1832.] 



The Menacchmi, of Plavtiis. 



447 





evident confusion of both, are highly comic. At length, however, the 

 whole enigma is unravelled by tlie meeting of the two Menaechmi ; 

 when by means of the valet of the Syracusan, who asks them different 

 questions about their father and mother, place of birth, age, &c., they 

 are proved to be twin-brothers. This is the denouement of the play, 

 and the whole is concluded by the servant of the Syracusan receiving 

 from his master a confirmation of that liberty which had been granted 

 him in mistake by the Epidamnian Menaechmus, who agrees to return 

 with his brother per undam Siculam to the place of their joint-nativity. 



The scene is of course laid in Epidamnum. 



The third act opens with the parasite vehemently exclaiming against 

 his patron for giving him the slip at the time he had invited him to 

 dinner, and reproaching himself for mixing in a crowd, where he was 

 so likely to be missed : he appears of course in his usual character of an 

 unmitigated cormorant. 



I have seen thirty years and more, yet never 



Played I so foolish or so vile a trick 



As I have done this day, in mixing with 



The crowd in the assembly of the people, 



Where while I stood staring about, Menaechmus 



Gave me the slip, I fancy to his mistress ; 



Nor took me with him. Gods confound the man 1 



First took it in his head to institute 



These meetings to engage the most engaged : 



'Twere better only to elect the idle, 



Who should be fined in case of non-attendance. 



There are enough who eat their meals alone, 



Who've nought to do, who nor invited are 



Nor e'er invite. These were the men to hold 



Assemblies, and attend at the Comitia. 



Had this been so, I had not lost my dinner, 



Which he'd as sure have given me, as t live. 



I'll go however hope of the very scraps 



Comforts my mind. But see, Menaechmus comes 



From dinner, with a wreath all's ta'en away, 



And I am come at a fine time indeed ! 

 In the next scene we have the interview between Menaechmus^ 

 (Sosicles,) of Syracuse, and the parasite, who takes him for his Epidam- 

 nian patron, and, making up to him, addresses him under this persua- 

 sion. Sosicles is coming out of Erotium's house, carrying the robe to- 

 the embroiderer's to be beautified. Peniculus first speaks apart, greatly 

 enraged at the dinner being finished without his valuable assistance, a 

 circumstance which he argues from the departure of his (supposed) 

 patron from the house of his mistress : 



He's carrying the robe 



To the embroiderer's and dinner's done 



The wine drank off, and the poor parasite bilked. 



By Hercules ! if I put up with this, 



And not revenge, I'm not the man I am. 



Let's first see what he'll do, and then accost him. 



Menaechmus, of Syracuse, (whom brevitatis causa we shall call Me- 

 naechmus Sosicles,) riot observing any one coming, congratulates him- 

 self on his unexampled fortune in the language both of the Epicurean 

 and the Pirate, little expecting the rencontre which he was to have with 

 the hungry parasite : 



oi 



9 no no - 

 morfw ,*i 

 rahi bsTj 

 "to a'iivr 

 sns rf bru 



.o orft 

 BOB g.d 

 1 vd bsfqo&B 

 Jjj b'^iin& &&w 





