Truculentus

Miles Gloriosus o The boastful soldier is one of the best-known works of the Latin playwright Plauto (Sarsina, Romagna, 254 BC - Rome, 184 BC). The work takes place in Ephesus (Asia Minor), and is divided into five acts. Argument

Pirgopolinices, a swaggering soldier who is even mocked by slaves, kidnaps Filocomasia, Athenian courtesan, and takes her to Ephesus with him; In addition, the same military receives as gift of some pirates to Palestrión, servant of the young athenian Plainsicles, that was in love with Filocomasia, like her of him. Plesicles also travels to Ephesus to try to recover to Philocomasia, and it is lodged in the house next to the one of the military one. The servant makes a hole in the wall, so that the lovers can see each other. Escéledro, one of the servants of the military discovers Filocomasia and Plesicles kissing, but they and Palestrion deny it, and make them believe that the twin sister of Filocomasia, who was kissing with Plesicles, has come from Athens. > With the complicity of Periplectomeno, the old neighbor of the military, Pleusicles and Palestrion then tends to trap the soldier, making him believe that the neighbor's wife is in love with him, and sends him a gift ring as proof of his love. Palestrion advises the soldier to leave Philocomasia, let her go to Athens with her twin sister and also give him his jewelry to earn his forgiveness. Pléusicles pretends to be a captain who comes to look for Filocomasia, from his sick mother. The soldier frees Palestrion in gratitude for his services, and he leaves with Plisicles and Filocomasia, who pretends to be distressed at having to separate from the soldier. When the soldier enters the old man's house, he holds him and accuses him of being an adulterer, and causes his cook to lash him until Pirgopolínices promises not to retaliate against anyone for the whipping he has received.

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