Perde 3
[Textpart 3]
Menaechmus, Erotium says that she entreats you much,
MAID-SERVANT of Erotium.
that at the same opportunity you’ll take this to the goldsmith’s, and add to it an ounce in weight of gold, and order the bracelet Order the bracelet: Spinter or spinther is another name, derived from the Greek σφιγκτήρ, for the Latin armilla or bracelet. It received its Greek name, from its keeping in its place by compressing the arm of the wearer. Festus tells us that the bracelet called spinter was worn by the Roman ladies on the left arm, while the armilla was worn on either. to be fashioned anew. (Gives him a bracelet.)
525
MENAECHMUS SOSICLES
Tell her that I’ll attend both to this and anything else that she shall wish, if she wishes anything else attended to.
MAID-SERVANT of Erotium.
Do you know what this bracelet is?
530
MENAECHMUS SOSICLES
I don’t know, unless it’s of gold.
530
MAID-SERVANT of Erotium.
This is the same one that you once said that you had secretly stolen out of the closet from your wife.
MENAECHMUS SOSICLES
By my troth, ’twas never done.
MAID-SERVANT of Erotium.
Prithee, don’t you remember it?
MENAECHMUS SOSICLES
Not in the least.
MAID-SERVANT of Erotium.
Give it me back then, if you don’t remember it. (Tries to take it.)
MENAECHMUS SOSICLES
Stop. (Pretends to examine the bracelet.)
O yes, I really do remember it; it’s the same, I believe, that I presented to her.
535
MAID-SERVANT of Erotium.
I’ faith, it is the same.
MENAECHMUS SOSICLES
Where are the clasps which I gave her together with them?
MAID-SERVANT of Erotium.
You never gave her any.
MENAECHMUS SOSICLES
Why, faith, I gave them together with this
MAID-SERVANT of Erotium.
Shall I say that you’ll attend to it?
MENAECHMUS SOSICLES
Do say so; it shall be attended to.
I’ll take care that the mantle and the bracelet are brought back together.
MAID-SERVANT of Erotium.
My dear Menaechmus, do, pray, give me some earrings Give me some earrings: The drops of the earrings were probably to be of the weight of two didrachms. The earring was called among the Romans inauris, and by the Greeks ἐνώτιον. The Greeks also called it ἐλλόβιον, from its being inserted in the lobe of the ear. These ornaments were worn by both sexes among the Lydians, Persians, Libyans, Carthaginians, and other nations. Among the Greeks and Romans, the females alone were in the habit of wearing them. As with us, the earring consisted of a ring, and a drop, called stalagmium, the ring being generally of gold, though bronze was sometimes used by the common people. Pearls, especially those of elongated form, called elenchi, were very much valued for pendants., the pendants to be made two didrachms in weight; that I may look on you with delight when you come to our house.
