Menaechmi, or The Twin Brothers


Menaechmi, or The Twin Brothers
By T. Maccius Plautus
Translated by: Henry Thomas Riley
London G. Bell and Sons 1912



Perseus Documents Collection Table of Contents



Introduction
   THE SUBJECT.
   THE ACROSTIC ARGUMENT. 1
   THE PROLOGUE.


Funded by The Annenberg CPB/Project

Introduction

 

Scene argument

THE ACROSTIC ARGUMENT. 1

A SICILIAN merchant (Mercator) who had two sons, on one being stolen from him (Ei), ended his life. As a name (Nomen) for him who is at home, his paternal grandfather (Avus) gives him that of Menaechmus instead of Sosicles. And (Et) he, as soon as he is grown up, goes to seek his brother about (Circum) all countries. At last he comes to Epidamnus; hither (Huc) the one that was stoien has been carried. All think that the stranger, Menaechmus (Menaechmum), is their fellow-citizen, and address him (Eum) as such: Courtesan, wife, and father-in-law. There (Ibi) at last the brothers mutually recognize each other.