Publius Terentius Afer (Terence), Hecyra, ed. Edward St. John Parry, prologue.pr1

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PROLOGUS

Hecyra est huic nomen fabulae: haec cum data
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Nova est novum intervenit vitium et calamitas,

Ut neque spectari neque cognosci potuerit.

Ita populus studio stupidus in funambulo

Animum occuparat. Nunc haec plane est pro nova;
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Et is qui scripsit hanc ob eam rem noluit

Iterum referre ut iterum posset vendere.

Alias cognostis eius: quaeso hanc nunc noscite.

Hecyra. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). ed. Edward St. John Parry. London. 1857.

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Current edition Perseus

Hecyra (Terence. Publii Terentii Comoediae Sex. Parry, Edward St. John, editor. London: Whittaker and Co.; George Bell, 1857.)

Translations (1)

Hecyra; The Mother-in-Law Perseus (Terence. The Comedies of Terence. Riley, Henry Thomas; Colman, George, translators. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1872.) — prologue.pr1 focus

1 (THE FIRST PROLOGUE.)

Prologue

HECYRA¹ is the name of this Play; when it was represented for the first time, an unusual disaster and calamity² interrupted it, so that it could not be witnessed throughout or estimated; so much had the populace, carried away with admiration, devoted their attention to some rope-dancing. It is now offered as though entirely a new Play;
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and he who wrote it did not wish to bring it forward then a second time, on purpose that he might be able again to sell it.³ Other Plays of his⁴ you have seen represented; I beg you now to give your attention to this.

9 (THE SECOND PROLOGUE.)⁵

Prologue

I COME to you as an envoy from the Poet, in the character of prologue-speaker;

allow me to be a successful pleader, that in my old age I may enjoy the same privilege that I enjoyed when a younger man, when I caused new Plays, that had been once rejected, to come into favor; so that his writings might not die with the Poet. Among them, as to those of Caecilius,⁶ which I first studied when new;
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in some of which I was rejected; in some I kept my ground with difficulty. As I knew that the fortune of the stage was varying, where the hopes were uncertain, I submitted to certain toil. Those I zealously attempted to perform, that from the same writer I might learn new ones, and not discourage him from his pursuits.
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I caused them to be represented. When seen, they pleased. Thus did I restore the Poet to his place, who was now almost weaned, through the malevolence of his adversaries, from his pursuits and labors, and from the dramatic art. But if I had at that period slighted the writer,
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and had wished to use my endeavors in discouraging him, so that he might live a life of idleness rather than of study, I might have easily discouraged him from writing others. Now, for my sake, hear with unbiased minds what it is I ask.
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I again bring before you the Hecyra, which I have never been allowed to act before you in silence; such misfortunes have so overwhelmed it. These misfortunes your intelligence will allay, if it is a seconder of our exertions. The first time, when I began to act this Play, the vauntings of boxers,⁷ the expectation of a rope-dancer,⁸ added to which,

the throng of followers, the noise, the clamor of the women, caused me to retire from your presence before the time. In this new Play, I attempted to follow the old custom of mine,⁹ of making a fresh trial; I brought it on again. In the first Act I pleased; when in the mean time a rumor spread
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that gladiators were about to be exhibited; the populace flock together, make a tumult, clamor aloud, and fight for their places:¹⁰ meantime, I was unable to maintain my place. Now there is no confusion: there is attention and silence—an opportunity of acting my Play has been granted me; to yourselves is given
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the power of gracing the scenic festival.¹¹ Do not permit, through your agency, the dramatic art to sink into the hands of a few; let your authority prove a seconder and assistant to my own. If I have never covetously set a price upon my skill,
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and have come to this conclusion, that it is the greatest gain in the highest possible degree to contribute to your entertainment; allow me to obtain this of you, that him who has intrusted his labors to my protection, and himself to your integrity,—that him, I say, the malicious may not maliciously deride, beset by them on every side.
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For my sake, admit of this plea, and attend in silence, that he may be encouraged to write other Plays, and that it may be for my advantage to study new ones hereafter, purchased at my own expense.¹²
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Publius Terentius Afer (Terence) Hecyra prologue.pr1

ed. Edward St. John Parry

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