Comedies of Publius Terentius Afer (1870)/Heautontimorumenos
HEAUTONTIMORUMENOS.
(THE SELF-TORMENTOR.)
PERSONS.
Chremes—An Elder.
Menedemus—The Self-tormentor.
Clitipho—Son of Chremes.
Clinia—Son of Menedemus.
Syrus—Slave of Clitipho.
Dromo—Slave of Clinia.
Bacchis—Meretrix.
Antiphila—Maiden.
Sostrata—Matron.
Nurse.
Phrygian Damsel.
PROLOGUE.
Lest any of you wonder why the poet
Sends me, an old man, forward, I will show it.
This day we act a drama from the Greek—
Heautontimorumenos—and seek
To make its single plot a double one:
Therefore our comedy is new, or none.
Who wrote the Grecian comedy—you know;
That is one point I have no need to show.
But wherefore am I here, you ask again:
Pleader am I, your suffrages to gain.
Ye are our judges. We seek your applause
So I, and not the prologue, plead the cause;
And though some tongues malevolent declare
The Grecian plots contaminated are
Whence he indites his Latin, nor doth he
Deny the charge nor will defend the plea.
He can produce authority to show
That greater bards have done so long ago.
Another charge malevolence adduces,
That he with music now your ears seduces,
Instead of his own talents. We submit
That to your judgment; you must settle it.
Shut up your ears to slanders we entreat you,
And open them to hopes in which we greet you
Listen to us who weave fair novelties,
Not like the breathless slave who ranting cries,
"Give place, make room,"[1] and hurling folk about.
Why should he careful be for such a lout?
Better to quash his crudities than follow
So bad a master; let him cease to holloa.
And now attend and listen to the play,
Whilst I, uninterrupted, say my say;
Nor rack my legs and lungs upon the stage,
As running slave, or old man in a rage,
Or greedy parasite or sycophant
Or pander merchantman; but rather grant
Remission from such labours unto me.
For they who now indite the comedy
Demand my aid when they have somewhat dry;
If volatile to volatiles they fly.[2]
But this is declamation pure—its zest
Lies in its moral—let me do my best.
I am not overweening, but I fain
Am your applauses and your praise to gain.
Then make me an example, so that they,
Who work to please you, on a future day
May find a beaten track and trodden way.