yourself up {in it}; no one
accuses you, Syrus, nor need you look out for an altar,[100] or for an
intercessor for yourself.

SYR. What is your design?

CHREM. I am not at all angry either with you (_to SYRUS_), or with you
(_to CLITIPHO_); nor is it fair that you {should be so} with me for
what I am doing. (_He goes into his house._)

SYR. He's gone. I wish I had asked him----

CLIT. What, Syrus?

SYR. Where I am to get my subsistence; he has so utterly cast us
adrift. You are to have it, for the present, at your sister's, I find.

CLIT. Has it then come to this pass, Syrus-- that I am to be in danger
even of starving?

SYR. So we only live, there's hope----

CLIT. What {hope}?

SYR. That we shall be hungry enough.

CLIT. Do you jest in a matter so serious, and not give me any
assistance with your advice?

SYR. On the contrary, I'm both now thinking of that, and have been
about it all the time your father was speaking just now; and so far as
I can perceive----

CLIT. What?

SYR. It will not be wanting long. (_He meditates._)

CLIT. What is it, then?

SYR. It is this-- I think that you are not their {son}.

CLIT. How's that, Syrus? Are you quite in your senses?

SYR. I'll tell you what's {come} into my mind; be you the judge. While
they had you alone, while they had no other source of joy more nearly
to affect them, they indulged you, they lavished upon you. Now a
daughter has been found, a pretense has been found in fact on which to
turn you adrift.

CLIT. It's very probable.

SYR. Do you suppose that he is so angry on account of this fault?

CLIT. I do not think {so}.

SYR. Now consider another thing. All mothers are wont to be advocates
for their sons when in fault, {and} to aid them against a father's
severity; 'tis not so {here}.

CLIT. You say true; what then shall I now do, Syrus?

SYR. Question them on this suspicion; mention the matter without
reserve; either, if it is not true, you'll soon bring them both to
compassion, or else you'll {soon} find out whose son you are.

CLIT. You give good advice; I'll do so. (_He goes into the home of
CHREMES._)

SYR. (_to himself._) Most fortunately did this come into my mind. For
the less hope the young man entertains, the greater the difficulty
with which he'll bring his father to his own terms. I'm not sure even,
that he may not take a wife, and {then} no thanks for Syrus. But what
is this? The old man's coming out of doors; I'll be off.