Publius Terentius Afer (Terence), Eunuchus, ed. Edward St. John Parry, 3.2

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453 (THAIS. THRASO. PARMENO. GNATHO. PYTHIAS.)

THAIS

Audire vocem visa sum modo militis.

Atque eccum. Salve mi Thraso.

THRASO

O Thais mea,

Meum suavium, quid agitur? ecquid nos amas
455

De fidicina istac?

PARMENO

Quam venuste! quod dedit

Principium adveniens.

THAIS

Plurimum merito tuo.

GNATHO

Eamus ergo ad coenam: quid stas?

PARMENO

Hem alterum:

Abdomini hunc natum dicas.

THRASO

Ubi vis, non moror.

PARMENO

Adibo, atque adsimulabo quasi nunc exeam.
460

Ituran Thais quopiam es?

THAIS

Ehem! Parmeno,

Bene fecisti: hodie itura.

PARMENO

Quo?

THAIS

Quid? hunc non vides?

PARMENO

Video et me taedet: ubi vis dona adsunt tibi

A Phaedria.

THRASO

Quid stamus? cur non imus hinc?

PARMENO

Quaeso hercle ut liceat, pace quod fiat tua,
465

Dare huic quae volumus, convenire et colloqui.

THRASO

Perpulchra credo dona haud nostris similia.

PARMENO

Res indicabit. Heus, iubete istos foras

Exire quos iussi ocius: procede tu huc.

Ex Aethiopia est usque haec.
470

THRASO

Hic sunt tres minae.

GNATHO

Vix.

PARMENO

Ubi tu es Dore? accede huc. Hem eunuchum tibi,

Quam liberali facie, quam aetate integra!

THAIS

Ita me Di ament honestus est.

PARMENO

Quid tu ais, Gnatho?

Numquid habes quod contemnas? quid tu autem Thraso?

Tacent; satis laudant. Fac periclum in literis,
475

Fac in palaestra, in musicis: quae liberum

Scire aequum est adolescentem solertem dabo.

THRASO

Ego illum eunuchum, si opus siet, vel sobrius.

PARMENO

Atque haec qui misit non sibi soli postulat

Te vivere, et sua causa excludi caeteros;
480

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.

THRASO

Apparet servum hunc esse domini pauperis
485

Miserique.

GNATHO

Nam hercle nemo posset, sat scio,

Qui haberet qui pararet alium, hunc perpeti.

PARMENO

Tace tu, quem ego esse infra infimos omnes puto

Homines; nam qui huic animum assentari induxeris,

E flamma petere te cibum posse arbitror.
490

THRASO

Iamne imus?

THAIS

Hos prius introducam, et quae volo

Simul imperabo: post continuo exeo.

THRASO

Ego hine abeo; tu istam opperire.

PARMENO

Haud convenit

Una cum amica ire imperatorer in via.

THRASO

Quid tibi ego multa dicam? domini similis es.
495

GNATHO

Ha, ha, he.

THRASO

Quid rides?

GNATHO

Istuc quod dixti modo;

Et illud de Rhodio dictum cum in mentem venit:

Sed Thais exit.

THRASO

Abi prae, curre, ut sint domi

Parata.

GNATHO

Fiat.

THAIS

Diligenter Pythias

Fac cures, si Chremes huc forte advenerit,
500

Ut ores primum ut maneat: si id non commodum est,

Ut redeat: si id non poterit, ad me adducito.

PYTHIAS

Ita faciam.

THAIS

Quid? quid aliud volui dicere?

Ehem, curate istam diligenter virginem.

Domi adsitis facite.
505

THRASO

Eamus.

THAIS

Vos me sequimini.

Eunuchus. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). ed. Edward St. John Parry. London. 1857.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by NSF, NEH: Digital Libraries Initiative, Phase 2.

Current edition Perseus

Eunuchus (Terence. Publii Terentii Comoediae Sex. Parry, Edward St. John, editor. London: Whittaker and Co.; George Bell, 1857.)

Translations (1)

Eunuchus; or, The Eunuch Perseus (Terence. The Comedies of Terence. Riley, Henry Thomas; Colman, George, translators. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1872.) — 3.2 focus

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.

THRASO

O my Thais,

my sweet one, how are you? How much do you love me in return for that music girl?
455

PARMENO

(apart.)

How polite! What a beginning he has made on meeting her!

THAIS

Very much, as you deserve.

GNATHO

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.

THRASO

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?
460

THAIS

Ha! Parmeno; well done; just going out for the day.

PARMENO

Where?

THAIS

(aside, pointing at THRASO.)

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.

THRASO

(impatiently.)

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.
465

THRASO

(ironically.)

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.)

PARMENO

Do you step forward this way.¹ (To THAIS.) She comes all the way from Aethiopia.
470

THRASO

(contemptuously.)

Here are some three minae in value.

GNATHO

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!

THAIS

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,² and in music; I’ll warrant him well skilled in what it becomes a gentleman to know.
475

THRASO

That Eunuch, if occasion served,³ 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.
480

THRASO

(to GNATHO, contemptuously.)

It appears that this is the servant of some beggarly, wretched master.
485

GNATHO

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

THRASO

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.)

THRASO

(to GNATHO.)

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.

THRASO

Why should I use many words with you? You are the very ape of your master.
495
(Exit PARMENO.)

GNATHO

(laughing.)

Ha, ha, ha!

THRASO

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.

THRASO

You go before; take care that every thing is ready at home.

GNATHO

Very well.

(Exit.)

THAIS

(Re-enter THAIS, with PYTHIAS and FEMALE ATTENDANTS.)

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.

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.
505

THRASO

Let us begone.

THAIS

(to her attendants.)

You follow me.

(Exeunt THAIS and THRASO, followed by the Attendants. PYTHIAS goes into the house.)

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THAIS Audire vocem visa sum modo militis. Atque eccum. Salve mi Thraso.

THRASO O Thais mea, Meum suavium, quid agitur? ecquid nos amas 455 De fidicina istac?

PARMENO Quam venuste! quod dedit Principium adveniens.

THAIS Plurimum merito tuo.

GNATHO Eamus ergo ad coenam: quid stas?

PARMENO Hem alterum: Abdomini hunc natum dicas.

THRASO Ubi vis, non moror.

PARMENO Adibo, atque adsimulabo quasi nunc exeam. 460 Ituran Thais quopiam es?

THAIS Ehem! Parmeno, Bene fecisti: hodie itura.

PARMENO Quo?

THAIS Quid? hunc non vides?

PARMENO Video et me taedet: ubi vis dona adsunt tibi A Phaedria.

THRASO Quid stamus? cur non imus hinc?

PARMENO Quaeso hercle ut liceat, pace quod fiat tua, 465 Dare huic quae volumus, convenire et colloqui.

THRASO Perpulchra credo dona haud nostris similia.

PARMENO Res indicabit. Heus, iubete istos foras Exire quos iussi ocius: procede tu huc. Ex Aethiopia est usque haec. 470

THRASO Hic sunt tres minae.

GNATHO Vix.

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

THAIS Ita me Di ament honestus est.

PARMENO Quid tu ais, Gnatho? Numquid habes quod contemnas? quid tu autem Thraso? Tacent; satis laudant. Fac periclum in literis, 475 Fac in palaestra, in musicis: quae liberum Scire aequum est adolescentem solertem dabo.

THRASO Ego illum eunuchum, si opus siet, vel sobrius.

PARMENO Atque haec qui misit non sibi soli postulat Te vivere, et sua causa excludi caeteros; 480 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.

THRASO Apparet servum hunc esse domini pauperis 485 Miserique.

GNATHO Nam hercle nemo posset, sat scio, Qui haberet qui pararet alium, hunc perpeti.

PARMENO Tace tu, quem ego esse infra infimos omnes puto Homines; nam qui huic animum assentari induxeris, E flamma petere te cibum posse arbitror. 490

THRASO Iamne imus?

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

THRASO Ego hine abeo; tu istam opperire.

PARMENO Haud convenit Una cum amica ire imperatorer in via.

THRASO Quid tibi ego multa dicam? domini similis es. 495

GNATHO Ha, ha, he.

THRASO Quid rides?

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

THRASO Abi prae, curre, ut sint domi Parata.

GNATHO Fiat.

THAIS Diligenter Pythias Fac cures, si Chremes huc forte advenerit, 500 Ut ores primum ut maneat: si id non commodum est, Ut redeat: si id non poterit, ad me adducito.

PYTHIAS Ita faciam.

THAIS Quid? quid aliud volui dicere? Ehem, curate istam diligenter virginem. Domi adsitis facite. 505

THRASO Eamus.

THAIS Vos me sequimini.

Current edition Perseus

THAIS (as she comes out.) 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? 455

PARMENO (apart.) How polite! What a beginning he has made on meeting her!

THAIS Very much, as you deserve.

GNATHO 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.

THRASO 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? 460

THAIS Ha! Parmeno; well done; just going out for the day.

PARMENO Where?

THAIS (aside, pointing at THRASO.) 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.

THRASO (impatiently.) 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. 465

THRASO (ironically.) 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.)

PARMENO Do you step forward this way. 1 (To THAIS.) She comes all the way from Aethiopia. 470

THRASO (contemptuously.) Here are some three minae in value.

GNATHO 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!

THAIS God bless me, he’s handsome.

THRASO That Eunuch, if occasion served, 3 even in my sober senses, I—

THRASO (to GNATHO, contemptuously.) It appears that this is the servant of some beggarly, wretched master. 485

GNATHO 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

THRASO 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.)

THRASO (to GNATHO.) 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.

THRASO Why should I use many words with you? You are the very ape of your master. 495 (Exit PARMENO.)

GNATHO (laughing.) Ha, ha, ha!

THRASO 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.

THRASO You go before; take care that every thing is ready at home.

GNATHO Very well. (Exit.)

THAIS (Re-enter THAIS, with PYTHIAS and FEMALE ATTENDANTS.) 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

THAIS

Audire vocem visa sum modo militis.

Atque eccum. Salve mi Thraso.

THRASO

O Thais mea,

Meum suavium, quid agitur? ecquid nos amas
455

De fidicina istac?

PARMENO

Quam venuste! quod dedit

Principium adveniens.

THAIS

Plurimum merito tuo.

GNATHO

Eamus ergo ad coenam: quid stas?

PARMENO

Hem alterum:

Abdomini hunc natum dicas.

THRASO

Ubi vis, non moror.

PARMENO

Adibo, atque adsimulabo quasi nunc exeam.
460

Ituran Thais quopiam es?

THAIS

Ehem! Parmeno,

Bene fecisti: hodie itura.

PARMENO

Quo?

THAIS

Quid? hunc non vides?

PARMENO

Video et me taedet: ubi vis dona adsunt tibi

A Phaedria.

THRASO

Quid stamus? cur non imus hinc?

PARMENO

Quaeso hercle ut liceat, pace quod fiat tua,
465

Dare huic quae volumus, convenire et colloqui.

THRASO

Perpulchra credo dona haud nostris similia.

PARMENO

Res indicabit. Heus, iubete istos foras

Exire quos iussi ocius: procede tu huc.

Ex Aethiopia est usque haec.
470

THRASO

Hic sunt tres minae.

GNATHO

Vix.

PARMENO

Ubi tu es Dore? accede huc. Hem eunuchum tibi,

Quam liberali facie, quam aetate integra!

THAIS

Ita me Di ament honestus est.

PARMENO

Quid tu ais, Gnatho?

Numquid habes quod contemnas? quid tu autem Thraso?

Tacent; satis laudant. Fac periclum in literis,
475

Fac in palaestra, in musicis: quae liberum

Scire aequum est adolescentem solertem dabo.

THRASO

Ego illum eunuchum, si opus siet, vel sobrius.

PARMENO

Atque haec qui misit non sibi soli postulat

Te vivere, et sua causa excludi caeteros;
480

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.

THRASO

Apparet servum hunc esse domini pauperis
485

Miserique.

GNATHO

Nam hercle nemo posset, sat scio,

Qui haberet qui pararet alium, hunc perpeti.

PARMENO

Tace tu, quem ego esse infra infimos omnes puto

Homines; nam qui huic animum assentari induxeris,

E flamma petere te cibum posse arbitror.
490

THRASO

Iamne imus?

THAIS

Hos prius introducam, et quae volo

Simul imperabo: post continuo exeo.

THRASO

Ego hine abeo; tu istam opperire.

PARMENO

Haud convenit

Una cum amica ire imperatorer in via.

THRASO

Quid tibi ego multa dicam? domini similis es.
495

GNATHO

Ha, ha, he.

THRASO

Quid rides?

GNATHO

Istuc quod dixti modo;

Et illud de Rhodio dictum cum in mentem venit:

Sed Thais exit.

THRASO

Abi prae, curre, ut sint domi

Parata.

GNATHO

Fiat.

THAIS

Diligenter Pythias

Fac cures, si Chremes huc forte advenerit,
500

Ut ores primum ut maneat: si id non commodum est,

Ut redeat: si id non poterit, ad me adducito.

PYTHIAS

Ita faciam.

THAIS

Quid? quid aliud volui dicere?

Ehem, curate istam diligenter virginem.

Domi adsitis facite.
505

THRASO

Eamus.

THAIS

Vos me sequimini.

THAIS

(as she comes out.)

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?
455

PARMENO

(apart.)

How polite! What a beginning he has made on meeting her!

THAIS

Very much, as you deserve.

GNATHO

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.

THRASO

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?
460

THAIS

Ha! Parmeno; well done; just going out for the day.

PARMENO

Where?

THAIS

(aside, pointing at THRASO.)

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.

THRASO

(impatiently.)

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.
465

THRASO

(ironically.)

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.)

PARMENO

Do you step forward this way.¹ (To THAIS.) She comes all the way from Aethiopia.
470

THRASO

(contemptuously.)

Here are some three minae in value.

GNATHO

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!

THAIS

God bless me, he’s handsome.

THRASO

That Eunuch, if occasion served,³ even in my sober senses, I—

THRASO

(to GNATHO, contemptuously.)

It appears that this is the servant of some beggarly, wretched master.
485

GNATHO

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

THRASO

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.)

THRASO

(to GNATHO.)

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.

THRASO

Why should I use many words with you? You are the very ape of your master.
495
(Exit PARMENO.)

GNATHO

(laughing.)

Ha, ha, ha!

THRASO

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.

THRASO

You go before; take care that every thing is ready at home.

GNATHO

Very well.

(Exit.)

THAIS

(Re-enter THAIS, with PYTHIAS and FEMALE ATTENDANTS.)

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.

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.
505

THRASO

Let us begone.