I am not at all angry either with you, (to SYRUS), or with you (to CLITIPHO); nor is it fair that you should be so with me for what I am doing.(He goes into his house.)SYRUS He’s gone. I wish I had asked him—CLITIPHO What, Syrus?SYRUS Where I am to get my subsistence; he has so utterly cast us adrift. You are to have it, for the present, at your sister’s, I find.CLITIPHO Has it then come to this pass, Syrus—that I am to be in danger even of starving?SYRUS So we only live, there’s hope—CLITIPHO What hope?SYRUS That we shall be hungry enough.CLITIPHO Do you jest in a matter so serious, and not give me any assistance with your advice?SYRUS On the contrary, I’m both now thinking of that, and have been about it all the time your father was speaking just now; and so far as I can perceive—CLITIPHO What?SYRUS It will not be wanting long.(He meditates.)CLITIPHO What is it, then?SYRUS It is this—I think that you are not their son.CLITIPHO How’s that, Syrus? Are you quite in your senses?SYRUS I’ll tell you what’s come into my mind; be you the judge. While they had you alone, while they had no other source of joy more nearly to affect them, they indulged you, they lavished upon you. Now a daughter has been found, a pretense has been found in fact on which to turn you adrift.CLITIPHO It’s very probable.SYRUS Do you suppose that he is so angry on account of this fault?CLITIPHO I do not think so.SYRUS Now consider another thing. All mothers are wont to be advocates for their sons when in fault, and to aid them against a father’s severity; ’tis not so here.CLITIPHO You say true; what then shall I now do, Syrus?SYRUS Question them on this suspicion; mention the matter without reserve; either, if it is not true, you’ll soon bring them both to compassion, or else you’ll soon find out whose son you are. CLITIPHO You give good advice; I’ll do so.(He goes into the house of CHREMES.)SYRUS(to himself.)Most fortunately did this come into my mind. For the less hope the young man entertains, the greater the difficulty with which he’ll bring his father to his own terms. I’m not sure even, that he may not take a wife, and then no thanks for Syrus.But what is this? The old man’s coming out of doors; I’ll be off. What has so far happened, I am surprised at, that he didn’t order me to becarried off from here: now I’ll away to Menedemus here, I’ll secure him as my intercessor; I can put no trust in our old man.(Goes into the house of MENEDEMUS.)

(Enter CHREMES and SOSTRATA from the house.)SOSTRATA Really, sir, if you don’t take care, you’ll be causing some mischief to your son; and indeed I do wonder at it,my husband, how anything so foolish could ever come into your head.CHREMES Oh, you persist in being the woman? Did I ever wish for any one thing in all my life, Sostrata, but that you were my contradicter on that occasion? And yet if I were now to ask you what it is that I have done amiss, or why you act thus, you would not know in what point you are now so obstinately opposing me in your folly.SOSTRATA I, not know?