Terence's comedies: made English. With his life; and some remarks at the end. / By several hands.

Remarks upon the Brothers.

ACT I.

PAge 179. line 5. That went to bring him home.] Qui adversum ierant. Adversum is an extra∣ordinary proper word in this place; for Waiting∣men were call'd Adversitores. Our Tongue seems to want a good Word for it, except the Usher will do, which is not so proper in this place neither.

Page 184. line 25. He told me he would take up and marry. Here Micio discovers a very material thing to the Audience, and knows little of it himself. For as yet Eschine had not told him whom he design'd to marry. This seems to be a meat Cast of our Poets Skill.

ACT II.

PAge 185. line 17, 18. San I am a Woman-Mer∣chant. Esch. A Cock-Bawd you mean.] San. Pgo

Leno Sum. Esch. Scio. These Women-Merchants had peculiar Priviledges in Athens, and were Persons of some Repute; but because such Peo∣ple are more scandalous among us, we have taken the liberty of translating Sico, according to the Notion we have of those Creatures.

Page 186. line 32. D'ye know who I am, Sir?] Nostion qui sim? These words have a peculiar Meaning in the Original, which is lost in the Translation. For Nosti me? and Nosti qui sim? Are the usual and common words between Deb∣tors and Creditors at the Bar. Therefore Sannio in saying Nostin qui sim? Did in effect say, Do I owe you any Money, Sir?

Page 188. line 31, &c. 1 hear my Master and you have had a kind of a Scuffle. San. A Scuffle d'ye call it? Never was the like surely.] Cum Hero nescio quid concertasse? San. Nunquam vidi ini∣quius concertationem comparatam. The Grace of the Original consists in the words, Concertasse and Comparatam; the first being a proper Term to im∣ply an Equality between Eschine and Sannio, and the latter a word borrow'd from the Gladiator's measuring their Swords; the Beauty of both which is lost in the Translation.

Page 191. line 21, &c. He has taken upon himself all the Curses, Scandals, Love-Matters, and Miscarriages that belong to me.] Eschine in taking all upon himself, designed purely to ob∣lige his Brother; but the Poet designed it to bring about the main Incident, (Viz. Eschine's Mar∣riage) most naturally and dexterously. This Under-Plot of Clitipho and the Musick-Girl is ad∣mirably woven into the plot; and is an excellent instance to shew how useful and beautiful an Un∣der-Plot may be, and still preserve the Unity of Action.

Page 192. line ult. I'll march home with Plenty of Provisions.] Convortam me domum cum obsonio. Here Syrus speaks as great as he can, for the word Convortam belongs to Magnificence, and Tri∣umph; which is almost lost in our Tongue: In∣deed, the word March would have been better, were it not now us'd upon every slight and trivial account.

ACT III.

PAge 195. line 1, Pish! Don't trouble me who∣ever you are. Madam D'acier says, that the Greeks took delight in staying the Slaves in the Streets, and amusing 'em, that so their Masters might beat them for loytering, when they come home. It seems Geta thought that Sostrata served him so.

Page 195. line 33. He'd put the Infant on his Fathers Knees.] It was a constant Custom among the Greeks, whenever they had a Child, immedi∣ately to put it upon their Grand fathers Knees; probably to give them the Pleasure of seeing themselves live again in a new Race.

ACT IV.

PAge 206. line 16. The first that report it.] Pri∣mus porro obnuncio. The word Obnuncio is very proper, it signifies the telling of ill News, and is always taken in a bad Sense. We have no word to answer it in our Tongue that we know of.

Page 209. line 15. Make this day as long as I ••an.] Hunc producam diem. The word Produco is a Funeral Term, and has a double Signification. Perhaps it might have been as proper to have said: I'll bury this Day in Pleasures.

Page 214. line 1. But I'm afraid you don't mind your own Concerns, &c.] These dozen Verses in the Original most admirably shew the gentle Chidings of an indulgent Father; and there's scarce a Word but deserves Consideration, each of them making so deep an Impression upon a gene∣rous Mind.

Page 217. line 29. And thou, pretty Child, wilt hobble out the Hay among 'em?] Tu inter eas restim ductans saltabis. This Phrase, Restim ductans, is an Allusion to their old way of Dancing, but whether with a Rope, as the word Restis seems to imply, or with joyned hands, metaphorically so called, we leave to Criticks in Antiquity. We have translated it ••ighest to our Customs, and Demea's Character.

Page 219. line 21. He••ll be no welcome Reveller.] Comissatorem haud sane Commodum. The word Commissator, properly signifies one a little in drink that goes in Masquerade to some new Com∣pany, and surprizes them with his sudden and unexpected coming: So that this is much more expressive than our Reveller.

ACT V.

HEre our Author is not so clear indinstinguish∣ing his Acts as in other places; for tho•• we have followed Madam D••acier in making the Fifth Act begin at Parata a nobis sunt, yet we think we might with as much, or more reason have made it begin at Defessus sum Ambulando. The common Books are undoubtedly all false in this Point.

Page 221•• line 28. Many Observations may be made, Brother, upon two Persons doing the same thing, &c.] Here Micio is hard put to't, which

makes him talk a little obscurely. In truth, Micio, thro most of this Scene, tho in very few words, says all that can be said to excuse his Ne∣phew's Extravagancies: And Terence's Conduct is excellent in this place, making Micio asswage his brother so plausibly, and with so much colour of Reason, when the Case would bear it so ill.

Page 225. line 30. Bid Babylo tell out half a hundred Guineas quick.] Interpreters seem much puzzled to find out who this Babylo is. Whether it be Micio, or a Banker, or any one else, 'tis not material; and whether this Money is for Eschine, Ctesipho, Syrus, or Sannio, the Humour is still the same, and as well carryed on.

Page 228. line 32. And took care of a Debauch in the Morning for 'em.] Apparar ede die Convivium. Demea mentions this as an unusual thing, because the Romans had their Feasts, great Entertain∣ments, &c. always in the night; and to make a full Meal before that time was scandalous.