His acting talent was eventually discovered ; and he adopted the names `` Maccius '' -LRB- a clownish stock-character in popular farces -RRB- and `` Plautus '' -LRB- a term meaning either `` flat-footed '' or `` flat-eared , '' like the ears of a hound PERSON@1 .

He called himself `` Macchius '' -LRB- a clownish character in popular farces -RRB- , and `` Plautus '' -LRB- a term meaning `` flat-footed '' -RRB- .
