CHAPTER II

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VESTIGES OF INDIGENOUS POETRY IN ROME AND ANCIENT ITALY.

Niebuhr's theory of a Ballad-Poetry 28 The Saturnian metre 29 Ritual Hymns 31 Prophetic verses 33 Fescennine verses 34 Saturae 35 Gnomic verses 36 Commemorative verses 37 Inferences as to their character 38 From early state of the language 39 No public recognition of Poetry 40 Roman story result of tradition and reflection 41 Inferences from the nature of Roman religion 43 From the character and pursuits of the people 44 Roman Poetry of Italian rather than Roman origin 45

FIRST PERIOD.

FROM LIVIUS ANDRONICUS TO LUCILIUS.

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