Lamp. Well, I never said or did anything to bring a blush to her
cheeks.

Soc. No, come now! Do you suppose it is harder for you to listen to
your mother's speeches than for actor to listen to actor on the tragic
stage,[4] when the floodgates of abuse are opened?

[4] See Grote, "H. G." viii. 457; Plut. "Solon," xxix.

Lamp. Yes; for the simple reason that they know it is all talk on
their parts. The inquisitor may cross-question, but he will not
inflict a fine; the threatener may hurl his menaces, but he will do no
mischief--that is why they take it all so easily.

Soc. Then ought you to fly into a passion, who know well enough that,
whatever your mother says, she is so far from meaning you mischief
that she is actually wishing blessings to descend upon you beyond all
others? Or do you believe that your mother is really ill disposed
towards you?

Lamp. No, I do not think that.

Soc. Then this mother, who is kindly disposed to you, and takes such
tender care of you when you are ill to make you well again, and to see
that you want for nothing which may help you; and, more than all, who
is perpetually pleading for blessings in your behalf and offering her
vows to Heaven[5]--can you say of her that she is cross-grained and
harsh? For my part, I think, if you cannot away with such a mother,
you cannot away with such blessings either.