Eunuchus; or, The Eunuch

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 932 sections

3.1.417b
Ye Gods, by our trust in you! a lost and miserable fellow the one, and the other a scoundrel.
3.1.418b
Well then, about that: matter, Gnatho, the way in which I touched up the Rhodian at a banquet—
3.1.420
did I never tell you?
3.1.420b
Never; but pray, do tell me. (Aside.) I’ve heard it more than a thousand times already.
3.1.421b
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;
3.1.425
a hare yourself, and looking out for game?
3.1.425b
Ha, ha, ha!
3.1.426
What’s the matter?
3.1.426b
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.
3.1.428
Did you ever hear it before?
3.1.428b
Many a time; and it is mentioned among the first-rate ones.
3.1.428c
It’s my own.
3.1.429
I’m sorry though that it was said to a thoughtless young man, and one of respectability.
3.1.430
May the Gods confound you!
3.1.430b
Pray, what did he do?
3.1.430c
Quite disconcerted. All who were present were dying with laughter; in short, they were all quite afraid of me.
3.1.432b
[Not without reason.
3.1.433
But hark you, had I best clear myself of this to Thais, as to her suspicion that I’m fond of this girl?
3.1.434b
By no means:
3.1.435
on the contrary, rather increase her jealousy.
3.1.435b
Why so?
3.1.435c
Do you ask me? Don’t you see, if on any occasion she makes mention of Phaedria or commends him, to provoke you—
3.1.437b
I understand.
3.1.438
That such may not be the case, this method is the only remedy. When she speaks of Phaedria, do you instantly mention Pamphila.
3.1.440
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.
3.1.445
If, indeed, she loved me, this might be of some use, Gnatho.
3.1.446
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.
3.1.450
Well said; that never came into my mind.
3.1.451
Nonsense. You never thought about it; else how much more readily would you yourself have hit upon it, Thraso!
3.2.453
I thought I just now heard the Captain’s voice. And look, here he is. Welcome, my dear Thraso.
3.2.454b
O my Thais,
3.2.455
my sweet one, how are you? How much do you love me in return for that music girl?
3.2.456b
How polite! What a beginning he has made on meeting her!
3.2.457b
Very much, as you deserve.
3.2.458
Let’s go to dinner then. (To THRASO.) What do you stand here for?
3.2.458b
Then there’s the other one: you would declare that he was born for his belly’s sake.
3.2.459b
When you please; I sha’n’t delay.
3.2.460
I’ll accost them, and pretend as though I had just come out. (He comes forward.) Are you going any where, Thais?
3.2.461b
Ha! Parmeno; well done; just going out for the day.
3.2.462b
Where?
3.2.462c
Why! don’t you see him?
3.2.463
I see him, and I’m sorry for it. (Aloud.) Phaedria’s presents are ready for you when you please.
3.2.464b
Why are we to stand here? Why don’t we be off?
3.2.465
Troth now, pray, do let us, with your leave, present to her the things we intend, and accost and speak to her.
3.2.467
Very fine presents, I suppose, or at least equal to mine.
3.2.468
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.
3.2.470
Do you step forward this way. (To THAIS.) She comes all the way from Aethiopia.
3.2.470b
Here are some three minae in value.
3.2.471
Hardly so much.
3.2.471b
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!
3.2.473
God bless me, he’s handsome.
3.2.473b
What say you, Gnatho? Do you see any thing to find fault with? And what say you, Thraso?
3.2.475
(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.
3.2.478
That Eunuch, if occasion served, even in my sober senses, I—
3.2.479
And he who has sent these things makes no request that
3.2.480
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.
3.2.485
It appears that this is the servant of some beggarly, wretched master.
3.2.486b
Why, faith, no person, I’m quite sure of that, could possibly put up with him, who had the means to get another.
3.2.488
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),
3.2.490
I do believe you could pick your victuals out of the very flames.
3.2.491
Are we to go now?
3.2.491b
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.
3.2.493
I shall be off. Do you wait for her.
3.2.493b
It is not a proper thing for a general to be walking in the street with a mistress.
3.2.495
Why should I use many words with you? You are the very ape of your master.
3.2.496
Ha, ha, ha!
3.2.496b
What are you laughing at?
3.2.496c
At what you were mentioning just now; that saying, too, about the Rhodian, recurred to my mind. But Thais is coming out.
3.2.498b
You go before; take care that every thing is ready at home.
3.2.499b
Very well.
3.2.499c
Take care, Pythias,
3.2.500
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.
3.2.503
I’ll do so.
3.2.503b
Well, what else was I intending to say? O, do you take particular care of that young woman;
3.2.505
be sure that you keep at home.
3.2.505b
Let us begone.
3.2.505c
You follow me.
3.3.506
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
3.3.510
(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
3.3.515
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.
3.3.520
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.
3.3.525
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?
3.3.530
It’s I, Chremes.
3.3.530b
O most charming, dear creature!
3.3.531
I said there was a design upon me.
3.3.531b
Thais entreated you most earnestly to come again to-morrow.
3.3.532b
I’m going into the country.
3.3.533b
Do, there’s a dear sir.
3.3.533c
I can not, I tell you.
3.3.533d
Then stay here at our house till she comes back.
3.3.534b
Nothing less likely.
3.3.534c
Why, my dear Chremes?
3.3.535
Away to perdition with you!
3.3.535b
If you are so determined about it, pray do step over to the place where she is.
3.3.536b
I’ll go there.
3.3.537
Here, Dorias (DORIAS enters), show this person directly to the Captain’s.
3.4.538
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;
3.4.540
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?
3.4.545
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.
3.5.548
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!

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.