Prologue

The Step-Mother.

Persons Represented.

Prologue.

Laches.

Phidippus.

Pamphilus.

Parmeno.

Sosia.

Boy, and other Servants.

Sostrata.

Myrrhina.

Bacchis.

Philotis.

Syra.

Nurse, Servants to Bacchis, etc.

Scene, Athens.

The word “stepmother” in place of “mother-in-law” is an anomalous English usage, not a mistranslation.

This play is call’d the Step-Mother. When first

It was presented, such a hurricane,

A tumult so uncommon interven’d,

It neither could be seen nor understood:

So taken were the people, so engag’d

By a rope-dancer!—It is now brought on

As a new piece: and he who wrote the play

Suffer’d it not to be repeated then,

That he might profit by a second sale.

Others, his plays, you have already known;

Now then, let me beseech you, know this too.