_Chr._ Of course all parents are always sorry for their sons’ misconduct. _Pam._ But he has far more cause to be sorry now for his own. _Chr._ You think so? _Pam._ Yes, I do. _Chr._ (_aside_). I must not let my son 260 Know how this old man dotes. If he should think all fathers As soft as poor Menedemus, pretty pranks he’d play me! _Pam._ What were you saying? _Chr._ Ha! I’ll tell you what I was saying; That in any case his duty was to have stayed at home. ’Tis possible that his father was somewhat more severe Than he found pleasant; but still he should have put up with it. For whom sh^d a lad submit to, if not to his own father? Ought his father, tell me, to have fallen in with him, Or he with his father? And then what he is pleased to call A hardship, was nothing of the kind: the so-called severities 270 Of fathers are much of a piece: the least strict do not like To see their sons continually in bad company, Continually drinking: and so they are sparing in what they allow them; For such restrictions, remember, promote good morals. But when a man’s mind has once become the slave Of evil passions, he is driven of necessity from bad to worse. There’s wisdom, Pamphilus, in the saying, _By others’ faults Wise men correct their own._ _Pam._ I think so too. _Chr._ Very well. Then I need say no more. _Pam._ Would not the old man, sir, Be glad to see him back? _Chr._ He would be glad to see him Return from his evil ways to a dutiful course of conduct. 281 _Pam._ I guess he’d let him marry the girl. _Chr._ (_aside_). What shall I say? _Pam._ He would. _Chr._ Nay, Pamphilus: attend to me. No father Would ever give in to his son in a matter of this kind. Learn this lesson: see what shame your friend has brought On his poor old father. No, ’twould never do to yield. I can promise you too that he will not. I should not advise it myself. _Pam._ You don’t know Clinia, sir; and have never seen the girl. You go entirely by what this old Menedemus says. He never saw her himself. _Chr._ (_aside_). That’s true.—And you have seen her? _Pam._ I have. _Chr._ And what is she like? _Pam._ I never saw anything like her. _Chr._ Come, what d’ye mean? _Pam._ I tell you, I know now what she’s like— The statue that stands in the hall: the third on the left. _Chr._ The Grace? An elegant taste. _Pam._ If you were to see her, you’d say the same.