[Footnote 54: _The old man and the old woman_)--Ver. 621. "Senex
atque anus." In these words he probably refers to the commencement
of many of the stories current in those times, which began: "There
were once upon a time an old man and an old woman." Indeed, almost
the same words occur in the Stichus of Plautus, l. 540, at the
commencement of a story: "Fuit olim, quasi ego sum, senex," "There
was upon a time an old man, just like me."]

[Footnote 55: _Still take the child_)--Ver. 638. In cases of
separation it was customary for the father to have the care of the
male children.]

[Footnote 56: _But should you like_)--Ver. 725. Donatus observes
that Phidippus utters these words with an air of disinclination to
be present at the conference; and, indeed, the characters are well
sustained, as it would not become him coolly to discourse with a
courtesan, whom he supposes to have alienated Pamphilus from his
daughter, although he might very properly advise it, as being
likely to conduce to the peace of both families.]

[Footnote 57: _Kept Pamphilus at a distance_)--Ver. 752. Colman
observes, how are we to reconcile this with the words of Parmeno
at the beginning of the Play, where he says that Pamphilus visited
Bacchis daily; and he inquires whether we are to suppose that
Bacchis, who behaves so candidly in every other instance, wantonly
perjures herself in this, or that the Poet, by a strange
infatuation attending him in this Play, contradicts himself? To
this it may be answered, that as Bacchis appears to be so
scrupulous in other instances, it is credible that,
notwithstanding his visits, she may not have allowed him to share
her embraces.]

[Footnote 58: _Other courtesans avoid doing_)--Ver. 777. Colman
has the following quotation from Donatus: "Terence, by his
uncommon art, has attempted many innovations with great success.
In this Comedy, he introduces, contrary to received prejudices,
a good step-mother and an honest courtesan; but at the same time
he so carefully assigns their motives of action, that by him alone
every thing seems reconcilable to truth and nature; for this is
just the opposite of what he mentions in another place, as the
common privilege of all Poets, 'to paint good matrons and wicked
courtesans.'" Perhaps the same good feeling prompted Terence, in
showing that a mother-in-law and a courtesan could be capable of
acting