who had lately fallen in love with
the Music-girl said: "She is well enough;" but our {youth}--

DAV. I know it already-- fell in love with her.

GETA. Can you imagine to what an extent? Observe the consequence. The
day after, he goes straight to the old woman; entreats her to let him
have her: she, on the other hand, refuses him, and says that he is not
acting properly; that she is a citizen of Athens, virtuous, and born
of honest {parents}: that if he wishes to make her his wife, he is at
liberty to do so according to law; but if otherwise, she gives him a
refusal. Our {youth} was at a loss what to do. He was both eager to
marry her, and he dreaded his absent father.

DAV. Would not his father, if he had returned, have given him leave?

GETA. He let him marry a girl with no fortune, and of obscure birth!
He would never do {so}.

DAV. What came of it at last?

GETA. What came of it? There is one Phormio here, a Parasite, a fellow
of great assurance; may all the Gods confound him!

DAV. What has he done?

GETA. He has given this piece of advice, which I will tell you of.
"There is a law, that orphan girls are to marry those who are their
next-of-kin; and the same law commands such persons to marry them.
I'll say you are the next-of-kin, and take out a summons[32] against
you; I'll pretend that I am a friend of the girl's father; we will
come before the judges: who her father was, who her mother, how she is
related to you-- all this I'll trump up, just as will be advantageous
and suited to my purpose; on your disproving none of these things,
I shall prevail, of course. Your father will return; a quarrel will be
the consequence; what care I? She will still be ours."

DAV. An amusing piece of assurance!

GETA. He was persuaded to this. It was carried out; they came {into
court}: we were beaten. He has married her.

DAV. What is it you tell me?

GETA. Just what you have heard.

DAV. O Geta, what will become of you?

GETA. Upon my faith, I don't know; this one thing I do know, whatever
fortune may bring, I'll bear it with firmness.

DAV. You please me; well, that is the duty of a man.

GETA. All my hope is in myself.

DAV. I commend you.

GETA. Suppose I have recourse to some one to intercede for me, who
will plead for me in these terms: "Pray, do forgive him this time; but
if after this {he does} any thing, I make no entreaty:" if only he
doesn't add, "When I've gone, e'en kill him {for my part}."