SIR , by intermission of your noble exercises in feats of Armes , and your studious endeuor emploied in forrein tongs : I must needes craue at your hands , to vouchsafe some spare tyme ( for your recreation ) in the interteinment of your old acquaintance Pub. Terentius : whom I here present vnto you , in such and so much , English attire , as my poore iudgement found fittest for him to be clad withall .

Whyle he liued at Rome , his most company , and conuersation , was among the Nobilitie , and most of al other , with those twoo noble and learned gentlemen , Laelius , and Scipio Africane : In like sort , after his death , his woorks were right currantly accounted of , and highly commended , by the two Princes of eloquence , euen Caesar , and Cicero : as their own writings do witnes the same vnto vs . Therefore , sith Terence , neither aliue , nor dead , did euer want a noble Moecenas to protect him : I hope that now , being partly put into english , & hauing cheefly chosen you for his Patrone in England : you likewise , in regard of your noble birth , & vertues , wil graunt him like curteous & frendly fauour , as by these noble men in Rome , was heretofore affoorded vnto him . I trust also he shal be neuer the woorse welcome vnto you , in that he is diligently attended on , with my poore name : & like as my first attempt to translate him , proceeded cheefly from you , so look I that my labour spent on him , shal be fauorablie protected by your which to me will bee a thing much comfortable , & to you nothing cumbersome . And so , fully resting , & relying my selfe on your wonted curtesies , I here make an end : & besech the almighty , stil to increase & accomplish , those his good gifts & graces , which he hath placed in you most shining & apparant .

IT is now full . 7. yeeres ( as you can well remember ) since I first attempted the translation of Andria into English verse , being thereto partely incited by your meanes : But afterward perceiuing what difficultie it was , to enforce the pithie and prouerbiall sayings of Terence into Rime , and withall what inconuenience grew , by reason of diuers seuerall Speakers , sometime seuerally happening , within the length of one line or lesse : I playnely saw , that such manner of forced translation , must needs be both harsh and vnpleasant to the Reader , and also not halfe seemly befitting the sweete style and eloquence of the Author . So as hauing thus translated the whole Comoedie in verse ( sauing the two last leaues ) my paines bestowed therein did somuch mislike me , as that euer sithens yt lay by me , vtterly neglectted , and neuer fully finished : Tyll that now of late , being by some , much requested to make common the same , for the benefit of such as studie the latin : I haue therevpon somwhat altered my cours , and indeuored to turne it into prose , as a thing of lesse labour in show , and more libertie in substance , seeming withall , most accordant , with this Comicall kinde of writing . And bicause I am not ignorant , with what ardent loue , and liking , you haue alwaies , most studiouslie embraced all good Authors : ( being of your selues , euen naturally inclined , to all learning and knowledge : ) I cannot therfore , but recomend to your fauour , this peece of Terence , bearing the frame of my poore workemanship : which I desire you , at idle , and vacant times , to vouchsafe to peruse , both for Terence sake , whom I am sure you loue : And also at my request , whom I know you do not hate . And so I commit you to the most gracious Protection of the Highest .

AMONG all the Romane writers , there is none ( by the iudgement of the learned ) so much auailable to bée read and studied , for the true knowledge and puritie of the Latin tong , as Pub. Terentius : for , sith the chéefest matter in speech , is to speak properly and aptly , and that we haue not a more cunning Crafts-master of apt and proper spéech than Terence , well woorthy is he then , euen with all care and dilligence , to be both taught and learned before any other . And surely , great is the pity , that Terence were not more vsed of maisters in teaching , and made more familiar to schollers in learning , than commonly it is : being ( as I haue knowen my selfe ) by dyuers men , in diuers sentences , diuersly misvnderstood : for , the Author in many places , vsing abbreuiations , and figuratiue spéeches , aswell in regard of his verse , as also that such maner of writing , was very eloquent and familiar in his tyme : doth thereby cause the sence séeme very doubtful , to such Readers as are not fully acquainted with him : which comes to passe , by meanes that this booke , is not so frequented in schooles , nor laboured in studie , according to the woorthines of it : but other base and inferior bookes , commonly preferd before it , to the vtter marring , and maiming of Schollers both in stile and iudgement .

Though this Comoedie , now englished , perhaps séeme not altogether so pleasant , as could be wished , neither in matter , nor manner of handling : Yet is it to be considered ( besides that it léeseth his natural grace , being turnd into another language ) that the tyme when , and the place where , it was first published in Latin , affoorded no other sort of Comoedies than this is . And therefore , it was no part of my meaning , to translate the same , as a thing either pleasant to be played , or very delightful to bée read : ( Notwithstanding that this Author was most excellent , and most learned , of any that wrote in this kinde : ) but especially , for that the Latin is pure & eloquent , much commended by Tullie himselfe , & right requisite to be studied , & vnderstood of all such , as would attaine to the knowledge of right speaking , and readines of wel writing , in the Latin tong : for whose only sakes ( and also at the earnest request of some , whom I was desirous to satisfy ) I haue aduentured the englishing hereof : wishing , that as I haue thus boldly begoon with the first , so some other hauing more leisure , and learning , would go thorough with the rest of the Comedies . I haue vsed ( as neere as I could ) the most knowen , vsuall , and familiar phrases in common spéech , to expresse the authors meaning , as ( to my thinking ) best agréeing therewithall . Neuertheles , I make account my doing herein , shall be carpt and caueld at by some , from whose malicious censure , euen the best writers can not scape vntouched , and therefore no marueile if they spurne at me . Of which kinde of men , I haue knowen by experience , & noted for memory , twoo sorts : One sort pretending a shew of learning , & being indéed but very dunses , loue to be speaking they wot not what , to disgrace they care not whom , and yet not rendring any reason why , but onely to feed their owne bad humours : In whom , true iudgement , being altogether supprest , what with affection , or ignorance , or both : as either mooued by fond lyking , to commend that is bad : or stird with fowle hatred to dispraise that is good : are thus commonly carried along , with the vaine tyde and winde of their willes , without any regard of right , or due respect of wrong . An other sort ( whereof I knew some good schollers , the more the pity ) blinded with ouerweening of themselues , and mislyking al other mens dooings ( how wel soeuer they deserue : ) like onely of their owne , be they neuer so mean : neuer geuing any man his due , fearing , by like , whatsoeuer commendation is attributed to others , that the same must néeds be a derogation from themselues : wherin they are far vnlike Tullie , the welspring of wit and learning : who alwaies praised , all men of desert , euen in those things , wherein he both desired , and deserued , most praise himselfe : This is read of Tullie , to his great praise , and remembred of others to their iust reproch . And here , least perchance I be mistaken more than I would , & misconstrued otherwise than I meane , though my woords before doo sufficiently declare my meaning : yet ( to auoyd all dowt ) it shall not be amisse , if I ad a few more in this place . To disalow the iudgement of such , as by learning can , and by reason know , where , when , and how , to finde fault , as iust cause and matter shall lead them : were to be wilfully blinde , and obstinately foolish : God forbid I should be so vnreasonable , or that men should iudge of mée so vnrightly .

Of the curious Carper I looke not to be fauoured , and yet if my labour may be equally compared with my Authors words and meaning , I doubt not but it will appeare vnto him , an easier matter to finde fault with part , than to amend the whole .

Onely , I submit this poore translation vnto the vew & iudgement of the learned : who lyking the Truth , and louing to speake Truth , will both allow what is well don , and amend that is amisse : As for others , I see not but that they ought first to learne , before they take vppon them to Controll :

CHremes & Phania ( two brethren ) were citizens of Athens : which Chremes , taking his iourney into Asia , left Passibula ( as then his onely daughter ) to the charge and safe keeping of his brother Phania : but not long after his departure , there ensued in Greece so great sturre and tumult of warre , as that Phania determining to folow his brother into Asia , did therefore embarke himselfe ( and his little Neece Passibula ) for that voyage : But , a sore tempest arising , he susteined shipwrack in such sort , as both he and his forenamed Neece , were cast on shore at the Ile of Andros , where he chaunced into the house of a certain dweller in that countrie , by whome he was gently receiued and relieued , & in whose house shortly after he died . After whose death , the good man of the house changed the name of the young childe , calling her by the name of Glycerie : and when he had by the space of certeine yeeres , brought her vp with like care , and in like knowledge , as he did bring vp his owne daughter Chrysis , he likewise ended his lyfe . Chrysis ( perceiuing her selfe bereft of Father and friends , & being also pinched with pouertie ) toke Glycerie with her , and sayled to Athens . In which Citie , during a small season , she earned her liuing by Wooll and making Cloth : but afterward , being haunted by certain youths , who fed her with guifts and faire promises , she ( ouercome by those men , and by these meanes ) yelded the vse of her bodie for gaine . Among other younkers , Pamphilus the sonne of Simo , a well minded young man , dyd oftentimes resort to the house , not for her sake , but onely for the great loue and liking he bare vnto Glycerie : by whome Glycerie , ( within a while , ) proouing to be with childe , he made faithfull promis vnto her , that he would make her his wife . By this time , Chremes ( hauing long since returned home to Athens , ) had an other daughter become marriageable , named Philumena , whome he much desired to match in marriage with Pamphilus , in respect of the good report that generally went of him : Wherevpon , by his owne seeking vnto Simo for the same , the match with consent of both parents , is made vp , & vtterly vnawares vnto Pamphilus , a day is appointed for the marriage .

In the meane season Chrysis dyeth , by which meanes Simo came first to knowledge that his sonne is in loue . For at the buriall of Chrysis , Glycerie for pure griefe and sorrow being about to haue throwen her selfe into the fire with the coars , was so speedely stayed , and so louingly recomforted by Pamphilus , as thereby their wonted loue and familiaritie was manifestly bewrayed . Herevpon Chremes reuoked his former offer , declaring how he had certaine intelligence that Pamphilus vsed this strange minion for his wife : little thinking that she whome he termed by so vile a name , was his owne daughter .

Pamphilus ( at length ) perceiuing that Chremes brake of the marriage , was very ioyfull : Simo on the other side was exceeding sorry . The day once appointed for the wedding , is come . Simo therfore of meere craft and pollicie ( determining to feele the mynde of his sonne Pamphilus ) pretendeth notwithstanding all this , that the marriage shall bee made out of hand : with intent that if his sonne should refuse to marrye , that thereby hee might haue good occasion to reprehend him , which till then hee could not well doo . But contrarywise , yf his sonne should consent to marry , than hee hoped to obteyne his desire at Chremes hands , and so to make vp the marriage presently . Therefore meeting with his sonne , ( who little minded any such matter ) he spake thus vnto him : Pamphilus , go home and make thee ready , thou must be married to day .

Pamphilus soddeinly amased with these woords , knew neither what to say , nor what to doo : But Dauus ( a craftie knauish seruant ) smelling out the drift and deuise of the olde man , comes to Pamphilus and sheweth by circumstance of tyme , place , and persons , the great vnlikelyhood of the marriage .

In this very time Carinus ( a young man of Athens ) exceedingly enamoured on Philumena , and heareing she should be furthwith married vnto Pamphilus , dyd therefore come to him and prayed him for Gods sake , as he tendred his lyfe , that either he would not marry her at all , or at least wise , that he would put of the marriage for a few dayes longer .

Pamphilus on the other side being wonderfully in loue with Glycerie , desires nothing more than that he might haue quite and cleane ryddance of this same marriage pretended for him , and so made aunswere vnto Carinus accordingly . To this ende therefore , Dauus aduiseth Pamphilus to saye vnto his father , that he is willing to marry ( though he ment nothing lesse ) hoping thereby both to satisfie the minde of Simo , and withall to continue still loue and familiaritie with Glycerie , hauing no mistrust in the world that Chremes would euer be induced to match his daughter Philumena vnto Pamphilus , whome he had once before reiected for his sonne in lawe . But Pamphilus folowing this deuise of Dauus , is notably ouertaken , when and where he least thought of : for Simo so much preuailed with Chremes by earnest intreatie , as that contrarie to all expectation , the marriage matter is brought to that passe , euen to haue bene made out of hand : so as Dauus , hauing no other meane to shift of this marriage , causeth the childe , whereof Glycerie the same day was deliuered , to be layed before Simoes dore : which , when Chremes saw , and vnderstoode to be the childe of Pamphilus , he straight way falls of againe from performance of the marriage . Heerevpon ensueth great sturre and hurleburly , till that by the comming of Crito from Andros to Athens , ( by meere chaunce ) euen the whole difficulty of the Comoedie is dissolued : for thorough him , Chremes comes to certaine knowledge that Glycerie is his owne daughter , sometime called by the name of Passibula : And so with great ioy and contentation of all parts , he giues Glycerie in marriage vnto Pamphilus , and Philumena to Carinus .

* * Some wil haue it consist of 4. & then the Prologue is the first . ¶ The Comoedie consists of three parts : to witte : 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 Which in Latin are signified by these three woords : Propositio , Intentio , Conuersio .

〈◊〉 . Propositio . The first , is Proposition , conteining the first Act and the beginning of variety of Speakers , some entring , some remaining on the Stage , and some departing away .

〈◊〉 . Intentio . The second is Intention or Full Sway , conteyning the growing on & continuance of all the hot sturre , trouble and difficult state of the Comoedie .

〈◊〉 . Conuersio . The third and last part , is Conuersion , in the which all is turned to a ioyfull ende , and the whole matter made knowen .

By heedfull reading , and diligent marking , the due Decorum obserued by Terence in his Comoedies , the scholer shall gather verie much pleasure and profit , as for example , in this Comoedie of Andria , he opposeth seuerall speakers , of seuerall natures , and contrary condicions , one to another : as , Simo beeing hot and testy , is opposed vnto Chremes , a milde and moderate man . Pamphilus , a stayed and shamefast young man , is opposed vnto Carinus , a harebraind fellow voyde of discretion . Dauus , a slye and suttle seruant , is opposed vnto Byrria , a slouthfull and rechles fellow . Mysis , a sober maide , is opposed vnto Lesbia , a drunken Gossip . Crito , honest and poore , is opposed vnto Chrysis , dishonest and rich .

These persons , are of set purpose thus placed by Terence , to the end that the vndue demeanor in the one , may the sooner be seen by the contrarie in the other .

Very singuler also is the eloquence of the Author , in setting downe the moane and complaint of Pamphilus , The Narration , Consultation , and Reprehension of Simo : From which places , are to be learned choice woords , apt figures , and right order of speaking Latin .