Scene II
Enter Geta hastily at another part of the stage.
Geta. We are now
So absolutely lost, that all the world
Joining in consultation to apply
Relief to the misfortune that has fallen
On me, my mistress, and her daughter, all
Would not avail.—Ah me! so many troubles
Environ us at once, we sink beneath them.
Rape, poverty, oppression, solitude,
And infamy! oh, what an age is this!
O wicked, oh vile race!—oh impious man!
Sos. (to Canthara). Ah, why should Geta seem thus terrified
And agitated?
Geta (to himself.) Wretch! whom neither honor,
Nor oaths, nor pity could control or move!
Nor her approaching labor; her, on whom
He shamefully committed violation!
Sos. I don’t well understand him.
Can. Prithee then
Let us draw nearer, Sostrata!
Geta (to himself.) Alas,
I’m scarcely in my perfect mind, I burn
With such fierce anger.—Oh, that I had all
That villain-family before me now,
That I might vent my indignation on them,
While yet it boils within me.—There is nothing
I’d not endure to be reveng’d on them.
First I’d tread out the stinking snuff his father,
Who gave the monster being.—And then, Syrus,
Who urg’d him to it,—how I’d tear him!—First
I’d seize him round the waist, and lift him high,
Then dash his head against the ground, and strew
The pavement with his brains.—For Æschinus,
I’d tear his eyes out, and then tumble him,
Head foremost down some precipice.—The rest
I’d rush on, drag, crush, trample under foot.
But why do I delay to tell my mistress
This heavy news as soon as possible! (Going.)
Sos. Let’s call him back.—Ho, Geta!
Geta. Whosoe’er
You are, excuse me.
Sos. I am Sostrata.
Geta. Where, where is Sostrata? (Turns about.) I sought you, Madam;
Impatiently I sought you: and am glad
To have encounter’d you thus readily.
Sos. What is the matter? why d’ye tremble thus?
Geta. Alas!
Sos. Take breath!—But why thus mov’d, good Geta?
Geta. We’re quite——
Sos. Quite what?
Geta. Undone: We’re ruin’d, Madam.
Sos. Explain, for Heaven’s sake!
Geta. Ev’n now——
Sos. What now?
Geta. Æschinus——
Sos. What of Æschinus?
Geta. Has quite
Estrang’d himself from all our family.
Sos. How’s that? confusion! why?
Geta. He loves another.
Sos. Wretch that I am!
Geta. Nor that clandestinely;
But snatch’d her in the face of all the world
From a procurer.
Sos. Are you sure of this?
Geta. Sure? With these very eyes I saw it, Madam.
Sos. Alas, alas! What then can we believe?
To whom give credit?—What? our Æschinus!
Our very life, our sole support and hope!
Who swore he could not live one day without her,
And promis’d he would place the new-born babe
Upon his father’s lap, and in that way
Wring from him his consent to marry her!
Geta. Nay, weep not, mistress; but consider rather
What course were best to follow: to conceal
This wrong, or to disclose it to some friend?
Can. Disclose it! Are you mad? Is this a thing
To be disclos’d, d’ye think?
Geta. I’d not advise it.
For first, that he has quite abandon’d us,
The thing itself declares. If we then make
The story known, no doubt but he’ll deny it.
Your reputation, and your daughter’s life
Will be endanger’d: or if he confess,
Since he affects another, ’twere not good
That he should wed your daughter.—For which reasons,
Silence is requisite.
Sos. Ah, no: not I.
Geta. What mean you?
Sos. To disclose the whole.
Geta. How, Madam!
Think what you are about.
Sos. Whatever happens,
The thing can’t be in a worse state than now.
In the first place my daughter has no portion,
And that which should have been her second dowry
Is also lost; and she can ne’er be giv’n
In marriage as a virgin. For the rest,
If he denies his former commerce with her,
I have the ring he lost to vouch the fact.
In short, since I am conscious to myself.
That I am not to blame in this proceeding,
And that no sordid love of gain, nor aught
Unworthy of my daughter or myself,
Has mix’d in this affair, I’ll try it, Geta.
Geta. Well, I agree, ’twere better to disclose it.
Sos. You then away, as fast as possible,
And run to Hegio our good friend and kinsman,
To let him know the whole affair: for he
Was the chief friend of my dear Simulus,
And ever show’d a great regard for us.
Geta. And well he does, for no one else cares for us.
Sos. And you, good Canthara, away with haste,
And call a midwife; that we may be sure
Of her assistance in the time of need.
Exeunt severally.