aeSCH. (_to CTESIPHO_). Ha! well met: I long"d to see you How is it, Ctesipho? All"s safe. Away With melancholy!
CTES. Melancholy! I Be melancholy, who have such a brother?
Oh my dear aeschinus! thou best of brothers, --Ah, I"m asham"d to praise you to your face, Lest it appear to come from flattery, Rather than grat.i.tude.
aeSCH. Away, you fool!
As if we did not know each other, Ctesipho.
It only grieves me, we so lately knew this, When things were almost come to such a pa.s.s, That all the world, had they desir"d to do it, Could not a.s.sist you.
CTES. "Twas my modesty.
aeSCH. Pshaw! it was folly, and not modesty.
For such a trifle, almost fly your country?
Heaven forbid it!--fie, fie, Ctesipho!
CTES. I"ve been to blame.
aeSCH. Well, what says Sannio?
SYRUS. He"s pacified at last.
aeSCH. I"ll to the Forum, And pay him off.--You, Ctesipho, go in To the poor girl.
SAN. Now urge the matter, Syrus! (_Apart to SYRUS._)
SYRUS. Let"s go; for Sannio wants to be at Cyprus.
SAN. Not in such haste: though truly I have no cause To loiter here.
SYRUS. You shall be paid: ne"er fear!
SAN. But all?
SYRUS. Yes, all: so hold your tongue, and follow!
SAN. I will. (_Exit after aeSCHINUS--SYRUS going._
CTES. Hist! hark ye, Syrus!
SYRUS (_turning back._) Well, what now?
CTES. For Heaven"s sake discharge that scurvy fellow Immediately; for fear, if further urg"d, This tale should reach my father"s ears: and then I am undone forever.
SYRUS. It sha"n"t be.
Be of good courage! meanwhile, get you in, And entertain yourself with her; and order The couches to be spread, and all prepar"d.
For, these preliminaries once dispatch"d, I shall march homeward with provisions.
CTES. Do!
And since this business has turn"d out so well, Let"s spend the day in mirth and jollity!
(_Exeunt severally._
[Changes:
_Harper_ SAN. Not in such haste: though truly I have no cause To loiter here.
_Colman 1768_ SAN. Not in such haste: though truly I"ve no cause To loiter here.]
ACT THE THIRD.
SCENE I.
_SOSTRATA, CANTHARA._
SOS. Prithee, good nurse, how will it go with her?
CAN. How go with her? Why well, I warrant you.
SOS. Her pains begin to come upon her, nurse.
CAN. You"re as much frighten"d at your time of day, As if you ne"er was present at a labor, Or never had been brought to bed yourself.
SOS. Alas, I"ve no soul here: we"re all alone.
Geta is absent; nor is there a creature To fetch a midwife, or call aeschinus.
CAN. He"ll be here presently, I promise you: For he, good man, ne"er lets a single day Go by, but he is sure to visit us.
SOS. He is my only comfort in my sorrows.
CAN. Troth, as the case stands, madam, circ.u.mstances Could not have happen"d better than they have: And since your daughter suffer"d violence, "Twas well she met with such a man as this; A man of honor, rank, and family.
SOS. He is, indeed, a worthy gentleman: The G.o.ds preserve him to us!
SCENE II.
_Enter GETA hastily at another part of the stage._
GETA. We are now So absolutely lost, that all the world Joining in consultation to apply Relief to the misfortune that has fallen On me, my mistress, and her daughter, all Would not avail.--Ah me! so many troubles Environ us at once, we sink beneath them.
Rape, poverty, oppression, solitude, And infamy! oh, what an age is this!
O wicked, oh vile race!--oh impious man!
SOS. (_to CANTHARA_). Ah, why should Geta seem thus terrified And agitated?
GETA (_to himself._) Wretch! whom neither honor, Nor oaths, nor pity could control or move!
Nor her approaching labor; her, on whom He shamefully committed violation!