# Scene XIII explained — Plays

> Chapter companion for Plays by Roswitha of Gandersheim.

## What happens

Sisinnius confronts the soldiers who were supposed to take Irena to a brothel, but they explain that two strangers intervened and led Irena to a mountain instead, prompting Sisinnius to ride there himself.

## Themes in this chapter

### Female Agency and Virtue

Irena's escape from the brothel through divine intervention underscores her virtue and agency in resisting forced corruption.

### Divine Intervention and Miracles

The appearance of two gorgeously dressed strangers who divert Irena from the brothel to the mountain suggests miraculous intervention.

## Character check-ins

### Sisinnius

Angrily confronts the soldiers and decides to ride to the mountain to investigate the trick.

### Irena

Mentioned as the girl who was taken to the mountain by two strangers instead of the brothel.

## Key lines

> Sisinnius: O fools, madmen! Have you lost your senses?

Sisinnius angrily calls the soldiers foolish and insane for their actions.

_Sisinnius expresses his fury at the soldiers' failure to carry out his orders._

> Soldiers: They placed themselves one on each side of Irena, and told us to hasten and tell you what we had seen.

The soldiers report that the two strangers flanked Irena and instructed them to inform Sisinnius.

_The soldiers describe the mysterious intervention that led Irena away._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/chapters/scene-xiii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/chapters