Afranius imitated Menander, and probably Terence.
Hor. Ep. ii. 1, 57,
‘Dicitur Afrani toga convenisse Menandro.’
Macrob. Saturn. vi. 1, 4, ‘Afranius togatarum scriptor in ea togata, quae Compitalia inscribitur, non inverecunde respondens arguentibus, quod plura sumpsisset a Menandro,
“Fateor” inquit “sumpsi non ab illo modo,
sed ut quisque habuit conveniret quod mihi,
quod me non posse melius facere credidi
etiam a Latino”’ (ll. 25-8).
Sueton. vit. Ter. p. 33 R., ‘Terentium Afranius omnibus comicis praefert.’
MINOR POETS:
(a) The poets immediately after Afranius include
(1) Hostius.—He was perhaps the grandfather of Cynthia (Hostia), Propertius’ mistress. Prop. iv. 20, 7,
‘Est tibi forma potens; sunt castae Palladis artes,
splendidaque a docto fama refulget avo.’