The Roman comic playwright “whose every word delights.” Terence brought a brilliant comic voice and a refined sense of style to the Roman stage. His six comedies—produced in the early years before his untimely death in 159 B.C.—fantastically reinterpreted Latin plays that had originally been written by Greek playwrights, particularly Menander.

For this new edition of the Loeb Classical Library of Terence, John Barsby provides us with a faithful and lively translation with extensive explanatory notes, accompanied by a freshly edited Latin text. Volume I includes a substantial introduction and three works: The Woman of Andros, a romantic comedy; The Self-Tormentor, which examines opposing paternal-son relationships; and The Eunuch, whose characters include the most sympathetically drawn courtesan in Roman comedy.

The other three works are in Volume II: The Phormio, a comedy of intrigue featuring an interesting con artist; The Mother-in-Law, unique among Terence’s comedies as the female characters are the notable ones; and The Brothers, which explores conflicting approaches to the parental education of sons.

The Romans greatly praised Terence—“whose speech can charm, whose every word delights,” in the words of Cicero. This new edition of his works, which replaces the now outdated Loeb translation by John Sargeaunt (first published in 1912), manages to capture his polished style and appeal.