or else assuredly, together with this wife of his, I’ll be forbidding him the house.GETA(aside.)He’s in a passion.PHORMIOYou’ll be acting more considerately.DEMIPHOAre you so resolved, you unlucky fellow, to do me all the mischief you can?PHORMIO(aside, to GETA.)He’s afraid of us, although he’s so careful to conceal it.GETA(aside, to PHORMIO.)Your beginning has turned out well.PHORMIOBut if, on the contrary, you endure what must be endured, you’ll be doing what’s worthy of you, so that we may be on friendly terms.DEMIPHO(indignantly.)What, I seek your friendship, or have any wish to see or hear you?PHORMIOIf you can agree with her, you will have some one to cheer up your old age; just consider your time of life.DEMIPHOLet her cheer up yourself; keep her to yourself.PHORMIOReally, do moderate your passion.DEMIPHOMark what I say. There have been words enough already; if you don’t make haste to fetch away the woman, I shall turn her out: I have said it, Phormio.PHORMIOIf you use her in any other manner than is befitting a free-born woman, I shall be bringing a swinging action against you: I have said it, Demipho.(To GETA.) Hark you, if there should be any occasion for me, I shall be at home.GETA(apart.)I understand you.(Exit PHORMIO.)

(DEMIPHO, HEGIO, CRATINUS, CRITO, and GETA.)DEMIPHOWhat care and anxiety my son does bring upon me, by entangling himself and me in this same marriage! And he doesn’t so much as come into my sight, that at least I might know what he says about this matter. or what his sentiments are.(To GETA.) Be off, go see whether he has returned home or not by this.GETAI will. (Goes into the house.) DEMIPHO(to the ASSISTANTS.)You see how the case stands. What am I to do? Tell me, Hegio.HEGIOWhat, I? I think Cratinus ought, if it seems good to you.DEMIPHOTell me, Cratinus.CRATINUSWhat, do you wish me to speak?I should like you to do what is most for your advantage; it is my opinion, that what this son of yours has done in your absence, in law and justice ought to be annulled; and that you’ll obtain redress. That’s my opinion.DEMIPHOSay now, Hegio.HEGIOI believe that he has spoken with due deliberation; but it is the fact, as many men, so many minds;So many minds.Quot homines, tot sententiae. This is a famous adage. One similar to the succeeding one is found in the Second Eclogue of Virgil, 1. 65: Trahit sua quemque voluptas, exactly equivalent to our saying, Every man to his taste. every, one his own way. It doesn’t appear to me that what has been done by law can be revoked; and it is wrong to attempt it.DEMIPHOSpeak, Crito.CRITOI am of opinion that we must deliberate further;Must deliberate further.Amplius deliberandum. This is probably a satirical allusion to the judicial system of procrastination, which, by the Romans, was called ampliatio. When the judges could not come to a satisfactory conclusion about a cause, they signified it by the letters N. L. (for non liquet, it is not clear), and put off the suit for a rehearing. it is a, matter of importance.