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have I; nor never was in this place till this
instant; for only thus farre am I come, since your Peniculus, your Parasite?

Erotium. Will ye staic any longer for

I brake my fast in the ship.

Menechmus. Not I, Ile neither staie for him, nor have him let come in, if he do

Erotium. What ship do ye tell me off?
Messenio. Marry Ile tell ye: an old rot-come.

ten weather-beaten ship, that we have sailed Erotium. All the better. But Sir, will up and downe in these sixe yeares. Ist not ye doo one thing for me?

time to be going homewards thinke ye?

Menechmus. What is that?

Erotium. Come, come, Menechmus, I Erotium. To beare that cloake which you pray leave this sporting and go in.

Menechmus. Well Gentlewoman, the truth is, you mistake my person; it is some other you looke for.

gave me to the Diars, to have it new trimd and altred.

Menechmus. Yea that will be well, 80 my wife shall not know it. Let mee have it Erotium. Why, thinke ye I know ye not to with mee after dinner. I will but speake a be Menechmus, the sonne of Moschus, and have word or two with this fellowe, then Ile follow heard ye say, ye were borne at Siracusis where ye in. Ho, Messenio, come aside. Goe and Agathocles did raigne; then Pythia, then Li- provide for thyselfe and these ship boyes in paro, and now Hiero.

Menechmus. All this is true.

Messenio. Either shee is a witch, or else shee hath dwelt there and knew ye there. Menechmus. Ile go in with her, Messenio, Ile see further of this matter.

some inne; then looke that after dinner you come hither for me.

Messenio. Ah maister, will yee be conycatcht thus wilfully?

Menechmus. Peace foolish knave, seest thou not what a sot she is; I shall coozen her I warrant thee.

Messenio. Ay Maister.

Menechmus. Wilt thou be gone?

Messenio. See, see, she hath him safe

Messenio. Ye are cast away then. Menechmus. Why so? I warrant thee, I can lose nothing; something I shall gaine, perhaps a good lodging during my abode here. Ile dissemble with her an other while, Nowe inough now. Thus he hath escaped a hundreth when you please let us go in. I made straunge Pyrates hands at sea; and now one landrover with you, because of this fellow here, least he should hath bourded him at first encounter. Come tell my wife of the cloake which I gave you. away fellowes.

Der Schluss des Plautinischen Stücks, von der Scene an, die in der Comedy of Errors der Fesselung des für wahnsinnig geltenden Antipholus durch Pinch und seine Gefährten entspricht (A. 4, Sc. 4) bis zur Aufhellung und Lösung aller Wirren, lautet so:

Menechmus. What newes? how now

Enter Senex, with foure Lorarii, Porters. masters? what will ye do with me? why do Senex. Before Gods and men, I charge ye thus beset me? whither carrie ye me? Helpe, and commaund you Sirs, to execute with great helpe, neighbors, friends, citizens! care that which I appoint you: if yee love the Messenio. O Jupiter, what do I see? my safetie of your owne ribbes and shoulders, then maister abused by a companie of varlets. goe take me up my sonne in lawe, laie all Menechmus. Is there no good man will hands upon him: why stand ye stil? what do helpe me?

ye doubt? I saie, care not for his threatnings, Messenio. Helpe ye maister? yes the vilnor for anie of his words. Take him up, and laines shall have my life before they shall thus bring him to the Physitians house: I will go wrong ye. Tis more fit I should be kild, then thither before. you thus handled. Pull out that rascals eye [Exit. that holds ye about the necke there. Ile clout

these peasants; out ye rogue,

varlet.

let go ye me out of their doores. This fellow saith he is my bondman, and of me he begs his freeMenechmus. I have hold of this villaines eie. dome: he will fetch my purse and monie. Messenio. Pull it out, and let the place Well, if he bring it, I will receive it, and set appear in his head. Away ye cutthroat thee-him free. I would he would so go his way. ves, ye murtherers.

Lo. Omnes. 0, 0, ay.

My old father in lawe and the Doctor, saie I am mad: who ever sawe such strange demeanors. Messenio. Away, get ye hence, ye mon- Well though Erotium be never so angrie, yet grels, ye dogs. Will ye be gone? Thou ras-once againe Ile go see if by intreatie I can eal behind there, Ile give thee somewhat more, get the cloake on her to carrie to my wife. take that. It was time to come maister; you had bene in good case, if I had not bene heere now. I tolde you what would come of it. Menechmus. Now as the Gods love me, my good friend I thank thee: thou hast done that for me which I shall never be able to requite.

Messenio. I'le tell ye how Sir; give me my freedome.

Menechmus. Should I give it thee? Messenio. Seeing you cannot requite my good turne.

Menechmus. Thou art deceived, man.
Messenio. Wherein?

Menechmus. On mine honestie, I am none of thy maister; I had never yet anie servant would do so much for me.

[Exit. Enter Menechmus the Traveller, and Messenio.

Menechmus. Impudent knave, wilt thou that I ever saw thee since I sent thee away to day, and bad thee come for mee after dinner ?

Messenio. Ye make me starke mad: I tooke ye away, and reskued ye from foure great bigboand villaines, that were carrying ye away even heere in this place. Heere they had ye up; you cried Helpe, helpe. I came running to you: you and I togither beate them away by maine force. Then for my good turne and faithfull service, ye gave me my freedome: I tolde ye I would go fetch your casket: now in the meane time you ranne

Messenio. Why then bid me be free: some other way to get before me, and so you will you?

Menechmus. Yea surelie: be free, for

my part.

Messenio. O sweetly spoken; thanks my good maister.

denie it all againe.

Menechmus. I gave thee thy freedome?
Messenio. You did.

Menechmus. When I give thee thy freedome, Ile be a bondman my selfe; go thy

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Menechmus. Nay, nay, it shall not need. till your hearts ake, and your eyes fall out, Messenio. Ile go strait to the Inne, and ye shall never make me beleeve that I carried deliver up my accounts, and all your stuffe. hence either cloake or chaine.

Your purse is lockt up safely sealed in the Messenio. O heavens, maister, what do casket, as you gave it mee. I will goe fetch I see?

it to you.

Menech mus. Do, fetch it.

Messenio. I will.

Menechmus Tra. What?

Messenio. Your ghoast.

Menechmus Tra. What ghoast?

Menechmus. I was never thus perplext. Messenio. Your image, as like you as Some deny me to be him that I am, and shut can be possible.

Menechmus Tra. Surely not much unlike me, as I thinke.

Messenio. This same is either some notable cousening jugler, or else it is your brother whom Menechmus Cit. O my good friend and we seeke. I never sawe one man so like an helper, well met: thanks for thy late good helpe. Messenio. Sir, may I crave to know your

name?

Menechmus Cit. I were too blame if I should not tell thee anie thing; my name is Menechmus.

other: water to water, nor milke to milke, is not liker than he is to you.

Menechmus Tra. Indeed I thinke thou saiest true. Finde it that he is my brother, and I here promise thee thy freedom. Messenio. Well, let me about it. Heare

Menechmus Tra. Nay my friend, that ye Sir; you say your name is Menechmus.

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and was proffering my service to him. Pray say, if I find that ye are brethren and pardon me Sir, if I said any thing I should not. twins?

Menechmus Tra. Why doating patch, Menechmus Cit. I would thinke it happie didst thou not come with me this morning from newes.

the ship?

Messenio. Nay staie maisters both: I Messenio. My faith he saies true. This meane to have the honor of this exploit. Answere is my maister, you may go looke ye a man. mee: your name is Menechmus? God save ye maister: you Sir, farewell. This

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Menechmus Cit. Even Menechmus, the sonne of Moschus.

Menechmus Tra. My father's sonne? Menechmus Cit. Friend, I go about neither to take your father nor your country from you.

Messenio.

O immortal Gods, let it fall out as I hope; and for my life these two Twinnes, all things agree so jump together. I will speake to my maister. Menechmus. Both. What wilt thou?

Menechmus Cit. Yea.

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Menechmus Cit. How I went with my father to Tarentum, to a great mart, and there in the preasse I was stolne from him. Menechmus Tra. O Jupiter! Messenio. Peace, what exclaiming is this? How old were ye then?

Menechmus Cit. About seven yeare old: for even then I shedde teeth, and since that

Messenio. I call you not both: but which time I never heard of anie of my kindred.

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Menechmus Cit. Nay, (as I think) they Menechmus Cit. Indeed she tooke ye for called my brother, Sosicles.

Menechmus Tra. It is he, what need further proofe? O brother, brother, let me embrace thee!

mee: and I believe I have bene as straungely
handled by occasion of your comming.
Messenio. You shall have time inough to
laugh at all these matters hereafter.
Do ye

Menechmus Cit. Sir, if this be true, I remember maister, what ye promised me?
am wonderfully glad: but how is it that ye
are called Menechmus?

Menechmus Tra. When it was tolde us that you and our father were both dead, our Groundsire (in memorie of my father's name) chaungde mine to Menechmus.

Menechmus Cit. 'Tis verie like he would do so indeed. But let me aske ye one question more: what was our mother's name?

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Menechmus Cit. Brother, I will intreate you to performe your promise to Messenio: he is worthie of it.

Menechmus Tra. I am content.
Messenio. Io Tryumphe.

Menechmus Tra. Brother, will ye now go with me to Syracusis?

Menechmus Cit. So soone as I can sell away such goods as I possesse here in Epidamnum, I will go with you.

Menechmus Tra. Thanks, my good brother.
Menechmus Cit. Messenio, playe thou
the Crier for me, and make a proclamation.
Messenio. A fit office. Come on. O yes'
What day shall your sale be?

Menechmus Cit. This day sennight.
Messenio. All men, women and children

had ye in to dinner, thinking it had bene he. in Epidamnum, or elsewhere, that will repaire Menechmus Cit. True it is I willed a to Menechmus house this day sennight, shall dinner to be provided for me heere this morning; there finde all maner of things to sell; servaunts, and I also brought hither closely, a cloake of household stuffe, house, ground and all; so my wives, and gave it to this woman. they bring readie money. Will ye sell your wife too Sir?

Menechmus Tra. Is not this the same,

brother?

Menechmus Cit. Yea, but I think no bodie will bid money for her.

Menechmus Cit. How came you by this? Menechmus Tra. This woman met me; Messenio. Thus, Gentlemen, we take our had me in to dinner; enterteined me most leaves, and if we have pleasde, we require a kindly; and gave me this cloake, and this chaine. Plaudite.

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