Plautus Persa front

Dramatis Personae TOXILUS, a servant. SAGARISTIO, a servant. SATURIO, a Parasite. PAEGNIUM, a boy. DORDALUS, a Procurer. LEMNISELENE, a Courtesan, beloved by Toxilus. SOPHOCLIDISCA, her attendant. A YOUNG WOMAN, daughter of Saturio.

(Scene.— Athens : before the houses of DORDALUS and of the Master of TOXILUS.)

THE SUBJECT. TOXILUS, who is left in charge of his master’s house in his absence, is desirous of obtaining the liberty of his mistress Lemniselene, who belongs to the Procurer Dordalus. He applies to his friend Sagaristio to lend him the sum necessary for that purpose. Sagaristio has not the money himself, but succeeds in finding some for the use of his friend. With the view of getting back the money when paid to Dordalus, Toxilus prevails on the Parasite Saturio to allow his daughter to be sold by Sagaristio to Dordalus, as though she were a slave. While these arrangements are being made, Lemniselene sends her attendant Sophoclidisca with a letter to Toxilus, and he at the same time sends the boy Paegnium with a message to Lemniselene. On receiving the money from Sagaristio, Toxilus pays it to Dordalus, who sets Lemniselene at liberty. Immediately after this, Sagaristio, dressed as a Persian, brings the daughter of Saturio, also dressed as a Persian captive, and sells her to Dordalus, without warranty, for a large sum of money. Immediately upon the departure of Sagaristio, Saturio makes his appearance, and claiming his daughter, takes her away Toxilus and Sagaristio conclude with a feast, and make merry over the Procurer’s misfortunes.

THE ACROSTIC ARGUMENT. ¹ HIS master being absent ( Profecto), Toxilus purchases ( Emit) his mistress, and contrives that the Procurer sets her at liberty; and he then persuades him to buy of her capturer a young woman, a captive ( Raptam), the daughter of hit Parasite being dressed up ( Subornatâ) for that purpose; and ( Atque) as he carouses, he makes sport of Dordalus, thus cajoled.