The Brothers :: :: University of Virginia Library

Enter MICIO.
Ho, Storax! —Æschinus did not return
Last night from supper; no, nor any one
Of all the slaves, who went to see for him.
—'Tis commonly,—and oh how truly!—said,
If you are absent, or delay, 'twere best
That should befal you, which your wife denounces,
Or which in anger she calls down upon you,
Than that which kindest parents fear.—Your wife,
If you delay, or thinks that you're in love,
Or lov'd, or drink, or entertain yourself,
Taking your pleasure, while she pines at home.
—And what a world of fears possess me now!

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How anxious that my son is not return'd;
Lest he take cold, or fall, or break a limb!
—Gods, that a man should suffer any one
To wind himself so close about his heart,
As to grow dearer to him than himself!
And yet he is not my son, but my brother's,
Whose bent of mind is wholly different.
I, from youth upward even to this day,
Have led a quiet, and serene, town-life;
And, as some reckon fortunate, ne'er married.
He, in all points the opposite of this,
Has past his days entirely in the country
With thrift, and labour; married; had two sons.
The elder boy is by adoption mine;
I've brought him up; kept; lov'd him as my own;
Made him my joy, and all my soul holds dear,
Striving to make myself as dear to him.
I give, o'erlook, nor think it requisite
That all his deeds should be controul'd by me,
Giving him scope to act as of himself;
So that the pranks of youth, which other children
Hide from their fathers, I have us'd my son
Not to conceal from me. For whosoe'er
Hath won upon himself to play the false one,

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And practise impositions on a father,
Will do the same with less remorse to others;
And 'tis, in my opinion, better far
To bind your children to you by the ties
Of gentleness and modesty, than fear.
And yet my brother don't accord in this,
Nor do these notions, nor this conduct please him.
Oft he comes open-mouth'd—Why how now, Micio?
Why do you ruin this young lad of our's?
Why does he wench? why drink? and why do you
Allow him money to afford all this?
You let him dress too fine. 'Tis idle in you.
—'Tis hard in him, unjust, and out of reason.
And he, I think, deceives himself indeed,
Who fancies that authority more firm
Founded on force, than what is built on friendship;
For thus I reason, thus persuade myself:
He who performs his duty, driven to't
By fear of punishment, while he believes

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His actions are observ'd, so long he's wary;
But if he hopes for secrecy, returns
To his own ways again: But he whom kindness,
Him also inclination makes your own:
He burns to make a due return, and acts,
Present or absent, evermore the same.
'Tis this then is the duty of a father.
To make a son embrace a life of virtue,
Rather from choice, than terror or constraint.
Here lies the mighty difference between
A father and a master. He who knows not
How to do this, let him confess he knows not
How to rule children.—But is this the man,
Whom I was speaking of? Yes, yes, 'tis he.
He seems uneasy too, I know not why,
And I suppose, as usual, comes to wrangle.

Storax! non rediit has nocte a cœnâ Æschinus. Some consider Micio as asking a question in these words, but they are mistaken. He calls Storax; and finding he does not answer, concludes that neither Æschinus, nor any of his servants are come home. Donatus.

Qui advorsum ierant. The servants, who went to meet their masters, and defend them home, were called Adversitores. Donatus.

These sentiments are adopted by Ben Jonson in his Every Man in his Humour, where they are put into the mouth of old Knowell.

There is a way of winning more by love,
And urging of the modesty, than fear:

Force works on servile natures, not the free.
He that's compell'd to goodness, may be good;
But 'tis but for that fit: where others, drawn
By softness and example, get a habit.
Then if they stray, but warn them; and the same
They shou'd for virtue have done, they'll do for shame.

There are several fine passages in this speech, and good observations on human life; yet it is too long a soliloquy. Cooke.