return like for like; present and absent, he will be the same. This is the duty of a parent, to accustom a son to do what is right rather of his own choice, than through fear of another. In this the father differs from the master: he who can not do this, let him confess that he does not know how to govern children. But is not this the very man of whom I was speaking? Surely it is he. I don’t know why it is I see him out of spirits; I suppose he’ll now be scolding as usual. Demea, I am glad to see you well.[23] SCENE II. _Enter DEMEA._ DEM. Oh,-- opportunely met; you are the very man I was looking for.[24] MIC. Why are you out of spirits? DEM. Do you ask me, when we have {such a son as} Æschinus,[25] why I’m out of spirits? MIC. (_aside._) Did I not say it would be so? (_To DEMEA._) What has he been doing? DEM. What has he been doing? He, who is ashamed of nothing, and fears no one, nor thinks that any law can control him. But I pass by what has been previously done: what a thing he has just perpetrated! MIC. Why, what is it? DEM. He has broken open a door,[26] and forced his way into another person’s house, beaten to death the master himself, and all the household, {and} carried off a wench whom he had a fancy for. All people are exclaiming that it was a most disgraceful proceeding. How many, Micio, told me of this as I was coming here? It is in every body’s mouth. In fine, if an example must be cited, does he not see his brother giving his attention to business, {and} living frugally and soberly in the country? No action of his {is} like this. When I say this to him, Micio, I say it to you. You allow him to be corrupted. MIC. Never is there any thing more unreasonable than a man who wants experience, who thinks nothing right except what he himself has done. DEM. What is the meaning of that? MIC. Because, Demea, you misjudge these matters. It is no heinous crime, believe me, for a young man to intrigue or to drink; it is not; nor yet for him to break open a door. If neither I nor you did so, it was poverty that did not allow us to do {so}. Do you now claim that as a merit to yourself, which you then did from necessity? That is unfair; for if we had had the means to do so, we should have done {the same}. And, if you were a man, you would now suffer that {other son} of yours to act {thus} now, while his age will excuse it, rather than, when he has got you, after long wishing it, out of the way, he should still do {so}, at a future day, {and} at an age more unsuited. DEM. O Jupiter! You, sir, are driving me to distraction. Is it not a heinous thing for a young man to do these things?