now ruled by GENSERIC. Carthage was their head-quarters, and they were
continually ravaging the coasts of the Mediterranean with their
fleets.

Maximus, Emperor of Rome (455), had forcibly married Eudoxia, the
widow of the previous Emperor, Valentinian, whom he had killed. She in
revenge sent to Genseric a secret message to attack Rome. He at once
set sail for the mouth of the Tiber. The capital was delivered into
his hands on his promise to spare the property of the Church (June,
455), and for fourteen days the Vandals ravaged it at pleasure.
Genseric then left Rome, taking with him Eudoxia.

This was the last sack of the city by barbarians. But twenty-one years
elapsed before the Roman Empire came to an end (476).




CHAPTER XLIII.

ROMAN LITERATURE.

PLAUTUS (254-184).


PLAUTUS, the comic poet, was one of the earliest of Roman writers.
Born at Sarsina in Umbria, of free parentage, he at first worked on
the stage at Rome, but lost his savings in speculation. Then for some
time he worked in a treadmill, but finally gained a living by
translating Greek comedies into Latin. Twenty of his plays have come