down to us. They are lively, graphic, and full of fun, depicting a
mixture of Greek and Roman life.


TERENCE (195-159).

TERENCE was a native of Carthage. He was brought to Rome at an early
age as a slave of the Senator Terentius, by whom he was educated and
liberated. Six of his comedies are preserved. Like the plays of
Plautus, they are free translations from the Greek, and of the same
general character.


ENNIUS (139-69).

QUINTUS ENNIUS, a native of Rudiae, was taken to Rome by Cato the
Younger. Here he supported himself by teaching Greek. His epic poem,
the _Annàles_, relates the traditional Roman history, from the
arrival of Aenéas to the poet's own day.


CICERO (106-43).

MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO, a native of Arpínum, ranks as the first prose
writer in Roman literature. As an orator Cicero had a very happy
natural talent. The extreme versatility of his mind, his lively
imagination, his great sensitiveness, his inexhaustible richness of
expression, which was never at a loss for a word or tone to suit any
circumstances or mood, his felicitous memory, his splendid voice and
impressive figure, all contributed to render him a powerful speaker.