University of Virginia Library

SCENE IX.

Enter MENEDEMUS.
Mene.
to himself.]
Oh son, how happy hast thou made thy father,
Convinc'd of thy repentance!

Chremes,
overhearing.]
How mistaken!

Mene.
Chremes! I wish'd for you.—'Tis in your power,
And I beseech you do it, to preserve
My son, myself, and family.

Chremes.
I'll do't.
Wherein can I oblige you?

Mene.
You to-day
Have found a daughter.

Chremes.
True. What then?

Mene.
My Clinia
Begs your consent to marry her.

Chremes.
Good heaven!
What kind of man are you?

Mene.
What mean you, Chremes?

Chremes.
Has it then slipt your memory so soon,
The conversation that we had together,
Touching the rogueries they should devise,
To trick you of your money?

Mene.
I remember.

Chremes.
This is the trick.

Mene.
How, Chremes? I'm deceiv'd.
'Tis as you say. From what a pleasing hope
Have I then fall'n!

Chremes.
And she, I warrant you,
Now at your house, is my son's mistress? Eh!

Mene.
So they say.

Chremes.
What! and you believ'd it?

Mene.
All.

Chremes.
—And they say too he wants to marry her;
That soon as I've consented, you may give him
Money to furnish him with jewels, cloaths,
And other necessaries.

Mene.
Ay, 'tis so:
The money's for his mistress.

Chremes.
To be sure.

Mene.
Alas, my transports are all groundless then.
—Yet I would rather bear with any thing,
Than lose my son again.—What answer, Chremes,
Shall I return with, that he mayn't perceive
I've found him out, and take offence?

Chremes.
Offence!
You're too indulgent to him, Menedemus!

Mene.
Allow me. I've begun, and must go through.
Do but continue to assist me.

Chremes.
Say,
That we have met, and treated of the match.

Mene.
Well; and what else?

Chremes.
That I give full consent;
That I approve my son-in-law;—In short,
You may assure him also, if you please,
That I've betroth'd my daughter to him.

Mene.
Good!
The thing I wanted.

Chremes.
So shall he the sooner
Demand the money; you, as you desire,
The sooner give.

Mene.
'Tis my desire indeed.

Chremes.
'Troth, friend, as far as I can judge of this,
You'll soon be weary of your son again.
But as the case now stands, give cautiously,
A little at a time, if you are wise.

Mene.
I will.

Chremes.
Go in, and see what he demands.
If you shou'd want me, I'm at home.

Mene.
'Tis well.
For I shall let you know, do what I will.

[Exeunt severally.