Enter SOSTRATA and CANTHARA, from the house of the former. SOSTRATA Prithee, my dear nurse, how is it like to end? CANTHARA Like to end, do you ask? I' troth, right well, I trust. SOSTRATA Her pains are just beginning, my dear. CANTHARA You are in a flight, now, just as though you had never been present on such an occasion—never been in labor yourself. SOSTRATA 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. CANTHARA I' faith, he'll certainly be here just now, for he never lets a day pass without visiting us. SOSTRATA He is my sole comfort in my afflictions. CANTHARA 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. SOSTRATA It is indeed as you say; I entreat the Gods that he may be preserved to us. They stand apart, on seeing GETA. 
 Enter GETA, on the other side of the stage. GETA to himself. Now such is our condition, that if all were to combine all their counsels, and to seek a remedy for this mischief that has befallen myself, my mistress, and her daughter, they could find no relief. Oh wretched me! so many calamities beset us on a sudden, we can not possibly extricate ourselves. Violence, poverty, oppression, desertion, infamy! What an age is this! O shocking villainy! O accursed race! O impious man!— SOSTRATA Unhappy me! How is it that I see Geta hurrying along thus terrified? GETA continuing. Whom neither promises, nor oaths, nor compassion could move or soften; nor yet the fact that the delivery was nigh at hand of the unfortunate woman on whom he had so shamefully committed violence. SOSTRATA apart to CANTHARA. I don't well understand what he is talking about. CANTHARA Pray, let us go nearer to him, Sostrata. GETA continuing. Ah wretched me! I am scarcely master of my senses, I am so inflamed with anger. There is nothing that 1 would like better than for all that family to be thrown in my way, that I might give vent to all my wrath upon them while this wound is still fresh. 1 could be content with any punishment, so I might only wreak my vengeance on them. First, I would stop the breath of the old fellow himself who gave being to this monster; then as for his prompter, Syrus, out upon him! How I would tear him piecemeal! I would snatch him by the middle up aloft, and dash him head downward upon the earth, so that with his brains he would bestrew the road: I would pull out the eyes of the young fellow himself, and afterward hurl him headlong over some precipice. The others I would rush upon, drive, drag, crush, and trample them under foot. But why do I delay at once to acquaint my mistress with this calamity? Moves as if going. 
 SOSTRATA to CANTHARA. Let us call him Lack. Geta— GETA Well—leave me alone,
 
 Leave me alone : Quoting from Madame Dacier, Colman has this remark here: "Geta's reply is founded on a frolicsome but ill-natured custom which prevailed in Greece —to stop the slaves in the streets, and designedly keep them in chat, so that they might be lashed when they came home for staying out so long." whoever you are. SOSTRATA 'Tis I,—Sostrata. GETA turning round. Why, where are you? You are the very person I am looking for. I was in quest of you; it's very fortunate you have met me. SOSTRATA What's the matter? Why are you trembling?
 GETA Alas! alas! SOSTRATA My dear Geta, why in such haste? Do take breath. GETA Quite— pauses. 
 SOSTRATA Why, what means this "quite"? GETA Undone—It's all over with us. SOSTRATA Say, then, I entreat you, what is the matter. GETA Now— SOSTRATA What "now," Geta? GETA Aeschinus— SOSTRATA What about him? GETA Has abandoned our family. SOSTRATA Then I am undone! Why so? GETA He has attached himself to another woman. SOSTRATA Woe unto wretched me! GETA And he makes no secret of it; he himself has carried her off openly from a procurer. SOSTRATA Are you quite sure of this? GETA Quite sure; I saw it myself, Sostrata, with these same eyes. SOSTRATA Ah wretched me! What is one now to believe, or whom believe? Our own Aeschinus, the very life of us all, in whom all our hopes and comforts were centred! Who used to swear he could never live a single day without her! Who used to say, that he would place the infant on his father's knees,
 
 On his father's knees : It was a prevalent custom with the Greeks to place the newly-born child upon the knee of its grandfather. and thus entreat that he might be allowed to make her his wife! GETA Dear mistress, forbear weeping, and rather consider what must be done for the future in this matter. Shall we submit to it, or shall we tell it to any person? CANTHARA Pooh, pooh! Are you in your senses, my good man? Does this seem to you a business to be made known to any one? GETA I, indeed, have no wish for it. In the first place, then, that his feelings are estranged from us, the thing itself declares. Now, if we make this known, he'll deny it, I'm quite sure; your reputation and your daughter's character will then be in danger. On the other hand, if he were fully to confess it, as he is in love with another woman, it would not be to her advantage to be given to him. Therefore, under either circumstance, there is need of silence. SOSTRATA Oh! by no means in the world! I'll not do it. GETA What is it you say? SOSTRATA I'll make it known. GETA Ha, my dear Sostrata, take care what you do! SOSTRATA The matter can not possibly be in a worse position than it is at present. In the first place, she has no portion; then, besides, that which was as good as a portion, her honor, is lost: she can not be given in marriage as a virgin. This resource is left; if he should deny it, I have a ring which he lost as evidence of the truth. In fine, Geta, as I am fully conscious that no blame attaches to me, and that neither interest nor any consideration unworthy of her or of myself has had a share in this matter, I will make trial— GETA What am I to say to this? I agree, as you speak for the best. SOSTRATA You be off as fast as possible, and relate all the matter just as it has happened to her kinsman Hegio; for he was the best friend of our lamented Simulus, and has shown especial regard for us. GETA aside. Aye, faith, because nobody else takes any notice of us. SOSTRATA Do you, my dear Canthara, run with all haste, and fetch the midwife, so that, when she is wanted, we may not have to wait for her. SOSTRATA goes into the house, and exit GETA and CANTHARA. 
 Enter DEMEA. DEMEA to himself. Utterly undone! I hear that Ctesipho was with Aeschinus at the carrying off of this girl. This sorrow still remains for unhappy me, should Aeschinus be able to seduce him, even him, who promises so fair, to a course of debauchery. Where am I to inquire for him? I doubt he has been carried off to some bad house; that profligate has persuaded him, I'm quite sure. But look—I see Syrus coming this way, I shall now know from him where he is. But, i 'faith, he is one of the gang; if he perceives that I am looking for him, the rascal will never tell me. I'll not let him know what I want.
 Enter SYRUS, at the other side of the stage. 
 SYRUS to himself. We just now told the old gentleman the whole affair just as it happened; I never did see any one more delighted. DEMEA apart. O Jupiter ! the folly of the man! SYRUS continuing. He commended his son. To me, who put them upon this project, he gave thanks— DEMEA apart. I shall burst asunder. SYRUS continuing. He told down the money instantly, and gave me half a mina besides to spend. That was laid out quite to my liking. DEMEA apart. Very fine—if you would wish a thing to be nicely managed, intrust it to this fellow. SYRUS overhearing him. Ha, Demea! I didn't see you; how goes it? DEMEA How should it go? I can not enough wonder at your mode of living here. SYRUS Why, really silly enough, and, to speak without disguise, altogether absurd. Calls at the door of MICIO'S house. Dromo, clean the: rest of the fish; let the largest conger-eel play a little in the water; when I come back it shall, be boned;
 
 It shall be boned : The operation of boning conger-eels is often mentioned in Plautus, from whom we learn that they were best when eaten in that state, and cold. not before. DEMEA Is profligacy like this— SYRUS As for myself, it isn't to my taste, and I often exclaim against it. Calls; at the door. Stephanio, take care that the salt fish is well soaked. DEMEA Ye Gods, by our trust in you! Is he doing this for any purpose of his own, or does he think it creditable to ruin his son? Wretch that I am! methinks I already see the day when Aeschinus will be running away for want, to serve somewhere or other as a soldier.
 
 Serve somewhere or other as a soldier : See a similar passage in the Trinummus of Plautus, l. 722 , whence it appears that it was the practice for young men of ruined fortunes to go and offer their services as mercenaries to some of the neighboring potentates. Many of the ten thousand who fought for the younger Cyrus at the battle of Cunaxa , and were led back under the command of Xenophon (as described in his Anabasis , were, doubtless, of this class. 
 SYRUS O Demea ! That is wisdom indeed, not only to look at the present moment, but also to look forward to what's to come. DEMEA Well—is this Music-girl still with you? SYRUS Why, yes, she's in-doors. DEMEA How now—is he going to keep her at home? SYRUS I believe so; such is his madness! DEMEA Is it possible? SYRUS An imprudent lenity in his father, and a vicious inlulgence. DEMEA Really, I am ashamed and grieved at my brother. SYRUS Demea! Between you there is a great—I do not say it because you are here present—a too great difference. You are, every bit of you, nothing but wisdom; he a mere dreamer. Would you indeed have suffered that son of yours to act thus? DEMEA I, suffer him? Would I not have smelt it out six months before he attempted it? SYRUS Need I be told by you of your foresight? DEMEA I pray he may only continue the same he is at present! SYRUS Just as each person wishes his son to be, so he turns out. DEMEA What news of him? Have you seen him to-day? SYRUS What, your son? Aside. I'll pack him off into the country. To DEMEA. I fancy he's busy at the farm long before this. DEMEA Are you quite sure he is there? SYRUS What!—when I saw him part of the way myself— DEMEA Very good. I was afraid he might be loitering here. SYRUS And extremely angry too. DEMEA Why so? SYRUS He attacked his brother in the Forum with strong language about this Music-girl. DEMEA Do you really say so? SYRUS Oh dear, he didn't at all mince the matter; for just as the money was being counted out, the gentleman came upon us by chance, and began exclaiming, "Oh Aeschinus, that you should perpetrate these enormities! that you should be guilty of actions so disgraceful to our family!" DEMEA Oh, I shall weep for joy. SYRUS "By this you are not squandering your money only, but your reputation." DEMEA May he be preserved to me! I trust he will be like his forefathers. Weeping. 
 SYRUS aside. Heyday! DEMEA Syrus, he is full of these maxims. SYRUS aside. Strange, indeed! He had the means at home of learning them. DEMEA I do every thing I can; I spare no pains; I train him up to it: in fine, I bid him look into the lives of men, as though into a mirror, and from others to take an example for himself. Do this, I say— SYRUS Quite right. DEMEA Avoid that— SYRUS Very shrewd. DEMEA This is praiseworthy— SYRUS That's the thing. DEMEA That is considered blamable— SYRUS Extremely good. DEMEA And then, moreover— SYRUS Upon my honor, I have not the leisure to listen to you just at present: I have got some fish just to my taste, and must take care they are not spoiled; for that would be as much a crime in me, as for you, Demea, not to observe those maxims which you have just been mentioning; and so far as I can, I lay down precepts for my fellow-servants on the very same plan; "this is too salt, that is quite burned up, this is not washed enough, that is very well done; remember and do so another time." I carefully instruct them so far as I can to the best of my capacity. In short, Demea, I bid them look into their sauce-pans as though into a mirror,
 
 As though into a mirror : He parodies the words of Demea in l. 415, where he speaks of looking into the lives of men as into a mirror. and suggest to them what they ought to do. I am sensible these things are trifling which we do; but what is one to do? According as the man is, so must you humor him. Do you wish any thing else? DEMEA That more wisdom may be granted you. SYRUS You will be going off into the country, I suppose? DEMEA Directly. SYRUS For what should you do here, where, if you do give any good precepts, no one will regard them? Goes into MICIO'S house. 
 DEMEA to himself. I certainly will be off, as he on whose account I came hither has gone into the country. I have a care for him: that alone is my own concern, since my brother will have it so; let him look to the other himself. But who is it I see yonder at a distance? Isn't it Hegio of our tribes?
 
 Of our tribe : Solon divided the Athenians into ten tribes, which he named after ten of the ancient heroes: Erectheis, Aegeis, Pandionis, Leontis, Acamantis, OEneis, Cecrops, Hippothoontis, Aeantis, and Antiochis. These tribes were each divided into ten Demi. If I see right, i' faith, it is he. Ah, a man I have been friendly with from a child! Good Gods! we certainly have a great dearth of citizens of that stamp nowadays, with the old-fashioned virtue and honesty. Not in a hurry will any misfortune accrue to the public from him. How glad I am to find some remnants of this race even still remaining; now I feel some pleasure in living. I'll wait here for him, to ask him how he is, and have some conversation with him. Enter HEGIO and GETA, conversing, at a distance. HEGIO Oh immortal Gods! a disgraceful action, Geta! What is it you tell me? GETA Such is the fact.
 HEGIO That so ignoble a deed should come from that family! Oh Aeschinus, assuredly you haven't taken after your father in that ! DEMEA apart. Why surely, he has heard this about the Music-girl; that gives him concern, though a stranger; this father of his thinks nothing of it. Ah me! I wish he were somewhere close at hand to overhear this. HEGIO Unless they do as they ought to do, they shall not come off so easily. GETA All our hopes, Hegio, are centred in you; you we have for our only friend; you are our protector, our father. The old man, Simulus, when dying, recommended us to you; if you forsake us, we are undone. HEGIO Beware how you mention that; I neither will do it, nor do I think that, with due regard to the ties of relationship, I could. DEMEA apart. I'll accost him. Approaches HEGIO. Hegio, I bid you welcome right heartily; HEGIO starting. Oh! you are the very man I was looking for. Greetings to you, Demea. DEMEA Why, what's the matter? HEGIO Your eldest son Aeschinus, whom you gave to your brother to adopt, has been acting the part of neither an honest man nor a gentleman. DEMEA What has he been doing? HEGIO You knew my friend and year's-mate, Simulus? DEMEA Why not? HEGIO He has debauched his daughter, a virgin. DEMEA Hah! HEGIO Stay, Demea. You have not yet heard the worst. DEMEA Is there any thing still worse? HEGIO Worse, by far: for this indeed might in some measure have been borne with. The hour of night prompted him; passion, wine, young blood; 'tis human nature. When he was sensible of what he had done, he came voluntarily to the girl's mother, weeping, praying, entreating, pledging his honor, vowing that he would take her home.
 
 Would take her home : As his wife. The affair was pardoned, hushed up, his word taken. The girl from that intercourse became pregnant: this is the tenth month. He, worthy fellow, has provided himself, if it please the Gods, with a Music-girl to live with; the other he has cast off. DEMEA Do you say this for certain? HEGIO The mother of the young woman is among us,
 
 Is among us : " In medio ," "is alive," or "in the midst of us." the young woman too; the fact speaks for itself; this Geta, besides, according to the common run of servants, not a bad one or of idle habits; he supports them; alone, maintains the whole family; take him, bind him,
 
 Take him, bind him. : In allusion to the method of examining slaves, by binding and torturing them. examine him upon the matter. GETA Aye, faith, put me to the torture, Demea, if such is not the fact: besides, he will not deny it. Confront me with him. DEMEA aside. I am ashamed; and what to do, or how to answer him, I don't know. PAMPHILA crying out within the house of SOSTRATA. Ah me! I am racked with pains! Juno Lucina,
 
 Juno Lucina : So in the Andria , l. 473 , where Glycerium is overtaken with the pains of labor, she calls upon Juno Lucina. bring aid, save me, I beseech thee. HEGIO Hold; is she in labor, pray? GETA No doubt of it, Hegio. HEGIO Ah! she is now imploring your protection, Demea; let her obtain from you spontaneously what the power of the law compels you to give. I do entreat the Gods that what befits you may at once be clone. But if your sentiments are otherwise, Demea, I will defend both them and him who is dead to the utmost of my power. He was my kinsman:
 
 He was my kinsman : In the Play of Menander, Hegio was the brother of Sostrata. we were brought up together from children, we were companions in the wars and at home, together we experienced the hardships of poverty. I will therefore exert myself, strive, use all methods, in fine lay down my life, rather than forsake these women. What answer do you give me? DEMEA I'll go find my brother, Hegio: the advice he gives me upon this matter I'll follow.
 
 Upon this matter I'll follow : " Is, quod mihi de hac re dederat consilium, id sequar ." Colman has the following Noto on this passage: "Madame Dacier rejects this line, because it is also: to be found in the Phormio. But it is no uncommon thing with our author to use the same expression or verse for different places, especially on familiar occasions. There is no impropriety in it here, and the foregoing hemistich is rather lame without it. The propriety of consulting Micio, or Demea's present ill-humor with him, are of no consequence. The old man is surprised at Hegio's story, does not know what to do or say, and means to evade giving a positive answer, by saying that he would consult his brother." 
 HEGIO But, Demea, take you care and reflect upon this: the more easy you are in your circumstances, the more powerful, wealthy, affluent, and noble you are, so much the more ought you with equanimity to observe the dictates of justice, if you would have yourselves esteemed as men of probity. DEMEA Go back now;
 
 Go back now : " Redite ." Demea most probably uses this word, because Hegio has come back to him to repeat the last words for the sake of greater emphasis. every thing shall be done that is proper to be done. HEGIO It becomes you to act thus. Geta, show me in to Sostrata. Follows GETA into SOSTRATA'S house. 
 DEMEA to himself. Not without warning on my part have these things happened: I only wish it may end here; but this immoderate indulgence will undoubtedly lead to some great misfortune. I'll go find my brother, and vent these feelings upon him. (Exit.) 
 Enter HEGIO, from SOSTRATA'S house, and speaking to her within. HEGIO Be of good heart, Be of good heart : Colman has the following Note here: "Donatus tells us, that in some old copies this whole Scene was wanting. Guyetus therefore entirely rejects it. I have not ventured to take that liberty; but must confess that it appears to me, if not supposititious, at least cold and superfluous, and the substance of it had better been supposed to have passed between Hegio and Sostrata within." Sostrata, and take care and console her as far as you can. I'll go find Micio, if he is at the Forum, and acquaint him with the whole circumstances in their order; if so it is that he will do his duty by you, let him do so; but if his sentiments are otherwise about this matter, let him give me his answer, that I may know at once what I am to do. (Exit.)