452 Specimens of Latin Comedy [APRIL, 



MEN. Sos. Why, what's the matter, woman ? 

 What is't disturbs you ? 



WIFE. Dare you, impudence ! 

 Mutter a single word, or speak to me ? 



MEN. Sos. What have I done, I should not dare to speak ? 

 WIFE. What! do you ask me ? O, consummate impudence ! 

 # # # 



You would not own but now, you stole that robe, 

 And now you hold it out before my eyes ? 

 What are you not ashamed ? 



MEN. Sos. By Hercules ! 

 You are an impudent and wicked woman, 

 To dare to say this robe was stolen from you ; 

 When it was given me by another woman, 

 To get it altered for her. 



WIFE. Yes, by Castor ! 

 I'll call my father hither, and lay open 

 All your base actions to him. Decius, go (to a servant) 

 Seek for my father, bring him with you ; say, 

 'Tis proper he should come. I'll tell him ail 

 Your horrid usage. 



MEN. Sos. Are you in your senses ? 

 What horrid usage ? 



WIFE. How you have filched from me 

 My robe, my gold, from me who are your wife, 

 And given them to your mistress say I not 

 The very truth ? 



MEN. Sos. I prithee, woman, say 

 Where I may sup, to charm me from your tongue. 

 I know not whom you take me for for you, 

 I know as much of Parthaon. 



WIFE, Dar'st thou deny 

 That thou know'st me, deny thou know'st my father? 



MEN. Sos. I'd say the same thing did'st thou bring thy grand- 

 father. 

 WIFE. By Castor ! you are like yourself in all things. 



She hastens away to bring her father to aid her in restoring her 

 husband to his right senses. Meanwhile Menaechmus Sosicles escapes, 

 and when they arrive he of Epidamnum is in the way, and his igno- 

 rance of what had passed but a few minutes before, superadded to the 

 ignorance of Sosicles respecting what had taken place between him and 

 the wife, only enhances the general bewilderment and confusion, which 

 ends in the old man trudging away for a doctor to consult him on the 

 disease under which Menaechmus is labouring but he is as unable as 

 they are to explain the mystery, or exercise to any purpose the therapeu- 

 tic art, and advises them to have him carried to his house, where he 

 would be better able to form an opinion on the matter (probably by 

 consulting his Hippocrates). This is agreed on, and accordingly in the 

 fifth scene of the fifth act, we find the old man marshalling in a phalanx 

 of servants to bear off the subject to the physician's house. Messenio, 

 however, the servant of Menaechmus of Syracuse, Sosicles, mistaking 

 him for his master, rescues him from their merciless hands. The scene 

 is very amusing. 



MEN. EPI. I'm undone. 



What is the matter ? What do these men want, 

 That they run here so fast ? What is't you want ? 

 Why do you thus surround me ? Why thus hale me ? 



