and Antipho at once
Cried, "Shall we go and visit her?"--Why, aye,
"I think so," said the other; "let us go!"
"Conduct us, if you please."--We went, arriv'd.
And saw her.--Beautiful she was indeed!
More justly to be reckon'd so, for she
Had no additions to set off her beauty.
Her hair dishevel'd, barefoot, woe-begone,
In tears, and miserably clad: that if
The life and soul of beauty had not dwelt
Within her very form, all these together
Must have extinguish'd it.--The spark, possess'd
Already with the music-girl, just cried,
"She's well enough."--But our young gentleman----

DAVUS. Fell, I suppose, in love.

GETA. In love, indeed.
But mark the end! next day, away he goes
To the old woman straight, beseeching her
To let him have the girl.--"Not she, indeed!
Nor was it like a gentleman," she said,
"For him to think on't: She's a citizen,
An honest girl, and born of honest parents:----
If he would marry her indeed, by law
He might do _that_; on no account, aught else."
--Our spark, distracted, knew not what to do:
At once he long'd to marry her, at once
Dreaded his absent father.

DAVUS. Would not he,
Had he return'd, have giv'n consent?

GETA. To wed
A girl of neither family nor fortune?
Never.

DAVUS. What then?

GETA. What then! There is a parasite,
One Phormio, a bold, enterprising fellow,
Who--all the Gods confound him!----

DAVUS. What did he?

GETA. Gave us the following counsel.--"There's a law
That orphan Girls should wed their next of kin,
Which law obliges too their next of kin
To marry them."--I'll say that you're her kinsman,
And sue a writ against you. I'll pretend
To be her father's friend, and bring the cause
Before the judges. Who her father was,
Her mother who, and how she's your relation,
All this sham evidence I'll forge; by which
The cause will turn entirely in my favor.
You shall disprove no tittle of the charge;
So I succeed.--Your father will return;
Prosecute me;--what then?--The girl's our own."

DAVUS. A pleasant piece of impudence!

GETA. It pleas'd
Our spark at least: he put it into practice;
Came into court; and he was cast; and married.

DAVUS. How say you?

GETA. Just as you have heard.

DAVUS. Oh Geta,
What will become of you?

GETA. I don't know, faith.
But only this I know, what'er chance brings,
I'll patiently endure.

DAVUS. Why, that's well said,
And like a man.

GETA. All my dependence is
Upon myself.

DAVUS. And that's the best.

GETA.