You should have told me that before.DAVUSDo you suppose that it makes little difference whether you do things according to impulse, as nature prompts, or from premeditation?

(Enter CRITO, looking about him.)CRITO(to himself.)It was said that Chrysis used to live in this street, who preferred to gain wealth here dishonorably to living honestly as a poor woman in her own country: by her death that property has descended to me by law. Descended to me by law: On the supposition that Chrysis died without a will, Crito as her next of kin would be entitled to her effects. But I see some persons of whom to make inquiry. (Accosting them.) Good-morrow to you.MYSISPrithee, whom do I see? Isn’t this Crito, the kinsman of Chrysis? It is he.CRITOO Mysis, greetings to you.MYSISWelcome to you, Crito.CRITOIs Chrysis then—? Is Chrysis then —?: This is an instance of Aposiopesis; Crito, much affected, is unwilling to name the death of Chrysis. It was deemed of ill omen to mention death, and numerous Euphemisms or circumlocutions were employed in order to avid the necessity of doing so. Alas!MYSISToo truly. She has indeed left us poor creatures quite heart-broken.CRITOHow fare you here, and in what fashion? Pretty well?MYSISWhat, we? Just as we can, as they say; since we can’t as we would.CRITOHow is Glycerium? Has she discovered her parents yet?MYSISI wish she had.CRITOWhat, not yet? With no favorable omen did I set out for this place; for, upon my faith, if I had known that, I never would have moved a foot hither. She was always said to be, and was looked upon as her sister;what things were hers she is in possession of; now for me to begin a suit at law here, the precedents of others warn me, a stranger, Warn me, a stranger: Patrick has the following remarks upon this passage: Madame Dacier observes that it appears, from Xenophon’s Treatise on the policy of the Athenians, that all the inhabitants of cities and islands in alliance with Athens were obliged in all claims to repair thither, and refer their cause to the decision of the people, not being permitted to plead elsewhere. We can not wonder then that Crito is unwilling to engage in a suit so inconvenient from its length, expense, and little prospect of success. She might have added that such was the partiality and corruptness of the Athenian people, that, being a stranger, his chances of success would probably be materially diminished. how easy and profitable a task it would be for me. At the same time, I suppose that by this she has got some friend and protector; for she was pretty nearly a grown-up girl when she left there. They would cry out that I am a sharper; that, a pauper, I’m hunting after an inheritance; besides, I shouldn’t like to strip the girl herself.MYSISO most worthy stranger! I’faith, Crito, you still adhere to your good old-fashioned ways.CRITOLead me to her, since I have come hither, that I may see her.MYSISBy all means.(They go into the house of GLYCERIUM.)DAVUS(to himself.)I’ll follow them; I don’t wish the old man to see me at this moment.(He follows MYSIS and CRITO.)

(Enter CHREMES and SIMO from the house of SIMO.)CHREMESEnough already, enough, Simo, has my friendship toward you been proved. Sufficient hazard have I begun to encounter; make an end of your entreaties, then. While I’ve been endeavoring to oblige you, I’ve almost fooled away my daughter’s prospects in life.SIMONay but, now in especial, Chremes, I do beg and entreat of you, that the favor, commenced a short time since in words, you’ll now complete by deeds.CHREMESSee how unreasonable you are from your very earnestness; so long as you effect what you desire, you neither think of limits to compliance, nor what it is you request of me; for if you did think, you would now forbear to trouble me with unreasonable requests.SIMOWhat unreasonable requests?CHREMESDo you ask? You importuned me to promise my daughter to a young man engaged in another attachment, averse to the marriage state, to plunge her into discord and a marriage of uncertain duration; that through her sorrow and her anguish I might reclaim your son. You prevailed; while the case admitted of it I made preparations. Now it does not admit of it; you must put up with it; they say that she is a citizen of this place; a child has been born; do cease to trouble us.SIMOBy the Gods, I do conjure you not to bring your mind to believethose whose especial interest it is that he should be as degraded as possible. On account of the marriage, have all these things been feigned and contrived. When the reason for which they do these things is removed from them, they will desist.