Lend your attention; in silence give an ear with impartial feelings, that we may not experience a like fortune to what we did, when, through a tumult, our Company was driven from the place;[20] which place, the merit of the actor, and your good-will and candor seconding it, has {since} restored unto us. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I. _Enter DAVUS,[21] with a bag of money in his hand._ DAV. Geta, my very good friend and fellow-townsman, came to me yesterday. There had been for some time a trifling balance of money of his in my hands upon a small account; {he asked me} to make it up. I have done so, {and} am carrying it to him. But I hear that his master’s son has taken a wife; this, I suppose, is scraped together as a present for her. How unfair a custom! --that those who have the least should always be giving something to the more wealthy! That which the poor wretch has with difficulty spared, ounce by ounce, out of his allowance,[22] defrauding himself of every indulgence, the whole of it will she carry off, without thinking with how much labor it has been acquired. And then besides, Geta will be struck[23] for another present[24] when his mistress is brought to bed; and then again for another {present}, when the child’s birthday comes; when they initiate him,[25] too: all this the mother will carry off; the child will {only} be the pretext for the present. But don’t I see Geta there? SCENE II. _Enter GETA, from the house of DEMIPHO._ GETA (_at the door, to those within._) If any red-haired man should inquire for me-- DAV. (_stepping forward._) Here he is, say no more. GETA (_starting._) Oh! Why I was trying {to come} and meet you, Davus. DAV. (_giving the money to GETA._) Here, take it; it’s {all} ready counted out;[26] the number just amounts to the sum I owed you. GETA. I am obliged to you; and I return you thanks for not having forgotten me. DAV. Especially as people’s ways are nowadays; things are come to such a pass, if a person repays you any thing, you must be greatly obliged to him. But why are you out of spirits? GETA. What, I? You little know what terror and peril I am in. DAV. What’s the matter? GETA. You shall know, if you can only keep it secret. DAV. Out upon you, simpleton; {the man}, whose trustworthiness you have experienced as to money, are you afraid to intrust with words? In what way have I any interest in deceiving you? GETA. Well then, listen. DAV. I give you my best attention. GETA. Davus, do you know Chremes, the elder brother of our old gentleman? DAV. Why should I not? GETA. Well, {and} his son Phædria? DAV. As well as your own self. GETA. It {so} happened to both the old gentlemen, just at the same period, that the one had to take a journey to Lemnos, and our {old man} to Cilicia, to see an old acquaintance; he tempted over the old man by letters, promising {him} all but mountains of gold. DAV. To one who had so much property, that he had more than he could use?