I’ll make you more full of holes than a rat’s skin A rat’s skin : Soricina naenia , than a rat’s ditty, literally. This was, no doubt, a proverbial saying, and speaking elliptically, was, perhaps, intended to apply to the squeaking of a rat when his body was pierced with holes while held fast in the trap. There is, however, great obscurity in the passage, and Commentators are very much divided as to its meaning. when caught in a trap. I’ faith, for my part, some time since I found out what suspicion it was that tormented you; namely, that he was with that wife of yours. CLEOMACHUS Yes; and so he is. CHRYSALUS So may Jupiter, Juno, Ceres, Minerva, Hope, Latona, Ops, Virtue, Venus, Castor, Pollux, Mars, Mercury, Hercules, Summanus Summanus : It is not accurately known who the Deity Summanus was. Ovid, in his Fasti, B. 6, l. 731, speaks in uncertainty of him. He is, however, generally thought to have been the same with Pluto, who was so called as being Summus Manum , the Chief of the Spirits. Varro says that his worship was introduced by Tatius the Sabine , the Sun, Saturn, and all the Deities, prosper me, he neither reclines with her, nor walks, nor kisses, nor does that which is wont to be reported. NICOBULUS (aside.) How he does swear! He’s saving me, however, by his perjury. CLEOMACHUS Where then, at this moment, is Mnesilochus? CHRYSALUS His father has sent him into the country. And she has gone hence to the citadel, to see the temple of Minerva. The door’s open now; go in, and see if he’s there. CLEOMACHUS I’ll be off to the Forum next. CHRYSALUS Or rather, by my troth, to very perdition. CLEOMACHUS Am I to demand this gold to-day? CHRYSALUS Demand it, and go hang yourself; don’t you suppose, you worthless fellow, that we shall be entreating of you. (Exit CLEOMACHUS.)