Juvenal.
[NOTE 50.]
Marcus Glabrio.
This person was doubtless distinguished by another appellation which is not set down in the title to this play: under the name of Glabrio, there is no account of him extant. As Glabrio does not appear to have been the name of any Gens, or family in Rome, it was probably the Agnomen of Marcus only, and not common to his kindred.
[NOTE 51.]
By the company of Lucius Ambivius Turpio, and Lucius Attilius.
These were the principal actors of their company, but otherwise persons of little note; for contrary to the customs of Greece, where men of the highest rank thought it no degradation to appear on the stage; the actors at the Roman theatres were not treated with that consideration to which persons of talent, who furnish the public with a polite and rational amusement, united with instruction, have a just and undeniable claim. However unjust the Romans might have been in this particular, they made an exception in favour of transcendent merit; as in the case of the admirable Roscius, though the mention made of this favourite performer by his friend Cicero, shews the truth of the foregoing remark. “Cum artifex ejusmodi sit, ut solus dignus videatur esse qui in scenâ spectetur; tum vir ejusmodi fuit, ut solus dignus videatur qui non accedat;” so excellent an actor, that he only seemed worthy to tread the stage, and yet so noble a man, that he seemed to be the very last person that ought to appear there. Though the Roman actors were not allowed their due privileges as citizens, yet some of the most eminent were often very great favourites with the people, and created so much interest among them, that (as Suetonius tells us) the parties of rival performers disputing for precedence, have proceeded so far as to terminate the quarrel in bloodshed. Turpio and Attilius were actors of the first class, and were said (vid. Terence Phorm:) agere primas partes, because they always personated the principal characters in the piece.
[NOTE 52.]
Præneste.
Præneste was a town of Latium, about twenty-four miles from Rome, and founded by Cæculus, as we are told by Virgil, B. 7.
“Nec Prænestinæ fundator defuit urbis,
Vulcano genitumque omnis quem credidit ætas
Cæculus.”