Dramatis PersonaeDEMAENETUS, an aged Athenian. ARGYRIPPUS, his son, in love with Philenium. LIBANUS, Servants of Demaenetus. LEONIDA, THE ASS-DEALER DIABOLUS, an Athenian Captain, the rival of Argyripps. A PARASITE, a dependant of Diabolus. A BOY. ARTEMONA, wife of Demaeenetus. CLEAERETA, a procuress. PHILENIUM, daughter of Cleaereta. Athens, before the house of CLEAERETA; the house of DEMAENETUS is a little way down another street, and in view of the audience.)THE SUBJECT ARGYRIPPUS, the son of Demaenetus, is violently in love with Philenium, a young woman, who is living with her mother, Cleaereta, a procuress. The latter has made an agreement with a Captain, of the name of Diabolus, to transfer Philenium to him for twenty minae, on condition, however, that if Argyrippus shall first pay that sum, he shall have her. Argyrippus, having exhausted all his own resources, applies to his father, Demaenetus, an over-indulgent and immoral old man, and requests him to furnish him with twenty minae. Demaenetus is married to Artemona, a rich woman, and is totally dependant on the will of herself and her favourite slave, the chamberlain Saurea. Being destitute of money, Demaenetus orders his servant, Libanus, by some means or other to cheat his mistress or the chamberlain out of that sum. Just then an ass-dealer arrives, to pay to Saurea twenty minae, the price of some asses which he has previously purchased. Libanus then arranges with his fellow-servant, Leonida, that the latter shall personate Saurea, and so receive the money from the ass-dealer. This is done, and the money is paid to Leonida, in the presence of Demaenetus, who assures the dealer that Leonida really is the person to whom the money is payable. This sum is then given to Argyrippus, but with the disgraceful stipulation that for one day his father shall enjoy the company of Philenium. This he submits to, and the three sit down to a banquet. The Captain discovers this, and sends his Parasite to inform Artemona of her husband’s conduct. She accordingly accompanies the Parasite, and discovers her husband in the company of his son and the young woman; after soundly rating him, she leads him off; while Argyrippus remains in possession of Philenium.THE ACROSTIC ARGUMENT. [Supposed to have been written by Priscian the Grammarian.]THE ASS-DEALER son in love (Amanti), the old man, who lives under (Sub) his wife’s control, wishes to help him with money; therefore (Itaque), some money that has been brought in payment for the asses for Saurea he orders to be paid (Nulerari) to his servant Leonida. This is carried to (Ad) his mistress, and the son yields her favours to his father. His rival (Rivinus) is furious an account of the woman thus taken from him: he (Is) tells all the matter, through the Parasite, to the wife. The wife rushes (Adcurrit) to the place, and drags her husband from the den.

THE PROLOGUE.PROLOGUSAttend now, Spectators, if you please, forthwith to this, and may this matter turn out fortunately for me and for yourselves, and for this company, and for our employersFor our employers: By dominis he probably means the Aediles by whom the actors were engaged for the public entertainment., and for our managersAnd for our managers: The conductores were probably the leaders or managers of the company, who made the contract with the Aediles.. Now, crier, do you at once make all the people give attentive ear. Come, be seated now, only be careful that ’tis not for nought. Now I will tell you why I have come forward here, and what my intention is, that you may know the name of this play. For, so far as relates to the plot, it really is a short one. Now I will tell you what I said I was wishful to inform you upon. The name of this play in Greek is OnagosIs Onagos: Onagos. The Greek name for an ass-driver.— DemophilusDemophilus: No particulars are known of Demophilus the Comic Writer. Some would suggest Diphilus as the reading here: he is mentioned in the Adelphi of Terence, and was a Comic Poet, contemporary with Menander. composed it—MarcusMarcus: Marcus is the word used here. It is supposed to be a corruption of, or an abbreviation for, Maccius or M. Accius, whichever was the praenomen of the poet.Plautus turned it into Latin. He wishes it to be called AsinariaAsinaria: Asinaria seems to be the nominative feminine singular or neuter plural of the adjective asinarius, of or relating to asses. if by your leaves it may be so. In this play there is both pleasantry and fun. ’Tis a droll story; kindly lend me your attention; may Mars, too, as, full oft at other times he has done, so give you now his aid.

(Enter DEMAENETUS and LIBANUS, from the house of the former.)LIBANUSAs you desire your own only son to survive your own existence, prosperous, and living on; so by your lengthened years, and by that wife of yours of whom you stand in awe, do I conjure you, that if this day you have said anything that’s false against myself, your wife may then survive your own existence, and that, she living, you, still alive, may come to utter destructionCome to utter destruction: Pestem obpetas. Literally, meet with a plague. This expression held a somewhat similar rank with our uncourteous invitation, Go to the devil..DEMAENETUSBy the Gods aboveBy the Gods above: Per Deum Fidium. Literally, by the God Fidius. This God had a Temple in the Capitol at Rome. He was represented as having Honor on his right hand, and Truth on the left. He is mentioned by Ovid, in the Sixth Book of the Fasti, as having the names also of Sancus and Semo. He was also called Sangus and Sanctus, and is generally supposed to have been the Sabine Hercules. Saint Augustine says that he was a king of the Sabines, whom they had deified. as to what you seek to know, I see that I must, perforce, speak out, whatever you question me upon, being thus conjured; so determinedly have you accosted me, that I really do not dare otherwise than to disclose everything to you making all these enquiries. Say then at once what it is that you desire so much to know; as I myself shall know, so will I let you know. LIBANUSTroth now, prithee answer me seriously what I ask you;take care that you tell me no falsehood.DEMAENETUSWhy, then, don’t you ask?LIBANUSWill you, then, be sending me there, where stone grinds stoneStone grinds stone: He alludes to the pistrinum, or hand-mill, where refractory slaves were often sent and set to grind the corn, which was a very laborious employment.?DEMAENETUSWhat place is that? Or where in the world is that place?LIBANUSWhere worthless men are weeping, who breakfast upon pearled barleyPearled barley: Polenta. This was barley-meal, dried before the fire, soaked in water for a night, and then baked..DEMAENETUSWhat that place is, or where it is, I cannot understand, where worthless men are weeping, who breakfast upon pearled barley.LIBANUSWhy, in the islands of club-land and rattle- chainsClub-land and rattle-chain: Fustitudinas, ferricrepinas. These are words coined by the author for the occasion. In the next line he alludes to flogging with thongs of hide.,where dead oxen attack living men.DEMAENETUSI’ faith, I now understand, Libanus, what place it is; that perhaps you mean, where the pearled barley is prepared.LIBANUSO dear: I’m not speaking of that, i’ faith, nor do I wish to speak of it. Troth now, prithee, do spit outDo spit out: The ancients signified extreme disgust by spitting. Libanus is so frightened at the bare idea of the pistrinum, or mill, that he deems the attempt to mention it as of bad omen, and begs that his master will spit away from him the very notion of it. the words that you have spoken.DEMAENETUSBe it so; you shall be indulged.(He coughs and spits.)LIBANUSCome, come—hawk away. DEMAENETUSWhat, still more?(Spits on.)LIBANUSTroth now; prithee, do go on—still more.DEMAENETUSPart of line 41b in the Latin. What—from the very bottom of my throat?(Spits.)LIBANUSEven more still. DEMAENETUSWhy, how long?