The comedies

The roman dramatist Terence (c. 186-159 b.C.) is one of the most interesting latin authors. Although his professed aim was to adapt Greek new comedy for the Roman stage, he presented sympathetically the stock figures of comedy as human beings interacting on each other, and confronted with the domestic problems that are still ours today. 

The six comedies in this volume are his complete output, and range in mood from light romantic comedy through elaborate intrigue to the themes handled with wit and urbanity which were so much admired by Molière. They were preserved in maniscripts and studied all through the Middle Ages for the polish and elegance of their latin style, and from the Renaissance onwards have been a lasting influence in the Western European comedy of manners.