Part 21 (1/2)

[Footnote 34: De Senec. 14.]

[Footnote 35: E.g. graphicus, doulice, euscheme, morus, logos, techinae, prothyme, basilicus, etc., etc.]

[Footnote 36: Truculentus, 55-57. Weise condemns the pa.s.sage as spurious. But whether written by Plautus or not it is in the spirit of the Plautine comedy. In a pa.s.sage of the Poenulus (Act iii. 1. 21) another reference is made to the sense of security enjoyed since their victory:--

Praesertim in re populi placida, atque interfectis hostibus, Non decet tumultuari.]

[Footnote 37: Cp. the remark of the parasite in the Persa, 75, 76:--

Set sumne ego stultus, qui rem curo publicam, Ubi sint magistratus, quos curare oporteat?

and that of the parasite in the Captivi, 'that only those who were unable to procure invitations to luncheon should be expected to attend public meetings and elections'; and such jokes as 'Plebiscitum non est scitius.']

[Footnote 38: The Comedy of Terence, which represents that of Menander, is completely non-political.]

[Footnote 39: Cf. Epidicus, 30, etc., and Captivi, 262.]

[Footnote 40: The advocati in the Poenulus, who are evidently clients, show a certain spirit of independence. Cf. Act iii.

6. 13:--

Et tu vale.

Iniuriam illic insignite postulat: Nostro sibi servire nos censet cibo.

Verum ita sunt omnes isti nostri divites: Si quid bene facias, levior pluma est gratia; Si quid peccatum est, plumbeas iras gerunt.]

[Footnote 41: Livy, x.x.xix. 9, etc.]

[Footnote 42:

Quom mi ipsum nomen eius Archidemides Clamaret dempturum esse si quid crederem.--Bacchid. 285.

Propterea huic urbi nomen Epid.a.m.no inditumst Quia nemo ferme sine d.a.m.no huc devort.i.tur.--Menaech. 264.

Cf. also the play on Chrysalus and Crucisalus; and the following may serve as a specimen of his perpetual puns:--

Non enim es in senticeto, eo non sentis.--Captivi, 857.]

[Footnote 43: Alliterations and a.s.sonances:--Vi veneris vinctus. Cottabi crebri crepent. Laetus, lubens, laudes ago.

Collus collari caret.

Atque mores hominum moros et morosos efficit, etc., etc.

Asyndeta:--

Laudem, lucrum, ludum, ioc.u.m, festivitatem, ferias.

Vorsa, sparsa, tersa, strata, lauta, structaque omnia ut sint, etc., etc.

These are not occasional, but constantly recurring characteristics of his style. The thought and matter they express must, in a great measure, be due to his own invention.]

[Footnote 44: Roman formulae:--Quae res bene vortat. Conceptis verbis. Quod bonum, felix, faustum, fortunatumque sit. Ut gesserit rempublicam ductu, imperio, auspicio suo, etc., etc.]