Chapter IX: Prologue

Hoc agite sultis, spectatores, nunciam,
quae quidem mihi atque vobis res vertat bene
gregique huic et dominis atque conductoribus.
face nunciam tu, praeco, omnem auritum poplum.

Kindly give us your entire attention now, spectators: I
heartily hope it will result in benefit to me, also to you,
and to this company and its managers, and to those that hire
them. (_turning to a herald_) Herald, provide all this crowd
with ears at once. (_the herald proclaims silence_)

age nunc reside, cave modo ne gratiis.
nunc quid processerim huc et quid mihi voluerim
dicam: ut sciretis nomen huius fabulae;
nam quod ad argumentum attinet, sane brevest.

Enough enough! Sit down--and be sure you put that in your
bill! (_to audience_) Now I shall say why I have come out
before you here and what I wished: I have come to acquaint
you with the name of this play. For as far as the plot is
concerned, that is quite simple.

nunc quod me dixi velle vobis dicere,
dicam: huic nomen Graece Onagost fabulae; 10
Demophilus scripsit, Maccus vortit barbare;
Asinariam volt esse, si per vos licet.
inest lepos ludusque in hac comoedia,
ridicula res est. date benigne operam mihi,
ut vos, ut alias, pariter nunc Mars adiuvet.

Now I shall say what I said I wished to say: the Greek
name of this play is ONAGOS: Demophilus wrote it: Maccus
translated it into a foreign tongue. He wishes to call it
THE COMEDY OF ASSES, by your leave. It is a clever comedy,
full of drollery and laughable situations. Do oblige me by
being attentive, that now too, as in other days, Mars may be
with you.

ACTVS I