I find, i’ faith, we’re only equipped for our journey like summer travellersLike summer travellers: Of course lighter garments and a less weight of luggage would be carried by travellers in the heat of summer. By my troth, I guess, if you don’t be returning home, while you’re seeking your twin-brother, you’ll surely be groaningYou’ll surely be groaning: He intends a puerile play upon the resemblance of the words gemes,will be groaning, and geminum, twin-brother., when you have nothing left. For such is this race of people; among the men of Epidamnus there are debauchees and very great drinkers;swindlers besides, and many wheedlers are living in this city; then the women in the harlot line are said nowhere in the world to be more captivating. The name of Epidamnus was given to this city for the very reason, because hardly any person sojourns here without some damnable mishapsSome damnable mishap: Sine damno, Literally, without mischief or mishap. He puns on the resemblance of damnum to Epidamnum. An attempt has been made in the translation to preserve the resemblance in some degree..MENAECHMUS SOSICLES I’ll guard against that. Just give me the purse this way.MESSENIO What do you want with it?MENAECHMUS SOSICLES I’m apprehensive then about yourself, from your expressions.MESSENIO Why are you apprehensive? MENAECHMUS SOSICLES Lest you should cause me some damnable mishap in Epidamnus. You are a great admirer of the women, Messenio, and I’m a passionate man, of an unmanageable disposition;of both these things will I have a care, when I’ve got the money, that you shall not commit a fault, and that I shall not be in a passion with you.MESSENIO(giving him the purse.) Take and keep it; with all my heart you may do so.

(Enter CYLINDRUS, with a basket of provisions.)CYLINDRUS I’ve catered well, and to my mind. I’ll set a good breakfast before the breakfasters. But see, I perceive Menaechmus. Woe to my back; the guests are now already walking before the door, before I’ve returned with the provisions. I’ll go and accost him. Save you, Menaechmus.MENAECHMUS SOSICLES The Gods bless you, whoever you are. CYLINDRUS who I am?MESSENIO I’ faith, not I, indeed. CYLINDRUS Where are the other guests?MENAECHMUS SOSICLES What guests are you enquiring about?CYLINDRUS Your Parasite. MENAECHMUS SOSICLES My Parasite? Surely this fellow’s deranged.MESSENIO Didn’t I tell you that there were many swindlers here?MENAECHMUS SOSICLES What Parasite of mine, young man, are you enquiring about?CYLINDRUS Peniculus.MENAECHMUS SOSICLES Where is my ?MESSENIO See, I’ve got your spongeI’ve got your sponge: Menaechmus takes Cylindrus to mean as though he were really talking about a peniculus, or sponge, used for the purposes of a napkin. He turns to Messenio, and probably says (in the mutilated passage), Where is my peniculus? on which the servant, taking it out of the vidulus, or travelling-bag. says, Here it is, quite safe. [Peniculus] all safe in the wallet.CYLINDRUS Menaechmus, you’ve come here too soon for breakfast; I’m but now returning with the provisions.MENAECHMUS SOSICLES Answer me this, young man: at what price do pigs sell hereDo pigs sell here: Pigs without blemish were sacrificed to the Lares, or household Gods, in behalf of those who were afflicted with insanity. Menaechmus Sosicles adopts this as a quiet way of telling Cylindrus that he must be mad.,unblemished ones, for sacrifice?CYLINDRUS At a didrachm a-piece.MENAECHMUS SOSICLES(holding out his hand.) Receive, then, a didrachm of me; bid a sacrifice be made for you at my expense; for, by my faith, I really am sure in very truth that you are deranged, who are annoying me, a person that’s a stranger, whoever you are.CYLINDRUS I am Cylindrus; don’t you know my name?MENAECHMUS SOSICLES Whether you are Cylindrus or CaliendrusCylindrus or Caliendrus: Probably Cylindrus is so called from the words cylindrus,a cylinder, in the sense of a rolling-pin. Sosicles plays upon its resemblance to caliendrus, which perhaps meant a peruke or wig, as the Latin word caliendrum had that signification., confound you. I don’t know you, and, in fact, I don’t want to know you.