The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Volume 14: Lives of the Poets by Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus
page 7 of 27 (25%)
page 7 of 27 (25%)
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Afranius places him at the head of all the comic writers, declaring, in
his Compitalia, Terentio non similem dices quempiam. Terence's equal cannot soon be found. On the other hand, Volcatius reckons him inferior not only (536) to Naevius, Plautus, and Caecilius, but also to Licinius. Cicero pays him this high compliment, in his Limo-- Tu quoque, qui solus lecto sermone, Terenti, Conversum expressumque Latina voce Menandrum In medio populi sedatis vocibus offers, Quidquid come loquens, ac omnia dulcia dicens. "You, only, Terence, translated into Latin, and clothed in choice language the plays of Menander, and brought them before the public, who, in crowded audiences, hung upon hushed applause-- Grace marked each line, and every period charmed." So also Caius Caesar: Tu quoque tu in summis, O dimidiate Menander, Poneris, et merito, puri sermonis amator, Lenibus atque utinam scriptis adjuncta foret vis Comica, ut aequato virtus polleret honore Cum Graecis, neque in hoc despectus parte jaceres! Unum hoc maceror, et doleo tibi deesse, Terenti. |
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