being called your son by your own desire, I beseech: you to remember it, and now to take compassion on me in my distress. A thing I beg and request—do discover to me my parents. SOSTRATA I conjure you, my son, not to entertain that notion in your mind, that you are another person’s child. CLITIPHO I am. SOSTRATA Wretch that I am! (Turning to CHREMES.) Was it this that you wanted, pray? (To CLITIPHO.) So may you be the survivor of me and of him, you are my son and his; and henceforth, if you love me,take care that I never hear that speech from you again. CHREMES But I say, if you fear me, take care how I find these propensities existing in you. CLITIPHO What propensities? CHREMES If you wish to know, I’ll tell you; being a trifler, an idler, a cheat, a glutton, a debauchee, a spendthrift—Believe me, and believe that you are our son. CLITIPHO This is not the language of a parent.