SOS. I don"t well understand him.
CAN. Prithee then Let us draw nearer, Sostrata!
GETA (_to himself._) Alas, I"m scarcely in my perfect mind, I burn With such fierce anger.--Oh, that I had all That villain-family before me now, That I might vent my indignation on them, While yet it boils within me.--There is nothing I"d not endure to be reveng"d on them.
First I"d tread out the stinking snuff his father, Who gave the monster being.--And then, Syrus, Who urg"d him to it,--how I"d tear him!--First I"d seize him round the waist, and lift him high, Then dash his head against the ground, and strew The pavement with his brains.--For aeschinus, I"d tear his eyes out, and then tumble him, Head foremost down some precipice.--The rest I"d rush on, drag, crush, trample under foot.
But why do I delay to tell my mistress This heavy news as soon as possible! (_Going._)
SOS. Let"s call him back.--Ho, Geta!
GETA. Whosoe"er You are, excuse me.
SOS. I am Sostrata.
GETA. Where, where is Sostrata? (_Turns about._) I sought you, Madam; Impatiently I sought you: and am glad To have encounter"d you thus readily.
SOS. What is the matter? why d"ye tremble thus?
GETA. Alas!
SOS. Take breath!--But why thus mov"d, good Geta?
GETA. We"re quite----
SOS. Quite what?
GETA. Undone: We"re ruin"d, Madam.
SOS. Explain, for Heaven"s sake!
GETA. Ev"n now----
SOS. What now?
GETA. aeschinus----
SOS. What of aeschinus?
GETA. Has quite Estrang"d himself from all our family.
SOS. How"s that? confusion! why?
GETA. He loves another.
SOS. Wretch that I am!
GETA. Nor that clandestinely; But s.n.a.t.c.h"d her in the face of all the world From a procurer.
SOS. Are you sure of this?
GETA. Sure? With these very eyes I saw it, Madam.
SOS. Alas, alas! What then can we believe?
To whom give credit?--What? our aeschinus!
Our very life, our sole support and hope!
Who swore he could not live one day without her, And promis"d he would place the new-born babe Upon his father"s lap, and in that way Wring from him his consent to marry her!
GETA. Nay, weep not, mistress; but consider rather What course were best to follow: to conceal This wrong, or to disclose it to some friend?
CAN. Disclose it! Are you mad? Is this a thing To be disclos"d, d"ye think?
GETA. I"d not advise it.
For first, that he has quite abandon"d us, The thing itself declares. If we then make The story known, no doubt but he"ll deny it.
Your reputation, and your daughter"s life Will be endanger"d: or if he confess, Since he affects another, "twere not good That he should wed your daughter.--For which reasons, Silence is requisite.
SOS. Ah, no: not I.
GETA. What mean you?
SOS. To disclose the whole.
GETA. How, Madam!
Think what you are about.
SOS. Whatever happens, The thing can"t be in a worse state than now.
In the first place my daughter has no portion, And that which should have been her second dowry Is also lost; and she can ne"er be giv"n In marriage as a virgin. For the rest, If he denies his former commerce with her, I have the ring he lost to vouch the fact.
In short, since I am conscious to myself.
That I am not to blame in this proceeding, And that no sordid love of gain, nor aught Unworthy of my daughter or myself, Has mix"d in this affair, I"ll try it, Geta.
GETA. Well, I agree, "twere better to disclose it.
SOS. You then away, as fast as possible, And run to Hegio our good friend and kinsman, To let him know the whole affair: for he Was the chief friend of my dear Simulus, And ever show"d a great regard for us.
GETA. And well he does, for no one else cares for us.
SOS. And you, good Canthara, away with haste, And call a midwife; that we may be sure Of her a.s.sistance in the time of need. (_Exeunt severally._
SCENE III.
_Enter DEMEA._
DEM. Confusion! I have heard that Ctesipho Was present with his brother at this riot.
This is the sum of all my miseries, If he, even he, a sober, hopeful lad, May be seduc"d into debaucheries.
--But where shall I inquire for him? I warrant They have decoy"d him into some vile brothel.
That profligate persuaded him, I"m sure.
--But here comes Syrus; he can tell me all.
And yet this slave is of the gang; and if He once perceives that I"m inquiring for him, He"ll never tell me any thing; a rogue!
I"ll not discover my design.