Act III, Scene III

Enter a Maid-Servant, from the house of Erotium.

Maid. Menaechmus, Erotium says that she entreats you much, 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 to be fashioned anew. (Gives him a bracelet.)

Men. Sos. Tell her that I'll attend both to this and anything else that she shall wish, if she wishes anything else attended to.

Maid. Do you know what this bracelet is?

Men. Sos. I don't know, unless it's of gold.

Maid. This is the same one that you once said that you had secretly stolen out of the closet from your wife.

Men. Sos. By my troth, 'twas never done.

Maid. Prithee, don't you remember it?

Men. Sos. Not in the least. Maid. Give it me back then, if you don't remember it. (Tries to take it.)

Men. Sos. Stop. (Pretends to examine the bracelet.) O yes, I really do remember it; it's the same, I believe, that I presented to her.

Maid. I' faith, it is the same. Men. Sos. Where are the clasps which I gave her together with them?

Maid. You never gave her any. Men. Sos. Why, faith, I gave them together with this * * * *

Maid. Shall I say that you'll attend to it?

Men. Sos. Do say so; it shall be attended to. I'll take care that the mantle and the bracelet are brought back together.

Maid. My dear Menaechmus, do, pray, give me some earrings, the pendants to be made two didrachms in weight; that I may look on you with delight when you come to our house;

Men. Sos. Be it so. Give me the gold; I'll find the price of the workmanship.

Maid. Give it yourself, please; at a future time I'll give it you back.

Men. Sos. No, give it yourself; at a future time I'll give it you twofold.

Maid. I haven't any. Men. Sos. But when you have it, do you give it me, then.

Maid. Do you wish for aught? Men. Sos. Say that I'll attend to these things, (aside) to be sold as soon as they can, and for what they'll fetch. (The Maid-Servant goes into the house.) Has she now gone off in-doors? She's gone, and has shut the door. Surely all the Gods are favouring, amplifying, and prospering me. But why do I delay while opportunity and time are granted me to get away from these procurers' dens? Make haste, Menaechmus; pull foot and quicken your pace. I'll take off this chaplet, and throw it away on the left hand side (throws the chaplet down), that, if they follow me, they may think I've gone in that direction. I'll go and meet my servant, if I can, that he may learn from me these blessings which the Gods confer upon me.