SYR. (_aside._) Strange, indeed! He had the means at home of learning them. DEM. I do every thing I can; I spare no pains; I train him up to it: in fine, I bid him look into the lives of men, as though into a mirror, and from others to take an example for himself. Do this, {I say}---- SYR. Quite right. DEM. Avoid that---- SYR. Very shrewd. DEM. This is praiseworthy---- SYR. That’s the thing. DEM. That is considered blamable---- SYR. Extremely good. DEM. And then, moreover---- SYR. Upon my honor, I have not the leisure to listen to you just at present: I have got some fish just to my taste, {and} must take care they are not spoiled; for that would be as much a crime in me, as for you, Demea, not to observe those maxims which you have just been mentioning; and so far as I can, I lay down precepts for my fellow-servants on the very same plan; “this is {too} salt, that is quite burned up, this is not washed enough, that is {very} well done; remember {and do} so another time.” I carefully instruct them so far as I can to the best of my capacity. In short, Demea, I bid them look into their sauce-pans as though into a mirror,[51] and suggest to them what they ought to do. I am sensible these things are trifling which we do; but what is one to do? According as the man is, so must you humor him. Do you wish any thing else? DEM. That more wisdom may be granted you. SYR. You will be going off into the country, {I suppose}? DEM. Directly. SYR. For what should you do here, where, if you do give any good precepts, no one will regard them? (_Goes into MICIO’S house._) SCENE V. _DEMEA, alone._ DEM. (_to himself._) I certainly will be off, as he on whose account I came hither has gone into the country. I have a care for him: that alone is my own concern, since my brother will have it so; let him look to the other himself. But who is it I see yonder at a distance? Isn’t it Hegio of our tribe?[52] If I see right, i’faith, it is he. Ah, a man I have been friendly with from a child! Good Gods! we certainly have a great dearth of citizens of that stamp nowadays, with the old-fashioned virtue and honesty. Not in a hurry will any misfortune accrue to the public from him. How glad I am to find some remnants of this race even still remaining; now I feel some pleasure in living. I’ll wait here for him, to ask him how he is, and have some conversation with him. SCENE VI. _Enter HEGIO and GETA, conversing, at a distance._ HEG. Oh immortal Gods! a disgraceful action, Geta! What is it you tell me? GETA. Such is the fact. HEG. That so ignoble a deed should come from that family! Oh Æschinus, assuredly you haven’t taken after your father in that! DEM. (_apart._) Why surely, he has heard this about the Music-girl; that gives him concern, {though} a stranger; this father {of his} thinks nothing of it. Ah me! I wish he were somewhere close at hand to overhear this. HEG. Unless they do as they ought to do, they shall not come off so easily.