Publius Terentius Afer (Terence) Phormio 5.6

GETA

(to himself.)

O fortune! O good luck! ¹ with blessings how great, how suddenly hast thou loaded this day with thy favors to my master Antipho!—

ANTIPHO

(apart to PHORMIO.)

I wonder what it is he means.

GETA

(continuing.)

And relieved us, his friends, from alarm; but I’m now delaying, in not throwing my cloak ² over my shoulder (throws it over his shoulder),

and making haste to find him, that he may know what has happened.

845

ANTIPHO

(apart to PHORMIO.)

Do you understand what he’s talking about?

PHORMIO

(apart to ANTIPHO.)

Do you?

ANTIPHO

(apart to PHORMIO.)

Not at all.

PHORMIO

(apart to ANTIPHO.)

And I just as much.

GETA

(to himself.)

I’ll be off hence to the Procurer’s; they are there just now. (Runs along.)

ANTIPHO

(calling out.)

Halloo! Geta!

GETA

(still running.)

There’s for you. Is it any thing new or wonderful to be called back, directly you’ve started?

ANTIPHO

Geta!

GETA

Do you persist? Troth, you shall not on this occasion get the better of me by your annoyance.

ANTIPHO

(running after him.)

Won’t you stop?

GETA

You’ll be getting a beating.

850

ANTIPHO

Assuredly that will befall yourself just now unless you stop, you whip-knave.

GETA

This must be some one pretty familiar, threatening me with a beating. (Turns round.) But is it the person I’m in search of or not? ’Tis the very man! Up to him at once.

ANTIPHO

What’s the matter?

GETA

O being most blessed of all men living! For without question, Antipho, you are the only favorite of the Gods.

ANTIPHO

So I could wish; but I should like to be told why I’m to believe it is so.

GETA

Is it enough if I plunge you into a sea of joy?

ANTIPHO

You are worrying me to death.

PHORMIO

Nay but do have done with your promises, and tell us what you bring.

GETA

(looking round.)

Oh, are you here too, Phormio?

PHORMIO

I am: but why do you delay?

GETA

Listen, then. When we just now paid you the money at the Forum, we went straight

to Chremes; in the mean time, my master sent me to your wife.

860

ANTIPHO

What for?

GETA

I’ll omit telling you that, as it is nothing to the present purpose, Antipho. Just as I was going to the woman’s apartments, the boy Mida came running up to me, and caught me behind by my cloak, and pulled me back; I turned about, and inquired for what reason he stopped me; he said that it was forbidden for any one to go in to his mistress.

Sophrona has just now, said he, introduced here Chremes, the old gentleman’s brother, and he said that he was then in the room with them: when I heard this, on tip-toe I stole softly along; I came there, stood, held my breath, I applied my ear, and so began to listen, catching the conversation every word in this fashion (shows them).

865

ANTIPHO

Well done, Geta.

GETA

Here I overheard a very pretty piece of business; so much so that I had nearly cried out for joy.

ANTIPHO

What was it?

GETA

(laughing.)

What do you think?

ANTIPHO

I don’t know.

GETA

Why, something most marvelous. Your uncle has been discovered to be the father of your wife, Phanium.

ANTIPHO

(starting.)

Ha! what’s that you say

GETA

He formerly cohabited secretly with her mother at Lemnos .

PHORMIO

A dream: how could she be ignorant about her own father?

GETA

Be sure,

Phormio, that there is some reason: but do you suppose that, outside of the door, I was able to understand every thing that passed between them within?

875

ANTIPHO

On my faith, I too have heard the same story.

GETA

Aye, and I’ll give you still further reason for believing it: your uncle in the mean time came out from there; not long after he returned again, with your father;

each said that he gave you permission to retain her; in fine, I’ve been sent to find you, and bring you to them.

880

ANTIPHO

Why then carry me off ³ at once;—why do you delay?

GETA

I’ll do so.

ANTIPHO

O my dear Phormio, farewell!

PHORMIO

Farewell, Antipho. (ANTIPHO and GETA go into DEMIPHO’S house.) So may the Gods bless me, this has turned out luckily. I’m glad of it, that such good fortune has thus suddenly befallen them.

I have now an excellent opportunity for diddling the old men, and ridding Phaedria of all anxiety about the money, so that he mayn’t be under the necessity of applying to any of his companions. For this same money, as it has been given him, shall be given for good, whether they like it or not: how to force them to this, I’ve found out the very way.

885

I must now assume a new air and countenance. But I’ll betake myself off to this next alley; from that spot I’ll present myself to them, when they come out of doors. I sha’n’t go to the fair, where I pretended I was going.

890

(He retires into the alley.)