Lucius Seneca - Yale Required Reading - Collected Works (Vol. 2)

28 Smell of perfumes )—Ver. 117. For an account of the “unguenta,” or perfumes in use among the ancients, see the Notes to Bohn’s translation of Plautus.

29 Will be shut out of doors )—Ver. 119. No doubt by his mistress when she has drained him of his money, and not by Micio himself, as Colman says he was once led to imagine.

30 These things are )—Ver. 141. Donatus observes here, that Terence seems inclined to favor the part of mild fathers. He represents Micio as appalled at his adopted son’s irregularities, lest if he should appear wholly unmoved, he should seem to be corrupting him, rather than to be treating him with only a proper degree of indulgence.

31 Wished to take a wife )—Ver. 151. Donatus remarks here, that the art of Terence in preparing his incidents is wonderful. He contrives that even ignorant persons shall open the plot, as in the present instance, where we understand that Aeschinus has mentioned to Micio his intention of taking a wife, though he has not entered into particulars. This naturally leads us to the ensuing parts of the Play, without forestalling any of the circumstances.

32 I am a Procurer )—Ver. 161. He says this aloud, and with emphasis, relying upon the laws which were enacted at Athens in favor of the “lenones,” whose occupation brought great profits to the state, from their extensive trading in slaves. It was forbidden to maltreat them, under pain of being disinherited.

33 I am a Procurer )—Ver. 188. Westerhovius supposes this part to be a translation from the works of Diphilus.

34 By action of freedom )—Ver. 194. “Asserere liberati causa,” was to assert the freedom of a person, with a determination to maintain it at law. The “assertor” laid hands upon the person, declaring that he or she was free; and till the cause was tried, the person whose freedom was claimed, remained in the hands of the “assertor.”

35 Till I return )—Ver. 196. Colman has a curious remark here: “I do not remember, in the whole circle of modern comedy, a more natural picture of the elegant ease and indifference of a fine gentleman, than that exhibited in this Scene in the character of Æschinus.”

36 I have sold her )—Ver. 204. He means, that if he only names a price, Æschinus will suborn witnesses to say that he has agreed to sell her, in which case Æschinus will carry her off with impunity, and the laws will not allow him to recover her; as it will then be an ordinary debt, and he will be put off with all the common excuses used by debtors.

37 On more unequal terms )—Ver. 212. “Certationem comparatam.” This was a term taken from the combats of gladiators, where it was usual to choose as combatants such as seemed most nearly a match for each other.

38 If you had parted with ever so little )—Ver. 217. This passage is probably alluded to by Cicero, in his work, De Officiis B. ii. c. 18: “For it is not only liberal sometimes to give up a little of one’s rights, but it is also profitable.”

39 In the very joint )—Ver. 229. “Ut in ipso articulo oppressit.” Colman translates this, “Nick’d me to a hair.”

40 To take to Cyprus )—Ver. 230. He alludes to a famous slave-market held in the Isle of Cyprus, whither merchants carried slaves for sale, after buying them up in all parts of Greece.

41 Have you by this reckoned )—Ver. 236. “Jamne enumerasti id quod ad te rediturum putes?” Colman renders this, “Well, have you calculated what’s your due?” referring to the value of the Music-girl that has been taken away from him; and thinks that the following conversation between Sannio and Syrus supports that construction. Madame Dacier puts another sense on the words, and understands them as alluding to Sannio’s calculation of his expected profits at Cyprus.

42 Scrape together ten minæ )—Ver. 242. Donatus remarks, that Syrus knows very well that Æschinus is ready to pay the whole, but offers Sannio half, that he may be glad to take the bare principal, and think himself well off into the bargain.

43 He’s looking for me )—Ver. 265. Donatus remarks upon the readiness with which Sannio takes the appellation of “sacrilegus,” as adapted to no other person than himself.

44 Flying the country )—Ver. 275. Donatus tells us, that in Menander the young man was on the point of killing himself. Terence has here softened it into leaving the country. Colman remarks: “We know that the circumstance of carrying off the Music-girl was borrowed from Diphilus; yet it is plain from Donatus that there was also an intrigue by Ctesipho in the Play of Menander; which gives another proof of the manner in which Terence used the Greek Comedies.”

45 He is in haste for Cyprus )—Ver. 278. Donatus remarks that this is a piece of malice on the part of Syrus, for the purpose of teasing Sannio.

46 Order the couches )—Ver. 285. Those used for the purpose of reclining on at the entertainment.

47 Leave me alone )—Ver. 321. Quoting from Madame Dacier, Colman has this remark here: “Geta’s reply is founded on a frolicsome but ill-natured custom which prevailed in Greece—to stop the slaves in the streets, and designedly keep them in chat, so that they might be lashed when they came home for staying out so long.”

48 On his father’s knees )—Ver. 333. It was a prevalent custom with the Greeks to place the newly-born child upon the knee of its grandfather.

49 It shall be boned )—Ver. 378. The operation of boning conger-eels is often mentioned in Plautus, from whom we learn that they were best when eaten in that state, and cold.

50 Serve somewhere or other as a soldier )—Ver. 385. See a similar passage in the Trinummus of Plautus, l. 722, whence it appears that it was the practice for young men of ruined fortunes to go and offer their services as mercenaries to some of the neighboring potentates. Many of the ten thousand who fought for the younger Cyrus at the battle of Cunaxa, and were led back under the command of Xenophon, were, doubtless, of this class.

51 As though into a mirror )—Ver. 428. He parodies the words of Demea in l. 415, where he speaks of looking into the lives of men as into a mirror.

52 Of our tribe )—Ver. 439. Solon divided the Athenians into ten tribes, which he named after ten of the ancient heroes: Erectheis, Ægeis, Pandionis, Leontis, Acamantis, Œneis, Cecrops, Hippothoontis, Æantis, and Antiochis. These tribes were each divided into ten Demi.

53 Would take her home )—Ver. 473. As his wife.

54 Is among us )—Ver. 479. “In medio,” “is alive,” or “in the midst of us.”

55 Take him, bind him )—Ver. 482. In allusion to the method of examining slaves, by binding and torturing them.

56 Juno Lucina )—Ver. 487. So in the Andria, l. 473, where Glycerium is overtaken with the pains of labor, she calls upon Juno Lucina.

57 He was my kinsman )—Ver. 494. In the Play of Menander, Hegio was the brother of Sostrata.

58 Upon this matter I’ll follow )—Ver. 500. “Is, quod mihi de hae re dederat consilium, id sequar.” Coleman has the following Note on this passage: “Madame Dacier rejects this line, because it is also to be found in the Phormio. But it is no uncommon thing with our author to use the same expression or verse for different places, especially on familiar occasions. There is no impropriety in it here, and the foregoing hemistich is rather lame without it. The propriety of consulting Micio, or Demea’s present ill-humor with him, are of no consequence. The old man is surprised at Hegio’s story, does not know what to do or say, and means to evade giving a positive answer, by saying that he would consult his brother.”