Publii Terentii Carthaginiensis Afris poëtae lepidissimi comoediae sex Anglo-Latinae in usum ludi-discipulorum, quo Feliciùs venustatem linguae Latinae ad sermonem quotidianum exercendum assequantur / a Carolo Hoole ... = Six comedies of that excellent poet Publius Terentius, an African of Carthage, in English and Latine : for the use of young scholars, that they may the more readily attain the purity of the Latine tongue for common discourse / by Charles Hoole ...

The Prologue.

HEcyra is the name of this Comedie; when this was first Acted, a strange fault and miserie befell it. The people being whollie intent upon a rope dancer, Had so busied their minde, that it could neither be looked at, nor taken notice on. [line 5] Now this is altogether quite new; And he that writ this was not therefore unwilling To shew it again, that he might sell it again. You have known other Comedies of his; now I pray you approve this. I come as an humble suiter to you in a Prologues weed▪ [line 10] Let me obtain my request: that I may retain the same priviledge Being old, which priviledge I had being younger, Who have caused new Comedies that were hissed off the stage, to come in∣to request again, Lest Poetry together with the Poet should decay. In those Comedies of Caecilius which I first learned new, [line 15] In some of them I was driven out, in some of them I had much adoe to please. And because I knew that Players fortune on the stage was dubious, I undertook to my self a certain labour in an uncertain hope; I began to act the same, that I might diligentlie learn of him Other new ones, left I should cause him to forsake his st••die. [line 20] I brought it about, that they were seen. When they were taken notice on. They pleased; thus I restored the Poet to his former state, Who was now almost discouraged by the injurie of his adversaries, From studie and pains, and the Art of Po••trie. But if I had slighted his writing at present, and [line 25] Would have taken pains to discourage him, That he might rather sit still and do nothing, then imploy himself, I could easilie have discouraged him, from writing any other. Now for my sake consider equitably what I request. I bring you Hecyra again, which I could never act [line 30] In silence, misfortune did so overbear it. Your wisedom will mitigate that misfortune, If it shall be aiding to our industrie.

When I first began to act it, a shew of them that went to fistie cuffs, And the looking upon a rope-dancer befel at the same place: [line 35] The croud of them that followed, the noise and out cryes of women, Caused that I went forth before the time. I began to use my old custom in a new Comedie, That I might make tr••••l, I bring it in again; In the first Act I pleased you, when in the mean time a report comes, [line 40] That sword-players should be shewed, the people slock together, They make a hurlie burlie, they cry out, and sight for their places; In the mean time I could not keep my place. Now there is no stir, all is quisht and silent. I have now time granted me to Act, you have a power [line 4] 4••. Given you to grace enterludes. Do not suffer Poetrie through your default, To come to the use of few; see that your authoritie May be favourable and assisting to my authoritie. If I never greedilie set a price of my Art, [line 50] And perswaded my self that that was my greatest gain, To serve your profit, as much as may be: Suffer me to prevail, that naughtie men may not laugh at him, Being wickedly circumvented, who hath committed his labours To my defence, and himself to your protection. [line 55] For my sake take upon you to defend this cause, and keep silence, That others may have pleasure to write, and it may be profitable for m•• To learn new Comedies hereafter, bought at my own price.

Prologus.

HEcyra est nomen huic fabulae: haec cum data est Nova, novum intervenit vitium & calamitas, Ut neque spectari, neque cognosci potuerit; Ita populus studio stupidus in funam∣bulo [line 5] Animum occupârat; nunc haec planè est pernova: Et is qui scripsit hanc ob eam rem noluit Iterum referre, ut iterum possit vendere. Alias cognostis ejus, quaeso ••••••c hanc noscite. Orator ad vos venio ornatu prologi; [line 10] Sinete exorator sim, eodem ut jure uti senem Liceat, quo jure sum usus adolescentior, Novas qui exactas feci ut inveterasce∣rent, Ne cum Poeta scriptura evanesceret: In his quas primù•• Caecilii didici novas, [line 15] Pa••tim sum earum exactus, par••im vix steti; Quia sciebam dubiam esse fortunam scenicam, Spe incertâ certum mi••i laborem sustuli; Easdem agere caepi, ut ab eodem alias discerem Novas studiose, ne illum ab studio abducerem, [line 20] Perfeci, ut spectarentur; ubi sunt cognitae, Placitae sunt, ita Poetam restitui in locum, Propè jam remotum injuriâ adve••sariûm Ab studio, atque à labore, atque ar••e musi••â. Quod si scripturam sprevissem in praesentiâ, & [line 25] In deterrendo voluissem operam sumere, Ut in otio esse••, potiùs quàm in negotio: Deterruissem faci••è, ne alias scriberet. Nunc quid petam, meâ causâ, aequo animo attendite, Hecyram ad vos refero, quam mihi per silentium [line 30] Nunquam agere licitum est, ita eam oppressit calamitas; Eam calamitatem vestra intelligentia Sedabit, si erit adjutrix nostrae industriae.

Cùm primùm eam agere caepi, pugilum gloria, Funambuli eodem accessit spectatio; [line 35] Comitum conventus, strepitus, clamor mulierum, Fe••êre ut ante tempus exirem fo••âs; Vetere in novâ caepi uti consuetudine, In experiundo ut essem, refe••o denuo; Primo actu placeo, cùm interea ru••••or venit, [line 40] Datum iri gladiarores, populus convolat; Tumultuantur, clamant pugnant de loco: Ego interea meum ••on potui tutari locum. Nunc turba nulla est, otium & silentium est, Agendi tempus mihi datum est; vobis datur [line 45] Potestas condecorandi ludo•• scenicos. Nolite sinere per vos artem Musicam Recidere ad paucos; facite ut vestra autoritas Meae autoritati sautrix adjutrixque sit. Si nunquam avarè statui pretium arti meae, [line 50] Et cum esse quaestum in animum induxi maxumum, Quàm maxumè servire vestris commodis; Sinite impetrare me, qui in tutelem meam Studium suum, & se in vestram commisit fidem, Ne eum circumventum iniquè iniqui irrideant. [line 55] Meá causâ ca〈…〉〈…〉ccipite, & date silentium, Ut lubeat scribere aliis, mihique ut discere Novas expediat posthac, pretio emptas meo.