ther, and then I should
be ruined forever.

SYR. That shall not happen, be of good heart; meanwhile enjoy yourself
in-doors with her, and onder the couches[46] to be spread for us, and
the other things to be got ready. As soon as {this} business is
settled, I shall come home with the provisions.

CTES. Pray {do} so. Since this has turned out so well, let us make a
cheerful day of it. (_CTESIPHO goes into the house of MICIO; and
exeunt AESCHINUS and SYRUS, followed by SANNIO._)

ACT THE THIRD.

SCENE I.

_Enter SOSTRATA and CANTHARA, from the house of the former._

SOS. Prithee, my {dear} nurse, how is it like to end?

CAN. Like to end, do you ask? I'troth, right well, I trust.

SOS. Her pains are just beginning, my dear.

CAN. You are in a fright now, just as though you had never been
present {on such an occasion}-- never been in labor yourself.

SOS. Unfortunate woman that I am! I have not a person {at home}; we
are quite alone; Geta too is absent. I have no one to go for the
midwife, or to fetch AEschinus.

CAN. I'faith, he'll certainly be here just now, for he never lets a
day pass without visiting us.

SOS. He is my sole comfort in my afflictions.

CAN. Things could not have happened, mistress, more for the advantage
of your daughter than they have, seeing that violence was offered her;
so far as he is concerned, it is most lucky,-- such a person, of such
disposition and feelings, a member of so respectable a family.

SOS. It is indeed as you say; I entreat the Gods that he may be
preserved to us. (_They stand apart, on seeing GETA._)

SCENE II.

_Enter GETA, on the other side of the stage._

GETA (_to himself._) Now such is {our condition}, that if all were to
combine all their counsels, and to seek a remedy for this mischief
that has befallen myself, my mistress, and her daughter, they could
find no relief. Oh wretched me! so many calamities beset us on a
sudden, we can not possibly extricate ourselves. Violence, poverty,
oppression, desertion, infamy! What an age is this! O {shocking}
villainy! O accursed race! O impious man!--

SOS. Unhappy me! How is it that I see Geta hurrying along thus
terrified?

GETA (_continuing._) Whom neither promises, nor oaths, nor compassion
could move or soften; nor yet the fact that the delivery was nigh at
hand of the unfortunate woman on whom he had so shamefully committed
violence.

SOS. (_apart to CANTHARA._) I don't well understand what