308 . MENANDER..

De. “TI do my best; I lose no chance.. I actus-
tom him to this kind of thing. I tell him to look
into his neighbours’ lives, as he might into a looking-
glass, and to learn.by others. ‘Do this,’ I say.”

Sy. “Excellent!” —

De. “* Avoid that.’ This is to a man’s credit;
that is set down against him.’

Sy. “Good, good!”

De. “Then I go on—’

Sy. “Excuse me, but I haven’t time. to: listen, I
have got just the fish I wanted, and I must take care
they are not spoilt. It is as much a crime. among us
to do this, as to do the things you talk of among
you; and as far as I can, I instruct my fellow-slaves
in this fashion : ‘ This is too salt,’ I say; ‘that is burnt;
this is not quite clean; that is very good.’ I advise
in this way to the very best of my capacity. In a
word, Demea, I tell them to look into the dishes as
they would into a looking-glass, and tell them what
they ought to do. These are but trifles, Demea,
that we busy ourselves about; but what would you
have? Can I do anything for you?”

De. “T wish you a better.mind; that’s all. How-
ever, I shall go straight to the farm, as my son, on
whose account I came, is there. He is my own, at
all events. Let my brother look to the other.”

But’ Demea had not yet heard all A€éschinus’s
misdemeanours. This young man had actually
broken‘ off his engagement to a girl, poor, indeed,