You’ve removed You’ve removed : Peniculus now loses patience, and reflects that there is many a slip between the cup and the lip. the goblet a full mile by that. MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Knock gently. PENICULUS You’re afraid, I think, that the doors are made of Samian crockery. (Goes to knock.) MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Hold, prithee, hold, i’ faith; see, she’s coming out herself. (The door of EROTIUM’S house is opened.) Ha you behold the sun, is it not quite darkened in comparison with the bright rays of her person. (Enter EROTIUM, from her house.) EROTIUM My life, Menaechmus, save you. PENICULUS And what for me? EROTIUM You are out of my number. PENICULUS that same thing is wont to be done for the other supernumeraries Supernumeraries : The adscriptivi , who were also called accensi , were a body of reserve troops who followed the Roman army without any military duties to perform, and who were drafted off to supply the deficiencies in the legions. In battle they were placed in the rear of the army. Of course they could not claim the same advantages as the regular soldier; and his own position is likened by the Parasite to theirs. of the legion. MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. I would order a skirmish to be got ready there at your house for me to-day. EROTIUM To-day it shall be done. MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. In that skirmish we two shall drink. Him shall you choose that shall be found there the better warrior with the goblet; do you make up your mind with which of the two you’ll pass this night. How much, my love, when I look upon you, do I hate my wife. EROTIUM Meantime, however, you cannot help being wrapped in something of hers. What’s this? (Takes hold of the mantle.) MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. (taking it off.) ’Tis a new dress for you, and a spoil from A spoil from : Exuviae means either the slough or cast skin of a snake, or the spoil taken from the enemy. Perhaps the latter is the sense in which it is here meant, as he has described his operations as a perfect campaign. my wife, my rosebud. EROTIUM You have a ready way of prevailing, so as to be superior in my eyes to any one of those that pay me suit. (Embraces him.) PENICULUS (aside.) The harlot’s coaxing in the meantime, while she’s looking out what to plunder (to EROTIUM) for if you really loved him, by this his nose ought to have been off with your teething him. With your teething him : Judging from this remark, perhaps she has accidentally forgotten to kiss her dupe, Menaechmus. . MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Take hold of this, Peniculus: I wish to dedicate the spoil that I’ve vowed. PENICULUS Give it me. (Holds it while MENAECHMUS puts it on.) But, i’ faith, prithee, do dance afterwards with the mantle on in this way. MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. I—dance? I’ faith, you’re not in your senses. PENICULUS Are you or I the most? If you won’t dance, then take it off. MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. (to EROTIUM.) At a great risk have I stolen this to-day. In my opinion, indeed, Hercules didn’t ever carry off the belt from Hippolyta From Hippolyta : Hercules was commanded by Eurystheus to obtain the belt or girdle of Hippolyta, or Antiope, the Queen of the Amazons. This he effected, and gave her in marriage to his companion Theseus, by whom, after giving birth to Hippolytus, she was put to death. Some accounts, however, state that she was slain by Hercules. with danger as great. Take this for yourself (he takes it off, and gives her the mantle) , since you are the only one alive that’s compliant with my humours. EROTIUM With such feelings ’tis proper that real lovers should be animated. PENICULUS (aside.) Those, indeed, who are making haste to bring themselves down to beggary. MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. I purchased that for my wife a year since at the price of four minae. PENICULUS (aside.) The four minae are clearly gone for ever, as the account now stands. MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Do you know what I wish you to attend to? EROTIUM I don’t know; but I’ll attend to whatever you do wish. MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. Order a breakfast, then, to be provided for us three at your house, and some dainties to be purchased at the market; kernels of boars’ neck, or bacon off the gammon Bacon off the gammon : He facetiously calls bacon pernonides , literally, the son of the gammon. , or pig’s head, or something in that way, which, when cooked and placed on table before me, may promote an appetite like a kite’s: and-forthwith—