THE PROLOGUE.

PROLOGUS

Attend now, Spectators, if you please, forthwith to this, and may this matter turn out fortunately for me and for yourselves, and for this company, and for our employers¹, and for our managers². Now, crier, do you at once make all the people give attentive ear.
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Come, be seated now, only be careful that ’tis not for nought. Now I will tell you why I have come forward here, and what my intention is, that you may know the name of this play. For, so far as relates to the plot, it really is a short one. Now I will tell you what I said I was wishful to inform you upon.
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The name of this play in Greek is Onagos³— Demophilus⁴ composed it—Marcus⁵Plautus turned it into Latin. He wishes it to be called Asinaria⁶ if by your leaves it may be so. In this play there is both pleasantry and fun. ’Tis a droll story; kindly lend me your attention;
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may Mars, too, as, full oft at other times he has done, so give you now his aid.
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Asinaria. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1912.

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Current edition Perseus

Asinaria, or The Ass-Dealer (English) (Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 1. Riley, Henry Thomas, translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1912.)

Editions (1)

Asinaria Perseus (Plautus. Plauti Comoediae, Volume 1. Leo, Friedrich, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1895.) — prologue.pr focus

PROLOGVS

PROLOGVS

Hoc agite sultis, spectatores, nunciam,
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quae quidem mihi atque vobis res vertat bene

gregique huíc et dominis atque conductoribus.

face nunciam tu, praeco, omnem auritum poplum.

age nunc reside, cave modo ne gratiis.
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nunc quid processerim huc et quid mihi voluerim

dicam: ut sciretis nomen huius fabulae;

nam quod ad argumentum attinet, sane brevest.

nunc quod me dixi velle vobis dicere,

dicam: húic nomen graece Onagost fabulae;
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Demophilus scripsit, Maccus vortit barbare;

Asinariam volt esse, si per vos licet.

inest lepos ludusque in hac comoedia,

ridicula res est. date benigne operam mihi,

ut vos, ut alias, pariter nunc Mars adiuvet.
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Notes on the current edition

Asinaria, or The Ass-Dealer

1. For our employers: By dominis he probably means the Aediles by whom the actors were engaged for the public entertainment.

2. And for our managers: The conductores were probably the leaders or managers of the company, who made the contract with the Aediles.

3. Is Onagos: Onagos. The Greek name for an ass-driver.

4. Demophilus: No particulars are known of Demophilus the Comic Writer. Some would suggest Diphilus as the reading here: he is mentioned in the Adelphi of Terence, and was a Comic Poet, contemporary with Menander.

5. Marcus: Marcus is the word used here. It is supposed to be a corruption of, or an abbreviation for, Maccius or M. Accius, whichever was the praenomen of the poet.

6. Asinaria: Asinaria seems to be the nominative feminine singular or neuter plural of the adjective asinarius, of or relating to asses.

Plautus Asinaria prologue.pr

Henry Thomas Riley (Translator)

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THE PROLOGUE.

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PROLOGVS

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