ot 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 snatch'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.

S