| BOOK I. |
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| FIRST ERA. |
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| CHAPTER I. |
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| PAGE. |
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| Comparison of the Latin language with the Greek—Eras of Latinity—Origin of the Romans—Elements of the Latin language—Etruscan influence | 33 |
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| CHAPTER II. |
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| The Eugubine Tables—Existence of Oscan in Italy—Bantine Table—Perugian Inscription—Etruscan Alphabet and Words—Chant of Fratres Arvales—Salian Hymn—Other Monuments of Old Latin—Latin and Greek Alphabets compared | 44 |
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| CHAPTER III. |
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| Saturnian Metre—Opinions respecting its origin—Early examples of this Metre—Saturnian Ballads in Livy—Structure of the Verse—Instances of Rhythmical Poetry | 60 |
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| CHAPTER IV. |
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| Three periods of Roman Classical Literature—Its Elements rude—Roman Religion—Etruscan influence—Early Historical Monuments—Fescennine Verses—FabulÆ AtellanÆ—Introduction of Stage-Players—Derivation of Satire | 67 |
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| CHAPTER V. |
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| Emancipation of Livius Andronicus—His imitation of the Odyssey—New kind of Scenic Exhibitions—First exhibition of his Dramas—NÆvius a Political Partisan—His bitterness—His Punic War—His nationality—His versification | 76 |
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| CHAPTER VI. |
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| NÆvius stood between two Ages—Life of Ennius—Epitaphs written by him—His taste, learning, and character—His fitness for being a Literary Reformer—His influence on the language—His versification—The Annals—Difficulties of the Subject—Tragedies and Comedies—Satire—Minor Works | 90 |
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| CHAPTER VII. |
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| The New Comedy of the Greeks the Model of the Roman—The Morality of Roman Comedy—Want of variety in the Plots of Roman Comedy—Dramatis PersonÆ—Costume—Characters—Music—Latin Pronunciation—Metrical Licenses—Criticism of Volcatius—Life of Plautus—Character of his Comedies—Analysis of his Plots | 99 |
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| CHAPTER VII. |
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| Statius compared with Menander—Criticism of Cicero—Hypotheses respecting the early life of Terence—Anecdote related by Donatus—Style and Morality of Terence—Anecdote of him related by Cornelius Nepos—His pecuniary circumstances and death—Plots and Criticism of his Comedies—The remaining Comic Poets | 118 |
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| CHAPTER VIII. |
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| Why Tragedy did not flourish at Rome—National Legends not influential with the People—FabulÆ PrÆtextatÆ—Roman Religion not ideal—Roman love for Scenes of Real Action and Gorgeous Spectacle—Tragedy not patronised by the People—Pacuvius—His Dulorestes and Paulus | 140 |
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| CHAPTER IX. |
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| L. Attius—His Tragedies and Fragments—Other Works—Tragedy disappeared with him—Roman Theatres—Traces of the Satiric Spirit in Greece—Roman Satire—Lucilius—Criticisms of Horace, Cicero, and Quintilian—Passage quoted by Lactantius—LÆvius a Lyric Poet | 152 |
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| CHAPTER X. |
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| Prose Literature—Prose suitable to Roman Genius—History, Jurisprudence, and Oratory—Prevalence of Greek—Q. Fabius Pictor—L. Cincius Alimentus—C. Acilius Glabrio—Value of the Annalists—Important literary period, during which Cato Censors flourished—Sketch of his Life—His character, genius, and style | 162 |
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| CHAPTER XI. |
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| The Origines of Cato—Passage quoted by Gellius—Treatise De Re Rustica—Orations—L. Cassius Hemina—Historians in the Days of the Gracchi—Traditional Anecdote of Romulus—Autobiographers—Fragment of Quadrigarius—Falsehoods of Antias—Sisenna—Tubero | 176 |
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| CHAPTER XII. |
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| Early Roman Oratory—Eloquence of Appius Claudius CÆcus—Funeral Orations—Defence of Scipio Africanus Major—Scipio Africanus Minor Æmilianus—Era of the Gracchi—Their Characters—Interval between the Gracchi and Cicero—M. Antonius—L. Licinius Crassus—Q. Hortensius—Causes of his early popularity and subsequent failure | 187 |
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| CHAPTER XIII. |
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| Study of Jurisprudence—Earliest Systematic Works on Roman Law—Groundwork of the Roman Civil Law—Eminent Jurists—The ScÆvolÆ—Ælius Gallus—C. Aquilius Gallus, a Law Reformer—Other Jurists—Grammarians | 204 |
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| BOOK II. |
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| THE ERA OF CICERO AND AUGUSTUS. |
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| CHAPTER I. |
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