next? There is a certain parasite named Phormio, a bold fellow--curse his impudence! _Da._ What did he do? _Ge._ He gave this precious piece of advice. Says he: "There is a law in Athens that orphan girls shall marry their next of kin, and the same law requires the next of kin to marry them. Now I'll say that you are related to this girl, and will bring suit against you to compel you to marry her. I'll pretend that I am her guardian. We'll go before the judges; who her father was, who her mother, how she is related to you--all this I'll make up on the spur of the moment. You won't attempt any defense and of course I shall win the suit. I'll be in for a row when your father gets back, but what of that? You will be safely married to the girl by that time." _Da._ Well, that _was_ a jolly bluff. _Ge._ So the youth was persuaded, the thing was done, they went to court, our side lost the suit, and Antipho married the girl. _Da._ What's that? _Ge._ Just what I say. _Da._ O Geta, what will become of you? _Ge._ I'll be blessed if I know. I'm sure of one thing, though: whatever happens, I'll bear it with equanimity. _Da._ That's the talk! You've got the spirit of a man! But what about the pedagogue, the little lute-player's young man? How is he getting on? _Ge._ Only so so. _Da._ He hasn't much to pay for her, I suppose? _Ge._ Not a red; only his hopes. _Da._ Has Antipho's father come back yet? _Ge._ No. _Da._ When do you expect him? _Ge._ I'm not sure, but I have just heard that a letter has been received from him down at the custom-house, and I'm going for it now. _Da._ Well, Geta, can I do anything more for you? _Ge._ No. Be good to yourself. Good-by. We see from the foregoing 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 Phædria obtain the money with which to buy his sweetheart? and how shall Antipho's father be reconciled to the marriage so that he may not annul it or disown both the young people upon his return? The two cousins Antipho and Phædria now appear, each envying the seemingly happy lot of the other, and deploring his own. Antipho has already repented of his hasty action, and is panic-stricken when he thinks of the wrath of his father. While Phædria can think only of his friend's good fortune in being married to the girl 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 evidently much disturbed, though the young men 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 comes up to him.