Obtorto collo. Rileggendo Plauto, Rudens 615 ss.

Abstract

In vv. 615-626 of the Rudens, the slave Trachalio asks the citizens of Cyrene for help in defending two girls from the violence of the leno Labrax. The servus’ concluding line (v. 626) is carefully constructed with ambiguity, because - in the shadow of the locution obtorto collo - it succeeds in weaving a complex image between pathos, law and violence.