Flourishing era of Roman Comedy 153 How far any claim to originality? 154 Disparaging judgment of later Roman critics 155 Connection with earlier Saturae 156 Naevius and Plautus popular poets 157 Facts in the life of Plautus 158 Attempt to fill up the outline from his works 160 Familiarity with town-life 161 Traces of maritime adventure 162 Life of the lower and middle classes represented in his plays 163 Love of good living 164 Love of money 166 Artistic indifference 166 Knowledge of Greek 167 Influence of the spirit of his age 167 Dramas adaptations of outward conditions of Athenian New Comedy 169 Manner and spirit, Roman and original 172 Indications of originality in his language 173 " " in his Roman allusions and national characteristics 174 Favourite plots of his plays 178 Pseudolus, Bacchides, Miles Gloriosus, Mostellaria 179 Aulularia, Trinummus, Menaechmi, Rudens, Captivi, Amphitryo 182 Mode of dealing with his characters 191 Moral and political indifference of his plays 192 Value as a poetic artist 195 Power of expression by action, rhythm, diction 200 CHAPTER VII. TERENCE AND THE COMIC POETS SUBSEQUENT TO PLAUTUS.