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453
(Enter THAIS from her house, attended by PYTHIAS.)
THAIS
(as she comes out.)
I thought I just now heard the Captain’s voice. And look, here he is. Welcome, my dear Thraso.
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?
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O my Thais,
my sweet one, how are you? How much do you love me in return for that music girl?
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PARMENO
(apart.)
How polite! What a beginning he has made on meeting her!
How polite! What a beginning he has made on meeting her!
THAIS
Very much, as you deserve.
Very much, as you deserve.
GNATHO
Let’s go to dinner then. (To THRASO.) What do you stand here for?
Let’s go to dinner then. (To THRASO.) What do you stand here for?
PARMENO
(apart.)
Then there’s the other one: you would declare that he was born for his belly’s sake.
Then there’s the other one: you would declare that he was born for his belly’s sake.
THRASO
When you please; I sha’n’t delay.
When you please; I sha’n’t delay.
PARMENO
(apart.)
I’ll accost them, and pretend as though I had just come out.
(He comes forward.) Are you going any where, Thais?
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I’ll accost them, and pretend as though I had just come out.
(He comes forward.) Are you going any where, Thais?
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THAIS
Ha! Parmeno; well done; just going out for the day.
Ha! Parmeno; well done; just going out for the day.
PARMENO
Where?
Where?
THAIS
(aside, pointing at THRASO.)
Why! don’t you see him?
Why! don’t you see him?
PARMENO
(aside.)
I see him, and I’m sorry for it.
(Aloud.) Phaedria’s presents are ready for you when you please.
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?
Why are we to stand here? Why don’t we be off?
PARMENO
(to THRASO.)
Troth now, pray, do let us, with your leave, present to her the things we intend, and accost and speak to her.
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Troth now, pray, do let us, with your leave, present to her the things we intend, and accost and speak to her.
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THRASO
(ironically.)
Very fine presents, I suppose, or at least equal to mine.
Very fine presents, I suppose, or at least equal to mine.
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.)
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.
PARMENO
Do you step forward this way.
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(To THAIS.) She comes all the way from Aethiopia.
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Do you step forward this way.
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(To THAIS.) She comes all the way from Aethiopia.
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THRASO
(contemptuously.)
Here are some three minae in value.
Here are some three minae in value.
GNATHO
Hardly so much.
Hardly so much.
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!
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!
THAIS
God bless me, he’s handsome.
God bless me, he’s handsome.
PARMENO
What say you, Gnatho? Do you see any thing to find fault with? And what say you, Thraso?
(Aside.) They hold their tongues; they praise him sufficiently thereby.
(To THAIS.) Make trial of him in literature, try him in exercises,
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and in music; I’ll warrant him well skilled in what it becomes a gentleman to know.
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What say you, Gnatho? Do you see any thing to find fault with? And what say you, Thraso?
(Aside.) They hold their tongues; they praise him sufficiently thereby.
(To THAIS.) Make trial of him in literature, try him in exercises,
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and in music; I’ll warrant him well skilled in what it becomes a gentleman to know.
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THRASO
That Eunuch, if occasion served,
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even in my sober senses, I—
That Eunuch, if occasion served,
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even in my sober senses, I—
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.
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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.
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THRASO
(to GNATHO, contemptuously.)
It appears that this is the servant of some beggarly, wretched master.
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It appears that this is the servant of some beggarly, wretched master.
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GNATHO
Why, faith, no person, I’m quite sure of that, could possibly put up with him, who had the means to get another.
Why, faith, no person, I’m quite sure of that, could possibly put up with him, who had the means to get another.
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.
4
490
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.
4
490
THRASO
Are we to go now?
Are we to go now?
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.)
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.
THRASO
(to GNATHO.)
I shall be off. Do you wait for her.
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.
It is not a proper thing for a general to be walking in the street with a mistress.
THRASO
Why should I use many words with you? You are the very ape of your master.
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(Exit PARMENO.)
Why should I use many words with you? You are the very ape of your master.
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GNATHO
(laughing.)
Ha, ha, ha!
Ha, ha, ha!
THRASO
What are you laughing at?
What are you laughing at?
GNATHO
At what you were mentioning just now; that saying, too, about the Rhodian, recurred to my mind. But Thais is coming out.
At what you were mentioning just now; that saying, too, about the Rhodian, recurred to my mind. But Thais is coming out.
THRASO
You go before; take care that every thing is ready at home.
You go before; take care that every thing is ready at home.
GNATHO
Very well.
(Exit.)
Very well.
THAIS
(Re-enter THAIS, with PYTHIAS and FEMALE ATTENDANTS.)
Take care, Pythias,
and be sure that if Chremes should happen to come,
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to beg him to wait; if that is not convenient, then to come again; if he can not do that, bring him to me.
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Take care, Pythias,
and be sure that if Chremes should happen to come,
5
to beg him to wait; if that is not convenient, then to come again; if he can not do that, bring him to me.
500
PYTHIAS
I’ll do so.
I’ll do so.
THAIS
Well, what else was I intending to say? O, do you take particular care of that young woman;
be sure that you keep at home.
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Well, what else was I intending to say? O, do you take particular care of that young woman;
be sure that you keep at home.
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THRASO
Let us begone.
Let us begone.
THAIS
(to her attendants.)
You follow me.
(Exeunt THAIS and THRASO, followed by the Attendants. PYTHIAS goes into the house.)
You follow me.
Eunuchus. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). Henry Thomas Riley (Translator), George Colman (Translator). Ney York. 1874.
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