THE BROTHERS, 309.

but.of good family, in order, as it appeared, to
marry this singing-woman. A friend and kinsman:
of her ‘father, Hegio by name, had taken up. her
cause, and appealed to Demea to help him.. Demea,
now doubly indignant, at once ‘set about finding. his
brother. This, much to his annoyance, he was
unable to“do.: He searched for him all over. the
town, but to no purpose; and while he was so
engaged, he happened to come across a man from
the farm, and heard from him that his son had not
been there. . His wanderings brought. him back to
the point from which he had started, — his brother’s
house ; and he had no choice but to ask the help of
“that scoundrel. Syrus,” as he called him. “My
good fellow,” said he, “is my brother at home?”

Sy. “Good fellow indeed! I am pretty nearly
killed.” ihe g

De. “What is the matter?”

Sy. “That Ctesipho of yours nearly beat me
to death.” eS

‘De. “What do you say?”

Sy. “See there, how he cut my lip!”

De. “Why did he do it?”

Sy. “Because I was the cause, he said, of the
singing-girl having been bought.”

De. “But didn’t you say that he had gone out to
the farrn?”

Sy. “So he did; but he came back in a fury.
He wasn’t ashamed to beat an old man who dandled
him when he was only so big.”