Comedies Of Plautus Menaechmi Epidicus Mostellaria Pseudolus

PLAUTUS (Titus Maccius), born about 245 B.C. at Sarsinia in Umbria, came to Rome, engaged in work connected with the stage, lost his money in commerce, became for a time a baker's help, and for the rest of his life composed comedies. After his death in 184 B.C. 130 plays were ascribed to him, but at last only 21 were accepted as genuine; and in fact 21 (one being incomplete have survived. The basis of all is a free translation from comedies by such writers as Menander, Diphilus, and Philemon. So we have Greek manners of Athens c. 225-185 B.C. with Greek places, people, and customs, and a distinctive plot, for popular amusement in a Latin city whose own 'culture' was not yet developed and whose manners were more severe. But to make his plays 'live' for his audience, Plautus included many Roman details, especially concerning slavery, military affairs, and law, with some invention of his own, especially in management of metres. The resulting mixture is lively, genial and humorous, with good dialogue and vivid style. There are plays of intrigue alone (Bacchides, Mostellaria, Pseudolus); of intrigue with a recognition-theme (Captivi, Poenulus, Curculio); plays which develop character (Auluaria, Miles Gloriosus); others which turn on mistaken identity (accidental as in the Menaechmi imitated by Shakespeare in his 'Comedy of Errors'; caused on purpose as in Amphitruo); plays of domestic life (Mercator, Casina, both unpleasant; Trinummus, Stichus, both pleasant). We are told that Plautus' plays were under St. Jerome's pillow as he slept: They were certainly favourites of Luther.

The play Pseudolus provides an introduction to the world of Roman comedy from one of its best practitioners, Plautus. As with all Focus translations, the emphasis is on an inexpensive, readable edition that is close to the original, with an extensive introduction, notes and appendices.

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