The Captiva and the Mostellaria eBook

[Footnote 11:  _ Foreign pulse-eating artisan_)—­Ver. 817.  From the use of the word “pultiphagus,” he probably alludes to Carthaginian workmen, who were very skilful at working in wood.  In the Poenulus, Hanno the Carthaginian is called “patruus pultiphagonides,” “the pulse-eating kinsman.”  If this is the meaning, it is pretty clear that he is not speaking in praise of the workmanship.  Some, however, think that as, in early times, the lower classes at Rome lived upon “puls,” “pap” or “pottage,” the Scene being at Athens, Roman workmen are alluded to; if so, he may mean to speak in praise of the work, and to say that no bungling artists made the doors.  See the Note in p. 355.  The joints are said to wink, from the close conjunction of the eyelids in the act of winking.]

[Footnote 12:  Where one crow)—­Ver. 821.  By the “crow,” he means himself; and by the “vultures,” the two old men.  Simo is probably standing at some distance off; and knowing that his master’s sight is not good, he feels that he may deride him with impunity.]

[Footnote 13:  Towards me)—­Ver. 822.  “Ad me.”  Theuropides thinks he means, “in my direction;” whereas Tranio really means, “look ‘at me,’ and you will see the crow;” though he does not intend that his master shall take it in that sense.]

[Footnote 14:  It’s as gentle)—­Ver. 840.  This, probably, is intended to refer to the statue of a dog lying down in the vestibule, and not a real one.  Pictures of dogs, with “cave canem” written beneath, were sometimes painted on the wall near the door.]

ACT IV.—­SCENE I.

Enter PHANISCUS.

PHA. (to himself).  Servants who, though they are free from fault, still stand in awe of punishment, those same are wont to be serviceable to their masters.  But those who fear nothing, after they have merited punishment, hit upon foolish plans for themselves:  they exercise themselves in running; they take to flight.  But, if they are caught, they acquire from punishment a hoard, which by good means they cannot.  They increase from a very little, and from that they lay by a treasure.  The resolution that’s in my mind is to be determined to be on my guard against punishment, before my back comes to lose its state of soundness.  As hitherto it has been, so does it become my hide still to be, without a bruise, and such that I should decline its being beaten.  If I have any control over it, I shall keep it well covered up [1].  When punishment is being showered down on others, don’t let it be showered down on me.  But as servants wish their master to be, such is he wont to be.  He is good to the good, bad to the bad.  But now at our house at home there do live so many rogues, lavish of their property [2], bearers of stripes.  When they are called to go fetch their master, “I shan’t go; don’t be plaguing me; I know where you are hurrying off to,” is the reply.