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PROLOGUS.

HECYRA est huic nomen fabulÆ; hæc cum data est
Nova, novum intervenit vitium et calamitas,
Ut neque spectari, neque cognosci, potuerit;
Ita populus studio stupidus in funambulo

5 Animum occuparat. nunc hæc plane est pro nova :
Et is, qui scripsit hanc, ob eam rem noluit
Iterum referre, ut iterum possit vendere.
Alias cognostis ejus; quæso, hanc noscite.

THIS prologue of eight lines was delivered, as appears in the sequel, on the occasion of the second attempt to gain a hearing for the play; the first attempt having, from the caprice of the populace, proved utterly unsuccessful. This second attempt succeeded so far as that attention was given to the first Act; and it was not till the third attempt, on the occasion of which the alter prologus was pronounced, that the entire piece was heard out.

1. IAMBIC TRIMETERS.-Hecyra] ¶ This is one of the plays which were not borrowed from Menander; it is supposed that the basis of the Hecyra is due to Apollodorus. Hecyra] He opens this with giving the name, that it may have the recommendation, ipsâ facie, of being new. D. data est] i. e. acta est. Cic. Tusc. Quæst. i. 1. "Livius fabulam dedit." R. D.

2. Nova, novum] So Hom. Od. w. 40. Κεῖτο μέγας μεγαλωστὶ λελασμένος ἱπποσυνάων. D. intervenit] Interrupted its success. See And, iv. 3. 17. and Heaut. ii. 3.40. vitium] i. e. impedimentum. Metaphor from augury; for augurs applied the term vitium, if there had been thunder or hail, or if any portend had been observed, sufficient to cause the dissolution of the comitia. Hence magistrates vitio creati, elected under bad omens, who were obliged to resign their office. R. D. ¶ On calamitas, see Heaut. ii. 3. 14.

3. spectari,-cognosci,] These were, repectively, the vitium and the calamitas, D. Spectari is to be understood, as the sequel shows, for prospectari, to be viewed even to

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the end. R. D. cognosci,] ¶ See And. prol. 24.

4. Ita] See And. i. 2. 2. studio stupidus] i. e. studio spectandi et admiratione stupens. R. D. So timidus for timens; Virg. Ecl. vi. 20. "timidisque supervenit Egle." D. in funambulo―occupárat.] ¶ A similar construction occurs, And. v. 1. 10. "Homini adolescentulo in alio occupato amore."

5. occupárat,] ¶ Had engaged their mind so as to exclude from it every thing else as an object of attention. This is the proper force of the verb. pro nova :] ¶ Though not actually new (nova), as having appeared before; yet new to all intents and purposes (pro nova), as not having been heard.

6. ob eam rem] T" For that very reason," "on that consideration." scil, that it can now appear "pro novâ." noluit] ¶ Scil. at the time; when it was rejected, and place given to the funambulist.

7. Iterum referre,] To bring it back on the stage, when the rope dancers should have withdrawn; as D. seems to explain. ut iterum possit vendere] That he might by its consequently (i. e. because he would not then iterum referre) appearing pro nová, be able to demand at some ensuing games a price for it again. The first iterum in this line is not otherwise necessary than to give better force to the second. Posset, where we might rather expect possit, may be accounted for by considering that the action implied in possit is now in performance, "that he might, as he now is, be able," &c. See Heaut. v. 2. 30. 8. Alias cognóstis] Of the Andrian, his

ALTER PROLOGUS.

ORATOR ad vos venio ornatu prologi:
Sinite exorator ut sim, eodem ut jure uti senem
Liceat, quo jure sum usus adolescentior,
Novas qui exactas feci ut inveterascerent,
5 Ne cum poeta scriptura evanesceret.

In his, quas primum Cæcili didici novas,

first, he speaks in another strain: "Ut pernoscatis ecquid spei sit relliquum: Posthac quas faciet de integro comœdias," &c. R.D. noscite,] ¶ The action noscendi precedes cognoscendi; we must know a thing, before we can judge of it. Thus he again impresses on his hearers the novelty of this play, in as much as they have yet to become acquainted with it.

L. Ambivius Turpio in this prologue, or rather defence, pleads in behalf of the Hecyra, which had failed of a favourable hearing, twice, under his auspices. He adduces an example in the plays of one Cæcilius, which he, in his youth, had attempted to bring forward; but in which, severally, he had either been entirely baffled, or had procured but a partial hearing. He goes on to say, that, notwithstanding this discomfiture, rather than allow Cæcilius' ardour to be damped, and his talent retarded, he resolved to strain every nerve, and risk the exhibition once more. His exertions, he states, were so far crowned with success, as to draw admiration to the pieces, and fame to the post. Thence he argues that he has

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1. IAMBIC TRIMETERS.

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Orator] See Heaut. prol. 11. ornatu prologi;] In the dress, character, of a prologue-speaker. Similarly, Heaut. prol. 11. "Oratorem esse voluit me, non prologum."-i. e. when he ought, strictly, to deliver the prefatory introduction, technically called a prologus, he comes forward as an orator, a pleader. - Prologus (*gros óyos) was divided according to Evanthius into four species, called by the Greeks:-1. voTarixós, commendatitius, in which the poet or the piece was commended;

2. vapoginós (or iπitiμntınós) relativus, in which retorts were made to an adversary, or thanks returned to the people;-3. úπoletinós (or, dauarixos) argumentativus, containing the argument of the play ;—4. μıxrós, mixtus, containing a combination of the foregoing three. The prologue to the Andrian, then, is of the second kind; for he complains that he is obliged "to write prologues," quí malevoli Veteris poetæ maledictis respondeat. The prologue of the Heautontimoreumenos is, from 1. to 10, vπoberinós, from 10. to end it is, as there stated, not properly a prologus at all; though that part certainly partakes of the ZurTarixos and ȧvagoginós to a degree. This prelude to the Hecyra wears no feature whatever of the prologue.

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2. exorator] T This word means a person that is successful in a thing quod orat. Heaut. prol. 11. note. uti senem] ¶ ut liceat me, qui jam senex sum, uti (frui) eodem jure. eodem-jure uti] i. e. eandem conditionem habere. Jus is often conditio, status. R. D. He requests that, by pleading, he may meet with the same justice (the same decision-the same sentence) at their tribunal now, as he had done in the case of Cæcilius' plays; may obtain justice in favour of his client's cause. The jus to which he alludes,as having obtained it then, and as seeking a similar to it now;-is explained lines 4, 5.

4. Novas exactas] ¶ New plays which had been expelled from the stage; had not as yet obtained a hearing. For "nova-exacte feci ut inveterascerent." On this idiom see Heaut. i. 1. 32. inveterascerent,] ¶ That they might become veteres, and be novæ no longer, becoming, as it were, old and well known acquaintances with the people. The antithesis here is, I think, one of our author's best.

5. Ne cum poeta] T In order that the thing written might not, as it were, accompany the poet to oblivion and the grave; that it might survive him. Or, if you prefer,-lest it might, along with the poet, perish into obscurity, be taken no notice of

6. In his.] "In these plays," of which

Partim sum earum exactus, partim vix steti.
Quia sciebam dubiam fortunam esse scenicam,
Spe incerta, certum mihi laborem sustuli:
10 Easdem agere cœpi, ut ab eodem alias discerem
Novas, studiose; ne illum ab studio abducerem.
Perfeci ut spectarentur. ubi sunt cognitæ,
Placita sunt. ita poetam restitui in locum,
Prope jam remotum injuria adversarium
15 Ab studio, atque ab labore, atque arte musica.
Quod si scripturam sprevissem in præsentia,
Et in deterrendo voluissem operam sumere,
Ut in otio esset, potius quam in negotio;
Deterruissem facile, ne alias scriberet.

I have begun to speak, "which (I allude to those of Cæcilius) at first I learned, when they were as yet new." didici] ¶ See Heaut. prol. 10.

7. Partim earum] ¶ i. e. Quoad partem earum. See Heaut. v. 1. 55. exactus,] From ex and ago; literally, driven off the stage; as line 4. steti.] Actors or plays are said stare when they please, and are approved by, the spectators. Phorm. prol. 9. "Olim cum stetit nova." On the other hand, they are said cadere, when they fail. Hor. Ep. ii. 1. 176. "Securus cadat an recto stet fabula talo." R. D. Stood my ground; was not driven off;-the contrary of exactus, a person not able to maintain his footing.

8. sciebam] From this knowledge he inferred that the failure was not the fault of the poet, but of casualty. D. dubiam fortunam]

Horace might well say, Ep. ii. 1. 177. "Quem tulit ad scenam ventoso Gloria curru." The gale of fortune here is as capricious, as the people, the governors of it, were giddy (arbitrio popularis aura). There is alliteration of a in this line; See Heaut. prol. 41.

9. Spe incerta,] For spei incerta, or shall we understand in? D. T The ablative absolute. "Where hope was uncertain." incerta, certum] ¶ Antithesis and paronomasia; compare, 10. Easdem-eodem; 11. studiose-studio; 18. otio-negotio; 23, 24. vestra-nostra. 29. Vetere-nova; 36. mihi datum est: vobis datur; tempus potestas; 46. inique iniqui; 47. causa causam. These figures, when judiciously employed, have a powerful effect on a multitude; and were, in ancient days, a chief recommendation to dramatic pieces.

11. studiosé; ne illum] ¶ See the argument to this prologue; illum means Cæcilius.

13. Placita sunt:] See And. iv, 1. 21. ita] T Thus, in this way. Or, to such a degree.

14. jam] By repeated failures. injuriá] ¶ Until I obtained jus (3) for him. adversariúm] He speaks as if Cæcilius' unfavourable reception was due to some few personal enemies. But this is merely to avoid giving offence to the present audience, as the people were really the cause, who would, in this, be convicted of fickle caprice.

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15. atque atque] T Marking the emphasis; to draw attention to the losses which this poet would have sustained, had not his perseverance saved him; for thus Ambivius has more abundant excuse for persevering now in the Hecyra. studio,] ¶ Not, "pursuit,' for then labore, would not have so much point, as is evidently marked by atque. Translate, therefore, "enthusiasm, zeal" for contest and competition. So, Virg. Georg. iii. 498. "studiorum atque immemor herbæ." Ov. Amor. iii. 268. "Cui studeás video: vincet cuicunque favebis." Thus, the poet would be discouraged (ab studio);—his labour lost (ab labore);—and the drama (arte musicá) would lose a votary who might prove an acquisition.

16. in præsentia,] ¶ Under these circumstances then being present. See Heaut. v. 2.9. 17. operam sumere] We find, Operam sumere in aliquo, dare alicui ad aliquod, præstare alicui ad aliquid, navare alicui.

18. negotio ;] ¶ From ne (or, perhaps, sine) and otium. See on 9.

19. Deterruissem] ¶ Scil. potest esse ut det. "I might easily have frightened Cæcilius from writing others,"-by allowing the same blank prospect to stand before him.

20 Nunc quid petam, mea causa æquo animo attendite,
Hecyram ad vos refero, quam mihi per silentium
Nunquam agere licitum est, ita eam oppressit calamitas.
Eam calamitatem vestra intelligentia

Sedabit, si erit adjutrix nostræ industriæ.
25 Quum primum eam agere cœpi, pugilum gloria,
(Funambuli eodem accessit exspectatio,)
Comitum conventus, strepitus, clamor mulierum
Fecere, ut ante tempus exirem foras.

Vetere, in nova, cœpi uti consuetudine,
refero denuo.

30 In experiendo ut essem:

Primo actu placeo: quum interea rumor venit,
Datum iri gladiatores, populus convolat:
Tumultuantur, clamant, pugnant de loco.

Ego interea meum non potui tutari locum.
35 Nunc turba nulla est: otium, et silentium, est.
Agendi tempus mihi datum est: vobis datur

20. aquo animo] ¶ Compare Heaut. prol. 27. and 35.

21. per silentium] ¶ See Heaut. prol. 36. "with the advantage of a calm."

22. ita] ¶ See 13. oppressit] ¶ Quashed it, overwhelmed it; like the hurricane; from which a metaphor is probably intended here; observe Sedabit.

25. Quum primùm] ¶ See argument to first prologue. pugilum gloria,] Periphrasis, for pugiles gloriosi. Virg. Æn. v. 368. "vastis cum viribus effert Ora Dares, magnoque virûm se murmure tollit." The loud boasting of boxers.

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27. Comitum] As I know not, how this can mean either the favourers of the pugilists, or servants attendant on their masters; perhaps we might read comité, from comitium. B. strepitus,] Al. studium, with the meaning which I attach to studio. 15. From this passage it is inferred that on that occasion the Hecyra was introduced in an amphitheatre.

29. Vetere] ¶ I began to resort to my old custom, scil. trying again and again, as in the case of Cæcilius. in nova] ¶ Scil. consuetudine, implied; in this new custom of expelling a play written by Terence; a thing unprecedented. This is otherwise explained,

in nová fabulá; not well. cœpi] ¶ Compare its similar position in line 10. where he speaks of a similar, though different, circum

stance.

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30. In experiendo ut essem.] i. e. ut experirer. "Esse in aliquâ re means "in aliquâ re versari." R. D. T So ibi esse, in Heaut. v. 2. 30. and ib. iii. 1. 63. refero denuo;] ¶re and denuo, redundancy, to mark his perseverance. Refero, placeo, venit, &c. are instances of the præsens historicum; see Heaut. v. 2. 30.

32. Datum iri] ¶ This form is consistent with the præsens historicum, pervading this forcible and eloquent sentence; for, otherwise it should be dandas esse, as expressing that a thing, at a time past, was about to take place. gladiatores:] T First exhibited by M. and D. Brutus at funeral games in honour of their father, in the consulate of Claudius and Fulvius. We are told that sometimes even women fought with the sword in the empire. There existed a college of these men at Rome, as early, at least, as 177. A. D. They were forbidden by Constantine; and after him by Honorius.

34. meum locum.] T There is a drollery in the juxta position of loco and locum, as referring to his own place (i. e. the stage), and the place (i. e. seats), for which the people were fighting;-how could he retain that concerning which a whole multitude was at war?

36. datum est:] By the ædiles. D.

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