Ioannis Palsgraui Londoniensis, ecphrasis Anglica in comoediam Acolasti The comedye of Acolastus translated into oure englysshe tongue, after suche maner as chylderne are taught in the grammer schole, fyrst worde for worde, as the latyne lyeth, and afterwarde accordynge to the sence and meanyng of the latin sentences ... with admonitions set forth in the margyn ... and afore the second sceane of the fyrst acte, is a brefe introductory to haue some general knowledge of the duyers sortes of meters vsed of our auctour in this comedy. And afore Acolastus balade is shewed of what kyndes of meters his balade is made of. And afore the syxte sceane of the fourthe acte, is a monition of the rhetorycall composytion vsed in that sceane ... Interpreted by Iohn Palsgraue.

❧ THE PROLOGVE. I. THE * 1.1 FORESPEKYNGE, THAT IS TO SAY, THE declarynge of the auctours mynde, before he enter into his matter, to opteyne the good wyll of his audience, or of suche as shall rede his boke. This prologue is made, Ex uersu iambico Senario, that is to say, of syxe fete, ac∣countyng. ii. syllables, to make a foote. i. of. xii. syllables, and sometyme mo.

IBESECHE YOV IN∣stantlye, or I praye you for Goddis * 1.2 sake, O you beste men. i. ryghte wor∣shypfull maysters, or most honorable persones, let no meruayle take you. i. * 1.3 take you (it for) no meruayle, that you se here newe titles, that is to say, newe or vnaccusto∣med * 1.4 names of places and men (other. s. than Plau∣tus and Terence vse in their cōmedies.) In this sce∣ny * 1.5 she apparaylynge. i. the settyng forth or trymming of our scenes, that is to saye, (our places appoynted for our players to come forthe of) whyche shewe vs shortly to gyue a newe fable. i. whiche declare, that we shall forthwith playe (before you) some newe matter or commedie. It is not hydde or vnknowen vnto me,. i. I am not ignorant, by how moche hatred the name of noueltie laboureth. i. howe moche the name of no∣ueltie or newfanglynes is behated. But in very dede here of these newe teachynges. i. newely decreed doc∣trines, not my or mu truely. s. (dare I make). i. I dare not do so moche as put my hande to my mouthe, and

saye mum, is counseyle. Nor we shall not wytsafe any * 1.6 Paradoxes in noo place. i. we shall not wytsafe (to speake or make mention of, or to bestowe or set in any place of oure matter) any thynges, that be aboue or beyonde the common oppynyon of men: the matter which shal openly be treated of is knowen to al men but it is here strayted by comycall meters. i. drawen togither by suche kyndes of meters as be mete for co∣medies, & that thou do not, not knowe. i. and to the in∣tent * 1.7 that thou be not ignorant. The gospell reherseth the lyfe of the prodigal son. i. of the wastful spendyng * 1.8 chylde by a knowen parable, that is to say, by a kno∣wen comparison or resemblance, that same by goddis leaue, or in dede as it were, shall we nowe expresse by playenge gesture. i. that same wyll we nowe sette out before you (with {per}sonages) in our play, vnder whose wrappyng in, thou hast a mysterie. i. vnder whose co∣uert or darke meanyng, thou haste a secrete sence or hydde intent. But I here whysperynges amongest you, I wote not what, of a newe shamelesnesse, and * 1.9 of the chowghes: surely, I am not shameles, for that or for bicause that I haue thought it leful for all men to meddyll with, or to be in hande with the crafte of musike, whose palme (that is to say, the price worne in tokē of opteyned victorie.) for y^• palme tree. i. the date * 1.10 tree hath this propertie, y^• being throwen into the wa¦ter or otherwise stressed, the more weight is layd vpō it, the more it ryseth hygher or resisteth, yea Terence bearyng wytnes, is set forth in the myddes. i. set forth * 1.11 free for all men (catche who catche maye) it can not, not be to prayse. i. it can not be but prayse worthy, that our yonge rude souldiours. i. our newe begynners in

lernynge, wolde shewe some proffe of their vertue. i. * 1.12 towardnes (in good letters) though it be but in sport, that they may hereafter be the bolder in ernest wise to rounne agaynst. i. to mete hande to hande with theyr * 1.13 ennemyes (that shall hereafter chalenge theym in matters of lernyng) farthermore I wyll not that any mā shuld think, that we wold pecke out the choughes or crowes eyes. i. that we wolde by our newe inuen∣tions put ancient men out of conceyte, or wolde seme to see farther in a myll stone, than excellent auctours haue done before vs, for bycause that we wold hunt,. * 1.14 i. as the hunter seeketh for his game, seeke to wynne vnto vs good fauour of you. i. wolde seke to attayne your good fauour by an action. i. by meane of the set∣tynge forthe of a matter mete to be playd, being new∣ly * 1.15 begonne at home at our howse. The approued fa∣bles. i. comedies of Plautus and also of Terence, be∣inge as it were at ones or togyther throwen downe * 1.16 from the brydge. i. as who saith, that we wold for our new inuentions dryue she comedies of Plautus and Terence frome the hyghe deasse, downe behynde the skryne, or cast them out at the cartes ars (as thinges which now wax vnprofytable, by reson of theyr great ancientie) or dyscharge them from bearyng any ma∣ner offyce any longer, for this adage toke his begyn∣ning, * 1.17 for bicause that the youth of the Romayns vsed to cast old men down from the brydge, whā they wold * 1.18 haue theym lese theyr voyces. Thou zoilus. i. thou Philyp fynde faute, whiche (takest vppon the to cor∣rect Magnificat) thou shalt nothing or right naught * 1.19 amoue vs eyther with thy (tauntynge) toothe. i. with thy sclanderous tonge, or with thyn enuy. for why, he

that wyll not let the prayse of Terence and Plautus * 1.20 stand styl vntouched or vnremoued, or to be out of all question, as the beste poetes (. s. that euer were in the latyn tongue) surely he is worthy or deserueth repro∣ches or reprouynges of all menne. But we come not with this poesy. i. fayned matter of ours, whyche is * 1.21 yet hotte for newe cōmyng from the bellowes. i. whi∣che commeth strayght hyssyng hotte or pypyng hotte * 1.22 from the forge, to take any mans glory. i. renoume or good estimation from hym. We our selfe being glory lesse. i. without gloryous fame or renome (. s. bycause of our pore or meane hauiour) only our flocke. i. com¦pany of players goth here aboutes, to case your gret lothynges. i. wamblynges about your stomakes. i. te∣dyousnes, * 1.23 whiche you haue moche taken. i. greatlye had or conceyued of these commedies, whyche some men styred. i. allured or prouoked vnto, with a lumpe or cantell of breade to playe vnto you. i. before you more often than lerned lyke, promisyng to them selfes * 1.24 therfore Palmarium that is to say, a signe or token wor∣thy for suche as opteyne vyctory (. s. in some great en∣terpryse). i. thynkyng in their owne conceytes, or ma∣kyng them selfes sure in theyr own myndes, y^• they be worthy to haue the best game, or thynkyng. s. to them¦selfes, that bycause they haue hopped beste, that they be moste worthy to haue the rynge. for so moche or for bycause that they haue sodden ones or twyse. s. (in yl * 1.25 sosse) good cōmedies. i. that they haue marryd good commedies with their ones or twyse yll settyng forth of them, by whiche their so doing, they clawe of their * 1.26 owne skabbe. i. their newe gathered scurfe, therby ma¦kynge their skynne rawe agayne, or therby fleinge of

their skynne, that began to gather. i. they bewraye or playnly set forth to mens eyes theyr owne ignorance, no lesse in yll vtteryng of them by leude or barbarous pronuntiation, than by mysse settynge of them forthe (. s. to the shewe of the people.) There is one, I wote * 1.27 not who, that fretteth inwardly. i. that chaffeth in the gylles, or that smoketh (. s. at this geare) howe thou,. i. harke. s. hyther, thou felowe) why burne thy lygh∣tes. i. why glore thyn eyes. s. in thy heade? Why wag∣gest * 1.28 thou thy heed, as though thou were very angry? propt haue men touched thy byle to the. i. haue men * 1.29 rubbed the on the galde backe, or haue men hytte the vpon the thombes (that. s. thou begynnest to wynche or to startle on this faciō) I beleue (. s. that it is so) for bycause thou seemest to threatten ylle. i. for bycause thou threatnest to doo somme men a shrewde tourne. But lo here to the this myddel nayle. i. the naile of my * 1.30 myddell fynger, in token. s. that I despyse the, and do shewe the, howe lytel I do set by the. i. lo here is a pot for the, the whiche at these dayes we make to a person * 1.31 by puttyng of our myddell fynger into our mouthe, & poynte with the same fynger to hym, whan we haue * 1.32 done.) For we care or go about onely to please good men, they wyll neuer tourne to vyce. i. they wyll ne∣uer fynde faute at the thynge, whiche they shall fele. i. perceyue to be done for study of them. i. for good wyll towardes them, or for the good wyl that menne beare * 1.33 towardes them, if it be not in euery condycion doone sufficiently inough, yet for all that done with a dili∣gēce. That resteth behynd. i. for the rest or residue (. s. of this our prologue,) O thou most worshypfull be∣holder, lette it not be greuous. i. displeasant vnto the

to fauour letters. i. to beare thy good mynd to lerning * 1.34 by thy sylence, whyle our company is busye or occu∣pied aboute our playe, whiche they take in hande, or enterprise, to the intent that they may cōmende theyr labour to the. i. that theyr labour may be the more cō∣mendable vnto the, that if in the meane whyle our co∣medy shall please the. i. shal be acceptable or agreable vnto the, calle to thy mynde. i. remember (that we de∣maund no more of the) but that thou gyue a dewe re∣ioysynge, accordynge to oure deseruynges. i. but that thou shewe the to be well apayde (with oure doinges by some outwarde synge) as by clappyng of thy han∣des togyther, or by makynge of som gladsome shout, for our prologue. i. for our forespeakynge (to prepare your myndes to perceiue our matter here e••sewinge, this is suffycient or inough. The Periocha. i. the ar∣gumente hathe so. i. the somme of our matter is suche as foloweth.

ORGVMENTVM COMOEDIAE.

DVO•• quum haberet filios pater, abdicat 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 patre acceptā substantiā, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 perditissimis 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nebulonibus, mox aleā, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 luxū, foedē rem prodigit. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hinc eo calamitatis incidit, Vt rebus exutus, siliquis & glandibus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 eximeret, cum pertaesum inediae Esset, paternam regreditur supplex domum. Pater reducem sibi gratulatur filium. Amplectitur, sub haec epulatum prouocat.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Graeca uox. Prologus {qui}d the forespea∣kynge.
• * 1.2

  Phrasis. Optimi uirl.
• * 1.3

  Figura. Hypallage.
• * 1.4

  Titulus qui••
• * 1.5

  Apparatus ••caenic{us} quid. Graeca uox. Scaena & scê∣na, a bowthe or a tent. Phrasis. Fabulā dare. Phrasis. Haud me la∣tet. Phrasis. Laborare o∣dio, quāto o∣dio uocabu∣lum noui la∣boret. Adagium. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my quid•• 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.6

  Phrasis. Dignari ali∣qd aliq^• loco. Paradoxum bevōd the cō∣mon opiniō.
• * 1.7

  〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.8

  〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnlike 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ges togider. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.9

  〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.10

  〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 pro∣〈…〉〈…〉tas.
• * 1.11

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ Phras••••. Pon〈…〉〈…〉 in medio. Ph••as••s. Laudi nō po¦••est nō esse.
• * 1.12

  Phrasis. Virtutis ede re specimen. Vel eleg.
• * 1.13

  Phrasis. Concurrere hoftibus. Adagium. Cornicū o∣culos confi∣gere.
• * 1.14

  Phrasis. Venari bonā gratiam ab a liquo.
• * 1.15

  Enallage. Recens pro¦recenter.
• * 1.16

  Adagium. S••xag••nari∣os de ponte¦deii ••••re.
• * 1.17

  Ritus Ro•• manorum.
• * 1.18

  Adagi••. Zoili.
• * 1.19

  Adagiū Dente theo∣nino rodi.
• * 1.20

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Velle a••r nol¦le alicui lau∣des suas stare
• * 1.21

  Adagiū. A follibus e∣••••anū calore.
• * 1.22

  Phrasis. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 suam 〈◊〉〈◊〉 g••o 〈…〉〈…〉mus.
• * 1.23

  〈…〉〈…〉sis. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nause∣〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.24

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈…〉〈…〉 sibi 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.25

  〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 se 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.26

  Adagium. Suam scabiē affricant illi.
• * 1.27

  Phrasis. Ringitur ib•• nescio quis.
• * 1.28

  Antiptosis. Quasi iratū.
• * 1.29

  Adagium. Hulcus ta••¦gere.
• * 1.30

  Adag. Medin̄ digi•••••• ostendere.
• * 1.31

  Nostri 〈◊〉〈◊〉 consu••tudo.
• * 1.32

  Phrasis. Nun{quam} uitio uertent. Phrasis. Aliquid fier▪ studio alteri▪
• * 1.33

  Elegan. Per omnia. Elegan. Sedulo tamē Phrasis. Quod restat.
• * 1.34

  〈1 line〉〈1 line〉