The Comedies of Plautus, Vol. II

I. i       PYRGOPOLYNICES       ARTOTROGUS

Py. Take care that my shield is brighter in its splendor
than the rays of the sun are wont to be when the weather is clear,
so that, when the need arises, in hand-to-hand combat
it may blind the eyes of the enemy | in battle.
5 For I wish to console this sword of mine, 5

so that it may not lament or lose its spirit,
because I have kept it on vacation for such a long time,
it which, poor thing, is itching to make mincemeat of the enemy.
But where is Artotrogus here? Ar. He stands near the man
10 who is brave and fortunate, and of kingly appearance; 10

even a warrior—Mars himself would not dare to speak of him
nor to compare his own virtues to yours.
Py. The one whom I saved on the plains of Curculio,
where Bumbomachides Clutomestoridysarchides
15 was the supreme commander, grandson of Neptune? 15

Ar. I remember. You mean that man with the golden armor,
whose legions you blew away with your breath,
just as the wind does to leaves or a painter's brush.
Py. That, by Pollux, is nothing. Ar. Nothing, by Hercules, is this
20 compared to other things I could say—which you will never have done. 20

If anyone has ever seen a man more perjured than this one

I. i begins A; up to v. 17 a few things saved 7 fieri attam P

8 quem whom P misere miserably A gestitet is itching P, A n. l. (cf. v. 7) fartem (-im)
Skutsch, also P^A as it seems (fartum (-im?) T (?), fratrem (-im?) PBC),
A n. l. 11 tam so Bothe ars art/skill P (corr. B^2) 12 nequi not/lest P
13 curcus lis donis Curculionian plains P 14 Bumb. Pylades: bumbomarides P,
A n. l. Clutom. Ritschl: clutum ista ridis archidis P, A n. l. :
Clutomistharidysarchides Leo 16 armis arms Ital. : auris ears P, A n. l.
(v. 4) 17 egionis P 18 aut or Merula: ut as P, A n. l. pani-
culum brush/duster Turnebus, A n. l. (but see Class. Rev. 6, 88) 19 hoc quidem this indeed
P (cf. 31) 20 tu que you quae P (i. e. tu quae you, the things which, perhaps correctly; but cf. to v. 45)