The Comedies of Plautus, Vol. II

they are troublesome: they pray, they solicit, they beg
70 that it might be permitted to see you, they order you to be summoned to them,
so that you are not permitted to attend to your own business.
Py. It seems to be time that we go to the marketplace,
so that I may pay the wages to those mercenaries
whom I signed up here yesterday.
75 For King Seleucus begged me with great effort
that I should gather and enlist mercenaries for him.
It has been decreed for me to give my effort to the king this day.
Ar. Come, let us go therefore. Py. Follow, attendants. —

ACT II

PALAESTRIO

I have a readiness to explain this plot,
80 if your kindness will be to listen;
but whoever does not wish to listen, let him rise and go outside,
so that there may be a place where he who wishes to listen may sit.
5 Now, for the reason you have sat in this festive place,
85 I shall declare to you both the plot and the name
of the comedy that we are about to perform.
Alazon The Braggart is the name of this comedy in Greek,
which we call "gloriosum" glorious/braggart in Latin.
10 This town is Ephesus; that soldier is my master,
who has gone from here to the marketplace, a braggart, shameless,
90 filthy, full of perjury and adultery.