GETA. Aye! now you've hit it. Do but stick to that; Answer him boldly; give him hit for dash, Nor let him bear you down with angry words. ANT. I understand you. GETA. "Forc'd"--"against your will"---- "By law"--"by sentence of the court"--d'ye take me? --But what old gentleman is that I see At t'other end o' th' street? ANT. 'Tis he himself. I dare not face him. (_Going._) GETA. Ah! what is't you do? Where d'ye run, Antipho! stay, stay, I say. ANT. I know myself and my offense too well: To you, then, I commend my life and love. (_Exit._ [Changes: _Harper_ At t'other end o' th' street? ANT. 'Tis he himself. _Colman 1768_ Turning the corner of the street? ANT. 'Tis he.] SCENE V. _Manent PHAEDRIA and GETA._ PHAED. Geta, what now? GETA. You shall be roundly chid; I soundly drubb'd; or I am much deceiv'd. --But what e'en now we counsel'd Antipho, It now behooves ourselves to practice, Phaedria. PHAED. Talk not of what behooves, but say at once What you would have me do. GETA. Do you remember The plea whereon you both agreed to rest, At your first vent'ring on this enterprise? "That Phormio's suit was just, sure, equitable, Not to be controverted."---- PHAED. I remember. GETA. Now then that plea! or, if it's possible, One better or more plausible. PHAED. I'll do't. GETA. Do you attack him first! I'll lie in ambush, To reinforce you, if you give ground. PHAED. Well. (_They retire._) SCENE VI. _Enter DEMIPHO at another part of the stage._ DEM. How's this? a wife! what, Antipho! and ne'er Ask my consent?--nor my authority---- Or, grant we pass authority, not dread My wrath at least?--To have no sense of shame? --Oh, impudence!--Oh, Geta, rare adviser! GETA. Geta at last. DEM. What they will say to me, Or what excuse they will devise, I wonder. GETA. Oh, we have settled that already: think Of something else. DEM. Will he say this to me, --"Against my will I did it"--"Forc'd by law"---- --I hear you: I confess it. GETA. Very well. DEM. But conscious of the fraud, without a word In answer or defense, to yield the cause Tamely to your opponents--did the law Force you to _that_ too? PHAED. That's home. GETA. Give me leave. I'll manage it. DEM. I know not what to do: This stroke has come so unawares upon me, Beyond all expectation, past belief. --I'm so enrag'd, I can't compose my mind To think upon it.--Wherefore ev'ry man, When his affairs go on most swimmingly, Ev'n then it most behooves to arm himself Against the coming storm: loss, danger, exile, Returning ever let him look to meet; His son in fault, wife dead, or daughter sick---- All common accidents, and may have happen'd; That nothing should seem new or strange. But if Aught has fall'n out beyond his hopes, all that Let him account clear gain.