Continuing classical Latin
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# 1.4 Early Latin: Plautus

Plautus (fl. c. 205-184 BCE), Roman Playwright. Latin text of his plays has been modernised in spelling.

Example: nominative plural viri, in Plautus’s day written virei.

Some features of Syntax are different:

Example: Prohibitions. In Plautus it is possible to say ‘Do not do!’ in the following ways: ne + perfect subjunctive: ne feceris (Epidicus 148); ne + present subjunctive: ne facias (Curculio 539); ne + a special verb form which dies out in later Latin: ne faxis (Mostellaria 1115).

In the works of Cicero (106-43 BCE), the most frequent common way to say ‘do not do’ is noli facere.

## Audio activity 4

Now listen to the following audio conversation between James Clackson and Geoffrey Horrocks.

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Plautus’ Latin
Transcript
◄Contents►Next: 1.5 Early Latin: Latin before Plautus

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