MENAECHMI Essay Example For Students

MENAECHMI Essay A monologue from the play by Titus Maccius Plautus NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from Plautus, vol. II. Trans. Paul Nixon. London: William Heinemann, 1917. MENAECHMUS: If you werent mean, if you werent stupid, if you werent a violent virago, what you see displeases your husband would be displeasing to you, too. Now mark my words, if you act like this toward me after today, you shall hie yourself home to your father as a divorcee. Why, whenever I want to go out, you catch hold of me, call me back, cross-question me as to where Im going, what Im doing, what business I have in hand, what Im after, what Ive got, what I did when I was out. Ive married a custom-house officer, judging from the way everythingall Ive done and am doingmust be declared. Ive pampered you too much; now then, Ill state my future policy. Inasmuch as I keep you well provided with maids, food, woollen cloth, jewelry, coverlets, purple dresses, and you lack for nothing, you will look out for trouble if youre wise, and cease spying on your husband. And furthermore, that you may not watch me for nothing, Ill reward your diligence by taking a wench to dinner and inviting m yself out somewhere. Hurrah! By Jove, at last my lecture has driven her away! Where are your married gallants? Why dont they all hurry up with gifts and congratulations for my valiant fight? This mantle I just now stole from my wife inside there, and its going to a wench. This is the way to doto cheat a cunning jailer in such clever style! I have taken booty from the enemy without loss to my allies!