compsa is her husband's mistress-Charinus is in despair at having lost Pasicompsa-Eutychus, the son of Lysimachus, tells his friend Charinus that Pasicompsa is at his father's house-Eutychus and Lysimachus rate Demipho soundly for wanting to keep a mistress at his years-Demipho is forced to resign Pasicompsa to his son-this C. was translated by Colman-Thornton when he set about translating Plautus, determined to write his translation in blank verse, in imitation of Colman's Terence--but Thornton's blank verse is far from being so easy and colloquial as Colman's.

6. Miser-Plautus calls this play the Comedy of the Pot-Euclio, the Miser, was poor, but had lately found a Pot, which was full of gold, and which his grandfather had buried-the gold does not contribute to his happiness, as he has not spirit to use it, and is in continual fear that it should be stolen-Megadorus offers to marry Phædra, the daughter of Euclio, without a portion-Euclio accepts the offer, but suspects that Megadorus had smelt out the Pot-Strobilus, the servant of Lyconides, discovers the place in which Euclio has buried his Pot-he steals the Pot -Euclio is in despair when he finds that he has lost it-Phædra is with child by Lyconides who wishes to marry her-Megadorus is uncle to Lyconides-he readily resigns Phædra—a scene of equivocation ensues-Lyconides speaks to Euclio about his daughter -Euclio thinks that Lyconides is speaking about the Pot-Strobilus acknowledges to his master that he had stolen the Pot-the remainder of the play is lost -according to the Supplement of the Translator, Strobilus gives the Pot to Lyconides, on condition of

obtaining his liberty-Euclio recovers the Pot, and consents to the union of his daughter and Lyconides -Moliere founded his Miser on this C.-Shadwell and Fielding adapted Moliere's play to the English stage -Ben Jonson has founded the other part of his Case is Altered on this play-Dr. Vincent, in 1796, published an edition of it, as acted by the King's Scholars at Westminster-he made some alterations in it, to fit it for that purpose.

7. Shipwreck-Plautus calls this C. the Cable or Rope-the scene lies on the sea coast near Cyrenæ -the stage represents the temple of Venus, the house of Dæmones, &c. -Dæmones and Pleusidippus are Athenian gentlemen-Palæstra and Ampelisca are slaves to Labrax, who is a procurer— Palæstra is by birth an Athenian-she had been kidnapped in her infancy-Pleusidippus had fallen in love with her had bargained for her with Labraxand had paid him earnest-Labrax had hired a ship privately-had carried Palæstra and Ampelisca on board-and had set sail for Sicily-at the opening of the play the ship is wrecked-Palæstra and Ampelisca get safe to shore-they take refuge in the temple of Venus-and are kindly treated by the priestessLabrax attempts to carry them by force from the temple -- Dæmones rescues them --Pleusidippus drags Labrax before the magistrates-they award Palæstra to Pleusidippus-in the mean time, Gripus, the servant of Dæmones, enters with a net and a rope fastened to it-he had pulled out of the sea a wallet belonging to Labrax, with a casket in it belonging to Palæstra - Palæstra by means of the casket is discovered to be the daughter of Dæmones-Pleusi

dippus marries her this is one of the best of Plautus' Comedies.

The Editor of the B. D. says that the remainder of the Plays was translated by Warner.

8. The Asses-Demænetus had married Artemona for her money—their son, Argyrippus, is in love with a courtezan, called Philenium-she is in love with him-her mother insists on being well paid-Argyrippus wants 20 minæ for that purpose-his father would willingly assist him, but it is not in his power, as he is under petticoat government-Saureas, the steward of Artemona, had sold some Asses-the man who had bought the Asses, does not know Saureas by sight-Leonida pretends to be Saureas-Demænetus confirms the imposition-the money is paid, and given to the mother of Philenium-Demænetus stipulates that his son should let him have a share of Philenium-Diabolus, the rival of Argyrippus, sends his parasite to tell Artemona what had happened— she finds Demænetus and Argyrippus drinking with Philenium-she gives her husband a good jobation, and forces him to go home-Argyrippus is left in the quiet possession of Philenium-this is a laughable Comedy.

9. Curculio, or the Parasite-the scene lies at Epidaurus-Phædromus and Planesium are mutually in love-she is the slave of Cappadox, who had agreed to sell her to a Soldier-Phædromus had sent his Parasite, Curculio, into Caria, in the hope of borrowing money to buy Planesium-Curculio returns without any money, but with the seal of the Soldier, which he had contrived to steal-the Soldier's Banker, on receiving a letter sealed with the seal,

believes Curculio to be the Soldier's servant, and gives him the money which he wants-Curculio purchases Planesium of Cappadox for his patron-the Soldier, on his return, threatens Cappadox and the Banker-Planesium proves to be the sister of the Soldier, and the play ends with the marriage of Phædromus and Planesium-this is a good C.-in the 1st act Phædromus sprinkles a door with wine -a drunken old woman, who has the care of Planesium, enters, being attracted by the smell-Massinger has imitated this scene in his Very Woman.

10. Casina, or the Lots-Euthynicus is the son of Stalino and Cleostrata-Casina is a slave who had been well brought up by Cleostrata-the father and the son are both of them in love with Casina-Olympio is servant to the father-Chalinus is servant to the son-Stalino promotes the marriage of Olympio with Casina, hoping by that method to have her for his mistress-his son wishes Chalinus to marry Casina for the same reason-Euthynicus is not one of the D. P.-but his mother suspects her husband's views, and supports Chalinus-it is agreed, that Olympio and Chalinus should cast lots for Casina— Olympio gains her-Chalinus is dressed up by the women as the bride-he is carried off by Olympio and Stalino-they proceed to take liberties with him, and get well beaten-Chalinus jeers them-Stalino is glad to obtain his wife's pardon-here the play ends-but one of the actors tells the audience, that Casina will prove to be the daughter of a citizen, and be married to Euthynicus-this is a good C.

11. The Casket-the plot of this play is slight, and the play itself much shorter than usual-————AI

cesimarchus is desperately in love with Silenium, the supposed daughter of Melænis-she is in love with him-the father of Alcesimarchus wishes him to marry the daughter of Demipho by his first wife -at the conclusion, Silenium proves to be the daughter of Demipho by his present wife-the discovery is made by means of a Casket.

12. Epidicus-Warner, in his translation, calls this play the Discovery-the scene lies at AthensStratippocles, the son of Periphanes, had joined the army-he had, by his letters, importuned Epidicus to procure the liberty of a female musician, with whom he was in love-Epidicus is the slave of Periphanes he had made Periphanes believe that the girl was his daughter-Periphanes had accordingly bought her in the mean time Stratippocles had fallen in love with a captive, and had purchased her— he returns to Athens with the banker from whom he had borrowed the money for the purchase of the captive-he now enjoins Epidicus to raise the sum which he wants to pay the banker-Epidicus effects this by playing his master another trick-the old man finds out how grossly he has been imposed on by Epidicus-he meditates a severe revenge-Epidicus is in despair, till he discovers that the captive virgin is really the daughter of Periphanes-Periphanes is so pleased at finding his daughter, that he gives Epidicus his liberty-this is one of Plautus' best plays-and seemingly his own favourite-the character of Epidicus requires a very good actor— Plautus, in his Baccides makes Chrysalus say—“ I "love the play of Epidicus, as I love myself, but I