pon me. He shall do't.

CHREM. But I don't hear a word of it from him.

CLIT. Confusion!

SOSTRA. Do you doubt then, Clitipho?

CHREM. Nay, which he pleases.

MENE. He'll obey in all;
Whate'er you'd have him.

SOSTRA. This at first is grievous,
While you don't know it; when you know it, easy.

CLIT. I'm all obedience, father!

SOSTRA. Oh my son,
I'll give you a sweet wife, that you'll adore,
Phanocrata's, our neighbor's daughter.

CLIT. Her!
That red-hair'd, blear-eyed, wide-mouth'd, hook-nos'd wench?
I can not, father.

CHREM. Oh, how nice he is!
Would any one imagine it?

SOSTRA. I'll get you
Another then.

CLIT. Well, well; since I must marry,
I know one pretty near my mind.

SOSTRA. Good boy!

CLIT. The daughter of Archonides, our neighbor.

SOSTRA. Well chosen!

CLIT. One thing, father, still remains.

CHREM. What?

CLIT. That you'd grant poor Syrus a full pardon
For all that he hath done on my account.

CHREM. Be it so.-- (_To the Audience._) Farewell Sirs, and clap your
hands!

* * * * *
* * * *

THE BROTHERS.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

PROLOGUE.
DEMEA.
MICIO.
AESCHINUS.
CTESIPHO.
HEGIO.
SANNIO.
GETA.
SYRUS.
GETA.
DROMO.
PARMENO, _other Servants, etc._

SOSTRATA.
CANTHARA.
MUSIC-GIRL, _and other Mutes._

SCENE, ATHENS.

PROLOGUE.

The Bard perceiving his piece cavil'd at
By partial critics, and his adversaries
Misrepresenting what we're now to play,
Pleads his own cause: and you shall be the judges,
Whether he merits praise or condemnation.
The _Synapothnescontes_ is a piece
By Diphilus, a comedy which Plautus,
Having translated, call'd COMMORIENTES.
In the beginning of the Grecian play
There is a youth, who rends a girl perforce
From a procurer: and this incident,
Untouch'd by Plautus, render'd word for word,
Has our bard interwoven with his _Brothers_;
The new piece which we represent to-day.
Say then if this be theft, or honest use
Of what remain'd unoccupied.--For that
Which malice tells, that certain noble persons
Assist the Bard, and write in concert with him;
That which they deem a heavy slander, He
Esteems his greatest praise: that he can please
Those who please you, who all the people please;
Those who in war, in peace, in counsel, ever
Have render'd you the dearest services,
And ever borne their faculties so meekly.
Expect not now t