TERENTIUS AFER, PUBLIUS (more commonly TERENCE), a Roman poet; born in Carthage, whence his surname Afer, 185 B. c. Some authorities place him 10 years earlier. He was the last of the comic dramatists of Rome of whom we have anything remaining. The extant records of the life of Terence are more than apocryphal. He was either taken prisoner in war or sold in the slave mar ket. His purchaser, or at all events the Roman into whose hands he fell, was a senator, Lucanus Terentius. On obtain ing his freedom he took his patron's name. A liberal education followed, and we soon find him the friend and associate of the great and noble. He was gifted with dramatic genius. Terence was be yond question the chief dramatist of his time. He used, moreover, the Latin tongue with singular grace and elegance. Critics have denied to him the possession of lively humor. Terence was the inter preter of Menander; but he was more than a mere translator. His six corn
Mies that remain belong to the "Fabula Palliate." It is said that Terence went to Greece and translated 108 of Men ander's plays. 'Whether he was lost on his homeward voyage, as some say, or lost his transcripts and died of grief in consequence, we have no means of de ciding. He died in his 26th year, 159 B. C. The following are his comedies, with the years of their production: (1) "Andria" (The Woman of Andros), 166 B. C.; (2) "Hecyra" (The Stepmother), 165 B. C.; (3) "Heauton-timoroumenos" (The Self tormentor), 163 B. C.; (4) "Eunuchus" (The Eunuch) 162 B. C.; (5) "Phormio," 162 B. c.; (6) "Ade1phi" (The Brothers), 160 B. C.
The edito princeps of Terence was pub lished at Strassburg in 1470. The works of Terence have been translated into al most every European tongue.