Adelphi; or, The Brothers (449-513)

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.

[*] 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,

[*] 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, [*] 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,

[*] 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:

[*] 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.

[*]

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;

[*] 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.)

HEGIO

Be of good heart,[*] 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.)