Miles Gloriosus, or The Braggart Captain
Act Four, Scene Nine
Enter a BOY from the house of PERIPLECOMENUS.
A BOY
to someone within. Don’t you be advising me; I remember my duty; this moment I’ll find him. Wherever on earth, he may chance to be, I’ll search him out; I’ll not be sparing of my pains.
PYRGOPOLINICES
‘Tis I he is looking for, I’ll go and meet this boy.
A BOY
O, I’m looking for you; save you, dearest sir, one loaded by opportunity with her gifts, and whom before all others two Divinities do favour.
PYRGOPOLINICES
What two?
A BOY
Mars and Venus.
PYRGOPOLINICES
A sprightly boy.
A BOY
She entreats that you will go in; she wishes–she longs for you, and while expecting you, she’s dying for you. Do succour one in love. Why do you stay? Why don’t you go in?
PYRGOPOLINICES
Well, I’ll go. Enters the house of PERIPLECOMENUS.
A BOY
There has he entangled himself at once in the toils. The snare is prepared: the old gentleman is standing at his post[1] to attack the letcher, who is so boastful of his good looks; who thinks that, whatever woman sees him, all are in love with him; whom all, both men and women, detest. Now I will on to the uproar; I hear a tumult within.
- At his post: He alludes to the attitude in which the old gentleman, Periplecomenus, is standing in-doors, ready to sally forth on the Captain the moment he is entrapped. ↵