Plautus's comedies ... made English, with critical remarks upon each play.

Scene the Tenth.

Pag. 125. l. 1. Here's a rare Rogue then, one who has gain'd his Freedom by his Cunning.] Hic is homo est, qui libertatem malitia invenit sua.] Here, perhaps, it may be thought, that Vice appears triumphant. I grant it wou'd upon our Stage if this were acted; but the Ro∣mans were of another Opinion in these Cases, and they took a peculiar pleasure in seeing a witty Slave cheat a covetous old Fellow, and the Ingenuity of the Action was often thought sufficient amends for the Knavery of it.

I shall conclude all with this Remark upon the whole: That the Acts cou'd never have been more naturally di∣vided. The First, contains the Arrival of Stratippocles, and the opening of the Subject; the second, Epidicus's

Knaveries; the third, his success in his Knaveries; the fourth, the discovery of 'em; and the fifth, the know∣ledge of Thelestis, and his recovery from the danger of 'em. And in the management of all this, not one Actor appears upon the Stage without a necessary Pre∣text of Business there.