MIC. Upon my word I believe it, for I know your ingenuous disposition: but I am afraid that you are too inconsiderate. In what city, pray, do you suppose you live? You have debauched a virgin, whom it was not lawful for you to touch. In the first place then that was a great offense; great, but still natural. Others, and even men of worth, have frequently done the same. But after it happened, pray, did you show any circumspection? Or did you use any foresight as to what was to be done, {or} how it was to be done? If you were ashamed to tell me of it, by what means was I to come to know it? While you were at a loss upon these points, ten months have been lost. So far indeed as lay in your power, you have periled both yourself {and} this poor {girl}, and the child. What did you imagine-- that the Gods would set these matters to rights for you while you were asleep, and that she would be brought home to your chamber without any exertions of your own? I would not have you to be equally negligent in other affairs. Be of good heart, you shall have her for your wife. ÆSCH. Hah! MIC. Be of good heart, I tell you. ÆSCH. Father, are you now jesting with me, pray? MIC. I, {jesting} with you! For what reason? ÆSCH. 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. ÆSCH. What! have my wife now? MIC. Now. ÆSCH. Now? MIC. Now, as soon as possible. ÆSCH. May all the Gods detest me, father, if I do not love you better than even my very eyes! MIC. What! {better} than her? ÆSCH. Quite as well. MIC. Very kind of you! ÆSCH. Well, where is this Milesian? MIC. Departed, vanished, gone on board ship; but why do you delay? ÆSCH. 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. _ÆSCHINUS alone._ ÆSCH. 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.