Pseudolus

Pseudolus, whose name means “liar” in Greek, is the slave of Simo. He is also the confidante of Simo’s son, Calidorus. When Calidorus laments that his lover, the prostitute Phoenicium, is going to be sold to a Macedonian soldier, Pseudolus promises Calidorus that he will help him obtain the money to buy her himself. When Simo, having heard a rumor that Pseudolus is helping Calidorus and that he intends to swindle Simo out of the money, confronts Pseudolus, Pseudolus readily admits to the plan, assuring Simo that Simo will end up giving him the money before the day is over. Pseudolus benefits from a bit of luck when Harpax, the Macedonian soldier’s slave, arrives looking for Ballio, Phoenicium’s pimp; Pseudolus convinces Harpax that he is Ballio’s slave and that Harpax should leave the soldier’s sealed letter with him. Pseudolus, reveling in his good fortune and commenting on his ability to use it, disguises the slave Simia as Harpax and sends him to Ballio with the sealed letter and the money required to purchase Phoenicium. Once Harpax returns with Phoenicium and delivers her to Calidorus, Pseudolus celebrates grandly by drinking, dancing, and flirting with women. At the end of the play, Simo dejectedly gives Pseudolus the money he promised to pay if Pseudolus managed to carry out his plan.