 | Phormio |  |
SCENE IV.
Manent ANTIPHO, GETA.Ant.
coming forward.]
Geta!
Get.
Ha, Antipho!
581
What have you done?
Geta.
Trick'd the old bubbles of their money.
Ant.
Well,
Is that sufficient, think ye?
Get.
I can't tell.
'Twas all my orders.
Ant.
Knave, d'ye shuffle with me?
[kicks him.
Get.
Plague! what d'ye mean?
Ant.
What do I mean, sirrah!
You've driven me to absolute perdition.
All pow'rs of heav'n and hell confound you for't,
And make you an example to all villains!
—Here! would you have your business duly manag'd,
Commit it to this fellow! —What could be
More tender than to touch upon this sore,
Or even name my wife? My father's fill'd
With hopes that she may be dismiss'd.—And then,
If Phormio gets the money for the portion,
He to be sure must marry her.—And what
Becomes of Me then?
Get.
He'll not marry her.
Ant.
Oh, no: but when they re-demand the money,
582
[ironically.
Get.
Many a tale is spoilt in telling, Antipho.
You take out all the good, and leave the bad.
—Now hear the other side.—If he receives
The money, he must wed the girl: I grant it.
But then some little time must be allow'd
For wedding-preparation, invitation,
And sacrifices.—Meanwhile, Phædria's friends
Advance the money they have promis'd him:
Which Phormio shall make use of for repayment.
Ant.
How so? what reason can he give?
Get.
What reason?
A thousand.—“Since I made this fatal bargain,
“Omens and prodigies have happen'd to me.
“There came a strange black dog into my house!
“A snake fell through the tiling! a hen crow'd!
“The Soothsayer forbad it! The Diviner
“Charg'd me to enter on no new affair
“Before the winter.”—All sufficient reasons.
Thus it shall be.
Ant.
Pray heav'n, it may!
Get.
It shall.
Depend on me:—But here's your father.—Go;
Tell Phædria that the money's safe.
[Exit Antipho.
| Phormio | |