Why so?CHREMES I have hardly substance to suffice for ten days.Substance to suffice for ten days: Familia here means property, as producing sustenance. Colman, however, has translated the passage: Mine is scarce a ten-days’ family. MENEDEMUS What! are you alarmed at it, because he is paying attention to his friend?CHREMES His she-friend rather.His she-friend rather: Menedemus speaks of amico, a male friend, which Chremes plays upon by saying amicae, which literally meant a she-friend, and was the usual name by which decent people called a mistress. MENEDEMUS If he really is paying it.CHREMES Is it a matter of doubt to you? Do you suppose that there is any person of so accommodating and tame a spirit as to suffer his own mistress, himself looking on, to—MENEDEMUS(chuckling and speaking ironically.)Why not? That I may be imposed upon the more easily.CHREMES Do you laugh at me? You have good reason. How angry I now am with myself! How many things gave proof, whereby, had I not been a stone, I might have been fully sensible of this? What was it I saw? Alas! wretch that I am! But assuredly they shall not escape my vengeance if I live; for this instant—MENEDEMUS Can you not contain yourself? Have you no respect for yourself?Am I not a sufficient example to you?CHREMES For very anger, Menedemus, I am not myself.MENEDEMUS For you to talk in that manner! Is it not a shame for you to be giving advice to others, to show wisdom abroad and yet be able to do nothing for yourself?CHREMES What shall I do?MENEDEMUS That which you said I failed to do: make him sensible that you are his father; make him venture to intrust every thing to you, to seek and to ask of you; so that he may look for no other resources and forsake you.And forsake you: Madame Dacier observes here, that one of the great beauties of this Scene consists in Chremes retorting on Menedemus the very advice given by himself at the beginning of the Play. CHREMES Nay, I had much rather he would go any where in the world, than by his debaucheries here reduce his father to beggary!For if I go on supplying his extravagance, Menedemus, in that case my circumstances will undoubtedly be soon reduced to the level of your rake.MENEDEMUS What evils you will bring upon yourself in this affair, if you don’t act with caution! You’ll show yourself severe, and still pardon him at last; that too with an ill grace.CHREMES Ah! you don’t know how vexed I am.MENEDEMUS Just as you please. What about that which I desire—that she may be married to my son? Unless there is any other step that you would prefer.CHREMES On the contrary, both the son-in-law and the connection are to my taste.MENEDEMUS What portion shall I say that you have named for your daughter? Why are you silent?CHREMES Portion?MENEDEMUS I say so.CHREMES Alas!MENEDEMUS Chremes, don’t be at all afraid to speak, if it is but a small one. The portion is no consideration at all with us.CHREMES I did think that two talents were sufficient, according to my means. But if you wish me to be saved, and my estate and my son, you must say to this effect, that I have settled all my property on her as her portion.MENEDEMUS What scheme are you upon?CHREMES Pretend that you wonder at this, and at the same time ask him the reason why I do so.