DEMEA. Oh Jupiter! the man will drive me mad. Is it no crime, d'ye say, for a young man To take these courses?
MICIO. Nay, nay; do but hear me, Nor stun me with the self-same thing forever! Your elder son you gave me for adoption: He's mine, then, Demea; and if he offends, 'Tis an offense to me, and I must bear The burden. Does he treat? or drink? or dress? 'Tis at my cost.--Or wench? I will supply him, While 'tis convenient to me; when 'tis not, His mistresses perhaps will shut him out. --Has he broke open doors? we'll make them good. Or torn a coat? it shall be mended. I, Thank Heaven, have enough to do all this, And 'tis as yet not irksome.--In a word, Or cease, or choose some arbiter between us: I'll prove that you are more in fault than I.
DEMEA. Ah, learn to be a father; learn from those Who know what 'tis to be indeed a parent!
MICIO. By nature you're his father, I by counsel.
MICIO. Nay, nay; If you persist, I'm gone.
MICIO. Must I still hear the same thing o'er and o'er?
MICIO. And me it touches too. But, Demea, let us each look to our own; Let me take care of one, and mind you t'other. For to concern yourself with both, appears As if you'd redemand the boy you gave.
DEMEA. Well, well; Let him, if 'tis your pleasure, waste, destroy. And squander; it is no concern of mine. If henceforth I e'er say one word----
DEMEA. You may trust me. Do I demand him back again I gave you? --It hurts me. I am not a stranger to him. --But if I once oppose--Well, well, I've done. You wish I should take care of one. I do Take special care of him; and he, thank Heav'n, Is as I wish he _should_ be: which your ward, I warrant, shall find out one time or other. I will not say aught worse of him at present. (_Exit._
_Harper_ DEMEA. Is it a question, when there's Æschinus To trouble us, what makes me so uneasy? MICIO. I said it would be so.--What has he done? DEMEA. What has he done? a wretch, whom neither ties Of shame, nor fear, nor any law can bind! For not to speak of all his former pranks, What has he been about but even now! MICIO. What has he done? DEMEA. Burst open doors, and forc'd His way into another's house, and beat The master and his family half dead; And carried off a wench whom he was fond of. The whole town cries out shame upon him, Micio. I have been told of it a hundred times Since my arrival. 'Tis the common talk.---- _Colman 1768_ DEMEA. Uneasy? well I may.--The matter, say you? What can the matter be but Æschinus? MICIO. I said it would be so.--What has he done? DEMEA. What has he done! a wretch whom neither fear, Nor modesty, nor any law can bind! For not to speak of all his former pranks, What has he been about but even now! MICIO. What has he done? DEMEA. Burst open doors, and made His way by force into another's house; Half-kill'd the master and his family, And carried off a wench whom he was fond of. All Athens cries out shame upon him for it. I have been told of it a hundred times Since my arrival. 'Tis the town-talk, Micio.