Menaechmi

Acts

• Prologue

  Prologue. Identical twins separated in childhood. One (Menaechmus I) lives in Epidamnus with a wife and a mistress. The other (Menaechmus II) has been searching for his brother for years.

  76 lines
• 1
  Act 1

  Menaechmus I steals his wife's dress to give to his mistress Erotium. He arranges a dinner party. His parasite Peniculus is invited.

  188 lines
• 2
  Act 2

  Menaechmus II arrives in Epidamnus and is immediately mistaken for his twin. Erotium invites him in for dinner and gives him gifts meant for the other brother.

  270 lines
• 3
  Act 3

  The wife confronts Menaechmus I about the stolen dress. He denies everything. Peniculus, denied dinner, betrays him. The wife locks him out.

  123 lines
• 4
  Act 4

  Menaechmus II is accosted by the wife and her father, who think he is mad. A doctor is called. He examines the wrong twin.

  205 lines
• 5
  Act 5

  The twins finally meet face to face. The confusion is resolved. Menaechmus I decides to sell everything — house, wife, and all — and leave with his brother.

  578 lines