Perde 4
[Textpart 3]
He’ll have to give satisfaction at law, you say, if he turns her out? That has been already inquired into: aye, aye, you’ll have enough to do, if you engage with him; he is so eloquent.
GETA
But suppose he’s beaten; still, however, it’s not his life, but his money that’s at stake. After I found that the fellow was influenced by these words, I said: We are now by ourselves here; come now, what should you like to be given you, money down, to drop this suit with my master,
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so that she may betake herself off, and you annoy us no more?
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ANTIPHO
Are the Gods quite on good terms with him?Good terms with him: Meaning, Is he in his senses or not?
GETA
For I’m quite sure, if you were to mention any thing that’s fair and reasonable, as he is a reasonable man, you’ll not have to bandy three words with him.
DEMIPHO
Who ordered you to say so?
CHREMES
Nay, he could not have more happily contrived to bring about what we want.
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CHREMES
Go on with your story.
GETA
At first the fellow raved.
DEMIPHO
Say, what did he ask?
GETA
What? A great deal too much.
CHREMES
How much? Tell me.
GETA
Suppose he were to give a great talent.
DEMIPHO
Aye, faith, perdition to him rather; has he no shame?
GETA
Just what I said to him: Pray, said I, suppose he was portioning an only daughter of his own. It has been of little benefit that he hasn’t one of his own, when another has been found to be demanding a fortune. To be brief, and to pass over his impertinences, this at last was his final answer:
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I, said he, from the very first, have been desirous to marry the daughter of my friend, as was fit I should; for I was aware of the ill results of this, a poor wife being married into a rich family, and becoming a slave. But, as I am now conversing with you unreservedly,
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I was in want of a wife to bring me a little money with which to pay off my debts; and even yet, if Demipho is willing to give as much as I am to receive with her to whom I am engaged, there is no one whom I should better like for a wife.
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ANTIPHO
Whether to say he’s doing this through folly or mischief,
through stupidity or design, I’m in doubt.
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