---
title: "The Eunuch · Eunuchus"
author: "Terence"
translator: "Henry Thomas Riley"
languages: [la, en]
shelf: "Classical Latin"
url: https://scriptura.si/works/terence-eunuchus/
cite: "Terence, tr. Henry Thomas Riley, The Eunuch · Eunuchus. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/terence-eunuchus/"
---

# The Eunuch · Eunuchus

*Terence, tr. Henry Thomas Riley*

A young man disguises himself as a eunuch to reach the girl he loves.

> Latin: ed. Edward St. John Parry, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-latinLit, phi0134.phi003, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Henry Thomas Riley, from the Perseus Digital Library (phi0134.phi003.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## Contents

1. [Lines 1–327](https://scriptura.si/works/terence-eunuchus/1.md)
2. [Lines 328–725](https://scriptura.si/works/terence-eunuchus/2.md)
3. [Lines 718–1093](https://scriptura.si/works/terence-eunuchus/3.md)

## 1. Lines 1–327

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/terence-eunuchus/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/terence-eunuchus/1/#p-N

[¶0] ANTIPHO, a young man, friend of Chaerea. CHREMES, a young man, brother of Pamphila. THRASO, a boastful Captain. GNATHO, a Parasite. PARMENO, servant of Phldria. SANGA, cook to Thraso. DORUS, a Eunuch slave. THAIS, a Courtesan. SOPHRONA, a nurse. PAMPHILA, a female slave.
THE TITLE OF THE PLAY. PERFORMED at the Megalensian Games; L. Posthumius Albinus and L. Cornelius Merula being Curule Aediles. L. Ambivius Turpio and L. Atilius Praenestinus performed it. Flaccus, the freedman of Claudius, composed the music to two treble flutes. From the Greek of Menander. It was acted twice, M. Valerius and C. Fannius being Consuls.
THE PROLOGUE:
IF there is any one who desires to please as many good men as possible, and to give offense to extremely few, among those does our Poet enroll his name.
Next, if there is one who thinks that language too harsh is here applied to him, let him bear this in mind—
that it is an answer, not an attack; inasmuch as he has himself been the first aggressor; who, by translating plays verbally, and writing them in bad Latin, has made out of good Greek Plays Latin ones by no means good. Just as of late he has published the Phasma [the Apparition] of Menander;
and in the Thesaurus [the Treasure] has described him from whom the gold is demanded, as pleading his cause why it should be deemed his own, before the person who demands it has stated how this treasure belongs to him, or how it came into the tomb of his father. Henceforward, let him not deceive himself, or fancy thus,
“I have now done with it; there’s nothing that he can say to me.” I recommend him not to be mistaken, and to refrain from provoking me. I have many other points, as to which for the present he shall be pardoned, which, however, shall be brought forward hereafter, if he persists in attacking me,
as he has begun to do. After the Aediles had purchased the Eunuch of Menander, the Play which we are about to perform, he managed to get an opportunity of viewing it. When the magistrates were present it began to be performed. He exclaimed that a thief, no Poet, had produced the piece, but still had not deceived him;
that, in fact, it was the Colax, an old Play of Plautus; and that from it were taken the characters of the Parasite and the Captain. If this is a fault, the fault is the ignorance of the Poet; not that he intended to be guilty of theft. That so it is, you will now be enabled to judge.
The Colax is a Play of Meander’s; in it there is Colax, a Parasite, and a braggart Captain: he does not deny that he has transferred these characters into his Eunuch from the Greek; but assuredly he does deny this, that he was aware that those pieces had been already translated into Latin.
But if it is not permitted us to use the same characters as others, how can it any more be allowed to represent hurrying servants, to describe virtuous matrons, artful courtesans, the gluttonous parasite, the braggart captain, the infant palmed off, the old man cajoled by the servant,
about love, hatred, suspicion? In fine, nothing is said now that has not been said before. Wherefore it is but just that you should know this, and make allowance, if the moderns do what the ancients used to do. Grant me your attention, and give heed in silence,
that you may understand what the Eunuch means.
(Enter PHAEDRIA and PARMENO.)
PHAEDRIA:
What then, shall I do? Ought I not to go, not now even, when I am sent for of her own accord? Or ought I rather so to behave myself as not to put up with affronts from Courtesans? She shut her door against me; she now invites me back. Ought I to return? No; though she should implore me.

> Latin: INTRODUCTION. PAMPHILA and Chremes were the children of an Athenian citizen. Pamphila, while an infant, was carried off from her home at Sunium by robbers, and by them sold to a merchant of Rhodes. He presented her to a courtesan of that place, who had her brought up with her own daughter Thais as her younger sister. When Thais grew up she removed to Athens with a lover of hers, who at his death left her all his property. She then kept company with a soldier named Thraso, who went to Caria after living with her a short time. Meanwhile her mother had died, and her uncle wishing to realize money by Pamphila, who was beautiful and accomplished, sold her to Thraso, who happened to be at Rhodes on his return to Athens, and carried her with him intending to make a present of her to Thais. During his absence, however, Thais had found a new lover, one Phaedria, son of Laches. This Thraso discovers on his return, and in order to secure his footing with her, makes his present conditional upon Phaedria’s dismissal. This causes Thais great perplexity, for she is really attached to Phaedria, and yet much wishes to get possession of Pamphila, whose history she has learnt in part, and whom she hopes to restore to her Athenian family, intending by so doing to make herself friends in Athens. Accordingly she shuts her door against Phaedria.
He is at first highly incensed at her conduct; but after an interview with her, consents to absent himself from Athens for a day or two, that she may have time to obtain Pamphila from Thraso. Before he goes he gives orders that an Ethiopian slave, and an eunuch whom he has bought for Thais, shall be taken to her house. At this moment Thraso sends Pamphila under the escort of Gnatho his follower. On her way to Thais’ house she is seen in the street by Chaerea, Phaedria’s brother, who at first sight falls desperately in love with her, and hurries after her, but being detained on his way by an old friend of his father’s, arrives just too late to see her taken into the house. Here he falls in with Parmeno, his father’s slave, and between them they concoct the scheme on which the plot of the play turns. Chaerea is dressed up in the eunuch’s clothes and conducted to Thais’ house, where he soon has an opportunity of carrying out his intended scheme, during the absence of Thais at Thraso’s house; after which he makes his escape. This event causes the greatest consternation in the household; and is no less distressing to Thais, who finds her plan for restoring Pamphila to her relations thus awkwardly frustrated. For in the meantime she has obtained some interviews with Chremes, the brother of Pamphila, and has nearly identified Pamphila when the catastrophe comes to her knowledge. Phaedria, too, is much disconcerted at discovering that his present has worked so much mischief. All parties, in fact, are at their wit’s end, with the exception of Chaerea, who, upon discovering Pamphila’s history, makes the best amends he can by undertaking to marry her. Pythias meanwhile, Thais’ maid, pays off old scores by driving Parmeno to divulge the whole matter to Laches, father of Chaerea and Phaedria.
The result is of course a happy explanation on all sides. Thais is taken under Laches’ protection, and continues her intimacy with Phaedria. Chaerea and Pamphila marry. Parmeno is forgiven by his grateful young master: and the only person who suffers is the unfortunate Thraso, who is beaten clean off the field, and is only too glad to submit to be the perpetual butt of these young sparks, on condition that he shall be allowed to be one in their parties, and thus still enjoy the society of Thais. This is the outline of the play, which gives a very lively and amusing action. But the most admirable feature is the manner in which some of the subordinate parts are worked out. The bye-play between Pythias and Parmeno is admirable. The character of the Parasite as drawn in Act II. scene ii. is admirable, and striking from its novelty after the hackneyed ideal which is presented to us in all the plays of Plautus. No less admirable is the Braggadocio of Act III. scene i., the features of the character being the same as those of the Miles Gloriosus of Plautus, except that Terence with greater humour makes Thraso prouder of his wit than of his military exploits. The scene in which Thraso is represented as attacking Thais in her house (Act IV. scene vii.) is highly ridiculous, and reminds one more strongly than any passage of Terence of the free humour of Aristophanes. We cannot wonder that the Eunuchus should have been the most popular of all Terence’s plays: for here there is the nearest approach to the Plautini sales, which were the true Roman comedy. It is said to have been purchased by the Aediles for the sum of 8000 sesterces (above 64 £ 10 s. sterling), the largest sum which had been given for any play. The leading incident of the plot makes it unfit for the modern stage: but when we say this we say all that can be said against the play. The execution is highly delicate, even in the famous scene which describes the successful issue of Chaerea’s scheme. The play is said by the author of the Life of Terence to have been acted twice in one day: and no doubt it was acted on more than one occasion.
EUNUCHUS. ACTA LUDIS MEGALENSIBUS, L. POSTUMIO ALBINO L. CORNELIO MERULA AEDILIBUS CURULIBUS. EGERE L. AMBIVIUS TURPIO L. ATILIUS PRAENESTINUS TIBIIS DUABUS DEXTRIS. GRAECA MENANDRU. ACTA II. MODOS FECIT FLACCUS CLAUDII, M. VALERIO C. FANNIO COSS.
PROLOGUS:
Si quisquam est qui placere se studeat bonis
Quam plurimis et minime multos laedere,
In his poeta hic nomen profitetur suum.
Tum si quis est qui dictum in se inclementius
Existimavit esse, sic existimet,
Responsum non dictum esse, quia laesit prior,
Qui bene vertendo, et easdem scribendo male, ex
Graecis bonis Latinas fecit non bonas.
Idem Menandri Phasma nunc nuper dedit;
Atque in Thesauro scripsit causamn dicere
Prius unde petitur aurum quare sit suumn
Quam ille qui petit unde is sit thesaurus sibi,
Aut unde in patrium monumentum pervenerit.
Dehinc ne frustretur ipse se, aut sic cogitet,
“Defunctus iam sum, nihil est quod dicat mihi;”
Is ne erret moneo et desinat lacessere.
Habeo alia multa quae nunc condonabitur;
Quae proferentur post, si perget laedere
Ita ut facere instituit. Quam nunc acturi sumus
Menandri Eunuchum postquam Aediles emerunt,
Perfecit sibi ut inspiciendi esset copia.
Magistratus cum ibi adessent occepta est agi.
Exclamat furem non poetam fabulam
Dedisse, et nihil dedisse verborum tamen;
Colacem esse Naevi et Plauti veterem fabulam;
Parasiti personam inde ablatam et militis.
Si id est peccatum, peccatum imprudentia est
Poetae; non qui furtum facere studuerit.
Id ita esse vos iam iudicare poteritis.
Colax Menandri est; in ea est parasitus Colax,
Et miles gloriosus; eas se non negat
Personas transtulisse in Eunuchum suam
Ex Graeca; sed eas fabulas factas prius
Latinas scisse sese id vero pernegat.
Quod si personis iisdem uti aliis non licet,
Qui magis licet currentes servos scribere,
Bonas matronas facere, meretrices malas,
Parasitum edacem, gloriosum militem,
Puerum supponi, falli per servum senem,
Amare, odisse, suspicari? Denique
Nullum est iam dictum, quod non dictum sit prius.
Quare aequum est vos cognoscere atque ignoscere
Quae veteres factitarunt si faciunt novi.
Date operam, et cum silentio animadvertite,
Ut pernoscatis quid sibi Eunuchus velit.
(PHAEDRIA. PARMENO.)
PHAEDRIA:
Quid igitur faciam? non eam? ne nunc quidem
Cum arcessor ultro? an potius ita me comparem
Non perpeti meretricum contumelias?
Exclusit: revocat. Redeam? non, si me obsecret.

[¶1] PARMENO:
l’faith, if indeed you only can, there’s nothing better or more spirited; but if you begin, and can not hold out stoutly, and if, when you can not endure it, while no one asks you, peace being not made, you come to her of your own accord, showing that you love her, and can not endure it, you are done for; it’s all over with you;
you are ruined outright. She’ll be jilting you, when she finds you overcome. Do you then, while there’s time, again and again reflect upon this, master, that a matter, which in itself admits of neither prudence nor moderation, you are unable to manage with prudence. In love there are all these evils; wrongs,
suspicions, enmities reconcilements, war, then peace; if you expect to render these things, naturally uncertain, certain by dint of reason, you wouldn’t effect it a bit the more than if you were to use your endeavors to be mad with reason. And, what you are now, in anger, meditating to yourself,
“What! I to her? Who—him! Who—me! Who wouldn’t? Only let me alone; I had rather die; she shall find out what sort of a person I am;” these expressions, upon my faith, by a single false tiny tear, which, by rubbing her eyes, poor thing, she can hardly squeeze out perforce, she will put an end to; and she’ll be the first to accuse you; and you will be
too ready to give satisfaction to her.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Si quidem hercle possis, nihil prius neque fortius:
Verum si incipies, neque pertendes naviter,
Atque ubi pati non poteris, cum nemo expetet,
Infecta pace, ultro ad eam venies, indicans
Te amare et ferre non posse, actum est: ilicet:
Peristi. Eludet, ubi te victum senserit.
Proin tu dum est tempus etiam atque etiam cogita,
Here, quae res in se neque consilium neque modun
Habet ullum eam consilio regere non potes.
In amore haec omnia insunt vitia; iniuriae,
Suspiciones, inimicitiae, indutiae,
Bellum, pax rursum. Incerta haec si tu postules
Ratione certa facere, nihilo plus agas
Quam si des operam ut cum ratione insanias.
Et quod nunc tute tecum iratus cogitas,
“Egone illam quae illum? quae me? quae non? sine modo:”
“Mori me malim: sentiet qui vir siem;”
Haec verba una mehercle falsa lacrimula,
Quam oculos terendo misere vix vi expresserit,
Restinguet: et te ultro accusabit: et dabis
Ei ultro supplicium.

[¶2] PHAEDRIA:
O disgraceful conduct! I now perceive, both that she is perfidious, and that I am a wretched man. I am both weary of her, and burn with passion; knowing and fully sensible, alive and seeing it, I am going to ruin; nor do I know what I am to do.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
O indignum facinus! nunc ego et
Illam scelestam esse et me miserum sentio;
Et taedet; et amore ardeo; et prudens sciens,
Vivus vidensque pereo; nec quid agam scio.

[¶3] PARMENO:
What you are to do? Why, only to redeem yourself, thus captivated,
at the smallest price you can; if you can not at a very small, rate, still for as little as you can; and do not afflict yourself.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quid agas nisi ut te redimas captum quam queas
Minimo? si nequeas paululo, at quanti queas:
Et ne te afflictes.

[¶4] PHAEDRIA:
Do you persuade me to this?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Itane suades?

[¶5] PARMENO:
If you are wise. And don’t be adding to the troubles which love itself produces; those which it does produce, bear patiently. But see, here she is coming herself, the downfall of our fortunes, —
for that which we ought ourselves to enjoy she intercepts.
(Enter THAIS from her house.)

> Latin: PARMENO:
Si sapis:
Neque praeterquam quas ipse amor molestias
Habet addas, et illas quas habet recte feras.
Sed ecca ipsa egreditur nostri fundi calamitas;
Nam quod nos capere oportet haec intercipit.
(THAIS.
PHAEDRIA. PARMENO.)

[¶6] THAIS: (to herself, not seeing them.)
Ah wretched me! I fear lest Phaedria should take it amiss or otherwise than I intended it, that he was not admitted yesterday.

> Latin: THAIS:
Miseram me! vereor ne illud gravius Phaedria
Tulerit, neve aliorsum atque ego feci acceperit,
Quod heri intromissus non est.

[¶7] PHAEDRIA: (aside to PARMENO.)
I’m trembling and shivering all over, Parmeno, at the sight of her.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Totus Parmeno
Tremo horreoque postquam aspexi hanc.

[¶8] PARMENO: (apart.)
Be of good heart;

> Latin: PARMENO:
Bono animo es:

[¶9] only approach this fire, you’ll soon be warmer than you need.
THAIS: (turning round.)

> Latin: Accede ad ignem hunc; iam calesces plus satis.

[¶10] Who is it that’s speaking here? What, are you here, my Phaedria? Why are you standing here? Why didn’t you come into the house at once?
PARMENO: (whispering to PHAEDRIA.)
But not a word about shutting you out!

> Latin: THAIS:
Quis hic loquitur? ehem, tune hic eras, mi Phaedria?
Quid hic stabas? cur non recta introibas?
PARMENO:
Caeterum
De exclusione verbum nullum.

[¶11] THAIS:
Why are you silent?

> Latin: THAIS:
Quid taces?

[¶12] PHAEDRIA:
Of course, it’s because this door is always open to me,
or because I’m the highest in your favor?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Sane quia vero hae mihi patent semper fores,
Aut quia sum apud te primus.

[¶13] THAIS:
Pass those matters by.

> Latin: THAIS:
Missa istaec face.

[¶14] PHAEDRIA:
How pass them by? O Thais, Thais, I wish that I had equal affection with yourself, and that it were in like degree, that either this might distress you in the same way that it distresses me, or that I might be indifferent at this being done by you.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Quid missa? o Thais, Thais, utinam esset mihi
Pars aequa amoris tecum, ac pariter fieret,
Ut aut hoc tibi doleret itidem ut mihi dolet,
Aut ego istuc abs te factum nihili penderem.

[¶15] THAIS:
Prithee, don’t torment yourself, my life, my Phaedria. Upon my faith, I did it, not because I love or esteem any person more than you; but the case was such that it was necessary to be done.
PARMENO: (ironically.)

> Latin: THAIS:
Ne crucia te, obsecro, anime mi, mi Phaedria.
Non pol quo quemquam plus amem aut plus diligam
Eo feci: sed ita erat res; faciundum fuit.

[¶16] I suppose that, poor thing, you shut him out of doors, for love, according to the usual practice.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Credo ut fit misera prae amore exclusti hunc foras.

[¶17] THAIS:
Is it thus you act, Parmeno? Well, well. (To PHAEDRIA.) But listen—the reason for which
I desired you to be sent for hither—

> Latin: THAIS:
Sicine ais Parmeno? age: sed huc qua gratia
Te arcessi iussi ausculta.

[¶18] PHAEDRIA:
Go on.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Fiat.

[¶19] THAIS:
First tell me this; can this fellow possibly hold his tongue?
(pointing to PARMENO.)

> Latin: THAIS:
Dic mihi
Hoc primum, potin est hic tacere?

[¶20] PARMENO:
What, I? Perfectly well. But, hark you, upon these conditions I pledge my word to you; the truth that I hear, I’m silent upon, and retain it most faithfully; but if I hear what’s false and without foundation, it’s out at once;

> Latin: PARMENO:
Egone? optime.
Verum heus tu, hac lege tibi meam astringo fidem:
Quae vera audivi taceo et contineo optime;
Sin falsum aut vanum aut fictum est, continuo palam est;

[¶21] I’m full of chinks, and leak in every direction. Therefore, if you wish it to be kept secret, speak the truth.

> Latin: Plenus rimaraum sum; hac atque illac perfluo.
Proin tu, taceri si vis, vera dicito.

[¶22] THAIS:
My mother was a Samian; she lived at Rhodes—

> Latin: THAIS:
Samia mihi mater fuit: ea habitabat Rhodi.

[¶23] PARMENO:
That may be kept a secret.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Potest taceri hoc.

[¶24] THAIS:
There, at that period, a certain merchant made present to my mother of a little girl,
who had been stolen away from Attica here.
PARMENO:
What, a citizen?

> Latin: THAIS:
Ibi tum matri parvulam
Puellam dono quidam mercator dedit
Ex Attica hine abreptam.
PHAEDRIA:
Civemne?

[¶25] THAIS:
I think so; we do not know for certain: she herself used to mention her mother’s and her father’s name; her country and other tokens she didn’t know, nor, by reason of her age, was she able. The merchant added this: that he had heard from the kidnappers
that she had been carried off from Sunium. When my mother received her, she began carefully to teach her every thing, and to bring her up, just as though she had been her own daughter. Most persons supposed that she was my sister.

> Latin: THAIS:
Arbitror:
Certum non scimus: matris nomen et patris
Dicebat ipsa: patriam et signa caetera
Neque scibat, neque per aetatem etiam potuerat.
Mercator hoc addebat, e praedonibus
Unde emerat se audisse abreptam e Sunio.
Mater ubi accepit, coepit studiose omnia
Docere, educare ita uti si esset filia.
Sororem plerique esse credebant meam.

[¶26] Thence I came hither with that stranger, with whom alone at that period I was connected; he left me all which I now possess—
PARMENO:
Both these things are false; out it goes.

> Latin: Ego cum illo quicum tum uno rem habebam hospite
Abii huc; qui mihi reliquit haec quae habeo omnia.
PARMENO:
Utrumque hoc falsum est: effluet.

[¶27] THAIS:
How so?

> Latin: THAIS:
Qui istuc?

[¶28] PARMENO:
Because you were neither content with one, nor was he the only one to make you presents; for he likewise (pointing to PHAEDRIA) brought a pretty considerable share to you.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quia
Neque tu uno eras contenta, neque solus dedit;
Nam hic quoque bonam magnamque partem ad te attulit.

[¶29] THAIS:
Such is the fact; but do allow me to arrive at the point I wish.

> Latin: THAIS:
Ita est: sed sine me pervenire quo volo.

[¶30] In the mean time, the Captain, who had begun to take a fancy to me, set out to Caria; since when, in the interval, I became acquainted with you. You yourself are aware how very dear I have held you; and how I confess to you all my nearest counsels.

> Latin: Interea miles qui me amare occeperat
In Cariam est profectus: te interea loci
Cognovi: tute scis postilla quam intumum
Habeam te, et mea consilia ut tibi credam omnia.

[¶31] PHAEDRIA:
Nor will Parmeno be silent about that.
PARMENO:
O, is that a matter of doubt?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Ne hoc quidem tacebit Parmeno.
THAIS:
Oh, dubiumne id est?

[¶32] THAIS:
Attend; I entreat you. My mother died there recently; her brother is somewhat greedy after wealth. When he saw that this damsel was of beauteous form and understood music, hoping for a good price, he forthwith put her up for sale, and sold her. By good fortune
this friend of mine was present; he bought her as a gift to me, not knowing or suspecting any thing of all this. He returned; but when he perceived that I had formed a connection with you as well, he feigned excuses on purpose that he might not give her; he said that if he could feel confidence that he should be preferred to yourself
by me, so as not to apprehend that, when I had received her, I should forsake him, then he was ready to give her to me; but that he did fear this. But, so far as I can conjecture, he has set his affections upon the girl.
PHAEDRIA:
Any thing beyond that?

> Latin: Hoc agite amabo. Mater mea illic mortua est
Nuper. Eius frater aliquantum ad rem est avidior.
Is hanc ubi forma videt honesta virginem,
Et fidibus scire, pretium sperans ilico
Producit, vendit. Forte fortuna affuit
Hic meus amicus: emit eam dono mihi,
Imprudens harum rerum ignarusque omnium.
Is venit: postquam sensit me tecum quoque
Rem habere, fingit causas ne det sedulo.
Ait, si fidem habeat se iri praepositum tibi
Apud me, ac non id metuat, ne ubi acceperim
Sese relinquam, velle se illam mihi dare;
Verum id vereri: sed, ego quantum suspicor,
Ad virginem animum adiecit.
PHAEDRIA:
Etiamne amplius?

[¶33] THAIS:
Nothing; for I have made inquiry. Now, my Phaedria,
there are many reasons why I could wish to get her away from him. In the first place, because she was called my sister; moreover, that I may restore and deliver her to her friends. I am a lone woman; I have no one here, neither acquaintance nor relative; wherefore, Phaedria, I am desirous by my good offices to secure friends.

> Latin: THAIS:
Nihil; nam quaesivi. Nunc ego eam, mi Phaedria,
Multae sunt causae quamobrem cupiam abducere:
Primum quod soror est dicta; praeterea ut suis
Restituam ac reddam: sola sum: habeo hic neminem
Neque amicum, neque cognatum; quamobrem, Phaedria,
Cupio aliquos parare amicos beneficio meo.

[¶34] Prithee, do aid me in this, in order that it may be the more easily effected. Do allow him for the few next days to have the preference with me. Do you make no answer?
PHAEDRIA:
Most vile woman! Can I make you any answer after such behavior as this?

> Latin: Id amabo adiuta me, quo id fiat facilius.
Sine illum priores partes hosce aliquot dies
Apud me habere. Nihil respondes?
PHAEDRIA:
Pessima,
Egon quicquam cum istis factis tibi respondeam?

[¶35] PARMENO:
Well done, my master, I commend you; (aside) he’s galled at last. (To PHAEDRIA.) You show yourself a man.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Eu noster! laudo: tandem perdoluit: vir es.

[¶36] PHAEDRIA:
I was not aware what you were aiming at; “she was carried away from here, when a little child; my mother brought her up as though her own; she was called my sister; I wish to get her away, that I may restore her to her friends.” The meaning is, that all these expressions, in fine, now amount to this, that I am shut out, he is admitted. For what reason?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
At ego nescibam quorsum tu ires: “Parvula”
“Hinc est abrepta; eduxit mater pro sua:”
“Soror est dicta: cupio abducere, ut reddam suis.”
Nempe omnia haec nunc verba huc redeunt denique;
Ego excludor; ille recipitur: qua gratia?

[¶37] Except that you love him more than me: and now you are afraid of her who has been brought hither, lest she should win him, such as he is, from yourself.

> Latin: Nisi illum plus amas quam me, et istam nunc times
Quae advecta est, ne illum talem praeripiat tibi.

[¶38] THAIS:
I, afraid of that?

> Latin: THAIS:
Ego id timeo?

[¶39] PHAEDRIA:
What else, then, gives you concern? Let me know. Is he the only person who makes presents? Have you found my bounty shut against you?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Quid te ergo aliud sollicitat? cedo.
Num solus ille dona dat? nuncubi meam
Benignitatem sensisti in te claudier?

[¶40] Did I not, when you told me that you wished for a servant-maid from Aethiopia, setting all other matters aside, go and seek for one? Then you said that you wanted a Eunuch, because ladies of quality alone make use of them; I found you one. I yesterday paid twenty minae for them both.

> Latin: Nonne ubi mihi dixti cupere te ex Aethiopia
Ancillulam relictis rebus omnibus
Quaesivi? porro eunuchum dixti velle te,
Quia solae utuntur his reginae; repperi.
Heri minas viginti pro ambobus dedi:

[¶41] Though slighted by you, I still kept these things in mind; as a reward for so doing, I am despised by you.
THAIS:
Phaedria, what does this mean? Although I wish to get her away, and think that by these means it could most probably be effected; still, rather than make an enemy of you, I’ll do as you request me.

> Latin: Tamen contemptus abs te haec habui in memoria:
Ob haec facta abs te spernor.
THAIS:
Quid istic Phaedria?
Quanquam illam cupio abducere, atque hac re arbitror
Id fieri posse maxime, verumtamen,
Potius quam te inimicum habeam, faciam ut iusseris.

[¶42] PHAEDRIA:
I only wish that you used that expression from your heart and truthfully, “rather than make an enemy of you.” If I could believe that this was said sincerely, I could put up with any thing.
PARMENO: (aside.)

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Utinam istuc verbum ex animo ac vere diceres,
“Potius quam te inimicum habeam.” Si istuc crederem
Sincere dici quidvis possem perpeti.

[¶43] He staggers; how instantaneously is he vanquished by a single expression!

> Latin: PARMENO:
Labascit victus uno verbo quam cito!

[¶44] THAIS:
I, wretched woman, not speak from my heart? What, pray,
did you ever ask of me in jest, but that you carried your point? I am unable to obtain even this of you, that you would grant me only two days.

> Latin: THAIS:
Ego non ex animo misera dico? quam ioco
Rem voluisti a me tandem quin perfeceris?
Ego impetrare nequeo hoc abs te, biduum
Saltem ut concedas solum?

[¶45] PHAEDRIA:
If, indeed, it is but two days; but don’t let these days become twenty.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Siquidem biduum;
Verum ne fiant isti viginti dies.

[¶46] THAIS:
Assuredly not more than two days, or—

> Latin: THAIS:
Profecto non plus biduum, aut —

[¶47] PHAEDRIA:
“Or?” I won’t have it.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
“Aut” nihil moror.

[¶48] THAIS:
It shall not be; only do allow me to obtain this of you.

> Latin: THAIS:
Non fiet: hoc modo sine te exorem.

[¶49] PHAEDRIA:
Of course that which you desire must be done.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Scilicet
Faciendum est quod vis.

[¶50] THAIS:
I love you as you deserve; you act obligingly.

> Latin: THAIS:
Merito amo te.

[¶51] PHAEDRIA: (to PARMENO.)
I shall go into the country; there I shall worry myself for the next two days: I’m resolved to do so; Thais must be humored. Do you, Parmeno, take care that they are brought hither.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Bene facis.
Rus ibo: ibi hoc me macerabo biduum.
Ita facere certum est: mos gerendus est Thaidi.
Tu, Parmeno, huc fac illi adducantur.

[¶52] PARMENO:
Certainly.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Maxime.

[¶53] PHAEDRIA:
For the next two days then, Thais, adieu.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
In hoc biduum Thais vale.

[¶54] THAIS:
And the same to you, my Phaedria; do you desire aught else?

> Latin: THAIS:
Mi Phaedria
Et tu; numquid vis aliud?

[¶55] PHAEDRIA:
What should I desire? That, present with the Captain, you may be as if absent; that night and day you may love me; may feel my absence; may dream of me; may be impatient for me; may think about me;

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Egone quid velim?
Cum milite isto praesens absens ut sies;
Noctes diesque me ames; me desideres;
Me somnies; me expectes; de me cogites;

[¶56] may hope for me; may centre your delight in me; may be all in all with me; in fine, if you will, be my very life, as I am yours.
(Exeunt PHAEDRIA and PARMENO.
THAIS: (to herself.)

> Latin: Me speres; me te oblectes; mecum tota sis:
Meus fac sis postremo animus, quando ego sum tuus.

[¶57] Ah wretched me! perhaps now he puts but little faith in me, and forms his estimate of me from the dispositions of other women. By my troth, I, who know my own self, am very sure of this,
that I have not feigned any thing that’s false, and that no person is dearer to my heart than this same Phaedria; and whatever in the present case I have done, for this girl’s sake have I done it; for I trust that now I have pretty nearly discovered her brother, a young man of very good family;

> Latin: THAIS:
Me miseram! forsitan hic mihi parvam habeat fidem,
Atque ex aliarum ingeniis nunc me iudicet.
Ego pol quae mihi sum conscia hoc certo scio,
Neque me finxisse falsi quicquam, neque meo
Cordi esse quemquam cariorem hoc Phaedria:
Et quicquid huius feci causa virginis
Feci; nam me eius spero fratrem propemodum
Iam repperisse, adolescentem adeo nobilem:

[¶58] and he has appointed this day to come to me at my house. I’ll go hence in-doors, and wait until he comes.
(She goes into her house.) (Enter PHAEDRIA and PARMENO.)

> Latin: Et is hodie venturum ad me constituit domum.
Concedam hinc intro atque expectabo dum venit.
(PHAEDRIA. PARMENO.)

[¶59] PHAEDRIA:
Mind that those people are taken there, as I ordered.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Fac ita ut iussi deducantur isti.

[¶60] PARMENO:
I’ll do so.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Faciam.

[¶61] PHAEDRIA:
And carefully.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
At diligenter.

[¶62] PARMENO:
It shall be done.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Fiet.

[¶63] PHAEDRIA:
And with all speed.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
At mature.

[¶64] PARMENO:
It shall be done.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Fiet.

[¶65] PHAEDRIA:
Have you had sufficient instructions?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Satin hoc mandatum est tibi?

[¶66] PARMENO:
Dear me! to ask the question, as though it were a matter of difficulty.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Ah!
Rogitare? quasi difficile sit.

[¶67] I wish that you were able, Phaedria, to find any thing as easily as this present will be lost.
PHAEDRIA:
Together with it, I myself am lost, which concerns me more nearly. Don’t bear this with such a feeling of vexation.

> Latin: Utinam tam aliquid invenire facile possis Phaedria
Quam hoc peribit.
PHAEDRIA:
Ego quoque una pereo, quod mihi est carius:
Ne istuc tam iniquo patiare animo.

[¶68] PARMENO:
By no means; on the contrary, I’ll see it done. But do you order any thing else?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Minime; quin effectum dabo.
Sed numquid aliud imperas?

[¶69] PHAEDRIA:
Set off my present with words, as far as you can; and so far as you are able, do drive away that rival of mine from her.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Munus nostrum ornato verbis, quod poteris; et istum aemulum,
Quod poteris, ab ea pellito.

[¶70] PARMENO:
Pshaw! I should have kept that in mind, even if you hadn’t reminded me.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Memini, tametsi nullus moneas.

[¶71] PHAEDRIA:
I shall go into the country and remain there.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Ego rus ibo, atque ibi manebo.

[¶72] PARMENO:
I agree with you.
(Moves as if going.)

> Latin: PARMENO:
Censeo.

[¶73] PHAEDRIA:
But hark you!

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Sed heus tu!

[¶74] PARMENO:
What is it you want?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quid vis?

[¶75] PHAEDRIA:
Are you of opinion that I can muster resolution and hold out so as not to come back within the time?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Censen posse me offirmare
Et perpeti ne redeam interea?

[¶76] PARMENO:
What, you? Upon my faith, I don’t think so; for either you’ll be returning at once, or by-and-by, at night, want of sleep will be driving you hither.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Tene? non hercle arbitror.
Nam aut iam revertere, aut mox noctu te adiget horsum insomnia.

[¶77] PHAEDRIA:
I’ll do some laborious work, that I may be continually fatigued, so as to sleep in spite of myself.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Opus faciam ut defatiger usque ingratiis ut dormiam.

[¶78] PARMENO:
When wearied, you will be keeping awake; by this you will be making it worse.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Vigilabis lassus; hoc plus facies.

[¶79] PHAEDRIA:
Oh, you talk to no purpose, Parmeno: this softness of spirit, upon my faith, must be got rid of; I indulge myself too much. Could I not do without her, pray, if there were the necessity, even for a whole three days?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Ah nihil dicis Parmeno.
Eiicienda hercle haec est mollities animi: nimis me indulgeo.
Tandem non ego illa caream, si sit opus, vel totum triduum?

[¶80] PARMENO:
Whew! an entire three days! Take care what you are about.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Hui!
Universum triduum? vide quid agas.

[¶81] PHAEDRIA:
My mind is made up.
(Exit.)
PARMENO: (to himself.)

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Stat sententia.

[¶82] Good Gods! What a malady is this! That a man should become so changed through love, that you wouldn’t know him to be the same person! Not any one was there less inclined to folly than he, and no one more discreet or more temperate. But who is it that’s coming this way? Heyday! surely this is Gnatho, the Captain’s Parasite; he’s bringing along with him the damsel as a present to her. Heavens!

> Latin: PARMENO:
Di boni, quid hoc morbi est? adeone homines immutarier
Ex amore ut non cognoscas eundem esse? Hoc nemo fuit
Minus ineptus magis severus quisquam, nec magis continues.
Sed quis hic est qui huc pergit? at at! hic quidem est parasitus Gnatho
Militis: ducit secum una virginem dono huic. Papae!

[¶83] How beautiful! No wonder if I make but a sorry figure here to-day with this decrepit Eunuch of mine. She surpasses Thais herself.
(Stands aside.) (Enter GNATHO at a distance, leading PAMPHILA.)
GNATHO: (to himself.)

> Latin: Facie honesta: mirum ni ego me turpiter hodie hic dabo
Cum meo decrepito hoc eunucho. Haec superat ipsam Thaidem.
(GNATHO. PARMENO.)

[¶84] Immortal Gods! how much does one man excel another! What a difference there is between a wise person and a fool! This strongly came into my mind from the following circumstance. As I was, coming along to-day, I met a certain person of this place, of my own rank and station,
no mean fellow, one who, like myself, had guttled away his paternal estate; I saw him, shabby, dirty, sickly, beset with rags and years;—“What’s the meaning of this garb?” said I; he answered, “Because, wretch that I am, I’ve lost what I possessed: see to what I am reduced,—all my acquaintances and friends forsake me.” On this I felt contempt for him in: comparison with myself. “What!” said I, “you pitiful sluggard,”
“have you so managed matters as to have no hope left? Have you lost your wits together with your estate? Don’t you see me, who have risen from the same condition? What a complexion I have, how spruce and well dressed, what portliness of person? I have every thing, yet have nothing; and although I possess nothing, still, of nothing am I in want.” “But I,” said he, “unhappily, can neither be a butt nor submit to blows.”
“What!” said I, “do you suppose it is managed by those means? You are quite mistaken. Once upon a time, in the early ages, there was a calling for that class; this is a new mode of coney-catching; I, in fact, have been the first to strike into this path. There is a class of men who strive to be the first in every thing, but are not; to these I make my court; I do not present myself to them to be laughed at;”
“but I am the first to laugh with them, and at the same time to admire their parts: whatever they say, I commend; if they contradict that self-same thing, I commend again. Does any one deny? I deny: does he affirm? I affirm: in fine, I have so trained myself as to humor them in every thing. This calling is now by far the most productive.”
PARMENO: (apart.)

> Latin: GNATHO:
Di immortales! homini homo quid praestat, stulto intelligens
Quid interest! hoc adeo ex hac re venit in mentem mihi.
Conveni hodie adveniens quendam mei loci hinc atque ordinis,
Hominem haud impurum, itidem patria qui abligurierat bona.
Video sentum, squalidum, aegrum, pannis annisque obsitum.
“Quid istuc,” inquam, “ornati est?” “Quoniam miser quod habui perdidi. Hem,”
“Quo redactus sum! omnes noti me atque amici deserunt.”
Hic ego illum contempsi prae me. “Quid homo,” inquam, “ignavissime?”
“Itan parasti te, ut spes nulla reliqua in te sit tibi?”
“Simul consilium cum re amisti? viden me ex eodem ortum loco,”
“Qui color, nitor, vestitus, quae habitudo est corporis?”
“Omnia habeo, neque quicquam habeo. Nihil cum est nihil defit tamen.”
“At ego infelix neque ridiculus esse neque plagas pati”
“Possum.” “Quid? tu his rebus credis fieri? tota erras via.”
“Olim isti fuit generi quondam quaestus apud saeclum prius.”
“Hoc novum est aucupium: ego adeo hanc primus inveni viam.”
“Est genus hominum, qui esse primos se omnium rerum volunt,”
“Nec sunt: hos consector. Hisce ego non paro me ut rideant;”
“Sed his ultro arrideo, et eorum ingenia admiror simul.”
“Quicquid dicunt laudo: id rursum si negant, laudo id quoque.”
“Negat quis? nego: ait? aio. Postremo imperavi egomet mihi”
“Omnia assentari. Is quaestus nunc est multo uberrimus.”

[¶85] A clever fellow, upon my faith! From being fools he makes men mad outright.
GNATHO: (to himself, continuing.)

> Latin: PARMENO:
Scitum hercle hominem! hic homines prorsum ex stultis insanos facit.

[¶86] While we were thus talking, in the mean time we arrived at the market-place; overjoyed, all the confectioners ran at once to meet me; fishmongers, butchers, cooks, sausage-makers, and fishermen, whom, both when my fortunes were flourishing and when they were ruined, I had served, and often serve still: they complimented me, asked me to dinner, and gave me a hearty welcome.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Dum haec loquimur interea loci ad macellum ubi advenimus,
Concurrunt laeti mihi obviam cupediarii omnes,
Cetarii, lanii, coqui, fartores, piscatores;
Quibus et re salva et perdita profueram, et prosum saepe.
Salutant; ad coenam vocant; adventum gratulantur.

[¶87] When this poor hungry wretch saw that I was in such great esteem, and that I obtained a living so easily, then the fellow began to entreat me that I would allow him to learn this method of me; I bade him become my follower if he could; as the disciples of the Philosophers take their names from the Philosophers themselves, so too, the Parasite; ought to be called Gnathonics.
PARMENO: (apart to the Audience.)

> Latin: Ille ubi miser famelicus videt me esse in tanto honore,
Et tam facile victum quaerere, ibi homo coepit me obsecrare
Ut sibi liceret discere id de me: sectari iussi;
Si potis est, tanquam philosophorum habent disciplina ex ipsis
Vocabula, parasiti item ut Gnathonici vocentur.

[¶88] Do you see the effects of ease and feeding at another’s cost?
GNATHO: (to Iimself, continuing.)
But why do I delay to take this girl to Thais, and ask her to come to dinner? (Aside, on seeing PARMENO.) But I see Parmeno, our rival’s servant, waiting before the door of Thais with a sorrowful air; all’s safe; no doubt these people are finding a cold welcome. I’m resolved to have some sport with this knave.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Viden otium et cibus quid faciat alienus?
GNATHO:
Sed ego cesso
Ad Thaidem hanc deducere, et rogitare ad coenam ut veniat?
Sed Parmenonem ante ostium Thaidis tristem video,
Rivalis servum. Salva res est: nimirum homines frigent.
Nebulonem hunc certum est ludere.

[¶89] PARMENO: (aside.)
They fancy that, through this present,
Thais is quite their own.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Hice hoc munere arbitrantur
Suam Thaidem esse.

[¶90] GNATHO: (accosting PARMENO.)
With his very best wishes Gnatho greets Parmeno, his very good friend.—What are you doing?

> Latin: GNATHO:
Plurima salute Parmenonem
Summum suum impertit Gnatho. Quid agitur?

[¶91] PARMENO:
I’m standing.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Statur.

[¶92] GNATHO:
So I perceive. Pray, do you see any thing here that don’t please you?

> Latin: GNATHO:
Video.
Numquidnam quod nolis vides?

[¶93] PARMENO:
Yourself.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Te.

[¶94] GNATHO:
I believe you,—but any thing else, pray?

> Latin: GNATHO:
Credo; at numquid aliud?

[¶95] PARMENO:
Why so?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quidum?

[¶96] GNATHO:
Because you are out of spirits.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Quia tristis es.

[¶97] PARMENO:
Not in the least.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Nihil equidem.

[¶98] GNATHO:
Well, don’t be so; but what think you of this slave?
(pointing to her.)

> Latin: GNATHO:
Ne sis: sed quid videtur
Hoc tibi mancipium?

[¶99] PARMENO:
Really, not amiss.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Non malum hercle.

[¶100] GNATHO: (aside.)
I’ve galled the fellow.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Uro hominem.

[¶101] PARMENO: (aside, on overhearing him.)
How mistaken you are in your notion!

> Latin: PARMENO:
Ut falsus animi est!

[¶102] GNATHO:
How far do you suppose this gift will prove acceptable to Thais?

> Latin: GNATHO:
Quam hoc munus gratum Thaidi arbitrare esse?

[¶103] PARMENO:
It’s this you mean to say now, that we are discarded there. Hark you, there are vicissitudes in all things.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Hoc nunc dicis,
Eiectos hinc nos: omnium rerum, heus, vicissitudo est.

[¶104] GNATHO:
For the next six months, Parmeno, I’ll set you at ease; you sha’n’t have to be running to and fro, or sitting up till daylight. Don’t I make you happy?

> Latin: GNATHO:
Sex ego te totos Parmeno hos menses quietum reddam,
Ne sursum deorsum cursites, neve usque ad lucem vigiles.
Ecquid beo te?

[¶105] PARMENO:
Me? O prodigiously!

> Latin: PARMENO:
Men? papae!

[¶106] GNATHO:
That’s my way with my friends.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Sic soleo amicos.

[¶107] PARMENO:
I commend you.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Laudo.

[¶108] GNATHO:
I’m detaining you; perhaps you were about to go somewhere else.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Detineo te fortasse: tu profectus alio fueras.

[¶109] PARMENO:
Nowhere.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Nusquam.

[¶110] GNATHO:
In that case then, lend me your services a little; let me be introduced to her.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Tum tu igitur paululum da mihi operae: fac ut admittar
Ad illam.

[¶111] PARMENO:
Very well; (GNATHO knocks at the door, which immediately opens) now the door is open for you, (aside) because you are bringing her.
GNATHO: (going into the house of THAIS, ironically.)

> Latin: PARMENO:
Age modo; nunc tibi patent fores hae, quia istam ducis.

[¶112] Should you like any one to be called out from here?
(Goes in with PAMPHILA, and shuts the door.)
PARMENO: (to himself.)
Only let the next two days go by; you who, at present, in such high favor, are opening the door with one little finger,
assuredly I’ll cause to be kicking at that door full oft, with your heels, to no purpose.
(Re-enter GNATHO from the house.)

> Latin: GNATHO:
Numquam evocari hinc vis foras?
PARMENO:
Sine biduum hoc praetereat:
Qui mihi nunc uno digitulo fores aperis fortunatus
Nae tu istas faxo calcibus saepe insultabis frustra.

[¶113] GNATHO:
Still standing here, Parmeno? Why now, have you been left on guard here, that no go-between might perchance be secretly running from the Captain to her?
(Exit.)

> Latin: GNATHO:
Etiam nunc hic stas Parmeno? eho numnam hic relictus custos,
Ne quis forte internuntius clam a milite ad istam curset?

[¶114] PARMENO:
Smartly said; really they ought to be wonderful things to please the Captain. But I see my master’s youngest son coming this way;

> Latin: PARMENO:
Facete dictum: mira vero militi quae placeant.
Sed video herilem filium minorem huc advenire.

[¶115] I wonder why he has come away from the Piraeus, for he is at present on guard there in the public service. It’s not for nothing; he’s coming in a hurry, too; I can’t imagine why he’s looking around in all directions.
(Enter CHAEREA on the other side of the stage, in haste.)
CHAEREA: (to himself.)

> Latin: Miror quid ex Piraeeo abierit; nam ibi custos publice est nunc.
Non temere est; et properans venit: nescio quid circumspectat.
(CHAEREA. PARMENO.)

[¶116] I’m utterly undone! The girl is nowhere; nor do I know where I am myself, to have lost sight of her. Where to inquire for her, where to search for her, whom to ask, which way to turn,
I’m at a loss. I have only this hope; wherever she is, she can not long be concealed. O what beauteous features! from this moment I banish all other women from my thoughts; I can not endure these every-day beauties.
PARMENO: (apart.)
Why look, here’s the other one. He’s saying something, I don’t know what, about love.
O unfortunate old man, their father! This assuredly is a youth, who, if he does begin, you will say that
the other one was mere play and pastime, compared with what the madness of this one will cause.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Occidi.
Neque virgo est usquam; neque ego, qui illam e conspectu amisi meo.
Ubi quaeram? Ubi investigem? Quem perconter? Quam insistam viam?
Incertus sum: una haec spes est; ubi ubi est, diu celari non potest.
O faciem pulchramn! deleo omnes dehinc ex animo mulieros.
Taedet quotidianarum harum formarum.
PARMENO:
Ecce autem alterum!
Nescio quid de more loquitur.

[¶117] CHAEREA: (to himself, aloud.)

> Latin: CHAEREA:
O infortunatum senem!
PARMENO:
Hic vero est qui si occeperit lucidum iocumque dices
Illum alterum fuisse praeut quae dabit huius rabies.

[¶118] May all the Gods and Goddesses confound that old fellow who detained me to-day, and me as well who stopped for him, and in fact troubled myself a straw about him. But see, here’s Parmeno. (Addressing him.) Good-morrow to you.
PARMENO:
Why are you out of spirits, and why in such a hurry? Whence come you?

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Ut illum Di Deaeque senium perdant qui me hodie remoratus est,
Meque adeo qui restiterim; tum autem qui illum floccifecerim.
Sed eccum Parmenonem: salve.
PARMENO:
Quid tu es tristis? quidve es alacris?
Unde is?

[¶119] CHAEREA:
What, I? I’faith, I neither know whence I’m come, nor whither I’m going;

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Egone? nescio hercle, neque unde eam, neque quorsumn eam:

[¶120] so utterly have I lost myself.

> Latin: Ita prorsum oblitus sum mei.

[¶121] PARMENO:
How, pray?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Qui quaeso?

[¶122] CHAEREA:
I’m in love.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Amo.

[¶123] PARMENO: (starting.)
Ha!

> Latin: PARMENO:
Hem!

[¶124] CHAEREA:
Now, Parmeno, you may show what sort of a man you are. You know that you often promised me to this effect: “Chaerea, do you only find some object to fall in love with; I’ll make you sensible of my usefulness in such matters,” when I used to be storing up my father’s provisions for you on the sly in your little room.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Nunc Parmeno te ostendes qui vir sies.
Scis te mihi saepe pollicitum esse; “Chaerea aliquid inveni”
“Modo quod ames: in ea re utilitatem ego faciam ut cognoscas meam;”
Cum in cellulam ad te patris penum omnem congerebam clanculum.

[¶125] PARMENO:
To the point, you simpleton.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Age, inepte.

[¶126] CHAEREA:
Upon my faith, this is the fact. Now, then, let your promises be made good, if you please, or if indeed the affair is a deserving one for you to exert your energies upon. The girl isn’t like our girls, whom their mothers are anxious to have with shoulders kept down, and chests well girthed, that they may be slender. If one is a little inclined to plumpness, they declare that she’s training for a boxer, and stint her food;

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Hoc hercle factum est: fac sis nunc promissa appareant;
Sive adeo digna res est ubi tu nervos intendas tuos.
Haud similis virgo est virginum nostrarum quas matres student
Demissis humeris esse, vincto pectore, ut gracilae sient.
Si qua est habitior paulo, pugilem esse aiunt, deducunt cibum.

[¶127] although their constitutions are good, by their treatment they make them as slight as bulrushes; and so for that reason they are admired, forsooth.
PARMENO:
What sort of a girl is this one of yours?

> Latin: Tametsi bona est natura, reddunt curatura iunceas:
Itaque ergo amantur.
PARMENO:
Quid tua istaec?

[¶128] CHAEREA:
A new style of beauty.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Nova figura oris.

[¶129] PARMENO: (ironically.)
Astounding!

> Latin: PARMENO:
Papae!

[¶130] CHAEREA:
Her complexion genuine, her flesh firm and full of juiciness.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Color verus, corpus solidum et succi plenum.

[¶131] PARMENO:
Her age?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Anni?

[¶132] CHAEREA:
Her age Sixteen.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Anni? sedecim.

[¶133] PARMENO:
The very flower of youth.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Flos ipse.

[¶134] CHAEREA:
Do you make, it your care to obtain her for me either by force, stealth, or entreaty; so that I only gain her, it matters not how to me.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Hanc tu mihi vel vi vel clam vel precario
Fac tradas: mea nihil refert, dum potiar modo.

[¶135] PARMENO:
Well, but to whom does the damsel belong?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quid? virgo cuia est?

[¶136] CHAEREA:
That, i’faith, I don’t know.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Nescio hercle.

[¶137] PARMENO:
Whence did she come?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Unde est?

[¶138] CHAEREA:
That, just as much.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Tantundem.

[¶139] PARMENO:
Where does she live?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Ubi habitat?

[¶140] CHAEREA:
Nor yet do I know that.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Ne id quidem.

[¶141] PARMENO:
Where did you see her?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Ubi vidisti?

[¶142] CHAEREA:
In the street.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
In via.

[¶143] PARMENO:
How did you come to lose her?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Qua ratione amisti?

[¶144] CHAEREA:
Why, that’s what I was just now fretting myself about; and I do not believe that there is one individual to whom all good luck is a greater stranger than to myself.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Id equidem adveniens mecum stomachabar modo;
Nec quenquam esse ego hominem arbitror cui magis bonae
Felicitates omnes adversae sient.

[¶145] What ill fortune this is!
I’m utterly undone!
PARMENO:
What’s the matter?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quid hoc est sceleris?

[¶146] CHAEREA:
Do you ask me? Do you know Archidemides, my father’s kinsman and years’-mate?

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Perii.

[¶147] PARMENO:
Why not?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quid factum est?

[¶148] CHAEREA:
He, while I was in full pursuit of her, met me.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Rogas?
Patris cognatum atque aequalem Archidemidem,
Novistin?
PARMENO:
Quidni?
CHAEREA:
Is dum sequor hanc fit mihi obviam.

## 2. Lines 328–725

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/terence-eunuchus/2/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/terence-eunuchus/2/#p-N

[¶0] PARMENO:
Unseasonably, upon my faith.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Incommode hercle.

[¶1] CHAEREA:
Aye, unhappily, rather; for other ordinary matters are to be called “unseasonable,” Parmeno.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Immo enimvero infeliciter;
Nam incommoda alia sunt cicenda, Parmeno.

[¶2] It would be safe for me to make oath that I have not seen him for fully these six or seven months, until just now, when I least wanted, and there was the least occasion. Come now! isn’t this like a fatality? What do you say?
PARMENO:
Extremely so.

> Latin: Illum liquet mihi deierare his mensibus
Sex septem prorsum non vidisse proximis,
Nisi nunc cum minime vellem minimeque opus fuit.
Eho nonne hoc monstri simile est? quid ais?
PARMENO:
Maxime.

[¶3] CHAEREA:
At once he came running up to me, from a considerable distance,
stooping, palsied, hanging his lip, and wheezing. “Halloo, Chaerea! halloo!” said he; “I’ve something to say to you.” I stopped. “Do you know what it is I want with you?” said he. “Say on,” said I. “To-morrow my cause comes on,” said he. “What then?” “Be sure and tell your father to remember and be my advocate in the morning.”

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Continuo accurrit ad me quam longe quidem,
Incurvus, tremulus, labiis demissis, gemens.
“Heus! heus! tibi dico Chaerea,” inquit. Restiti.
“Scin quid ego te volebam?” “Dic.” “Cras est mihi”
“Iudicium.” “Quid tum?” “Ut diligenter nunties”
“Patri, advocatus mane mihi esse ut meminerit.”

[¶4] In talking of this, an hour elapsed. I inquired if he wanted any thing else. “That’s all,” said he. I left him. When I looked in this direction for the damsel, she had that very instant turned this way down this street of ours.
PARMENO: (aside.)
It’s a wonder if he doesn’t mean her who has just now been made a present of to Thais here.

> Latin: Dum haec dicit, abiit hora. Rogo numquid velit?
“Recte,” inquit. Abeo. Cum huc respicio ad virginem,
Illa sese interea commodum huc adverterat
In hanc nostram plateam.
PARMENO:
Mirum ni hanc dicit modo
Huic quae data est dono.

[¶5] CHAEREA:
When I got here, she was nowhere to be seen.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Huc cum advenio nulla erat.

[¶6] PARMENO:
Some attendants, I suppose, were accompanying the girl?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Comites secuti scilicet sunt virginem.

[¶7] CHAEREA:
Yes; a Parasite, and a female servant.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Verum: parasitus cum ancilla.

[¶8] PARMENO: (apart.)
It’s the very same. (To CHAEREA.) It’s all over with you; make an end of it; you’ve said your last.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Ipsa est: ilicet:
Desine: iam conclamatum est.

[¶9] CHAEREA:
You are thinking about something else.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Alias res agis.

[¶10] PARMENO:
Indeed I’m thinking of this same matter.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Istuc ago quidem.

[¶11] CHAEREA:
Pray, tell me, do you know her, or did you see her?

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Nostin quae sit? die mihi:
Aut vidistin?

[¶12] PARMENO:
I did see, and I do know her, I am aware to what house she has been taken.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Vidi; novi; scio quo abducta sit.

[¶13] CHAEREA:
What, my dear Parmeno, do you know her,
and are you aware where she is?

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Eho Parmeno mi nostin?
PARMENO:
Novi.
CHAEREA:
Et scis ubi siet?

[¶14] PARMENO:
She has been brought here (pointing) to the house of Thais the Courtesan. She has been made a present to her.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Huc deducta est ad meretricem Thaidem: ei dono data est.

[¶15] CHAEREA:
What opulent person is it, to be presenting a gift so precious as this?

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Quis is est tam potens cum tanto munere hoc?

[¶16] PARMENO:
The Captain Thraso, Phaedria’s rival.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Miles Thraso,
Phaedriae rivalis.

[¶17] CHAEREA:
An unpleasant business for my brother, it should seem.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Duras fratris partes praedicas.

[¶18] PARMENO:
Aye, and if you did but know what present he is pitting against this present, you would say so still more.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Immo enim si scias quod donum huic dono contra comparet,
Tum id magis dicas.

[¶19] CHAEREA:
Troth now, what is it, pray?

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Quodnam quaeso hercle?

[¶20] PARMENO:
A Eunuch.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Eunuchum.

[¶21] CHAEREA:
What! that unsightly creature, pray, that he purchased yesterday, an old woman?

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Illumne obsecro
Inhonestum hominem quem mercatus est heri, senem, mulierem?

[¶22] PARMENO:
That very same.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Istune ipsum.

[¶23] CHAEREA:
To a certainty, the gentleman will be bundled out of doors, together with his present; but I wasn’t aware that this Thais is our neighbor.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Homo quatietur certe cum dono foras.
Sed istam Thaidem non scivi nobis vicinam.

[¶24] PARMENO:
It isn’t long since she came.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Haud diu est.

[¶25] CHAEREA:
Unhappy wretch that I am! never to have seen her, even. Come now, just tell me,
is she as handsome as she is reported to be?

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Perii! numquamne etiam me illam vidisse? ehodum dic mihi;
Estne ut fertur forma?

[¶26] PARMENO:
Quite.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Sane.

[¶27] CHAEREA:
But nothing in comparison with this damsel of mine?

> Latin: CHAEREA:
At nihil ad nostram hanc.

[¶28] PARMENO:
Another thing altogether.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Alia res.

[¶29] CHAEREA:
Troth now, Parmeno, prithee do contrive for me to gain possession of her.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Obsecro hercle Parmeno fac ut potiar.

[¶30] PARMENO:
I’ll do my best, and use all my endeavors; I’ll lend you my assistance. (Going.) Do you want any thing else with me?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Faciam sedulo ac
Dabo operam; adiuvabo: numquid me aliud vis?

[¶31] CHAEREA:
Where are you going now?

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Quo nunc is?

[¶32] PARMENO:
Home; to take those slaves to Thais, as your brother ordered me.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Domum,
Ut mancipia haec, ita ut iussit frater, ducam ad Thaidem.

[¶33] CHAEREA:
Oh, lucky Eunuch that! really, to be sent as a present to that house!

> Latin: CHAEREA:
O fortunatum istum eunuchum qui quidem in hanc detur domum!

[¶34] PARMENO:
Why so?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quid ita?

[¶35] CHAEREA:
Do you ask? He will always see at home a fellow-servant of consummate beauty, and be conversing with her; he will be in the same house with her; sometimes he will take his meals with her; sometimes sleep near her.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Rogitas? Summa forma semper conservam domi
Videbit; colloquetur; aderit una in unis aedibus;
Cibum nonnumquam capiet cum ea; interdum propter dormiet.

[¶36] PARMENO:
What now, if you yourself were to be this fortunate person?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quid si nunc tute fortunatus fias?

[¶37] CHAEREA:
By what means, Parmeno? Tell me.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Qua re Parmeno?
Responde.

[¶38] PARMENO:
Do you assume his dress.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Capias tu illius vestem.

[¶39] CHAEREA:
His dress! Well, what then?

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Vestem? quid tum postea?

[¶40] PARMENO:
I’ll take you there instead of him.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Pro illo te ducam.

[¶41] CHAEREA: (musing.)
I hear you.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Audio.

[¶42] PARMENO:
I’ll say that you are he.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Te esse illum dicam.

[¶43] CHAEREA:
I understand you.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Intelligo.

[¶44] PARMENO:
You may enjoy those advantages which you just now said lie would enjoy; you may take your meals together with her, be in company with her, touch her, dally with her, and sleep by her side; as not one of these women is acquainted with you, nor yet knows who you are. Besides, you are of an age and figure that you may easily pass for a eunuch.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Tu illis fruare commodis quibus tu illum dicebas modo;
Cibum una capias, adsis, tangas, ludas, propter dormias;
Quandoquidem illarum neque te quisquam novit, neque scit qui sies.
Praeterea forma et aetas ipsa est facile ut pro eunucho probes.

[¶45] CHAEREA:
You speak to the purpose; I never knew better counsel given. Well, let’s go in at once; dress me up, take me away, lead me to her, as fast as you can.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Dixti pulchre: numquam vidi melius consilium dari.
Age, eamus intro: nunc iam orna me; abduc, duc, quantum otes.

[¶46] PARMENO:
What do you mean? Really, I was only joking.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quid agis? iocabar equidem.

[¶47] CHAEREA:
You talk nonsense.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Garris.

[¶48] PARMENO:
I’m undone! Wretch that I am! what have I done? (CHAEREA pushes him along.) Whither are you pushing me? You’ll throw me down presently. I entreat you, be quiet.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Perii: quid ego egi miser?
Quo trudis? perculeris iam tu me: tibi equidem dico, mane.

[¶49] CHAEREA:
Let’s be off.
(Pushes him.)

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Eamus.

[¶50] PARMENO:
Do you still persist?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Pergin?

[¶51] CHAEREA:
I am resolved upon it.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Certum est.

[¶52] PARMENO:
Only take care that this isn’t too rash a project.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Vide ne nimium calidum hoc sit modo.

[¶53] CHAEREA:
Certainly it isn’t; let me alone for that.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Non est profecto: sine.

[¶54] PARMENO:
Aye, but I shall have to pay the penalty for this?

> Latin: PARMENO:
At enim istaec in me cudetur faba.

[¶55] CHAEREA:
Pshaw!

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Ah!

[¶56] PARMENO:
We shall be guilty of a disgraceful action.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Flagitium facimus.

[¶57] CHAEREA:
What, is it disgraceful to be taken to the house of a Courtesan, and to return the compliment upon those tormentors who treat us and our youthful age so scornfully, and who are always tormenting us in every way;—to dupe them just as we are duped by them?

> Latin: CHAEREA:
An id flagitium est, si in domum meretriciam
Deducar; et illis crucibus quae nos nostramque adolescentiam
Habent despicatam, et quae nos semper omnibus cruciant modis,
Nunc referam gratiam; atque eas itidem fallam ut ab illis fallimur?

[¶58] Or is it right and proper that in preference my father should be wheedled out of his money by deceitful pretexts? Those who knew of this would blame me; while all would think the other a meritorious act.

> Latin: An potius haec patri aequum est fieri ut a me ludatur dolis:
Quod qui rescierint culpent: illud merito factum omnes putent.

[¶59] PARMENO:
What’s to be done in such case? If you are determined to do it, you must do it: but don’t you by-and-by be throwing the blame upon me.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quid istic? si certum est facere facias: verum ne post conferas
Culpam in me.

[¶60] CHAEREA:
I shall not do so.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Non faciam.

[¶61] PARMENO:
Do you order me, then?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Iubesne?

[¶62] CHAEREA:
I order, charge, and command you; I will never disavow my authorizing you.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Iubeo, cogo, atque impero.
Numquam defugiam auctoritatem: sequere.

[¶63] PARMENO:
Follow me; may the Gods prosper it!
(They go into the house of LACHES.) (Enter THRASO and GNATHO.)

> Latin: PARMENO:
Di vortant bene.
(THRASO.
GNATHO. PARMENO.)

[¶64] THRASO:
Did Thais really return me many thanks?

> Latin: THRASO:
Magnas vero agere gratias Thais mihi?

[¶65] GNATHO:
Exceeding thanks.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Ingentes.

[¶66] THRASO:
Was she delighted, say you?

> Latin: THRASO:
Ain tu? laeta est?

[¶67] GNATHO:
Not so much, indeed, at the present itself, as because it was given by you; really, in right earnest, she does exult at that.
(Enter PARMIENO unseen, from LACHES’ house.)

> Latin: GNATHO:
Non tam ipso quidem
Dono quam abs te datum esse: id vero serio
Triumphat.

[¶68] PARMENO: (apart.)
I’ve come here to be on the look-out, that when there is an opportunity I may take the presents. But see, here’s the Captain.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Huc proviso ut, ubi tempus siet,
Deducam: sed eccum militem.

[¶69] THRASO:
Undoubtedly it is the case with me, that every thing I do is a cause for thankfulness.

> Latin: THRASO:
Est istuc datum
Profecto ut grata mihi sint quae facio omnia.

[¶70] GNATHO:
Upon my faith, I’ve observed it.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Adverti hercle animum.

[¶71] THRASO:
The most mighty King, even, always used to give me especial thanks for whatever I did; but not so to others.

> Latin: THRASO:
Vel rex semper maximas
Mihi agebat quidquid feceram; aliis non item.

[¶72] GNATHO:
He who has the wit that you have, often by his words appropriates to himself the glory that has been achieved by the labor of others.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Labore alieno magnam partam gloriam
Verbis saepe in se transmovet qui habet salem,
Quod in te est.

[¶73] THRASO:
You’ve just hit it.

> Latin: THRASO:
Habes.

[¶74] GNATHO:
The king, then, kept you in his eye.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Rex te ergo in oculis—

[¶75] THRASO:
Just so.

> Latin: THRASO:
Scilicet.

[¶76] GNATHO:
To enjoy your society.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Gestare.

[¶77] THRASO:
True; he intrusted to me all his army, all his state secrets.

> Latin: THRASO:
Vero: credere omnem exercitum,
Consilia.

[¶78] GNATHO:
Astonishing!

> Latin: GNATHO:
Mirum.

[¶79] THRASO:
Then if, on any occasion, a surfeit of society, or a dislike of business, came upon him, when he was desirous to take some recreation; just as though—you understand?

> Latin: THRASO:
Tum sicubi eum satietas
Hominum, aut negoti si quando odium ceperat,
Requiescere ubi volebat, quasi—nostin?

[¶80] GNATHO:
I know;

> Latin: GNATHO:
Scio:

[¶81] just as though on occasion he would rid his mind of those anxieties.
THRASO:
You have it. Then he used to take me aside as his only boon companion.

> Latin: Quasi ubi illam exspueret iniseriam ex animo.
THRASO:
Tenes.
Tum me convivam solum abducebat sibi.

[¶82] GNATHO:
Whew! You are telling of a King of refined taste.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Hui!
Regem elegantem narras.

[¶83] THRASO:
Aye, he is a person of that sort; a man of but very few acquaintanceships.

> Latin: THRASO:
Immo sic homo est
Perpaucorum hominum.

[¶84] GNATHO: (aside.)
Indeed, of none, I fancy, if he’s on intimate terms with you.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Immo nullorum arbitror,
Si tecum vivit.

[¶85] THRASO:
All the people envied me,
and attacked me privately. I don’t care one straw. They envied me dreadfully; but one in particular, whom the King had appointed over the Indian elephants. Once, when he became particularly troublesome, “Prithee, Strato,” said I, “are you so fierce because you hold command over the wild beasts?”

> Latin: THRASO:
Invidere omnes mihi;
Mordere clanculum: ego non flocci pendere.
Illi invidere misere: verum unus tamen
Impense, elephantis quem Indicis praefecerat.
Is ubi molestus magis est, “Quaeso,” inquam, “Strato,”
“Eone es ferox quia habes imperium in belluas?”

[¶86] GNATHO:
Cleverly said, upon my faith, and shrewdly. Astounding! You did give the fellow a home thrust. What said he?

> Latin: GNATHO:
Pulchre mehercle dictum, et sapienter. Papae!
Iugularas hominem. Quid ille?

[¶87] THRASO:
Dumfounded, instantaneously.

> Latin: THRASO:
Mutus ilico.

[¶88] GNATHO:
How could he be otherwise?

> Latin: GNATHO:
Quidni esset?

[¶89] PARMENO: (apart.)
Ye Gods, by our trust in you! a lost and miserable fellow the one, and the other a scoundrel.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Di vestram fidem! hominem perditum
Miserumque, et illum sacrilegum.

[¶90] THRASO:
Well then, about that: matter, Gnatho, the way in which I touched up the Rhodian at a banquet—
did I never tell you?

> Latin: THRASO:
Quid illud Gnatho
Quo pacto Rhodium tetigerim in convivio,
Numquam tibi dixi?

[¶91] GNATHO:
Never; but pray, do tell me. (Aside.) I’ve heard it more than a thousand times already.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Numquamn: sed narra, obsecro.
Plus millies audivi.

[¶92] THRASO:
There was in my company at a banquet, this young man of Rhodes, whom I’m speaking of. By chance I had a mistress there; he began to toy with her, and to annoy me. “What are you doing, sir impudence?” said I to the fellow;

> Latin: THRASO:
Una in convivio
Erat hic quem dico Rhodius adolescentulus.
Forte habui scortum: coepit ad id alludere,
Et me irridere. “Quid agis,” inquam, “homo impudens?”

[¶93] “a hare yourself, and looking out for game?”
GNATHO: (pretending to laugh very heartily.)
Ha, ha, ha!

> Latin: “Lepus es, et pulpamentum quaeris?”
GNATHO:
Ha, ha, he.

[¶94] THRASO:
What’s the matter?

> Latin: THRASO:
Quid est?

[¶95] GNATHO:
How apt, how smart, how clever; nothing could be more excellent. Prithee, was this a saying of yours? I fancied it was an old one.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Facete, lepide, laute; nihil supra.
Tuumne, obsecro te, hoc dictum erat? vetus credidi.

[¶96] THRASO:
Did you ever hear it before?

> Latin: THRASO:
Audieras?

[¶97] GNATHO:
Many a time; and it is mentioned among the first-rate ones.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Saepe; et fertur in primis.

[¶98] THRASO:
It’s my own.

> Latin: THRASO:
Meum est.

[¶99] GNATHO:
I’m sorry though that it was said to a thoughtless young man, and one of respectability.
PARMENO: (apart.)

> Latin: GNATHO:
Dolet dictum imprudenti adolescenti et libero.

[¶100] May the Gods confound you!
GNATHO:
Pray, what did he do?

> Latin: PARMENO:
At te Di perdant.
GNATHO:
Quid ille, quaeso?

[¶101] THRASO:
Quite disconcerted. All who were present were dying with laughter; in short, they were all quite afraid of me.

> Latin: THRASO:
Perditus.
Risu omnes qui aderant emoriri: denique
Metuebant omnes iam me.

[¶102] GNATHO:
[Not without reason.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Non iniuria.

[¶103] THRASO:
But hark you, had I best clear myself of this to Thais, as to her suspicion that I’m fond of this girl?

> Latin: THRASO:
Sed heus tu, purgone ego me de istac Thaidi,
Quod ear me amare suspicata est?

[¶104] GNATHO:
By no means:

> Latin: GNATHO:
Nihil minus.

[¶105] on the contrary, rather increase her jealousy.
THRASO:
Why so?

> Latin: Immo auge magis suspicionem.
THRASO:
Cur?

[¶106] GNATHO:
Do you ask me? Don’t you see, if on any occasion she makes mention of Phaedria or commends him, to provoke you—

> Latin: GNATHO:
Rogas?
Scin? si quando illa mentionem Phaedriae
Facit, aut si laudat, te ut male urat.

[¶107] THRASO:
I understand.

> Latin: THRASO:
Sentio.

[¶108] GNATHO:
That such may not be the case, this method is the only remedy. When she speaks of Phaedria, do you instantly mention Pamphila.
If at any time she says, “Let’s invite Phaedria to make one,” do you say, “Let’s ask Pamphila to sing.” If she praises his good looks, do you, on the other hand, praise hers. In short, do you return like for like, which will mortify her.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Id ut ne fiat haec res sola est remedio.
Ubi nominabit Phaedriam, tu Pamphilam
Continuo: si quando illa dicet, “Phaedriam”
“Commissatum intromittamus:” tu, “Pamphilam”
“Cantatum provocemus.” Si laudabit haec
Illius formam, tu huius contra. Denique
Par pro pari referto, quod eam mordeat.

[¶109] THRASO:
If, indeed, she loved me, this might be of some use, Gnatho.

> Latin: THRASO:
Siquidem me amaret, tum istuc prodesset, Gnatho.

[¶110] GNATHO:
Since she is impatient for and loves that which you give her, she already loves you; as it is, then, it is an easy matter for her to feel vexed. She will be always afraid lest the presents which she herself is now getting, you may on some occasion be taking elsewhere.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Quando illud quod tu das exspectat atque amat,
Iam dudum te amat, iam dudum illi facile fit
Quod doleat; metuit semper quem ipsa nunc capit
Fructum ne quando iratus tu alio conferas.

[¶111] THRASO:
Well said; that never came into my mind.

> Latin: THRASO:
Bene dixti: at mihi istuc non in mentem venerat.

[¶112] GNATHO:
Nonsense. You never thought about it; else how much more readily would you yourself have hit upon it, Thraso!
(Enter THAIS from her house, attended by PYTHIAS.)
THAIS: (as she comes out.)

> Latin: GNATHO:
Ridiculum: non enim cogitaras: caeterum
Idem hoc tute melius quanto invenisses Thraso!
(THAIS. THRASO. PARMENO. GNATHO. PYTHIAS.)

[¶113] I thought I just now heard the Captain’s voice. And look, here he is. Welcome, my dear Thraso.
THRASO:
O my Thais,
my sweet one, how are you? How much do you love me in return for that music girl?

> Latin: THAIS:
Audire vocem visa sum modo militis.
Atque eccum. Salve mi Thraso.
THRASO:
O Thais mea,
Meum suavium, quid agitur? ecquid nos amas
De fidicina istac?

[¶114] PARMENO: (apart.)
How polite! What a beginning he has made on meeting her!

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quam venuste! quod dedit
Principium adveniens.

[¶115] THAIS:
Very much, as you deserve.

> Latin: THAIS:
Plurimum merito tuo.

[¶116] GNATHO:
Let’s go to dinner then. (To THRASO.) What do you stand here for?

> Latin: GNATHO:
Eamus ergo ad coenam: quid stas?

[¶117] PARMENO: (apart.)
Then there’s the other one: you would declare that he was born for his belly’s sake.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Hem alterum:
Abdomini hunc natum dicas.

[¶118] THRASO:
When you please; I sha’n’t delay.
PARMENO: (apart.)

> Latin: THRASO:
Ubi vis, non moror.

[¶119] I’ll accost them, and pretend as though I had just come out. (He comes forward.) Are you going any where, Thais?
THAIS:
Ha! Parmeno; well done; just going out for the day.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Adibo, atque adsimulabo quasi nunc exeam.
Ituran Thais quopiam es?
THAIS:
Ehem! Parmeno,
Bene fecisti: hodie itura.

[¶120] PARMENO:
Where?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quo?

[¶121] THAIS: (aside, pointing at THRASO.)
Why! don’t you see him?
PARMENO: (aside.)

> Latin: THAIS:
Quid? hunc non vides?

[¶122] I see him, and I’m sorry for it. (Aloud.) Phaedria’s presents are ready for you when you please.
THRASO: (impatiently.)
Why are we to stand here? Why don’t we be off?
PARMENO: (to THRASO.)

> Latin: PARMENO:
Video et me taedet: ubi vis dona adsunt tibi
A Phaedria.
THRASO:
Quid stamus? cur non imus hinc?

[¶123] Troth now, pray, do let us, with your leave, present to her the things we intend, and accost and speak to her.
THRASO: (ironically.)

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quaeso hercle ut liceat, pace quod fiat tua,
Dare huic quae volumus, convenire et colloqui.

[¶124] Very fine presents, I suppose, or at least equal to mine.

> Latin: THRASO:
Perpulchra credo dona haud nostris similia.

[¶125] PARMENO:
The fact will prove itself. (Goes to the door of LACHES’ house and calls.) Ho there! bid those people come out of doors at once, as I ordered.
(Enter from the house a BLACK GIRL.)

> Latin: PARMENO:
Res indicabit. Heus, iubete istos foras
Exire quos iussi ocius: procede tu huc.

[¶126] PARMENO:
Do you step forward this way. (To THAIS.) She comes all the way from Aethiopia.
THRASO: (contemptuously.)
Here are some three minae in value.

> Latin: Ex Aethiopia est usque haec.
THRASO:
Hic sunt tres minae.

[¶127] GNATHO:
Hardly so much.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Vix.

[¶128] PARMENO:
Where are you, Dorus? Step this way. (Enter CHAEREA from the house, dressed like the EUNUCH.) There’s a Eunuch for you—of what a genteel appearance! of what a prime age!

> Latin: PARMENO:
Ubi tu es Dore? accede huc. Hem eunuchum tibi,
Quam liberali facie, quam aetate integra!

[¶129] THAIS:
God bless me, he’s handsome.

> Latin: THAIS:
Ita me Di ament honestus est.

[¶130] PARMENO:
What say you, Gnatho? Do you see any thing to find fault with? And what say you, Thraso?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quid tu ais, Gnatho?
Numquid habes quod contemnas? quid tu autem Thraso?

[¶131] (Aside.) They hold their tongues; they praise him sufficiently thereby. (To THAIS.) Make trial of him in literature, try him in exercises, and in music; I’ll warrant him well skilled in what it becomes a gentleman to know.

> Latin: Tacent; satis laudant. Fac periclum in literis,
Fac in palaestra, in musicis: quae liberum
Scire aequum est adolescentem solertem dabo.

[¶132] THRASO:
That Eunuch, if occasion served, even in my sober senses, I—

> Latin: THRASO:
Ego illum eunuchum, si opus siet, vel sobrius.

[¶133] PARMENO:
And he who has sent these things makes no request that
you will live for him alone, and that for his own sake others may be excluded; he neither tells of battles nor shows his scars, nor does he restrict you as (looking at THRASO) a certain person does; but when it is not inconvenient, whenever you think fit, whenever you have the time, he is satisfied to be admitted.
THRASO: (to GNATHO, contemptuously.)

> Latin: PARMENO:
Atque haec qui misit non sibi soli postulat
Te vivere, et sua causa excludi caeteros;
Neque pugnas narrat; neque cicatrices suas
Ostentat; neque tibi obstat, quod quidam facit:
Verum ubi molestum non erit, ubi tu voles,
Ubi tempus tibi erit, sat habet si tun recipitur.

[¶134] It appears that this is the servant of some beggarly, wretched master.
GNATHO:
Why, faith, no person, I’m quite sure of that, could possibly put up with him, who had the means to get another.

> Latin: THRASO:
Apparet servum hunc esse domini pauperis
Miserique.
GNATHO:
Nam hercle nemo posset, sat scio,
Qui haberet qui pararet alium, hunc perpeti.

[¶135] PARMENO:
You hold your tongue—a fellow whom I consider beneath all men of the very lowest grade: for when you can bring yourself to flatter that fellow (pointing at THRASO),
I do believe you could pick your victuals out of the very flames.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Tace tu, quem ego esse infra infimos omnes puto
Homines; nam qui huic animum assentari induxeris,
E flamma petere te cibum posse arbitror.

[¶136] THRASO:
Are we to go now?

> Latin: THRASO:
Iamne imus?

[¶137] THAIS:
I’ll take these in-doors first (pointing to CHAEREA and the AETHIOPIAN), and at the same time I’ll order what I wish; after that I’ll return immediately.
(Goes into the house with PYTHIAS, CHAEREA, and the SLAVE.)
THRASO: (to GNATHO.)

> Latin: THAIS:
Hos prius introducam, et quae volo
Simul imperabo: post continuo exeo.

[¶138] I shall be off. Do you wait for her.
PARMENO:
It is not a proper thing for a general to be walking in the street with a mistress.

> Latin: THRASO:
Ego hine abeo; tu istam opperire.
PARMENO:
Haud convenit
Una cum amica ire imperatorer in via.

[¶139] THRASO:
Why should I use many words with you? You are the very ape of your master.
(Exit PARMENO.)
GNATHO: (laughing.)

> Latin: THRASO:
Quid tibi ego multa dicam? domini similis es.

[¶140] Ha, ha, ha!
THRASO:
What are you laughing at?

> Latin: GNATHO:
Ha, ha, he.
THRASO:
Quid rides?

[¶141] GNATHO:
At what you were mentioning just now; that saying, too, about the Rhodian, recurred to my mind. But Thais is coming out.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Istuc quod dixti modo;
Et illud de Rhodio dictum cum in mentem venit:
Sed Thais exit.

[¶142] THRASO:
You go before; take care that every thing is ready at home.

> Latin: THRASO:
Abi prae, curre, ut sint domi
Parata.

[¶143] GNATHO:
Very well.
(Exit.)

> Latin: GNATHO:
Fiat.

[¶144] THAIS: (Re-enter THAIS, with PYTHIAS and FEMALE ATTENDANTS.)
Take care, Pythias,
and be sure that if Chremes should happen to come, to beg him to wait; if that is not convenient, then to come again; if he can not do that, bring him to me.

> Latin: THAIS:
Diligenter Pythias
Fac cures, si Chremes huc forte advenerit,
Ut ores primum ut maneat: si id non commodum est,
Ut redeat: si id non poterit, ad me adducito.

[¶145] PYTHIAS:
I’ll do so.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Ita faciam.

[¶146] THAIS:
Well, what else was I intending to say? O, do you take particular care of that young woman;

> Latin: THAIS:
Quid? quid aliud volui dicere?
Ehem, curate istam diligenter virginem.

[¶147] be sure that you keep at home.
THRASO:
Let us begone.

> Latin: Domi adsitis facite.
THRASO:
Eamus.

[¶148] THAIS: (to her attendants.)
You follow me.
(Exeunt THAIS and THRASO, followed by the Attendants. PYTHIAS goes into the house.) (Enter CHREMES.)
CHREMES: (to himself.)

> Latin: THAIS:
Vos me sequimini.
(CHREMES. PYTHIAS.)

[¶149] Why, really, the more and more I think of it, I shouldn’t be surprised if this Thais should be doing me some great mischief; so cunningly do I perceive myself beset by her. Even on the occasion when she first requested me to be fetched to her
(any one might ask me, “What business had you with her?” Really I don’t know.) When I came, she found an excuse for me to remain there; she said that she had been offering a sacrifice, and that she was desirous to speak upon some important business with me. Even then I had a suspicion that all these things were being done for her artful purposes. She takes her place beside
me; pays every attention to me; seeks and opportunity of conversation. When the conversation flagged, she turned off to this point—how long since my father and mother died? I said that it was now a long time ago. Whether I had any country-house at Sunium, and how far from the sea? I suppose that this has taken her fancy, and she expects to get it away from me.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Profecto quanto magis magisque cogito,
Nimirum dabit haec Thais mihi magnum malum:
Ita me video ab ea astute labefactarier,
Iam tum cum primum iussit me ad se arcessier.
Roget quis “Quid tibi cum illa?” ne noram quidem;
Ubi veni, causam ut ibi manerem repperit.
Ait rem divinam fecisse, et rem seriam
Velle agere mecum. Iam tum erat suspicio
Dolo malo haec fieri omnia: ipsa accumbere
Mecum, mihi sese dare, sermonem quaerere.
Ubi friget, huc evasit; quam pridem pater
Mihi et mater mortui essent: dico, iam diu.
Rus Sunii ecquod haberem, et quam longe a mari?
Credo ei placere hoc: sperat se a me avellere.

[¶150] Then at last, whether any little sister of mine had been lost from there; whether any person was with her; what she had about her when she was lost; whether any one could recognize her. Why should she make these inquiries? Unless, perhaps, she pretends—so great is her assurance—that she herself is the same person that was formerly lost when a little girl.

> Latin: Postremo, ecqua inde parva periisset soror?
Ecquis cum ea una? quid habuisset cum perit?
Ecquis eam posset noscere? Haec cur quaeritet?
Nisi si illa forte, quae olim periit parvula
Soror, hanc se intendit esse, ut est audacia.

[¶151] But if she is alive, she is sixteen years old, not older; whereas Thais is somewhat older than I am. She has sent to press me earnestly to come. Either let her speak out what she wants, or not be troublesome; I assuredly shall not come a third time (knocking at the door of THAIS). Ho! there, ho! there! Is any one here?

> Latin: Verum ea si vivit annos nata est sedecim,
Non maior. Thais quam ego sum maiuscula est.
Misit porro orare ut venirem serio.
Aut dicat quod volt; aut molesta ne siet:
Non hercle veniam tertio. Heus, heus. Ecquis hic?

[¶152] It’s I, Chremes.
(Enter PYTHIAS from the house.)
PYTHIAS:
O most charming, dear creature!
CHREMES: (apart.)

> Latin: Ego sum Chremes.
PYTHIAS:
O capitulum lepidissimum!

[¶153] I said there was a design upon me.
PYTHIAS:
Thais entreated you most earnestly to come again to-morrow.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Dico ego mihi insidias fieri.
PYTHIAS:
Thais maximo
Te orabat opere ut eras redires.

[¶154] CHREMES:
I’m going into the country.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Rus eo.

[¶155] PYTHIAS:
Do, there’s a dear sir.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Fac amabo.

[¶156] CHREMES:
I can not, I tell you.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Non possum, inquam.

[¶157] PYTHIAS:
Then stay here at our house till she comes back.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
At tu apud nos hic mane,
Dum redeat ipsa.

[¶158] CHREMES:
Nothing less likely.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Nihil minus.

[¶159] PYTHIAS:
Why, my dear Chremes?
(Taking hold of him.)
CHREMES: (shaking her off.)

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Cur mi Chremes?

[¶160] Away to perdition with you!
PYTHIAS:
If you are so determined about it, pray do step over to the place where she is.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Malam rem hinc abis?
PYTHIAS:
Si istuc ita certum est tibi,
Amabo ut illuc transeas ubi illa est.

[¶161] CHREMES:
I’ll go there.
PYTHIAS: (calling at the door.)

> Latin: CHREMES:
Eo.

[¶162] Here, Dorias (DORIAS enters), show this person directly to the Captain’s.
(Exit CHREMES with DORIAS, PYTHIAS goes into the house.) (Enter ANTIPHO.)
ANTIPHO: (to himself.)

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Abi Dorias cito hunc deduce ad militem.
(ANTIPHO.)

[¶163] Yesterday some young fellows of us agreed together at the Piraeus that we were to go shares today in a club-entertainment. We gave Chaerea charge of this matter;
our rings were given as pledges; the place and time arranged. The time has now gone by; at the place appointed there was nothing ready. The fellow himself is nowhere to be met with; I neither know what to say nor what to suppose. Now the rest have commissioned me with his business, to look for him. I’ll go see, therefore, if he’s at home. But who’s this, I wonder, coming out of Thais’s?

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Heri aliquot adolescentuli coimus in Piraeeo,
In hunc diem ut de symbolis essemus. Chaeream ei rei
Praefecimus; dati annuli; locus, tempus constitutum est.
Praeteriit tempus; quo in loco dictum est parati nihil est.
Homo ipse nusquam est; neque scio quid dicam aut quid coniectem.
Nunc mihi hoc negoti caeteri dedere ut illum quaeram;
Idque adeo visam, si domi est. Quisnam hic a Thaide exit?

[¶164] Is it he, or is it not?’Tis the very man! What sort of being is this? What kind of garb is this? What mischief is going on now? I can not sufficiently wonder or conjecture. But, whatever it is, I should like first at a distance to try and find out.
(He stands apart.) (Enter CHAEREA from the house of Thais, in the EUNUCH’s dress.)
CHAEREA: (looking around, then aloud to himself.)

> Latin: Is est, an non est? ipsus est. Quid hoc hominis? qui hic ornatus est?
Quid illud mali est? nequeo satis mirari neque coniicere.
Nisi quicquid est, procul hinc libet prius quid sit sciscitari.
(CHAEREA. ANTIPHO.)

[¶165] Is there any body here? There’s no one. Is there any one following me from there? There’s not a person. Now am I not at liberty to give vent to these raptures? O supreme Jupiter!

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Numquis hic est? nemo est: numquis hinc me sequitur? nemo homo est.
Iamne erumpere hoc licet mihi gaudium? pro Iupiter!

[¶166] now assuredly is the time for me to meet my death, when I can so well endure it; lest my life should sully this ecstasy with some disaster. But is there now no inquisitive person to be intruding upon me, to be following me wherever I do, to be deafening me, worrying me to death, with asking questions; why thus transported, or why so overjoyed, whither I’m going, whence I’m come, where
I got this garb, what is my object, whether I’m in my senses or whether downright mad?
ANTIPHO: (apart.)

> Latin: Nunc est profecto interfici cum perpeti me possum,
Ne hoc gaudium contaminet vita aegritudine aliqua.
Sed neminemne curiosum intervenire nunc mihi,
Qui me sequatur, quoquo eam; rogitando obtundat, enecet;
Quid gestiam, aut quid laetus sim; quo pergam, unde emergam; ubi siem
Testitum hunc nactus; quid mihi quaeram; sanus sim, anne insaniam?

[¶167] I’ll accost him, and I’ll do him the favor which I see he’s wishing for. (Accosting him.) Chaerea, why are you thus transported? What’s the object of this garb? Why is it that you’re so overjoyed? What is the meaning of this? Are you quite right in your senses? Why do you stare at me? What have you to say?
CHAEREA:
O joyous day! O welcome, my friend!

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Adibo, atque ab eo gratiam hanc quam video velle inibo.
Chaerea, quid est quod sic gestis? quid sibi hic vestitus quaerit?
Quid est quod laetus sis? quid tibi vis? satin sanus? quid me adspectas?
Quid taces?
CHAEREA:
O festus dies hominis! amice salve.

[¶168] There’s not one in all the world whom I would rather wish to see at this moment that yourself.

> Latin: Nemo est hominum, quem ego nunc magis cuperem videre quam te.

[¶169] ANTIPHO:
Pray, do tell me what all this means.

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Narra istuc quaeso quid siet.

[¶170] CHAEREA:
Nay rather, i’faith, I beg of you to listen to me. Do you know the mistress whom my brother is so fond of?

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Immo ego te obsecro hercle ut audias.
Nostine hanc, quam amat frater?

[¶171] ANTIPHO:
I know her; I suppose you mean Thais?

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Novi, nempe opinor Thaidem.

[¶172] CHAEREA:
The very same.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Istam ipsam.

[¶173] ANTIPHO:
So far I recollect.

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Sic commemineram.

[¶174] CHAEREA:
To-day a certain damsel was presented to her. Why now should I extol or commend her beauty to you, Antipho,
since you yourself know how nice a judge of beauty I am? I have been smitten by her.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Quaedam hodie est ei dono data
Virgo. Quid ego eius tibi nunc faciem praedicem aut laudem Antipho,
Cum ipsum me noris quam elegans formarum spectator siem?
In hac commotus sum.

[¶175] ANTIPHO:
Do you say so?

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Ain tu?

[¶176] CHAEREA:
If you saw her, I am sure you would say she’s exquisite. What need of many words? I fell in love with her. By good luck there was at our house a certain Eunuch, whom my brother had purchased for Thais, and he had not as yet been sent to her. On this occasion, Parmeno,
our servant, made a suggestion to me, which I adopted.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Primam dices, scio, si videris.
Quid multa verba? amare coepi. Forte fortuna domi
Erat quidam eunuchus quem mercatus fuerat frater Thaidi,
Neque is deductus etiamdum ad eam. Summonuit me Parmeno
Ibi servus quod ego arripui.

[¶177] ANTIPHO:
What was it?

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Quid id est?

[¶178] CHAEREA:
Be quiet, and you shall hear the sooner; to change clothes with him, and order myself to be taken there in his stead.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Tacitus citius audies.
Ut vestem cum eo mutem, et pro illo iubeam me illuc deducier.

[¶179] ANTIPHO:
What, instead of the Eunuch?

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Pro eunuchon?

[¶180] CHAEREA:
The fact.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Sic est.

[¶181] ANTIPHO:
To receive what advantage, pray, from this plan?

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Quid ex ea re tandem ut caperes commodi?

[¶182] CHAEREA:
Do you ask? That I might see, hear, and be in company with her whom I loved, Antipho. Is that a slight motive, or a poor reason? I was presented to the woman.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Rogas? viderem, audirem, essem una quacum cupiebam Antipho.
Num parva causa aut parva ratio est? traditus sum mulieri.

[¶183] She, as soon as she received me, joyfully took me home to her house and intrusted the damsel—
ANTIPHO:
To whom? To you?

> Latin: Illa ilico ubi me accepit laeta vero ad se abducit domum:
Commendat virginem.
ANTIPHO:
Cui? tibine?

[¶184] CHAEREA:
To me.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Mihi.

[¶185] ANTIPHO: (ironically.)
In perfect safety, at all events.

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Satis tuto tamen.

[¶186] CHAEREA:
She gave orders that no male was to come near her, and commanded me not to stir away from her; that I was to remain alone with her in the inner apartments. Looking bashfully on the ground, I nodded assent.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Edicit ne vir quisquam ad eam adeat; et mihi ne abscedam imperat,
In interiore parte ut maneam solus cum sola: annuo,
Terram intuens modeste.

[¶187] ANTIPHO: (ironically.)
Poor fellow!

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Miser!

[¶188] CHAEREA: (continuing.)
“I am going out,” said she, “to dinner.”

> Latin: CHAEREA:
“Ego,” inquit, “ad coenam hine eo.”

[¶189] She took her maids with her; a few novices of girls remained, to be about her. These immediately made preparations for her to bathe. I urged them to make haste. While preparations were being made, the damsel sat in a room looking up at a certain painting, in which was represented how Jove is said once to have sent a golden shower into the bosom of Danaë.

> Latin: Abducit secum ancillas: paucae quae circum illam essent manent
Novitiae puellae: continuo haec adornant ut lavet.
Adhortor properent: dum apparatur, virgo in conclavi sedet,
Suspectans tabulam quandam pictam, ubi inerat pictura haec:
Quo pacto Danaae misisse aiunt quondam in gremium imbirem aureum.

[¶190] I myself began to look at it as well, and as he had in former times played the like game, I felt extremely delighted that a God should change himself into money, and slily come through the tiles of another person’s house, to deceive the fair one by means of a shower. But what God was this? He who shakes the most lofty temples of heaven with his thunders.

> Latin: Egomet quoque id spectare coepi; et, quia consimilem luserat
Iam olim ille ludum, impendio magis animus gaudebat mihi;
Deum sese in hominem convertisse, atque in alienas tegulas
Venisse clanculum per impluvium, fucum factum mulieri.
At quem Deum? qui templa coeli summa sonitu concutit.

[¶191] Was I, a poor creature of a mortal, not to do the same? Certainly, I was to do it, and without hesitation. While I was thinking over these matters with myself, the damsel meantime was fetched away to bathe; she went, bathed, and came back; after which they laid her on a couch. I stood waiting to see if they gave me any orders. One came up, “Here, Dorus,” said she, “take this fan, and let her have a little air in this fashion, while we are bathing;”

> Latin: Ego homuncio hoc non facerem? ego illud vero ita feci ac lubens.
Dum haec mecum reputo, arcessitur lavatum interea virgo:
It, lavit, rediit: deinde eam in lectum illae collocant.
Sto exspectans si quid mihi imperent. Venit una; “Heus tu,” inquit, “Dore”
“Cape hoc flabellum et ventulum huic sic facito, dum lavamus:”

[¶192] “when we have bathed, if you like, you may bathe too.” With a demure air I took it.

> Latin: “Ubi nos laverimus si voles lavato.” Accipio tristis.

[¶193] ANTIPHO:
Really, I should very much have liked to see that impudent face of yours just then, and what figure a great donkey like you made, holding a fan!
CHAEREA: (continuing.)

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Tum equidem istuc os tuum impudens videre nimium vellem;
Qui esset status, flabellum tenere te asinum tantum.

[¶194] Hardly had she said this, when all, in a moment, betook themselves off: away they went to bathe, and chattered aloud; just as the way is when masters are absent.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Vix elocuta est hoc, foras simul omnes proruunt se:
Abeunt lavatum: perstrepunt, ita ut fit domini ubi absunt.

[¶195] Meanwhile, sleep overtook the damsel; I slily looked askance through the fan; this way (showing how): at the same time I looked round in all directions, to see whether all was quite safe. I saw that it was. I bolted the door.

> Latin: Interea somnus virginem opprimit; ego limis specto
Sic per flabellum clanculum; simul alia circumspecto
Satin explorata sint. Video esse; pessulum ostio obdo.

[¶196] ANTIPHO:
What then?

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Quid tum?

[¶197] CHAEREA:
Eh? What then, you simpleton?

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Quid? quid tum? fatue.

[¶198] ANTIPHO:
I own I am.

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Fateor.

[¶199] CHAEREA:
Was I to let slip the opportunity offered me, so excellent, so short-lived, so longed for, so unexpected.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
An ego occasionem
Mihi ostentam tantam, tam brevem, tam optatam, tam insperatam.

[¶200] In that case, i’faith, I really should have been the person I was pretending to be.

> Latin: Amitterem? tum pol ego is essem vere qui simulabar.

[¶201] ANTIPHO:
Troth, you certainly are in the right; but, meantime, what has been arranged about the club-entertainment?

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Sane hercle ut dicis: sed interim de symbolis quid actum est?

[¶202] CHAEREA:
All’s ready.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Paratum est.

[¶203] ANTIPHO:
You are a clever hand; but where? At your house?

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Frugi es. Ubi? domino?

[¶204] CHAEREA:
No, at Discus’s, our freedman.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Immo apud libortum Discumn.

[¶205] ANTIPHO:
That’s a long way off.
CHAEREA:
Then let’s make so much the greater haste.
ANTIPHO:
Change your dress.

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Perlonge est: sed tanto ocius properenus; muta vestem.

[¶206] CHAEREA:
Where am I to change it? I’m at a loss; for at present I’m an exile from home; I’m afraid of my brother,
lest he should be in-doors: and then again of my father, lest he should have returned from the country by this.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Ubi mutem? perii; nam domo exulo nunc: metuo fratrem
Ne intus sit; porro autem pater ne rure redierit iam.

[¶207] ANTIPHO:
Let’s go to my house; there is the nearest place for you to change.

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Eamus ad me: ibi proximum est ubi mutes.

[¶208] CHAEREA:
You say right. Let’s be off; besides, I want to take counsel with you about this girl, by what means I may be able to secure the future possession of her.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Recte dicis
Eamus; et de istac simul, quo pacto porro possim
Potiri, consilium volo capere una tecum.

[¶209] ANTIPHO:
Very well.
(Exeunt.) (Enter DORIAS, with a casket in her hand.)
DORIAS: (to herself.)

> Latin: ANTIPHO:
Fiat.
(DORIAS.)

[¶210] So may the Gods bless me, but from what I have seen, I’m terribly afraid that
this mad fellow will be guilty of some disturbance to-day or of some violence to Thais. For when this young man, the brother of the damsel, arrived, she begged the Captain to order him to be admitted; he immediately began to get into a passion, and yet didn’t dare refuse; Thais still insisted that he would invite the man in. This she did for the sake of detaining him; because there was no opportunity just then of telling him what she wanted to disclose about her sister.

> Latin: DORIAS:
Ita me Di ament, quantum ego illum vidi, nonnihil timeo misera
Ne quam ille hodie insanus turbam faciat, aut vim Thaidi.
Nam postquam iste advenit Chremes adolescens, frater virginis,
Militem rogat ut illum admitti iubeat: ille continuo irasci,
Neque negare audere: Thais porro instare ut hominem invitet.
Id faciebat retinendi illius causa, quia illa quae cupiebat
De sorore eius indicare ad eam rem tempus non erat.

[¶211] He was invited in, and took his seat. Then she entered into discourse with him. But the Captain, fancying it was a rival brought before his very eyes, wanted in his turn to mortify her: “Hark you, boy,” said he, “go fetch Pamphila, that she may amuse us here.” She exclaimed, “At a banquet! Certainly not.” The Captain still persisted to a downright quarrel.

> Latin: Invitat tristis; mansit: ibi illa cum illo sermonem occipit.
Miles vero sibi putare adductum ante oculos aemulum:
Voluit facere contra huic aegre. Heus! inquit, puer, Pamphilam
Arcesse, ut delectet hic nos. Illa exclamat, “Minime gentium!”
“In convivium illam?” Miles tendere: inde ad iurgium.

[¶212] Meanwhile my mistress secretly took off her golden jewels, and gave them to me to take away: this is a sign, I’m sure, that she’ll betake herself from there as soon as she possibly can.
(Goes into the house.) (Enter PHAEDRIA.)
PHAEDRIA: (to himself.)

> Latin: Interea aurum sibi clam mulier demit; dat mihi ut auferam.
Hoc est signi; ubi primum poterit se illinc subducet, scio.
(PHAEDRIA.)

[¶213] While I was going into the country, I began on the road, as it mostly happens when there is any anxiety on the mind,
to reflect with myself upon one thing after another, and upon every thing in the worst light. What need of words? While I was musing thus, inadvertently I passed my country-house. I had already got some distance from it, when I perceived this; I returned again, really feeling quite uneasy; when I came to the very turning that leads to the house, I came to a stop,
and began to reason with myself; “What! must I stay here alone for two days without her? Well, and what then? It’s nothing at all. What? Nothing at all? Well now, if I haven't the privilege of touching her, am I not even to have that of seeing her? If I may not do the one, at least I may the other. Surely to love at a distance ”
“even, is better than nothing at all.” I purposely passed the house. But how’s this, that Pythias is suddenly hurrying out in such a fright?
(Stands apart.) (Enter PYTHIAS and DORIAS in haste from the house of THAIS.)
PYTHIAS: (aloud.)

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Dum rus eo coepi egomet mecum inter vias,
Ita ut fit ubi quid in animo est molestiae,
Aliam rem ex alia cogitare, et ea omnia in
Peiorem partem. Quid opus est verbis? dum haec puto
Praeterii imprudens villam: longe iam abieram
Cum sensi: redeo rursum, male vero me habens.
Ubi ad ipsum veni diverticulum, constiti.
Occepi mecum cogitare: “Hem! biduum hic”
“Manendum est soli sine illa? quid tum postea?”
“Nihil est: quid? nihil? si non tangendi copia est,”
“Eho, ne videndi quidem erit? si illud non licet,”
“Saltem hoc licebit. Certe extrema linea”
“Amare haud nihil est.” Villam praetereo sciens.
Sed quid hoc quod timida subito egreditur Pythias?
(PYTHIAS. PHAEDRIA. DORIAS.)

[¶214] Where, wretch that I am, shall I find this wicked and impious fellow? Or where look for him? That he should dare to commit so audacious a crime as this! I’m ruined outright!
PHAEDRIA: (apart.)
I dread what this may be.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Ubi ego illum scelerosum misera atque impium inveniam? aut ubi quaeram?
Hocine tam audax facinus facere esse ausum?
PHAEDRIA:
Perii! hoc quid sit vereor.

[¶215] PYTHIAS:
Besides, too, the villain, after he had abused the girl,
rent all the poor thing’s clothes, and tore her hair as well.
PHAEDRIA: (apart, in surprise.)

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Quin etiam insuper scelus, postquam ludificatus est virginem,
Vestem omnem miserae discidit; tum ipsam capillo conscidit.

[¶216] Ha!
PYTHIAS:
If he were just now in my reach, how eagerly would I fly at that villain’s eyes with my nails!
PHAEDRIA: (apart.)

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Hem.
PYTHIAS:
Qui nunc si detur mihi,
Ut ego unguibus facile illi in oculos involem venefico.

[¶217] Really I can’t imagine what disturbance has happened to us at home in my absence. I’ll accost them. (Going up to them.) What’s the matter? Why in such haste? Or whom are you looking for, Pythias?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Nescio, quid profecto absente nobis turbatum est domi.
Adibo. Quid istuc? quid festinas? aut quem quaeris, Pythias?

[¶218] PYTHIAS:
Why, Phaedria, whom should I be looking for? Away with you, as you deserve, with such fine presents of yours.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Ehem, Phaedria, ego quem quaeram? ine hinc quo dignus es cum donis tuis
Tam lepidis?

[¶219] PHAEDRIA:
What is the matter?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Quid istuc est rei?

[¶220] PYTHIAS:
What, do you ask? The Eunuch you gave us, what confusion he has caused. He has ravished the girl whom the Captain made present of to my mistress.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Rogas me? Eunuchum quem dedisti nobis quas turbas dedit!
Virginem, herae quam dono dederat miles, vitiavit.

[¶221] PHAEDRIA:
What is it you say?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Quid ais?

[¶222] PYTHIAS:
I’m ruined outright!

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Perii.

[¶223] PHAEDRIA:
You are drunk.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Temulenta es.

[¶224] PYTHIAS:
I wish that they were so, who wish ill to me.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Utinam sic sient qui mihi male volunt.

[¶225] DORIAS:
Oh, prithee, my dear Pythias, what a monstrous thing this is!

> Latin: DORIAS:
Au, obsecro, mea Pythias, quid istuc nam monstri fuit?

[¶226] PHAEDRIA:
You are out of your senses. How could a Eunuch possibly do this?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Insanis: qui istuc facere eunuchus potuit?

[¶227] PYTHIAS:
I know nothing about him: as to what he has done, the thing speaks for itself. The girl is in tears; and when you ask her what’s the matter, she does not dare tell. But he, a precious fellow, is nowhere to be seen. To my sorrow I suspect too,
that when he took himself off he carried something away from the house.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Ego illum nescio
Qui fuerit: hoc quod fecit res ipsa indicat.
Virgo ipsa lacrimat, neque cum rogites quid sit, audet dicere.
Ille autem bonus vir nusquam apparet. Etiam hoc misera suspicor,
Aliquid domo abeuntem abstulisse.

[¶228] PHAEDRIA:
I can not enough wonder, whither this varlet can possibly have betaken himself to any distance from here; unless perhaps he has returned home to our house.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Nequeo mirari satis
Quo ille abire ignavus possit longius; nisi si domum
Forte ad nos rediit.

[¶229] PYTHIAS:
Pray, go and see whether he is there.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Vise amabo num sit.

[¶230] PHAEDRIA:
I’ll let you know immediately.
(Goes into the house of LACHES.)

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Iam faxo scies.

[¶231] DORIAS:
Ruined outright! Prithee, my dear, I never did so much as hear of a deed so abominable!

> Latin: DORIAS:
Perii! obsecro tam infandum facinus, mea tu, ne audivi quidem.

[¶232] PYTHIAS:
Why, faith, I had heard that they were extremely fond of the women,
but were incapable; unfortunately what has happened never came into my mind; otherwise I should have shut him up somewhere, and not have intrusted the girl to him.
(Enter PHAEDRIA from the house of LACHES, with DORUS in CHAEREA’s clothes.)
PHAEDRIA: (dragging him out.)

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
At pol ego amatores mulierum esse audieram eos maximos,
Sed nihil potesse; verum miserae non in mentem venerat;
Nam illum aliquo conclusissem, neque illi commisissem virginem.
(PHAEDRIA. DORUS. PYTHIAS. DORIAS.)

[¶233] Come out, you villain! What, do you lag behind, you runaway? Out with you, you sorry bargain!
DORUS: (crying out.)
Mercy, I do entreat you!

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Exi foras, sceleste: at etiam restitas
Fugitive? prodi, male conciliate.
DORUS:
Obsecro.

[¶234] PHAEDRIA:
Oh, do look at that! How the villain distorts his face.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Oh,
Illud vide, os ut sibi distorsit carnufex.

[¶235] What means your coming back hither? Why this change of dress? What have you to say? If I had delayed a moment, Pythias, I shouldn’t have found him at home: he had just prepared, in this fashion, for flight.
(Pointing at his dress.)

> Latin: Quid huc tibi reditio est? vestis quid mutatio?
Quid narras? Paulum si cessassem, Pythias,
Domi non offendissem; ita iam ornarat fugam.

[¶236] PYTHIAS:
Have you caught the fellow, pray?

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Habesne hominem amabo?

[¶237] PHAEDRIA:
Caught him, why not?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Quidni habeam?

[¶238] PYTHIAS:
O well done!

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Factum bene!

[¶239] DORIAS:
Upon my faith that really is capital!

> Latin: DORIAS:
Istuc pol vero bene.

[¶240] PYTHIAS:
Where is he?

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Ubi est?

[¶241] PHAEDRIA:
Do you ask the question? Don’t you see him?
(Pointing to the EUNUCH.)
PYTHIAS: (staring about.)

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Rogitas? non vides?

[¶242] See whom, pray?
PHAEDRIA:
This fellow, to be sure (pointing).

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Videam? obsecro quem?
PHAEDRIA:
Hunc scilicet.

[¶243] PYTHIAS:
What person is this?

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Quis hic est homo?

[¶244] PHAEDRIA:
The same that was brought to your house to-day.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Qui ad vos deductus hodie est.

[¶245] PYTHIAS:
Not one of our people has ever beheld this person with her eyes, Phaedria.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Hunc oculis suis
Nostrarum numquam quisquam vidit, Phaedria.

[¶246] PHAEDRIA:
Not beheld him?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Non vidit?

[¶247] PYTHIAS:
Prithee, did you fancy that this was he who was brought to our house?

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
An tu hunc credidisti esse, obsecro,
Ad nos deductum?

[¶248] PHAEDRIA:
Why, I had no other.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Namque alium habui neminem.

[¶249] PYTHIAS:
O dear!

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Au!

[¶250] this one really isn’t to be compared with the other. He was of a handsome and genteel appearance.
PHAEDRIA:
He seemed so, just then, because he was decked out in party-colored clothes: now he appears ugly, for this reason—because he hasn’t got them on.

> Latin: Ne comparandus hic quidem ad illum est: ille erat
Honesta facie et liberali.
PHAEDRIA:
Ita visus est
Dudum, quia varia veste exornatus fuit:
Nunc eo tibi videtur foedus, quia illam non habet.

[¶251] PYTHIAS:
Prithee, do hold your tongue; as though indeed the difference was so trifling.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Tace, obsecro; quasi vero paulum intersiet.

[¶252] A young man was brought to our house to-day, whom, really, Phaedria, you would have liked to look upon. This is a withered, antiquated, lethargic, old fellow, with a speckled complexion.
PHAEDRIA: (starting.)
Hah! What tale is this? You’ll so befool me that I sha’n’t know what I bought.

> Latin: Ad nos deductus hodie est adolescentulus,
Quem tu videre vero velles, Phaedria.
Hic est vetus, victus, veternosus senex,
Colore mustelino.
PHAEDRIA:
Hem, quae haec est fabula?
Eo redigis me ut quid egerim egomet nesciam.

[¶253] (To DORUS.) How now, sirrah, did I not buy you?
DORUS:
You did buy me.

> Latin: Eho tu! emine ego te?
DORUS:
Emisti.

[¶254] PYTHIAS:
Bid him answer me in my turn.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Iube, mihi denuo
Respondeat.

[¶255] PHAEDRIA:
Question him.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Roga.

[¶256] PYTHIAS: (to DORUS.)
Did you come here to-day to our house? (DORUS shakes his head.) He says, no. But it was the other one that came, about sixteen years of age; whom Parmeno brought with him.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Venistine hodie ad nos? negat.
At ille alter venit, annos natus sedecim,
Quem secum adduxit Parmeno.

[¶257] PHAEDRIA: (to DORUS.)
Well now, in the first place tell me this, where did you get that dress that you have on? What, are you silent?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Age dum, hoc mihi expedi
Primum: istam quam habes unde habes vestem? taces?

[¶258] Monster of a fellow, are you not going to speak?
(Shakes him.)
DORUS:
Chaerea came.

> Latin: Monstrum hominis! non dicturus es?
DORUS:
Venit Chaerea.

[¶259] PHAEDRIA:
What, my brother?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Fraterne?

[¶260] DORUS:
Yes.

> Latin: DORUS:
Ita.

[¶261] PHAEDRIA:
When?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Quando?

[¶262] DORUS:
To-day.

> Latin: DORUS:
Hodie.

[¶263] PHAEDRIA:
How long since?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Quam dudum?

[¶264] DORUS:
Just now.

> Latin: DORUS:
Modo.

[¶265] PHAEDRIA:
With whom?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Quicum?

[¶266] DORUS:
With Parmeno.

> Latin: DORUS:
Cum Parmenone.

[¶267] PHAEDRIA:
Did you know him before?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Norasne eum prius?

[¶268] DORUS:
No.

> Latin: DORUS:
Non; nec quis esset umquam audieram dicier.

[¶269] PHAEDRIA:
How did you know he was my brother?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Unde igitur fratrem meum esse scibas?

[¶270] DORUS:
Parmeno
said he was. He gave me these clothes.

> Latin: DORUS:
Parmeno
Dicebat eum esse: is dedit mihi hanc vestem.

[¶271] PHAEDRIA:
I’m undone!

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Occidi.

[¶272] DORUS:
He himself put on mine; afterward, they both went out together.

> Latin: DORUS:
Meam ipse induit: post una ambo abierunt foras.

[¶273] PYTHIAS:
Now are you quite satisfied that I am sober, and that we have told you no falsehood? Is it now sufficiently evident that the girl has been ravished?

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Iam satis credis sobriam esse me, et nihil mentitam tibi?
Iam satis certum est virginem vitiatam esse?

[¶274] PHAEDRIA:
Avaunt, you beast, do you believe what he says?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Age nunc bellua
Credis huic quod dicit?

[¶275] PYTHIAS:
What is there to believe? The thing speaks for itself.
PHAEDRIA: (apart to DORUS.)

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Quid isti credam? res ipsa indicat.

[¶276] Step aside a little this way. Do you hear? (DORUS steps aside.) A little further still. That will do. Now tell me this once more; did Chaerea take your clothes off you?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Concede istuc paululum: audin? etiam nunc paululum: sat est.
Dicdum hoc rursum: Chaerea tuam vestem detraxit tibi?

[¶277] DORUS:
He did.

> Latin: DORUS:
Factum.

[¶278] PHAEDRIA:
And did he put them on?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Et ea est indutus?

[¶279] DORUS:
He did.

> Latin: DORUS:
Factum.

[¶280] PHAEDRIA:
And was he brought here instead of you?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Et pro te huc deductus est?

[¶281] DORUS:
Yes.

> Latin: DORUS:
Ita.

[¶282] PHAEDRIA:
Great Jupiter! O wicked and audacious fellow!

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Iupiter magne, o scelestum atque audacem hominem!

[¶283] PYTHIAS:
Woe unto me! Now at last will you believe that we have been insulted in a disgraceful manner?

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Vae mihi!
Etiam nunc non credis indignis nos esse irrisas modis?

[¶284] PHAEDRIA:
It is no wonder that you believe what the fellow says. (Aside.) What I’m to do I know not. (Aside to DORUS.) Hark you, deny it all again. (Aloud.) Can I not this day extract the truth from you? Did you really see my brother Chaerea?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Mirum ni tu credas quod iste dicit: quid agam nescio.
Heus, negato rursum. Possumne ego hodie ex te exsculpere
Verum? vidistin fratrem Chaeream?

[¶285] DORUS:
No.

> Latin: DORUS:
Non.

[¶286] PHAEDRIA:
He can’t be brought to confess without being punished, I see: follow me this way. At one moment he affirms, at another denies. (Aside.) Ask pardon of me.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Non potest sine
Malo fateri, video: sequere hac: modo ait, modo negat.
Ora me.

[¶287] DORUS:
Indeed, I do entreat you, Phaedria.

> Latin: DORUS:
Obsecro te vero, Phaedria.

[¶288] PHAEDRIA: (kicking him.)
Be off in-doors.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
I intro nunc iam.

[¶289] DORUS:
Oh! oh!
PHAEDRIA: (aside.)

> Latin: DORUS:
Oi, ei.

[¶290] How in any other fashion to get decently out of this I don’t know; for really it’s all up with me. (Aloud, with pretended indignation.) Will you be trifling with me even here, you knave?
(Follows DORUS into the house.)

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Alio pacto honeste quo modo hinc abeam nescio.
Actum est, siquidem tu me hic etiam, nebulo, ludificabere.

[¶291] PYTHIAS:
I’m as certain that this is the contrivance of Parmeno as that I’m alive.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Parmenonis tam scio esse hanc technam quam me vivere.

[¶292] DORIAS:
So it is, no doubt.

> Latin: DORIAS:
Sic est.

[¶293] PYTHIAS:
I’faith, I’ll find out a method to-day to be even with him. But now, what do you think ought to be done, Dorias?

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Inveniam pol hodie parem ubi referam gratiam.
Sed nunc quid faciendum censes, Dorias?

[¶294] DORIAS:
Do you mean with regard to this
girl?

> Latin: DORIAS:
De istac rogas
Virgine?

[¶295] PYTHIAS:
Yes; whether I ought to mention it or be silent?
DORIAS:
Upon my word, if you are prudent, you won’t know what you do know, either about the Eunuch or the girl’s misfortune. By this method you’ll both rid yourself of all perplexity, and have done a service to her. Say this only, that Dorus has run away.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Ita: utrum taceamne an praedicem? Dor. Tu pol, si sapis,
Quod scis nescis, neque de eunucho, neque de vitio virginis:
Hac re et te omni turba evolves, et illi gratum feceris.
Id odio dic, abisse Dorum.

## 3. Lines 718–1093

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/terence-eunuchus/3/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/terence-eunuchus/3/#p-N

[¶0] PYTHIAS:
I’ll do so.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Ita faciam.

[¶1] DORIAS:
But don’t I see Chremes? Thais will be here just now.

> Latin: DORIAS:
Sed videon Chremem?
Thais iam aderit.

[¶2] PYTHIAS:
Why so?

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Quid ita?

[¶3] DORIAS:
Because when I came away from there, a quarrel had just commenced between them.

> Latin: DORIAS:
Quia cum inde abeo, iam tum inceperat
Turba inter eos.

[¶4] PYTHIAS:
Take in these golden trinkets; I shall learn from him what’s the matter.
(DORIAS takes the casket into the house.) (Enter CHREMES, somewhat drunk.)

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Aufer aurum hoc: ego scibo ex hoc quid siet.
(CHREMES. PYTHIAS.)

[¶5] CHREMES:
Heyday! upon my faith, I’ve been bamboozled: the wine that I’ve drunk has got the upper hand. But, so long as I was reclining, how extremely sober I did seem to myself to be; when I got up, neither feet nor senses were quite equal to their duty.

> Latin: CHREMES:
At at! data hercle verba mihi sunt: vicit vinum quod bibi.
Ac, dum accubabam, quam videbar mihi esse pulchre sobrius!
Postquam surrexi, neque pes neque mens satis suum officium facit.

[¶6] PYTHIAS:
Chremes!

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Chreme!

[¶7] CHREMES: (turning round.)
Who’s that? What, Pythias; dear me, how much more charming you now
seem to me than a short time since!

> Latin: CHREMES:
Quis est? ehem Pythias. Vah, quanto nunc formosior
Videre mihi quam dudum!

[¶8] PYTHIAS:
Troth now, you are much more merry, that’s certain.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Certe tu quidem pol et multo hilarior.

[¶9] CHREMES:
Upon my faith, it is a true saying, that “Venus grows cold without Ceres and Bacchus.” But has Thais got here long before me?

> Latin: CHREMES:
Verbum hercle hoc verum est; sine Cerere et Libero friget Venus.
Sed Thais multo antevenit?

[¶10] PYTHIAS:
Has she already come away from the Captain’s?

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Anne abiit iam a milite?

[¶11] CHREMES:
A long time ago; an age since. There has been a most violent quarrel between them.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Iamdudum; aetatem: lites sunt inter eos factae maximae.

[¶12] PYTHIAS:
Did she say nothing about you following her?

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Nihil dixit ut sequerere sese?

[¶13] CHREMES:
Nothing at all; only, on going away, she gave me a nod.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Nihil, nisi abiens mihi innuit.

[¶14] PYTHIAS:
Well now, wasn’t that enough?

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Eho, nonne id sat erat?

[¶15] CHREMES:
Why, I didn’t know that she meant that, until the Captain gave me an explanation, because I was dull of comprehension; for he bundled me out of the house. But look, here she is; I wonder how it was I got here before her.
(Enter THAIS.)
THAIS: (to herself.)

> Latin: CHREMES:
At nescibam id dicere illam; nisi quia
Correxit miles quod intellexi minus: nam me extrusit foras.
Sed eccam ipsam: miror ubi ego huic anteverterim.
(THAIS.
CHREMES. PYTHIAS.)

[¶16] I really do believe that he’ll be here presently, to force her away from me. Let him come; but if he touches her with a single finger, that instant his eyes shall be torn out.

> Latin: THAIS:
Credo equidem illum iam adfuturum esse, ut illam a me eripiat. Sine veniat.
Atqui si illam digito attigerit uno, oculi ilico effodientur.

[¶17] I can put up with his impertinences and his high-sounding words, as long as they remain words: but if they are turned into realities, he shall get a drubbing.

> Latin: Usque adeo ego illius ferre possum ineptias et magnifica verba,
Verba dum sint: verum enim si ad rem conferentur, vapulabit.

[¶18] CHREMES:
Thais, I’ve been here some time.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Thais, ego iam dudum hic adsum.

[¶19] THAIS:
O my dear Chremes, you are the very person I was wanting. Are you aware that this quarrel took place on your account, and that the whole of this affair, in fact, bore reference to yourself?

> Latin: THAIS:
O mi Chreme, te ipsum exspectabam.
Scin tu turbam hanc propter te esse factam, et adeo ad te attinere hanc
Omnem rem?

[¶20] CHREMES:
To me? How so, pray?

> Latin: CHREMES:
Ad me? qui, quaeso, istuc?

[¶21] THAIS:
Because, while I’ve been doing my best
to recover and restore your sister to you, this and a great deal more like it I’ve had to put up with.

> Latin: THAIS:
Quia, dum tibi sororem studeo
Reddere et restituere, haec atque huiusmodi sum multa passa.

[¶22] CHREMES:
Where is she?

> Latin: CHREMES:
Ubi ea est?

[¶23] THAIS:
At home, at my house.

> Latin: THAIS:
Domi apud me.

[¶24] CHREMES: (starting.)
Hah!

> Latin: CHREMES:
Hem, quid est?

[¶25] THAIS:
What’s the matter? She has been brought up in a manner worthy of yourself and of her.

> Latin: THAIS:
Educta ita uti teque illaque dignum est.

[¶26] CHREMES:
What is it you say?

> Latin: CHREMES:
Quid ais?

[¶27] THAIS:
That which is the fact. Her I present to you, nor do I ask of you any return for her.

> Latin: THAIS:
Id quod res est.
Hanc tibi dono do, neque repeto pro illa quicquam abs te preti.

[¶28] CHREMES:
Thanks are both felt and shall be returned in such way, Thais, as you deserve.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Et habetur et referetur, Thais, a me ita uti merita es gratia.

[¶29] THAIS:
But still, take care, Chremes, that you don’t lose her, before you receive her from me; for it is she, whom the Captain is now coming to take away from me by force. Do you go, Pythias, and bring out of the house the casket with the tokens.
CHREMES: (looking down the side Scene.)

> Latin: THAIS:
At enim cave ne prius quam hanc a me accipias, amittas Chreme;
Nam haec ea est quam miles a me vi nunc ereptum venit.
Abi tu, cistellam, Pythias, domo effer cum monumentis.

[¶30] Don’t you see him, Thais?
PYTHIAS: (to THAIS.)
Where is it put?

> Latin: CHREMES:
Viden tu illum, Thais—
PYTHIAS:
Ubi sita est?

[¶31] THAIS:
In the clothes’ chest. Tiresome creature, why do you delay?
(PYTHIAS goes into the house.)

> Latin: THAIS:
In risco. Odiosa cessas?—

[¶32] CHREMES:
What a large body of troops the Captain is bringing with him against you.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Militem secum ad te quantas copias adducere?

[¶33] Bless me!
THAIS:
Prithee, are you frightened, my dear sir?

> Latin: Atat.
THAIS:
Num formidolosus obsecro es, mi homo?

[¶34] CHREMES:
Get out with you. What, I frightened? There’s not a man alive less so.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Apage sis:
Egon formidolosus? nemo est hominum qui vivat minus.

[¶35] THAIS:
Then now is the time to prove it.

> Latin: THAIS:
Atque ita opus est.

[¶36] CHREMES:
Why, I wonder what sort of a man you take me to be.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Ah, metuo qualem tu me esse hominem existimes.

[¶37] THAIS:
Nay, and consider this too; the person that you have to deal with is a foreigner; of less influence than you, less known, and one that has fewer friends here.

> Latin: THAIS:
Immo hoc cogitato; quicum res tibi est peregrinus est,
Minus potens quam tu, minus notus, minus amicorum hic habens.

[¶38] CHREMES:
I’m aware of that; but it’s foolish to run the risk of what you are able to avoid. I had rather we should prevent it, than, having received an injury, avenge ourselves upon him. Do you go in and fasten the door, while I run across hence to the Forum; I should like us to have the aid of some legal adviser in this disturbance.
(Moves, as if going.)

> Latin: CHREMES:
Scio istuc. Sed tu quod cavere possis stultum admittere est.
Malo ego nos prospicere quam hunc ulcisci accepta iniuria.
Tu abi, atque obsera ostium intus, dum ego hinc transcurro ad forum.
Volo ego adesse hic advocatos nobis in turba hac.

[¶39] THAIS: (holding him.)
Stay.

> Latin: THAIS:
Mane.

[¶40] CHREMES:
Let me go, I’ll be here presently.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Melius est.

[¶41] THAIS:
There’s no occasion, Chremes.

> Latin: THAIS:
Mane.
CHREMES:
Omitte; iam adero.
THAIS:
Nihil opus est istis, Chreme:

[¶42] Only say that she is your sister, and that you lost her when a little girl, and have now recognized her; then show the tokens.
(Re-enter PYTHIAS from the house, with the trinkets.)
PYTHIAS: (giving them to THAIS.)
Here they are.

> Latin: Hoc modo die, sororem illam tuam esse, et te parvam virginem
Amisisse; nunc cognosse. Signa ostende.
PYTHIAS:
Adsunt.

[¶43] THAIS: (giving them to CHREMES.)
Take them. If he offers any violence, summon the fellow to justice; do you understand me?

> Latin: THAIS:
Cape.
Si vim faciet, in ius ducito hominem: intellextin?

[¶44] CHREMES:
Perfectly.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Probe.

[¶45] THAIS:
Take care and say this with presence of mind.

> Latin: THAIS:
Fac animo haec praesenti dicas.

[¶46] CHREMES:
I’ll take care.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Faciam.

[¶47] THAIS:
Gather up your cloak. (Aside.) Undone! the very person whom I’ve provided as a champion, wants one himself.
(They all go into the house.) (Enter THRASO, followed by GNATHO, SANGA, and other Attendants.)

> Latin: THAIS:
Attolle pallium.
Perii! huic ipsi est opus patrono quem defensorem paro.
(THRASO.
GNATHO.
SANGA.
CHREMES. THAIS.)

[¶48] THRASO:
Am I to submit, Gnatho, to such a glaring affront as this being put upon me? I’d die sooner. Simalio, Donax, Syriscus, follow me! First, I’ll storm the house.

> Latin: THRASO:
Hancine ego ut contumeliam tam insignem in me accipiam, Gnatho?
Mori me satius est. Simalio, Donax, Syrisce, sequimini.
Primum aedes expugnabo.

[¶49] GNATHO:
Quite right.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Recte.

[¶50] THRASO:
I’ll carry off the girl.

> Latin: THRASO:
Virginem eripiam.

[¶51] GNATHO:
Very good.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Probe.

[¶52] THRASO:
I’ll give her own self a mauling.

> Latin: THRASO:
Male mulcabo ipsam.

[¶53] GNATHO:
Very proper.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Pulchre.

[¶54] THRASO: (arranging the men.)
Advance hither to the main body, Donax, with your crowbar; you, Simalio, to the left wing; you, Syriscus, to the right.

> Latin: THRASO:
In medium huc agmen cum vecti Donax;
Tu, Simalio in sinistrum cornu; tu Syrisce in dexterum.

[¶55] Bring up the rest; where’s the centurion Sanga, and his maniple of rogues?
SANGA: (coming forward.)
See, here he is.

> Latin: Cedo alios: ubi centurio est Sanga, et manipulus furum?
SANGA:
Eccum adest.

[¶56] THRASO:
What, you booby, do you think of fighting with a dish-clout, to be bringing that here?

> Latin: THRASO:
Quid ignave? peniculon pugnare, qui istuc huc portes, cogitas?

[¶57] SANGA:
What, I? I knew the valor of the general, and the prowess of the soldiers; and that this could not possibly go on without bloodshed; how was I to wipe the wounds?

> Latin: SANGA:
Egone? Imperatoris virtutem noveram et vim militum;
Sine sanguine hoc fieri non posse; qui abstergerem vulnera.

[¶58] THRASO:
Where are the others?

> Latin: THRASO:
Ubi alii?

[¶59] SANGA:
Plague on you, what others? Sannio is the only one left on guard at home.
THRASO: (to GNATHO.)

> Latin: SANGA:
Qui, malum, alii? solus Sannio servat domi.

[¶60] Do you draw up your men in battle order; I’ll be behind the second rank; from that position I’ll give the word to all.
(Takes his place behind the second rank.)
GNATHO: (aside.)

> Latin: THRASO:
Tu hosce instrue: hic ego ero post principia: inde omnibus signum dabo.

[¶61] That’s showing prudence; as soon as he has drawn them up, he secures a retreat for himself.
THRASO: (pointing to the arrangements.)

> Latin: GNATHO:
Illuc est sapere! ut hosce instruxit, ipsus sibi cavit loco.

[¶62] This is just the way Pyrrhus used to proceed.
(CHREMES and THAIS appear above at a window.)
CHREMES:
Do you see, Thais, what plan he is upon? Assuredly, that advice of mine about closing the door was good.

> Latin: THRASO:
Idem hoc iam Pyrrhus factitavit.
CHREMES:
Viden tu Thais quam hic rem agit?
Nimirum consilium illud rectum est de occludendis aedibus.

[¶63] THAIS:
He who now seems to you to be a hero, is in reality a mere vaporer;

> Latin: THAIS:
Sane quod tibi nunc vir videatur esse hic nebulo magnus est.

[¶64] don’t be alarmed.
THRASO: (to GNATHO.)
What seems best to you?

> Latin: Ne metuas.
THRASO:
Quid videtur?

[¶65] GNATHO:
I could very much like a sling to be given you just now, that you might pelt them from here on the sly at a distance; they would be taking to flight.
THRASO: (to GNATHO.)

> Latin: GNATHO:
Fundam tibi nunc nimis vellem dari,
Ut tu illos procul hinc ex occulto caederes: facerent fugam.

[¶66] But look (pointing), I see Thais there herself.
GNATHO:
How soon are we to fall to?

> Latin: THRASO:
Sed eccam Thaidem ipsam video.
GNATHO:
Quam mox irrimus?

[¶67] THRASO:
Hold (holding him back); it behooves a prudent person to make trial of every thing before arms. How do you know but that she may do what I bid her without compulsion?

> Latin: THRASO:
Mane.
Omnia prius experiri quam armis sapientem decet.
Qui scis an quae iubeam sine vi faciat?

[¶68] GNATHO:
Ye Gods, by our trust in you,
what a thing it is to be wise! I never come near you but what I go away from you the wiser.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Di vestram fidem!
Quanti est sapere! numquam accedo quin abs te abeam doctior.

[¶69] THRASO:
Thais, in the first place, answer me this. When I presented you that girl, did you not say that you would give yourself up to me alone for some days to come?

> Latin: THRASO:
Thais, primum hoc mihi responde; cum tibi do istam virginem
Dixtine hos mihi dies soli dare te?

[¶70] THAIS:
Well, what then?

> Latin: THAIS:
Quid tum postea?

[¶71] THRASO:
Do you ask the question? You, who have been and brought your lover under my very eyes?

> Latin: THRASO:
Rogitas, quae mihi ante oculos coram amatorem adduxti tuum?

[¶72] What business had you with him?
With him, too, you clandestinely betook yourself away from me.

> Latin: THAIS:
Quid cum illo agas?
THRASO:
Et cum eo clam te subduxti mihi?

[¶73] THAIS:
I chose to do so.

> Latin: THAIS:
Libuit.

[¶74] THRASO:
Then give me back Pamphila; unless you had rather she were taken away by force.

> Latin: THRASO:
Pamphilam ergo huc redde, nisi vi mavis eripi.

[¶75] CHREMES:
Give her back to you, or you lay hands upon her? Of all the—

> Latin: CHREMES:
Tibi illam reddat? aut tu illam tangas omnium—?

[¶76] GNATHO:
Ha! What are you about? Hold your tongue.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Ah, quid agis? tace.

[¶77] THRASO:
What do you mean? Am I not to touch my own?

> Latin: THRASO:
Quid tu tibi vis? ego non tangam meam?

[¶78] CHREMES:
Your own, indeed, you gallows-bird!
GNATHO: (to CHREMES.)

> Latin: CHREMES:
Tuam autem furcifer!

[¶79] Have a care, if you please. You don’t know what kind of man you are abusing now.
CHREMES: (to GNATHO.)
Won’t you be off from here? Do you know how matters stand with you? If you cause any disturbance here to-day,
I’ll make you remember the place, and day, and me too, for the rest of your life.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Cave sis; nescis cui nunc male dicas viro.
CHREMES:
Non tu hinc abis?
Scin tu ut tibi res se habeat? Si quicquam hodie hic turbae coeperis,
Faciam ut huius loci, dieique, meique, semper memineris.

[¶80] GNATHO:
I pity you, who are making so great a man as this your enemy.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Miseret tui me qui hunc tantum hominem facias inimicum tibi.

[¶81] CHREMES:
I’ll break your head this instant if you are not off.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Diminuam ego caput tuum hodie, nisi abis.

[¶82] GNATHO:
Do you really say so, puppy? Is it that you are at?

> Latin: GNATHO:
Ain vero, canis?
Sicine agis?

[¶83] THRASO: (to CHREMES.)
What fellow are you? What do you mean? What business have you with her?

> Latin: THRASO:
Quis tu es homo? quid tibi vis? quid cum illa rei tibi est?

[¶84] CHREMES:
I’ll let you know: in the first place, I assert that she is a freeborn woman.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Scibis: principio eam esse dico liberam.

[¶85] THRASO: (starting.)
Ha!

> Latin: THRASO:
Tem!

[¶86] CHREMES:
A citizen of Attica.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Civem Atticam.

[¶87] THRASO:
Whew!

> Latin: THRASO:
Hui!

[¶88] CHREMES:
My own sister.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Meam sororem.

[¶89] THRASO:
Brazen face!

> Latin: THRASO:
Os durum!

[¶90] CHREMES:
Now, therefore, Captain, I give you warning; don’t you use any violence toward her. Thais, I’m going to Sophrona, the nurse, that I may bring her here and show her these tokens.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Miles, nunc adeo edico tibi
Ne vim facias ullam in illam. Thais, ego eo ad Sophronam
Nutricem, ut ean adducam, et signa ostendam haec.

[¶91] THRASO:
What! Are you to prevent me from touching what’s my own?

> Latin: THRASO:
Tun me prohibeas
Meam ne tangam?

[¶92] CHREMES:
I will prevent it, I tell you.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Prohibeo, inquam.

[¶93] GNATHO: (to THRASO.)
Do you hear him? He is convicting himself of theft. Is not that enough for you?

> Latin: GNATHO:
Audin tu? hic furti se alligat.
Satis hoc tibi est.

[¶94] THRASO:
Do you say the same, Thais?

> Latin: THRASO:
Idem hoc tu ais, Thais?

[¶95] THAIS:
Go, find some one to answer you.
(She and CHREMES go away from the window.)
THRASO: (to GNATHO.)

> Latin: THAIS:
Quaere qui respondeat.

[¶96] What are we to do now?
GNATHO:
Why, go back again: she’ll soon be with you, of her own accord, to entreat forgiveness.

> Latin: THRASO:
Quid nunc agimus?
GNATHO:
Quin redimus? Iam haec tibi aderit supplicans
Ultro.

[¶97] THRASO:
Do you think so?

> Latin: THRASO:
Credin?

[¶98] GNATHO:
Certainly, yes. I know the disposition of women: when you will, they won’t; when you won’t, they set their hearts upon you of their own inclination.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Immo certe. Novi ingenium mulierum:
Nolunt ubi velis; ubi nolis cupiunt ultro.

[¶99] THRASO:
You judge right.

> Latin: THRASO:
Bene putas.

[¶100] GNATHO:
Shall I dismiss the army then?

> Latin: GNATHO:
Iam dimitto exercitum?

[¶101] THRASO:
Whenever you like.

> Latin: THRASO:
Ubi vis.

[¶102] GNATHO:
Sanga, as befits gallant soldiers, take care in your turn to remember your homes and hearths.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Sanga, ita uti fortes decet
Milites, domi focique fac vicissim ut memineris.

[¶103] SANGA:
My thoughts have been for some time among the sauce-pans.
GNATHO:
You are a worthy fellow.

> Latin: SANGRA:
Iamdudum animus est in patinis.
GNATHO:
Frugi es.

[¶104] THRASO: (putting himself at their head.)
You follow me this way.
(Exeunt omnes.) (Enter THAIS from her house, followed by PYTHIAS.)

> Latin: THRASO:
Vos me hac sequimini.
(THAIS. PYTHIAS.)

[¶105] THAIS:
What! do you persist, hussy, in talking ambiguously to me? “I do know;” “I don’t know;” “he has gone off;” “I have heard;” “I wasn’t there.” Don’t you mean to tell me plainly, whatever it is? The girl in tears, with her garments torn, is mute;

> Latin: THAIS:
Pergin scelesta mecum perplexe loqui?
“Scio; nescio; abiit; audivi; ego non affui.”
Non tu istuc mihi dictura aperte es quicquid est?
Virgo conscissa veste lacrimans obticet.

[¶106] the Eunuch is off: for what reason? What has happened? Won’t you speak?

> Latin: Eunuchus abiit; quamobrem? quid factum est? taces?

[¶107] PYTHIAS:
Wretch that I am, what am I to say to you? They declare that he was not a Eunuch.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Quid tibi ego dicam misera? Illum eunuchum negant
Fuisse.

[¶108] THAIS:
What was he then?

> Latin: THAIS:
Quis fuit igitur?

[¶109] PYTHIAS:
That Chaerea.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Iste Chaerea.

[¶110] THAIS:
What Chaerea?

> Latin: THAIS:
Qui Chaerea?

[¶111] PYTHIAS:
That stripling, the brother of Phaedria.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Iste ephebus, frater Phaedriae.

[¶112] THAIS:
What’s that you say, you hag?

> Latin: THAIS:
Quid ais venefica?

[¶113] PYTHIAS:
And I am satisfied of it.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Atqui certo comperi.

[¶114] THAIS:
Pray, what business had he at my house? What brought him there?

> Latin: THAIS:
Quid is obsecro ad nos? quamobrem adductus est?

[¶115] PYTHIAS:
I don’t know; unless, as I suppose, he was in love with Pamphila.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Nescio;
Nisi amasse credo Pamphilam.

[¶116] THAIS:
Alas! to my confusion, unhappy woman that I am, I’m undone, if what you tell me is true. Is it about this that the girl is crying?

> Latin: THAIS:
Hem, misera occidi;
Infelix, siquidem tu istaec vera praedicas.
Num id lacrimat virgo?

[¶117] PYTHIAS:
I believe so.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Id opinor.

[¶118] THAIS:
How say you, you arch-jade? Did I not warn you about this very thing, when I was going away from here?

> Latin: THAIS:
Quid ais sacrilega?
Istucine interminata sum hinc abiens tibi?

[¶119] PYTHIAS:
What could I do? Just as you ordered, she was intrusted to his care only.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Quid facerem? ita ut tu iusti soli credita est.

[¶120] THAIS:
Hussy, I’ve been intrusting the sheep to the wolf. I’m quite ashamed to have been imposed upon in this way. What sort of man was he?

> Latin: THAIS:
Scelesta lupo ovem commisisti. Dispudet
Sic mihi data esse verba. Quid illic hominis est?

[¶121] PYTHIAS:
Hush! hush! mistress, pray; we are all right. Here we have the very man.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Hera mea tace; tace obsecro; salvae sumus:
Habemus hominem ipsum.

[¶122] THAIS:
Where is he?

> Latin: THAIS:
Ubi is est?

[¶123] PYTHIAS:
Why there, to the left.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Hem ad sinistram:

[¶124] Don’t you see?
THAIS:
I see.

> Latin: Viden?
THAIS:
Video.

[¶125] PYTHIAS:
Order him to be seized as quickly as possible.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Comprehendi iube quantum potest.

[¶126] THAIS:
What can we do to him, simpleton?

> Latin: THAIS:
Quid illo faciemus stulta?

[¶127] PYTHIAS:
What do to him, do you ask? Pray, do look at him; if his face doesn’t seem an impudent one.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Quid facias rogas?
Vide amabo si non, qutun adspicias, os impudens
Videtur: non est? tum quae eius confidentia est!
(CHAEREA.

[¶128] THAIS:
Not at all.
PYTHIAS:
Besides, what effrontery he has.
(Enter CHAEREA, in the EUNUCH’s dress, on the other side of the stage.)
CHAEREA: (to himself.)

> Latin: THAIS. PYTHIAS.)

[¶129] At Antipho’s, both of them, father and mother,
just as if on purpose, were at home, so that I couldn’t any way get in, but that they must have seen me. In the mean time, while I was standing before the door, a certain acquaintance of mine was coming full upon me. When I espied him, I took to my heels as fast as I could down a narrow unfrequented alley; thence again
to another, and thence to another; thus have I been most dreadfully harassed with running about, that no one might recognize me. But isn’t this Thais that I see? It is she. I’m at a stand. What shall I do? But what need I care? What can she do to me?
THAIS: (to PYTHIAS.)

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Apud Antiphonem uterque, mater et pater,
Quasi dedita opera domi erant, ut nullo modo
Introire possem quin viderent me. Interim
Dum ante ostium sto, notus mihi quidam obviam
Venit. Ubi vidi, ego me in pedes quantum queo
In angiportum quoddam desertum; inde item
In aliud, inde in aliud: ita miserrimus
Fui fugitando ne quis me cognosceret.
Sed estne haec Thais quam video? Ipsa est. Haereo.
Quid faciam? quid mea autem? quid faciet mihi?

[¶130] Let’s accost him. (To CHAEREA.) Good Mister Dorus, welcome; tell me,
have you been running away?
CHAEREA:
Madam, I did so.

> Latin: THAIS:
Adeamus. Bone vir Dore salve. Die mihi,
Aufugistine?
CHAEREA:
Hera, factum.

[¶131] THAIS:
Are you quite pleased with it?

> Latin: THAIS:
Satin id tibi placet?

[¶132] CHAEREA:
No.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Non.

[¶133] THAIS:
Do you fancy that you’ll get off with impunity?

> Latin: THAIS:
Credin te impune habiturum?

[¶134] CHAEREA:
Forgive this one fault; if I’m ever guilty of another, then kill me.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Unam hanc noxiam
Mitte: si aliam admisero umquam, occidito.

[¶135] THAIS:
Were you in fear of my severity?

> Latin: THAIS:
Num meam saevitiam veritus es?

[¶136] CHAEREA:
No.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Non.

[¶137] THAIS:
No? What then?
CHAEREA: (pointing at PYTHIAS.)

> Latin: THAIS:
Quid igitur?

[¶138] I was afraid of her, lest she might be accusing me to you.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Hanc metui ne me criminaretur tibi.

[¶139] THAIS:
What had you done?

> Latin: THAIS:
Quid feceras?

[¶140] CHAEREA:
A mere trifle.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Paulum quiddam.

[¶141] PYTHIAS:
Come now, a trifle, you impudent fellow. Does this appear a trifle to you, to ravish a virgin, a citizen?

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Eho, paulum, impudens?
An paulum hoc esse tibi videtur, virginem
Vitiare civem?

[¶142] CHAEREA:
I took her for my fellow-servant.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Conservam esse credidi.

[¶143] PYTHIAS:
Fellow-servant? I can hardly restrain myself from flying at his hair. A miscreant! Even of his own free will he comes to make fun of us.
THAIS: (to PYTHIAS.)

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Conservam? Vix me contineo quin involem in
Capillum. Monstrum etiam ultro derisum advenit.

[¶144] Won’t you begone from here, you mad woman?
PYTHIAS:
Why so? Really, I do believe I should be something in this hang-dog’s debt, if I were to do so; especially as he owns that he is your servant.

> Latin: THAIS:
Abin hinc, insana?
PYTHIAS:
Quid ita vero? debeam,
Credo, isti quicquam furcifero, si id fecerim;
Praesertim cium se servum fateatur tuum.

[¶145] THAIS:
We’ll pass that by. Chaerea, you have behaved unworthily of yourself; for if I am deserving in the highest degree of this affront,
still it is unbecoming of you to be guilty of it. And, upon my faith, I do not know what method now to adopt about this girl: you have so confounded all my plans, that I can not possibly return her to her friends in such a manner as is befitting and as I had intended;
in order that, by this means, I might, Chaerea, do a real service to myself.

> Latin: THAIS:
Missa haec faciamus. Non te lignum, Chaerea,
Fecisti; nam etsi ego digna hac contumelia
Sum maxime, at tu indignius qui faceres tamen.
Neque edepol quid nunc consili capiam scio
De virgine istac: ita conturbasti mihi
Rationes omnes, ut eam non possim suis,
Ita ut aequum fuerat atque ut studui, tradere,
Ut solidum parerem hoc mihi beneficium, Chaerea.

[¶146] CHAEREA:
But now, from henceforth, I hope, Thais, that there will be lasting good-will between us. Many a time, from some affair of this kind and from a bad beginning, great friendships have sprung up. What if some Divinity has willed this?

> Latin: CHAEREA:
At nunc dehinc spero aeternam inter nos gratiam
Fore, Thais. Saepe ex huiusmodi re quapiam et
Malo principio magna familiaritas
Conflata est. Quid si hoc quispiam voluit Deus?

[¶147] THAIS:
I’faith, for my own part I both take it in that view and wish to do so.

> Latin: THAIS:
Equidem pol in eam partem accipioque et volo.

[¶148] CHAEREA:
Yes, prithee, do so. Be sure of this one thing, that I did not do it for the sake of affronting you, but in consequence of passion.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Immo ita quaeso. Unum hoc scito; contumeliae
Non me fecisse causa sed amoris.

[¶149] THAIS:
I understand, and, i’faith, for that reason do I now the more readily forgive you. I am not, Chaerea, of a disposition so ungentle, or so inexperienced,
as not to know what is the power of love.

> Latin: THAIS:
Scio;
Et pol propterea magis nunc ignosco tibi.
Non adeo inhumano ingenio sum, Chaerea,
Neque ita imperita ut quid amor valeat nesciam.

[¶150] CHAEREA:
So may the Deities kindly bless me, Thais; I am now smitten with you as well.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Te quoque iam, Thais, ita me Di bene ament, amo.

[¶151] PYTHIAS:
Then, i’faith, mistress, I foresee you must have a care of him.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Tum pol tibi ab istoc, hera, cavendum intelligo.

[¶152] CHAEREA:
I would not dare—

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Non ausim.

[¶153] PYTHIAS:
I won’t trust you at all in any thing.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Nihil tibi quicquam credo.

[¶154] THAIS: (to PYTHIAS.)
Do have done.

> Latin: THAIS:
Desinas.

[¶155] CHAEREA:
Now I entreat you that you will be my assistant in this affair.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Nunc ego te in hac re mihi oro ut adiutrix sies:

[¶156] I intrust and commit myself to your care; I take you, Thais, as my protectress; I implore you; I shall die if I don’t have her for my wife.

> Latin: Ego me tuae commendo et committo fidei;
Te mihi patronam capio, Thais; te obsecro.
Emoriar si non hanc uxorem duxero.

[¶157] THAIS:
But if your father should say any thing—

> Latin: THAIS:
Tamen si pater—.

[¶158] CHAEREA:
Oh, he’ll consent, I’m quite sure of that, if she is only a citizen.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Quid? ah volet, certo scio;
Civis modo haec sit.

[¶159] THAIS:
If you will wait a little,
the brother himself of the young woman will be here presently; he has gone to fetch the nurse, who brought her up when a little child; you yourself, shall be present Chaerea, at his recognition of her.

> Latin: THAIS:
Paululum opperirier
Si vis, iam frater ipse hic aderit virginis:
Nutricem arcessitum it quae illam aluit parvulam.
In cognoscendo tute ipse aderis, Chaerea.

[¶160] CHAEREA:
I certainly will stay.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Ego vero maneo.

[¶161] THAIS:
In the mean time, until he comes, would you prefer that we should wait for him in the house, rather than here before the door?

> Latin: THAIS:
Vin interea, dum is venit,
Domi opperiamur potius quam hic ante ostium?

[¶162] CHAEREA:
Why yes, I should like it much.
PYTIH.: (to THAIS.)
Prithee, what are you going to do?

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Immo percupio.
PYTHIAS:
Quam tu rem actura obsecro es?

[¶163] THAIS:
Why, what’s the matter?

> Latin: THAIS:
Nam quid ita?

[¶164] PYTHIAS:
Do you ask? Do you think of admitting him after this into your house?

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Rogitas? hunc tu in aedes cogitas
Recipere posthac?

[¶165] THAIS:
Why not?

> Latin: THAIS:
Cur non?

[¶166] PYTHIAS:
Trust my word for it, he’ll be creating some new disturbance.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Crede hoc meae fidei;
Dabit hic aliquam pugnam denuo.

[¶167] THAIS:
O dear, prithee, do hold your tongue.

> Latin: THAIS:
Au tace obsecro.

[¶168] PYTHIAS:
You seem to me to be far from sensible of his assurance.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Parum perspexisse eius videre audaciam.

[¶169] CHAEREA:
I’ll not do any thing, Pythias.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Non faciam, Pythias.

[¶170] PYTHIAS:
Upon my faith, I don’t believe you, Chaerea, except in case you are not trusted.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Non pol credo, Chaerea,
Nisi si commissum non erit.

[¶171] CHAEREA:
Nay but, Pythias, do you be my keeper.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Quin Pythias,
Tu me servato.

[¶172] PYTHIAS:
Upon my faith, I would neither venture to give any thing to you to keep, nor to keep you myself: away with you!

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Neque pol servandum tibi
Quicquam dare ausim, neque te servare: apage te.

[¶173] THAIS:
Most opportunely the brother himself is coming.

> Latin: THAIS:
Adest optime ipse frater.

[¶174] CHAEREA:
I’faith, I’m undone. Prithee,
let’s be gone in-doors, Thais. I don’t want him to see me in the street with this dress on.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Perii hercle: obsecro,
Abeamus intro Thais: nolo me in via
Cum hac veste videat.

[¶175] THAIS:
For what reason, pray? Because you are ashamed?

> Latin: THAIS:
Quamobrem tandem? an quia pudet?

[¶176] CHAEREA:
Just so.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Id ipsum.

[¶177] PYTHIAS:
Just so? But the young woman—

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Id ipsum? Virgo vero.

[¶178] THAIS:
Go first; I’ll follow. You stay here, Pythias, that you may show Chremes in.
(THAIS and CHAEREA go into the house.) (Enter CHREMES and SOPHRONA.)
PYTHIAS: (to herself.)

> Latin: THAIS:
I prae; sequor.
Tu istic mane, ut Chremem introducas, Pythias.
(PYTHIAS.
CHREMES. SOPHRONA.)

[¶179] Well! what now can suggest itself to my mind?

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Quid? quid venire in mentem nunc possit mihi?

[¶180] What, I wonder, in order that I may repay the favor to that villain who palmed this fellow off upon us?
CHREMES:
Really, do bestir yourself more quickly, nurse.
SOPHRONA:
I am bestirring.

> Latin: Quidnam qui referam illi sacrilego gratiam
Qui hunc supposuit nobis?
CHREMES:
Move vero ocius
Te nutrix.
SOPHRONA:
Moveo.

[¶181] CHREMES:
So I see; but you don’t stir forward.
PYTHIAS: (to CHREMES.)

> Latin: CHREMES:
Video; sed nihil promoves.

[¶182] Have you yet shown the tokens to the nurse?
CHREMES:
All of them.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Iamne ostendisti signa nutrici?
CHREMES:
Omnia.

[¶183] PYTHIAS:
Prithee, what does she say? Does she recognize them?

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Amabo quid ait? cognoscitne?

[¶184] CHREMES:
Yes, with a full recollection of them.

> Latin: CHREMES:
Ac memoriter.

[¶185] PYTHIAS:
Upon my faith, you do bring good news; for I really wish well to this young woman. Go in-doors: my mistress has been for some time expecting you at home. (CHREMES and SOPHRONA go into THAIS’s house.) But look, yonder I espy that worthy fellow, Parmeno, coming: just see, for heaven’s sake, how leisurely he moves along. I hope I have it in my power to torment him after my own fashion.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Bene edepol narras; nam illi faveo virgini.
Ite intro: iamdudum hera vos exspectat domi.
Virum bonum eccum Parmenonem incedere
Video. Vide ut otiosus it si Dis placet.
Spero me habere qui hunc meo excruciem modo.

[¶186] I’ll go in-doors, that I may know for certain about the discovery; afterward I’ll come out, and give this villain a terrible fright.
(Goes into the house.) (Enter PARMENO.)
PARMENO: (to himself.)

> Latin: Ibo intro de cognitione ut certum sciam:
Post exibo atque hunc perterrebo sacrilegum.
(PARMENO. PYHIAS.)

[¶187] I’ve just come back to see what Chaerea has been doing here. If he has managed the affair with dexterity, ye Gods, by our trust in you, how great and genuine applause will Parmeno obtain!

> Latin: PARMENO:
Reviso quidnam Chaerea hic rerum gerat.
Quod si astu rem tractavit, Di vestram fidem,
Quantam et quam veram laudem capiet Parmeno!

[¶188] For not to mention that a passion, full of difficulty and expense, with which he was smitten for a virgin, belonging to an extortionate courtesan, I’ve found means of satisfying for him, without molestation, without outlay, and without cost; then, this other point—that is really a thing that I consider my crowning merit,
to have found out the way by which a young man may be enabled to learn the dispositions and manners of courtesans, so that by knowing them betimes, he may detest them ever after. (PYTHIAS enters from the house unperceived.) For while they are out of doors, nothing seems more cleanly, nothing more neat or more elegant;

> Latin: Nam ut mittam, quod ei amorem difficillimum et
Carissimum, ab meretrice avara virginem
Quam amabat eam confeci sine molestia,
Sine surtu, sine dispendio; tum hoc alterum,
Id vero est quod ego mihi puto palmarium
Me repperisse, quo modo adolescentulus
Meretricum ingenia et mores posset noscere;
Mature ut quum cognorit perpetuo oderit.
Quae dum foris sunt, nihil videtur mundius;
Nec magis compositum quicquam, nec magis elegans:

[¶189] and when they dine with a gallant, they pick daintily about: to see the filth, the dirtiness, the neediness of these women; how sluttish they are when at home, and how greedy after victuals; in what a fashion they devour the black bread with yesterday’s broth:—to know all this, is salvation to a young man.
(Enter PYTHIAS from the house.)
PYTHIAS: (apart, unseen by PARMENO.)

> Latin: Quae, cum amatore suo quum coenant, liguriunt.
Harum videre illuviem, sordes, inopiam;
Quam inhonestae solae sint domi, atque avidae cibi;
Quo pacto ex iure hesterno panem atrum vorent;
Nosse omnia haec salus est adolescentulis.

[¶190] Upon my faith, you villain, I’ll take vengeance upon you for these sayings and doings; so that you sha’n’t make sport of us with impunity. (Aloud, coming forward.) O, by our trust in the Gods, what a disgraceful action! O hapless young man! O wicked Parmeno, to have brought him here!
PARMENO:
What’s the matter?

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Ego pol te pro istis dictis et factis, scelus,
Ulciscar, ut ne impune in nos illuseris.
Proh Deum fidem, facinus foedum! O infelicem adolescentulum!
O scelestum Parmenonem qui istum huc adduxit!
PARMENO:
Quid est?

[¶191] PYTHIAS:
I do pity him; and so that I mightn’t see it, wretched creature that I am, I hurried away out of doors.
What a dreadful example they talk of making him!

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Miseret me: itaque ut ne viderem misera huc effigi foras
Quae futura exempla dicunt in eum indigna.

[¶192] PARMENO:
O Jupiter! What is this tumult? Am I then undone? I’ll accost her. What’s all this, Pythias? What are you saying? An example made of whom?

> Latin: PARMENO:
O Iupiter,
Quae illaec turba est? numnam ego perii? Adibo. Quid istuc Pythias?
Quid ais? in quem exempla fient?

[¶193] PYTHIAS:
Do you ask the question, you most audacious fellow? You’ve proved the ruin of the young man whom you brought hither for the Eunuch, while you were trying to put a trick upon us.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Rogitas audacissime?
Perdidisti istum quem adduxti pro eunucho adolescentulum,
Dum studes dare verba nobis.

[¶194] PARMENO:
How so, or what has happened? Tell me.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quid ita? aut quid factum est? cedo.

[¶195] PYTHIAS:
I’ll tell you: that young woman who was to-day made a present to Thais, are you aware that she is a citizen of this place, and that her brother is a person of very high rank?

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Dicam. Virginem istam Thaidi quae hodie dono data est
Scis eam hinc civem esse, et fratrem eius esse apprime nobilem?

[¶196] PARMENO:
I didn’t know that.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Nescio.

[¶197] PYTHIAS:
But so she has been discovered to be; he, unfortunate youth, has ravished her. When the brother came to know of this being done, in a most towering rage, he—

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Atqui sic inventa est: eam iste vitiavit miser.
Ille ubi id rescivit factum, frater violentissimus —

[¶198] PARMENO:
Did what, pray?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quidnam fecit?

[¶199] PYTHIAS:
First, bound him in a shocking manner.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
colligavit primum eum miseris modis.

[¶200] PARMENO:
Bound him?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Colligavit?

[¶201] PYTHIAS:
And even though Thais entreated him that he wouldn’t do so—

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Atque equidem orante ut ne id faceret Thaide.

[¶202] PARMENO:
What is it you tell me?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quid ais?

[¶203] PYTHIAS:
Now he is threatening that he will also do that which is usually done to ravishers; a thing that I never saw done, nor wish to.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Nunc minatur porro sese id quod moechis solet;
Quod ego numquam vidi fieri, neque velim.

[¶204] PARMENO:
With what assurance does he dare perpetrate a crime so heinous?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Qua audacia
Tantum facinus audet?

[¶205] PYTHIAS:
How “so heinous?”

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Quid ita tantum?

[¶206] PARMENO:
Is it not most heinous? Who ever saw any one taken up as a ravisher in a courtesan’s house?

> Latin: PARMENO:
An non tibi hoc maximum est?
Quis homo pro moecho umquam vidit in domo meretricia
Prehendi quemquam?

[¶207] PYTHIAS:
I don’t know.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Nescio.

[¶208] PARMENO:
But that you mayn’t be ignorant of this, Pythias, I tell you, and give you notice that he is my master’s son.

> Latin: PARMENO:
At ne hoc nesciatis, Pythias,
Dico, edico vobis, nostrum esse illum herilem filium.

[¶209] PYTHIAS:
How! Prithee, is it he?

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Hem
Obsecro, an is est?

[¶210] PARMENO:
Don’t let Thais suffer any violence to be done to him. But why don’t I go in myself?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Ne quam in illum Thais vim fieri sinat.
Atque adeo autem cur non egomet intro eo?

[¶211] PYTHIAS:
Take care, Parmeno, what you are about, lest you both do him no good and come to harm yourself; for it is their notion,
that whatever has happened, has originated in you.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Vide, Parmeno,
Quid agas, ne neque illi prosis et tu pereas; nam hoc putant,
Quicquid factum est a te esse ortum.

[¶212] PARMENO:
What then, wretch that I am, shall I do, or how resolve? But look, I see the old gentleman returning from the country; shall I tell him or shall I not? By my troth, I will tell him; although I am certain that a heavy punishment is in readiness for me; but it’s a matter of necessity, in order that he may rescue him.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quid igitur faciam miser?
Quidve incipiam? ecce autem video rure redeuntem senem.
Dicam huic, an non? dicam hercle, etsi mihi magnum malum
Scio paratum; sed necesse est huic ut subveniat.

[¶213] PYTHIAS:
You are wise. I’m going in-doors; do you relate to him every thing exactly as it happened.
(Goes into the house.) (Enter LACHES.)
LACHES: (to himself.)

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Sapis.
Ego abeo intro: tu isti narra omnem rem ordine ut factum siet.
(LACHES. PARMENO.)

[¶214] I have this advantage from my country-house being so near at hand; no weariness, either of country or of town, ever takes possession of me; when satiety begins to come on, I change my locality. But is not that our Parmeno? Surely it is he. Whom are you waiting for, Parmeno, before the door here?
PARMENO: (pretends not to see him.)

> Latin: LACHES:
Ex meo propinquo rure hoc capio commodi,
Neque agri neque urbis odium me umquam percipit.
Ubi satias coepit fieri commuto locum.
Sed estne ille noster Parmeno? et certe ipsus est.
Quem praestolare, Parmeno, hic ante ostium?

[¶215] Who is it (Turning round.) Oh, I’m glad that you have returned safe.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quis homo est? ehem, salvum te advenire, here, gaudeo.

[¶216] LACHES:
Whom are you waiting for?

> Latin: LACHES:
Quem praestolare?

[¶217] PARMENO: (aside.)
I’m undone: my tongue cleaves to my mouth through fright.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Perii: lingua haeret metu.

[¶218] LACHES:
Why, what is it you are trembling about? Is all quite right? Tell me.

> Latin: LACHES:
Hem, quid est? quid trepidas? satin salve? dic mihi.

[¶219] PARMENO:
Master, in the first place, I would have you persuaded of what is the fact; whatever has happened in this affair has happened through no fault of mine.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Here, primum te arbitrari quod res est velim;
Quicquid huius factum est culpa non factum est mea.

[¶220] LACHES:
What is it?

> Latin: LACHES:
Quid?

[¶221] PARMENO:
Really you have reason to ask. I ought first to have told you the circumstances. Phaedria purchased a certain Eunuch, to make a present of to this woman here.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Recte sane interrogasti: oportuit
Rem praenarrasse me. Emit quendam Phaedria
Eunuchum quem dono huic daret.

[¶222] LACHES:
To what woman?

> Latin: LACHES:
Cui?

[¶223] PARMENO:
To Thais.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Thaidi.

[¶224] LACHES:
Bought? Good heavens, I’m undone! For how much?

> Latin: LACHES:
Emit? perii hercle: quanti?

[¶225] PARMENO:
Twenty minae.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Viginti minis.

[¶226] LACHES:
Done for, quite.

> Latin: LACHES:
Actum est.

[¶227] PARMENO:
Then, Chaerea is in love with a certain music-girl here.
(Pointing to THAIS’s house.)

> Latin: PARMENO:
Tum quandam fidicinam amat hic Chaerea.

[¶228] LACHES:
How! What? In love? Does he know already what a courtesan means? Is he come to town? One misfortune close upon another.

> Latin: LACHES:
Hem, quid? amat? an scit iam ille quid meretrix siet?
An in Astu venit? aliud ex alio malum.

[¶229] PARMENO:
Master, don’t look so at me; he didn’t do these things by my encouragement.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Here, ne me spectes: me impulsore haec non facit.

[¶230] LACHES:
Leave off talking about yourself. If I live, you hang-dog, I’ll— But first give me an account of it, whatever it is.

> Latin: LACHES:
Omitte de te dicere: ego te, furcifer,
Si vivo—Sed istuc, quicquid est, primum expedi.

[¶231] PARMENO:
He was taken to the house of Thais in place of the Eunuch.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Is pro illo eunucho ad Thaidem deductus est.

[¶232] LACHES:
In place of the Eunuch?

> Latin: LACHES:
Pro eunuchon?

[¶233] PARMENO:
Such is the fact. They have since apprehended him in the house as a ravisher, and bound him.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Sic est: hunc pro moecho postea
Comprehendere intus, et constrinxere.

[¶234] LACHES:
Death!

> Latin: LACHES:
Occidi.

[¶235] PARMENO:
Mark the assurance of courtesans.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Audaciam meretricum specta.

[¶236] LACHES:
Is there any other calamity or misfortune besides, that you have not told me of?

> Latin: LACHES:
Numquid est
Aliud mali damnive quod non dixeris
Reliquum?

[¶237] PARMENO:
That’s all.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Tantum est.

[¶238] LACHES:
Do I delay rushing in here?
(Runs into the house of THAIS.)
PARMENO: (to himself.)

> Latin: LACHES:
Cesso huc introrumpere?

[¶239] There’s no doubt but that I shall have a heavy punishment for this affair, only that I was obliged to act thus. I’m glad of this, that some mischief will befall these women here through my agency, for the old man has, for a long time, been on the look-out for some occasion
to do them a bad turn; at last he has found it.
(Enter PYTHIAS from the house of THAIS, laughing.)
PYTHIAS: (to herself, on entering.)

> Latin: PARMENO:
Non dubium est quin mihi magnum ex hac re sit malum;
Nisi quia necessus fuit hoc facere, id gaudeo,
Propter me hisce aliquid esse eventurum mali.
Nam iam diu aliquam causam quaerebat senex,
Quamobrem insigne aliquid faceret iis. Nunc repperit.
(PYTHIAS. PARMENO.)

[¶240] Never, upon my faith, for a long time past, has any thing happened to me that I could have better liked to happen, than the old gentleman just now, full of his mistake, coming into our house. I had the joke all to myself, as I knew what it was he feared.
PARMENO: (apart.)

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Numquam edepol quicquam iam diu quod magis vellem evenire
Mihi evenit quam quod modo senex intro ad nos venit errans.
Mihi solae ridiculo fuit, quae quid timeret scibam.

[¶241] Why, what’s all this?
PYTHIAS:
Now I’m come out to meet with Parmeno.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quid hoc autem est?
PYTHIAS:
Nunc id prodeo ut conveniam Parmenonem.

[¶242] But, prithee, where is he?
(Looking around.)
PARMENO: (apart.)
She’s looking for me.

> Latin: Sed ubi, obsecro, is est?
PARMENO:
Me quaerit haec.

[¶243] PYTHIAS:
And there he is, I see; I’ll go up to him.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Atque eccum video: adibo.

[¶244] PARMENO:
What’s the matter, simpleton? What do you mean? What are you laughing about? Still going on?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quid est inepta? quid tibi vis? quid rides? pergin?

[¶245] PYTHIAS: (laughing.)
I’m dying; I’m wretchedly tired with laughing at you.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Perii.
Defessa iam sum misera te ridendo.

[¶246] PARMENO:
Why so?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quid ita?

[¶247] PYTHIAS:
Do you ask? Upon my faith, I never did see, nor shall see, a more silly fellow. Oh dear, I can not well express what amusement you’ve afforded in-doors.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Rogitas?
Numquam, pol, hominem stultiorem vidi nec videbo. Ah,
Non possum satis narrare quos ludos praebueris intus.

[¶248] And still I formerly took you to be a clever and shrewd person. Why, was there any need for you instantly to believe what I told you? Or were you not content with the crime, which by your advice the young man had been guilty of, without betraying the poor fellow to his father as well?

> Latin: At etiam primo callidum et disertum credidi hominem.
Quid? ilicone credere ea quae dixi oportuit te?
An poenitebat flagitii te auctore quod fecisset
Adolescens, ni miserum insuper etiam patri indicares?

[¶249] Why, what do you suppose his feelings must have been at the moment when his father saw him clothed in that dress? Well, do you now understand that you are done for?
(Laughing.)

> Latin: Nam quid illi credis animi tum fuisse ubi vestem vidit
Illam esse eum indutum pater? quid est? iam scis te perisse?

[¶250] PARMENO:
Hah! what is it you say, you hussy? Have you been telling me lies? What, laughing still? Does it appear so delightful to you, you jade, to be making fools of us?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Hem. Quid dixti, pessima? an mentita es? etiam rides?
Itan lepidum tibi visum est, scelus, nos irridere?

[¶251] PYTHIAS: (laughing.)
Very much so.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Nimium.

[¶252] PARMENO:
Yes, indeed, if you can do it with impunity.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Si quidem istuc impune habueris.

[¶253] PYTHIAS:
Exactly so.

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Verum.

[¶254] PARMENO:
By heavens, I’ll repay you!

> Latin: PARMENO:
Reddam hercle.

[¶255] PYTHIAS:
I believe you; but, perhaps, that which you are threatening, Parmeno, will need a future day;

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Credo.
Sed in diem istuc, Parmeno, est fortasse quod minare.

[¶256] you’ll be trussed up directly, for rendering a silly young man remarkable for disgraceful conduct, and then betraying him to his father; they’ll both be making an example of you.
(Laughing.)

> Latin: Tu iam pendebis, qui stultum adolescentulum nobilitas
Flagitiis, et eundem indicas: uterque exempla in te edent.

[¶257] PARMENO:
I’m done for!

> Latin: PARMENO:
Nullus sum.

[¶258] PYTHIAS:
This reward has been found you in return for that present of yours; I’m off.
(Goes into the house.)
PARMENO: (to himself.)

> Latin: PYTHIAS:
Hic pro illo munere tibi honos est habitus: abeo.

[¶259] Wretch that I am; just like a rat, this day I’ve come to destruction through betrayal of myself.
(Enter THRASO and GNATHO.)
GNATHO: (to THRASO.)

> Latin: PARMENO:
Egomet meo indicio miser quasi sorex hodie perii.
(GNATHO. THRASO.)

[¶260] Well now? With what hope, or what design, are we come hither? What do you intend to do, Thraso?

> Latin: GNATHO:
Quid nunc? qua spe aut quo consilio huc imus? quid inceptas, Thraso?

[¶261] THRASO:
What, I? To surrender myself to Thais, and do what she bids me.

> Latin: THRASO:
Egone? ut Thaidi me dedam, et faciam quod iubeat.

[¶262] GNATHO:
What is it you say?

> Latin: GNATHO:
Quid est?

[¶263] THRASO:
Why any the less so, than Hercules served Omphale.

> Latin: THRASO:
Qui minus quam Hercules servivit Omphalae?

[¶264] GNATHO:
The precedent pleases me. (Aside.) I only wish I may see your head stroked down with a slipper; but her door makes a noise.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Exemplum placet.
Utinam tibi commitigari videam sandalio caput.
Sed fores crepuerunt ab ea.

[¶265] THRASO:
Confusion! Why, what mischiefsthis? I never saw this person before; why, I wonder, is he rushing out in such a hurry?
(They stand aside.) (Enter CHAEREA from the house of THAIS, on the other side of the stage.)
CHAEREA: (to himself, aloud.)

> Latin: THRASO:
Perii. Quid hoc autem est mali?
Hunc ego numquam videram etiam: quidnam hic properans prosilit?
(CHAEREA.
PARMENO.
PHAEDRIA.
GNATHO. THRASO.)

[¶266] O fellow-townsmen, is there any one alive more fortunate than me this day? Not any one, upon my faith: for clearly in me have the Gods manifested all their power, on whom, thus suddenly, so many blessings are bestowed.
PARMENO: (apart.)

> Latin: CHAEREA:
O populares, ecquis me hodie vivit fortunatior?
Nemo hercle quisquam; nam in me plane Di potestatem suam
Omnem ostendere, cui tam subito tot contigerint commoda.

[¶267] Why is he thus overjoyed?
CHAEREA: (seeing PARMENO, and running up to him.)
O my dear Parmeno, the contriver, the beginner, the perfecter of all my delights, do you know what are my transports?

> Latin: PARMENO:
Quid hic laetus est?
CHAEREA:
O Parmeno mi, O mearum voluptatum omnium
Inventor, inceptor, perfector; scin me in quibus sim gaudiis?

[¶268] Are you aware that my Pamphila has been discovered to be a citizen?
PARMENO:
I have heard so.

> Latin: Scis Pamphilam meam inventam civem?
PARMENO:
Audivi.

[¶269] CHAEREA:
Do you know that she is betrothed to me?

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Scis sponsam mihi?

[¶270] PARMENO:
So may the Gods bless me, happily done.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Bene, ita me Di ament, factum.

[¶271] GNATHO: (apart to THRASO.)
Do you hear what he says?

> Latin: GNATHO:
Audin tu hic quid ait?

[¶272] CHAEREA:
And then, besides, I am delighted that my brother’s mistress is secured to him; the family is united. Thais has committed herself to the patronage of my father; she has put herself under our care and protection.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Tum autem Phaedriae
Meo fratri gaudeo esse amorem omnem in tranquillo: una est domus.
Thais patri se commendavit in clientelam et fidem;
Nobis dedit se.

[¶273] PARMENO:
Thais, then, is wholly your brother’s.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Fratris igitur Thais tota est?

[¶274] CHAEREA:
Of course.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Scilicet.

[¶275] PARMENO:
Then this is another reason for us to rejoice, that the Captain will be beaten out of doors.

> Latin: PARMENO:
Iam hoc aliud est quod gaudeamus: miles pellitur foras.

[¶276] CHAEREA:
Wherever my brother is, do you take care that he hears this as soon as possible.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Tum tu frater, ubi ubi est, fac quam primum haec audiat.

[¶277] PARMENO:
I’ll go look for him at home.
(Goes into the house of LACHES.)
THRASO: (apart to GNATHO.)

> Latin: PARMENO:
Visam domum.

[¶278] Do you at all doubt, Gnatho, but that I am now ruined everlastingly?
GNATHO: (to THRASO.)

> Latin: THRASO:
Numquid, Gnatho, tu dubitas quin ego nunc perpetuo perierim?

[¶279] Without doubt, I do think so.
CHAEREA: (to himself.)
What am I to make mention of first, or commend in especial? Him who gave me the advice to do so, or myself, who ventured
to undertake it? Or ought I to extol fortune, who has been my guide, and has so opportunely crowded into a single day events so numerous, so important; or my father’s kindness and indulgence Oh Jupiter, I entreat you, do preserve these blessings unto us!
(Enter PHAEDRIA from the house of LACHES.)

> Latin: GNATHO:
Sine dubio opinor.
CHAEREA:
Quid commemorem primum aut laudem maxime?
Illumne qui mihi dedit consilium ut facerem; an me qui ausus sim
Incipere? an fortunam collaudem quae gubernatrix fuit;
Quae tot res, tantas tam opportune in unum conclusit diem?
An mei patris festivitatem et facilitatem? O Iupiter,
Serva, obsecro, haec nobis bona.

[¶280] PHAEDRIA: (to himself.)
Ye Gods, by our trust in you, what incredible things has Parmeno just related to me! But where is my brother?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Di vestram fidem, incredibilia
Parmeno modo quae narravit: sed ubi est frater?

[¶281] CHAEREA: (stepping forward.)
Here he is.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Praesto adest.

[¶282] PHAEDRIA:
I’m overjoyed.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Gaudeo.

[¶283] CHAEREA:
I quite believe you. There is no one, brother, more worthy to be loved than this Thais of yours: so much is she a benefactress to all our family.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Satis credo: nihil est Thaide hac, frater, tua
Dignius quod ametur; ita nostrae omni est fautrix familiae.

[¶284] PHAEDRIA:
Whew! are you commending her too to me?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Mihi illam laudas?

[¶285] THRASO: (apart.)
I’m undone; the less the hope I have, the more I am in love. Prithee, Gnatho, my hope is in you.

> Latin: THRASO:
Perii, quanto minus spei est, tanto magis amo.
Obsecro, Gnatho, in te spes est.

[¶286] GNATHO: (apart.)
What do you wish me to do?

> Latin: GNATHO:
Quid vis faciam?

[¶287] THRASO: (apart.)
Bring this about, by entreaties or with money, that I may at least share Thais’s favors in some degree.
GNATHO: (apart.)

> Latin: THRASO:
Perfice hoc
Precibus, pretio, ut haeream in parte aliqua tandem apud Thaidem.

[¶288] It’s a hard task.
THRASO: (apart.)
If you set your mind on any thing, I know you well. If you manage this, ask me for any present you like as your reward; you shall have what you ask.
GNATHO: (apart.)

> Latin: GNATHO:
Difficile est.
THRASO:
Si quid conlibuit, novi te: hoc si effeceris,
Quodvis donum et praemium a me optato, id optatum feres.

[¶289] Is it so?
THRASO: (apart.)
It shall be so.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Itane?
THRASO:
Sic erit.

[¶290] GNATHO: (apart.)
If I manage this, I ask that your house, whether you are present or absent, may be open to me; that, without invitation, there may always be a place for me.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Si efficio hoc, postulo ut mihi tua domus
Te praesente absente pateat; invocato ut sit locus
Semper.

[¶291] THRASO: (apart.)
I pledge my honor that it shall be so.

> Latin: THRASO:
Do fidem futurum.

[¶292] GNATHO: (apart.)
I’ll set about it then.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Accingar.

[¶293] PHAEDRIA:
Who is it I hear so close at hand? (Turning round.) O Thraso—

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Quem hic ego audio?
O Thraso!

[¶294] THRASO: (coming forward.)
Save you both—

> Latin: THRASO:
Salvete.

[¶295] PHAEDRIA:
Perhaps you are not aware what has taken place here.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Tu fortasse quae facta hic sient
Nescis.

[¶296] THRASO:
I am quite aware.

> Latin: THRASO:
Scio.

[¶297] PHAEDRIA:
Why, then, do I see you in this neighborhood?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Cur te ergo in his ego conspicor regionibus?

[¶298] THRASO:
Depending on your kindness.

> Latin: THRASO:
Vobis fretus.

[¶299] PHAEDRIA:
Do you know what sort of dependence you have? Captain, I give you notice, if ever I catch you in this street again, even if you should say to me, “I was looking for another person, I was on my road this way,” you are undone.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Scin quam fretus? Miles, edico tibi,
Si te in platea offendero hac post umquam, quod dicas mihi,
“Alium quaerebam, iter hac habui,” periisti.

[¶300] GNATHO:
Come, come, that’s not handsome.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Heia, haud sic decet.

[¶301] PHAEDRIA:
I’ve said it.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Dictum est.

[¶302] GNATHO:
I didn’t know you gave yourself such airs.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Non cognosco vestrum tam superbum.

[¶303] PHAEDRIA:
So it shall be.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Sic erit.

[¶304] GNATHO:
First hear a few words from me; and when I have said the thing, if you approve of it, do it.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Prius audite paucis; quod quum dixero, si placuerit,
Facitote.

[¶305] PHAEDRIA:
Let’s hear.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Audiamus.

[¶306] GNATHO:
Do you step a little that way, Thraso. (THRASO stands aside.) In the first place, I wish you both implicitly to believe me in this, that whatever I do in this matter, I do it entirely for my own sake;

> Latin: GNATHO:
Tu concede paullum istuc, Thraso.
Principio ego vos credere ambos hoc mihi vehementer velim,
Me, huius quicquid facio, id facere maxime causa mea:

[¶307] but if the same thing is of advantage to yourselves, it would be folly for you not to do it.

> Latin: Verum si idem vobis prodest, vos non facere inscitia est.

[¶308] PHAEDRIA:
What is it?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Quid id est?

[¶309] GNATHO:
I’m of opinion that the Captain, your rival, should be received among you.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Militem ego rivalem recipiendum censeo.

[¶310] PHAEDRIA: (starting.)
Hah!
CHAEREA:
Be received?

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Hem,
Recipiendum?

[¶311] GNATHO: (to PHAEDRIA.)
Only consider. I’faith, Phaedria, at the free rate you are living with her, and indeed very freely you are living, you have but little to give; and it’s necessary for Thais to receive a good deal.
That all this may be supplied for your amour and not at your own expense, there is not an individual better suited or more fitted for your purpose than the Captain. In the first place, he both.has got enough to give, and no one does give more profusely. He is a fool, a dolt, a blockhead; night and day he snores away; and you need not fear that the lady will fall in love with him; you may easily have him discarded whenever you please.
CHAEREA: (to PHAEDRIA.)

> Latin: GNATHO:
Cogita modo. Tu hercle cum illa, Phaedria,
Et libenter vivis; etenim bene libenter victitas.
Quod des paulum est; et necesse est multum accipere Thaidem,
Ut tuo amori suppeditare possit sine sumtu tuo.
Ad omnia haec magis opportunus, nec magis ex usu tuo
Nemo est: principio et habet quod det, et dat nemo largius.
Fatuus est, insulsus, tardus: stertit noctesque et dies.
Neque istum metuas ne amet mulier: facile pellas, ubi velis.

[¶312] What shall we do?
GNATHO:
And this besides, which I deem to be of even greater importance,—not a single person entertains in better style or more bountifully.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Quid agimus?
GNATHO:
Praeterea hoc etiam, quod ego vel primum puto:
Accipit hominem nemo melius prorsus, neque prolixius.

[¶313] CHAEREA:
It’s a wonder if this sort of man can not be made use of in some way or other.
PHAEDRIA:
I think so too.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Mirum ni illoc homine quoquo pacto opus est.
CHAEREA:
Idem ego arbitror.

[¶314] GNATHO:
You act properly. One thing I have still to beg of you,—that you’ll receive me into your fraternity; I’ve been rolling that stone for a considerable time past.
PHAEDRIA:
We admit you.

> Latin: GNATHIO:
Riecte facitis. Unum etiam hoc vos oro, ut me in vestrum gregem
Recipiatis: satis diu hoc iam saxum volvo.
PHAEDRIA:
Recipimus.

[¶315] CHAEREA:
And with all my heart.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Ac libenter.

[¶316] GNATHO:
Then I, in return for this, Phaedria, and you, Chaerea, make him over to you to be eaten and drunk to the dregs.

> Latin: GNATHO:
At ego pro istoc, Phaedria, et tu, Chaerea,
Hunc comedendum et deridendum vobis propino.

[¶317] CHAEREA:
Agreed.

> Latin: CHAEREA:
Placet.

[¶318] PHAEDRIA:
He quite deserves it.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Dignus est.

[¶319] GNATHO: (calling to THRASO.)
Thraso, whenever you please, step this way.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Thraso, ubi vis accede.

[¶320] THRASO:
Prithee, how goes it?

> Latin: THRASO:
Obsecro te, quid agimus?

[¶321] GNATHO:
How? Why, these people didn’t know you; after I had discovered to them your qualities, and had praised you as your actions and your virtues deserved,
I prevailed upon them.

> Latin: GNATHO:
Quid? isti te ignorabant: postquam eis mores ostendi tuos,
Et collaudavi secundum facta et virtutes tuas,
Impetravi.

[¶322] THRASO:
You have managed well; I give you my best thanks. Besides, I never was any where but what all were extremely fond of me.
GNATHO: (to PHAEDRIA and CHAEREA.)

> Latin: THRASO:
Bene fecisti: gratiam habeo maximam.
Numquam etiam fui usquam quin me omlnes amarent plurimum.

[¶323] Didn’t I tell you that he was a master of the Attic elegance?

> Latin: GNATHO:
Dixine ego in hoc inesse vobis Atticam elegantiam?

[¶324] PHAEDRIA:
He is no other than you mentioned. (Pointing to his FATHER’s house.) Walk this way.
(To the AUDIENCE.) Fare you well, and grant us your applause.

> Latin: PHAEDRIA:
Nihil praetermissum est: ite hac.
Ω:
Vol valete, et plaudite.