Part 76 (1/2)
You're our sole friend, our guardian, and our father, The good old Simulus, on his death-bed Bequeath'd us to your care. If you desert us, We are undone indeed.
HEGIO. Ah, name it not!
I will not, and with honesty, I can not.
DEM. I'll go up to him.--Save you, Hegio!
HEGIO. The man I look'd for.--Save you, Demea!
DEM. Your pleasure!
HEGIO. aeschinus, your elder son, Adopted by your brother, has committed A deed unworthy of an honest man, And of a gentleman.
DEM. How so?
HEGIO. You knew Our friend and good acquaintance, Simulus?
DEM. Aye, sure.
HEGIO. He has debauch'd his daughter.
DEM. How!
HEGIO. Hold, Demea, for the worst is still to come.
DEM. Is there aught worse?
HEGIO. Much worse: for this perhaps Might be excus'd. The night, love, wine, and youth, Might prompt him. 'Tis the frailty of our nature.
--Soon as his sense returning made him conscious Of his rash outrage, of his own accord He came to the girl's mother, weeping, praying.
Entreating, vowing constancy, and swearing That he would take her home.--He was forgiven; The thing conceal'd; and his vows credited.
The girl from that encounter prov'd with child: This is the tenth month.--He, good gentleman, Has got a music-girl, Heav'n bless the mark!
With whom he means to live, and quit the other.
DEM. And are you well a.s.sur'd of this?
HEGIO. The mother, The girl, the fact itself, are all before you, Joining to vouch the truth on't. And besides, This Geta here--as servants go, no bad one, Nor given up to idleness--maintains them; The sole support of all the family.
Here take him, bind him, force the truth from him.
GETA. Aye, torture me, if 'tis not so, good Demea!
Nay, aeschinus, I'm sure, will not deny it.
Bring me before him.
DEM. (_aside_). I'm asham'd: and what To do, or what to say to him, I know not.
PAMPHILA (_within_). Ah me! I'm torn in pieces!--Racking pains!
Juno Lucina, help me! save, I pray thee!
HEGIO. Ha! Is she then in labor, Geta?
GETA. Yes, Sir.
HEGIO. Hark! she now calls upon your justice, Demea!