From this place the villa of Cocceius, situated above the Caudian inns, which abounds with plenty, receives us. Now, my muse, I beg of you briefly to relate the engagement between the buffoon Sarmentus and Messius Cicirrus; and from what ancestry descended each began the contest. The illustrious race of Messius- Oscan: Sarmentus 's mistress is still alive. Sprung from such families as these, they came to the combat. First, Sarmentus:" I pronounce thee to have the look of a mad horse. "We laugh; and Messius himself[ says]," I accept your challenge:" and wags his head. " O!" cries he," if the horn were not cut off your forehead, what would you not do; since, maimed as you are, you bully at such a rate?" For a foul scar has disgraced the left part of Messius 's bristly forehead. Cutting many jokes upon his Campanian disease, and upon his face, he desired him to exhibit Polyphemus 's dance: that he had no occasion for a mask, or the tragic buskins. Cicirrus[ retorted] largely to these: he asked, whether he had consecrated his chain to the household gods according to his vow; though he was a scribe,[ he told him] his mistress 's property in him was not the less. Lastly, he asked, how he ever came to run away; such a lank meager fellow, for whom a pound of corn[ a- day] would be ample. We were so diverted, that we continued that supper to an unusual length. 