The Captiva and the Mostellaria by Titus Maccius Plautus
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[Footnote 3: _Invokes his mistress_)--Ver. 73. It was the Grecian custom, when they threw dice at an entertainment, for the thrower to call his mistress by name, which invocation was considered to bring good luck.] [Footnote 4: _When business is laid aside_)--Ver. 78. "Ubi res prolatae sunt." Meaning thereby "in vacation-time." In the heat of summer the courts of justice were closed, and the more wealthy portion of the Romans retired into the country or to the seaside. Cicero mentions this vacation as "rerum proliatio." The allusion in the previous line is probably derived from a saying of the Cynic Diogenes: when he saw mice creeping under the table, he used to say, "See the Parasites of Diogenes."] [Footnote 5: Like mastiffs_)--Ver. 86. "Molossici." Literally, "dogs of Molossus," a country of Epirus.] [Footnote 6: _Annoying-like and very troublesome-like_)--Ver. 87. "Odiosici--incommodestici." These are two extravagant forms of the words "odiosi" and "incommodi," coined by the author for the occasion.] [Footnote 7: _Pots to be broken_)--Ver. 89. By Meursius we are informed that these practical jokes were played upon the unfortunate Parasites with pots filled with cinders, which were sometimes scattered over their clothes, to the great amusement of their fellow-guests.] [Footnote 8: _The Trigeminian Gate_)--Ver. 90. The Ostian Gate was so called because the Horatii left the city by that gate to fight the Curiatii. The brothers being born at one birth were "trigemini," whence |
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