I. 1. _Sos._ ...and my name is Sosia text reads _my same is Sosia_ ] II. 1. l. 580 _Sos._: Quid est negoti? Latin text omits speaker’s name V. 2. l. 1142 haud promeruit quam ob rem vitio vorteres text reads _quam ob tem_ ] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ASINARIA THE COMEDY OF ASSES * * * * * ARGVMENTVM ARGUMENT OF THE PLAY *A*manti argento filio auxiliarier *S*ub imperio vivens volt senex uxorio. *I*taque ob asinos relatum pretium Saureae *N*umerari iussit servolo Leonidae. *A*d amicam id fertur. cedit noctem filius. *R*ivalis amens ob praereptam mulierem, *I*s rem omnem uxori per parasitum nuntiat. *A*ccurrit uxor ac virum e lustris rapit. An old gentleman, whose wife is the head of the household, desires to give his son financial support in a love affair. He therefore had some money, brought to Saurea in payment for some asses, counted out to a certain rascally servant of his own, Leonida. This money goes to the young fellow’s mistress, and he concedes his father an evening with her. A rival of his, beside himself at being deprived of the girl, sends word, by a parasite, to the old gentleman’s wife, of the whole matter. In rushes the wife and drags her husband from the house of vice. PERSONAE DRAMATIS PERSONAE LIBANVS SERVVS DEMAENETVS SENEX ARGYRIPPVS ADVLESCENS CLEARETA LENA LEONIDA SERVVS MERCATOR PHILAENIVM MERETRIX DIABOLVS ADVLESCENS PARASITVS ARTEMONA MATRONA LIBANUS, _slave of Demaenetus_. DEMAENETUS, _an old gentleman of Athens_. ARGYRIPPUS, _his son_. CLEARETA, _a procuress_. LEONIDA, _slave of Demaenetus_. A TRADER. PHILAENIUM, _a courtesan, daughter of Cleareta_. DIABOLUS, _a young gentleman of Athens_. A PARASITE. ARTEMONA, _wife of Demaenetus_. _Scene:--Athens. A street running in front of the houses of Demaenetus and Cleareta: between the houses is a narrow lane._ PROLOGVS PROLOGUE Hoc agite sultis, spectatores, nunciam, quae quidem mihi atque vobis res vertat bene gregique huic et dominis atque conductoribus. face nunciam tu, praeco, omnem auritum poplum. Kindly give us your entire attention now, spectators: I heartily hope it will result in benefit to me, also to you, and to this company and its managers, and to those that hire them. (_turning to a herald_) Herald, provide all this crowd with ears at once. (_the herald proclaims silence_) age nunc reside, cave modo ne gratiis. nunc quid processerim huc et quid mihi voluerim dicam: ut sciretis nomen huius fabulae; nam quod ad argumentum attinet, sane brevest.