THE DRAMATIC VALUES IN PLAUTUS

Whether this passage had an ulterior purpose or not, the motif
is frequent.2 So we find Chrysalus inBac. 925 ff. holding the stage
for an entire scene with an elaborate comparison of himself to
Ulysses, the brains of the Greek host, overcoming his master
Nicobulus who represents Priam.
In general the mocking assumption of an heroic attitude recurs
with sufficient frequency to stamp it as a staple of comic effect.
Many passages would become tiresome and meaningless instead of
amusing unless so interpreted. The soliloquy of Mnesilochus in
Bac. 500 ff. could be made interesting only by turgid ranting.
Similarly in Bac. 530 ff. and 612 ff.3
'0 Horse-play and slap-sticks.
By this we mean what can in nowise be so clearly defined as by
"rough-house." For instance, the turbulent Euclio in Aul.
delivers bastings impartially to various dramatis personae and as a
climax drives the cooks and music-girl pell-mell out of the house,
doubtless accompanied by deafening howling and clatter (415 ff.).
Similarly in the Cas . . (875 ff.) Chalinus routs Olympio and the
lecherous Lysidamus. We may well imagine that sch scenes were
preceded as well as accompanied by a fearful racket within (a
familiar device of our low comedy and extravaganza), the effect
probably heightened by tempestuous melodrama on the tibiae,
as both the scenes cited are in canticum.
In the Men. we are treated to a free fight, in which the valiant
Messenio routs the lorarii by vigorous punches, while Menaechmus
plants his fist in one antagonist's eye (Men. 101 Iff.) :
(Menaechmus of Epidamnus is seized by lorarii; . as he struggles,
Messenio, slave of Menaechmus Sosicles, rushes into the fray to
his rescue). "MES. I say ! Gouge out that fellow's eye, the one
that's got you by the shoulder, master. Now as for these rotters,
I'll plant a crop of fists on their faces. (Lays about.) By Heaven,
you'll be everlastingly sorry for the day you tried to carry my
master off. Let go !
MEN. (Joining in with a will.) I've got this fellow by the eye !
2Cf. As. 554 ff., Bac. 710 ff., Cap. 159 ff. Cur. 572 ff., Ep. 437 ff., Men. 134 ff.,
Per. 753 ff., Ps. 761 ff., Trin. 718 ff., etc.
3For further examples of bombast and mock-heroics v. As. 405-6, Bac. 792 f.,
842 ff., Cis. 640 ff., Cur. 96 ff. 439 ff., Ep. 181 ff. (in similar vein most of the
soliloquies of the name part), Mer. 469 ff., 601 ff., 830 ff., Mil. 459 ff., 486 ff.,
947 ff., Per. 251 ff., Poen. 470 ff., 1294 ff., Ps. 1063 f., Truce. 482 ff., 602 ff.
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