The Captiva and the Mostellaria by Titus Maccius Plautus
page 30 of 184 (16%)
page 30 of 184 (16%)
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[Footnote 6: _Thales the Milesian_)--Ver. 279. A talent would be a
low price for such a learned slave as Thales the Milesian, who was one of the seven wise men of Greece. He says, however, that Thales at such a low price would be nothing in comparison with Philocrates for the same money.] [Footnote 7: _The Polyplusian_)--Ver. 282. This word is coined by Philocrates for the occasion, as being the name of his family, from the Greek word _[Greek: polyplousios]_, "very wealthy;" probably with the idea of raising the expectations of Hegio and making him the more ready to promote an exchange of his own son for a member of so opulent a family.] [Footnote 8: _Melting out the tallow_)--Ver. 286. Hegio asks him if his riches are very abundant, and in doing so uses the word "opimae," of which the primary meaning was "fat;" the other answers, "Yes, so fat that he can be melting the tallow out of them even when he is an old man;" meaning thereby that he is amply provided with means.]. [Footnote 9: _Thesaurochrysonicocraesides_)--Ver. 290. This is a name made up of several Greek words, and seems to mean "a son of Croesus, abounding in treasures of gold," in allusion to Croesus, the wealthy king of Lydia. The author indulges in similar pleasantry in the Miles Gloriosus.] [Footnote 10: _To his own Genius_)--Ver. 295. As the Genius of a man was not only his guardian Deity through life, but the word was also used to signify his capacity for enjoyment; the term "to sacrifice to his Genius," is supposed by some Commentators to mean, "to indulge the appetite in feasting and good cheer." This, however, seems not to be the |
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