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Plautus

Miles Gloriosus

drama

A braggart soldier, a cunning slave, and a stolen girl. The slave engineers an elaborate deception to rescue the girl from the soldier's house. The Miles Gloriosus is the ancestor of every comic blowhard in Western drama.

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Acts

  • 1
    Act 1

    The braggart soldier Pyrgopolynices boasts of his martial exploits, all invented. His parasite Artotrogus flatters him shamelessly.

    95 lines
  • 2
    Act 2

    Palaestrio, a clever slave, has been captured and given to the soldier. His old master's girlfriend is held captive in the soldier's house. Palaestrio digs a tunnel between houses.

    694 lines
  • 3
    Act 3

    The scheme takes shape: the girl will be smuggled out by pretending to be her own twin sister. A beautiful courtesan is hired to seduce the soldier away from the captive girl.

    411 lines
  • 4
    Act 4

    The courtesan poses as a lovesick married woman. The soldier, vain beyond measure, is easily convinced. He releases the captive girl willingly, believing a better conquest awaits.

    662 lines
  • 5
    Act 5

    The soldier is caught 'seducing' the neighbour's wife and is beaten senseless by the household staff. He is stripped of his cloak and sword and driven offstage in humiliation.

    71 lines
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