Prefaces to Terence's Comedies and Plautus's Comedies (1694)

"Prefaces to Terence's Comedies and Plautus's Comedies" by Lawrence Echard is a scholarly collection of prefaces accompanying translations of Roman comedies, offering insight into 17th-century literary perspectives. It explores the translator's reasoning and the challenges of adapting classical works for a contemporary audience amidst a cultural rivalry with French literature. Echard champions the dramatic excellence of Terence and Plautus and advocates their plays as models for English playwrights, praising Terence's artistry and moral insights while acknowledging Plautus's energetic style. The prefaces lay the groundwork for modern playwrights to draw inspiration from classical comedy, aiming to bridge ancient literary genius with the theatrical preferences of the time and sparking contemplation on the historical progression and sustained value of classical themes in English drama.