 | Phormio |  |
575
SCENE III.
Enter behind ANTIPHO.Ant.
to himself.]
I expect
Geta's arrival presently.—But see!
Yonder's my Uncle with my father.—Ah!
How do I dread his influence!
Get.
I'll to them.
Oh, good Sir Chremes!
[going up.
Chre.
Save you, save you, Geta!
Get.
I'm glad to see you safe arriv'd.
Chre.
I thank you.
Get.
How go affairs?
Chre.
A world of changes here,
As usual at first coming home again.
Get.
True. Have you heard of Antipho's affair?
Chre.
The whole.
Get.
to Demipho.]
Did you inform him, Sir?—'Tis monstrous, Chremes,
To be so shamefully impos'd upon!
Dem.
'Twas on that point I was just talking with him.
576
And I too, having turn'd it in my thoughts,
Have found, I think, a remedy.
Dem.
How, Geta?
What remedy?
Get.
On leaving you, by chance
I met with Phormio.
Chre.
Who is Phormio?
Get.
The girl's sollicitor.
Chre.
I understand.
Get.
I thought within myself, “suppose I found him!”
And taking him aside, “Now prithee, Phormio,
“Why don't you try to settle this affair
“By 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?
Get.
“The law, you think, will give you damages,
“If he attempts to turn her out.—Alas,
“He has had 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 law-suit, after all
577
Perceiving him a little wrought upon,
And soften'd by this stile of talking with him,
“Come now,” continued I, “we're all alone.
“Tell me, what money would you take in hand
“To drop your law-suit, take away the girl,
“And trouble us no farther?”
Ant.
behind.]
Is he mad?
Get.
—“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?
Chre.
Nay, nay,
Nothing could be more happy to effect
The point we labour at.
Ant.
behind.]
Undone!
Chre.
to Geta.]
Go on.
Get.
At first he rav'd.
Dem.
Why, what did he demand?
Get.
Too much: as much as came into his head.
Chre.
Well, but the sum?
578
He talk'd of a Great Talent.
Dem.
Plague on the rascal! what! has he no shame?
Get.
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 impertinencies, 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.”
579
behind.]
Whether through malice, or stupidity,
He is rank knave or fool, I cannot tell.
Dem.
to Geta.]
What, if he owes his soul?
Get.
“I have a farm,”
Continued he, “that's mortgag'd for Ten Minæ.”
Dem.
Well, let him take her then: I'll pay the money.
Get.
“A house for ten more.”
Dem.
Huy! huy! that's too much.
Chre.
No noise! demand those ten of me.
Get.
“My wife
“Must buy a maid; some little furniture
“Is also requisite; and some expence
“To keep our wedding: all these articles,”
Continues he, “we'll reckon at Ten Minæ.”
Dem.
No; let him bring a thousand writs against me.
I'll give him nothing. What! afford the villain
An opportunity to laugh at me?
Chre.
Nay, but be pacified! I'll pay the money.
Only do you prevail upon your son
To marry her, whom we desire.
580
behind.]
Ah me!
Geta, your treachery has ruin'd me.
Chre.
She's put away on my account: 'tis just
That I should pay the money:
Geta.
“Let me know,”
Continues he, “as soon as possible,
“Whether they mean to have me marry her;
“That I may part with t'other, and be certain.
“For t'other girl's relations have agreed
“To pay the portion down immediately.”
Chre.
He shall be paid this too immediately.
Let him break off with her, and take this girl!
Dem.
Ay, and the plague go with him!
Chre.
Luckily
It happens I've some money here; the rents
Of my wife's farms at Lemnos. I'll take that;
[to Demipho.
And tell my wife, that you had need of it.
[Exeunt.
Talentum Magnum. Among the antient writers we meet sometimes with the word Talent simply; sometimes it is called A Great Talent; and sometimes an Attick Talent; which all import the same, when to be understood of Grecian money. Patrick.
Sexcentas scribito jam mihi dicas. Donatus observes on this passage that Six Hundred was used by the Romans for an indefinite number, as Ten Thousand was among the Greeks; wherefore Terence, according to the different genius of the two languages, renders the μυριας of Apollodorus by sexcentas. I have in like manner rendered the sexcentas of Terence by a Thousand, as being most agreeable to the English idiom.
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