 | The Brothers |  |
SCENE XIV.
Enter MICIO from Sostrata.Micio,
to Sostrata within.]
All is prepar'd: and we are ready, Sostrata,
As I've already told you, when you please.
[comes forward.
But who's this forces open our street-door
With so much violence?
Dem.
Confusion! death!
What shall I do? or how resolve? where vent
My cries and exclamations?—Heav'n! Earth! Sea!
Micio,
behind.]
So! all's discover'd: that's the thing he raves at.
—Now for a quarrel!— I must help the boy.
Dem.
seeing him.]
Oh, there's the grand corrupter of our children!
Micio.
Appease your wrath, and be yourself again!
Dem.
Well, I've appeas'd it; I'm myself again;
I spare reproaches; let us to the point!
It was agreed between us, and it was
Your own proposal too, that you shou'd never
Concern yourself with Ctesipho, nor I
With Æschinus. Say, was't not so?
Micio.
It was:
Dem.
Why does Ctesipho
Revel with you then? Why do you receive him?
Buy him a mistress, Micio?—Is not justice
My due from you, as well as your's from me?
Since I do not concern myself with your's,
Meddle not you with mine!
Micio.
This is not fair;
Indeed it is not. Think on the old saying,
“All things are common among friends.”
Dem.
How smart!
Put off with quips and sentences at last?
Micio.
Nay, hear me, if you can have patience, Demea.
—First, if you're griev'd at their extravagance,
Let this reflexion calm you! Formerly,
You bred them both according to your fortune,
Supposing it sufficient for them both:
Then too you thought that I shou'd take a wife.
Still follow the old rule you then laid down:
Hoard, scrape, and save; do ev'ry thing you can
To leave them nobly! Be that glory your's.
My fortune, fall'n beyond their hopes upon them,
Let them use freely! As your capital
Will not be wasted, what addition comes
Weighing all this impartially, you'll spare
Yourself, and me, and them, a world of trouble.
Dem.
Money is not the thing: their morals—
Micio.
Hold!
I understand; and meant to speak of that.
There are in nature sundry marks, good Demea,
By which you may conjecture easily,
That when two persons do the self-same thing,
It oftentimes falls out, that in the one
'Tis criminal, in t'other 'tis not so:
Not that the thing itself is different,
But he who does it.—In these youths I see
The marks of virtue; and, I trust, they'll prove
Such as we wish them. They have sense, I know;
Attention; in its season, liberal shame;
And fondness for each other; all sure signs
Of an ingenuous mind and noble nature:
And tho' they stray, you may at any time
Reclaim them.—But perhaps you fear, they'll prove
Oh my dear Demea, in all matters else
Increase of years increases wisdom in us:
This only vice age brings along with it;
“We're all more worldly-minded, than there's need:”
Which passion age, that kills all passions else,
Will ripen in your sons too.
Dem.
Have a care
That these fine arguments, and this great mildness
Don't prove the ruin of us, Micio!
Micio.
Peace!
It shall not be: away with all your fears!
This day be rul'd by me: come, smooth your brow.
Dem.
Well, since at present things are so, I must.
But then I'll to the country with my son
To-morrow, at first peep of day.
Micio.
At midnight,
So you'll but smile to-day.
Dem.
And that wench too
I'll drag away with me.
Micio.
Ay; there you've hit it.
For by that means you'll keep your son at home;
Do but secure her.
Dem.
I'll see that: for there
And make her full of ashes, smoak, and meal:
Nay at high noon too she shall gather stubble.
I'll burn her up, and make her black as coal.
Micio.
Right! now you're wise.—And then I'd make my son
Go to bed to her, tho' against his will.
Dem.
D'ye laugh at me? how happy in your temper!
I feel—
Micio.
Ah! that again?
Dem.
I've done.
Micio.
In then!
And let us suit our humour to the time.
[Exeunt.
I forgot to observe before, that in Athens the street-doors were made to open outwards; so that when any one was coming out, the noise of the door (which is often mentioned in these comedies) served to give notice to those in the street, that they might escape being hurt, and make way for the opening of the door. Dacier.
The character of Micio appears extremely amiable through the four first acts of this comedy, and his behaviour is in many respects worthy imitation. But his conduct in conniving at the irregularities of Ctesipho, and even assisting him to support them, is certainly reprehensible. Perhaps the Poet threw this shade over his virtues, on purpose to shew that mildness and good-humour might be carried to an excess.
Madam Dacier makes an observation on this speech something like that of Donatus on one of Micio's above; and says that Micio, being hard put to it by the real circumstances of the case, thinks to confound Demea by a nonsensical galimatia. I cannot be of the ingenious lady's opinion in this matter: for I think a more sensible speech could not be made, nor a better plea offered in favour of the young men, than that of Micio in the present instance.
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