Rudens

Rudens (‘rope’), romantic comedy by Plautus adapted from a Greek comedy by Diphilus (see COMEDY, GREEK 6). This is one of Plautus' best plays, with a well-integrated plot, interesting characterization, and lively dialogue.

The prologue is spoken by the star Arcturus. The scene is the rocky coast of Cyrēnē near a temple of Venus and the country house of an elderly Athenian, Daemonēs, whose daughter Palaestra was stolen from him in her childhood. She has fallen into the hands of a young pimp, Labrax of Cyrene; a young Athenian, Plesidippus, has fallen in love with her, and made part-payment for her purchase. But Labrax has thought to improve his fortunes by secretly carrying the girl off to Sicily. Thereupon Arcturus has raised a storm and wrecked the ship near the scene of the play. Palaestra and another girl reach land in a boat and are kindly tended by the priestess of Venus. Labrax is also washed ashore; he discovers the girls and tries to carry them off from the temple. They are defended by Daemones and presently rescued by Plesidippus, who marches Labrax off to justice. A box belonging to Labrax is pulled from the sea in the net of a fisherman, who quarrels over it with a slave of Plesidippus while hauling on the rope (rudens) of the net; the quarrel leads to the discovery in the box not only of the gold of Labrax but also of trinkets belonging to Palaestra, which show her to be the lost daughter of Daemones. There is joyful recognition, followed by the betrothal of Palaestra to Plesidippus.