The Comedies of Plautus, Vol. II

He claims he follows all women of his own accord:
he is a laughingstock to everyone wherever he walks.
15 Therefore, here, while the courtesans kiss him,
you would see for the most part crooked kisses.
95 For I have not been a slave to him for long;
I want you to know how I came to him
into slavery from him whom I served before.
20 98 Give your attention, for now I shall begin the plot.
I had a master in Athens, a most excellent young man;
100 he was loving a courtesan in Attic Athens,
and she him in return; which is love most excellent in cultivation.
He was sent publicly as an envoy to Naupactus
25 for the sake of the republic.
Meanwhile, this soldier by chance arrives at Athens,
105 he insinuates himself to that friend of my master.
He began to bribe her mother
with wine, ornaments, and lavish feasts,
30 and so the soldier makes himself an intimate there with the madam.
As soon as the opportunity came to this soldier,
110 he hoodwinks the madam, the mother of the girl
whom my master loved; for the soldier throws the daughter
of that woman into a ship secretly from her mother,
35 113 and carries her off, an unwilling woman, here to Ephesus.
When I know that my master's friend has been carried off from Athens,