Eunuchus; or, The Eunuch

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 932 sections

4.4.678b
Prithee, did you fancy that this was he who was brought to our house?
4.4.679b
Why, I had no other.
4.4.679c
O dear!
4.4.680
this one really isn’t to be compared with the other. He was of a handsome and genteel appearance.
4.4.681b
He seemed so, just then, because he was decked out in party-colored clothes: now he appears ugly, for this reason—because he hasn’t got them on.
4.4.684
Prithee, do hold your tongue; as though indeed the difference was so trifling.
4.4.685
A young man was brought to our house to-day, whom, really, Phaedria, you would have liked to look upon. This is a withered, antiquated, lethargic, old fellow, with a speckled complexion.
4.4.688b
Hah! What tale is this? You’ll so befool me that I sha’n’t know what I bought.
4.4.690
(To DORUS.) How now, sirrah, did I not buy you?
4.4.690b
You did buy me.
4.4.690c
Bid him answer me in my turn.
4.4.691b
Question him.
4.4.691c
Did you come here to-day to our house? (DORUS shakes his head.) He says, no. But it was the other one that came, about sixteen years of age; whom Parmeno brought with him.
4.4.693b
Well now, in the first place tell me this, where did you get that dress that you have on? What, are you silent?
4.4.695
Monster of a fellow, are you not going to speak?
4.4.695b
Chaerea came.
4.4.696
What, my brother?
4.4.696b
Yes.
4.4.696c
When?
4.4.696d
To-day.
4.4.696e
How long since?
4.4.696f
Just now.
4.4.697
With whom?
4.4.697b
With Parmeno.
4.4.697c
Did you know him before?
4.4.698
No.
4.4.699
How did you know he was my brother?
4.4.699b
Parmeno
4.4.700
said he was. He gave me these clothes.
4.4.700b
I’m undone!
4.4.701
He himself put on mine; afterward, they both went out together.
4.4.702
Now are you quite satisfied that I am sober, and that we have told you no falsehood? Is it now sufficiently evident that the girl has been ravished?
4.4.703b
Avaunt, you beast, do you believe what he says?
4.4.704b
What is there to believe? The thing speaks for itself.
4.4.705
Step aside a little this way. Do you hear? (DORUS steps aside.) A little further still. That will do. Now tell me this once more; did Chaerea take your clothes off you?
4.4.707
He did.
4.4.707b
And did he put them on?
4.4.707c
He did.
4.4.707d
And was he brought here instead of you?
4.4.707e
Yes.
4.4.708
Great Jupiter! O wicked and audacious fellow!
4.4.708b
Woe unto me! Now at last will you believe that we have been insulted in a disgraceful manner?
4.4.710
It is no wonder that you believe what the fellow says. (Aside.) What I’m to do I know not. (Aside to DORUS.) Hark you, deny it all again. (Aloud.) Can I not this day extract the truth from you? Did you really see my brother Chaerea?
4.4.712b
No.
4.4.712c
He can’t be brought to confess without being punished, I see: follow me this way. At one moment he affirms, at another denies. (Aside.) Ask pardon of me.
4.4.714b
Indeed, I do entreat you, Phaedria.
4.4.714c
Be off in-doors.
4.4.714d
Oh! oh!
4.4.715
How in any other fashion to get decently out of this I don’t know; for really it’s all up with me. (Aloud, with pretended indignation.) Will you be trifling with me even here, you knave?
4.4.717
I’m as certain that this is the contrivance of Parmeno as that I’m alive.
4.4.718
So it is, no doubt.
4.4.718b
I’faith, I’ll find out a method to-day to be even with him. But now, what do you think ought to be done, Dorias?
4.4.719b
Do you mean with regard to this
4.4.720
girl?
4.4.720b
Yes; whether I ought to mention it or be silent?
4.4.721
Upon my word, if you are prudent, you won’t know what you do know, either about the Eunuch or the girl’s misfortune. By this method you’ll both rid yourself of all perplexity, and have done a service to her. Say this only, that Dorus has run away.
4.4.723b
I’ll do so.
4.4.723c
But don’t I see Chremes? Thais will be here just now.
4.4.724b
Why so?
4.4.724c
Because when I came away from there, a quarrel had just commenced between them.
4.4.725b
Take in these golden trinkets; I shall learn from him what’s the matter.
4.5.726
Heyday! upon my faith, I’ve been bamboozled: the wine that I’ve drunk has got the upper hand. But, so long as I was reclining, how extremely sober I did seem to myself to be; when I got up, neither feet nor senses were quite equal to their duty.
4.5.729
Chremes!
4.5.729b
Who’s that? What, Pythias; dear me, how much more charming you now
4.5.730
seem to me than a short time since!
4.5.730b
Troth now, you are much more merry, that’s certain.
4.5.731
Upon my faith, it is a true saying, that Venus grows cold without Ceres and Bacchus. But has Thais got here long before me?
4.5.732b
Has she already come away from the Captain’s?
4.5.733
A long time ago; an age since. There has been a most violent quarrel between them.
4.5.734
Did she say nothing about you following her?
4.5.734b
Nothing at all; only, on going away, she gave me a nod.
4.5.735
Well now, wasn’t that enough?
4.5.735b
Why, I didn’t know that she meant that, until the Captain gave me an explanation, because I was dull of comprehension; for he bundled me out of the house. But look, here she is; I wonder how it was I got here before her.
4.6.738
I really do believe that he’ll be here presently, to force her away from me. Let him come; but if he touches her with a single finger, that instant his eyes shall be torn out.
4.6.740
I can put up with his impertinences and his high-sounding words, as long as they remain words: but if they are turned into realities, he shall get a drubbing.
4.6.742
Thais, I’ve been here some time.
4.6.742b
O my dear Chremes, you are the very person I was wanting. Are you aware that this quarrel took place on your account, and that the whole of this affair, in fact, bore reference to yourself?
4.6.744b
To me? How so, pray?
4.6.744c
Because, while I’ve been doing my best
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to recover and restore your sister to you, this and a great deal more like it I’ve had to put up with.
4.6.746
Where is she?
4.6.746b
At home, at my house.
4.6.746c
Hah!
4.6.747
What’s the matter? She has been brought up in a manner worthy of yourself and of her.
4.6.747b
What is it you say?
4.6.747c
That which is the fact. Her I present to you, nor do I ask of you any return for her.
4.6.749
Thanks are both felt and shall be returned in such way, Thais, as you deserve.
4.6.750
But still, take care, Chremes, that you don’t lose her, before you receive her from me; for it is she, whom the Captain is now coming to take away from me by force. Do you go, Pythias, and bring out of the house the casket with the tokens.
4.6.753
Don’t you see him, Thais?
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Where is it put?
4.6.753c
In the clothes’ chest. Tiresome creature, why do you delay?
4.6.754
What a large body of troops the Captain is bringing with him against you.
4.6.755
Bless me!
4.6.755b
Prithee, are you frightened, my dear sir?
4.6.755c
Get out with you. What, I frightened? There’s not a man alive less so.
4.6.757
Then now is the time to prove it.
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Why, I wonder what sort of a man you take me to be.
4.6.758
Nay, and consider this too; the person that you have to deal with is a foreigner; of less influence than you, less known, and one that has fewer friends here.
4.6.760
I’m aware of that; but it’s foolish to run the risk of what you are able to avoid. I had rather we should prevent it, than, having received an injury, avenge ourselves upon him. Do you go in and fasten the door, while I run across hence to the Forum; I should like us to have the aid of some legal adviser in this disturbance.
4.6.763b
Stay.

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.