form their children, so they prove.
_Harper text reads "as fathers from"

_Harper_
DEM. But now we're speaking of him, have you seen
The lad to-day?
SYRUS. Your son d'ye mean?--I'll drive him
Into the country. --He is hard at work
Upon your grounds by this time.
DEM. Are you sure on't?
_Colman 1768_
DEM. But, prithee, have you seen the lad to-day?
SYRUS. Your son, d'ye mean?--I'll drive him out of town.
He's hard at work upon your grounds by this time.
DEM. Ay? Are you sure he's gone into the country?]

_Harper_
Do you commit these crimes? and do you bring
Such a disgrace upon our family?
_Colman 1768_
These your persuits? enormities like these?
Oh shame! oh scandal to our family!

_Harper_
Is commendable.
_Colman 1768_
Is highly commendable.]

SCENE V.

_DEMEA alone._

I then will hence, since he, on whose account
I hither came, is gone into the country.
_He_ is my only care, _He's_ my concern.
My brother, since he needs will have it so,
May look to AEschinus himself.----But who
Is coming yonder? Hegio, of our tribe?
If I see plainly, beyond doubt 'tis he.
Ah, we've been old acquaintance quite from boys;
And such men nowadays are wondrous scarce.
A citizen of ancient faith and virtue!
The commonwealth will ne'er reap harm from him.
How I rejoice to see but the remains
Of this old stock! Ah, life's a pleasure now.
I'll wait, that I may ask about his health,
And have a little conversation with him.

SCENE VI.

_Enter HEGIO, GETA conversing at a distance._

HEGIO. Good Heaven! a most unworthy action, Geta!

GETA. Ev'n so.

HEGIO. A deed so base
Sprung from that family?--Oh AEschinus,
I'm sure this was not acting like your father.

DEM. (_behind._) So! he has heard about this Music-Girl,
And is affected at it, though a stranger,
While his good father truly thinks it nothing.
Oh monstrous! would that he were somewhere nigh,
And heard all this!

HEGIO. Unless they do what's just,
They shall not carry off the matter thus.

GETA. Our only hope is in you, Hegio.
You're our sole friend, our guardian, and our father,
The good old Simulus, on his death-bed
Bequeath'd us to your care. If you desert us,
We are undone indeed.

HEGIO. Ah, name it not!
I will not, and with honesty, I can not.

DEM. I'll go up to him.--Save you, Hegio!

HEGIO. The man I look'd for.--Save you, Demea!

DEM. Your pleasure!

H