Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 February 2009
It is often repeated that at the unsuccessful productions of Terence's Hecyra the audience left the theatre in order to see, on the first occasion, boxers and a tight-rope walker, on the second, a gladiatorial contest.1 The other view, that the spectators remained but demanded other entertainment, is to my mind clearly correct and deserves restatement since the mistaken one is so widespread.
1 A dozen references, not an exhaustive list, will suffice: Beare, W., The Roman Stage,1 p. 82Google Scholar (but non-committal in 2nd edn, p. 163 and 3rd edn, p. 173); Büchner, K., Das Theater des Terenz, p. 15;Google Scholar Duckworth, G. E., The Nature of Roman Comedy, p. 60;Google Scholar Flickinger, R. C., Philological Quarterly 6 (1927), 241, 267; R. Graves on p. xi of foreword to Echard's translation;Google Scholar Haffter, H., Museum Helveticum 10 (1953), 10;Google Scholar Kiessling-Heinze, , Flaccus, Q. Horatius, Briefe 6, p. 231;Google Scholar Leo, F., Geschichte der römischen Literatur, p. 236;Google Scholar Marouzeau, J., Térence (Budé edition), i. 16;Google Scholar Schanz-Hosius, , Geschichte der römischen Literatur, i. 105;Google Scholar Sloman, A., Phormio, P. Terenti, p. 15;Google Scholar Wilkins, A. S., Horace Epistles, p. 278.Google Scholar
2 Walbank, F. W., Commentary on Polybius, 3. 32.Google Scholar