THE GROWTH OF THE TIE 29 



In the times of the republic, Roman sentiment had 

 already declared itself against marriage. The dowered 

 wife, with her arrogance and her shrewishness and 

 with her man of business, whose authority is often 

 opposed to that of the husband, is a constant subject 

 of satire in the comedies of Plautus. Sometimes the 

 unhappy husband is represented as scheming with a 

 slave, in order to deceive his wife and procure money 

 wherewith to buy a pretty concubine, while the vixen 

 overhears the plot, together with sundry uncompli- 

 mentary references to her ugliness, her age, and her 

 temper. Sometimes a noble character in the piece 

 pointedly condemns the dowry system. Compared 

 with the wife, the puella or concubine of Plautus and 

 Terence is an estimable character, self-respecting and 

 faithful to her master for the time being, despite the 

 evil counsels of the nieretrix or courtesan, or possibly 

 of a calculating mother. In many cases, no doubt, 

 the lot of the concubine was too shifting to allow of 

 the growth of much tender sentiment either in her 

 own bosom or in that of her successive masters, but 

 there were exceptions to the rule. Terence makes 



never allowed to see each other alone, and the young man fulfils his 

 duty as a fianc6 in paying a few ceremonious visits to his bride and 

 sending her daily bouquets ordered once for all at the florist's. 



