Enter GETA, from the house of SOSTRATA. GETA to SOSTRATA, within . Mistress, I am going to see after them, that they may send for the damsel as soon as possible; but see, here's Demea. Accosting him. Save you! DEMEA O, what's your name? GETA Geta. DEMEA Geta, I have this day come to the conclusion that you are a man of very great worth, for I look upon him as an undoubtedly good servant who has a care for his master; as I have found to be your case, Geta; and for that reason, if any opportunity should offer, I would gladly do you a service. Aside. I am practicing the affable, and it succeeds very well. GETA You are kind, sir, to think so. DEMEA aside. Getting on by degrees—I'll first make the lower classes my own. Enter AESCHINUS, from the house of MICIO. AESCHINUS to himself. They really are killing me while too intent on performing the nuptials with all ceremony; the whole day is being wasted in their preparations. DEMEA Aeschinus ! how goes it? AESCHINUS Ha, my father! are you here ? DEMEA Your father, indeed, both by affection and by nature; as I love you more than my very eyes; but why don't you send for your wife ? AESCHINUS So I wish to do; but I am waiting for the music-girl 
 The music-girl : " Tibicinae ," or music-girls, attended at marriage ceremonials. See the Aulularia of Plautus, where Megadorus hires the music-girls on his intended marriage with the daughter of Euclio. and people to sing the nuptial song. DEMEA Come now, are you willing to listen to an old fellow like me? AESCHINUS What is it? DEMEA Let those things alone, the nuptial song, the crowds, the torches, 
 The crowds, the torches : See the Casina of Plautus, Act IV., Scenes 3 and 4, for some account of the marriage ceremonial. The torches, music-girls, processions, and hymeneal song, generally accompanied a wedding, but from the present passage we may conclude that they were not considered absolutely necessary. and the music-girls, and order the stone wall in the garden 
 Stone wall in the garden : The " maceria ," or garden-wall of loose stones, is also mentioned in the Truculentus of Plautus, 1. 301. here to be pulled down with all dispatch, and bring her over that way; make but one house of the two; bring the mother and all the domestics over to our house. AESCHINUS With all my heart, kindest father. DEMEA aside. Well done! now I am called " kind." My brother's house will become a thoroughfare; he will be bringing home a multitude, incurring expense in many ways: what matters it to me ? I, as the kind Demea, shall get into favor. Now then, bid that Babylonian 
 Bid that Babylonian : This passage has much puzzled the Commentators; but it seems most probable that it is said aside, and that in consequence of his profuseness he calls his brother a Babylonian, (just as we call a wealthy man a nabob,) and says, "Well, let him, with all my heart, be paying twenty mine (between £70 and £80) for a music-girl." pay down his twenty minae. To SYRUS. Syrus, do you delay to go and do it ? SYRUS What am I to do? DEMEA Pull down the wall: and you, Geta, go and bring them across. GETA May the Gods bless you, Demea, as I see you so sincere a well-wisher to our family. GETA and SYRUS go into MICIO'S house. 
 DEMEA I think they deserve it. What say you, Aeschinus, as to this plan ? AESCHINUS I quite agree to it. DEMEA It is much more proper than that she, being sick and lying-in, should be brought hither through the street. AESCHINUS Why, my dear father, I never did see any thing better contrived. DEMEA It's my way; but see, here's Micio coming out.