Scene the First.

Pag. 193. l. 13, 14. But my jealous prying Wife watches me on all sides, for fear I shou'd be too sweet upon 'em.] This seems to have been spoken with no other design than Demones's complaining of his Wife; but in reality, it is an Ingenious Preparation of the Poet's, for Demones to have a good Pretext for bringing out the two young Women in the fourth Scene of the Act, when there was a necessity for their coming upon the Stage. This is a neat cast of our Poet's Skill.

Page  241 Ibid. l. 15. What's become of our Man Gripus, who went out a Fishing last Night.] This is a Preparation for Gripus's appearing in the next Scene. Methinks his com∣ing might have look'd somewhat more natural if De∣mones had dropp'd these Words somewhere in the last Act, perhaps in the finishing of the Ninth Scene when he left the Stage, and not so immediately before his Appearance; but then there wou'd not have been such a plain Pretext for Demones's appearing this Time, for the looking for Gripus, may be suppos'd to be one Rea∣son of his coming on the Stage.

Scene the Second.

Pa. 194. l. 15, &c. Now I, who am careful, have happen'd o' that, which, if I please, will keep me from all Care.] Nam ego nunc mihi, qui impiger fui, repperi, ut piger, si velim, siem. There seems a peculiar happiness in the Latin Tongue for these sort of Turns, of which both Plautus and Terence have many elegant ones. If my Translations in these Places, will teach the Air of the Original but in a tolerable degree, it is as much as I can hope for.

Ibid. l. 27, 28. I'll have a Royal Sun for Pleasure, like the K—of F—] Post animi causa mihi navem fa∣ciam, atque imitabor Stratonicum. This Stratonicus was Treasurer to Philip of Macedon, so rich as he became a Proverb among the Grecians, as Crassus among the Romans. If any one blame me for taking too much li∣berty; after owning it is the most I have taken through∣out my Translation, I must say, I cou'd not make it so intelligible to an English Reader without this, or some∣thing like it.

Pag. 195. l. 6. 7. After all, this Monarch here, must dine to Day with a Brown George, and only Salt and Vinea∣ger-Sawce.] This was the most ordinary Diet of the Page  242 Slaves in those Days, therefore wittily enough re∣mark'd by Gripus.

Scene the Third.

Ibid. l. 10. Only t' unshackle your Rope, that hangs at your Heels.] Dum hanc tibi, quam trahis, rudentem com∣plico. This Cable gives Name to the whole Play, be∣cause upon this, depends the discovery of Palestra; but by the same Reason the Poet might as well have call'd the Play's Name, Portmantle, Casket, &c.

Pag. 197. l. 3. No Man pretending to take 'em away.] Nec Manu asseruntur. The Phrase, Asserere manu, pro∣perly signifies giving Freedom to a Slave, which thing Gripus comically applies to Fishes, and immediately af∣ter, says, Vendo pro meis venalibus; for Slaves were call'd Venales. These are not easily preserv'd in our Tongue.

Pag. 199. l. ult. Will ye put the Bus'ness to the Man of this House?] Trachalio had all the reason that cou'd be, to get the bus'ness referr'd to Demones, he being the only Man he knew thereabouts; and Gripus had as much reason to allow of that Person, since he was forc'd to admit of a Reference, because he was his own Master: These two things ought to be observ'd. Now Tracha∣lio's Design was only to assist the poor Girl, whose In∣terests he had most justly espous'd; but the Poet's De∣sign was greater, to wit, Palestra's discovery, which cou'd not so easily be foreseen by the Spectators. This is one great piece of Art in Dramatick Poetry.

Scene the Fourth.

Perhaps some may think that there is too much Tri∣fling in this Scene, and that Gripus makes too many De∣lays; Page  243 but this is so far from being faulty, that it is an extraordinary piece of Art, which covers, and con∣ceals the Poet's Designs, and makes the Discovery seem still more unaffected and accidental; and nothing can be more probable than Gripus's unwillingness of parting with so rich a Prize.

Pag. 205. l. 22. So;—There then;—now 'tis open.] Bene: Hoc habet: soluta 'st. Gripus, taking much Pains, opens the Portmantle, then cries, Hoc ha∣bet, the grace of which consists in its being the Gladi∣ator's Phrase, and therefore is not to be preserved in our Tongue.

Pag. 206. l. 16. First, tell me your Father's Name] Here comes the main Discovery; and this, as well as that in Epidicus, is attended with both the Admirable, and Probable; the Amirable, in the great Surprize on all sides, in finding a Daughter, after so many Years mis∣sing of her; and the Probable, in adjusting of all Cir∣cumstances so as to fall out necessarily. The Probability appears more clearly by the Audiences knowing that Demones had lost a Daughter, and that Palestra wanted Parents.

Ibid. l. antepenult. And a little Sow.] Et sucula. The Word, Sucula, signifies both a Sow, and the Barrel of any Engine to draw up great Weights; and by reason of this double signification, Gripus makes answer, Quin tu i dierecta, cum sucula, & cum porculis, that is, Go and be hang'd, with your Sow and Pigs together. I cou'd not preserve this, without I had call'd it a Ram, which sig∣nifies an Engine as well as a Beast, but then I must have wanted a fit Word for Porculis.

Scene the Seventh.

Pag. 210. l. 1. A duce on him, for his Wells and Wa∣ters.] Hercules istum infeliciter cum sua licentia. Demones, Page  244 says this, because of the Word Licet, Trachalio had so often repeated just before, of which, Well, was a true Translation; upon which account, I was forc'd to translate Licentia, Wells and Waters, rather as an imita∣tion of what Plautus wou'd have said in this Case, sup∣posing him an Englishman, than what he really did as he was a Roman.

Scene the Ninth.

Pag. 211. l. ult. But I'll in to the Sacrifice, and there give order for the Supper.] Here ends the fourth Act, which is contrary to all the common Books, who make it end a Scene after; a thing very usual in most of our Author's Plays.