— And very pleasant fellow. MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Go on.PENICULUS I’ faith, I really can’t go on, unless I know for what reason. You’ve had a fall-out with your wife; on that ground am I the more strongly on my guardOn my guard: As Menaechmus has fallen out with his wife, the Parasite thinks there is no chance of a cena at his house. He is the more careful then to make enquiries, lest Menaechmus should contrive to baulk him of his banquet altogether. against you.MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. While you are interrupting me, you are delaying yourself.PENICULUS Knock out my only eyeMy only eye: By this it appears that Peniculus has but one eye. In the Curculio, the Parasite of that name is also represented as having but one eye., Menaechmus, if I speak one word but what you bid me.MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. where, unknown to my wife, we will erect the funeral pile and let us consume this dayLet consume this day: He supposes the day to be dead so far as business is concerned; the cena, which generally commenced about three o’clock in the afternoon (and sometimes, perhaps, the prandium as well), was followed by potatio or drinking, which by such characters as Menaechmus and the Parasite would be prolonged to midnight, when they would see the day dead, and celebrate its funeral in their orgies. upon it.PENICULUS Well, come then, since you request what’s fair, how soon am I to set fire to the pile?Why really, the day’s half dead already down to its navelTo its navel: Umbilicus, the navel, was a term much used to signify the middle part of anything. Thus Delphi was called the umbilicus, or navel, of the world..MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Come this way from the door.PENICULUS Be it so.(Moves from the door.)MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Come still more this way.PENICULUS Very well.(Moves.)MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus Even still, step aside boldly from the lioness’s den.PENICULUS(still moving.) Well done; by my troth, as I fancy, you really would bean excellent charioteersAn excellent charioteer: The drivers of the chariots at the Circensian games were called agitatores. Of course they would look back every now, and then to see how near their opponents were, that they might keep the lead..MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Why so? PENICULUS That your wife mayn’t follow you, you are looking back ever and anon.MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. But what say you? PENICULUS What, I? Why, whatever you choose, that same do I say, and that same do I deny.MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Could you make any conjecture at all from the smell, if perchance you were to take a smell at something?PENICULUS Were the college of Augurs summoned MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.(holds out the skirt of the mantle.) Come then, take a sniff at this mantle that I’m holding. What does it smell of? Do you decline?PENICULUS It’s as well to smell the top of a woman’s garment; for at this other place the nose is offended with an odour that can’t be washed out.MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.(holding another part.) Take a smell here then, Peniculus, as you are so daintily nice.PENICULUS Very well.(He smells it.)MENAECHMUS How now? What does it smell of? Answer me.PENICULUS Theft, a mistress, and a breakfast. To you MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. You have spoken out now it shall be taken to this mistress of mine, the Courtesan Erotium. I’ll order a breakfast at once to be got ready, for me, you, and her; then will we booze away even to the morrow’s morning star.PENICULUS Capital. You’ve spoken out distinctly. Am I to knock at the door then?MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Knock—or hold, rather.