Let thy speech be better than silence, or be silent.

Frag. 6

PLAUTUS. 254 (?)-184 B. C

(Translated by Henry Thomas Riley, B. A., with a few variations. The references are to the text of Ritschl's second edition.3)

What is yours is mine, and all mine is yours.

Trinummus. Act ii Sc. 2, 48. (329.)

Not by years but by disposition is wisdom acquired.

88. (367.)

These things are not for the best, nor as I think they ought to be; but still they are better than that which is downright bad.

He whom the gods favour dies in youth."

1 See Chaucer, page 6.

2 See Shakespeare, page 141.

111. (392.)

Bacchides. Act iv. Ec. 7, 18. (316.)

For a desperate disease a desperate cure. - MONTAIGNE: Chop. iii.

The Custom of the Isle of Cea.

3 Bohn's Classical Library.
4 See Shakespeare, page 50.
6 See Wordsworth, page 479.

You are seeking a knot in a bulrush.1

Menæchmi. Act ii. Sc. 1, 22. (247.)

In the one hand he is carrying a stone, while he shows

the bread in the other.2

Aulularia. Act ii. Sc. 2, 18. (195.)

I had a regular battle with the dunghill-cock.

Act iii. Sc. 4, 13. (472.)

It was not for nothing that the raven was just now croaking on my left hand.3 Act ir. Sc. 3, 1. (624.)

There are occasions when it is undoubtedly better to incur loss than to make gain.

Captivi. Act ii. Sc. 2, 77. (327.)

Rudens. Act ii. Sc. 5, 71.

Patience is the best remedy for every trouble.*

If you are wise, be wise; keep what goods the gods provide you. Act iv. Sc. 7, 3. (1229.) Consider the little mouse, how sagacious an animal it is which never entrusts its life to one hole only." Truculentus. Act iv. Sc. 4, 15. (868.)

6

Nothing is there more friendly to a man than a friend in need. Epidicus. Act iii. Sc. 3, 44. (425.) Things which you do not hope happen more frequently than things which you do hope."

Mostellaria. Act i. Sc. 3, 40. (197.)

To blow and swallow at the same moment is not easy.

Each man reaps on his own farm.

Act iii. Sc. 2, 104. (791.)

112. (799.)

1 A proverbial expression implying a desire to create doubts and difficul

ties where there really were none. It occurs in Terence, the

7. sc. 4, 38; also in Ennius, "Saturæ," 46.

Andria," act

2 What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him

4 Patience is a remedy for every sorrow.

8 See Chaucer, page 4.

- PUBLIUS SYRUS: Maxim 170.

A friend in need is a friend indeed. — HAZLITT: English Proverbs.

7 The unexpected always happens.

A common proverb.

TERENCE. 185-159 B. C.

(From the translation of Henry Thomas Riley, B. A., with occasional corrections. The references are to the text of Umpfenbach.1)

Do not they bring it to pass by knowing that they know nothing at all? Andria. The Prologue. 17.

Of surpassing beauty and in the bloom of youth.

Hence these tears.

Act i. Sc. 1, 45. (72.)

99. (126.)

That is a true proverb which is wont to be commonly quoted, that "all had rather it were well for themselves than for another."

Act . Sc. 5, 15. (426.)

The quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love."

Act iii. Sc. 3, 23. (555.)

Look you, I am the most concerned in my own inter

ests.3

Act iv. Sc. 1, 12. (636.) In fine, nothing is said now that has not been said before. Eunuchus. The Prologue. 41.

It is up with you; all is over; you are ruined.

Act i. Sc. 1, 9. (54.) If I could believe that this was said sincerely, I could put up with anything.

Sc. 2, 96. (176.)

Immortal gods! how much does one man excel another! What a difference there is between a wise person and a fool! Act ii. Sc. 2. 1. (232.)

I have everything, yet have nothing; and although I possess nothing, still of nothing am I in want.

1 Bohn's Classical Library.

2 See Edwards, page 21.

Ibid. 12. (243)

8 Equivalent to our sayings, "Charity begins at home;" "Take care of

Number One."

4 See Wotton, page 174.

Jupiter, now assuredly is the time when I could readily consent to be slain,1 lest life should sully this ecstasy with some disaster. Sc. 5, 2. (550.) This and a great deal more like it I have had to put up with. Act iv. Sc. 6, 8. (746.)

Take care and say this with presence of mind."

Sc. 6, 31. (769.) It behooves a prudent person to make trial of everything before arms. Sc. 7, 19. (789.)

I know the disposition of women: when you will, they won't; when you won't, they set their hearts upon you of their own inclination.

42. (812.)

I took to my heels as fast as I could. Act v. Sc. 2, 5. (844.) Many a time, . . . from a bad beginning great friendships have sprung up.

34. (873.)

I only wish I may see your head stroked down with a slipper.

Sc. 7, 4. (1028.) I am a man, and nothing that concerns a man do I deem a matter of indifference to me.4

Heautontimoroumenos. Acti. Sc. 1, 25. (77.)

This is a wise maxim, "to take warning from others. of what may be to your own advantage."

Sc. 2, 36. (210.)

1 If it were now to die,

SHAKESPEARE: Othello, act ii. sc. 1.

'T were now to be most happy.

Literally, "with a present mind," - equivalent to Cæsar's præsentia

animi (De Bello Gallico, v. 43, 4).

3 According to Lucian, there was a story that Omphale used to beat Hercules with her slipper or sandal.

4 Cicero quotes this passage in De Officiis, i. 30.

That saying which I hear commonly repeated, that time assuages sorrow.

Heautontimoroumenos. Act iii, Sc. 1, 12. (421.)

Really, you have seen the old age of an eagle,1 as the saying is. Sc. 2, 9. (520.) Many a time a man cannot be such as he would be, if circumstances do not admit of it. Act iv. Sc. 1, 53. (666.). Nothing is so difficult but that it may be found out by seeking.

What now if the sky were to fall?

2

Rigorous law is often rigorous injustice.

Sc. 2, 8. (675.)

Sc. 3, 41. (719.)

Sc. 5, 48. (796.)

Sc. 6, 1. (805.)

There is nothing so easy but that it becomes difficult when you do it with reluctance.

How many things, both just and unjust, are sanctioned by custom!

Fortune helps the brave.‘

5

Sc. 7, 11. (839.)

Phormio. Act i. Sc. 4, 25. (203.)

It is the duty of all persons, when affairs are the most prosperous, then in especial to reflect within themselves in what way they are to endure adversity.

Act ii. Sc. 1, 11. (241.) As many men, so many minds; every one his own way. Sc. 4, 14. (454.)

1 This was a proverbial expression, signifying a hale and vigorous old

Some ambassadors from the Celta, being asked by Alexander what in the world they dreaded most, answered, that they feared lest the sky should fall upon them.-ARRIANUS: lib. i. 4.

3 Extreme law, extreme injustice, is now become a stale proverb in discourse. CICERO: De Officiis, i. 33.

Une extrême justice est souvent une injure (Extreme justice is often injustice. RACINE: Frères Ennemies, act iv. sc. 3.

Mais l'extrême justice est une extrême injure. - VOLTAIRE: Edipus, act iii. sc. 3.

Pliny the Younger says (book vi. letter xvi.) that Pliny the Elder said this during the eruption of Vesuvius: "Fortune favours the brave." 5 CICERO Tusculan Questions, book iii. 30.