Adelphi; or, The Brothers (267-290)

Where is that villain?

aside. He's looking for me.[*] Is he bringing any thing with him? Confusion! I don't see any thing.

to CTESIPHO. Ha! well met; you are the very man I was looking for. How goes it, Ctesipho? All is safe: away then with your melancholy.

By my troth, I certainly will away with it, when I have such a brother as you. O my dear Aeschinus! O my brother! Alas! I am unwilling to praise you any more to your face, lest you should think I do so rather for flattery than through gratitude.

Go to, you simpleton! as though we didn't by this time understand each other, Ctesipho. This grieves me, that we knew of it almost too late, and that the matter had come to such a pass, that if all mankind had wished they could not possibly have assisted you.

I felt ashamed.

Pooh! that is folly, not shame; about such a trifling matter to be almost flying the country!

I did wrong.

in a lower voice. What says Sannio to us at last?

He is pacified at last.

I'll go to the Forum to pay him off; you, Ctesipho, step in-doors to her.

aside to SYRUS. Syrus, do urge the matter.

to AESCHINUS. Let us be off, for he is in haste foe' Cyprus.

Not particularly so; although still, I'm stopping here doing nothing at all.

It shall be paid, don't fear.

But he is to pay it all.

He shall pay it all; only hold your tongue and follow us this way.

I'll follow.

as SYRUS is going. Harkye, harkye, Syrus.

turning back. Well now, what is it?

aside. Pray do discharge that most abominable fellow as soon as possible; for fear, in case he should become more angry, by some means or other this matter should reach my father, and then I should be ruined forever.

That shall not happen, be of good heart; meanwhile enjoy yourself in-doors with her, and order the couches

Pray do so. Since this has turned out so well, let us make a cheerful day of it. CTESIPHO goes into the house of MICIO; and exeunt AESCHINUS and SYRUS, followed by SANNIO.

Prithee, my dear nurse, how is it like to end?

Like to end, do you ask? I' troth, right well, I trust.

Her pains are just beginning, my dear.

You are in a flight, now, just as though you had never been present on such an occasion—never been in labor yourself.

Unfortunate woman that I am! I have not a person at home; we are quite alone; Geta too is absent. I have no one to go for the midwife, or to fetch Aeschinus.

I' faith, he'll certainly be here just now, for he never lets a day pass without visiting us.

He is my sole comfort in my afflictions.

Things could not have happened, mistress, more for the advantage of your daughter than they have, seeing that violence was offered her; so far as he is concerned, it is most lucky,—such a person, of such disposition and feelings, a member of so respectable a family.

It is indeed as you say; I entreat the Gods that he may be preserved to us. They stand apart, on seeing GETA.