Stichus

Acts

• 1
  Act 1

  Two sisters wait for their husbands, who left for abroad years ago. Their father pressures them to remarry. They refuse.

  313 lines
• 2
  Act 2

  The father's argument: the husbands are gone, possibly dead. Loyalty is admirable but impractical. The sisters hold firm.

  180 lines
• 3
  Act 3

  The husbands return, wealthy from their travels. The father is suddenly delighted with his sons-in-law.

  120 lines
• 4
  Act 4

  Celebrations begin. The slave Stichus organises a party. The parasites compete for invitations to the feast.

  183 lines
• 5
  Act 5

  A grand banquet. Stichus and the slaves dance and drink. The play ends in pure celebration — unusually for Plautus, there is no clever trick, just the joy of homecoming.

  170 lines