i dont get it, how can their be an error on line 17 of a 16 line file?

Parse error: parse error, unexpected $ in /Users/silvanus/Sites/includes/connect.php on line 17

but heres connect.php

<?
//=====CONNECT TO DATABASE=====
$hostname="localhost";
$mysql_login="silvanus";
$mysql_password="lazerus";
$database="pnpOnline";

// connect to the database server
if (!($db = mysql_pconnect($hostname, $mysql_login , $mysql_password))){
die("Can't connect to database server.");
}else{
// select a database
if (!(mysql_select_db("$database",$db))){
die("Can't connect to database.");
}
?>