974 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters . 
some reason lie has nick-named “Coquus” frequently thinks 
as John thinks “Sic Martialis, sic et ego; malens sic nngari 
quam ad formam Ganymedis leporis agitare”— 1 and though the 
quotations are comparatively few, they are exceedingly precious, 
since in only one of the nineteen lines quoted is there any dis¬ 
tinct variation from the text. 
On the other hand, Terence is the only play-writer of an¬ 
tiquity with whom John exhibits any marked familiarity. In 
the “Eunuch” he delights especially because of its commentary 
on life—“Comici forte contemnis Eunuehum sed in Eunucho 
fere omnium vitam expressit.” 2 Its happy touches on the fol¬ 
lies of mankind meet with his heartfelt approval: “Ju- 
cundus est enim comicus, et aptus qui se nugis nostris fre¬ 
quenter immisceat.” The Andria, too, is drawn upon for its 
lessons: “Quae vero ad gratiarn sine invidia via expeditissima 
sit, senex docet in Andria, dum filium omnibus obsequi, 
neminem laedere refert.” 3 The “Adelphi” is quoted only 
once, and as no other allusion is made to it and as this quota¬ 
tion can be traced to other sources, it is probable that John had 
not read the work. His mention of “miles gloriosus” can¬ 
not be construed as a mention of the play of Plautus by that 
name. 
There are several renowned writers of ancient times not gen¬ 
erally known in his day whom John quotes. These are 
Cato, Plautus, Yarro and Catullus. The quotations from Cato 
and Yarro can all be traced to other mediaeval sources. With 
Plautus it is the same, for although the characters “Man- 
drogerus,” “Querolus” and “Sycophans” are used constantly in 
the Polycraticus, this does not prove that he had read the plays. 
These characters were used as types by Christian writers from 
the days of Augustine. Furthermore there are no direct quo¬ 
tations from the plays. It is, then, safe to say that he had not 
read them. There is only one quotation from Catullus and that 
is evidently taken from Martianus Capella. With none of these 
writers does he exhibit any direct familiarity. 
1 Migne, p. 825. 
2 Ibid, p. 482. 
