Geta, what’s to be done now?GETAYou will just hear some harsh language:I shall be trussed up and trounced, if I am not somewhat mistaken. But what we were just now advising Antipho to do, the same we must do ourselves, Phaedria.PHAEDRIAAway with your musts; rather do you command me what I am to do.GETADo you remember what were your words formerly on our entering upon this project, with the view of protecting yourselves from ill consequences—that their cause was just, clear, unanswerable, and most righteous?PHAEDRIAI remember it.GETAWell then, now there’s need of that plea, or of one still better and more plausible, if such there can be.PHAEDRIAI’ll use my best endeavors.GETADo you then accost him first; I’ll be here in re-serve,Here in reserve.Succenturiatus. The succenturiati were, properly, men intrusted to fill up vacancies in the centuries or companies, when thinned by battle. by way of reinforcement, if you give ground at all.PHAEDRIAVery well.(They retire to a distance.)

(Enter DEMIPHO, at the other side of the stage.)DEMIPHO(to himself.)And is it possible that Antipho has taken a wife without my consent? and that no authority of mine—but let alone authorityLet alone authorityAc mitto imperium. Cicero has quoted this passage in his Epistles to Atticus, B. ii. Ep. 19.—no displeasure of mine, at all events, has he been in dread of? To have no sense of shame! O audacious conduct! O Geta, rare adviser!GETA(apart to PHAEDRIA.)Just brought in at last.DEMIPHOWhat will they say to me, or what excuse will they find? I wonder much.GETA(apart.)Why, I’ve found that out already; do think of something else.DEMIPHOWill he be saying this to me: I did it against my will; the law compelled me? I hear you, and admit it.GETA(apart.)Well said!DEMIPHOBut knowingly, in silence, to give up the cause to his adversaries—did the law oblige him to do that as well?GETA(apart.)That is a hard blow.PHAEDRIAI’ll clear that up; let me alone for that.DEMIPHOIt is a matter of doubt what I am to do; for beyond expectation, and quite past all belief, has this befallen me. So enraged am I, that I can not compose my mind to think upon it. Wherefore it is the duty of all persons, when affairs are the most prosperous,When affairs are the most prosperous. Cicero quotes this passage in the Third Book of his Tusculan Questions, and the maxim here inculcated was a favorite one with the Stoic philosophers. then in especial to reflect within themselves in what way they are to endure adversity. Returning from abroad, let him always picture to himself dangers and losses, either offenses committed by a son, or the death of his wife, or the sickness of a daughter,—that these things are the common lot, so that no one of them may ever come as a surprise upon his feelings. Whatever falls out beyond his hopes, all that he must look upon as so much gain. GETA(apart.)O Phaedria, it is incredible how much I surpass my master in wisdom. All my misfortunes have been already calculated upon by me, upon my master coming home. I must grind at the mill, be beaten, wear fetters, be set to work in the fields; not one individual thing of these will happen unexpected by my mind. Whatever falls out beyond my expectations, all that I shall look upon as so much gain. But why do you hesitate to accost him, and soften him at the outset with fair words?(PHAEDRIA goes forward to accost DEMIPHO.)DEMIPHO(to himself.)I see Phaedria, my brother’s son, coming toward me.PHAEDRIAMy uncle, welcome!DEMIPHOGreetings to you; but where is Antipho?