PROLOGUE.
PROLOGUE[56].
Our poet, when first he bent his mind to write, thought that he undertook no more than to compose Comedies which should please the people. But he finds himself not a little deceived; and is compelled to waste his time in making Prologues; not to narrate the plot of his play, but to answer the snarling malice of an older poet[57]. And now, I pray you, Sirs, observe what they object against our Author: Menander wrote the [58]Andrian and Perinthian: he who knows one of them knows both, their plots are so very similar; but they are different in dialogue, and in style. He confesses that whatever seemed suitable to the Andrian, he borrowed from the Perinthian, and used as his own: and this, forsooth, these railers carp at, and argue against him that Comedies thus mixed are good for nothing. But, in attempting to shew their wit, they prove their folly: since, in censuring him, they censure Nævius, Plautus[59], Ennius, who have given our author a precedent for what he has done: and whose careless ease he would much rather imitate than their obscure correctness. But henceforth let them be silent, and cease to rail; or I give them warning, they shall hear their own faults published. And now deign to favour the play with your attention; and give it an impartial hearing, that you may know what is in future to be expected from the poet, and whether the Comedies that he may write hereafter, will be worthy to be accepted, or to be rejected by you.