Terentius Afer
PUBLIUS (more commonly TERENCE), a Roman poet; born in Carthage, whence his surname Afer, 185 B. C. Some authorities place him 10 years earlier. He was the last of the comic dramatists of Rome of whom we have anything remaining. The extant records of the life of Terence are more than apocryphal. He was either taken prisoner in war or sold in the slave market. His purchaser, or at all events the Roman into whose hands he fell, was a senator, Lucanus Terentius. On obtaining his freedom he took his patron's name. A liberal education followed, and TERENTIUS we soon find him the friend and associate of the great and noble. He was gifted with dramatic genius. Terence was beyond question the chief dramatist of his time. He used, moreover, the Latin tongue with singular grace and elegance.
Critics have denied to him the possession of lively humor. Terence was the interpreter of Menander; but he was more than a mere translator. His six comçdies that remain belong to the "Fabula Palliata." It is said that Terence went to Greece and translated 108 of Menander's plays. Whether he was lost on his homeward voyage, as some say, or lost his transcripts and died of grief in consequence, we have no means of deciding. He died in his 26th year, 159 B. C. , 159 в. C.
The following are his comedies, with the years of their production: (1) "Andria" (The Woman of Andros), 166 B. C.; (2) Andros), 166 в. c.; (2) "Hecyra" (The Stepmother), 165 B. c.; B. C .; (3) "Heauton-timoroumenos" (The Self- Tormentor), 163 B. c.; (4) "Eunuchus" (The Eunuch) 162 в. c.; (5) "Phormio," 162 B. C.; (6) "Adelphi" (The Brothers), 160 в. c.
The edito princeps of Terence was published at Strassburg in 1470. The works of Terence have been translated into almost every European tongue.