Eunuchus; or, The Eunuch

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 932 sections

2.1.208
It shall be done.
2.1.208b
And with all speed.
2.1.208c
It shall be done.
2.1.208d
Have you had sufficient instructions?
2.1.208e
Dear me! to ask the question, as though it were a matter of difficulty.
2.1.210
I wish that you were able, Phaedria, to find any thing as easily as this present will be lost.
2.1.211b
Together with it, I myself am lost, which concerns me more nearly. Don’t bear this with such a feeling of vexation.
2.1.212b
By no means; on the contrary, I’ll see it done. But do you order any thing else?
2.1.214
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.
2.1.216
Pshaw! I should have kept that in mind, even if you hadn’t reminded me.
2.1.216b
I shall go into the country and remain there.
2.1.217
I agree with you.
2.1.217b
But hark you!
2.1.217c
What is it you want?
2.1.217d
Are you of opinion that I can muster resolution and hold out so as not to come back within the time?
2.1.218b
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.
2.1.220
I’ll do some laborious work, that I may be continually fatigued, so as to sleep in spite of myself.
2.1.221
When wearied, you will be keeping awake; by this you will be making it worse.
2.1.221b
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?
2.1.223b
Whew! an entire three days! Take care what you are about.
2.1.224b
My mind is made up.
2.1.225
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!
2.1.230
How beautiful! No wonder if I make but a sorry figure here to-day with this decrepit Eunuch of mine. She surpasses Thais herself.
2.2.232
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,
2.2.235
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,
2.2.240
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.
2.2.245
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;
2.2.250
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.
2.2.254
A clever fellow, upon my faith! From being fools he makes men mad outright.
2.2.255
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.
2.2.260
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.
2.2.265
Do you see the effects of ease and feeding at another’s cost?
2.2.265b
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.
2.2.269b
They fancy that, through this present,
2.2.270
Thais is quite their own.
2.2.270b
With his very best wishes Gnatho greets Parmeno, his very good friend.—What are you doing?
2.2.271b
I’m standing.
2.2.271c
So I perceive. Pray, do you see any thing here that don’t please you?
2.2.272b
Yourself.
2.2.272c
I believe you,—but any thing else, pray?
2.2.273
Why so?
2.2.273b
Because you are out of spirits.
2.2.273c
Not in the least.
2.2.273d
Well, don’t be so; but what think you of this slave?
2.2.274b
Really, not amiss.
2.2.274c
I’ve galled the fellow.
2.2.274d
How mistaken you are in your notion!
2.2.275
How far do you suppose this gift will prove acceptable to Thais?
2.2.275b
It’s this you mean to say now, that we are discarded there. Hark you, there are vicissitudes in all things.
2.2.277
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?
2.2.279b
Me? O prodigiously!
2.2.279c
That’s my way with my friends.
2.2.279d
I commend you.
2.2.280
I’m detaining you; perhaps you were about to go somewhere else.
2.2.281
Nowhere.
2.2.281b
In that case then, lend me your services a little; let me be introduced to her.
2.2.282b
Very well; (GNATHO knocks at the door, which immediately opens) now the door is open for you, (aside) because you are bringing her.
2.2.283
Should you like any one to be called out from here?
2.2.283b
Only let the next two days go by; you who, at present, in such high favor, are opening the door with one little finger,
2.2.285
assuredly I’ll cause to be kicking at that door full oft, with your heels, to no purpose.
2.2.286
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?
2.2.288
Smartly said; really they ought to be wonderful things to please the Captain. But I see my master’s youngest son coming this way;
2.2.290
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.
2.3.292
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,
2.3.295
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.
2.3.297b
Why look, here’s the other one. He’s saying something, I don’t know what, about love.
2.3.298b
O unfortunate old man, their father! This assuredly is a youth, who, if he does begin, you will say that
2.3.300
the other one was mere play and pastime, compared with what the madness of this one will cause.
2.3.301
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.
2.3.303b
Why are you out of spirits, and why in such a hurry? Whence come you?
2.3.304b
What, I? I’faith, I neither know whence I’m come, nor whither I’m going;
2.3.305
so utterly have I lost myself.
2.3.306
How, pray?
2.3.306b
I’m in love.
2.3.306c
Ha!
2.3.306d
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.
2.3.310
To the point, you simpleton.
2.3.310b
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;
2.3.315
although their constitutions are good, by their treatment they make them as slight as bulrushes; and so for that reason they are admired, forsooth.
2.3.316b
What sort of a girl is this one of yours?
2.3.316c
A new style of beauty.
2.3.316d
Astounding!
2.3.317
Her complexion genuine, her flesh firm and full of juiciness.
2.3.317b
Her age?
2.3.317c
Her age Sixteen.
2.3.318
The very flower of youth.
2.3.318b
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.
2.3.320
Well, but to whom does the damsel belong?
2.3.320b
That, i’faith, I don’t know.
2.3.320c
Whence did she come?
2.3.320d
That, just as much.
2.3.320e
Where does she live?
2.3.321
Nor yet do I know that.
2.3.321b
Where did you see her?
2.3.321c
In the street.
2.3.321d
How did you come to lose her?
2.3.322
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.
2.3.325
What ill fortune this is!
2.3.325b
I’m utterly undone!
2.3.325c
What’s the matter?

Perseus Latin. CTS URN phi0134.phi003.perseus-eng2. Via the Perseus Digital Library / Open Greek and Latin TEI corpora. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0. Source.