IL COMMENTO DI EUGRAFIO A TERENZIO TRA TARDOANTICO E ALTO MEDIOEVO: VERSO UNA NUOVA EDIZIONE

This paper focuses on the manuscript tradition of the Commentum Terenti ascribed to Eugraphius, challenging the theoretical foundations on which the last critical edition of the commentary (Wessner 1908) is based. In particular, two conclusions are drawn: (a) contrary to Wessner’s opinion, it is not true that the manuscripts belonging to the so-called recensio β always offer a better text than those belonging to the recensio α; (b) considering the ‘fluid’ nature of the tradition, it is methodologically advisable, at least in some cases, to abandon the idea of establishing at all costs a ‘unitary’ text, according to the strict rules of traditional philology.