PHORM I O. ACT I. SCENE I. DAVUS, alone." GETA, my worthy friend and countryman, 10 Came to me yesterday: For some time past What he scarce, ounce by ounce", from short allow Sorely defrauding his own appetite, Has spar'd, poor wretch! shall she sweep all at once, Unheeding with what labour it was got. 13 Geta, moreover, shall be struck for more 13; SCENE SCENE II. Enter GETA. Geta, at entering.] If a red-hair'd man Enquire for me Dav. No more! he's here. Geta. Oh, Davus! The very man that I was going after. Dav. Here, take this! [gives a purse.] 'tis all told: you'll find it right; The sum I ow'd you. Geta. Honest, worthy Davus! I thank you for your punctuality. Dav. And well you may, as men and times go now Things, by my troth, are come to such a pass, If a man pays you what he owes, you're much Beholden to him.---But, pray, why so sad? Geta. I---You can scarce imagine in what dread, What danger I am in. Dav. How so? Geta. I'll tell you, So you will keep it secret. Dav. Away, fool! The man, whose faith in money you have tried, D'ye fear to trust with words ?---And to what end Should I deceive you? Geta. List then! Dav. I'm all ear. Geta. D'ye know our old man's elder brother, Chremes? Dav. Know him? ay sure. Geta. Geta. You do ?---And his son Phædria? Geta. It so fell out, Both the old men were forc'd to journey forth Who had decoy'd the old curmudgeon thither Dav. To one that had so much, More than enough already? Geta. Prithee, peace! Money's his passion. Dav. Oh, would I had been A man of fortune, 1! Geta. At their departure, The two old gentlemen appointed me Geta. Troth, I found it so. My angry genius for my sins ordain'd it ". In short, while I was trusty to th' old man, young one made my shoulders answer for it. Geta. 1 then resolv'd To give them their own way in ev'ry thing. Play'd no mad pranks at first: But Phædria 345 Fond Fond of her to distraction! She belong'd Nor had we aught to give ;---th' old gentleman To lead her out to school, and hand her home. A load so sad, so insupportable, As it appear'd but now.---I saw but now, Lamenting her dead mother 2. Near the corpse She sat; nor friend, nor kindred, nor acquaintance, Her beauty too was exquisite.---In short, Cried, "Shall we go and visit her ?"--" Why, ay, More justly to be reckon'd so, for she |