THE DRAMATIC VALUES IN PLAUTUS

PH. What do you say we speak to him ? Hello, Curculio, I
want you !
CUR. (Stopping and again looking vainly round.) Who's
calling ? Who says "Curculio" ?
PH. Somebody that wants to see you.
CUR. (At last recognizing him when almost on top of him.) Ah t
You don't want to see me any more than I want to see you."
Acanthio in Mer. 130 ff. is still more blind to the presence of
Charinus and raises a deal more fuss, as he enters in the wildest
. haste looking for Charinus, who is of course in plain sight. Acan­
thio, with labored breathing and the remark that he would never
make a piper, probably passes by Charinus and goes to the house.
"AC. What am I standing here for, anyway ? I'll make
splinters of these doors without a single qualm. (Hammers violently.
Charinus approaches, vainly trying to attract his attention.)
Open up, somebody ! Where's my master Charinus, at home or
out ? (Still hammering.) Isn't anybody supposed to have the job
of tending door ?
CH . (Shouting.) Here I am, Acanthio ! You're looking for
me, aren't you ?
AC. (Still punishing the door.) I never saw such slovenly
management.
CH. (Finally grabbing and shaking him.) What the deuce has
got hold of you ?"21 And so in the case of practically all the servi
currentes.
The opening scene of the Per. (13 ff.) between two slaves appar­
ently unable to distinguish each other's features from opposite
sides of the stage affords an opportunity for a similar species of
farcical by-play. Toxilus and Sagaristio stroll slowly in from the
different side-entrances, alternately soliloquizing. Suddenly, when
probably fairly close, both look up and peer curiously at each
'
other :
"TOX. (Shading his eyes with his hand.) Who's that standing
over there ?
SAG. Who's this standing over here ?
TOX. Looks like Sagaristio.
SAG. I bet it's my friend Toxilus.
TOX. He's the fellow, all right.
21Cf. servi eurrentes supra. Cf. also Aul. 8I1 ft., Ep. 195 ft., Mer. 865 ft.,
Ps. 243 ft., St. 330 ft., Trin . 1068 ft., True. lIS ft.
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