Part 6 (1/2)

We see fro conversation what the situation is at the opening of the play, and can guess at the problems to be solved by the development of the action: How shall Phaedria obtain the money hich to buy his sweetheart? and how shall Antipho's father be reconciled to thepeople upon his return?

The two cousins Antipho and Phaedria now appear, each envying the see his own Antipho has already repented of his hasty action, and is panic-stricken when he thinks of the wrath of his father While Phaedria can think only of his friend's good fortune in being irl of his heart Geta's sudden appearance from the direction of the harbor strikes terror into Antipho, and both the cousins retire to the back of the stage The slave is evidentlymen can catch only a word now and then

Desirous, yet fearful of knowing the worst, Antipho now calls out to his slave, who turns and cooodness' sake, and be quick

_Ge_ All right, I will _Ant_ Well, out with it, then _Ge_ Just now at the harbor-- _Ant_ What, ht _Ant_ I'm done for!

Phaedria has not Antipho's fear-sharpened imentary statements, and asks the slave to tell him what it is all about

_Geta_ I tell you that I have seen his father, your uncle _Ant_ [_frantically_] How shall I meet this sudden disaster? But if it has come to this, Phanium [_his wife_], that I aer _Ge_ There, there, Antipho, in such a state of things you ought to be all the more on the watch Fortune favors the brave, you know _Ant_ [_with choking voice_] I'm not myself to-day _Ge_ But you must be, Antipho; for if your father sees that you are timid and_Ant_ But, I tell you, I can't do any different _Ge_ What would you do if you had some harder job yet? _Ant_ Since I can't do this, I couldn't do that _Ge_ Co with this felloe're only wasting our tiht, come on _Ant_ O say, hold on! What if I pretend to be bold [_Strikes an attitude_] Will that do? _Ge_ Stuff and nonsense _Ant_ Well, hoill this expression do? _Ge_ It won't do at all _Ant_ How is this? _Ge_ That's ht

Keep on looking that way And remember to answer hiry old et the better of you

_Ant_ I--I--on't _Ge_ Tell hiainst your will-- _Phaed_ By the law, by the court _Ge_ Do you catch on?--But who is this oldup the street?

Antipho casts one look of terror down the street, cries: ”It's father himself, I just can't stay,” and takes to his heels

_Phaed_ Now, Geta, what next? _Ge_ Well, you're in for a row; and I shall be hung up by the heels and flogged, unless I a Antipho to do just noe must do ourselves _Phaed_ O, come off with your ”musts”! Tell me just what to do _Ge_ Do you reet out of blame for this business that ”Phormio's suit was just dead easy, sure to win”? Well, that's the game ant to work now,--or a better one yet, if you can think of one Now you go ahead and I'll wait here in ambush, in case you want any help

They retire to the back of the stage as Demipho enters fro rage, for he has heard the nehich by this tiry soliloquy, and interjecting sneering comments _sotto voce_, Geta and Phaedria conclude that it is time to act So Phaedria advances to his uncle with an effusive welcome:

_Phaed_ My dear uncle, how do you do? _Demipho_ [_crustily_] How are you? But where is Antipho? _Phaed_ I'lad to see-- _Dem_ Oh, no doubt; but answer ht; he's here in the house But, uncle, has anything gone wrong with you? _Dem_ Well, I should say so _Phaed_ What do you mean? _Dee you have gotten up here in ry with hiry with him, indeed? I can hardly wait to see hient father has becory with him _Phaed_ Now, uncle, if Antipho has been at fault in that he wasn't careful enough of his purse or reputation, I haven't a word to say to shi+eld him from blame But if soot the best of hies, who often decide against the rich through envy, and in favor of the poor out of pity? _Dee to know the justice of your case, when you don't say a word in self-defense, as I understand he didn't?

_Phaed_ Well, in that he acted like a well-bred young es, he couldn't remember a word of his speech that he had prepared; he was so bashful

Seeing that Phaedria is getting along so well, Geta decides to colad to see you houardian you are! A regular pillar of the fae of my son when I went away?

Geta plays injured innocence, and wants to knohat De a slave, he could neither plead the young man's cause nor testify in his behalf

_Deirl was never so much related, he needn't have al alternative, give her a dowry, and let her find another husband? Had he no more sense than to h; it was the dollars he lacked _Deht have borrowed the money _Ge_ Borrowed it? That's easier said than done _Deotten it from a usurer on a pinch _Ge_ Well, I do like that! As if any one would lend him money in your lifetime!

The old man, beaten to a standstill, can only fall back upon his obstinate determination, and vow that he won't have it

_Dem_ No, no; it shall not be, it cannot be! I won't perer Noant to see that other fellow, or at least find out where he lives _Ge_ Do you uardian _Ge_ I'll go get him for you _Dem_ Where is Antipho now? _Ge_ O, he's out so hiht away _Ge_ [_leering at Phaedria as the latter passes hio to Pamphila [_Phaedria's sweetheart_]

Deether to advise him in the business, and prepare him for his intervieith Phormio The act ends with the prospect pretty dark for Antipho, and with no plan of action for of the second act, to the actor of the title role, the keen-witted, reckless parasite, Phor him the situation

Geta beseeches Phormio to come to their aid, since he is, after all, entirely responsible for the trouble Phorht awhile, and then announces that he has his plans formed, and is ready to meet the old man

[_Enter Dee

De to his friends_]

_Deeous treat you to help me _Ge_ [_apart to Phormio_] My, but he's mad! _Phor_ You just watch h tone to be overheard by Demipho_] By all the powers! Does Demipho say that Phanium isn't related to him? Does Deht by this bait, as Phormio had intended, and says to his friends in an undertone: