The action of the first "scientist" comedy in Italy takes place on the island of Metellino, in indefinite "antique" times. In a poetic prologue it is declared that modern authors can well compete with the ancients in mastery, although the Italian language is inferior in Greek to Latin and harmonious.
The play begins with the fact that the young man Erofilo orders his slaves to go to Philostrato and resents the stubbornness of Nebby, who clearly does not want to leave the house. The reasons for this conflict are revealed in the dialogue of servants. Nebby tells Janda that the neighbor, Lucrano, the neighbor, lives in the neighborhood and has two pretty girls: Erofilo has fallen in love with one of them and the son of the local bassam (ruler) Caridoro in love with the other. The merchant pushed the price in the hope of breaking a big jackpot from wealthy young people, but they are entirely dependent on their fathers. But then old man Chrisobolo left for several days, entrusting the property to his faithful housekeeper, and Erofilo seized the opportunity: he took all the slaves for a while, except for the fraudster Volpino, his assistant, and took the keys, using a stick. Now the young man in love will launch his hand in his fatherly good, and then will blame the ill-fated Nebby. In response to these complaints, Janda advises against quarreling with the master's son, the rightful heir to wealth and slaves.
In the next scene, Eulalia and Koriska meet with Erofilo and Caridoro. Girls shower young men with reproaches - they are generous with oaths and sighs, but do nothing to rescue their beloved from bondage. Young people complain about the stinginess of their fathers, but promise to act decisively. Caridoro pokes fun at Erofilo: if his father had gone away even for a day, he would have cleared the pantries long ago. Erofilo declares that for the sake of Eulalia he is ready for anything and will release her today with the help of Volpino. Lovers disperse when they see Aucrano. A merchant in live goods is wondering how to get more money for girls. By the way, a ship turned up that sailed tomorrow or the day after tomorrow to Syria. Under witnesses, Lucrano agreed with the captain to take him aboard with all the household and good, - having learned about this, Erofilo will fork out.
Further, the main role belongs to Volpino and Fulcho - the servants of young lovers. Volpino sets out his plan: Erofilo must steal a chest decorated with gold from his father’s room, and immediately declare the bassam missing. Meanwhile, a friend of Volpino, disguised as a merchant, will hand this dear little thing to a pimp as a guarantee for Eulalia. When the guard arrives, Lucrano will begin to unlock, but who will believe him? Any damsel has a red price of fifty ducats, while a chest costs at least a thousand. The prospector will probably be sent to prison, and then hanged or even quartered - to everyone's pleasure. After some hesitation, Erofilo agrees, and another servant, Trappola, enters the scene. He is dressed up in Chrisobolo's clothes, a chest is handed over and sent to Lucrano. The contract is completed quickly, and Tralpola leads Eulalia away from the house of the pimp.
At this time, a drunken company was marching along the street: the slaves of Erofilo really liked the house of Philostrato, where they fed heartily and generously watered. Only Nebby continues to grumble, anticipating that the matter will not end in good and that all troubles will fall on his head. Seeing Eulalia from Trappol and realizing that the pimp sold it, everyone unanimously decides to serve the young master and easily repels the girl, instructing Trappol with bruises. Volpino is desperate: the pimp remained with the pimp, and Eulalia was kidnapped by unknown robbers. Volpino asks Erofilo, first of all, to rescue the chest, but all in vain - the inconsolable youth, forgetting everything, rushes in search of his beloved. Lucrano triumphs: for a paltry girl he was given a chest of filigree work, and besides, stuffed with golden brocade! Previously, the pimp was preparing to leave only for a look, but now this trick is useful to him - at dawn he will leave Metellino forever, leaving a stupid merchant with his nose.
Volpino falls into the trap. The cunning plan turned against himself, and to complete all the misfortunes, Chrisobolo returned home. The old man is anxious, rightly believing that nothing good can be expected from a wasteful son and purged servants. Volpino confirms his worst suspicions: the donkey of Nebby overlooked the master's room, and from there they carried a chest with brocade. But the matter can still be corrected, since the theft appears to have been committed by a proxy neighbor. Chrisobolo immediately sends a servant to Bassam Critone, his best Friend. The search yields brilliant results: a chest was found in the house of Lucrano. Volpino is ready to take a breath, but / he faces a new misfortune: he completely forgot that Trappola is still sitting in the house in the master's caftan. The old man at first sight recognizes his dress. Trappol is grabbed like a thief. Volpino identifies him - this is a well-known dumb one, which can only be explained by signs. The sharp-witted Trappola begins to wave his arms, and Volpino translates: Chrisobolo's clothes were presented to the unfortunate one of the servants - tall, lean, with a big nose and a gray head. Nebby fits in perfectly with this description, but here Chrisobolo recalls how the pimp caught in the act shouted as if a chest had been handed to him by a certain merchant in rich clothes. Under the threat of the gallows, Trappola finds herself speechless and admits that he pledged the chest for the girl on the orders of Erofilo and the instigation of Volpino. Enraged Chrisobolo orders to shackle Volpino in shackles, and threatens his son with his father's curse.
Now Fulcho is getting down to business, who is eager to prove that in cunning he will not yield to anyone - not even Volpino. To start
Caridoro's servant hurries to Lucrano with friendly advice to take his legs off as soon as possible - the stolen chest was found by witnesses, and Bassam had already ordered the thief to be pulled up. Having caught fear on the pimp, Fulcho goes to Erofilo with a story about what happened next. Lucrano began to beg for salvation, and Fulcho, having collapsed for some time, took the poor man to Caridoro, He did not immediately succumb to persuasion, and Fulcho whispered to the pimp what should be sent for Koriska - in her presence, the bassam’s son would become more accommodating. Everything went fine: it remains to help Volpino out of trouble and get money for Lucrano, who wants to run, but cannot, because he was penniless. Fulcho goes to Chrisobolo with the news that Erofilo has embroiled in an extremely unpleasant story, but Critone's bass is ready to close his eyes to this matter by friendship if Lucrano does not file a complaint. It is simple to propitiate a pimp — you just have to pay him for the girl Eulalia, because of which the fuss fired. The reluctant old man, reluctantly, parted with a tidy sum and agreed that Volpino should participate in the negotiations with the procurator - alas, there wasn’t such a tricky man in the house, and anyone would circle his son around a finger!
At the end of the play, Fulcho rightly calls himself a triumphant commander: the enemies are defeated and put to shame without any bloodshed. Freed from punishment, Volpino warmly thanks his colleague. Erofilo rejoices: thanks to Fulcho, he received not only Eulalia, but also money for its maintenance. And the hero of the day invites the audience to go home - Lucrano is going to sleep, and he does not need witnesses at all.
