Such is this young man; himself with a very well-stocked larder, he gives dinners fit for Ceres Fit for Ceres : As Ceres was the Goddess of corn and the giver of plenty, the entertainments in honor of her would of course he very bounteous.; so does he heap the tables up, and piles so vast of dishes does he arrange, you must stand on your couch if you wish for anything at the top. But I have now had an interval these many days,while I’ve been lording it at home all along together with my dear onesWith my dear ones: Cum caris meis. When he says this, it might be supposed that he is meaning his family by these words of endearment. The next line shows that such is not the case. He has had a supply of victuals, purchased at his own cost; he has been consuming these victuals, and right dear (carissimum) has he found them. He is now coming out to look for Menaechmus, and to make up for lost time.;—for nothing do I eat or purchase but what it is most dear. But inasmuch as dear ones, when they are provided, are in the habit of forsaking us, I am now paying him a visit. But his door is opening; and see, I perceive Menaechmus himself; he is coming out of doors.

(Enter MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus, from his house.)MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.(speaking at the door to his WIFE within.) Unless you were worthless, unless you were foolish, unless you were stark wild and an idiot, that which you see is disagreable to your husband, you would deem to be so to yourself as well. Moreover, if after this day you do any such thing to me, I’ll force you, a divorced woman, turned out of my doors to go visit your father. For as often as I wish to go out of the house, you are detaining me, calling me back, asking me questions;whither I am going, what matter I am about, what business I am transacting, what I am wanting, what I am bringing, what I have been doing out of doors? I’ve surely brought home a custom-house officerA custom-house officer: The portitores examined those who landed or embarked at any port, to see that they had no merchandize about them which had not paid duty. They also made the necessary enquiries who the parties were, and what was their destination. He compares his wife to one of these inquisitive persons as my wife; so much am I obliged to disclose all my business, whatever I have done and am doing. I’ve had you hitherto indulged too much. Now, therefore, I’ll tell you how I am about to act.Since I find you handsomely in maids, provisions, wool, gold trinkets, garments, and purple, and you are wanting in nought, you’ll beware of a mischief if you’re wise; you’ll leave off watching your husband. (In a lower voice.) And therefore, that you mayn’t be watching me in vain, for your pains I shall find me a mistress to-day, and invite her to dinner somewhere out of doors.PENICULUS(apart.) This fellow pretends that he’s upbraiding his wife, but he’s addressing myself; for if he does dine out of doors, he really is punishing me, not his wife.MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.(to himself.) Hurra! I’ troth, by my taunts I’ve driven my wife from the door at last. Where now are your intriguing husbands? Why do they hesitate, all returning thanks, to bring presents to me who have fought so gallantly? This mantleThis mantle: The palla, a kind of mantle or cloak, was worn indifferently by both sexes among the Greeks and Romans. This will account for the circumstance of Menaechmus Sosicles wearing, as we shall see in the sequel, the palla of a female, without expecting to attract the notice of passers-by. The palla, which by the prose writers is also called pallium, was used for many other purposes than that of a garment. See Dr. Smith’s . of my wife’s (taking it from under his cloak) I’ve just now stolen from in-doors, and I’m taking it to my mistress. This way it’s proper for a clever trick to be played this knowing husband-watcher. This is a becoming action, this is right, this is skilful, this is done in workman-like style; inasmuch as at my own risk I’ve taken this from my plague, this same shall be carried off to destructionTo destruction: Ad damnum. He calls the Courtesan damnum, sheer loss or wastefulness par eminence.. With the safety of my alliesOf my allies: By these he means the Courtesan Erotium and the Parasite Peniculus, who have run no risk by helping him to filch away the mantle. I’ve gained a booty from the foe.PENICULUS(aloud, at a distance.) Harkye! young man; pray what share have IWhat share have I: Thinking himself alluded to as one of the socii or allies, the Parasite immediately appears before him and asks what share, then, he is to have of the booty. in that booty?MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. I’m undone; I’ve fallen into an ambuscade.PENICULUS Say a safeguard rather. Don’t be afraid.MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. What person’s this? PENICULUS ’Tis I.(Coming up to him.)MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. O my convenient friend—O my ready occasion, save you.PENICULUS And save you.(they shake hands.)MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. What are you about?PENICULUS Holding my good Genius in my right hand.MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. You couldn’t have come to me more à propos than you have come.MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.PENICULUS I’m in the habit of doing so; I understand all the points of ready occasion.MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Would you like to be witness of a brilliant exploit?PENICULUS What cook has cooked it? I shall know at once if he has made any mistake, when I see the remnants.When I see the remnants: He thinks that Menaechmus is alluding to something in the eating way, and says that he can tell whether the cook has done his duty well or not, by only looking at the scraps of the entertainment.. MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Tell me—did you ever see a picture painted on a wall, where the eagle is carrying off GanymedeGanymede: He is mentioned in the text under another name of a gross nature. Ganymede was the son of Tros, King of Troy. Jupiter was said, in the form of an eagle, to have carried him off, and made him cupbearer to the Gods, in the place of Hebe, the Goddess of youth., or Venus Adonis?PENICULUS Many a time. But what are these pictures to me?MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Come, look at meCome, look at me: Saying this, he probably takes the palla from behind him, and putting it on, stalks about with it upon him. This he could do without the risk of being seen by his wife, as on the Roman stage a number of streets and lanes were seen to terminate, up which the actor would go a little way to escape observation from a house situate just at the end of another street. He means to ask the Parasite if he does not quite equal Ganymede or Adonis, as represented in the pictures, by reason of his tasteful attire.. Do I at all bear any resemblance to them?PENICULUS What’s this garb of yours?MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Pronounce me to be a very clever fellow.PENICULUS Where are we to feed? MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Only do you say that which I requested you.PENICULUS Well, I do say so; very clever fellow.MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. And don’t you venture to add anything of your own to it?