THE DRAMATIC VALUES IN PLAUTUS

Direct address of the audience.
\u.2 a well-established principle that the most intimate cogni­
zance of the spectator's existence is a characteristic of the lowest
types of dramatic production (v. Part I, § 1, fin.). The use of
soliloquy, aside and monologue all indicate the effort of the lines to
put the player on terms of intimacy with his public. But even
this is transcended by the. frequent recurrence in jocular vein of
deliberate, conscious and direct address of the audience, when
they are called by name. In True. 482 Stratophanes says : Ne
expectetis, spectatores, meas pugnas dum praedicem. In
Poen. 597 we are told : Aurumst profecto hic, spectatores, sed
comicum ; i. e., "stage-money." During a halt in the action of the
Ps. (573) we are graciously informed: Tibicen vos interibi hic
de1ectaverit. Mercury's comments (Amph; 449-550 passim) ,
probably with copious buffoonery, on the leave-taking of Jove and
Alcmena contain the remark (5°7) : Observatote, quam b1ande
mu1ieri pa1pabitur. At the close of the Men. (IIS7 ff.) Messenio
announces an auction and invites the spectators to attend.
When Euclio discovers the loss of his hoard, he rushes forth in
wild lament. In his extremity he turns to the audience (Aul. 715 ff.) :
"EUC. I beg, I beseech, I implore you, help me and show me
the man that stole it. (Picking out one of the spectators, probably a
tough looking "bruiser", and stretching out his hand to him.) What
do you say ? t know I can trust you. I can tell by your face you're
honest. (To the whole audience, in response to the laughter sure to
ensue.) What's the matter ? What are you laughing at ?" etc.
Moi1ere has imitated this scene very closely in L'Avare (IV. 7),
with a super-Plautine profusion of verbiage.
In Mil. 200 ff. Periplecomenus obligingly acts as guide and personal
conductor to the manoeuvers of Pa1aestrio's mind, while it is
in the throes of evolving a stratagem. Palaestrio of course indulges
in vivid, pointed pantomime :
"PER. I'll step aside here awhile. (To audience, pointing to
Palaestrio.) Look yonder, please, how he stands with serried brow
in anxious contemplation. His fingers smite his breast ; I trow, he
fain would summon forth his heart. Presto, change ! His left
hand he rests upon his left thigh. With the fingers of his right he
reckons out his scheme. Ha ! He whacks his right thigh !" etc.
It is very amusing too, when Jupiter in Amph. 861 ff. strolls in
and speaks his little piece to the pit :
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