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Enter GETA, running, at the other side of the stage.
GETA
to himself. Geta, you are undone, unless you instantly find out some expedient; so suddenly do such mighty evils now threaten me thus unprepared, which I neither know how to shun, nor how to extricate myself therefrom; for this daring step of:ours can not now any longer be kept a secret. If such a result is not adroitly guarded against, these matters will cause the ruin of myself, or of my master. ANTIPHO
to PHAEDRIA. Why, I wonder, is he coming in such fright?: GETA
to himself. Besides, I've but a moment left for this matter--my master's close at hand. ANTIPHO
to PHAEDRIA. What mischief is this? GETA
to himself. When he comes to hear of it, what remedy shall I discover for his anger Am I to speak? I shall irritate him: be silent? I shall provoke him: excuse myself? I should be washing a brickbat.1 Alas! unfortunate me! While I am trembling for myself, this Antipho distracts my mind. I am concerned for him; I'm in dread for him: 'tis he that now keeps me here; for had it not been for him, I should have made due provision for my safety, and have taken vengeance on the old man for his crabbedness; I should have scraped up something, and straightway taken to my heels away from here. ANTIPHO
to PHAEDRIA. I wonder What running away or theft it is that he's planning. GETA
to himself. But where shall I find Antipho, or which way go look for him? PHAEDRIA
to ANTIPHO. He's mentioning your name. ANTIPHO
to PHADRIA. I know not what great misfortune I expect to hear from this messenger. PHAEDRIA
to ANTIPHO. Why, are you in your senses? GETA
to himself. I'll make my way homeward; he's generally there. PHAEDRIA
to ANTIPHO. Let's call the fellow back. ANTIPHO
calling out. Stop, this instant. GETA
turning round. Heyday--with authority enough, whoever you are. ANTIPHO
Geta! GETA
The very person I wanted to find. ANTIPHO
Pray, tell me what news you bring, and dispatch it in one word, if you can. GETA
I'll do so. ANTIPHO
Out with it. GETA
Just now, at the harbor---- ANTIPHO
What, my father?---- GETA
You've hit it. ANTIPHO
. Ruined outright! PHAEDRIA
Pshaw! ANTIPHO
What am I to do? PHAEDRIA
to GETA. What is it you say? GETA
That I have seen his father, your uncle. ANTIPHO
How am I, wretch that I am, now to find a remedy for this sudden misfortune? But if it should be my fortune, Phanium, to be torn away from you, life would cease to be desirable. GETA
Therefore, Antipho, since matters are thus, the more need have you to be on your guard; fortune helps the brave. ANTIPHO
I am not myself. GETA
But just now it is especially necessary you should be so, Antipho; for if your father perceives that you are alarmed, he will think that you have been guilty of sone fault. PHAEDRIA
That's true. ANTIPHO
I can not change. GETA
What would you do, if now something else still more difficult had to be done by you? ANTIPHO
As I am not equal to this, I should be still less so to the other. GETA
This is doing nothing at all, Phaedria, let's be gone; why do we waste our time here to no purpose. I shall be off. PHAEDRIA
And I too. They move as if going. ANTIPHO
Pray, now, if I assume an air, will that do? He endeavors to assume another air. GETA
You are trifling. ANTIPHO
Look at my countenance--there's for you. Assuming a different air. Will that do? GETA
No. ANTIPHO
Well, will this? Assuming another air. GETA
Pretty well. ANTIPHO
Well then, this? Assuming a still bolder air. GETA
That's just the thing. There now, keep to that, and answer him word for word, like for like; don't let him, in his anger, disconcert you with his blustering words. ANTIPHO
I understand. GETA
Say that you were forced against your will by law, by sentence of the court; do you take me? Looking earnestly in one direction. But who is the old man that I see at the end of the street? ANTIPHO
'Tis he himself. I can not stand it. Going. GETA
Oh! What are you about? Whither are you going, Antipho? Stop, I tell you. ANTIPHO
I know my own self and my offense; to your management I trust Phanium and my own existence. (Exit hastily.) PHAEDRIA
Geta, what's to be done now? GETA
You will just hear some harsh language: I shall be trussed up and trounced, if I am not somewhat mistaken. But what we were just now advising Antipho to do, the same we must do ourselves, Phaedria. PHAEDRIA
Away with your "musts;" rather do you command me what I am to do. GETA
DO you remember what were your words formerly on our entering upon this project, with the view of protecting yourselves from ill consequences--that their cause was just, clear, unanswerable, and most righteous? PHAEDRIA
I remember it. GETA
Well then, now there's need of that plea, or of one still better and more plausible, if such there can be. PHAEDRIA
I'll use my best endeavors. GETA
Do you then accost him first; I'll be here in re-serve,2 by way of reinforcement, if you give ground at all. PHAEDRIA
Very well. They retire to a distance.
1 Be washing a brickbat)-- Ver. 187. "Laterem lavare," "to wash a brick,"' or "tile," was a proverb signifying labor in vain, probably because (if the brick was previously baked) it was impossible to wash away the red color of it. According to some, the saying alluded to the act of washing a brick which had been only dried in the sun, in which case the party so doing both washed away the brick and soiled his own fingers.
2 Here in reserve)--Ver. 230. "Succenturiatus." The "succenturiati" were, properly, men intrusted to fill up vacancies in the centuries or companies, when thinned by battle.
The Comedies of Terence. Henry Thomas Riley. Ney York. Harper and Brothers. 1874.
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