
This translation of Terence was published by Harper & Brothers as the second part of an omnibus volume also containing the 1853 Riley translation (prose, with notes and commentary). The Riley portion has been released as a separate e-text.
THE - COMEDIES - OF - TERENCE.
LITERALLY TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH PROSE, WITH NOTES.
By HENRY THOMAS RILEY, B.A., - LATE SCHOLAR OF CLARE HALL, CAMBRIDGE.
ACT THE FIRST. - SCENE I.
ACT THE SECOND. - SCENE I.
ACT THE THIRD. - SCENE I.
ACT THE FOURTH. - SCENE I.
ACT THE FIFTH. - SCENE I.
ACT THE FIRST. - SCENE I.
This volume presents the surviving comedies of the Roman playwright Terence in a clear, literal English prose translation. The editor has aligned the text with the 1768 Colman edition, marking any discrepancies between the two sources so listeners can follow where the older reading differs. Helpful side‑by‑side notes explain cultural references, linguistic quirks, and stage directions that survive from the ancient performances.
In addition to the prose version, the book includes George Colman’s familiar blank‑verse rendition, allowing a taste of how the plays sounded in performance. The margins show original page numbers from both the 1896 Harper printing and the 1768 edition, and illustrative plates from the older text enhance the listening experience. Whether you’re a newcomer to Roman comedy or revisiting a favorite, the dual translations and scholarly commentary make the ancient humor accessible and engaging.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (429K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Louise Hope, David Starner and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
Sep 21, 2007
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

A master of Roman comedy, this playwright turned Greek stories into sharp, graceful dramas that stayed popular for centuries. All six of his surviving plays endured, helping shape later European theater and classroom Latin alike.
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