e
the common lot, so that no one of them may ever come as a surprise
upon his feelings. Whatever falls out beyond his hopes, all that he
must look upon as so much gain.

GETA (_apart._) O Phaedria, it is incredible how much I surpass my
master in wisdom. All my misfortunes have been {already} calculated
upon by me, upon my master coming home. I must grind at the mill, be
beaten, wear fetters, be set to work in the fields; not one individual
thing of these will happen unexpected by my mind. Whatever falls out
beyond my expectations, all that I shall look upon as so much gain.
But why do you hesitate to accost him, and soften him at the outset
with fair words? (_PHAEDRIA goes forward to accost DEMIPHO._)

DEM. (_to himself._) I see Phaedria, my brother's son, coming toward
me.

PHAED. My uncle, welcome!

DEM. Greetings to you; but where is Antipho?

PHAED. That you have arrived in safety----

DEM. I believe it; answer my question.

PHAED. He is well; he's close at hand; but is every thing quite to your
wishes?

DEM. I wish it was so, indeed.

PHAED. What's the matter?

DEM. Do you ask me, Phaedria? You {people} have cooked up a fine
marriage in my absence.

PHAED. What now, are you angry with him for that?

GETA (_apart._) What a clever contriver!

DEM. Have I not reason to be angry with him? I long for him to come
into my sight, that he may know that through his faultiness, from
being a mild father, I am become a most severe one.

PHAED. But he has done nothing, uncle, for which you should blame him.

DEM. Now, do look at that; all alike; all hanging together; when you
know one, you know all.

PHAED. That is not the case.

DEM. When the one is in fault, the other is at hand to defend him;
when it is the other, {then} he is ready; they {just} help one another
by turns.

GETA (_apart._) The old man, without knowing it, has exactly described
their proceedings.

DEM. For if it had not been so, you would not, Phaedria, have stood up
for him.

PHAED. If, uncle, it is {the fact}, that Antipho has been guilty of any
fault, in consequence of which he has been too regardless of his
interest or his reputation, I would not allege any reason why he
should not suffer what he deserves. But if some one by chance, relying
upon his own artfulness, has laid a snare for our youthful age, and
has succeeded, is it our fault or {that} of the judges, who often,
through envy, take away from the rich, or, through comp