I have been fearful that you would prove perfidious, like the common herd of slaves, and deceive me in this intrigue of Pamphilus.
Ego dudum non nil veritus sum.
Donatus makes a remark on the style of this sentence, which deserves attention, “gravis oratio ab hoc pronomine (ego) plerumque inchoatur,” a speech which begins with the pronoun ego is generally grave and serious: to which some commentator has added the following remark respecting the before-mentioned passage from Terence, “Est autem hoc principium orationis Simonis à benevolentia per antithesin.” The remarks of Donatus and Nonnius on the style of our author, are generally very acute and ingenious. Scaliger, Muretus, and Trapp, may be added to the critics before mentioned. The learned writer last named has composed a treatise in Latin “De Dramate,” which contains many very valuable hints relative to dramatic writing.
[NOTE 155.]
Simo.—Ha! what’s that you say?
There is a play upon words here, which I have endeavoured to preserve in the English. The Latin is as follows. Davus. Occidi. Simo. Hem! quid dixisti? Davus. Optume inquam factum. If the requisite similarity of sound was preserved in this pun, it may be conjectured that the Latin i was not pronounced very differently from the i of the modern Italians. Vide [Note 92].
[NOTE 156.]
Pam.—What trust can I put in such a rascal?
Oh! tibi ego ut credam FURCIFER?
The epithet furcifer (rascal) is of singular derivation; and, though it was an appellation of great reproach in the times of Terence, yet, in later ages of the Roman Republic, it bore a very different signification. The name of furcifer, which was originally given to slaves, took its rise from the Roman custom of punishing a slave who had committed any flagrant offence, by fastening round his neck a heavy piece of wood, in the shape of a fork, and thence called furca; this occasioned the delinquent to be afterwards called furcifer, (furcam ferre.) Three modes of punishment by the furca were practised at Rome: 1. ignominious, 2. penal, 3. capital. In the first, the criminal merely carried the furca on his shoulders for a short period; in the second, he wore the furca, and was whipped round the Forum; in the third, after having been tied to a large furca, somewhat like a modern gallows, he was beaten to death. Slaves were treated more severely by the Romans than by the Athenians, who were celebrated for their mild and gentle behaviour to that class of persons. The furca was afterwards employed in a very different manner; and, from a badge of disgrace, was changed to a serviceable implement. Caius Marius, nearly a hundred years after Terence composed this play, introduced the use of the furca among his soldiers. It was employed to carry baggage and other requisites; and, in use, somewhat resembled a modern porter’s knot, hence, the word furculum or ferculum, became an expression to signify a burden, or any thing carried in the hand: and sometimes, also, the various courses brought to table, as in Horace,
“Multaque de magnâ superessent fercula cœnâ,
Quæ procul extructis inerant hesterna canistris?”
B. II. Sat. 6.