Lucius Seneca - Yale Required Reading - Collected Works (Vol. 2)

Ctes. Pray do so. Since this has turned out so well, let us make a cheerful day of it.

Ctesipho goes into the house of Micio ; and exeunt Æschinus and Syrus , followed by Sannio .

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Enter Sostrata and Canthara , from the house of the former.

Sos. Prithee, my dear nurse, how is it like to end?

Can. Like to end, do you ask? I’troth, right well, I trust.

Sos. Her pains are just beginning, my dear.

Can. You are in a fright now, just as though you had never been present on such an occasion —never been in labor yourself.

Sos. Unfortunate woman that I am! I have not a person at home ; we are quite alone; Geta too is absent. I have no one to go for the midwife, or to fetch Æschinus.

Can. I’faith, he’ll certainly be here just now, for he never lets a day pass without visiting us.

Sos. He is my sole comfort in my afflictions.

Can. Things could not have happened, mistress, more for the advantage of your daughter than they have, seeing that violence was offered her; so far as he is concerned, it is most lucky,—such a person, of such disposition and feelings, a member of so respectable a family.

Sos. It is indeed as you say; I entreat the Gods that he may be preserved to us.

They stand apart, on seeing Geta .

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Enter Geta , on the other side of the stage.

Geta ( to himself. ) Now such is our condition , that if all were to combine all their counsels, and to seek a remedy for this mischief that has befallen myself, my mistress, and her daughter, they could find no relief. Oh wretched me! so many calamities beset us on a sudden, we can not possibly extricate ourselves. Violence, poverty, oppression, desertion, infamy! What an age is this! O shocking villainy! O accursed race! O impious man!—

Sos. Unhappy me! How is it that I see Geta hurrying along thus terrified?

Geta ( continuing. ) Whom neither promises, nor oaths, nor compassion could move or soften; nor yet the fact that the delivery was nigh at hand of the unfortunate woman on whom he had so shamefully committed violence.

Sos. ( apart to Canthara. ) I don’t well understand what he is talking about.

Can. Pray, let us go nearer to him, Sostrata.

Geta ( continuing. ) Ah wretched me! I am scarcely master of my senses, I am so inflamed with anger. There is nothing that I would like better than for all that family to be thrown in my way, that I might give vent to all my wrath upon them while this wound is still fresh. I could be content with any punishment, so I might only wreak my vengeance on them. First, I would stop the breath of the old fellow himself who gave being to this monster; then as for his prompter, Syrus, out upon him! how I would tear him piecemeal! I would snatch him by the middle up aloft, and dash him head downward upon the earth, so that with his brains he would bestrew the road: I would pull out the eyes of the young fellow himself, and afterward hurl him headlong over some precipice . The others I would rush upon, drive, drag, crush, and trample them under foot . But why do I delay at once to acquaint my mistress with this calamity? ( Moves as if going. )

Sos. ( to Canthara. ) Let us call him back. Geta——

Geta . Well—leave me alone, 47whoever you are.

Sos. ’Tis I,—Sostrata.

Geta ( turning round. ) Why, where are you? You are the very person I am looking for. I was in quest of you; it’s very fortunate you have met me.

Sos. What’s the matter? Why are you trembling?

Geta . Alas! Alas!

Sos. My dear Geta, why in such haste? Do take breath.

Geta . Quite—( pauses. )

Sos. Why, what means this “quite”?

Geta . Undone—It’s all over with us.

Sos. Say, then, I entreat you, what is the matter.

Geta . Now——

Sos. What “now,” Geta?

Geta . Æschinus——

Sos. What about him?

Geta . Has abandoned our family.

Sos. Then I am undone! Why so?

Geta . He has attached himself to another woman.

Sos. Woe unto wretched me!

Geta . And he makes no secret of it; he himself has carried her off openly from a procurer.

Sos. Are you quite sure of this?

Geta . Quite sure; I saw it myself, Sostrata, with these same eyes.

Sos. Ah wretched me! What is one now to believe, or whom believe? Our own Æschinus, the very life of us all, in whom all our hopes and comforts were centred! Who used to swear he could never live a single day without her! Who used to say, that he would place the infant on his father’s knees, 48 and thus entreat that he might be allowed to make her his wife!

Geta . Dear mistress, forbear weeping, and rather consider what must be done for the future in this matter. Shall we submit to it, or shall we tell it to any person?

Can. Pooh, pooh! are you in your senses, my good man? Does this seem to you a business to be made known to any one?

Geta . I, indeed, have no wish for it. In the first place, then, that his feelings are estranged from us, the thing itself declares. Now, if we make this known, he’ll deny it, I’m quite sure; your reputation and your daughter’s character will then be in danger. On the other hand, if he were fully to confess it, as he is in love with another woman, it would not be to her advantage to be given to him. Therefore, under either circumstance, there is need of silence.

Sos. Oh! by no means in the world! I’ll not do it.

Geta . What is it you say?

Sos. I’ll make it known.

Geta . Ha, my dear Sostrata, take care what you do!

Sos. The matter can not possibly be in a worse position than it is at present. In the first place, she has no portion; then, besides, that which was as good as a portion, her honor , is lost: she can not be given in marriage as a virgin. This resource is left; if he should deny it, I have a ring which he lost as evidence of the truth . In fine, Geta, as I am fully conscious that no blame attaches to me, and that neither interest nor any consideration unworthy of her or of myself has had a share in this matter, I will make trial——

Geta . What am I to say to this? I agree, as you speak for the best.

Sos. You be off as fast as possible, and relate all the matter just as it has happened to her kinsman Hegio; for he was the best friend of our lamented Simulus, and has shown especial regard for us.

Geta . ( aside. ) Aye, faith, because nobody else takes any notice of us .

Sos. Do you, my dear Canthara, run with all haste, and fetch the midwife, so that, when she is wanted, we may not have to wait for her.

Sostrata goes into the house, and exit Geta and Canthara .

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Enter Demea .

Dem. ( to himself. ) Utterly undone! I hear that Ctesipho was with Æschinus at the carrying off of this girl . This sorrow still remains for unhappy me, should Æschinus be able to seduce him, even him, who promises so fair, to a course of debauchery. Where am I to inquire for him? I doubt he has been carried off to some bad house; that profligate has persuaded him, I’m quite sure. But look—I see Syrus coming this way , I shall now know from him where he is. But, i’faith, he is one of the gang; if he perceives that I am looking for him, the rascal will never tell me. I’ll not let him know what I want.