The Comedies of Terence

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Harding and Wright, 1810 - Latin drama (Comedy) - 548 pages

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Page 473 - It is said this sentence was received with an universal applause. There cannot be a greater argument of the general good understanding of a people, than a sudden consent to give their approbation of a sentiment which has no emotion in it. If it were spoken with never so great skill in the actor, the manner of uttering that sentence could have nothing in it which could strike any but people of the greatest humanity, nay people elegant and skilful in observations upon it. It is possible he might have...
Page 15 - He takes this woman's death so nearly, what" If he himself had lov'd ? What would he feel For me, his father ? All these things, I thought, Were but the tokens and the offices Of a humane and tender disposition. In short, on his account, e'en I myself Attend the funeral, suspecting yet No harm.
Page 272 - Never did man lay down so fair a plan, So wise a rule of life, but fortune, age, Or long experience made some change in it ; And taught him, that those things he thought he knew He did not know, and what he held as best, In practice he threw by.
Page 462 - ... every time the stage is empty; but every person who enters, though to others, makes it so; because he introduces a new business. Now the plots of their plays being narrow, and the persons few, one of their acts was written in a less compass than one of our well-wrought scenes; and yet they are often deficient even in this. To go no...
Page 497 - Who ne'er so little from his game withheld, Turns head, and leaps up at his holder's throat. There is a way* of winning more by love, And urging of the modesty, than fear: Force works on servile natures, not the free. He that's compelled to goodness, may be good, But 'tis but for that fit; where others, drawn By softness and example, get a habit.
Page 343 - I suppose this sum is scrap'd together For a Bride-Gift. Alack, how hard it is, That he, who is already poor, should still Throw in his mite, to swell the rich man's heap! What He scarce, ounce by ounce, from short allowance, Sorely defrauding his own appetite, Has spar'd, poor wretch! shall She sweep all at once, Unheeding with what labour it was got.
Page 34 - Byr. Is there no faith in the affairs of men ? 'Tis an old saying, and a true one too, "Of all mankind each loves himself the best.
Page 465 - Eunuch, when Laches, the .old man, enters by mistake into the house of Thais ; where, betwixt his exit and the entrance of Pythias, who comes to give ample relation of the disorders he has raised within, Parmeno, who was left upon the stage, has not above five lines to speak. C'est bien employer un temps si court...
Page 356 - Ev'n then it most behoves to arm himself Against the coming storm : loss, danger, exile, Returning ever let him look to meet ; His son in fault, wife dead, or daughter sickAll common accidents, and may have happen'd ; That nothing should seem new or strange. But if Aught has fall'n out beyond his hopes, all that Let him account clear gain.
Page 41 - To tell me yon inform'd them, that my daughter Was to be married to your son to-day: And therefore came I here, and fain would know Whether 'tis you or they have lost their wits. SIMO. A moment's hearing ; you shall be inform \l, What I request, and what you wish to know.

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