he is talking
about.

CAN. Pray, let us go nearer to him, Sostrata.

GETA (_continuing._) Ah wretched me! I am scarcely master of my
senses, I am so inflamed with anger. There is nothing that I would
like better than for all that family to be thrown in my way, that I
might give vent to all {my} wrath upon them while this wound is still
fresh. I could be content with any punishment, so I might only wreak
my vengeance on them. First, I would stop the breath of the old fellow
himself who gave being to this monster; then as for his prompter,
Syrus, out upon him! how I would tear him piecemeal! I would snatch
him by the middle up aloft, and dash him head downward upon the earth,
so that with his brains he would bestrew the road: I would pull out
the eyes of the young fellow himself, {and} afterward hurl him
headlong {over some precipice}. The others I would rush upon, drive,
drag, crush, and trample them {under foot}. But why do I delay at once
to acquaint my mistress with this calamity? (_Moves as if going._)

SOS. (_to CANTHARA._) Let us call him back. Geta----

GETA. Well-- leave me alone,[47] whoever you are.

SOS. 'Tis I,-- Sostrata.

GETA (_turning round._) Why, where are you? You are the very person I
am looking for. I was in quest of you; it's very fortunate you have
met me.

SOS. What's the matter? Why are you trembling?

GETA. Alas! Alas!

SOS. My {dear} Geta, why in such haste? Do take breath.

GETA. Quite-- (_pauses._)

SOS. Why, what means this "quite"?

GETA. Undone-- It's all over with us.

SOS. Say, then, I entreat you, what is the matter.

GETA. Now----

SOS. What "now," Geta?

GETA. AEschinus----

SOS. What about him?

GETA. Has abandoned our family.

SOS. Then I am undone! Why so?

GETA. He has attached himself to another woman.

SOS. Woe unto wretched me!

GETA. And he makes no secret of it; he himself has carried her off
openly from a procurer.

SOS. Are you quite sure of this?

GETA. Quite sure; I saw it myself, Sostrata, with these same eyes.

SOS. Ah wretched me! What is one now to believe, or whom believe? Our
own AEschinus, the {very} life of us all, in whom all our hopes and
comforts were centred! Who used to swear he could never live a single
day without her! Who used to say, that he would place the infant on
his father's knees,[48] {and} thus entreat that he might be allowed to
make her his wife!

GETA. {Dear} mistress, forbear weeping, and rather consider wh