why I who live there (pointing to the house of PAMPHILUS) am come out hither from this other house: I’ll inform you thereon. Just now was I sent for to this house by the back way. For as soon as news was brought that the husbands of these ladies were about to come, we all hurried thither. We attended to laying the couches, and setting all in order. Still, amid these duties, I had a care for my friends, Stichus and my fellow-servant Sagarinus, that their dinner should be cooked. Stichus has been caterer; but for cooking it, I’ve appointed one my deputy. Now, I’ll be off hence, and attend to my friends, who, I see, are coming here. (Goes into the house of PAMPHILUS.) (Enter STICHUS and SAGARINUS from the house of PAMPHILUS with provisions, a PIPER following.) SAGARINUS Come, out of doors with you; lead on the procession Lead on the procession : They are about to have their carousal in front of the house. Sagarinus puts on an air of importance, as if mustering all of a large company; whereas the only guests, besides himself, are Stichus and the Piper. Stephanium has gone to dress herself for the occasion. . Stichus, I appoint you commander of the cask. I’m resolved to prove our banquet in every fashion this day. So may the Gods love me, we are well entertained in being feasted in this place. I will that each person that passes by shall be invited to join the banquet. STICHUS Agreed, so long only as, i’ faith, each man comes with his own wine With his own wine : It has been before remarked, that the symbola, or pic-nic was made on these terms. ; for of this, a mouthful shall be given to no person but ourselves, this day. Eating alone Eating alone : Monotrophi. From the Greek word μονοτροφοὶ, eaters alone. , let’s wait upon ourselves. SAGARINUS This banquet, for our means, is quite sufficient, with its nuts, beans, figs Nuts, beans, figs : These articles formed the usual food of the Roman slaves. , a dish of olives, pounded lupines, and a cake. STICHUS It better becomes a man who is a slave to bring his expenses within moderation than beyond. Each one to his own station; they, who have wealth at home, drink from cups, goblets, and bowls; we, if we are now drinking from our Samian jug Samian jug : A plain earthenware goblet, or cup. Reference has been already made to the Samian pottery. The Proverb in this line is similar to ours, of each cutting his cloth according to his measure. , still build our walls according to our means. SAGARINUS But while she who is your mistress and mine is arranging her hair, and bedecking herself, I wish us to have some diversion among ourselves. I appoint you the commander The commander : Strategum. This is a Greek word, signifying the commander of an army. It was usual with the Greeks, Romans, and Jews, to appoint a master of the feast, who probably gave the toasts, looked to the comforts of the guests, and took care that the quality of the wine was satisfactory. See the second Chapter of St. John, v. 8. of this feast. STICHUS Very aptly does it suggest itself to your mind. SAGARINUS Wouldn’t we be more suitably Part of line 703 in the Latin. entertained like Cynics Entertained like Cynics : The absurdities consequent on the unity of place in the Roman Comedy could not possibly be better illustrated than in the present instance. The servants not only carouse in front of their master’s house, but absolutely bring out couches to recline upon. Persons of rigid manners, and especially the Cynic philosophers, persisted in retaining the old posture of sitting at meals; to that circumstance reference is here made. on benches here, than upon couches? STICHUS Aye, but this is far the most pleasant. SAGARINUS On which side is each of us to recline by our mistress? STICHUS Of course you go to the upper place. And, so that you may understand it, I make a division with you on these terms: consider, and take which province you would even like now to take. (They take their places.) SAGARINUS But what’s your meaning about this province? STICHUS Whether you would choose to hold the command over the water or over Bacchus. SAGARINUS Over Bacchus, most distinctly. But, in the meantime, general of ours, why stands this goblet here? See how many cups How many cups : Cyathos. The cyathus was a cup which contained a fixed and definite measure. It contained but a small quantity, one- twelfth part of a sextarius, which was not quite an English pint. It seems most probable that the cyathus was used for the purpose of ladling the wine out of the bowl, or cratera, in which it was mixed with water, into the goblets or cups. The question of Sagarinus here seems to apply to the number of cyathi of the pure wine which they had been drinking at each goblet-full that they took, as otherwise they would be making but slow inroads on the cadus, five cyathi holding, perhaps, about as much as three of our ordinary wine-glasses. It is not improbable that a portion of the Play is lost here. we have drunk. STICHUS As many as there are fingers on your hand. The Greek song is, Drink either your five cups Either your five cups, etc. : These words are in Greek. Eustathius and Athenaeus say that this Greek song bears reference to the proportions of water that should be mixed with the wine. It seems, however, here to mean that there’s luck in odd numbers when you are drinking. or your three, but not your four. SAGARINUS (about to drink.) I pledge you. Do you take for yourself the tenth part from the fountain From the fountain : The fons in this case was probably a pitcher of water which they had on the table. Sagarinus seems to recommend him, in mixing, only to take one-tenth part of water. Sober people generally mixed in the proportion of three-fifths water and two-fifths wine. , if you are wise. Here’s luck to you, luck to us; here’s luck to thee, luck to me; luck to our Stephanium as well. STICHUS ’Tis bravely done. I pledge you in a goblet. (Drinks.) SAGARINUS Keep your wine; Part of line 712 in the Latin. I’d very much like something by way of a relish By way of a relish : By pulpamentum Sagarinus seems to mean some dainty, by way of a relish; at least, Stichus so understands him, as he points to the nuts, beans, figs, lupines, and olives on the table, and tells him that he will get nothing else. . STICHUS If you are not satisfied with what’s here, there’s nothing else. Take some water Take some water : He probably tells him to take some water if he feels queer, or, in our vernacular, seedy, from taking too much wine; which he has some reason to suppose, from the other calling for a pulpamentum. Anchovy toast is an item of our favorite pulpamenta. . SAGARINUS You say right; I care for no dainties. Drink away, Piper Drink away, Piper : He thinks that the Piper is inclined to shirk his goblet, and to show that he himself is not flagging in spirit, tries to keep him up to the mark. ; drink, if you do drink. I’ faith, this must be drunk—don’t shirk it. (Holds the goblet to the PIPER.) Why flinch at what you see must be done by you? Why don’t you drink? Do it, if you are to do it. Take it, I tell you, for the public pays for this. That’s not your way to shirk your drink. Take your pipes Take your pipes : The Tibicines, Pipers or flute-players, among the Greeks and Romans, were in the habit of playing upon two pipes at the same time. These were perfectly distinct, and were not even, as has been supposed by some, connected by a common mouth-piece. The Romans were particularly fond of this music, and it was introduced both at sacrifices, funerals, and entertainments. See a comical story about the Roman Tibicines in the Fasti of Ovid, B. 6, l. 670 et seq. From the present specimen they appear to have been merry souls, occupying much the same place as the country fiddlers of modern times. out of your mouth. (The PIPER drinks.) STICHUS When he has drunk, either do you mind my rules Mind my rules : It is pretty clear, that in his zeal, and to show that there is no flagging in him, Sagarinus has been overdoing it, perhaps helping himself out of his turn; on this, the other threatens to resign his office of master of the ceremonies. , or else I’ll give up. I don’t wish us to drink this straight out; we shall soon be about nothing Soon be about nothing : Nulli rei erimus posteà. This is the proper reading, which has been restored by the research of Ritschel. It is difficult to say precisely what he alludes to, but most probably he means, at this rate our supply will soon be exhausted. ; for, by my faith, almost all in a moment, the cask might be turned head downwards Turned head downwards : He says that the cadus, or earthenware cask, will soon at this rate be capable of being turned upside down without any risk of spilling the wine . SAGARINUS (to the PIPER.) How now? Although you did make a fuss about it, still it didn’t hurt you. Come, Piper, when you’ve done drinking, put back your pipes to your lips; quickly puff out your cheeks, just like a reptile serpent A reptile serpent : The head of the serpent is said to swell, or puff out, when it infuriated. . Come now, Stichus, whichever of the two breaks order, shall be fined a cup.