After my master had bought the provisions, and hired the cooks Hired the cooks: Allusion has been made, in the Notes to the Pseudolus, to the custom of hiring cooks in the markets on any special occasion. These were frequently slaves; and in such case, the greater portion of their earnings would go into the pockets of their masters. From the remark made in l. 265, we find that Congrio and Anthrax are slaves. and these music- girls in the market-place, he ordered me to divide these provisions into two parts.LYCONIDESBy my troth, but you really shan’t be dividing me You really shan’t be dividing me: He alludes to his own name, Congrio,a conger eel, which was cut up before it was cooked; and he means to say, that spite of his name, he will not stand being divided by Strobilus., I tell you plainly. If you wish me to go anywhere whole, I’ll do my best.ANTHRAX A very pretty and modest fellow, indeedModest fellow, indeed: Anthrax gives a very indelicate turn to the remark of Congrio; and the liberty has been taken of giving a more harmless form to the gross witticism of Anthrax. It may be here remarked, that he takes his name from the Greek word, signifying a coal, a commodity, of course much in request with cooks.. As if, when you are a conger by name, you wouldn’t like to be cut into pieces.LYCONIDESBut, Anthrax, I said that in another sense, and not in the one which you are pretending.STROBILUSNow my master’s going to be married to-day.Part of line 288 in the Latin.ANTHRAX Whose daughter is he to marry? STROBILUSThe daughter of this Euclio, his near neighbour here. For that reason he has ordered half of these provisions here to be presented to him—one cook, and one music-girl likewise.ANTHRAX That is, you take one half to him, the other half home? STROBILUS’Tis just as you say.