38 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



The fifth century is the period when splendor of expression is com- 

 bined with simplicity and nobility of thought. Now the individual 

 sinks out of prominence for a time. The name of the dead or of the 

 dedicator may be repeated and certain other information added extra 

 metriim, but the verses, still with the exception of epigrams for honor- 

 ary statues, must indicate that they were inscribed. Dedicatory in- 

 scriptions often omit the name of the divinity. We find for the first 

 time epideictic epitaphs and dedications ; satiric, convivial, gno- 

 mic, and love epigrams are developing rapidly. The chief literary 

 influence is still that of the epic, though we begin to see the eftect of 

 tragedy and rhetoric. 



The work of the fourth century is marked by individualism and by 

 a drop in tone. The great majority of the epigrams are commonplace, 

 loaded with details, and utterly without charm. In the best work 

 grace has taken the place of splendor, and we have an intimation of 

 what the later epigram is to be. For the first time now art and letters 

 are mentioned as titles to fame. The purely ornamental character of 

 the inscribed epigram is shown by the fact that the name is sometimes 

 omitted in the verses, which often give no indication that they were 

 inscribed. In this century epic influence is dying out, and it is re- 

 placed by the influence of tragedy and rhetoric. 



The frequent repetition of formulas and the imitation of one epigram 

 by another show that the epigram was early considered a distinct 

 branch of literature. Finally we have found examples of practically 

 every variety of epigram in the early period. There is therefore no 

 reason to suppose that the epideictic epigram of the third century 

 sprang into being full-grown, as it were, nor that it developed from a 

 perverted use of inscriptions. 



The main part of this study ends here, but it may not be out of 

 place to add a few remarks on the metre and the dialect of the epigrams. 



The metre of inscriptions is discussed fully by Allen, and there is 

 little to add to his investigations, since the epigrams preserved in MSS. 

 observe the same principles as the inscriptions. I add, however, a few 

 instances of the occurrence of the more unusual phenomena. i*^ 



Caesura in the third foot of the hexameter is lacking in 183. 1 (MS.) 

 and 276 a. 1. 



Elision in the third foot of the hexameter after the caesura occurs 

 in 83. 1 and 138. 3 (Allen, p. 50, cites two examples, K 43 (SIV/III) 

 and Allen XCVII 20 (S III)). 



"^ See also J. Mesk, Satz u. Vers in eleg. Distichoii d. (Jriechcu, Briiuu, 1900 ; 

 A. Langen, De Disticho Graecorum Elegiuco, Bieslau, 1868. 



