Perde 2
[Textpart 4]
A whirlwind A whirlwind: Turbo may mean either a spinning- or whipping-top, or a whirlwind, here. is not so ready as he.
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PSEUDOLUS
Is he shrewd at all?
CHARINUS
In 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.
PSEUDOLUS
How, when he’s caught in the fact?
CHARINUS
He’s a very eel; he slips out.
PSEUDOLUS
Is this fellow an experienced one?
CHARINUS
A 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.
PSEUDOLUS
He is a suitable person, according to what I hear you say.
CHARINUS
Aye, 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?
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PSEUDOLUS
I’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.
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CALIDORUS
Why, therefore, do we stand here then?
PSEUDOLUS
Bring the fellow to me just now, dressed out with all his accoutrements, to Aeschinus, the banker’s. But make all haste.
CALIDORUS
We’ll be there before you.
PSEUDOLUS
Get 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 instructions
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what 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.
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