Source edition
Plautus. Plauti Comoediae, Volume 1. Leo, Friedrich, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1895.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This ancient Roman comedy depicts the turbulent love of a young couple threatened by the secret of the heroine's birth and its ultimate happy resolution. Set in the Greek city of Sicyon, the story begins with Selenium, a young girl raised by a courtesan, and her lover Alcesimarchus, who is tormented by his father's demand that he marry a wealthy relative. As Selenium despairs over his apparent betrayal, Alcesimarchus falls into a state of emotional frenzy, attempting extreme measures to reclaim his love. The turning point arrives with the discovery of a small casket (cistellaria) containing the trinkets left with Selenium when she was abandoned as an infant. Through this casket, her true identity as the daughter of freeborn citizens is revealed, clearing the path for the lovers to be legitimately wed and bringing the drama to a joyful conclusion.