Source edition
Plautus. Plauti Comoediae, Volume 2. Leo, Friedrich, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1896.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This ancient Roman comedy revolves around a clever slave who spins a web of lies to deceive his master, who has unexpectedly returned home while his son was indulging in a wild, spendthrift lifestyle. Set in Athens, the plot begins with the young Philolaches wasting his father Theopropides' wealth with the help of the cunning slave Tranio, even borrowing money to buy the freedom of his beloved courtesan. When the father suddenly returns from abroad, panic ensues among the young revelers. To prevent him from entering the house, Tranio concocts a desperate lie, claiming the house is haunted by a ghost and must be avoided. As moneylenders and neighbors appear, Tranio is forced to pile lie upon lie, claiming that the borrowed money was used to purchase the neighbor's house. Ultimately, the elaborate schemes unravel, but through the mediation of a friend, both the son and the witty slave are forgiven, bringing the chaotic events to a peaceful and humorous resolution.