Literature of antiquity and the Middle Ages - Summary - 2019
Sliced Spit, or Pounded
Menander (324-293 BC e)
The text of the comedy has been preserved only fragmentarily, but philologists have carried out its reconstruction.
The action takes place on Corinth Street. On the stage there are two houses. One belongs to the commander of mercenaries, Chiliarch Polemon, the second - to the parents of the young man of Moshion.
The goddess Ignorance tells the traditional (familiar to us according to the "Court of Arbitration") plot, but constructed in a different way.
At the time of childbirth, the wife of the Athenian merchant Pateka dies. This sad event coincides with another: on the sea the Poteka ship dies with the goods, the merchant is completely ruined. And in order not to raise children in poverty, Patek decides to throw them out to someone. The abandoned twins, a boy and a girl, find a poor old woman. It is so hard for her to take her years, and yet there is an endless war in Corinth ...
The boy of Moshion sends an old woman to the wealthy Athenian Mirinne, who has long dreamed of her son, and leaves Glicker a girlfriend. A moshion is brought up in the home of a wealthy Mirinne, without knowing the refusal, but Glicker is growing modest and diligent. But the existence of a semi-native woman forces her foster mother to give a beautiful pupil to Polemon. Corinthian warlord without a madman from a beautiful lover.
Before the death, the old woman tells Gliker that she has a brother living nearby. Moshion, who does not suspect it, starts to look after Gliker. In the absence of Polemone, he is looking for proximity to her and kisses her. Glicker, thinking that the brother knows everything, does not resist kissing. But Polomon suddenly returns home and clap the glycers with his sword in anger (hence the name of the comedy).
After this, Polemon, angry with the "betrayal" of Glycery, accompanied by the gunman Soia leaves for the village. Glicker, insulted by groundless suspicions, asks her neighbor Mirinne to shelter her. An unimaginable, but extremely curious, Dave, Moshion's slave, decides that Mother did it in the interests of her son-in-law. Yes, and a self-confident young man, who both boasts his successes at the heter, is sure of his irresistible ...
Polemon, angry and longing for the seclusion of the countryside, sends home to the intelligence officer. But the slow-moving and sleepy Sosia does not tell any news. However, he is sent again, but he finds out that there has been a change in his master's house.
The drunk Polemon with his warriors is about to storm the house of Mirinna in anger, where Glicker hid. But appearing on the stage Patek (Father Gliker and Moshion and at the will of the old friend Polemon) convinces the racer commander to wait with the assault. For it will be illegal. After all, without being married to Gliker, he has no right to dictate to her his will: "... a crazy thing / You are being set up. Where are you going / For whom? But after all she is the head!"
Polemon tells Pateka how well Glicker he lived, shows her rich outfits. And he gave all this love!
Meanwhile, Moshioon, who is unsuspecting, is waiting for Glicker to throw herself in his arms. And Patek, following Pollemon's request, is sent by a parliamentarian to Mirinna's house. Just at this time, at the request of Gliker, a servant-servant, Dorida, brought a box from the house of Polemon to the girl's stuff. Yes, with the very same things that were found with thrown babies!
When she pervades the jewelry thoughtfully, Patek, who is present here, finds out the things of the deceased wife. He tells Gliker how her mother died, how he got bored and decided to get rid of the children. The girl confirms that she has a brother and calls his name.
The Moshion, which has grown incessantly at this time, hears and feels disappointment at the same time, and at the same time joy - after all, he has found his sister, which, of course, can not be his mistress ...
Polemon, who does not find himself in a state of excitement, is impatiently waiting for news. The servant of Dorid assures him: everything will end well. But Polemon does not believe that his beloved will forgive him, and he himself is hurrying to the house of Mirinna. Patek with Glikere comes out to meet him. An old friend solemnly announces: he agrees that Polemont should marry his daughter. In the dowry, he gives three talents. Polemon is happy and asks forgiveness to him for reckless insults and other sins of jealousy.
Moshion is glad and upset. But the father reports that he also found a good bride. So, to the general joy, the comedy ends.