_Chr._ You and your Persian customs be hanged, sir; and I believe You’re more than half to blame for all the impertinence I have suffered to-day. _Ph._ I am, sir; I came to make the confession; But if you know it already, why do you spite your son? I have been your guest to-day, & if I have overstrained The liberty of the feast, I am ready in turn to pay The penalty. In the name of Bacchus, disown and cast off me, Disinherit me if you will. But him, your flesh & blood, Pity and forgive. _Men._ Yes, Chremes. _ANTIPHILA._ O father, do give in! _Chr._ Now that’s the first time, lass, you have called me father. I see 1550 I shall have to yield. _Ant._ O thank you. _Chr._ Stay. If I do give in, ’Tis only on two conditions. _Men._ I’ll answer for Pamphilus, That he’ll accept them: what are they? _Chr._ First, my forty pounds; To get that back from Gorgo. _Pam._ I can’t do that. _Chr._ You can’t? _Men._ You spent that money, Chremes, advanced it rather for me, Thinking to do me a service. I’ll ask you let it be me Who does it for you. I’ll gladly pay it: it is not lost. Consider this condition fulfilled. _Chr._ You are kinder far To my boy than he has deserved. _Men._ And what is the other matter? _Chr._ This. He must marry. _Pam._ Father! _Chr._ I will not hear a word. 1560 _Men._ I’ll vouch for him that he will do it. _Chr._ He does not say so himself. _Pam._ No use,—impossible. _Sost._ Can you hesitate, Pamphilus? _Chr._ Nay, let him do as he likes. _Men._ He’ll do it—everything. _Sost._ This must seem strange at first & disagreeable, Before you have even thought of it. When you know more of it, You’ll like it. _Pam._ I will, father. _Chr._ Good! son: for though a wife Is an evil, she is a necessary evil, and one to which You will get accustomed in time. ’Tis more respectable too To be married; and the only cure for a temper such as yours. _Sost._ I’ll help you choose, my dear Pamphilus; I know who— 1570 That clever, charming girl, whom you’ll be in love with directly; The orphan niece of our old neighbour, Phanocrates. _Pam._ What, not that red-haired thing, with a mouth from ear to ear, And a little knob of a nose. I couldn’t. _Chr._ Why, only see How nice he has grown: it’s plain he means what he says now.