Chapter VI

ROMAN COMEDY. T. MACCIUS PLAUTUS, ABOUT
254 TO 184 B.C.

Flourishing era of Roman Comedy 152
How far any claim to originality? 153
Disparaging judgment of later Roman critics 154
Connection with earlier Saturae 155
Naevius and Plautus popular poets 156
Facts in the life of Plautus 157
Attempt to fill up the outline from his works 159
Familiarity with town-life 160
Traces of maritime adventure 161
Life of the lower and middle classes represented in his plays 162
Love of good living 163
Love of money 164
Artistic indifference 165
Knowledge of Greek 165
Influence of the spirit of his age 166
Dramas adaptations of outward conditions of Athenian New Comedy 167
Manner and spirit, Roman and original 171
Indications of originality in his language 172
" " in his Roman allusions and national
characteristics 173
Favourite plots of his plays 176
Pseudolus, Bacchides, Miles Gloriosus, Mostellaria 177
Aulularia, Trinummus, Menaechmi, Rudens, Captivi, Amphitryo 180
Mode of dealing with his characters 188
Moral and political indifference of his plays 189
Value as a poetic artist 193
Power of expression by action, rhythm, diction 194