328 APOLLODORUS.

such a thing in his father’s’ absence, and. yet ‘he
knew perfectly well that, were his. father:at home,
he would never consent, for the-girl of course -had not

a penny. of dowry. He confided his difficulty to-an

-acquaintance, Phormio:by name, a man without either
occupation or means, who contrived to pick up a
living: by -his’ wits... Phormio‘at’.once: contrived .an
audacious scheme. ..““The law directs,” he told An-
tipho, “that ‘when -a. citizen -dies, leaving an orphan
daughter, the next.of kin must marry: her, or provide
her with a dowry.- I will pretend to<be-a friend of |
her father, and-will bring a suit. against you. We
will go into court. - There‘I will invent.a name for
her father, a name for -her mother, and her ‘elation:
ship to you. Of course you will offer no defence; and
I shall win the suit.” -This was actually done; the
suit was brought, Antipho -was ordered by the court
to -marry the. girl, and, as may oe ee —
obeyed. © | ~ ~

. From what has bea said, it will ihe evident that both
the young men were. in no small trouble; Phzedria
was afraid that his lady-love might be sold before he
could find the money, of which indeed he saw. little
prospect; Antipho dreaded his father’s return. - The
two were discussing the situation, when Geta, a con-
fidential slave in whose charge the young men had
been left, made his. appearance in a state of great
agitation. “ Yourfather has arrived,” he cried, when
he caught sight of. Antipho; “I saw him at the har-