551:
him the truth. After being interrogated one of the girls confesses that
Callicles' unmarried daughter had had a baby, and that the baby had been given to Phronesium. The other girl reveals that the father of the baby is none other than Diniarchus, who was formerly betrothed to Callicles' daughter. Diniarchus begs Callicles for forgiveness, and he offers to marry Callicles' daughter. Callicles grudgingly agrees, but says he will give her away with a much reduced dowry. He releases the girls and departs. When Phronesium comes out, Diniarchus asks her to give up the child. But she begs him to let her keep it a few days longer, so that she can continue to trick the soldier into giving her more money.
140:
has just given birth to it, claiming when the soldier returns that it is his. He begins lavishing her with gifts; however, these are not enough for her insatiable appetite. She attempts to gain more by making him jealous, feigning excitement over the gifts of
Diniarchus, and later pretending to be in love with a third man, Strabax, her rather dimwitted farming neighbor.
420:
Diniarchus complains that
Phronesium is taking a very long time bathing. He asks Astaphium to go inside and inform Phronesium that he is waiting. Phronesium now comes out and invites Diniarchus to have something to eat now that he has returned from his journey. When the servants have gone inside, she
131:
The play mostly revolves around the interactions between the courtesan
Phronesium, her maid Astaphium, and three young men. Phronesium, the main prostitute, relentlessly persuades every male she encounters to give her all their money, by means of trickery or more often by simple flirtation. The three
550:
Diniarchus pleads with her but she tells him to go away and goes back inside. Left alone, Diniarchus complains about
Phronesium's behaviour. Suddenly an older gentleman, Callicles, approaches bringing two female slaves whose hands are tied. With savage threats, Callicles demands that the slaves tell
496:
Phronesium goes inside, and shuts the door against
Stratophanes, who goes away angrily. The young farmer Strabax now enters, carrying some money that he says he received while he was away at the farm from a man who owed it to his father. Phronesium comes out and welcomes him inside. Now Truculentus
166:
The five acts into which
Plautus's plays are traditionally divided are believed to date from Renaissance times and do not go back to Plautus himself. However, the metrical schemes of the plays often indicate how they can be divided into different sections. A common pattern is for a section to begin
151:
The play is brought to a close when a gentleman called
Callicles arrives, looking for the baby his daughter had as a result of being raped. Pointed out by Callicles' maid, Diniarchus confesses that he is the father. He agrees to a shotgun wedding with the mother, and goes to get the baby back from
139:
The main deception is played on the soldier
Stratophanes. He had lived with Phronesium prior to the play's beginning, and before leaving the city had made many promises to her about what she'd have if they were to start a family together. Phronesium decides to borrow someone's baby and pretends she
248:
Astaphium pretends to
Diniarchus that she is going to fetch the midwife. Diniarchus says he knows she is lying, since he has just overheard her saying she is going to fetch a "him" not a "her"; he is curious to know who it is. Astaphium avoids answering and says Phronesium will be delighted to see
167:
with iambic senarii, then a passage or passages in other metres, rounded off by a passage in trochaic septenarii. Timothy Moore calls this the "ABC succession". It appears that the "A" sections (iambic senarii) were unaccompanied, the others sung or recited to the music of a pair of pipes known as
147:
The slave from whom the play gets its name, Truculentus, attempts to protect his dimwitted master Strabax from wasting the family's fortune at the whorehouse. Although he puts up a good fight at first, some chinks in his armor are soon revealed as he can't help but stare at Astaphium during their
132:
men are more than happy to comply with her wishes, although they complain frequently of their regrettable situation. They are essentially under her spell, and are completely unable or unwilling to do anything to break free from it. Her alluring outward façade masks her cold and greedy true nature.
143:
Throughout the play, Phronesium's maid Astaphium (who is more of a protégée to Phronesium than a maid) attempts to seduce the men as well. Almost as skilled in the art of seduction as her mentor, she works her feminine charms on several of them, and is even successful in charming the only one of
135:
Diniarchus, the young man most often at her house, has almost entirely lost his wealth to her by the play's beginning. By this point, he's all too familiar with who she really is and the games she plays. He even assists her with deceiving other men, but nonetheless continues to be her victim as
554:
In the final scene Stratophanes appears and gives Phronesium a pound of gold. She accepts the gift but reacts coldly, saying that the baby requires a lot of expenses. At this point Stratophanes is outraged to see the young farmer Strabax coming out from Phronesium's house. The two men argue and
457:
The "Babylonian" soldier, Stratophanes, now arrives with some attendants, after a ten-month absence. He declares that unlike most soldiers he doesn't believe in boasting. Astaphium greets him, while Phronesium pretends to be exhausted from giving birth. Stratophanes presents Phronesium with two
182:
Although the music which accompanied the words is now lost, it is clear that the different metres had different qualities. For example, iambic septenarii are often associated with courtesans. In this play the majority of the 95 iambic septenarii lines are sung by Astaphium, and the remainder by
479:
Diniarchus's servant Cyamus (or Geta) now arrives with several slaves carrying gifts. He complains about how his master is wasting all his property on his love affair with Phronesium. Phronesium is delighted with the presents and bids the servant to tell his master that he is welcome to visit.
178:
According to this scheme, the play Truculentus can be divided into five metrical sections, which correspond roughly but not exactly to the traditional acts. There is a symmetrical pattern, with the first and fifth sections about Diniarchus, the second and fourth about Strabax and his slave
421:
discloses to Diniarchus that the baby is not really hers but that she is just pretending in order to trap the soldier. After teasing him with a kiss she asks him for a present, which he willingly promises to send to her. After she goes inside, he speaks of his love for her, then departs.
194:
As frequently occurs in Plautus's comedies, the third of the five sections is taken up with a trick carried out to obtain money. In this play the trickster is Phronesium, who dresses up in maternity clothes and uses a baby as a prop in order to deceive the soldier Stratophanes.
99:
The title means "Truculent (or Surly)", referring to the bad-tempered slave who tries to prevent his young master Strabax from wasting money on his love affair with the courtesan Phronesium, but who later himself falls for the charms of her maid Astaphium.
453:
She explains to the audience that for a woman it is much easier to be bad than good. Then she orders the servants to prepare a sacrifice to Lucina (the goddess of childbirth) on the nearby altar, and to bring a couch, which she lies down
366:
She says that courtesans must therefore always look out for new lovers, such as the young farmer who lives next door, who the previous night had climbed over the garden wall to visit Phronesium without his father
399:
Astaphium knocks on Strabax's door, but the servant Truculentus comes out and rudely refuses her entry. He declares he is going to the market to inform Strabax's father about his son's comings and goings.
152:
Phronesium. However, Phronesium gets her way as always and keeps the baby until she decides she no longer needs it. Diniarchus, as well as the other men, have learned nothing by the play's end.
213:
The actor reciting the Prologue explains that the scene is set in Athens, in front of the house of the courtesan Phronesium, who is pretending to a certain soldier that she has had a baby by him.
216:
The young man Diniarchus enters and complains to the audience how expensive it is to keep a courtesan supplied with presents. He reveals that he has just returned from the island of Lemnos.
882:
The names of characters in Plautus's plays are sometimes unclear, since the names were missing from the scene headings in both the A and P group of manuscripts: see Lindsay, W. M. (1900),
96:. Following the relationships between prostitutes and their customers, it contains perhaps Plautus's most cynical depiction of human nature in comparison with his other surviving plays.
555:
nearly come to blows. Stratophanes gives Phronesium an additional talent of silver, but it still isn't enough, and she bids Strabax go inside while the soldier must wait his turn.
497:
appears, surprised that Strabax has not yet returned from the farm. He meets Astaphium, who teases him and explains that Strabax is inside with Phronesium. She invites him inside.
534:
Astaphium comes out, telling her mistress that she will keep guard on the door. She meets Diniarchus and explains that Phronesium is busy with Strabax at that moment.
123:("son of Homer") in line 485, a possible reference to a play by Ennius produced in 187 BC) make it probable that the play was produced in 186 BC.
437:
Phronesium comes out, dressed in maternity clothes. She sings about her anxiety about the trick she is performing, which she hopes will go well.
942:
480:
Stratophanes, observing this, becomes mad with jealousy and speaks disparagingly of Diniarchus and starts quarrelling with Cyamus.
232:
Phronesium's maid Astaphium comes out, telling the servants to guard the mistress's property carefully. Diniarchus calls to her.
586:
513:
Diniarchus arrives, very pleased that his gifts have been acceptable. He decides to keep watch outside the door for a while.
249:
him after his journey. But she also tells him that Phronesium has given birth to the soldier's baby. Diniarchus goes inside.
937:
148:
encounter. Later he drops all opposition and joins the rest of the men in becoming completely helpless to their control.
905:
615:
932:
186:
The overall scheme, taking A = iambic senarii, B = other metres, C = trochaic septenarii, is as follows:
471:
Act 2.7 (551-630): polymetric song (bacchiac, anapaestic, aeolics, iambic-trochaic, cretic) (80 lines)
927:
637:
111:
was written in Plautus's old age. De Melo argues in his edition that certain references (such as
714:
161:
608:
93:
8:
571:
567:
458:
Syrian slave girls and some clothes, but she doesn't seem very pleased with the gifts.
901:
526:
Act 4.2 (711-729): polymetric song (anapaests, bacchiac, iambic-trochaic) (19 lines)
898:
Plautus, Vol V: Stichus; Three-Dollar Day; Truculentus; The Tale of a Traveling-Bag
886:, p. 8. Here the slave is addressed as Geta in line 577, but as Cyamus in line 702.
658:
601:
80:
707:
686:
265:
Left alone, Astaphium laughs at having tricked Diniarchus, whom she doesn't like.
281:
She explains that Diniarchus is now more of a friend to Phronesium than a lover.
83:
921:
749:
672:
297:
He has already made over all his property to Phronesium and has nothing left.
179:
Truculentus, while the middle section is about the tricking of Stratophanes.
728:
87:
383:
But she complains about the bad-tempered slave who keeps chasing her away.
721:
679:
873:
Line 236 (an iambic octonarius) is omitted by Questa and other editors.
90:
205:
Prologue; Act 1.1 (lines 1–94): iambic senarii (21 lines + c.76 lines)
895:
763:
742:
700:
651:
735:
693:
644:
593:
756:
665:
625:
30:
849:
542:
Act 4.2 (cont.)–Act 5 (730-967): trochaic septenarii (239 lines)
117:
in line 486, a reference to a speech of Cato made in 190 BC, or
826:. Cambridge University Press, pp. 237-42, 253-8, 305-8, 367-71.
104:
68:
a street in Athens, before the houses of Phronesium and Strabax
445:
Act 2.5 (cont.)–2.6 (465-550): trochaic septenarii (85 lines)
429:
Act 2.5: (448–464): anapaestic (7 lines), bacchiac (10 lines)
170:
329:
When a lover has nothing left to give, she must discard him.
313:
She says a courtesan has to be clever at getting presents.
321:
Act 2.1 (cont.): (228–235): trochaic septenarii (8 lines)
358:
Act 2.1 (cont.) (241–247, 250): iambic senarii (8 lines)
342:
Act 2.1 (cont.): (237–240): iambic septenarii (4 lines)
240:
Act 1.2 (cont.) (130–208): iambic septenarii (80 lines)
375:
Act 2.1 (cont.) (251-255): iambic septenarii (4 lines)
350:
Astaphium says that no one lover can ever give enough.
289:
Act 2.1 (cont.) (217–223): iambic septenarii (7 lines)
848:
For details of the metres used in each line, see the
273:
Act 2.1 (cont.) (213–216): iambic octonarii (4 lines)
488:
Act 2.8–Act 3.2 (631-698): iambic senarii (67 lines)
305:
Act 2.1 (cont.) (224–227): iambic senarii (?4 lines)
505:Act 4.1 (699-710): trochaic septenarii (12 lines)
412:Act 2.3–2.4 (322-447): iambic senarii (126 lines)
405:
391:Act 2.2 (256-321): trochaic septenarii (66 lines)
919:
896:Plautus; Translated by Wolfgang de Melo (2013).
519:
609:
257:Act 2.1 (209–212): polymetric song (4 lines)
224:Act 1.2 (95–129): polymetric song (35 lines)
839:. Cambridge University Press, pp. 185, 202.
335:
168:
118:
112:
616:
602:
464:
198:
920:
597:
183:Diniarchus in conversation with her.
855:, Washington University in St Louis.
623:
13:
943:Cultural depictions of prostitutes
864:But Leo and Questa delete 224–226.
155:
14:
954:
40:Diniarchus, an Athenian young man
850:Database by Timothy J. Moore of
144:them who resisted, Truculentus.
54:Callicles, an Athenian gentleman
561:
190:ABBBBB(A)C, BABC, ABBC, BAC, BC
58:Syra, hairdresser of Phronesium
889:
876:
867:
858:
842:
829:
816:
803:
800:vol. 5 (Loeb edition), p. 261.
790:
406:Phronesium tricks Stratophanes
1:
811:Titi Macci Plauti Mostellaria
783:
50:Cyamus, servant of Diniarchus
44:Truculentus, slave of Strabax
42:Astaphium, maid to Phronesium
16:Ancient Roman play by Plautus
7:
938:Plays set in ancient Greece
585:David M. Christenson, 2010
520:Diniarchus learns the truth
10:
959:
900:. Loeb Classical Library.
852:The Meters of Roman Comedy
835:Moore, Timothy J. (2012),
822:Moore, Timothy J. (2012),
159:
632:
579:George E. Duckworth, 1942
64:
36:
26:
21:
336:Astaphium visits Strabax
56:maid, slave of Callicles
809:Merrill, F. R. (1972).
126:
52:Strabax, a young farmer
48:Stratophanes, a soldier
46:Phronesium, a courtesan
590:Wolfang de Melo, 2013
169:
162:Metres of Roman comedy
119:
113:
837:Music in Roman Comedy
824:Music in Roman Comedy
465:Strabax is victorious
199:Diniarchus's troubles
160:Further information:
94:Titus Maccius Plautus
933:Plays set in Athens
796:W. de Melo (2011),
576:Paul Nixon, 1916–38
568:Henry Thomas Riley
780:
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582:James Tatum, 1983
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928:Plays by Plautus
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103:According to
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86:by the early
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79:is a comedic
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562:Translations
541:
525:
504:
487:
470:
444:
428:
411:
390:
374:
357:
341:
320:
304:
288:
272:
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108:
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98:
75:
74:
73:
771:Truculentus
722:Mostellaria
680:Cistellaria
109:Truculentus
76:Truculentus
22:Truculentus
922:Categories
784:References
638:Amphitryon
120:Homeronida
91:playwright
60:attendants
37:Characters
27:Written by
813:, p. xix.
764:Trinummus
743:Pseudolus
701:Menaechmi
659:Bacchides
652:Aulularia
624:Plays by
572:full text
736:Poenulus
708:Mercator
694:Epidicus
687:Curculio
645:Asinaria
570:, 1912:
367:knowing.
884:Captivi
798:Plautus
757:Stichus
666:Captivi
626:Plautus
65:Setting
31:Plautus
904:
750:Rudens
673:Casina
171:tībiae
136:well.
107:, the
105:Cicero
729:Persa
88:Roman
81:Latin
902:ISBN
127:Plot
84:play
454:on.
924::
175:.
910:.
617:e
610:t
603:v
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