Kitap 2
23
Now, not to mention the charm of subject matter and diction, which is by no means the same in the two books, I notice this general fact—that some of Menander's lines, brilliant, apt and witty, Caecilius has not attempted to reproduce, even where lie might have done so; but he has passed them by as if they were of no value, and has dragged in some other farcical stuff; and what Menander took from actual life, simple, realistic and delightful, this for some reason or other Caecilius has missed. For example, that same old husband, talking with another old man, a neighbour of his, and cursing the arrogance of his rich wife, says: Fr. 403, Kock; p. 428, L. C. L. I have to wife an heiress ogress, man! I did not tell you that? What, really? no? She is the mistress of my house and lands, Of all that's hereabout. And in return I have by Zeus! the hardest of hard things. She scolds not only me, but her son too, Her daughter most of all.—You tell a thing There's no contending with.—I know it well. But in this passage Caecilius chose rather to play the buffoon than to be appropriate and suitable to the character that he was representing. For this is the way he spoiled the passage: vv. 158 ff., Ribbeck3. But tell me, sir; is your wife captious, pray?— How can you ask?—But in what manner, then?— I am ashamed to tell. When I come home And sit beside her, she with fasting That is, nauseous. breath Straight kisses me.—There's no mistake in that. She'd have you spew up what you've drunk abroad.
