THE STEP-MOTHER.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

Prologue. Laches. Phidippus. Pamphilus. Parmeno. Sosia. Boy, and other Servants. Sostrata. Myrrhina. Bacchis. Philotis. Syra. Nurse, Servants to Bacchis, etc.

Scene, Athens.

The word “stepmother” in place of “mother-in-law” is an anomalous English usage, not a mistranslation.

PROLOGUE.

This play is call’d the Step-Mother. When first

It was presented, such a hurricane,

A tumult so uncommon interven’d,

It neither could be seen nor understood:

So taken were the people, so engag’d

By a rope-dancer!—It is now brought on

As a new piece: and he who wrote the play

Suffer’d it not to be repeated then,

That he might profit by a second sale.

Others, his plays, you have already known;

Now then, let me beseech you, know this too.

ANOTHER PROLOGUE.

I come a pleader, in the shape of prologue:

Let me then gain my cause, and now grown old.

Experience the same favor as when young;

Who then recover’d many a lost play,

Breath’d a new life into the scenes, and sav’d

The author and his writings from oblivion.

Of those which first I studied of Cæcilius,

In some I was excluded; and in some

Hardly maintain’d my ground. But knowing well

The variable fortunes of the scene,

I was content to hazard certain toil

For an uncertain gain. I undertook

To rescue those same plays from condemnation,

And labor’d to reverse your sentence on them;

That the same Poet might afford me more,

And no ill fortune damp young Genius in him.

My cares prevail’d; the plays were heard; and thus

Did I restore an Author, nearly lost

Through the malevolence of adversaries,

To study, labor, and the Poet’s art.

But had I at that time despis’d his plays,

Or labor’d to deter him from the task,

It had been easy to have kept him idle,

And to have scar’d him from attempting more:

For my sake, therefore, deign to hear with candor

The suit I mean to offer to you now.

Once more I bring the Step-Mother before you,

Which yet in silence I might never play;

So did confusion crush it: which confusion

Your prudence may allay, if it will deign

To second our endeavors.—When I first

Began to play this piece, the sturdy Boxers,

(The dancers on the rope expected too,)

Th’ increasing crowds, the noise and women’s clamor,

Oblig’d me to retire before my time.

I, upon this occasion, had recourse

To my old way. I brought it on again.

In the first act I please: meanwhile there spreads

A rumor of the Gladiators: then

The people flock together, riot, roar,

And fight for places. I meanwhile my place

Could not maintain—To-day there’s no disturbance;

All’s silence and attention; a clear stage:

’Tis yours to give these games their proper grace.

Let not, oh let not the Dramatic Art

Fall to a few! let your authority

Assist and second mine! if I for gain

Ne’er overrated my abilities,

If I have made it still my only care

To be obedient to your will, oh grant

That he who hath committed his performance

To my defense, and who hath thrown himself

On your protection, be not giv’n to scorn,

And foul derision of his envious foes!

Admit this plea for my sake, and be silent;

That other Poets may not fear to write,

That I too may hereafter find it meet

To play new pieces bought at my expense.

ACT THE FIRST.