Perde 1
[Textpart 2]
What are you about?
PENICULUS
Holding my good Genius in my right hand.
MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.
You couldn’t have come to me more à propos than you have come.
MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus. PENICULUS
I’m in the habit of doing so; I understand all the points of ready occasion.
140
MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.
Would you like to be witness of a brilliant exploit?
PENICULUS
What cook has cooked it? I shall know at once if he has made any mistake, when I see the remnants. When I see the remnants: He thinks that Menaechmus is alluding to something in the eating way, and says that he can tell whether the cook has done his duty well or not, by only looking at the scraps of the entertainment..
MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.
Tell me—did you ever see a picture painted on a wall, where the eagle is carrying off Ganymede Ganymede: He is mentioned in the text under another name of a gross nature. Ganymede was the son of Tros, King of Troy. Jupiter was said, in the form of an eagle, to have carried him off, and made him cupbearer to the Gods, in the place of Hebe, the Goddess of youth., or Venus Adonis?
PENICULUS
Many a time. But what are these pictures to me?
145
MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.
Come, look at me Come, look at me: Saying this, he probably takes the palla from behind him, and putting it on, stalks about with it upon him. This he could do without the risk of being seen by his wife, as on the Roman stage a number of streets and lanes were seen to terminate, up which the actor would go a little way to escape observation from a house situate just at the end of another street. He means to ask the Parasite if he does not quite equal Ganymede or Adonis, as represented in the pictures, by reason of his tasteful attire.. Do I at all bear any resemblance to them?
145
PENICULUS
What’s this garb of yours?
MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.
Pronounce me to be a very clever fellow.
PENICULUS
Where are we to feed?
MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.
Only do you say that which I requested you.
PENICULUS
Well, I do say so; very clever fellow.
MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.
And don’t you venture to add anything of your own to it?
PENICULUS
— And very pleasant fellow.
MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.
Go on.
150
PENICULUS
I’ faith, I really can’t go on, unless I know for what reason. You’ve had a fall-out with your wife; on that ground am I the more strongly on my guard On my guard: As Menaechmus has fallen out with his wife, the Parasite thinks there is no chance of a cena at his house. He is the more careful then to make enquiries, lest Menaechmus should contrive to baulk him of his banquet altogether. against you.
150
MENAECHMUS of Epidamnus.
While you are interrupting me, you are delaying yourself.
PENICULUS
Knock out my only eye My only eye: By this it appears that Peniculus has but one eye. In the Curculio, the Parasite of that name is also represented as having but one eye., Menaechmus, if I speak one word but what you bid me.
