A young man's father tries to buy the same girl his son wants. Father and son compete through intermediaries in a comedy that explores the absurdity of ageing desire.
Start ReadingCharinus returns from a trading voyage with a beautiful slave girl he has bought for himself. His father Demipho spots her and falls instantly in love.
Father and son compete for the girl, each concealing their intentions from the other. The father gets his friend Lysimachus to hide her.
Lysimachus' wife discovers the girl in her house and draws the obvious conclusion. A furious confrontation erupts.
Demipho faces exposure. Charinus, believing he has lost the girl forever, contemplates exile.
The truth comes out. The old men are shamed. Charinus gets the girl. The fathers agree that old men should leave young women alone.