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Enter MENECHMUS, the Travailer.

Tush, I warrant ye, it shall be done as ye would 25 wish. Ile have it so altered and trimd anew, that

it shall by no meanes be knowne againe.

Pen. He carries the cloake to the Dyars, dinner done,

the wine drunke up, the Parasite shut out of doores.
Well, let me live no longer, but Ile revenge this 30
injurious mockerie. But first Ile harken awhile
what he saith.

Men. Good goddes, who ever had such lucke as I?
Such cheare, such a dinner, such kinde entertain-

ment? And for a farewell, this cloake which I 35
mean shall go with me.

Pen. He speakes so softly, I cannot heare what he saith. I am sure he is now flowting at me for the losse of my dinner.

Men. She tels me how I gave it her, and stole it from 40 my wife. When I perceived she was in an error,

tho I knew not how, I began to sooth her, and to

say every thing as she said.
well, and that a free cost.

Pen. Wel, I'le go talke with him.

Meane while, I far'd

Men. Who is this same that comes to me?
Pen. O, well met fickle-braine, false and treacherous

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dealer, craftie and unjust promise-breaker. How
have I deserved, you should so give me the slip,
come before, and dispatch the dinner, deale so badly 50
with him that hath reverenst ye like a sonne?

Men. Good fellow what meanest thou by these speeches ?
Raile not on mee, unlesse thou intendst to receive
a Railers hire.

Pen. I have received the injury (sure I am) alreadie.

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Men. Prethee tell me, what is thy name?

Pen. Well, well mock on Sir, mock on; doo ye not

know my name?

Men. In troth I never sawe thee in all my life, much

lesse do I know thee.

Pen. Fie, awake, Menechmus, awake; ye oversleepe

your selfe.

Men. I am awake, I know what I say.

Pen. Know you not Peniculus ?

Men. Peniculus or Pediculus, I know thee not.

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Pen. Did ye filch a cloake from your wife this morning, and bring it hither to Erotium?

Men. Neither have I wife, neither gave I my cloake

to Erotium, neither filcht I any from any bodie. Per. Will ye denie that which you did in my 70 company?

Men. Wilt thou say I have done this in thy company?
Pen. Will I say it? yea I will stand to it.

Men. Away filthie mad drivell away; I will talke no
longer with thee.

75 Pen. Not a world of men shall staie me, but Ile go tell his wife of all the whole matter, sith he is at this point with me. I will make this same as unblest a dinner as ever he eate.

Men. It makes mee wonder, to see how every one that 80 meets me cavils thus with me.

foorth the mayd now?

Wherefore comes

Enter ANCILLA, EROTIUM'S mayd.

Menechmus my mistresse commends her hartily to you, and seeing you goe that way to the Dyars, she also desireth you to take this chaine with you, and 85 put it to mending at the Goldsmythes, she would

have two or three ounces of gold more in it, and

the fashion amended.

Men. Either this or any thing else within my power,

tell her, I am readie to acomplish.

Anc. Do ye know this chaine, Sir?

Men. Yea I know it to be gold.

Anc. This is the same you once tooke out of your

wives Casket.

Men. Who, did I?

Anc. Have you forgotten?

Men. I never did it.

Anc. Give it me againe then.

Men. Tarry: yes I remember it: 'tis it I gave your

mistres.

Anc. O, are ye advised?

Men. Where are the bracelets that I gave her likewise?
Anc. I never knew of anie.

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Men. Faith, when I gave this, I gave them too.
Anc. Well Sir, Ile tell her this shall be done?
Men. I, I, tell her so, she shall have the cloake and
this both togither.

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Anc. I pray, Menechmus put a litle jewell for my eare to making for me, ye know I am alwaies readie to pleasure you.

Men. I will, give me the golde, Ile paie for the worke

manship.

Anc. Laie out for me, ile paie it ye againe.

Men. Alas I have none now.

Anc. When you have, will ye?

Men. I will. Goe bid your mistresse make no doubt of these. I warrant her, Ile make the best hand I can of them. Is she gone? Doo not all the Gods conspire to loade mee with good lucke? well I see

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tis high time to get mee out of these coasts, least 120
all these matters should be lewd devises to draw
me into some snare. There shall my garland lie,
because if they seeke me, they may thinke I am
gone that way. *I wil now goe see if I can finde
my man Messenio, that I may tell him how I have 125
sped.

ACT 4.

Enter MULIER, the wife of MENECHMUS the Citizen,
and PENICULUS.

Mul. Thinkes he I will be made such a sot, and to be
still his drudge, while he prowles and purloynes all
that I have, to give his Trulles ?
Pen. Nay hold your peace, wee'll catch him in the
nicke. This way he came, in his garland forsooth,
bearing the cloake to the Dyars. And see I pray,
where the garland lyes; this way he is gone. See,
see, where he comes againe without the cloake.

Mul. What shall I do now?

Pen. What? that which ye ever do; bayt him for life.
Mul. Surely I think it best so.

Pen. Stay, wee will stand aside a little; ye shall catch
him unawares.

Enter MENECHMUS the Citizen.

Men. It would make a man at his wittes end, to see

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ΙΟ

how brabbling causes are handled yonder at the 15
Court. If a poore man never so honest, have a
matter come to be scan'd there is he outfaste, and
overlaide with countenance: if a rich man never
so vile a wretch, 'comes to speake, there they are

all readie to favour his cause. What with facing 20
out bad causes for the oppressors, and patronizing
some just actions for the wronged, the Lawyers
they pocket up all the gaines. For mine owne
part, I come not away emptie, though I have bene
kept long against my will: for taking in hand to 25
dispatch a matter this morning for one of my
acquaintaunce, I was no sooner entered into it, but
his adversaries laide so hard unto his charge, and
brought such matter against him, that do what I
could, I could not winde my selfe out til now. I 30
am sore afrayd Erotium thinks much unkindnes in
me that I staid so long; yet she will not be angry
considering the gift I gave her to day.

Pen. How thinke ye by that ?

Mul. I thinke him a most vile wretch thus to abuse 35

me.

Men. I will hie me thither.

Mul. Yea go pilferer, goe with shame inough; no bodie

sees your lewd dealings and vile theevery.

Men. How now wife, what ail yee? what is the matter? 40 Mul. Aske yee mee whats the matter? Fye uppon

thee.

Pen. Are you not in a fit of an ague, your pulses beate

so sore? to him, I say.

Men. Pray wife why are ye so angry with me?

Mul. Oh, you know not?

Pen. He knows, but he would dissemble it.

Men. What is it?

Mul. My cloake.

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Men. Your cloake!

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Mul. My cloake, man; why do ye blush?

Pen. He cannot cloake his blushing. Nay I might not

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