THE DRAMATIC VALUES IN PLAUTUS

have seen roars of laughter created by the similar device of a low
comedian in a modern extravaganza. Taking advantage of the
same subjective license, we see nothing in Weissman's theory to
offset our opinion. But, what is more, our subjective reconstruction
is given color by a shred of tangible evidence. Suetonius (Tib.
38) refers to a popular quip on the emperor that compares him to an
actor on the classic Greek stage : "Biennio continuo post ademp­
tum imperium pedem porta non extulit ; ut vulgo iam
per iocum Callip (p)ides vocaretur, quem cursitare ac ne cubiti
quidem mensuram progredi proverbio Graeco notatum est."
That this Callipides was the uio'X.pt't mentioned by Xenophon
(Sym. III. II) , Plutarch (Ages. 21 and Apophth. Lacon.: s. v.
Ages.), Cicero (Ad.Att. XIII. 12) and possibly by Aristotle (Poet. 26.) ,
seems highly plausible. Corr.pare the saltusfullonius (Sen. Ep. 15.4).
Most amusing of all is Plautus' introduction of a parody on the
parody, when Mercury rushes in post-haste crying (Amph. 984 ff.):
"Make way, give way, everybody, clear the way ! I tell you all :
don't you get so bold as to stand in my road. For, egad ! I'd like
to know why I, a god, shouldn't have as much right to threaten the
rabble as a mere slave in the comedies !"
And perhaps St. 307 is a joke on the running slave : Sed spatium
hoc occidit : brevest curriculo : quam me paenitet ? That violent
haste was considered a slavish trait is evidenced by Poen.
5 2
Wilful blindness.
e scene recently quoted (Cur. 279 ff.), Curculio, after his
violent exertions in search of his patron, is for a time apparently
unable to discover him, though he is on the stage all the time. This
species of blindness must be wilfully designed as a burlesque effect
and again finds its echo in low comedy types of today. The
breadth and depth of the Roman stage alone will not account for
this either ; indeed, its very size could be utilized to heighten the
humor, as the actor peers hither and yon in every direction but the
right one. So Curculio (front) may pass directly by Phaedromus
(rear) without seeing him, to the huge delight of the audience, and
turn back again, while saying (301 ff.) :
"Is there anybody who can point out Phaedromus, my guardian
angel, to me ? The matter's very urgent : I must find this chap
at once.
PALINURUS. (To Phaedromus.) It's you he's looking for.
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