THE SUBJECT.
CHREMES commands his wife, when pregnant, if she is delivered of a girl
immediately to kill the child. Having given birth to a girl, Sostrata
delivers her to an old woman named Philtera to be exposed. Instead of doing
this, Philtera calls her Antiphila, and brings her up as her own. Clinia,
the son of Menedemus, falls in love with her, and treats her as though his
wife. Menedemus, on learning this, is very angry, and by his harsh language
drives away his son from home. Taking this to heart, and in order to punish
himself for his ill-timed severity, Menedemus, though now an aged man,
fatigues himself by laboring at agricultural pursuits from morning till
night. At the period when the Play commences, Clinia has just returned to
Attica, but not daring to go to
his father's house, is entertained by Clitipho, the son of Chremes, who is
the neighbor of Menedemus. Clitipho then sends for Antiphila, whose supposed
mother has recently died, to come and meet her lover. On the same day,
Chremes learns from Menedemus how anxious he is for his son's return; and on
hearing from his son of the arrival of Clinia, he defers informing Menedemus
of it until the next day. Syrus, the servant who has been sent to fetch
Antiphila, also brings with him Bacchis, an extravagant Courtesan, the
mistress of Clitipho. To conceal the truth from Chremes, they represent to
him that Bacchis is the mistress of Clinia, and that Antiphila is one of her
maids. Next morning Chremes informs Menedemus of his son's arrival, and of
the extravagant conduct of his mistress, but begs that he will conceal from
Clinia his knowledge of this fact. Bacchis requiring ten minae, Syrus
devises a plan for obtaining the money from Chremes, while the latter is
encouraging him to think of a project against Menedemus. Syrus tells him a
story, that the mother of Antiphila had borrowed a thousand drachmae of
Bacchis, and being dead, the girl is left in her hands as a pledge for the
money. While these things are going on, Sostrata discovers in Antiphila her
own daughter. In order to obtain the money which Bacchis persists in
demanding, Syrus suggests to Chremes that it should be represented to
Menedemus that Bacchis is the mistress of Clitipho, and that he should be
requested to conceal her in his house for a few days; it is also arranged
that Clinia shall pretend to his father to be in love with Antiphila, and to
beg her as his wife. He is then to ask for money, as though for the wedding,
which is to be handed over to Bacchis. Chremes does not at first approve of
the plan suggested by Syrus; but he pays down the money for which he has
been informed' his daughter is a pledge in the hands of Bacchis. This, with
his knowledge, is given to Clitipho, who, as Syrus says, is to convey it to
Bacchis, who is now in the house of Menedemus, to make the latter more
readily believe that she is his mistress. Shortly after this, the plot is
discovered by Chremes, who threatens to punish Clitipho and Syrus. The Play
concludes with Chremes giving his consent to the marriage of Clinia with
Antiphila, and pardoning Clitipho, who promises to abandon the Courtesan,
and marry. Unlike the other Plays of Terence and Plautus, the Plot of this
Play extends over two days.
