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"( The deluded P eriphanes has just discovered that the fidicina is an<br />
impostor and not his daughter.)<br />
me for anything else ?<br />
FID. (Sweetly.) Do you want<br />
PER. (Stamping foot and shaking fists in a passion.) The foul<br />
fiend take you to utter perdition ! Clear out, and quickly too !<br />
FID. (In alarm.) Won't you give me back my harp ?<br />
PER. Nor harp nor pipes ! So hurry up and get out of here,<br />
if you know what's good for you !<br />
FID. (Stamping her foot in tearful rage.) I'll go, but you'll<br />
have to give them back later just the same and it will be all the<br />
worse for you.<br />
PER. (Striding up and down in wildest anger.) What !<br />
shall I let her go unpunished? Nay, even if I have to lose as much<br />
again, I'll lose it rather than let myself be mocked and despoiled<br />
with impunity !" and so on.9<br />
Other random scenes that may be classed as "extravagant" are<br />
found in Strobilus' cartoon of Euclio (Aul. 300 ff.), Demipho's<br />
discovery in the distance of a mythical bidder for the girl (Mer. 434<br />
ff.), Charinus' playing "horsey" and taking a trip in his imaginary<br />
car (Mer. 930ff.), and the loud " boo-hoo" to which Philocomasium<br />
gives vent (Mil. 1321 ff.). These all might be classed under either<br />
"farce" or "burlesque," but they seem to come more exactly under<br />
the kindred head of "extravagance."<br />
A familiar figure in :t:J1odern farce-comedy is the comic conspirator<br />
with finger on lip, tiptoeing round in fear of listeners.<br />
his prototype in Trin. (146 ff.) :<br />
"(Callicles and Megaronides converse.)<br />
He finds<br />
CAL. (In a mysterious whisper.) Look around a bit and<br />
make sure there's nobody spying on us-and please look around<br />
every few seconds. (They pause and peer in every direction, perhaps<br />
creeping round on tiptoe.)<br />
MEG. Now, I am all ears.<br />
CAL. When you're through, I'll talk. (Pauses and nods.)<br />
Just before Charmides went abroad, he showed me a treasure,<br />
(stops and looks over his shoulders) in his house here, in one of the<br />
rooms. (Starts, as if at a noise.) Look around ! (They repeat<br />
the search and return again.)<br />
9Cf. Ep. 580 ff. Cf. also "bombast," supra A. I, and "copious abuse"<br />
infra, A. 3. c. Cf. also wall-painting labeled "Der erzurnte Hausherr," in<br />
Baumeister, Denkmaler des klassischen A ltertums ! s. v. Lustspiel.<br />
41
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