ABSTRACT
The Shield (Aspis) Cleostratus is thought to have been killed while serving abroad as a mercenary, leaving his sister as an heiress (epikle¯ros) who must marry the nearest relative who claims her. To prevent her being claimed by her grasping old uncle Smicrines, the rest of the family fake the illness and death of Smicrines’ brother Chaerestratus in the hope that Smicrines will want to marry his daughter and so claim a much larger estate. Then Cleostratus unexpectedly returns alive; Chaerestratus is able to come back to life, and Cleostratus is able to give his sister to Chaereas who has long loved her.
