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Rh

This land, if it's at all what you describe it,

Would be a fine place for a penal settlement,

To banish rascals to, for the public good.

Stas. 'Tis just a nest of horrors, as it is;

If you want anything bad,—there you may find it.

Phil. No doubt;—and so you may in other places.

Stas. Now please don't let him know I've told you this!

Phil. Oh—honour bright! I hold it confidential.

Stas. Because, in fact, you see, he's very anxious

To be well rid of it, if he can find a man

That's fool enough to take it.—You perceive?

Phil. I do: I promise you, it shan't be me.

Philto is unwilling either to accept the farm, or to hurt the feelings of Lesbonicus by the refusal—he will leave the two young friends, he says, to settle that matter between them. And poor old Stasimus is quite satisfied that his pious falsehood has saved this remnant of the family property.

Young Lysiteles is as reluctant to accept the offered marriage portion as his friend is determined, for his honour's sake, to give it: and the struggle between the two young men, which almost leads to a quarrel, gives occasion to a fine scene, though perhaps somewhat too wordy for our English taste. Lysiteles is the more hurt at his friend's obstinacy, because he has discovered his intention of quitting Athens, now that his patrimony is all gone, and taking service under some potentate in the East, the great field which was then open to young men of spirit and enterprise. Stasimus' despair, when he too learns this last resolution on the part of his young master, is highly comic: he will not desert him, even if he could, but he has no taste for a