PHORMIO, . 327

penniless. All that he could do was to wait ata
- barber’s shop which happened to be opposite the
music-school where she was receiving lessons, and
accompany her to her owner’s house.. One day, as
he was looking out for her, his cousin Antipho being
with him, a young man of their acquaintance came
up, who had a story so piteous to tell that it moved
him to tears as hespoke. ‘I have just had a proof,”
he said, “ what a terrible thing poverty is. Hard by
here I saw a girl mourning for her mother, who had
just died. The corpse was laid out opposite the door
of the house, and the poor creature had no kinsman,
or friend, or acquaintance with her except one old
woman; a very beautiful girl she was, too.” They
were all touched by the story, and Antipho said at
once, “Shall we go and see her?”—“ Good,” said
Pheedria, “let us go; take us to the house.” They
went, and found that the girl, whose name was Pha-
nium, was certainly beautiful. There was nothing
to set her off; her hair was dishevelled, her feet bare,
her clothing of the meanest. Phzedria, his head full
of the music-girl, said nothing more than, “She is
pretty enough,” but with Antipho it was love at first
sight. The next day he paid another visit. The
girl he did not see, but the old woman, who turned
out to be her nurse, told him that she was a free-
born Athenian, of good family. Antipho at once
made up his mind-to have her for his wife. But
how was it to be managed? He was afraid to do