^^11^ riN PLAYS CD CO r^ LO CQ >- nil I: GINN i i; riijIi'iH: I llllilllfiiniii ili'jii {iji'-'ii Ife:'^'; In 11 i I \mm Ult. THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IN MEMORY OF PROFESSOR ALBERT H. MOWBRAY 1881— 1949 TWO LATIN PLAYS FOR HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS BY SUSAN PAXSON INSTRUCTOR IN LATIN IN THE OMAHA HIGH SCHOOL GINN AND COMPANY BOSTON • NEW YORK • CHICAGO • LONDON COPYRIGHT, 1911, BY SUSAN PAX80N ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 811.5 GIFT GINN AND COMPANY • PRO- PRIETORS • BOSTON • U.S.A. P/\s.ioi 9z^ CUI BONO? If this little entertainment shall give pleasure and he of profit to any who have set out on their toil- some journey into the realm of Latin Literature^ the writer s aim will he accomplished M684604 PREFATORY NOTE I am greatly indebted to Mrs. C. H. Beeson and to Professor Frank J. Miller, of the University of Chicago. To the former, for her most scholarly and generous assistance in the correcting of the manuscript and for her many valuable suggestions throughout the work; to the latter, for his painstaking reading of the proof and for his kindly and helpful interest. In fact, it was largely due to the helpful uplift that came to some of my advanced classes, as well as to myself, from the presentation of Professor Miller's *' Dramatizations from Vergil " that these little plays were written. SUSAN PAXSON CONTENTS PAGE Introduction ix A Roman School 1 Costumes 16 A Roman Wedding 19 Costumes and Suggestions 37 vii INTRODUCTION In response to the invitation of the author and pub- lishers, I am glad to stand godfather to this little book of original Latin plays. They are the product of an enthusiastic teacher cooperating with students whom she has, in part by this means, inspired with a genuine interest in Roman life and its expression in the Latin tongue. They offer a helpful contribution to the solution of the ever-present and vexing problem which teachers of Latin in secondary schools are meeting: How can we make this Latin interesting to our pupils ? How can we compete with departments which more easily hold the pupils' interest because their subject matter touches more nearly the various phases of modern life ? It is, indeed, true that any subject well taught by a live teacher will interest pupils. But, even where this con- dition is realized, the need is being felt more and more of something which will vary the deadly monotony in- cident to the learning of the technique of a language, especially one which makes its appeal largely to the eye alone through the medium of the printed page. It is one of the most encouraging features of our present-day classical work that teachers more and more are inventing ways of vitalizing their teaching without weakening it. For this must always be borne in mind : that we are not seeking to gain mere interest. What we ix X INTRODUCTION want is interest in, Latin, We want our students to be so interested that they will cheerfully endure all the hardships incident to this study because they have dis- covered that it is worth while in itself, because it has come to mean something to them, because it actually touches their own lives. If the reader will scan the department of ''Current Events" in the present volume of the ClassicaUournaly he will find many indications of this new spirit among classical teachers in the schools. Thus we find a Latin club in a high school in Columbus, Ohio, giving, among other activities, an exhibition of a Roman triclinium, in which the whole scene was enacted as nearly as possible in the Roman fashion, accompanied by Latin songs. And thus the pupils were made to realize that the Roman's life was not entirely one of warfare, but that he ate, drank, and acted as a real human being. In Kansas, a classical club was recently organized by the students of Hiawatha Academy, whose program consists of talks on classical subjects and Latin songs, followed by a social hour enlivened by Latin games. In Lincoln, Nebraska, a live Latin club has originated in an exceptionally strong Caesar class. They call themselves the Legio Decima, be- cause they scorn " anything that has to do with cavalry" ! Their program abounds in live topics connected with the Latin work and unique representations of Roman life. - But the greatest success seems to have been gained through the dramatic presentation of matter pertinent to the students' work. We read of a spirited entertainment by the students of a Seattle high school, in which were given scenes from the "Menaechmi" of Plautus, together INTRODUCTION xi with the singing of several odes of Horace which had been set to appropriate music. Others have attempted a play of Terence. Scores of schools have presented dramatized scenes from Vergil ; and we read of a school in Georgia where Horace's ninth satire, itself a complete little drama as it stands, was played by the students. In the same school portions of Caesar were dramatized and acted; and a dramatization based on the conspiracy of Catiline was recently sent to me from a school m Indiana. From all these and many other points it is reported that great interest is aroused among the students, pri- marily in the fact and production of the play itself, but resulting also in a permanent interest in the more seri- ous and regular work of the Latin class. The author of the plays presented in this book has herself already reaped rich rewards of her work in the continued zeal of her students for their Latin study after they have passed on to college. She writes that the boy who played " Cicero " in the wedding last year is now a freshman in an eastern college, and still finds Latin the work of his greatest interest and success ; and the girl who was " Tullia " in the play is also a freshman in col- lege, with zeal and courage enough to attempt the com- position of Latin hymns. The difficulty heretofore felt by teachers and their Latin clubs has been in finding appropriate plays in Latin simple enough for their pupils to master without undue hardship, and appealing strongly in their sub- ject matter to the young student; and I feel sure that in these two plays, "A Roman School " and "A Roman ^Kii INTRODUCTION Wedding," will be found just the material which has been sought. Aside from the awakened interest of the student and the vivid impression which his mind will receive of these two important phases of Roman life, who can estimate the actual gain in the acquisition of the Latin language itself, which will come not alone to those students who are fortunate enough to take part in these plays, but to those as well who listen to the re- hearsals and to the final production ? I therefore most cordially commend these plays to all teachers of Latin, and urge that they be presented in the schools each year wherever possible. FRANK JUSTUS MILLER The University of Chicago A ROMAN SCHOOL 90 B.C. DRAMATIS PERSONAE Magister Servi Paedagogus Aulas Licinius Archias "| Publius Licinius Crassus J Gains Licinius Crassus, adulescens Discipuli Marcus Tullius Cicero Quintus Tullius Cicero Liicius Sergius Catilina Marcus Antonius Gains liilins Caesar Appius Claudius Caecus Gnaens Pompeius Piiblins Clodius Pnlcher Marcus liinins Brutus Quintus Hortensius Hortalus Liicius Licinius Liicullus Gains Claudius Marcellus Marcus Claudius Marcellus A ROMAN SCHOOL When the curtain is drawn, plain wooden benches are seen ar- ranged in order on the stage. Two boys stand at the blackboard, playing "odd or even"; two others are noisily playing nuces^; one is playing with a top, another is rolling a hoop, and a third is draw- ing a little toy cart. Three boys in the foreground are playing ball. They are Quintus Cicero, Marcus Cicero, and Marcus Antonius. With their conversation the scene begins. Q, Cic, Mihi pilam da ! M, Cic, O, da locum melioribus ! M, Ant Tu, Marce, pilam non recte remittis. Oportet altius iacere. M. Cic. lam satis alta erit. Hanc excipe ! 6 (Tosses the ball very high.) M, Mar, (going up to L. Lucullus who has the cart). Mihi plostellum da. L, Luc, Non, hoc plostellum est meum. Si tu. plostel- lum cupis, domum reversus inde pete. M, Mar, Mihi tu non gratus es, Luci Luculle. 10 (The Magister enters and loudly calls the roll, those present answering adsum.') Mag, Marcus Tullius Cicero. Quintus Tullius Cicero. 1 " Four or five of these (walnuts) are piled pyramidally together, when the players, withdrawing to a short distance, pitch another wal- nut at them, and he who succeeds in striking and dispersing the heap wins." Story, " Roba di Roma," p. 128. 3 4 A ROMAN SCHOOL Lucius Sergius Catilma. (Catilina is absent and all shout abest.) Marcus Antonius. Gaius Claudius Marcellus. Gaius lulius Caesar. 5 Appius Claudius Caecus. (Appius is absent and all again shout abest.) Lucius Licinius Lucullus. Gnaeus Pompeius. Publius Clodius Pulcher. Marcus Junius Brutus. 10 Quintus Hortensius Hortalus. Marcus Claudius Marcellus. Nunc, pueri, percipite, quaeso, diligenter, quae dicam, et ea penitus animis vestris mentibusque mandate. Sine mora respondete. (Writes on the board the sentence " Omnis 15 res di regunt.") Nomen di, Marce Cicero, describe. M. Cic, Di est nomen, est cleclinationis secundae, generis masculini, numeri pluralis, casus nominativi, ex regula prima, quae dicit : Nomen quod subiectum verbi est, in casu nominativo ponitur. 20 Mag, Bene, Marce, bene ! Olim eris tii magnus vir, eris consul, eris orator clarissimus, quod tam diligens es. Quinte Cicero ! (Enter Catilina late. He is accompanied by a paedagogus carrying a bag with tabellae.) O puer piger, homo perditissimus eris. Quo usque tandem abutere, 25 Catilina, patientia nostra ? Vapulabis. L. Cat O magister, mihi parce, frugi ero, frugi ero. Mag, Catilina, more et exemplo populi Romani, tibi nullo modo parcere possum. Accedite, seryi ! (Enter two servi, one of whom takes Catilina by the head, the other by the A ROMAN SCHOOL 5 feet, while the magister pretends to flog him severely, and then resumes the lesson.^) Pergite, pueri. Quinte Cicero, verbum regunt describe. Q, Cic, (hesitatingly). i?g^i^7i^ est verbum. Est coniugati- 5nis secundae, coniugationis secundae, coniugationis se . . . 5 Mag. Male, Quinte. Tu es minus diligens fratre tuo Marco. Nescis quantum me htiius negoti taedeat. Si pensum eras non confeceris, est mihi in animo ad tuum patrem scribere. Haec nil iocor. Tuam nequitiam non diutius feram, non patiar, non sinam. 10 Q, Cic, O di immortales, talem avertite casum et ser- vate pios pueros, quamquam pigri sunt. Mag, Quinte Hortensi, verbum regunt describe. Q, Hot, Regunt est verbum ; praesens est rego ; in- finitivus, regere; perfectum, rexi; supinum, rectum. Est 16 coniugationis tertiae, generis activi, modi indicativi. Mag. Recte, recte, Quinte ! Bonus puer es. Gnaei Pompei, perge. Gn. Pom. (crying). Non pergere possum. Mag. O puer parve, pergere potes. Hanc placentam 20 accipe. lam perge. CrU. Pom. (taking the little cake and eating it). Regunt temporis praesentis est ; personae tertiae ; numeri pliira- lis n5men sequens, ex regula secunda, quae dicit : Ver- bum personam numerumque nominis sequitur. 25 Mag. Recte ! Nonne tibi dixi te rem exponere posse ? Nihil agis, Gnaei Pompei, nihil moliris, nihil cogitas, quod non ego non modo audiam, sed etiam videam planeque sentiam. Gai Marcelle, tempus futurum flecte. 1 See Johnston, '^Private Life of the Romans," p. 81 ; or Miller, *'Tlie Story of a Roman Boy." 6 A ROMAN SCHOOL Gi. Mar. Regam^ reges^ reget^ regemus^ regetis^ regent Mag. Quae pars orationis est omnis, Gai ? Gr. Mar. Omnis est adiectivum, Mag. Recte; estne omnis declinabile an indeclinabile, 5 Publi Pulcher ? P. Pul. Omnis est declinabile, omnis, omne. » Mag. In quo casu est omnis, Marce Brute ? M. Bru. Omnis est casus acctisativi ex regula quae" dicit: Nomen adiectivum casum et genus nominis sub- 10 stantivi sequitur. Mag. Cuius declinationis est omnis, Marce Marcelle ? M. Mar. Omnis est declinationis tertiae. Mag. Potesne omnis declinare ? M. Mar. Oppido, magister, ausculta. (Declines omnis.) 15 Mag. Marcus Claudius, suo more, op time fecit. Quam constructionem habet res, Marce Brute ? M. Bru. lies est nomen casus accusativi, quod obiec- tum verbi regunt est. (Enter Appius Caecus late. His paeda- gogus accompanies him.) 20 Paed. Magister, Appius Claudius hodie mane aeger est, idcirco tarde venit. (Exit.) Mag. Poenas da, " Mica, Mica," recita. App. Caec. Mica, mica, parva stella, Miror quaenam sis, tam bella ! 25 . Splendens eminus in illo Alba velut gemma caelo. Quando fervens Sol discessit, Nee calore prata pascit, Mox ostendis lumen piirum 30 Micans, micans per obsciirum. Mag. Quis alius recitare potest ? All (shouting). Ego possum, ego possum. A ROMAN SCHOOL 7 Mag, Bene ; Marce Antoni, recita. M, Ant, Tres philosophi de Tusculo Mare navigarunt vasculo ; Si vas fuisset tutius Tibi canerem diutius. 6 Others (shouting). Milii recitare liceat. Mag, Recita, Gnaei Pompei. G-n, Pom, loannes, loannes, tlbicine natus, Fugit perniciter porcum furatus. Sed porcus voratus, loannes delatus, 10 Et plorans per vias it fur, flagellatus. M, Bru, (holding up his hand). Novum carmen ego pos- sum recitare. Mag, Et tu, Brute ! Perge ! M, Bru, Gains cum Gaia in montem 15 Yeniunt ad hauriendum f ontem ; Gains prolapsus f regit frontem, Traxit secum Gaiam insontem.^ Mag, Hoc satis est hodie. Nunc, pueri, cor — Quid tibi vis, Quinte Hortensi ? Facis ut to to corpore con- 20 tremiscam. Q, Hor, (who has been shaking his hand persistently). Ma- gister, ego novos versus pronuntiare possum. Soror mea eos me docuit. Mag. Recita celeriter. 25 Q, Hor, lacobulus Horner Sedebat in corner Edens Saturnalicium pie ; Inseruit thumb, Extraxit plum, 30 Clamans, Quam acer puer sum I. 1 Here, as well as elsewhere, remember that Gains and Gaia are each three syllables. 8 A ROMAN SCHOOL Mag, Nunc, pueri, corpora exercete. Unum, duo, tria. (The discipuli now perform gymnastic exercises, following the example of the magister, who goes through the movements with them. These may be made very amusing, especially if the follow- ing movements are used : Arms sideways — stretch ; heels — raise, knee bend ; forehead — firm ; right knee upward — bend.) Mag, Considite. Pensum crastinum est pensum deci- mum. Cavete ne hoc obliviscamini. Pensum crastinum est pensum decimum. Et porro hunc versum discite : 5 '' Superanda omnis fortuna ferendo est." (The magister re- peats this verse emphatically several times in a loud and formal tone, the discipuli repeating it after him at the top of their voices.) lam geographia nobis consideranda est et Galliae opera danda. Quid de Gallia potes tu dlcere, Marce Marcelle ? 10 M, Mar. Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres, quarum unam incolunt Belgae, aliam Aquitani, tertiam qui ipso- rum lingua Celtae, nostra Galli appellantur. Mag, Pabli Palcher, horum omnium, qui fortissimi sunt? P, Put, Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae. 15 Mag, Mihi die cur Belgae fortissimi sint. P, Put, Belgae fortissimi sunt propterea quod a cviltu atque humanitate Romae longissime absunt, minimeque ad eos mercatores Romani saepe commeant atque ea quae ad effeminandos animos pertinent, important. 20 Mag, Quis fines Galliae designare potest ? All (raising hands). Ego, ego possum. Mag, Luci Luculle, Galliae fines designa. L. Luc, Gallia initium capit a fiumine Rhodano ; con- tinetur Garumna fiumine, Oceano, finibus Belgarum ; at- 25 tingit flixmen Rhenum ab Sequanis et Helvetiis ; vergit ad septentriones. A ROMAX SCHOOL 9 Mag. Quos deos colunt Galli, Gnaei Pompei ? Gn, Pom, Deorum maxime Mercurium colunt ; hunc omnium iiiventorem artium ferunt, hunc viarum atque itinerum ducem esse arbitrantur. Post hunc Apollinem et Martem et lovem et Mmervam colunt. 5 Mag, Bene, Gnaei. Quem deum, Catilina, colunt Ro- man! maxime ? L, Cat, Nos lovem divum patrem atque hominum regem maxime colimus. Mag, Nunc, pueri, cantate. Quod carmen hodie cante- 10 mus ? (Many hands are raised.) Gai Caesar, quod carmen tu cantare vis ? Cr, Caes, Volo '' Milites Christiani " cantare. Mag, Hoc pulcherrimum carmen cantemus. (A knock is heard. Enter Publius Licinius Crassus and Aulus Licinius Archias 15 with slaves carrying scrolls.) Salvete, amici. Vos advenisse gaudeo. Nonne adsldetis ut pueros cantare audiatis ? A, Archias, lam recte, carmen sane audiamus. Mag. Optime, pueri, cantemus. IJnum, duo, tria. (All rise and sing; each has the song^ before him on a scroll.) Milites Christian!, 20 Bello pergite ; Caram lesii crucem Vos provehite. Christus rex, magister, Diicit agmina, 26 Eius iam vexillum It in proelia. iTune of '^Onward, Christian Soldiers." Slightly altered from Education^ Vol. IX, p. 187. The author hopes that this most obvious anachronism will be pardoned on the ground that this hymn appeals to young pupils more than most Latin songs, and is therefore enjoyed by them and more easily learned. 10 A ROMAN SCHOOL Magnum agmen movet Dei ecclesia. Gradimur sanctorum, Fratres, semita. 6 Non divisi sumus, Unus omnes nos ; IJnus spe, doctrina, Caritate nos. Throni atque regna 10 Instabilia, Sed per lesum constans Stat ecclesia. Portae non gehennae Illam vincere, 16 Nee promissus lesu Potest fallere. Popule, beatis Vos coniungite ! Carmina triumph! 20 Una canite ; Christo regi honor, Laudes, gloria, Angeli hoc canent Saecla omnia. 25 Mag, lam, pueri, silentio facto, Gains lulius Caesar nobis suam orationem habebit quam de ambitione sua composuit. Hac oratione fmita, Marcus Tullius Cicero suam habebit. Ut pronuntiatum est compluribus diebus ante, hi duo pueri de praemio inter se contendunt. Hoc 30 die felicissimo duo clarissimi et honestissimi viri arbitri sunt, Aulus Licinius Archias et Pubhus Licinius Crassus. In rostra, Gai luli Caesar, escende ! (r. Caes, (Reads from a scroll or recites.) Mea cara ambitio est peritus dux militum fieri. Bella multa et magna A ROMAN SCHOOL 11 cum gentibus omnibus nationibusque orbis terrae gerere cupio. Bellum inferre volo Germanis et insulae Britanniae omnibusque populis Galliae et ceteris qui inimico animo in populum Romanum sunt. In primis, in insulam Bri- 6 tanniam pervenire cupio, quae omnis fere Romanis est incognita, et cognoscere quanta sit magnitudo insulae. Volo pontem in Rheno aedificare et magnum exercitum traducere ut metum illis Germanis quibus nostra parvula corpora contemptui sunt iniciam. Ubi Rhenum ego trans- 10 iero, non diutius gloriabuntur illi Germani magnitudine suorum corporum. Vos sententiam rogo, indices amplissimi, nonne est haec ambitio honesta ? Deinde res gestas meas perscribam. Negotium huius 15 historiae legendae pueris dabo mentium exercendarum ^ causa, nam mihi credite, commentarii de bello Gallico utiles erunt ad ingenia acuenda puerorum. (DiscipuH applaud.) Mag. Nunc Marcus nobis de sua carissima ambitione 20 loquetur. In rostra escende, Marce ! M, Cic, Quoad longissime potest mens mea respicere et ultimam memoriam recordari, haec mea ambitio fuit, ut me ad scribendi studium conferam, primum Romae, deinde in aliis urbibus. 25 Ambitio mea autem est omnibus antecellere ingeni mei gloria, ut haec oratio et facultas, quantacumque in me sit, numquam amic5rum periculis desit. Nonne est haec ambitio maximum incitamentum lab5rum ? Deinde, haec est mea ambitio, ut consul sim. De meo 30 amore gloriae vobis confitebor. Volo poetas reperire qui 12 A ROMAN SCHOOL ad gloriam mei consulatus celebrandam omne ingenium conferant. Nihil me mutum poterit delectare, nihil taci- turn. Quid enim, nonne desiderant omnes gloriam et famam? Quam multos scriptores rerum suarum magnus 5 ille Alexander secum habuisse dicitur ! Itaque, ea verba quae pro mea consuetudine breviter simpliciterque dixi,' arbitri, confido probata esse omnibus. (DiscipuH applaud.) Mag. Ut videtis, arbitri clarissimi, pueri anxiis animis vestrum decretum exspectant. Quae cum ita sint, peto 10 a vobis, ut testimonium laudis detis. A. Archias. Ambos pueros, magister, maxime lauda- mus, sed unus solus praemium habere potest. Nos non decernere possumus. Itaque decrevimus ut hi pueri ambo inter se sortiantur uter praemium obtineat. Servi, 15 urnam proferte ! Nomma in urnam iaciam. Qui habet . nomen quod primum educam, is victor erit. (Takes from the urn a small chip and reads the name Marcus Tullius Cicero.) Te, Marce Cicero, victorem esse pronuntio. Sic fata decreverunt. Servi, coronam ferte ! (Places a wreath of 20 leaves on the head of Marcus. The discipuli again applaud.) M. Cic, (going up to Caesar). Caesar, noli animo frangi. Non dubium est quin tii meliorem orationem habueris. Gr. Caes. (coolly). Dis aliter visum est. Mag, Vos ambo, Gai et Marce, honori huic scholae 25 estis. Utinam ceteri vos imitentur. Aliud certamen hiiius modi mox habebimus. Loquemur de — (A knock is heard. Enter Gains Licinius Crassus.) Gr. Oras. Mi pater ! P. Cras. Mi fili ! (They embrace.) * 30 Gr. Cras. Mater mea mihi dixit te arbitrum in hoc cer- tamine hodie esse. Te diiitius exspectare non potui. lam A roma:n^ school 13 diu te videre cupio et ego quoque cupio hoc certamen audire. Estne coiifectum ? P. Cras, Confectum est. Utinam hi pueri te recitare audiant ! Tu eos docere possis quomodo discipuli Rhodii in schola recitent. 6 M, Cic, O arbiter, nobis gratissimum sit, si tuum fiHum audire possimus. Discipuli (eagerly). O Crasse, recita, recita! G. Cras, Si vobis id placet, recitabo, meum tamen carmen longum est. Eius titulus est " Pome of a Pos- 10 sum." (Recites with gesticulation.) The nox was lit by liix of liina, And 'twas a nox most opportuna To catch a possum or a coona ; For nix was scattered o'er this mundus, 15 A shallow nix, et non profundus. On sic a nox, with canis iinus. Two boys went out to hunt for coonus. Unus canis, duo puer, Xumquam braver, numquam truer, 20 ^^ Quam hoc trio quisquam fuit. If there was, I never knew it. The corpus of this bonus canis Was full as long as octo span is. But brevior legs had canis never 25 Quam had hie bonus dog et clever. Some used to say, in stultum iocum, Quod a field was too small locum For sic a dog to make a turnus Circum self from stem to sternus. 30 This bonus dog had one bad habit, Amabat much to chase a rabbit ; Amabat pliis to catch a rattus, Amabat bene tree a cattus. 14 A EOMAN SCHOOL But on this nixy moonlight night This old canis did just right, Numquam chased a starving rattus, Numquam treed a wretched cattus, 6 But cucurrit on, intentus On the track and on the scentus. Till he treed a possum strongum In a hollow trunkum longum. , Loud he barked in horrid bellum, 10 Seemed on terra venit helium. Quickly ran uterque puer Mors of possum to secure. Cum venerunt, one began To chop away like quisque man ; 15 Soon the ax went through the trunkum. Soon he hit it all kerchunkum ; Combat deepens ; on, ye braves ! Canis, pueri, et staves ; As his powers non longius tarry, 20 Possum potest non piignare ; On the nix his corpus lieth. Ad the Styx his spirit flieth. Joyful pueri, canis bonus Think him dead as any stonus. 25 Now they seek their pater's domo. Feeling proud as any homo. Knowing, certe, they will blossom Into heroes, when with possum They arrive, narrabunt story, 30 Plenus blood et plenior glory. Pompey, David, Samson, Caesar, Cyrus, Black Hawk, Shalmaneser ! Tell me where est now the gloria. Where the honors of victoria? 35 Cum ad domum narrant story, Plenus sanguine, tragic, gory, Pater praiseth, likewise mater. Wonders greatly younger frater. A ROMAN SCHOOL 15 Possum leave they on the mundus, Go themselves to sleep profundus, Somniant possums slain in battle Strong as ursae, large as cattle. When nox gives way to lux of morning, 6 Albam terram much adorning, Up they jump to see the varmen Of which this here is the carmen. Possum, lo, est resurrectum ! Ecce puerum deiectum ! 10 Non relinquit track behind him, Et the pueri never find him ; Cruel possum, bestia vilest, How tu pueros beguilest ; Pueri think non plus of Caesar, 15 Go ad Orcum, Shalmaneser, Take your laurels, cum the honor, Since istud possum is a goner ! ^ (^Discipuli applaud.) Mag. OvcLiiQ^ qui Gaio Crasso gratias agere velint, surgite ! (All stand.) Nunc, pueri, domum redite. 20 Discipuli (departing). Vale, magister. Vale, magister. 1 Anonymous. COSTUMES The maglster, indices, and discipuli should all wear white togas with a purple ^ border. A white gauze shirt with short sleeves may- be used as a tunic, while white duck trousers and tennis slippers serve to complete the costume. The togas can be made of white muslin according to the meas- urements and cut given by Professor Johnston,^ which he has kindly permitted me to use. " Those who attempt the reconstruc- tion of the toga wholly or chiefly from works of art find it impos- sible to reproduce on the living form the drapery seen on the statues, with a toga of one piece of goods or of a semicircular pattern. An experimental form is shown in the figure, and re- 1 That is, either *' the color of clotted blood " (which was the Tyrian purple, the purple above all others) or any color from this to violet ; '^ purple " meant the dye from any sort of univalve mollusk that gave a dye. There is reason to believe that genuine Turkey red, though not a mollusk dye, was commercially called a purple. 2 Johnston, ''Private Life of the Romans," Scott, Foresman & Co., 1903. 16 A ROMAN SCHOOL 17 sembles that of a lamp shade cut in two and stretched out to its full extent. The dotted line 6^C is the straight edge of the goods ; the heavy lines show the shape of the toga after it had been cut out, and had had sewed upon it the ellipse-like piece m^Lrked FBAcba. The dotted line GE is of a length equivalent to the height of a maii at the shoulder, and the other measurements are to be cal- culated proportionately. When the toga is placed on the figure the point E must be on the left shoulder, with the point G touch- ing the ground in front. The point F comes at the back of the neck, and as the larger part of the garment is allowed to fall be- hind the figure the points L and M will fall on the calves of the legs behind, the point a under the right elbow, and the point b on the stomach. The material is carried behind the back and under the right arm and then thrown over the left shoulder again. The point c will fall on E, and the portion OPCa will hang down the back to the ground. The part FEA is then pulled over the right shoulder to cover the right side of the chest and form the sinus, and the part running from the left shoulder to the ground in front is pulled up out of the way of the feet, worked under the diagonal folds, and allowed to fall out a little to the front." The servi and paedagogus should wear tunics of some coarse, dark-colored material. In small schools, where there is not a sufficiently large number of boys in the Latin classes for discipuli, the parts may be taken by girls. Their hair should fall nearly to their shoulders, as in the case of the Roman boy. They may wear unstarched white skirts under the toga. The tahellae may be made of little book-shaped slates with wooden borders (paint them light-colored), and the rolls of paper. A ROMAN WEDDING 63 B.C. TRES SCAENAE Scaena prima : Sponsalia Scaena secunda : Nuptiae Scaena tertia : Deductio DRAMATIS PERSONS Sp5nsa : Tullia Sponsus : Gains Piso Sponsae pater : Marcus Tullius Cicero Sponsae mater : Terentia Sponsi pater : Lucius Piso Frugi Sponsi mater Sponsae frater : Marcus Tullius Cicero, adulescens Flamen Dialis Pontifex Maximus luris consultus Quintus Hortensius Pronuba Signatores Tibiciues Lictores Marcipor Philotimus Tiro Anna Servi 20 A EOMAN WEDDING SCAENA PRiMA SPONSALIA Let the curtain be raised, showing a room furnished as nearly as possible like the atrium of a Roman house. A bench, covered with tapestry, on each side of the stage facilitates the seating of the guests. Cicero is heard practicing an oration behind the scenes. M, Cic, O rem publicam miserabilem ! Qua re, Qui- rites, dubitatis ? O di immortales ! Ubinam gentium sumus ? In qua urbe vivimus ? Quam rem publicam habemus? Vivis, et vivis non ad deponendam sed ad confirmandam tuam audaciam. 5 (Enter Terentia. A slave, Anna, follows bringing a boy's toga, which she begins to sew, under Terentia's direction. Another slave, Marcipor, also follows.) Nihil agis, nihil moliris, nihil cogitas quod non ego non modo audiam, sed videam. Quae cum ita sint, Catilina, ex urbe egredere ; patent portae, proficiscere. Magno me metu liberabis dum modo inter me atque te murus intersit. Quid est enim, Catilina, quod te iam in hac 10 urbe delectare possit ? Quamquam quid loquor ? Te ut tilla res frangat ? (A crash, similar to that of falling china, is heard.) Terentia, Quid est ? Vide, Marcipor ! 21 22 A EOMAN WEDDING (As Marcipor is about to leave, Philotimus enters at the right, bringing in his hands the pieces of a broken vase.) Phil, O domina, ecce, dominus, dum orationem medi- tatur, vas quod ipse tibi e Graecia attulit, manus gestu demolitus est. Terentia (groaning). Lege, Philotime, omnia fragmenta. 5 (Exit Phil.) Mihi, Marcipor, fer cistam ex alabastrita fac- tam. (Exit Mar.) (To herself.) Tam molestum est orator! nupsisse. (Covers her face with her hands, as if weeping.) M, Oic, (proceeding with his practicing). Atque hoc quo- que a me uno togato factum est. Marce Tulli, quid agis ? 10 Interfectum esse Lucium Catilinam iam pridem oportebat. Quid enim mail aut sceleris fingi aut cogitari potest quod ille non conceperit ? O rem publicam fortunatam, o praeclaram laudem mei consulatus, si ex vita ille exierit! Vix f eram sermones hominum, si id fecerit. (Enter Marci- 15 por with a small box.) Mar. Hie est, domina, cista tua. Terentia (takes from her bosom a key and opens the box, taking out a package of letters, one of which she reads). *^ Sine te, o mea Terentia carissima, sum miserrimus. Utinam 20 domi tecum semper manerem. Quod cum non possit, ad me cotidie litteras scribe. Cura ut valeas et ita tibi persuade, mihi te carius nihil esse nee umquam fuisse. Vale, mea Terentia, quam ego videre videor itaque debilitor lacrimis. Cura, cura te, mea Terentia. Etiam 25 atque etiam vale." Quondam litteras amantissimas scripsit ; nunc epistolia frigescunt. Quondam vas mihi dedit, nunc vas mihi de- molitur; quondam fuit maritus, nunc est orator. Tam molestum est matrem familias esse. A ROMAN WEDDING 23 (Enter Cicero, from the right, followed by his slave Tiro, carrying a number of scrolls which he places upon a table.) M, Cic. Quid est, Terentia? Quidnam lacrimas? Mihi die. Terentia, Res nullast ! Modo putabam quantum mu- tatus ab illo Cicerone qui me in matrimonium duxerit, sit Cicero quem hodie video. Tum Terentiae aliqua ratio 5 habebatur. Nunc vacat Cicero libris modo et orationibus et Catilinae. Nescis quantum me liuius negoti taedeat ! Nullum tempus habes ad consultandum mecum de stu- diis nostri filioli. Magister de eo haec hodie rettulit. (Hands Cicero a scroll.) Me pudet fill. 10 M, Cic, (reading to himself the report). Dic meo fllio, Marcipor, ut ad me veniat. (Exit Marcipor, who returns bringing young Marcus.) M, Cic, a. Quid est, pater ? M, Cic. Tua mater, mi fili, animum anxium ob banc 15 reniintiationem de te habet. Me quoque, consulem Roma- num, Imius renuntiationis quibusdam partibus pudet. (Reads aloud.) ''Bis absens." Ciir, mi fili, a schola afuisti? M, Cic. a. Id non memoria teneo. Terentia. Sunt multa quae memoria non tenes, si ego 20 de hac renuntiatione iudicare possum. il/] (7z(?. (continues reading). ''Tardus deciens! " Deciens! Id est incredibile ! Filius consulis Romani tardus deciens ! Mater tua id non pati debuit. Terentia (angrily). Mater tua id non pati debuit ! Immo 25 vero pater tuus id non pati debuit. M. Cic, "Ars legendi J.." Id quidem satis est. "Ars scribendi i)." D\ Id quidem minime satis est. Negator defuit officio! "Filius tuus dicit scrip tiiram tempus longius 24 A roma:n^ weddixg consumere. Debet se in scribendo multum exercere, si scribere modo tolerabili discere vult. Arithmetica A, Huic studio operam dat. Declamatio A. Omnibus facile hoc studio antecellit." Bene, mi fill. Ea pars huius re- 5 nuntiationis mihi magnopere placet. Orator clarissimus olim eris. Terentia, Unus orator apud nos satis est. M, Cic, a. Orator ero olim nihilo minus. Facile est oratorem fieri. Declamatio est f acillima. Hodie in schola 10 banc declamationem didici : Omnia tempus edax depascitur, omnia carpit, Omnia sede movet, nil sinit esse diu. Flumina deficiunt, profugum mare lltora siccant, Subsidunt monies et iuga celsa ruunt. 16 Quid tam parva loquor ? moles pulcherrima caell Ardebit flammis tota repente suis. Omnia mors poscit. Lex est, non poena, perire : Hie aliquo mundus tempore nullus erit. Terentia, Talis declamatio est facilis. Audi quid de 20 geometria tua relatum sit. Geometria magis quam decla- matio ostendit utrum tu mentem exerceas. M, Cic, (continues reading). '' Geometria .D." Magister haec scripsit: ''Filius tuns dicit geometriam oratoribus inutilem esse. El diligenter domi laborandum est." O 25 Marce, hoc est incredibile ! Num dixisti tu geometriam oratoribus inutilem esse ? M, Cic, a, O, studium geometriae mihi odiosum ingra- tumque est ! Omnes pueros istius taedet. Tanti non est ! M. Cic, Etiam si studium tu non amas, geometriam 30 discere debes. Tibi centum sestertios dabo si summam notam in geometria proximo mense adeptus eris. A ROMAN WEDDING 25 M. Cic, a. (grasping his father's hand). Amo te, pater, convenit ! Earn adipiscar ! Terentia (to Anna). Estne toga parata ? Anna, Parata est, domina. Terentia, Hue veni, Marce ! 5 M, Cie. a. O mater, tempus perdere nolo. Malo legere. Terentia, Quid dicis ? Non vis ? Nonne vis novam togam habere ? M, Cic, a. Nolo. Nova mi nil opus est. Tam fessus sum ! (Picks up a scroll and is about to take a seat in the 10 corner.) M. Cic, Ad matrem tuam, Marce Cicero, sine mora, accede ! (Marcus is about to obey when a knock is heard at the door. Lucius Piso Frugi and Quintus Hortensius enter at the left.) M, Cic, (greeting Q. Hortensius). O amici, salvete ! ut valetis ? 15 Terentia (greeting L. Piso). Di duint vobis quaecumque optetis. Ciceroni modo dicebam n5s diu vos non videre, praesertim te, Piso. Marcipor, ubi est Tullia ? Ei die ut hiic veniat. L, Piso, Noli Tulliam vocare. Nunc cum parentibus 20 Tulliae agere volo, non cum Tullia ipsa. Terentia, Non vis nostram Tulliam videre ! Quid, scire volo ? L, Piso, Cum ea hoc tempore agere non cupio. Id propter quod in vestram domum hodie veni tua et 25 Ciceronis refert. Velim vobiscum agere pro meo filio, Gaio Pisone, qui filiam tuam in matrimonium ducere vult. M, Cic, Meam filiam in matrimonium ducere ! Mea Tulliola nondum satis matura est ut niibat. Mea filia 26 A ROMAN WEDDING mihi carior vita ipsa est. Earn amittere ... id non ferre possum. Ea lux nostra est. Mea Tulliola nihil umquam amabilius, nee longa vita ac prope immortalitate dig- nius vidi. Nondum annos quattuordecim implevit et iam 5 eius prudentia est mirabilis. Ut magistros amat ! Quam intellegenter legit ! Non possum verbis exprimere quanto vulnere animo percutiar si meam Tulliolam amittam. Utinam penitus intellegeres meos sensus, quanta vis pa- ternl sit amoris. 10 L. Piso, Talia verba, Marce TullI, virl RomanI non propria sunt. Necesse est omnes nostras fllias in matri- monium demus. Nihil aliud exspecta. Terentia. Nostra filia omnibus gratissima est. Semper enim lepida et llberalis est. Iam diu scio nos eam non 15 semper retinere posse. L. Piso, Recte, recte ! Mens fllius bonus est ; est orator. Est quoque satis dives. Romae duas aedes habet ; rure magnificentissima villa est ei. Cum illo fIlia tua fellx erit. Id mihi persuasum habeo. Quae 20 cum ita sint, Marce TullI, sine dote tuam flliam meo filio posco. M, Cic, Prohibeant di immortales eondicionem eius modi. Cum mea fIlia in matrimonium danda sit, neminem cognovl qui ilia dignior sit quam tuus fllius egregius. 25 L. Piso (shaking hands with Cicero). O Marce, ml amice, dl te respiciant! Nunc mihi eundum est ut fllium et signatores arcessam et iam hue revertar. (Exeunt L. Piso and Q. Hortensius.) Terentia, Die, Marcipor, servis ut in cullna vinum, fructus, placentas parent. (Exit Marcipor.) Marce, fill, 30 sororem voca. A ROMAN WEDDING 27 M, Cic. a, Tullia, 6 Tullia, Soror mea bella, Amatores tibi sunt * Piso et Dolabella. (Enter Tullia at the right.) Amatne Piso te, 5 Etiam Dolabella? Tullia, 6 Tullia, Soror mea bella, Pisonem tuum maritum fac ; Non gratus Dolabella. 10 Tullia, O Marce, tui me taedet. Quid est, mater ? Terentia. Tullia, nonne est Gaius Piso tibi gratissimus ? Tullia, O, mihi satis placet. Cur me rogas, mater ? Terentia, Rogo, mea f ilia, quod Piso te in matrimonium ducere vult. Tibi placetne hoc ? 16 Tullia, Mihi placet si — Terentia, Si — quid, mea fiHa ? Tullia, O mater, nolo nubere. Sum fellx tecum et patre et Marco. Vixi tantum quattuordecim annos. Puella diutius esse volo, non mater familias. 20 Terentia, Piso dives est. Pater tuus non magnas divi- tias nunc habet. Meum argentum quoque consumptum est. Etiam haec domus nostra non diutius erit. Quid f aciamus si tu non bene nubes ? Tullia, Scio patrem meum non magnas possessiones 25 habere ; quid vero, mater ? ServiHa, Luculli sponsa, qui modo rediit spoliis Orientis onustus, semper suam for- tunam queritur. Misera Lucullum odit ac detestatur. Hesterno die meis auribus Servlliam haec verba dicere audivi : '' Me miseram ! Infellcissimam vltam ! Feminam 30 maestam! quidfaciam? Mihi delectus est maritus odiosus. 28 . A ROMAN WEDDING Nemo rogavit qui vir mihi maxime placeat. Coniugem novum odero, id certum est. Prae lacrimis non iam loqul possum." O mater! ego sum aeque tristis ac Ser- vilia. Nolo Gaio Pisoni nubere. Nulli homiiiT, neque 6 Romano neque peregrino, quem viderim, nubere volo. Terentia, Tullia, mea filia, matris et nostrae domus miserere ! Hodie pater a me argentum postulabat quod ei dare non poteram. Piso ditissimus est et nobis auxilio esse potest. Parentum tuorum causa te oro ne hunc egre-^ 10 gium adulescentem asperneris. Tullia. O Serviliam et Tulliam, ambas miseras ! Quid dicis tu, mi pater ? Vis tu quoque me in matrimonium dare ? M. Cic. O mea Tulliola, me noli rogare. Nescis quan- tum ego te amem. Sine te vivere non potero. Id mihi 15 persuasum habeo. Puto tamen, si pacem apud nos habere velimus, te matris iussa sequi necesse esse. Tullia, Volo, mi pater, te pacem habere. Tua vita tam perturbata f uit. Nubam, sed o me miseram ! (A knock is heard. Enter from the left L. Piso, Gains Piso, and the signatores. They are greeted by Cicero and Terentia and seated by slaves.) Terentia (as she receives them). Multum salvete, 5 amici. 20 Tulliae vix persuadere poteram, tamen non iam invita est. L, Piso, Bene, bene, hie est mihi dies gratissimus. Parata sunt omnia ? Terentia, Omnia parata sunt, sed juris consultus non- dum venit. 25 L, Piso, Ille quidem ad tempus adesse pollicitus est. Terentia, Id spero. Tibicines, Marcipor, hiic arcesse. (Enter Q. Hortensius and his wife, together with the pronuba and the iuris consultus.) Salvete, mei amici. Adsidite si placet. A ROMAN WEDDING 29 luris con. Si mihi veniam dabitis, non diu morari velim. Instans negotium me in foro flagitat. Mihi ma- turandum est. (Goes to a table with M. Cicero and busies himself with the tabulae nuptiales.) L, Piso, Maturemus ! Gai et Tullia, ad me venite ! 5 (To Cicero.) Spondesne Tulliam, tuam filiam, meo filio uxorem dari? M, Cic. Di bene vertant ! Spondeo. L, Piso. Di bene vertant ! Gr, Piso (placing a ring on the fourth finger of Tullia's left 10 hand). Hunc anulum qui meum longum amorem testetur accipe. Manum, Tullia, tibi do, et vim bracchiorum et celeritatem pedum et gloriam meorum patrum. Te amo, pulchra puella. Te unam semper amabo. Mihi es tu carior omnibus quae in terra eaeloque sunt. Felices 15 semper simus ! luris con. Tabulae nuptiales sunt paratae et ecce con- diciones. (Reads.) ''Hoc die, pridie Idus Apriles, anno ses- centesimo nonagesimo primo post Romam conditam, M. Tullio Cicerone Gaio Antonio consulibus, ego M. Tullius 20 Cicero meam filiam Tulliam Gaio Calpurnio Luci filio Pisoni spondeo. Eam cum dote dare spondeo. Ea dos erit quindecim milia sestertium." (Turning to Gaius.) Gai Piso, spondesne te Tulliam semper amaturum culttirumque ? Gr. Piso. Id spondeo. 25 Iwis con. Spondesne tu, Tullia, te Gaio Pisoni sem- per obsecutiiram esse ? Tullia. Id spondeo. luris con. (stamping the tabulae with a seal). Nunc sub- scribite ! Tu primus, Cicero, deinde Terentia et Tullia 30 et Gains. 80 A ROMAN WEDDING (The tibicines play softly and the servi pass wine, dried fruit, and small cakes. Tullia, taking her glass of wine, steps forward and pours a little out as an offering to the gods. After the witnesses have signed in turn, the following words of congratulation are spoken.) Q. Hot, Beati vivatis, Piso et Tullia ! Omnes sponso et sponsae salutem propinemus ! (All drink to the health of the betrothed.) M. Cic. a, Sint di semper volentes propitiique ipsis 5 domui f amiliaeque. Sit vobis f ortuna benigna ! M, Cic. Tibi gratulor, Piso. Tu pulcherrimam et op- timam puellam totius Romae adeptus es. Pronuha. O fortunate aduleseens qui talem puellam inveneris ! 10 luris con. Signaveruntne omnes ? Tu, Quinte Hor- tensi, nondum subscripsisti. Q. Hot. Id statim faciam. (Signs.) Pronuha. Nunc omnes cantemus ! (All join in singing, accompanied by the tibicines.) --/? -rP-h-'^' — ^ — ^ — ^ • — •-.~*^-i — ^ — «-i — A — ^^ — ^ — Hes - pe - re, qui cj« - lo fer - tur eru - de - li - or n k 1 ^ N - yK kVi?— • • s ^— S ^ •—-m F^S2— r r— N ^^-i" ^— * -^^-T f A i_j^ ' ^ ^^^» ^-^-^ ! ' ig - nis? Qui na- tarn pos- sis com-plex - u r P , b k -f-f ^ r fv-T r N 1 i^5b#-^J— ^'^^J^ — H ^ — * h^ «J L_^- L^_J_ , ^ 1 a-vel - le - re ma - tris, Com-plex - u ma - tris A ROMAN WEDDING 31 i ^ :5=^==ta=ftfi ^- g^ ^^ fee:^ ti - nen - tern a-vel - le - re na - tarn ^— ^- s s -fr— S- :i=f= ^ -^r-^: Sz^ -^ l b ^ ^- Et iu - ve-ni ar - den - ti cas-tam do - na - re pu - ^. ife 4= t^ =S— « i ^ el - lam. Quid fa - ci - unt hos - tes cap - ta -fw-* < '^^ m =tt cm - de - li - us ur - be ? Hy - men O Hy - me i ^ ^ X :f=P= 53^^ 1186 - e, Hy-menad - es O Hy-me-nae-e. SECUNDA SCAENA NUPTIAE The house is adorned with wool, flowers, tapestry, and boughs. The Pontifex Maximus (wearing a white fillet) and the Flamen Dialis enter from opposite sides, each preceded by a lictor with fasces, who remains standing at the side of the stage, while the priests pass on to the altar. The Flamen burns incense. A slave brings in a pigeon on a silver tray and hands it to the Flamen, while another hands to the Pontifex from a basket a plate of meal and one with crackers. The priests, taking respectively the bird and the meal, hold them high above their heads and look up devoutly, after which the bridal party enters, from the left, in the following order : The bride, preceded by the pronuba, comes first. Both take their places, standing at the right of the altar ; next the groom, preceded by the boys, takes his stand near the bride, a little to the left ; the guests follow and are seated. Cicero hands wine to the priests, with which they sprinkle the sacrifices. As the Flamen again looks up and raises his hands above his head, all kneel except the priests and lictors, while he pronounces the fol- lowing solemn words : Auspicia secunda sunt. Magna gratia dis immortalibus habenda est. Auspicia secunda sunt. After all have risen, the pronuba, placing her hands upon the shoul- der of the bride and groom, conducts them to the front of the altar. There she joins their hands and they walk around the altar twice, hand in hand, stopping in front when the ceremony proper begins. Again the Flamen says : Auspicia secunda sunt. The Pontifex hands the groom a cracker, of which he partakes, passing it on to the bride. The pronuba puts back the veil, and after the bride has eaten the cracker she says to the groom : 32 A ROMAX WEDDING 33 Ubi tu Gains, ego Gaia. Both are then conducted by the pronuba to two chairs, placed side by side, at the right of the altar, covered with the skin of a sheep. They face the altar and the pronuba covers their heads with a large veil. (Place the same veil over both.) Pontifex Maximus (making an offering of meal to Jupiter). luppiter omnipotens divum pater atque hominum rex, Hos sponsos bene respicias, faveasque per annos. luppiter omnipotens, precibus si flecteris iillis 6 Aspice eos, hoc tantum, et si pietate merentur, Da cursum vitae iiicundum et commoda sparge ' Multa manii plena ; vires validasque per menses Hi habeant, pueros pulchros fortesque nepotes. Rebus iiicundis quibus adsis luppiter semper. 10 Flamen DiaKs. Innd quae incedis divum regina lovisque Coniunx et soror, hos sponsos serva atque tuere. Sint et f elices, fortes, pietate supremi ; Magna cum virtiite incedant omnibus annis, 15 Semper fortunati, semper et usque beati. (The pronuba now uncovers the heads of the wedded pair and they receive congratulations.) L, Piso, Beat! vivatis, Gai et Tullia ! Terentia. Vobis sint di semper fansti ! M. Cic. a, Vobis ambobns gratnlor. Sed nulla res levis est matrimoninm. Quid, Tullia ? 20 Tullia. Recte dicis, frater, matrimonlum non in lev! habendum est. M. Cic. Sint omnes dies felices aeque ac hie die^ Pronuba, Spero, mei amici, omnes dies vobis laetissi mos futiiros esse. 25 (The curtain falls. The priests and lictors retire, all the rest, except Terentia and Tullia, keeping the same position for the next scene.) SCAENA TERTIA DEDUCTIO The guests are sitting about the room. The bride is sitting on her mother's lap. Her wedding ornaments have been taken off and she is closely veiled. The groom takes her as if by force from her mother's arms. Tullia. O mater, mater, nolo a te et patre meo dis- cedere. O, me miseram ! Terentia, I, filia, i! Saepe tuos parentes et fratrem visere poteris. Necesse est nunc cum marito eas. 5 (r. Piso, Mihi, Tullia, carior vita es. Te non pigebit coniugem meam fieri. ' Id polliceor. Mecum veni, Tullia carissima ! Tullia, Sic esto. Prius mustaceum edendum est. (She cuts the wedding cake and all partake.) 10 L, Pisonis uxor. Hoc mustaceum optimum est. Hoc fecistine tu, Tullia ? Tullia, Nihil temporis habebam quo mustaceum face- rem. Multa mihi uno tempore agenda erant. Terentia, Tullia mustaceum facere potest si spatium 15 datur. M, Cie, a, (taking another piece of cake). Tullia est deli- ciae puellae. Si unum modo mustaceum habemus, ad novam domum Tulliae proficiscamur. (Others cry out) Eamus ! The curtain falls. A frame to represent the door of a Roman house is placed to the left of the stage ; a small altar stands at 34 A ROMAN WEDDING 35 the right; a circular piece of wood with holes bored in it as a receptacle for the torches (common wax candles) is placed on top of the altar used by the priests. The procession to the groom's house advances from the left in the following order : The flute-players first, followed by a lad carrying a torch and vase ; next the bride, supported on either side by a boy ; the groom, throwing nuts to those in the street, walks at the side ; a boy follows, carrying the bride's spindle ; the others follow, two by two, all carrying torches and singing : Hespere, qui caelo f ertur crMelior ignis ? Qui natam possis complexii avellere matris, Complexu. matris retinentem avellere natam Et iuveni ardenti castam donare puellam. Quid f aciunt hostes capta criidelius urbe ? 5 Hymen o Hymenaee, Hymen ades o Hymenaee. When the groom's house is reached, the bride winds the door posts with woolen bands and anoints them with oil to signify health and plenty. She is then lifted over the threshold by two boys to prevent possible stumbling. The groom, Cicero, Terentia, L. Piso and his wife, enter the house and place their torches on the altar ; the others remain standing outside. All continue singing, accompanied by the flute-players, until after the groom hands to the bride a dish, on which incense is burning, and a bowl of water, which both touch in token of mutual purity, and Tullia again repeats the words : Ubi tii Gains, ego Gaia. (t. Piso (presenting to her the keys, which she fastens in her girdle). Sit felix nostra vita! Claves meae domiis, mea uxor, accipe ! 10 Tullia kindles the fire on the altar with her torch, and then throws it to a girl outside. The girl who catches the torch ex- claims : 36 A ROMAN WEDDING O me f elicissimam ! proxima Tulliae nubam. (Tullia kneels at the altar and offers prayer to Juno.) luno, es auctor munerum, luno, mater omnium, Nobis da nunc gaudium. luno, adiutrix es hominum, liino, summa caelitum, Nobis sis auxilium. Roman Marriage COSTUMES AND SUGGESTIONS The bride wears a white dress trimmed with purple fringe, a girdle of crimson wool, and a long yellow veil. She has on many bright-colored ribbons, many bracelets and rings, and high yellow shoes with buckles. Her hair is arranged in six locks parted by the point of a spear and held in place by vittae or bands. The Pontifex should have a band of purple three inches wide around the bottom of his toga. The boys should wear straight robes reaching to the knee and gathered at the shoulders. The garb of the statue ** Diana of the Hind " is a good illustration. The slaves wear bright-colored tunics reaching to the knees. 37 38 A RO.AIAX WEDDrXG Valuable suggestions may be found in Johnston's '' Private Life of the Romans," " Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities," and Harper'' s Magazine, Vol. 46. The individual parts should be thoroughly learned and prac- ticed before a full rehearsal is attempted. Especial emphasis should be placed upon the necessity of re- citing the parts slowly and distinctly. The signing of the tabulae nuptiales was a part of the nuptlae, but it has been introduced during the sponsalia to give better balance to the play. Wherever permissible, very simple Latin has been used in order to render the task of memorizing as easy as possible. SCEX^E I SPONSALIA — BETROTHAL Cicero's house. Terentia complains that Cicero neglects her and that he devotes too much time to the prosecution of Catiline and to study. The school report (renuntiatio) of her son, the young Cicero, also causes her anxiety. Marcus junior adds to her anxiety by affirming that he wishes to become an orator like his father. He promises, however, that he will study his geometry more diligently and thereby gain the reward offered by Cicero. Lucius Piso calls at Cicero's home to ask the hand of Tullia for his son Gains Piso. Terentia is pleased with the prospect of marrying her daughter so well. Tullia herself and Cicero prefer to wait until Tullia is older. Tullia says she can sympathize with Servilia and others who have no girlhood on account of marrying so young; but finally she yields to her mother's wish and consents to become betrothed to Gains. The witnesses arrive and the betrothal (sponsalia) takes place. The marriage contract (tabulae nuptiales) is signed, showing the amount of dowry. Re- freshments are partaken of, following a libation in honor of the gods. Congratulations are offered and the wedding hymn is sung. A ROMAN WEDDING 39 SCENE II NUPTIAE —WEDDING- CEREMONY The auspices are taken and pronounced favorable. The groom and bride assume the names of Gains and Gaia, respectively. These particular names were chosen, according to some, out of respect to the noted spinner Gains and his royal wife, who were held by the Romans as a pattern of conjugal fidelity and skilled industry ; according to others, because of the derivation from gaudere. Tullia with the words "Ubi tu Gaius, ego Gaia" (where you are Gaius, I am Gaia) signifies her willingness to enter the gens of her husband. The eating of the cake presented by the Pontifex (confarreatio) is the most important part of the cere- mony, suggesting the sacramental view of marriage. The skin upon which the bride and groom are seated is supposed to be that of the sheep sacrificed before the ceremony begins. Prayer is offered to Jupiter by the Pontifex, and to Juno by the Flamen Dialis, after which congratulations are offered. SCENE III DEDUCTIO — PROCESSION TO THE GROOM'S HOUSE The bride is taken, to all appearances, by force from her mother's embrace, — a survival of the marriage by capture, or, as the Romans themselves put it, a reminiscence of the Sabine marriage. The mustaceum, or wedding cake, is eaten, and the procession begins, all singing the wedding hymn. The groom throws nuts to the boys in the street as a sign that he will now put away childish things. Arriving at the groom's house, the bride anoints the doorposts with oil to signify health and plenty, and then offers a prayer for future happiness. r D nO fJU } L ijyi, 11 11 nm m mm I'll 111 mm sjilHil nil ill mmLu, III ■■'11 1 ililiill iilliil liC"' in, I i ! llili jl! ill