1མཚག། Mom's ?. ?. Telley 5.28.48 THE PREFATORY NOTE. HE abbreviations selected for the titles of the Plautine comedies are those adopted by Ritschl, Studemund and Goetz. The edition of Plautus from which extracts are taken, and to which reference is made, including the Testimonia Veterum prefixed to the edition, is that from the recension by George Goetz and Friderick Schoell, 1898. The value of this dissertation will be that it is the first systematic attempt in this direction-not that it exhausts the subject, nor that the category of references is complete. As Jonson followed Plautus freely, much of the influence is general or indirect, and can be indicated only by reference and inference. Striking resemblances - where the words correspond, or where the spirit or idea is similar-are regarded as direct influence, and have been cited at length. The use of the Library at Harvard University, and of the Library at Columbia University, was kindly granted me. Among the authorities consulted, are the commentaries on the Plautine plays, Mr. von Reinhardstoettner's work on Plautus, the publications on Ben Jonson by Mr. Algernon Swinburne, Professor Felix E. Schelling and Mr. J. A. Symonds; and various histories of Roman Literature, chiefly that by Wilhelm Sigmund Teuffel. I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to my instructors, Dr. Francis H. Stoddard, of the New York University; Dr. Alfred Gudeman and Professor Felix iii E. Schelling, Ph.D., of the University of Pennsylvania; and especially to Dr. Ernest G. Sihler, of the New York University, who has read the work in proofsheets and given me the advantage of his scholarly criticisms. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION. Aspirants for fame show adherence to the old masters. Reinhardstoettner show extensive influence in France, Germany, England, and the lesser principalities.— There is a reason to be assigned for this influence. I-2 I. That the Plautine comedies were highly esteemed and popular.- Testimony of ancient writers as to their value, popularity, and duration on the stage.— P. Terentius.-Aelius Stilo.-Volcacius Sedigitus.-M. Terentius Varro. — M. Tullius Cicero. —Q. Horatius Flaccus. Quintilian. - Aulus Gellius. -The testi- mony of the Christian writers, Eusebius, Rufinus, Hieronymus, Macrobius.-Testimony of the modern writers of ancient history, Mommsen, Teuffel- Schwabe.-Plautus unknown during the Middle Ages. -The position held by the Plautine comedies at the end of the fourteenth century compared with their position at the close of the sixteenth century, when they formed the main source of all dramatic produc- tions of a comic character.-Testimony of Meres, the II. That the literary style of Plautus was such as would appeal directly to the people.-The character of the comedies.- Plautus a writer of Comedy of Manners. -Plots reproductions from the Greek New Comedy writers. The portions traceable to the translator, indi- |