For the next two days then, Thais, adieu.THAIS And the same to you, my Phaedria; do you desire aught else?PHAEDRIA What should I desire? That, present with the Captain, you may be as if absent; that night and day you may love me; may feel my absence; may dream of me; may be impatient for me; may think about me;may hope for me; may centre your delight in me; may be all in all with me; in fine, if you will, be my very life, as I am yours.(Exeunt PHAEDRIA and PARMENO.THAIS(to herself.)Ah wretched me!Ah wretched me!: Donatus remarks that the Poet judiciously reserves that part of the plot to betold here, which Thais did not relate to Phaedria in the presence of Parmeno; whom the Poet keeps in ignorance as to the rank of the damsel, that he may with the more probability dare to assist Chaerea in his attempt on her. perhaps now he puts but little faith in me, and forms his estimate of me from the dispositions of other women.From the dispositions of other women: Donatus observes that this is one of the peculiar points of excellence shown by Terence, introducing common characters in a new manner, without departing from custom or nature; since he draws a good Courtesan, and yet engages the attention of the Spectators and amuses them. Colman has the following Note here: Under the name of Thais, Menander is supposed to have drawn the character of his own mistress, Glycerium, and it seems he introduced a Courtesan of the same name into several of his Comedies. One Comedy was entitled Thais, from which St. Paul took the sentence in his Epistle to the Corinthians, Evil communications corrupt good manners. Plutarch has preserved four lines of the Prologue to that Comedy, in which the Poet, in a kind of mock-heroic manner, invokes the Muse to teach him to depict the character of his heroine. By my troth, I, who know my own self, am very sure of this,that I have not feigned any thing that’s false, and that no person is dearer to my heart than this same Phaedria; and whatever in the present case I have done, for this girl’s sake have I done it; for I trust that now I have pretty nearly discovered her brother, a young man of very good family;and he has appointed this day to come to me at my house. I’ll go hence in-doors, and wait until he comes.(She goes into her house.)

(Enter PHAEDRIA and PARMENO.)PHAEDRIA Mind that those people are taken there, as I ordered.PARMENO I’ll do so.PHAEDRIA And carefully.PARMENO It shall be done.PHAEDRIA And with all speed.PARMENO It shall be done.PHAEDRIA Have you had sufficient instructions?PARMENO Dear me! to ask the question, as though it were a matter of difficulty.I wish that you were able, Phaedria, to find any thing as easily as this present will be lost.PHAEDRIA Together with it, I myself am lost, which concerns me more nearly. Don’t bear this with such a feeling of vexation.PARMENO By no means; on the contrary, I’ll see it done. But do you order any thing else?PHAEDRIA 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.PARMENO Pshaw! I should have kept that in mind, even if you hadn’t reminded me.PHAEDRIA I shall go into the country and remain there.PARMENO I agree with you.(Moves as if going.)PHAEDRIA But hark you!PARMENO What is it you want?PHAEDRIA Are you of opinion that I can muster resolution and hold out so as not to come back within the time?PARMENO 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.PHAEDRIA I’ll do some laborious work, that I may be continually fatigued, so as to sleep in spite of myself.PARMENO When wearied, you will be keeping awake; by this you will be making it worse.PHAEDRIA 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?PARMENO Whew! an entire three days! Take care what you are about.