Literature of antiquity and the Middle Ages - Summary - 2019

Formym
Publicity Terentius Afer (195-159 BC e)

The action develops in Athens. Everything begins with the monologue of the slave Lava; the owner of his friend Gets, the young Antiphon marries in love and under quite ordinary circumstances. Gave is going to return Goethe's debts: so you needed money for a gift to the young. As we can see, the tradition of such gifts existed long ago: collecting "donations" not only from relatives and friends, but even from slaves ...

Geta informs Dava that the city returns Demifon and Khremet, old men and brothers. One is from Cilicia, the other is from Lemnos. Both of them, leaving, instructed Goethe to look after their sons, Antiphon and Phaedria. But in the end, having appeared repeatedly beaten young hosts for attempts to instruct them, the slave was forced to become the accomplice of the young men in their love affairs.

Fedoria (the son of Demifon) fell in love with Pamphil's harpist. The young master and the servant traveled daily to school and back. Antifo was also with them.

One day, when they awaited the arpticist in the barbecue, they suddenly learned that a misfortune had happened nearby. The poor girl Faniya died, and nobody even bury her as it should.

Young people go to this house. And Antiphon, helping sad Faniya, falls in love with her ears. The feeling turns out to be mutual. Antiphon is ready to marry, though he fears his father's anger ...

For help comes an intelligent and all-knowing parasite (in ancient Greek "parasitos" - "naphlebnik") Forimon. The girl was an orphan. And by law, the closest relative should take care of her marriage. And at the urgently convened court hearing, it is announced that Phania is in tune with Antiphon. And the young man immediately marries her, performing a "relative duty" with a completely natural enthusiasm. However, joy is clouded by the thought of the soon-to-be-coming return of his father and uncle who hardly endorse his choice. Yes, and Fédéria understands that his love for a slave-harpist will not cause parents' delight too.

Meanwhile, the elderly brothers are already in the harbor of the city. Geta and Phaedria are persuading Antiphon to stay firm and explain to their parents: it was forced to marry justice. Well, feeling too. "By law, by court, they say," Fedorov tells him. But the cowardly Antiphus leaves the stage cowardly, abandoning both of them with a farewell: "I entrust my life and Fanyu to you!"

Demifon appears. He is in anger. Yes, let the law. But - to despise father's consent and blessing?!

To the greetings of Fedriya and the question, is he well and healthy, Demifon replies: "The question! Beautiful here without you, you arranged a wedding!"

Geta and Phaedra, with all possible arguments, defend the runaway Antiphon. But Demifon persists. Yes, let it be by law. But the same law provides the right to provide the poor relative with dowry and to give it on the side. And so - "What was the point of introducing a poor man into the house?" And Demifon demands to bring him down with parasite Formyon - the defender of both women and the indirect culprit of those unpleasant old brothers of events.

But Formion is calm and confident that he can do everything lawfully and safely: "... Faniya will remain / With Antiphon. I will take away all the offense and myself / I will turn all irritation into old age."

As we see, Formyon is not only smart, self-confident, but also noble (though perhaps not always selfless).

And Formion goes on the offensive. He blames Demyfon in the fact that he threw a poor relative in the mountain, and even an orphan. Yes, her father, it seems, was not rich and humble over the measure, so after his death no one ever remembered the orphan, all turned away from her. Including the prosperous Demifon ...

But Demifon is calm. He is sure that he does not have such relatives: this is the invention of Formion. However, wishing to avoid litigation, he suggests: "Take five minutes and take it with you!"

However, Formyon does not even think of giving up positions. Faniya is married to the son of Demifon according to the law. And she will still be comforted in the old age of both brothers.

The three judge's advisers, very rude, indistinctly give Demifon a completely dissimilar advice: they have no idea.

But Fedya's bad deal. The collector Dorion, without waiting for the promised fee for Pamfilu (this harpist-singer - his slave), promised to give it to a warrior if Fedorius did not bring the money. But where to get them ?!

And while Antiphon is still in a rather critical situation, he begs Goethe to help his cousin find a way out (that is, money!). For Phudry's in love is ready to follow the singer, even to the edge of the world.

Return brothers meet. The crest deplorably confesses to Demifon, that he is alarmed and saddened. It turns out that in Lemnos, where he often visited under the pretext of trade, he had a second wife. And her daughter, a little younger than Fedor, and therefore, is his half-sister.

Lemnos wife came to her husband's search in Athens, and here, having not found him, died in a mountain. Somewhere here the orphan remains and his daughter ...

Meanwhile, the unconquerable Formion, in contention with Geta, pretends that, if nothing happens to Antiphon, he himself and I will be ready to marry Fania. But, of course, having received from the elders the retreat in the form of a decent dowry. He immediately sends these money to the promoter for the ransom from the slavery of Fedor's lover.

Formion, it turns out, knows about the life of the Kremlin, and therefore plays for sure. And still not suspecting about this, Grest is ready to help Demifon with money - only Antiphony married as it would be desirable to parents. Mutual understanding of the brothers is truly touching.

Antifo, of course, in despair. But the loyal slave of Geta soothes him: everything will be settled, everything will end in general pleasure.

On stage, Sofrona, an old nurse of Fania, appears. She immediately recognizes Hormet (though on Lemnos he was wearing the name of Stilpon) and threatens with disclosure. The groom implores her until he does that. But, of course, he is interested in the fate of the unhappy daughter.

Sofron tells how, after the death of her mistress, she put Faniyu - she married a decent young man. Young people live just in the house where they are now standing.

And it turns out that the happy husband Antiphon is his nephew of Cremette!

Khremet ordered talks with Faniya to his wife Navsistrat. And the girl came to him in the shower. Having learned about the former treason of her husband, Navsistrat, of course, gave freedom to feelings, but soon changed the anger to mercy: the rival has already died, life is going on in its turn ...

Heart is happy infinitely: good destiny herself has arranged everything in the best way. Antiphon and Phanium, of course, are also happy. And Demifon agrees to marry a son on a newborn niece (and they are, in fact, already married).

Here and everywhere the slave faithful slave Geta: in fact, to a considerable extent thanks and his efforts all so well ended.

Forimon, it turns out, is not only smart and intelligent, but also a kind, decent person: because of the money he received from the elderly, he bought his arpist for Fedir from slavery.

The comedy ends with the fact that Formyon receives an invitation to a festive dinner at the house of Krementa and Navsistrata.