Menaechmi – Read Plautus in Latin and English (Part 1)

Menaechmi

PERSONAE

PENICVLVS PARASITVS
MENAECHMVS
MENAECHMVS (SOSICLES)
EROTIUM MERETRIX
CYLINDRUS COCVS
MESSENIO SERVVS
ANCILLA
MATRONA
SENEX
MEDICVS

ARGUMENT 

1 Mercator Siculus, quoi erant gemini filii, 

A merchant from Sicily, who had twin sons, 

2 Ei surrupto altero mors optigit. 

After one was stolen, death befell him. 

3 Nomen surrepticii illi indit qui domist 

The paternal grandfather gave the name of the stolen one to the boy at home, 

4 Avos paternus, facit Menaechmum e Sosicle. 

Making Sosicles into Menaechmus. 

5 Et is germanum, postquam adolevit, quaeritat 

And he, after he grew up, searched for his brother 

6 Circum omnis oras. post Epidamnum devenit: 

Around all shores. Then he came to Epidamnus: 

7 Hic fuerat alitus ille surrepticius. 

Here the stolen one had been raised. 

8 Menaechmum omnes civem credunt advenam 

Everyone believes the newcomer is Menaechmus, the citizen, 

9 Eumque appellant meretrix, uxor et socer. 

And the courtesan, the wife, and the father-in-law all address him as such. 

10 I se cognoscunt fratres postremo invicem. 

At last, the brothers recognize each other. 

PROLOGUE 

1 Salutem primum iam a principio propitiam 

From the very beginning, I announce a propitious greeting 

2 Mihi atque vobis, spectatores, nuntio. 

To me and to you, spectators. 

3 Apporto vobis Plautum, lingua non manu, 

I bring you Plautus, by tongue, not by hand, 

4 Quaeso ut benignis accipiatis auribus. 

I ask that you receive him with kindly ears. 

5 Nunc argumentum accipite atque animum advortite; 

Now receive the plot and pay attention; 

6 Quam potero in verba conferam paucissuma. 

I will present it in as few words as I can. 

7 Atque hoc poetae faciunt in comoediis: 

And this is what poets do in comedies: 

8 Omnis res gestas esse Athenis autumant, 

They claim that all the events happened in Athens, 

9 Quo illud vobis graecum videatur magis; 

So that it may seem more Greek to you; 

10 Ego nusquam dicam nisi ubi factum dicitur. 

I will never say so, except where it is said to have happened. 

11 Atque adeo hoc argumentum graecissat, tamen 

And indeed, this plot is very Greek, yet 

12 Non atticissat, verum sicilicissitat. 

It is not Attic, but distinctly Sicilian. 

13 Huic argumento antelogium hoc fuit; 

This was the foreword to the plot; 

14 Nunc argumentum vobis demensum dabo, 

Now I will give you the plot, fully measured out, 

15 Non modio, neque trimodio, verum ipso horreo: 

Not by the peck, nor by the three-peck measure, but by the granary itself: 

16 Tantum ad narrandum argumentum adest benignitas. 

So great is the generosity in telling the plot. 

17 Mercator quidam fuit Syracusis senex, 

There was a certain old merchant in Syracuse, 

18 Ei sunt nati filii gemini duo, 

To him were born two twin sons, 

19 Ita forma simili pueri, ut mater sua 

Boys so alike in appearance, that their own mother 

20 Non internosse posset quae mammam dabat, 

Could not tell which one she was nursing, 

21 Neque adeo mater ipsa quae illos pepererat, 

Nor even the mother herself who had given birth to them, 

22 Ut quidem ille dixit mihi, qui pueros viderat: 

As the man who had seen the boys told me: 

23 Ego illos non vidi, ne quis vostrum censeat. 

I did not see them myself, lest any of you think so. 

24 Postquam iam pueri septuennes sunt, pater 

After the boys were seven years old, their father 

25 Oneravit navem magnam multis mercibus; 

Loaded a large ship with many goods; 

26 Imponit geminum alterum in navem pater, 

The father put one of the twins on board, 

27 Tarentum avexit secum ad mercatum simul, 

And took him with him to Tarentum for business, 

28 Illum reliquit alterum apud matrem domi. 

He left the other at home with their mother. 

29 Tarenti ludi forte erant, cum illuc venit. 

By chance, there were games at Tarentum when he arrived. 

30 Mortales multi, ut ad ludos, convenerant: 

Many people, as is usual for games, had gathered: 

31 Puer aberravit inter homines a patre. 

The boy wandered away from his father in the crowd. 

32 Epidamniensis quidam ibi mercator fuit, 

A certain merchant from Epidamnus was there, 

33 Is puerum tollit avehitque Epidamnium. 

He picked up the boy and took him away to Epidamnus. 

34 Pater eius autem postquam puerum perdidit, 

But after the father lost the boy, 

35 Animum despondit, eaque is aegritudine 

He fell into despair, and from that grief 

36 Paucis diebus post Tarenti emortuost. 

He died a few days later at Tarentum. 

37 Postquam Syracusas de ea re rediit nuntius 

After the news of this returned to Syracuse 

38 Ad avom puerorum, puerum surruptum alterum 

To the boys' grandfather, that one of the boys had been stolen 

39 Patremque pueri Tarenti esse emortuom, 

And that the boy’s father had died at Tarentum, 

40 Immutat nomen avos huic gemino alteri; 

The grandfather changed the name of this other twin; 

41 Ita illum dilexit, qui subruptust, alterum: 

So much did he love the one who had been stolen, the other one: 

42 Illius nomen indit illi qui domi est, 

He gave the name of that one to the one who stayed at home, 

43 Menaechmo, idem quod alteri nomen fuit; 

Menaechmus, the same name that the other had had; 

44 Et ipsus eodem est avos vocatus nomine 

And the grandfather himself was called by the same name 

45 (Propterea illius nomen memini facilius, 

(Therefore I remember his name more easily, 

46 Quia illum clamore vidi flagitarier). 

Because I saw him being loudly demanded). 

47 Ne mox erretis, iam nunc praedico prius: 

Lest you go astray later, I warn you now in advance: 

48 Idem est ambobus nomen geminis fratribus. 

Both twin brothers have the same name. 

49 Nunc in Epidamnum pedibus redeundum est mihi, 

Now I must return on foot to Epidamnus, 

50 Ut hanc rem vobis examussim disputem. 

So that I may explain this matter to you exactly. 

51 Si quis quid vestrum Epidamnum curari sibi 

If any of you wants anything taken care of at Epidamnus, 

52 Velit, audacter imperato et dicito, 

Boldly give the order and speak up, 

53 Sed ita ut det unde curari id possit sibi. 

But only if he provides the means to have it done. 

54 Nam nisi qui argentum dederit, nugas egerit; 

For unless one gives money, he’s just playing the fool; 

55 Qui dederit, magis maiores nugas egerit. 

And he who gives will be playing an even bigger fool. 

56 Verum illuc redeo unde abii, atque uno asto in loco. 

But I return to where I left off and stay in one place. 

57 Epidamniensis ille, quem dudum dixeram, 

That Epidamnian, whom I mentioned earlier, 

58 Geminum illum puerum qui surrupuit alterum, 

Who stole that twin boy, the other one, 

59 Ei liberorum, nisi divitiae, nil erat: 

He had no children—unless you count wealth. 

60 Adoptat illum puerum surrupticium 

He adopted the stolen boy 

61 Sibi filium eique uxorem dotatam dedit, 

As his son and gave him a wife with a dowry, 

62 Eumque heredem fecit, quom ipse obiit diem. 

And made him his heir when he passed away. 

63 Nam rus ut ibat forte, ut multum pluerat, 

For as he happened to go to the country, after heavy rain, 

64 Ingressus fluvium rapidum ab urbe haud longule, 

He entered a swift river not far from the city, 

65 Rapidus raptori pueri subduxit pedes 

The current swept the boy’s kidnapper off his feet 

66 Abstraxitque hominem in maximam malam crucem. 

And dragged the man to a most wretched death. 

67 Illi divitiae evenerunt maximae. 

Great riches came to that boy. 

68 Is illic habitat geminus surrupticius. 

That stolen twin lives there. 

69 Nunc ille geminus, qui Syracusis habet, 

Now the other twin, who lives in Syracuse, 

70 Hodie in Epidamnum veniet cum servo suo 

Will come to Epidamnus today with his slave 

71 Hunc quaeritatum geminum germanum suom. 

To seek out his twin brother. 

72 Haec urbs Epidamnus est, dum haec agitur fabula: 

This city is Epidamnus, while this play is acted: 

73 Quando alia agetur, aliud fiet oppidum; 

When another is acted, it will become another town; 

74 Sicut familiae quoque solent mutarier: 

Just as families too are apt to change: 

75 Modo ini caditat leno, modo adulescens, modo senex, 

Now a pimp falls in, now a young man, now an old man, 

76 Pauper, mendicus, rex, parasitus, hariolus. 

A pauper, a beggar, a king, a parasite, a soothsayer. 

ACTVS I

I.i 

77 Iuventus nomen fecit Peniculo mihi, 

Youth gave me the name Sponge, 

78 ideo quia mensam, quando edo, detergeo. 

Because I wipe the table clean when I eat. 

79 homines captivos qui catenis vinciunt 

Men who bind captives with chains 

80 et qui fugitivis servis indunt compedes, 

And who put fetters on runaway slaves, 

81 nimis stulte faciunt mea quidem sententia. 

Act far too foolishly, in my opinion. 

82 nam homini misero si ad malum accedit malum, 

For if misfortune is added to a wretched man's misery, 

83 maior lubido est fugere et facere nequiter. 

He is more eager to flee and do wrong. 

84 nam se ex catenis eximunt aliquo modo. 

For they get out of chains somehow. 

85 tum compediti anum lima praeterunt 

Then, in fetters, they slip a file through the ring 

86 aut lapide excutiunt clavom. nugae sunt eae. 

Or knock out the bolt with a stone. Those are trifles. 

87 quem tu adservare recte, ne aufugiat, voles, 

If you want to guard someone properly so he won’t escape, 

88 esca atque potione vinciri decet. 

He should be bound with food and drink. 

89 apud mensam plenam homini rostrum deliges; 

At a full table you’ll muzzle the man; 

90 dum tu illi quod edit et quod potet praebeas, 

As long as you provide what he eats and drinks, 

91 suo arbitratu adfatim cottidie, 

Plenty of it, each day, at his own discretion, 

92 numquam edepol fugiet, tam etsi capital fecerit, 

By Pollux, he’ll never flee, even if he’s committed a capital crime, 

93 facile adservabis, dum eo vinclo vincies. 

You’ll guard him easily, as long as you use that chain. 

94 ita istaec nimis lenta vincla sunt escaria: 

Those food-chains are wonderfully slack, 

95 quam magis extendas, tanto adstringunt artius. 

The more you stretch them, the more tightly they bind. 

96 nam ego ad Menaechmum hunc eo, quo iam diu 

For I’m going to this Menaechmus, to whom for some time 

97 sum iudicatus; ultro eo ut me vinciat. 

I’ve been bound over; I go of my own accord to be bound. 

98 nam illic homo homines non alit, verum educat, 

That man doesn’t just feed people, he raises them up, 

99 recreatque: nullus melius medicinam facit. 

And restores them: no one’s a better doctor. 

100 ita est adulescens; ipsus escae maxumae 

So generous is the young man; he himself is a feast-master 

101 cerialis cenas dat, ita mensas exstruit, 

He gives Ceres-like banquets, and loads the tables, 

102 tantas struices concinnat patinarias: 

He piles the dishes up so high, 

103 standumst in lecto, si quid de summo petas. 

You have to stand on the couch to reach the top ones. 

104 sed mi intervallum iam hos dies multos fuit: 

But there’s been a break for me these many days: 

105 domi domitus sum usque cum caris meis. 

I’ve been broken in at home with my dear ones. 

106 nam neque edo neque emo nisi quod est carissumum. 

For I eat and buy only what’s dearest. 

107 id quoque iam, cari qui instruontur deserunt. 

Even those who supply dear things have now deserted me. 

108 nunc ad eum inviso. sed aperitur ostium. 

Now I’ll go see him. But the door’s opening. 

109 Menaechmum eccum ipsum video, progreditur foras. 

Look, I see Menaechmus himself—he’s coming out.

I.ii 

110 Ni mala, ni stulta sies, ni indomita imposque animi, 

Unless you're wicked, or foolish, or wild and out of control, 

111 quod viro esse odio videas, tute tibi odio habeas. 

What you see your husband hates, you should hate yourself.

112 praeterhac si mihi tale post hunc diem 

Besides, if you do such a thing to me after this day, 

113 faxis, faxo foris vidua visas patrem. 

I’ll make sure you see your father again—as a widow. 

114 nam quotiens foras ire volo, me retines, revocas, rogitas, 

For every time I want to go out, you hold me back, call me back, question me, 

115 quo ego eam, quam rem agam, quid negoti geram, 

Where I’m going, what I’m doing, what business I’m handling, 

116 quid petam, quid feram, quid foris egerim. 

What I’m seeking, what I’m bringing, what I’ve done outside. 

117 portitorem domum duxi, ita omnem mihi 

I’ve brought a customs officer home—so now I must 

118 rem necesse eloqui est, quidquid egi atque ago. 

Declare everything I’ve done and do. 

119 nimium ego te habui delicatam; nunc adeo ut facturus dicam. 

I’ve spoiled you far too much; now I’ll say what I mean to do. 

120 quando ego tibi ancillas, penum, 

Since I provide you with maids and pantry goods, 

121 lanam, aurum, vestem, purpuram 

Wool, gold, clothes, and purple, 

122 bene praebeo nec quicquam eges, 

I provide them well, and you lack for nothing, 

123 malo cavebis si sapis, 

You’ll beware of trouble if you’ve any sense, 

124 virum observare desines. 

And you’ll stop spying on your husband. 

125 atque adeo, ne me nequiquam serves, ob eam industriam 

And indeed, so you won’t watch me in vain, for all that diligence, 

126 hodie ducam scortum ad cenam atque aliquo condicam foras. 

Today I’ll take a courtesan to dinner and make plans to go out. 

127 PEN. Illic homo se uxori simulat male loqui, loquitur mihi; 

PEN. That man pretends to scold his wife, but he’s really talking to me; 

128 nam si foris cenat, profecto me, haud uxorem, ulciscitur. 

For if he dines out, he’s punishing me, not his wife. 

129 MEN. Euax, iurgio hercle tandem uxorem abegi ab ianua. 

MEN. Hurrah! By Hercules, I’ve finally driven my wife from the door with a quarrel. 

130 ubi sunt amatores mariti? dona quid cessant mihi 

Where are the admirers of married men? Why do they delay bringing me 

131 conferre omnes congratulantes, quia pugnavi fortiter? 

Gifts and congratulations, since I fought bravely? 

132 hanc modo uxori intus pallam surrupui, ad scortum fero. 

Just now I stole this cloak from my wife inside; I’m taking it to my courtesan. 

133 sic hoc decet, dari facete verba custodi catae. 

That’s how it should be—cleverly outwitting the shrewd guard. 

134 hoc facinus pulchrumst, hoc probumst, hoc lepidumst, hoc factumst fabre: 

This deed is noble, decent, charming, skillfully done: 

135 meo malo a mala abstuli hoc, ad damnum deferetur. 

I took this from a wicked woman to my own loss—it’ll go to destruction. 

136 avorti praedam ab hostibus nostrum salute socium. 

I turned the plunder away from the enemy, for my comrade’s safety. 

137 PEN. Heus adulescens, ecqua in istac pars inest praeda mihi? 

PEN. Hey, young man—do I get a share in that loot? 

138 MEN. Perii, in insidias deveni. PEN. Immo in praesidium, ne time. 

MEN. I’m doomed—I’ve walked into a trap. PEN. No, into protection. Don’t be afraid. 

139 M. Quis homo est? P. Ego sum. M. O mea Commoditas, o mea Opportunitas, 

M. Who’s that? P. It’s me. M. O my Convenience, O my Opportunity, 

140 salve. P. Salve. M. Quid agis? P. Teneo dextera genium meum. 

Greetings. P. Greetings. M. How are you? P. I hold my good spirit in my right hand. 

141 MEN. Non potuisti magis per tempus mi advenire quam advenis. 

MEN. You couldn’t have come at a better time for me than you did.

142 PEN. Ita ego soleo: commoditatis omnis articulos scio. 

PEN. That's how I usually am: I know all the joints of convenience. 

143 MEN. Vin tu facinus luculentum inspicere? PEN. Quis id coxit coquos? 

MEN. Want to see a splendid deed? PEN. What cook cooked it? 

144 iam sciam, si quid titubatumst, ubi reliquias videro. 

I'll know soon if anything went wrong, once I’ve seen the leftovers. 

145 MEN. Dic mi, enumquam tu vidisti tabulam pictam in pariete, 

MEN. Tell me, have you ever seen a painting on a wall, 

146 ubi aquila Catameitum raperet aut ubi Venus Adoneum? 

Where the eagle snatched Ganymede or Venus snatched Adonis? 

147 PEN. Saepe. sed quid istae picturae ad me attinent? MEN. Age me aspice. 

PEN. Often. But what do those paintings have to do with me? MEN. Come, look at me. 

148 ecquid adsimulo similiter? PEN. Quis istest ornatus tuos? 

Do I resemble them in any way? PEN. What sort of outfit is that of yours? 

149 MEN. Dic hominem lepidissimum esse me. PEN. Vbi essuri sumus? 

MEN. Say that I’m a most charming man. PEN. Where are we going to eat? 

150 MEN. Dic modo hoc quod ego te iubeo. PEN. Dico: homo lepidissime. 

MEN. Just say what I tell you. PEN. I say: most charming man. 

151 MEN. Ecquid audes de tuo istuc addere? PEN. Atque hilarissime. 

MEN. Do you dare add something of your own? PEN. And most cheerfully. 

152 MEN. Perge. PEN. Non pergo hercle, nisi scio qua gratia. 

MEN. Go on. PEN. I won’t go on, by Hercules, unless I know why. 

153 litigium tibi est cum uxore, eo mi abs te caveo cautius. 

You’re quarreling with your wife, so I’m being more cautious with you. 

154 MEN. Clam uxoremst ubi pulchre habeamus atque hunc comburamus diem. 

My wife doesn’t know where we’re going to have a good time and burn up this day. 

155 PEN. Age sane igitur, quando aequom oras, quam mox incendo rogum? 

PEN. All right then, since you ask what’s fair—how soon do I light the pyre? 

156 dies quidem iam ad umbilicum est dimidiatus mortuos. 

The day is already halfway to its navel, nearly dead. 

157 MEN. Te morare, mihi quom obloquere. PEN. Oculum ecfodito per solum 

MEN. You delay me by interrupting. PEN. Gouge my eye to the floor 

158 mihi, Menaechme, si ullum verbum faxo nisi quod iusseris. 

Menaechmus, if I say a single word you didn’t order. 

159 MEN. Concede huc a foribus. PEN. Fiat. MEN. Etiam concede huc. PEN. Licet. 

MEN. Move away from the doors. PEN. Done. MEN. More. PEN. All right. 

160 MEN. Etiam nunc concede audacter ab leonino cavo. 

MEN. Keep backing boldly away from the lion’s den. 

161 PEN. Eu edepol ne tu, ut ego opinor, esses agitator probus. 

PEN. Wow, by Pollux, I think you’d be a fine charioteer. 

162 MEN. Quidum? PEN. Ne te uxor sequatur, respectas identidem. 

MEN. Why’s that? PEN. Because you keep looking back in case your wife follows. 

163 MEN. Sed quid ais? PEN. Egone? id enim quod tu vis, id aio atque id nego. 

MEN. But what do you say? PEN. Me? Whatever you want—I say it and I deny it. 

164 MEN. Ecquid tu de odore possis, si quid forte olfeceris, 

MEN. Can you make any guess about a smell, if you happen to catch one, 

165 facere coniecturam? captum sit collegium. 

Can you guess? A whole college could be founded on that. 

166 MEN. Agedum odorare hanc quam ego habeo pallam. quid olet? apstines? 

MEN. Come now, smell this cloak I’ve got. What’s it smell like? Are you holding back? 

167 PEN. Summum olfactare oportet vestimentum muliebre, 

PEN. One should sniff the top edge of a woman’s garment, 

168 nam ex istoc loco spurcatur nasum odore inluvido. 

Because from lower down, the nose gets fouled by a filthy smell. 

169 MEN. Olfacta igitur hinc, Penicule. lepide ut fastidis. PEN. Decet. 

MEN. Then sniff from up here, Peniculus. How wittily you scorn it. PEN. As I should. 

170 MEN. Quid igitur? quid olet? responde. PEN. Furtum, scortum, prandium. 

MEN. Well then? What does it smell of? PEN. Theft, whore, lunch. 

171 MEN. Atque edepol una omnia, etsi 

MEN. And by Pollux, all at once, even though 

172 tibi fuant 

They may be for you 

173 elocutus, nam 

I’ve said too much, for 

174 nunc ad amicam deferetur hanc meretricem Erotium. 

This cloak’s going now to my girlfriend, the courtesan Erotium. 

175 mihi, tibi atque illi iubebo iam adparari prandium. PEN. Eu. 

I’ll order lunch now for me, you, and her. PEN. Hooray. 

176 MEN. Inde usque ad diurnam stellam crastinam potabimus. PEN. Eu, 

MEN. From now till tomorrow’s morning star we’ll drink. PEN. Hooray, 

177 expedite fabulatu's. iam fores ferio? MEN. Feri. 

You’ve talked quickly. Shall I knock on the door now? MEN. Knock. 

178 vel mane etiam. PEN. Mille passum commoratu's cantharum. 

Or wait a bit. PEN. You’ve delayed a mile’s worth of wine-cups. 

179 MEN. Placide pulta. PEN. Metuis, credo, ne fores Samiae sient. 

MEN. Knock gently. PEN. Afraid the door might be Samian, are you? 

180 MEN. Mane, mane obsecro hercle: eapse eccam exit. oh, solem vides 

MEN. Wait, wait, by Hercules, I beg you: look, she’s coming out herself. Oh, do you see the sun, 

181 satin ut occaecatust prae huius corporis candoribus? 

How it's outshone by the brilliance of her body?

I.iii 

180 EROTIUM. Anime mi, Menaechme, salve. PEN. Quid ego? ER. Extra numerum es mihi. 

EROTIUM. My darling Menaechmus, greetings. PEN. And me? ER. You don’t count. 

181 PEN. Idem istuc aliis adscriptivis fieri ad legionem solet. 

PEN. That’s how it goes for the extras on a legion roll. 

182 MEN. Ego istic mihi hodie adparari iussi apud te proelium. 

MEN. I’ve ordered a battle to be arranged for me at your place today. 

183 ER. Hodie id fiet. MEN. In eo uterque proelio potabimus; 

ER. It will happen today. MEN. In that battle, we’ll both drink; 

184 uter ibi melior bellator erit inventus cantharo, 

Whichever of us is found the better warrior with the wine-cup, 

185 tu est legio adiudicato, cum utro hanc noctem sies. 

You be the judge, my legion: choose with whom you’ll spend the night. 

186 ut ego uxorem, mea voluptas, ubi te aspicio, odi male. 

How I hate my wife, my delight, whenever I see you. 

187 ER. Interim nequis quin eius aliquid indutus sies. 

ER. And yet you can’t help wearing something of hers. 

188 quid hoc est? MEN. Induviae tuae atque uxoris exuviae, rosa. 

What’s this? MEN. Your outfit and my wife’s castoffs, my rose. 

189 ER. Superas facile, ut superior sis mihi quam quisquam qui impetrant. 

ER. You easily outdo the rest—no one wins me over like you. 

190 PEN. Meretrix tantisper blanditur, dum illud quod rapiat videt; 

PEN. A courtesan flatters only while she sees something she can snatch. 

191 nam si amabas, iam oportebat nasum abreptum mordicus. 

For if you really loved, you should’ve bitten her nose off by now. 

192 MEN. Sustine hoc, Penicule: exuvias facere quas vovi volo. 

MEN. Hold this, Peniculus: I want to make the offering I vowed. 

193 PEN. Cedo; sed obsecro hercle, salta sic cum palla postea. 

PEN. Give it here—but by Hercules, please dance in the cloak later. 

194 MEN. Ego saltabo? sanus hercle non es. PEN. Egone an tu magis? 

MEN. Me, dance? By Hercules, you’re mad. PEN. Me or you more? 

195 si non saltas, exue igitur. MEN. Nimio ego hanc periculo 

If you’re not dancing, take it off then. MEN. I stole it today with 

196 surrupui hodie. meo quidem animo ab Hippolyta subcingulum 

Too much risk. In my opinion, not even Hercules 

197 Hercules haud aeque magno umquam abstulit periculo. 

Took Hippolyta’s belt with greater danger. 

198 cape tibi hanc, quando una vivis meis morigera moribus. 

Take this for yourself, since you live in line with my ways. 

199 ER. Hoc animo decet animatos esse amatores probos. 

ER. Honest lovers should have just such a spirit. 

200 PEN. Qui quidem ad mendicitatem se properent detrudere. 

PEN. The sort who hurry themselves straight into beggary. 

201 MEN. Quattuor minis ego emi istanc anno uxori meae. 

MEN. I bought that for four minae for my wife last year. 

202 PEN. Quattuor minae perierunt plane, ut ratio redditur. 

PEN. Four minae are clearly lost—so the balance sheet shows. 

203 MEN. Scin quid volo ego te accurare? ER. Scio, curabo quae voles. 

MEN. Do you know what I want you to take care of? ER. I know—I’ll see to whatever you want. 

204 MEN. Iube igitur tribus nobis apud te prandium accurarier 

MEN. Then have lunch prepared at your house for the three of us, 

205 atque aliquid scitamentorum de foro opsonarier, 

And get some delicacies from the market, 

206 glandionidam suillam, laridum pernonidam, 

Some pork from the gland, bacon from the ham, 

207 aut sincipitamenta porcina aut aliquid ad eum modum, 

Or pork jowls or something like that, 

208 madida quae mi adposita in mensa miluinam suggerant; 

Moist dishes that suggest a kite once they’re set on the table; 

209 atque actutum. ER. Licet ecastor. MEN. Nos prodimus ad forum. 

And right away. ER. By Castor, yes. MEN. We’re off to the forum. 

210 iam hic nos erimus: dum coquetur, interim potabimus.  

We’ll be back soon: while it’s cooking, we’ll drink in the meantime. 

211 ER. Quando vis veni, parata res erit. MEN. Propera modo. 

ER. Come when you want, it’ll be ready. MEN. Just hurry. 

212 sequere tu. PEN. Ego hercle vero te et servabo et te sequar, 

Follow me. PEN. By Hercules, I’ll both guard you and follow you, 

213 neque hodie ut te perdam, meream deorum divitias mihi. 

And I wouldn’t lose you today—not even for all the gods’ riches. 

214 ER. Evocate intus Culindrum mihi coquom actutum foras. 

ER. Call my cook Cylindrus out here for me right away.

I.iv 

215 sportulam cape atque argentum. eccos tris nummos habes. 

Take the basket and the money. Here—you have three coins. 

216 CYLINDRVS. Habeo. ER. Abi atque obsonium adfer; tribus vide quod sit satis: 

CYLINDRUS. Got them. ER. Go bring back provisions; see what’s enough for three: 

217 neque defiat neque supersit. CYL. Cuius modi hi homines erunt? 

Let there be neither too little nor too much. CYL. What kind of men are they? 

218 ER. Ego et Menaechmus et parasitus eius. CYL. Iam isti sunt decem; 

ER. Me, Menaechmus, and his parasite. CYL. Then that’s ten already; 

219 nam parasitus octo hominum munus facile fungitur. 

A parasite easily eats for eight. 

220 ER. Elocuta sum convivas, ceterum cura. CYL. Licet. 

ER. I’ve told you the guests—see to the rest. CYL. All right. 

221 cocta sunt, iube ire accubitum. ER. Redi cito. CYL. Iam ego hic ero. 

Once it’s cooked, tell them to recline. ER. Come back quickly. CYL. I’ll be right here.