Publius Terentius Afer (Terence) Eunuchus 2.2

Henry Thomas Riley (Translator), George Colman (Translator)

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Eunuchus. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). Henry Thomas Riley (Translator), George Colman (Translator). Ney York. 1874.

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Current edition Perseus

Eunuchus; or, The Eunuch (English) (Terence. The Comedies of Terence. Riley, Henry Thomas; Colman, George, translators. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1872.)

Editions (1)
Eunuchus Perseus (Terence. Publii Terentii Comoediae Sex. Parry, Edward St. John, editor. London: Whittaker and Co.; George Bell, 1857.) — 2.2 focus

Notes on the current edition

Eunuchus; or, The Eunuch

1. Nor submit to blows: It has been remarked in the Notes to the Translation of Plautus that the Parasites had, in consequence of their state of dependence, to endure blows and indignities from their fellow-guests. Their attempts to be ridiculi or drolls were made in order to give some small return to their entertainers. See especially the character of Gelasimus in the Stichus of Plautus, and the words of Ergasilus in the Captivi, 1. 88, 90. Diderot, as: quoted by Colman, observes:
This is the only Scene in Terence which I remember that can be charged with being superfluous. Thraso has made a present to Thais of a young girl. Gnatho is to convey her. Going along with her, he amuses himself with giving the Spectators a most agreeable eulogium on his profession. But was that the time for it? Let Gnatho pay due attention on the stage to the young woman whom he is charged with, and let him say what he will to himself, I consent to it.
2. Fishmongers: Cetarii; strictly speaking, dealers in large fish.
3. Cooks: The coqui were in the habit of standing in the market-place for hire by those who required their services. See the Pseudolus, the Aulularia, and the Mercator of Plautus, and the Notes to Bohn’s Translation. See also a remark on the knavish character of the sausage-makers in the Truculentus of Plautus, 1. 110.
4. Become my follower: Sectari. In allusion to the manners of the ancient Philosophers, who were wont to be followed by a crowd of their disciples, who were styled sectatores and sectae. Gnatho intends to found a new school of Parasites, who shall be called the Gnathonics, and who, by their artful adulation, shall contrive to be caressed instead of being maltreated. Artotrogus, the Parasite in the Miles Gloriosus of Plautus, seems, however, to have forestalled Gnatho as the founder of this new school.
5. I’m standing: Quid agitur? Statur. The same joke occurs in the Pseudolus of Plautus, l. 457.
Quid agitur? Statur hic ad hunc modum?
 What is going on? or What are you about? About standing here in this fashion; assuming an attitude. Colman observes that there is much the same kind of conceit in the Merry Wives of Windsor.
FALSTAFF.
My honest lads, I will tell you what I am about.
PISTOL.
Two yards or more.
 Cooke has the following note:
Quid agitur is to be supposed to have a single meaning as spoken by Gnatho, but Parmeno archly renders it ambiguous by his answer. Our two first English translations, that by Bernard and that by Hoole, make nothing of it, nor indeed any other part of their author. Echard follows Madame Dacier, and perceives a joke; but he does not render quid agitur as the question ought to be translated. Quid agitur sometimes means, What are you doing? Sometimes, How do you do? How are you? or How goes the world with you?
6. From the Piraeus. The Piraeus was the chief harbor of Athens , at the mouth of the Cephisus, about three miles from the City. It was joined to the town by two walls, one of which was built by Themistocles, and the other by Pericles. It was the duty of the Athenian youth to watch here in turn by way of precaution against surprise by pirates or the enemy.