The Comedies of Terence: Literally Translated into English Prose, with NotesTerence
General
The Comedies of Terence: Literally Translated into English Prose, with Notes
Terence
Latin drama (Comedy) -- Translations into English; Terence -- Translations into English
[Footnote 56: _But should you like_)--Ver. 725. Donatus observes
that Phidippus utters these words with an air of disinclination to
be present at the conference; and, indeed, the characters are well
sustained, as it would not become him coolly to discourse with a
courtesan, whom he supposes to have alienated Pamphilus from his
daughter, although he might very properly advise it, as being
likely to conduce to the peace of both families.]
[Footnote 57: _Kept Pamphilus at a distance_)--Ver. 752. Colman
observes, how are we to reconcile this with the words of Parmeno
at the beginning of the Play, where he says that Pamphilus visited
Bacchis daily; and he inquires whether we are to suppose that
Bacchis, who behaves so candidly in every other instance, wantonly
perjures herself in this, or that the Poet, by a strange
infatuation attending him in this Play, contradicts himself? To
this it may be answered, that as Bacchis appears to be so
scrupulous in other instances, it is credible that,
notwithstanding his visits, she may not have allowed him to share
her embraces.]
[Footnote 58: _Other courtesans avoid doing_)--Ver. 777. Colman
has the following quotation from Donatus: “Terence, by his
uncommon art, has attempted many innovations with great success.
In this Comedy, he introduces, contrary to received prejudices,
a good step-mother and an honest courtesan; but at the same time
he so carefully assigns their motives of action, that by him alone
every thing seems reconcilable to truth and nature; for this is
just the opposite of what he mentions in another place, as the
common privilege of all Poets, ‘to paint good matrons and wicked
courtesans.’” Perhaps the same good feeling prompted Terence, in
showing that a mother-in-law and a courtesan could be capable of
acting with good and disinterested feelings, which caused
Cumberland to write his Play of “The Jew,” to combat the popular
prejudice against that persecuted class, by showing, in the
character of Sheva, that a Jew might possibly be a virtuous man.]
[Footnote 59: _Have been unjustly suspected_)--Ver. 778. The words
here employed are also capable of meaning, if an active sense is
given to “suspectas,” “our wives have entertained wrong
suspicions;” but the sense above given seems preferable, as being
the meaning of the passage.]
[Footnote 60: _Run with all speed_)--Ver. 809. Donatus remarks,
that Parmeno is drawn as being of a lazy and inquisitive
character; and that Terence, therefore, humorously contrives to
keep him always on the move, and in total ignorance of what is
going on.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account