Not your good-nature, was the cause.--Besides,
That you should quit relations, friends, diversions,
On my account, I can't allow.

SOSTRA. Alas!
Those things have no allurements for me now.
While I was young, and 'twas the season for them,
I had my share, and I am satisfied.
'Tis now my chief concern to make my age
Easy to all, that no one may regret
My lengthen'd life, nor languish for my death.
Here, although undeservedly, I see
My presence odious: I had best retire:
So shall I best cut off all discontent,
Absolve myself from this unjust suspicion,
And humor them. Permit me then to shun
The common scandal thrown upon the sex.

PAM. How fortunate in every thing but one,
Having so good a mother,--such a wife!

SOSTRA. Patience, my Pamphilus! Is't possible
You can't endure one inconvenience in her?
If in all else, as I believe, you like her,
Dear son, be rul'd by me, and take her home!

PAM. Wretch that I am!

SOSTRA. And I am wretched too:
For this grieves me, my son, no less than you.

[Changes:

_Harper_
Finding it then both meet for your repose,
My Pamphilus, as well as my good name
_Colman 1768_
Finding it then both meet, my Pamphilus,
For your repose, as well as my good name]

SCENE V.

_Enter LACHES._

LACH. I have been standing at a distance, wife,
And overheard your conversation with him.
You have done wisely to subdue your temper,
And freely to comply with what, perhaps,
Hereafter must be done.

SOSTRA. And let it be!

LACH. Now then retire with me into the country:
There I shall bear with you, and you with me.

SOSTRA. I hope we shall.

LACH. Go in then, and pack up
The necessaries you would carry with you.
Away!

SOSTRA. I shall obey your orders. (_Exit._

PAM. Father!

LACH. Well, Pamphilus?

PAM. My mother leave the town?
By no means.

LACH. Why?

PAM. Because I'm yet uncertain
What I shall do about my wife.

LACH. How's that?
What _would_ you do but take her home again?

PAM. 'Tis what I wish for, and can scarce forbear it.
But I'll not alter what I first design'd.
What's best I'll follow: and I'm well convinc'd
That there's no other way to make them friends,
But that I should not take her home again.

LACH. You don't know that: but 'tis of no importance
Whether they're friends or not, when Sostrata
Is gone into the country. We old folks
Are odious to the young. We'd best retire.
In short, we're grown a by-word, Pamphilus,
"The o