 | Phormio |  |
SCENE VIII.
Enter hastily, at another part of the Stage, GETA.Get.
O Fortune, a best Fortune, what high blessings,
What sudden, great, and unexpected joys
Hast thou show'r'd down on Antipho to-day!—
Ant.
What can this be, he's so rejoic'd about?
Get.
—And from what fears deliver'd Us, his friends?
—But wherefore do I loiter thus? and why
Do I not throw my cloak upon my shoulder,
And hast to find him out, that he may know
All that has happen'd?
Ant.
to Phormio.]
Do you comprehend
What he is talking of?
Do you?
Ant.
Not I.
Phor.
I'm just as wise as you.
Get.
I'll hurry hence
To the Procurer's.—I shall find them there.
[going.
Ant.
Ho, Geta!
Get.
Look ye there!—Is't new or strange,
To be recall'd when one's in haste?
[going.
Ant.
Here, Geta!
Get.
Again? Bawl on! l'll ne'er stop.
[going on.
Ant.
Stay, I say!
Get.
Go, and be drubb'd!
Ant.
You shall, I promise you,
Unless you stop, you Rascal!
Get.
stopping.]
Hold, hold, Geta!
Some intimate acquaintance this, be sure,
Being so free with you.—But is it he,
That I am looking for, or not?—'Tis He.
Phor.
Go up immediately.
[they go up to Geta.
Ant.
to Geta.]
What means all this?
Get.
O happy man! the happiest man on earth!
So very happy, that, beyond all doubt,
You are the God's chief fav'rite, Antipho.
Ant.
Would I were! but your reason.
Is't enough,
To plunge you over head and ears in joy?
Ant.
You torture me.
Phor.
No promises! but tell us.
What is your news?
Get.
Oh, Phormio! are you here?
Phor.
I am: but why d'ye trifle?
Get.
Mind me then!
[to Phormio.
No sooner had we paid you at the Forum,
But we return'd directly home again.
—Arriv'd, my master sends me to your wife.
[to Antipho.
Ant.
For what?
Get.
No matter now, good Antipho.
I was just entering the women's lodging,
When up runs little Mida; catches me
Hold by the cloak behind, and pulls me back.
I turn about, and ask why he detains me.
He told me, “Nobody must see his mistress:
“For Sophrona, says he, has just now brought
“Demipho's brother, Chremes, here; and He
“Is talking with the women now within.”
—When I heard this, I stole immediately
Drew in my breath; applied my ear; and thus,
Deep in attention, catch'd their whole discourse.
Ant.
Excellent, Geta!
Get.
Here I overheard
The pleasantest adventure!—On my life,
I scarce refrain'd from crying out for joy.
Ant.
What?
Get.
What d'ye think?
[laughing.
Ant.
I can't tell.
Get.
Oh! it was
[laughing.
Most wonderful!—most exquisite!—your uncle
Is found to be the father of your wife.
Ant.
How! what?
Get.
He had a sly intrigue, it seems,
With Phanium's mother formerly at Lemnos.
[laughing.
Phor.
Nonsense! as if she did not know her father!
Get.
Nay, there's some reason for it, Phormio,
You may be sure.—But was it possible
For me, who stood without, to comprehend
Each minute circumstance that past within?
Ant.
I have heard something of this story too.
Then, Sir, to settle your belief the more,
At last out comes your uncle; and soon after
Returns again, and carries in your father.
Then they both said, they gave their full consent,
That you should keep your Phanium.—In a word,
I'm sent to find you out, and bring you to them.
Ant.
Away with me then instantly! D'ye linger?
Get.
Not I. Away!
Ant.
My Phormio, fare you well!
Phor.
Fare you well, Antipho.
[Exeunt.
O Fortuna! O Fors Fortuna! Fortuna signified simply chance; but Fors Fortuna meant Good Fortune, and there was a Temple to this Goddess near the Tiber. Donatus.
Gynæceum; from the Greek Γυναικειον, οικημα understood. The Gynæceum was an interior part of the house appropriated to the women. Westerhovius.
In all the editions which I have seen, Bentley's excepted, this speech is put into Phormio's mouth: but that learned Critick tells us it is attributed to Antipho in a copy at Cambridge. I am sure it is very improper for Phormio, who had just before said,
Nonsense! as if she did not know her father!Cooke.
Quin ergo rape me. Cessas? Antipho is so rejoiced at Geta's news, that he jumps upon his shoulders, and is carried off in triumph. This was a sort of stage-trick, and was extremely diverting to the audience.
Dacier.I believe Madam Dacier has not the least foundation for this extraordinary piece of information; and I must confess that I have too high an opinion both of the Roman Audience and Actors to believe it to be true.
| Phormio | |