A character named Prologue, who doubles as the play’s director, enters. Prologue announces that the play takes place in Ephesus and the title, Alazṓon, is the Greek word for “braggart.” Suddenly, Palaestrio enters, angry that Prologue has stolen his speech. They argue, and the stage manager ushers Palaestrio offstage. Prologue continues, explaining that the braggart is a soldier named Pyrgopolynices who “believes he’s the gods’ gift to women” (1). Palaestrio is his slave. In Athens, Palaestrio’s master “was a fine young man, named Pleusicles” (2). Pleusicles lovesd an Athenian courtesan named Philocomasium. While Pleusicles was away from Athens on a quest, the soldier Pyrgopolynices charmed the courtesan’s mother and kidnapped Philocomasium, taking her to Ephesus. Palaestrio immediately left Athens to find his master. Prologue pauses here to tell the audience that this sort of thing only occurs in “romance novels and plays” (2).

Prologue resumes storytelling, describing how Palaestrio’s ship was attacked by pirates who coincidentally gifted Palaestrio as a slave to the braggart soldier Pyrgopolynices.. Soldier and slave traveled to Ephesus, where Palaestrio found Philocomasium, who told him how unhappy she was and that what she wanted was to go home and be with Pleusicles.