Chrem. He does not wish you yet to know of his return, and he shuns your presence; he’s afraid that, on account of that fault, your former severity may even be increased.
Men. Did you not tell him how I was affected?[51]
Chrem. No—
Men. For what reason, Chremes?
Chrem. Because there you would judge extremely ill both for yourself and for him, if you were to show yourself of a spirit so weak and irresolute.
Men. I can not help it: enough already, enough, have I proved a rigorous father.
Chrem. Ah Menedemus! you are too precipitate in either extreme, either with profuseness or with parsimony too great. Into the same error will you fall from the one side as from the other. In the first place, formerly, rather than allow your son to visit a young woman, who was then content with a very little, and to whom any thing was acceptable, you frightened him away from here. After that, she began, quite against her inclination, to seek a subsistence upon the town. Now, when she can not be supported without a great expense, you are ready to give any thing. For, that you may know how perfectly she is trained to extravagance, in the first place, she has already brought with her more than ten female attendants, all laden with clothes and jewels of gold; if a satrap[52] had been her admirer, he never could support her expenses, much less can you.
Men. Is she at your house?
Chrem. Is she, do you ask? I have felt it; for I have given her and her retinue one dinner; had I to give them another such, it would be all over with me; for, to pass by other matters, what a quantity of wine she did consume for me in tasting only,[53] saying thus, “This wine is too acid,[54] respected sir,[55] do please look for something more mellow.” I opened all the casks, all the vessels;[56] she kept all on the stir: and this but a single night. What do you suppose will become of you when they are constantly preying upon you? So may the Gods prosper me, Menedemus, I do pity your lot.
Men. Let him do what he will; let him take, waste, and squander; I’m determined to endure it, so long as I only have him with me.