annulled if possible. So when Phormio comes and offers to take the young lady off everybody's hands and marry her himself, if Demipho will give her a dowry of a hundred guineas, Chremes persuades his brother to close with the offer, and even advances great part of the sum: which Phormio hands over to his young friend Phædria for the ransom of his mistress.
Chremes has learned that, while he was on his voyage to Lemnos, his deserted wife has meanwhile come over to Athens in search of him, and brought the daughter with her. He is soon further enlightened upon this subject. As he is crossing the street from his own house to his brother's, he sees a woman coming from it. It is Sophrona, the old nurse of this foreign girl whom his nephew has married, and who is now stowed away somewhere in her unwilling father-in-law's house. The nurse has been there to try to discover what turn affairs are likely to take, now that the old gentleman has come home.
Chremes (looking at her stealthily). Eh! bless me!
Yes—or do my eyes deceive me?
Yes—this is certainly my daughter's nurse!
Sophrona (to herself, not seeing Chremes). And then,
to think' the father can't be found!
Chr. What shall I do? Shall I speak first, or wait
Till I hear more?
Soph. Oh! if we could but find him,
All might go well!
Chr. (coming forward). 'Tis she, no doubt; I'll speak.
