] 832.] The Menaechmi, of Plautus. 451 



MEN. EPI. What is all this about ? 

 WIFE. Since you have lost all shame and won't confess 

 The thing yourself, hearken to me, and hear it ; 

 I'll tell you what has made me out of humour, 

 And every thing he has discovered to me. 

 They have done well for me, they've stolen my robe. 

 MEN. EPI. Done well for you by stealing of your robe ! 

 PEN. Observe his subterfuge : 'twas stolen for her 



(meaning Erotium.) 



And not for you : Had it been stolen for you, 

 It had been safe. 



MEN. EPI. I've nought to do with you. 

 But what say you ? (to his Wife.) 



WIFE. I say, I've lost from home 

 A robe. 



MEN. EPI. Who took it? 



WIFE. He, who stole it, knows. 

 MEN. EPI. And who is he ? 



W T IFE. One who is called Menaechmus. 

 MEN. EPI. Spitefully done ! And who is this Menaechmus 

 WIFE. Yourself, I say. 



MEN. EPI. What! I? 



WIFE. Yes, you. 

 MEN. EPI, Who said so? 



WIFE. Myself. 



PEN. And I ; and that you had carried it 

 Off to your mistress, to Erotium. 



MEN. EPI. I ? 

 I gave it her ? 



PEN. You, you, I say. Shall I 

 Go fetch an owl to hoot it in your ears, 

 You, you ? for we are both quite tired. 



MEN. EPI. By Jove and all the gods, I swear, my dear, 

 I never gave it her : will that content you ? 



PEN. And I, I swear by Hercules ! that we 

 Say nought but truth. 



MEN. EPI. I did not give it her, 

 I only lent it. 



WIFE. Troth, I never lend 



Your coat, nor cloak abroad. 'Tis right for women 

 To lend out women's garments ; men, their own. 

 Won't you return my robe ? 



MEN. EPI. The robe I'll see 

 Shall be returned. . 



Menaechmus then goes to Erotium's house, in order to get the robe to 

 return to his wife, but the reception he met with was anything but what 

 he expected. Erotium had given the robe already to Menaechmus of 

 Syracuse, taking him for her lover ; and when he comes again as she 

 imagines to re-demand it, she suspects some collusion in the matter, and 

 upbraids him most unsparingly for his double-faced conduct ; and goes 

 out (exit} in a rage. 



In the next scene we have Menaechmus (Sosicles) coming in with 

 the robe from the embroiderer's, and immediately accosted by the wife 

 of Menaechmus (of Epidamnum), who imagines he is her husband, with 

 whom she had just held such quarrelsome discourse. 



WIFE. I'll go, and talk to him as he deserves. 

 Art not ashamed, vile man, to appear before me, 

 And with this robe ? 



2 H 2 



