Act I, Scene IV

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.

ANT. (to PHÆDRIA.) 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.

ANT. (to PHÆDRIA.) 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. 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.

ANT. (to PHÆDRIA.) 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?

PHÆD. (to ANTIPHO.) He’s mentioning your name.

ANT. (to PHÆDRIA.) I know not what great misfortune I expect to hear from this messenger.

PHÆD. (to ANTIPHO.) Why, are you in your senses?

GETA (to himself.) I’ll make my way homeward; he’s generally there.

PHÆD. (to ANTIPHO.) Let’s call the fellow back.

ANT. (calling out.) Stop, this instant.

GETA (turning round.) Heyday-- with authority enough, whoever you are.

ANT. Geta!

GETA. The very person I wanted to find.

ANT. Pray, tell me what news you bring and dispatch it in one word, if you can.

GETA. I’ll do so.

ANT. Out with it.

GETA. Just now, at the harbor--

ANT. What, my father--?

GETA. You’ve hit it.

ANT. Ruined outright!

PHÆD. Pshaw!

ANT. What am I to do?

PHÆD. (to GETA.) What is it you say?

GETA. That I have seen his father, your uncle.

ANT. 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.

ANT. 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 some fault.

PHÆD. That’s true.

ANT. I can not change.

GETA. What would you do, if now something else still more difficult had to be done by you?

ANT. As I am not equal to this, I should be still less so to the other.

GETA. This is doing nothing at all, Phædria, let’s be gone; why do we waste our time here to no purpose. I shall be off.

PHÆD. And I too. (They move as if going.)

ANT. Pray, now, if I assume an air, will that do? (He endeavors to assume another air.)

GETA. You are trifling.

ANT. Look at my countenance-- there’s for you. (Assuming a different air.) Will that do?

GETA. No.

ANT. Well, will this? (Assuming another air.)

GETA. Pretty well.

ANT. 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.

ANT. 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?

ANT. ’Tis he himself. I can not stand it. (Going.)

GETA. Oh! What are you about? Whither are you going, Antipho? Stop, I tell you.

ANT. I know my own self and my offense; to your management I trust Phanium and my own existence. (Exit hastily.