. Father, are you now jesting with me, pray?

MIC. I, {jesting} with you! For what reason?

AESCH. I don't know; but so anxiously do I wish this to be true, that I
am the more afraid it may not be.

MIC. Go home, and pray to the Gods that you may have your wife; be
off.

AESCH. What! have my wife now?

MIC. Now.

AESCH. Now?

MIC. Now, as soon as possible.

AESCH. May all the Gods detest me, father, if I do not love you better
than even my very eyes!

MIC. What! {better} than her?

AESCH. Quite as well.

MIC. Very kind of you!

AESCH. Well, where is this Milesian?

MIC. Departed, vanished, gone on board ship; but why do you delay?

AESCH. Father, do you rather go and pray to the Gods; for I know, for
certain, that they will rather be propitious to you,[78] as being a
much better man than I {am}.

MIC. I'll go in-doors, that what is requisite may be prepared. You do
as I said, if you are wise. (_Goes into his house._)

SCENE VII.

_AESCHINUS alone._

AESCH. What can be the meaning of this? Is this being a father, or this
being a son? If he had been a brother or {familiar} companion, how
could he have been more complaisant! Is he not worthy to be beloved?
Is he not to be imprinted in my very bosom? Well then, the more does
he impose an obligation on me by his kindness, to take due precaution
not inconsiderately to do any thing that he may not wish. But why do I
delay going in-doors this instant, that I may not myself delay my own
nuptials? (_Goes into the house of MICIO._)

SCENE VIII.

_Enter DEMEA._

I am quite tired with walking: May the great Jupiter confound you,
Syrus, together with your directions! I have crawled the whole city
over; to the gate, to the pond-- where not? There was no joiner's shop
there; not a soul could say he had seen my brother; but now I'm
determined to sit and wait at his house till he returns.

SCENE IX.

_Enter MICIO from his house._

MIC. (_speaking to the people within._) I'll go and tell them there's
no delay on our part.

DEM. But see here's the very man: O Micio, I have been seeking you
this long time.

MIC. Why, what's the matter?

DEM. I'm bringing you some new and great enormities of that hopeful
youth.

MIC. Just look at that!

DEM. Fresh ones, of blackest dye.

MIC. There now-- at it again.

DEM. Ah, {Micio}! you little know what sort of person he is.

MIC. I do.

DEM. O simpleton! you are dreaming that I'm talking about