fair means rather than by foul?" said I.
"My master is a generous gentleman,
And hates to go to law. For I assure you
His other friends advis'd him, to a man,
To turn this girl directly out o' doors."

ANT. (_behind_). What does he mean? or where will all this end?

GETA. "The law, you think, will give you damages
If he attempts to turn her out.--Alas!
He has good counsel upon that.--I' faith,
You'll have hot work if you engage with him;
He's such an orator!--But ev'n suppose
That you should gain your lawsuit, after all
The trial is not for his life, but money."
Perceiving him a little wrought upon,
And soften'd by this style of talking with him,
"Come now," continued I, "we're all alone.
Tell me, what money would you take in hand
To drop your lawsuit, take away the girl,
And trouble us no farther!"

ANT. (_behind_). Is he mad?

GETA. --"For I am well convinc'd, that if your terms
Are not extravagant and wild indeed,
My master's such a worthy gentleman,
You will not change three words between you."

DEM. Who
Commission'd you to say all this?

CHREM. Nay, nay,
Nothing could be more happy to effect
The point we labor at.

ANT. (_behind_). Undone!

CHREM. (_to GETA_). Go on.

GETA. At first he rav'd.

DEM. Why, what did he demand?

GETA. Too much: as much as came into his head.

CHREM. Well, but the sum?

GETA. He talk'd of a great talent.

DEM. Plague on the rascal! what! has he no shame?

GETA. The very thing I said to him.--"Suppose
He was to portion out an only daughter,
What could he give her more?--He profits little,
Having no daughter of his own; since one
Is found to carry off a fortune from him."
--But to be brief, and not to dwell upon
All his impertinences, he at last
Gave me this final answer.--"From the first,
I wish'd," said he, "as was indeed most fit,
To wed the daughter of my friend myself.
For I was well aware of her misfortune;
That, being poor, she would be rather given
In slavery, than wedlock, to the rich.
But I was forc'd, to tell you the plain truth,
To take a woman with some little fortune,
To pay my debts: and still, if Demipho
Is willing to advance as large a sum
As I'm to have with one I'm now engag'd to.
There is no wife I'd rather take than her."

ANT. (_behind_). Whether through malice or stupidity,
He is rank knave or fool, I can not tell.

DEM. (_to GETA_). What, if he owes his soul?

GETA. "I have a farm,"
Continued he, "that's mortgag'd for ten min