What is he about? Or where is this to end at last?GETA(continuing the supposed conversation.)He’ll have to give satisfaction at law, you say, if he turns her out? That has been already inquired into: aye, aye, you’ll have enough to do, if you engage with him; he is so eloquent.But suppose he’s beaten; still, however, it’s not his life, but his money that’s at stake. After I found that the fellow was influenced by these words, I said: We are now by ourselves here; come now, what should you like to be given you, money down, to drop this suit with my master, so that she may betake herself off, and you annoy us no more?ANTIPHO(apart.)Are the Gods quite on good terms with him?Good terms with him: Meaning, Is he in his senses or not? GETA(continuing the conversation.)For I’m quite sure, if you were to mention any thing that’s fair and reasonable, as he is a reasonable man, you’ll not have to bandy three words with him.DEMIPHOWho ordered you to say so?CHREMESNay, he could not have more happily contrived to bring about what we want.ANTIPHO(apart.)Undone!CHREMESGo on with your story.GETAAt first the fellow raved.DEMIPHOSay, what did he ask?GETAWhat? A great deal too much. CHREMESHow much? Tell me.GETASuppose he were to give a great talent.DEMIPHOAye, faith, perdition to him rather; has he no shame?GETAJust what I said to him: Pray, said I, suppose he was portioning an only daughter of his own. It has been of little benefit that he hasn’t one of his own, when another has been found to be demanding a fortune. To be brief, and to pass over his impertinences, this at last was his final answer:I, said he, from the very first, have been desirous to marry the daughter of my friend, as was fit I should; for I was aware of the ill results of this, a poor wife being married into a rich family, and becoming a slave. But, as I am now conversing with you unreservedly, I was in want of a wife to bring me a little money with which to pay off my debts; and even yet, if Demipho is willing to give as much as I am to receive with her to whom I am engaged, there is no one whom I should better like for a wife.ANTIPHO(apart.)Whether to say he’s doing this through folly or mischief, through stupidity or design, I’m in doubt.DEMIPHOWhat if he’s in debt to the amount of his life?Amount of his life: Quid si animam debet? Erasmus tells us that this was a proverb among the Greeks applied to those who ran so deeply in debt, that their persons, and consequently, in one sense, their very existence, came into the power of their creditors. GETAHis land is mortgaged,—for ten minae he said.DEMIPHOWell, well, let him take her then; I’ll give it.GETAHe has a house besides, mortgaged for another ten.DEMIPHOHuy, huy! that’s too much.CHREMESDon’t be crying out; you may have those ten of me.GETAA lady’s maid must be brought for his wife; and then too, a little more is wanted for some furniture, and some is wanted for the wedding expenses. Well then, said he, for these items, put down ten more.DEMIPHOThen let him at once bring six hundred actionsSix hundred actions: Sescentos; literally, six hundred. The Romans used this term as we do the words ten thousand, to signify a large, but indefinite number. against me; I shall give nothing at all; is this dirty fellow to be laughing at me as well? CHREMESPray do be quiet; I’ll give it: do you only bring your son to marry the woman we want him to have.