Perde 1
[Textpart 2]
What does he say? That he is wretched.
CHREMES
Wretched? Whom could we less suppose so? What is there wanting for him to enjoy every thing that among men, in fact, are esteemed as blessings? Parents, a country in prosperity, friends, family, relations, riches?
And yet, all these are just according to the disposition of him who possesses them. To him who knows how to use them, they are blessings; to him who does not use them rightly, they are evils.
195
CLITIPHO
Aye, but lie always was a morose old man; and now I dread nothing more, father, than that in his displeasure he’ll be doing something to him more than is justifiable.
CHREMES
What, he? (Aside.) But I’ll restrain myself; for that the other one should be in fear of his father is of service to him.Is of service to him: He means that it is to the advantage of Clitipho that Clinia should be seen to stand in awe of his father.
CLITIPHO
What is it you are saying to yourself?
200
CHREMES
I’ll tell you. However the case stood, Clinia ought still to have remained at home. Perhaps his father was a little stricter than he liked: he should have put up with it. For whom ought he to bear with, if he would not bear with his own father? Was it reasonable that he should live after his son’s humor, or his son after his? And as to charging him with harshness, it is not the fact. For the severities of fathers
200
are generally of one character, those I mean who are in some degree reasonable men.Reasonable men: Homo, a man, is here put for men in general who are fathers. They do not wish their sons to be always wenching; they do not wish them to be always carousing; they give a limited allowance; and yet all this tends to virtuous conduct. But when the mind, Clitipho, has once enslaved itself by vicious appetites, it must of necessity follow similar pursuits. This
205
is a wise maxim, to take warning from others of what may be to your own advantage.
210
CHREMES
I’ll now go hence in-doors, to see what we have for dinner. Do you, seeing what is the time of day, mind and take care not to be any where out of the way.
