But, in good sooth, there are some matters on account of which I still am angry with you.LYSITELESWhat have I done? CHARMIDESBecause you have allowed my son to become dissolute.LYSITELESHad that been done by my consent, there would have been cause for you to blame me. But allow me to obtain of you this one thing which I entreat?CHARMIDESWhat is it? LYSITELESYou shall know. If he has done anything imprudently, that you will dismiss it all from your mind. Why do you shake your head?CHARMIDESMy heart is tortured, and I fear—LYSITELESWhat is it now? CHARMIDESBecause he is such as I would that he was not,—by that am I tortured. I fear that if I refuse you what you ask of me, you may suppose that I am indifferent towards you. I won’t make difficulties, however; I will do as you wish.LYSITELESYou are a worthy man. I am going to call him out. (He goes to the door of the house of CHARMIDES).CHARMIDES’Tis a shocking thing if one is not allowed to punish bad deserts just as they merit.LYSITELES(knocking at the door.)Open the door, open quickly, and call Lesbonicus out of doors, if he is at home. The occasion is very sudden, therefore I wish him to come to me with all haste.LESBONICUS(Enter LESBONICUS from the house.)What person has been calling me out of doors with so loud a knocking?LYSITELES’Tis your well.wisher and friendLESBONICUSIs all quite right?—tell me. LYSITELESAll’s well. I am glad to say that your father has returned from abroad.LESBONICUSWho says so? LYSITELESI.LESBONICUSHave you seen him? LYSITELESAye, and you yourself may see him too.(He points to CHARMIDES.)LESBONICUSO my father, my father, blessings on you.CHARMIDESMany blessings on you, my son.LESBONICUSIf, father, any troubleIf, father, any trouble: — Lesbonicus seems to be about to apologise to Charmides for any trouble he may have given him, but, as the old man has already agreed to forgive him at the intercession of Lysiteles, he will not allow a word more to be said about it.— CHARMIDESHave no fear, nothing has happened. My affairs prosperously managed, I have returned safe. If you are only wishful to be steady, that daughter of Callicles has been promised you.LESBONICUSI will marry both her, father, and any one else besides that you shall bid me.CHARMIDESAlthough I have been angry with you, one miseryOne misery: — The old gentleman tells his son that he will be quite sufficiently punished for his faults by having one wife. It is either said as a joke in a bantering way, or else it means, that, what will be a great punishment to him, he must now reform his mode of life, for common decency sake and out of respect to his wife., in fact, is more than enough for one man.CALLICLESNay, rather, ’twere too little for him; for if he were to marry a hundred wives for his sins, it were too little.LESBONICUSBut henceforth, in future, I will be steady.