Miles Gloriosus, or The Braggart Captain
Act Three, Scene One
Enter PALAESTRIO from the house of PERIPLECOMENUS.
PALAESTRIO
on entering he calls to PLEUSICLES and PERIPLECOMENUS, who are in the house of the latter. Keep yourselves within[1] doors, yet a moment, Pleusicles. Let me first look out, that there may be no ambush anywhere, against that council which we intend to hold. For now we have need of a safe place from which no enemy can win the spoils of our counsels. For a well-devised plan is very often filched away, if the place for deliberating has not been chosen with care or with caution; and what is well-advised is ill-advised if it proves of use to the enemy; and if it proves of use to the enemy, it cannot otherwise than prove a detriment to yourself. For if the enemy learn your plans, by your own self-same plans they tie your tongue and bind your hands; and they do the very same to you that you intended to do to them. But I’ll spy about, lest any one, either in this direction on the left or on the right, should come like a huntsman on our counsels with his ears like toils[2]. Looks about. Quite vacant is the prospect hence right to the bottom of the street. I’ll call them out. Hallo! Periplecomenus and Pleusicles, come out! Enter PERIPLECOMENUS and PLEUSICLES from the house of the former.
PERIPLECOMENUS
Behold us here obedient to your call.
PALAESTRIO
The sway is easy over the good. But I wish to know if we are to carry out the matter on the same plan that we formed within?
PERIPLECOMENUS
Why, in fact, there’s nothing that can be more conducive to our purpose. Well, what say you, Pleusicles?
PLEUSICLES
Can that displease me which pleases yourselves? What person is there more my friend than your own self?
PERIPLECOMENUS
You speak kindly and obligingly.
PALAESTRIO
Faith, and so he ought to do.
PLEUSICLES
But this affair shockingly distresses me and torments my very heart and body.
PERIPLECOMENUS
What is it that torments you? Tell me.
I am ashamed that I cause you this trouble in your old age.
PERIPLECOMENUS
You are a person in love after a new fashion.
PLEUSICLES
Ought I to employ these years of yours in seconding my love?
PERIPLECOMENUS
How say you? Do I seem to you so very much a subject for Acheron[3]? So much a bier’s-man[4]? Do I seem to you to have had so very long a life? Why, really, I am not more than four-and-fifty years old; I see clearly with my eyes, I’m ready with my hands, I’m active with my feet.
PALAESTRIO
If he is seen by you to have white hair, he is by no means an old man in mind; in him the natural strength of his mind is unimpaired.
PLEUSICLES
By my troth, for my part, I have found it to be so as you say, Palaestrio; for, in fact, his kindness is quite that of a young man.
PERIPLECOMENUS
Yes, my guest, the more you make trial of it, the more you will know my courtesy towards you in your love.
PLEUSICLES
What need to know what’s known already?
PERIPLECOMENUS
I’ll show you more amiability on my part than I’ll make m