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Persa ("The Persian") is a comedic Latin play by the early Roman playwright Titus Maccius Plautus. The plot focuses on the slave Toxilus's love for the prostitute Lemniselenis, and his attempts to acquire the money to buy her from her owner and pimp, Dordalus. The play is notable for its attention to the character of the parasite, who often appears in Roman comedy but is a more developed character here.

Plot summary
The slave Toxilus is in love with the prostitute Lemniselenis, who is owned by the pimp Dordalus. Toxilus would like to buy Lemniselenis's freedom, and asks his friend Sagaristio, another slave, to help him get it. Sagaristio agrees to help but is unsure that he will be able to find the money, so Toxilus also turns to Saturio. Saturio is a parasitus, a man whose livelihood depends on the

Key themes and concepts
Like many Roman comedies, Persa has a XXX clever slave character, Toxilus. He comes up with the plans that drive the play, outsmarts his enemies, and obtains what he desires: Lemniselenis, and the humiliation of the pimp Dordalus. Unlike other plays, however, Toxilus also represents the character of the youthful lover: usually these are two separate characters. The youthful lover is a free man who is aided by his clever slave.

This play is also unusual in that it expands on the character of the parasitus, Saturio, who is a stock character of Roman comedy but does not have a family in other plays. Saturio has a daughter, who is unnamed and only participates unwillingly in the plot to cheat Dordalus of his money, but nevertheless she is extremely capable once she commits to her role. XXX reference to de Melo

Lastly, the play is frank in its discussion of the sexual slavery and slave trade.