Comedy based on a play of the same name by Menander and containing a scene from a play by Diphilus, The Suicide Pact.
Micio, a genial old bachelor, has adopted one of his brother's two sons and raised him with indulgence. This son, Aeschinus, ostensibly has taken a music girl from the pimp Sannio for his mistress. Micio is not particularly disturbed by this, but he is reproached by the boy's disciplinarian father Demea, who declares that Micio has been too lenient. Demea boasts of his own stricter methods and his success in bringing up his other son, Ctesipho, little knowing that in fact Aeschinus has taken the music girl for Ctesipho, who is waiting for their arrival. It is really he who wants her as his mistress.
Soon it becomes clear that both fathers' methods have their weaknesses, for Aeschinus has seduced Pamphila, an impoverished Athenian girl, and is afraid to admit it to Micio. Sostrata, Pamphila's widowed mother, is distressed when she hears of Aeschinus's new love, for her daughter is about to have his child and he had promised to marry her. Though Aeschinus regrets the unhappiness he is causing Sostrata and Pamphila, he refuses to betray his brother. Micio is amused to learn of Ctesipho 's affair and pays for the courtesan. He also hears of Sostrata's distress and, after subtly forcing Aeschinus to confess the relationship, assures him that he may marry Pamphila. Meanwhile, Ctesipho does not enjoy his mistress long, for Demea soon learns of his son's affair and blames everything on Micio. Later, however, he relents and decides to adopt Micio's permissive attitude to life, making everyone happy at Micio's expense. He allows Ctesipho to many the courtesan and persuades Micio to marry Sostrata.