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839
(Enter CHAEREA, in the EUNUCH’s dress, on the other side of the stage.)
CHAEREA
(to himself.)
At Antipho’s,
1
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
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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?
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At Antipho’s,
1
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
840
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?
845
THAIS
(to PYTHIAS.)
Let’s accost him.
(To CHAEREA.) Good Mister Dorus, welcome; tell me,
have you been running away?
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Let’s accost him.
(To CHAEREA.) Good Mister Dorus, welcome; tell me,
have you been running away?
850
CHAEREA
Madam, I did so.
Madam, I did so.
THAIS
Are you quite pleased with it?
Are you quite pleased with it?
CHAEREA
No.
No.
THAIS
Do you fancy that you’ll get off with impunity?
Do you fancy that you’ll get off with impunity?
CHAEREA
Forgive this one fault; if I’m ever guilty of another, then kill me.
Forgive this one fault; if I’m ever guilty of another, then kill me.
THAIS
Were you in fear of my severity?
Were you in fear of my severity?
CHAEREA
No.
No.
THAIS
No? What then?
No? What then?
CHAEREA
(pointing at PYTHIAS.)
I was afraid of her, lest she might be accusing me to you.
I was afraid of her, lest she might be accusing me to you.
THAIS
What had you done?
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What had you done?
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CHAEREA
A mere trifle.
A mere trifle.
PYTHIAS
Come now, a trifle, you impudent fellow. Does this appear a trifle to you, to ravish a virgin, a citizen?
Come now, a trifle, you impudent fellow. Does this appear a trifle to you, to ravish a virgin, a citizen?
CHAEREA
I took her for my fellow-servant.
I took her for my fellow-servant.
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.
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.)
Won’t you begone from here, you mad woman?
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Won’t you begone from here, you mad woman?
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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.
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.
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;
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in order that, by this means, I might, Chaerea, do a real service to myself.
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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;
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in order that, by this means, I might, Chaerea, do a real service to myself.
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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?
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?
THAIS
I’faith, for my own part I both take it in that view and wish to do so.
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I’faith, for my own part I both take it in that view and wish to do so.
875
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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CHAEREA
So may the Deities kindly bless me, Thais; I am now smitten with you as well.
So may the Deities kindly bless me, Thais; I am now smitten with you as well.
PYTHIAS
Then, i’faith, mistress, I foresee you must have a care of him.
Then, i’faith, mistress, I foresee you must have a care of him.
CHAEREA
I would not dare—
I would not dare—
PYTHIAS
I won’t trust you at all in any thing.
I won’t trust you at all in any thing.
THAIS
(to PYTHIAS.)
Do have done.
Do have done.
CHAEREA
Now I entreat you that you will be my assistant in this affair.
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.
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Now I entreat you that you will be my assistant in this affair.
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.
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THAIS
But if your father should say any thing—
But if your father should say any thing—
CHAEREA
Oh, he’ll consent, I’m quite sure of that, if she is only a citizen.
Oh, he’ll consent, I’m quite sure of that, if she is only a citizen.
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.
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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.
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CHAEREA
I certainly will stay.
I certainly will stay.
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?
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?
CHAEREA
Why yes, I should like it much.
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Why yes, I should like it much.
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PYTIH.
(to THAIS.)
Prithee, what are you going to do?
Prithee, what are you going to do?
THAIS
Why, what’s the matter?
Why, what’s the matter?
PYTHIAS
Do you ask? Do you think of admitting him after this into your house?
Do you ask? Do you think of admitting him after this into your house?
THAIS
Why not?
Why not?
PYTHIAS
Trust my word for it, he’ll be creating some new disturbance.
Trust my word for it, he’ll be creating some new disturbance.
THAIS
O dear, prithee, do hold your tongue.
O dear, prithee, do hold your tongue.
PYTHIAS
You seem to me to be far from sensible of his assurance.
You seem to me to be far from sensible of his assurance.
CHAEREA
I’ll not do any thing, Pythias.
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I’ll not do any thing, Pythias.
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PYTHIAS
Upon my faith, I don’t believe you, Chaerea, except in case you are not trusted.
Upon my faith, I don’t believe you, Chaerea, except in case you are not trusted.
CHAEREA
Nay but, Pythias, do you be my keeper.
Nay but, Pythias, do you be my keeper.
PYTHIAS
Upon my faith, I would neither venture to give any thing to you to keep, nor to keep you myself: away with you!
Upon my faith, I would neither venture to give any thing to you to keep, nor to keep you myself: away with you!
THAIS
Most opportunely the brother himself is coming.
Most opportunely the brother himself is coming.
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.
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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.
905
THAIS
For what reason, pray? Because you are ashamed?
For what reason, pray? Because you are ashamed?
CHAEREA
Just so.
Just so.
PYTHIAS
Just so? But the young woman—
Just so? But the young woman—
THAIS
Go first; I’ll follow. You stay here, Pythias, that you may show Chremes in.
(THAIS and CHAEREA go into the house.)
Go first; I’ll follow. You stay here, Pythias, that you may show Chremes in.
Eunuchus. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). Henry Thomas Riley (Translator), George Colman (Translator). Ney York. 1874.
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