALAESTRIO
Take care of this. When the Captain comes home, do you remember not to call Philocomasium by her name.
PLEUSICLES
What am I to call her?
PLEUSICLES
The same, you mean, that was agreed upon a little time since.
PLEUSICLES
I’ll remember; but still I don’t know what use it is to keep it in my mind.
PALAESTRIO
But I will tell you, at the time, when occasion shall require. Meanwhile, be quiet; so that, bye and bye, when he too shall be acting his partActing his part: He alludes to Periplecomenus, who has just left him., you may, on the instant, be minding your cue.
810
PLEUSICLES
I’ll go in then.
PALAESTRIO
Go, and do take care steadily to follow my instructions.
What mighty turmoils I create! What mighty engines I do set to work! This very day I shall take his mistress away from the Captain,
if my soldiers are only well drilledAre only well drilled: Manipularis was a term applied to the common soldiers of the legion, inasmuch as they were formed into small companies, marshalled in open order, called manipuli. Each maniple had two centurions, whose duty it was to drill their men, inspect their arms, clothing, and food, visit the sentinels, and regulate the conduct of the privates both in the camp and in the field. They sat as judges in minor offences, and had the power of ordering corporal punishment, whence their badge of office was a vine sapling. Bene centuriati consequently means here well drilled.. But I’ll call him out. (Goes to the door and calls.) Hallo! Sceledrus, if you are not busy, come out to the front of the house; I, Palaestrio, call you.
815
[Textpart 4]
Sceledrus is not at leisure.
LUCRIO
He’s fast asleep, gulpingAsleep, gulping: Sorbeo means not only to drink up, but to make that gulping noise in snoring which is produced by inhaling the breath with the mouth open, and the head thrown back. Palaestrio purposely misunderstands him, for the purpose of getting a confession out of him..
LUCRIO
He’s snoring, ’twas that I meant to say:
but, because ’tis very like gulping when you are snoring—
820
PALAESTRIO
What ! Is Sceledrus asleep in-doors?
LUCRIO
Not with his nose, in fact; for with that he is calling out loud enough.
