ents
Were full sufficient: But you now must say,
If you'd save me, my fortune, and my son,
That I have settled all I have upon her.

MENE. What mean you?

CHREM. Counterfeit amazement too,
And question Clitipho my reason for it.

MENE. Nay, but I really do not know your reason.

CHREM. My reason for it?--That his wanton mind,
Now flush'd with lux'ry and lasciviousness,
I may o'erwhelm: and bring him down so low,
He may not know which way to turn himself.

MENE. What are you at?

CHREM. Allow me! let me have
My own way in this business.

MENE. I allow you.
Is it your pleasure?

CHREM. It is.

MENE. Be it so.

CHREM. Come then, let Clinia haste to call the bride.
And for this son of mine, he shall be school'd,
As children ought.--But Syrus!

MENE. What of him?

CHREM. What! I'll so handle him, so curry him,
That while he lives he shall remember me. (_Exit MENEDEMUS._
What, make a jest of me? a laughing-stock?
Now, afore Heav'n, he would not dare to treat
A poor lone widow as he treated me.

[Changes:

_Harper_
MENE. The very same thing I was thinking of.
_Colman 1768_
MENE. The very thing that I was thinking of.

CHREM. What is there more that he can counterfeit?
_Harper edition reads "more than he"_

Fool, fool! But by my life I'll be reveng'd:
_the 1896 Harper printing has "I'll he". Everywhere else,
the 1859 and 1896 printings appear to be made from the same
plates_]

SCENE III.

_Re-enter MENEDEMUS, with CLITIPHO and SYRUS._

CLIT. And can it, Menedemus, can it be,
My father has so suddenly cast off
All natural affection? for what act?
What crime, alas! so heinous have I done?
It is a common failing.

MENE. This I know,
Should be more heavy and severe to you
On whom it falls: and yet am I no less
Affected by it, though I know not why,
And have no other reason for my grief,
But that I wish you well.

CLIT. Did not you say
My father waited here?

MENE. Aye; there he is. (_Exit MENEDEMUS._

CHREM. Why d'ye accuse your father, Clitipho?
Whate'er I've done, was providently done
Tow'rd you and your imprudence. When I saw
Your negligence of soul, and that you held
The pleasures of to-day your only care,
Regardless of the morrow; I found means
That you should neither want, nor waste my substance.
When you, whom fair succession first made heir,
Stood self-degraded by unworthiness,
I went to those the next in blood to you,
Committing and consig