[Footnote 7: _His own private slave_)--Ver. 20. "Peculiaris" means "for his own private use," or "attached to his person;" being considered as though bought with his son's "peculium," or out of his own private purse. The "peculium" was the sum of money which a son in his minority was allowed by his father to be in possession of. The word also signified the savings of the slave.] [Footnote 8: _Just like footballs_)--Ver. 22. "Pilas." Among the ancients, games with the "pila" were those played with the "pila trigonalis," so called, probably, from the players standing in a triangle, and those with the "follis," which was a larger ball, inflated with air and struck with the hands, or used for a football. "Paganica" was a similar ball, but harder, being stuffed with feathers, and was used by the country-people. "Harpastum" was a small ball used by the Greeks, which was scrambled for as soon as it came to the ground, whence it received its name. The Greeks had a proverb similar to this expression, [Greek: Theon paignia anthropoi], "men are the playthings of the Gods." So Plato called mankind [Greek: Theon athurmata], "the sport of the Gods."] [Footnote 9: _The Aetolians_)--Ver. 24. Aetolia was a country of Greece, the southern portion of which was bounded by the Corinthian Gulf; it was opposite to the Elean territory, from which it was divided by the gulf.] [Footnote 10: _To rescue his son_)--Ver. 32. "Filio dum parceret." Literally, "so long as he might spare his son."] [Footnote 11: _Of the Quaestors_)--Ver. 34. In speaking of these officers, Plautus, as usual, introduces Roman customs into a Play the scene of which is in Greece. It has been previously remarked that the Quaestors had the selling of the spoils taken in war] [Footnote 12: _Any ribald lines_)--Ver. 56. See the address of the Company of actors to the Spectators at the end of the Play.] [Footnote 13: _A Comic establishment_)--Ver. 61. "Comico choragio." Literally, "for the choragium of Comedy." The "choragium" was the dress and furniture, or "properties" for the stage, supplied by the "choragus." or keeper of the theatrical wardrobe.] ACT I.--SCENE I. _Enter_ ERGASILUS.