Phormio (161 BC) While their fathers are away Antipho has fallen in love with a poor orphaned citizen, and his cousin Phaedria has fallen for a slave girl. Phormio, a parasite, has helped Antipho to marry the poor girl by making a false claim in court. When Antipho's father Demipho returns he is furious because he had wanted Antipho to marry his brother Chremes's daughter. Chremes agrees to pay Phormio 30 minae on condition that he removes the girl and marries her himself. Too late Chremes realises that the poor girl is his own daughter. He tries to undo the arrangement with Phormio, but Phormio has already paid the money to Phaedria to buy his slave girl. Phormio escapes punishment since Chremes' wealthy wife Nausistrata is furious not only about Chremes' secret second marriage but that he had been embezzling her money to pay for it. Antipho is allowed to keep his wife, Phaedria to keep his girlfriend, and Phormio is invited to dinner.
phoRmiO (161 bc) WhIlE their fAtheRS ArE AwAy AntipHo has faLlEn iN LOve wiTh A Poor orphAnEd CiTizen, AnD hIs cousiN PHaedria haS faLlEn for a slaVe Girl. PhoRmIo, A ParAsitE, Has HelpeD aNtIpho tO MArry tHE pOor giRL BY maKing A falsE cLaiM In cOuRt. wHEN antIPHo'S fathEr DEMiphO returNs hE Is FurIouS beCauSe hE Had WaNteD antiPhO tO maRry hIs brotheR chrEmeS'S daugHter. cHremEs AgreeS to pAy pHormio 30 miNae on conDitioN that hE RemOVes thE Girl aNd MArries her himsELf. too late chReMes realises thaT the poor girl is His owN DaUghter. HE TRies to Undo the arrangement wiTh phormio, but phormiO HaS alrEadY PaId tHe money tO phAEdRia to buy hiS slAve girL. phorMiO eScaPES puniSHMent SincE cHrEMes' WEAlthy Wife nauSiStRata Is fUriouS nOt only aBoUt chRemes' Secret seCOnd maRriAge but that he hAd been embEZZling heR MoNey tO pay foR it. aNtiphO IS ALlOwed To keeP his WIfE, phaedria tO keep hiS gIrlFrieND, and pHorMiO is Invited tO dinner.