Ah me! Geta, you have ruined me by your treachery.CHREMES’Tis on my account she’s turned off; it’s right that I should bear the loss.GETATake care and let me know, said he, as soon as possible,if they are going to let me have her, that I may get rid of the other, so that I mayn’t be in doubt; for the others have agreed to.pay me down the portion directly.CHREMESLet him have her at once; let him give notice to them that he breaks off the match with the other, and let him marry this woman.DEMIPHOYes, and little joy to him of the bargain!CHREMESLuckily, too, I’ve now brought home some money with me, the rents which my wife’s farms at Lemnos produce. I’ll take it out of that, and tell my wife that you had occasion for it.(They go into the house of CHREMES.)

(ANTIPHO and GETA.)ANTIPHO(coming forward.)Geta.GETAWell.ANTIPHOWhat have you been doing?GETADiddling the old fellows out of their money.ANTIPHOIs that quite the thing?GETAI’ faith, I don’t know: it’s just what I was told to do.ANTIPHOHow now, whip-scoundrel, do you give me an answer to what I don’t ask you?(Kicks him.)GETAWhat was it then that you did ask?ANTIPHOWhat was it I did ask? Through your agency, matters have most undoubtedly come to the pass that I may go hang myself. May then all the Gods, Goddesses, Deities above and below, with every evil confound you! Look now, if you wish any thing to succeed, intrust it to him who may bring you from smooth water on to a rock.What was there less advantageous than to touch upon this sore, or to name my wife? Hopes have been excited in my father that she may possibly be got rid of. Pray now, tell me, suppose Phormio receives the portion, she must be taken home by him as his wife: what’s to become of me?GETABut he’s not going to marry her.ANTIPHOI know that. But (ironically)when they demand the money back, of course, for our sake, he’ll prefer going to prison.GETAThere is nothing, Antipho, but what it may be made worse by being badly told: you leave out what is good, and you mention the bad. Now then, hear the other side: if he receives the money, she must be taken as his wife, you say; I grant you; still, some time at least will be allowed for preparing for the nuptials, for inviting, and for sacrificing. In the mean time, Phoedria’s friends will advance what they have promised; out of that he will repay it.ANTIPHOOn what grounds? Or what will he say?GETADo you ask the question?How many circumstances, since then, have befallen me as prodigies? A strange black dogA strange black dog: This omen, Plautus calls, in the Casina, 1. 937, canina scaeva. entered the house; a snake came down from the tiles through the sky-light;Through the sky-light: So in the Amphitryon of Plautus, l. 1108, two great snakes come down through the impluvium, or sky-light. On the subject of the impluvium, see the Notes to the Miles Gloriosus of Plautus, 1. 159. a hen crowed;A hen crowed: Donatus tells us that it was a saying, that in the house where a hen crowed, the wife had the upper hand. the soothsayer forbade it; the divinerThe soothsayer—the diviner: According to some accounts there was this difference between the hariolus and the arus-pex, that the former foretold human events, the latter those relating to the Deities. Donatus has remarked on these passages, that Terence seems to sneer at the superstitions referred to. warned me not: besides, before winterthere is no sufficient reason for me to commence upon any new undertaking. This will be the case.ANTIPHOI only wish it may be the case.GETAIt shall be the case; trust me for that. Your father’s coming out; go tell Phaedria that the money is found.

(Enter DEMIPHO and CHREMES, from the house of the latter, the former with a purse of money.)DEMIPHODo be quiet, I tell you; I’ll take care he shall not be playing any tricks upon us. I’ll not rashly part with this without having my witnesses;