The Mother-in-Law by Terence. Short summary

5 seconds

Pamphylus was married to Philoumena, but left immediately after the wedding. His wife gave birth to a child. His mother-in-law is ready to accept her grandson, but Pamphilus wants to break off the marriage. It turns out that he is the child’s father.

1 minute

Pamphilus, a dissolute young man, was courting the hetaera Bacchida, but was forced by his father to marry Philoumena. However, the young husband leaves immediately after the wedding to deal with the inheritance of a dying relative. Philoumena lives in a gynaecium in her husband’s house. Sostrata’s mother-in-law loves her like her own daughter.

But after a while, Philumena moves into her parents’ house without explanation. The father-in-law and mother-in-law go there, but the girl’s mother says she is ill and the visits are not good for her. Even Philumene´s father Phidippus is not allowed into the gynaecium. Only her mother, Mirinna, and the maids entrusted to her know what has happened: two months before the wedding, the girl was robbed and raped by a stranger and she became pregnant from him and gave birth to a boy.

But Pamphile’s parents, having learned the truth, are ready to accept Filumena and her child. This is resisted by Pamphilus, who has returned. Bacchida, who has sworn not to receive the young man, comes to the house. Philumene´s mother notices her daughter´s ring on the hetaera´s hand. Pamphilus has robbed Philumene and is the father of her child. Everything ends in a reconciliation.