That you have arrived in safety— DEMIPHO I believe it; answer my question. PHAEDRIA He is well; he’s close at hand; but is every thing quite to your wishes? DEMIPHO I wish it was so, indeed. PHAEDRIA What’s the matter? DEMIPHO Do you ask me, Phaedria? You people have cooked up a fine marriage in my absence. PHAEDRIA What now, are you angry with him for that? GETA (apart.) What a clever contriver! DEMIPHO Have I not reason to be angry with him? I long for him to come into my sight, that he may know that through his faultiness, from being a mild father, I am become a most severe one. PHAEDRIA But he has done nothing, uncle, for which you should blame him. DEMIPHO Now, do look at that; all alike; all hanging together; when you know one, you know all. PHAEDRIA That is not the case. DEMIPHO When the one is in fault, the other is at hand to defend him; when it is the other, then he is ready; they just help one another by turns. GETA (apart.) The old man, without. knowing it, has exactly described their proceedings. DEMIPHO For if it had not been so, you would not, Phaedria, have stood up for him. PHAEDRIA If, uncle; it is the fact, that Antipho has been guilty of any fault, in consequence of which he has been too regardless of his interest or his reputation, I would not allege any reason why he should not suffer what he deserves. But if some one by chance, relying upon his own artfulness, has laid a snare for our youthful age, and has succeeded, is it our fault or that of the judges, who often, through envy, take away from the rich, or, through compassion, award to the poor? GETA (apart.) Unless I knew the case, I could fancy he was saying the truth. DEMIPHO Is there any judge who can possibly know your rights, when you yourself don’t answer a word—as he has done? PHAEDRIA He acted the part of an ingenuous young man; after they had come before the judges, he was not able to say what he had intended, so much did his modesty confuse him there through his bashfulness. GETA (apart.) I commend him: but why do I hesitate at once to accost the old man? (Going forward to DEMIPHO.) Master, welcome to you! I’m glad to see you safe returned. DEMIPHO (ironically.) Ah, excellent guardian! save you, stay of my family, no doubt, to whom, at my departure, I intrusted my son. GETA For some minutes past I’ve heard you accusing all of us undeservedly; and me the most undeservedly of them all; for what would you have had me do for you in this affair? The laws do not allow a person who is a slave to plead; nor is there any giving evidence Any giving evidence. Slaves were neither allowed to plead for themselves, nor to give evidence. See the Curculio of Plautus, 1. 621, and the Notes to the Andria . on his part. DEMIPHO I grant all that: I admit this too—the young man, unused to courts, was bashful; I allow it: you, too, are a slave: still, if she was ever so near a relative, it was not necessary for him to marry her, but as the law enjoins, you might have given her a portion; Given her a portion. By this remark, Donatus observes that Terence artfully prepares us for the imposition of Phormio, who extorts money from the old gentleman on this very ground. she could have looked out for another husband. Why, then, in preference, did he bring a pauper home? GETA No particular reason; but he hadn’t the money. DEMIPHO He might have borrowed it