Eunuchus; or, The Eunuch (316c-340)

A new style of beauty.

Astounding!

Her complexion genuine,[*] her flesh firm and full of juiciness.[*]

Her age?

Her age Sixteen.

The very flower of youth.[*]

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.

Well, but to whom does the damsel belong?

That, i’faith, I don’t know.

Whence did she come?

That, just as much.

Where does she live?

Nor yet do I know that.

Where did you see her?

In the street.

How did you come to lose her?

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.

What ill fortune this is!

I’m utterly undone!

What’s the matter?

Do you ask me? Do you know Archidemides, my father’s kinsman and years’-mate?

Why not?

He, while I was in full pursuit of her, met me.

Unseasonably, upon my faith.

Aye, unhappily, rather; for other ordinary matters are to be called unseasonable, Parmeno.

It would be safe for me to make oath that I have not seen him for fully these six or seven months, until just now, when I least wanted, and there was the least occasion. Come now! isn’t this like a fatality? What do you say?

Extremely so.

At once he came running up to me, from a considerable distance,

stooping, palsied, hanging his lip, and wheezing. Halloo, Chaerea! halloo! said he; I’ve something to say to you. I stopped. Do you know what it is I want with you? said he. Say on, said I. To-morrow my cause comes on, said he. What then? Be sure and tell your father to remember and be my advocate[*] in the morning.

In talking of this, an hour elapsed.[*] I inquired if he wanted any thing else. That’s all, said he. I left him. When I looked in this direction for the damsel, she had that very instant turned this way down this street of ours.