It’s a wonder if he doesn’t mean her who has just now been made a present of to Thais here.CHAEREA When I got here, she was nowhere to be seen.PARMENO Some attendants, I suppose, were accompanying the girl?CHAEREA Yes; a Parasite, and a female servant.PARMENO(apart.)It’s the very same. (To CHAEREA.) It’s all over with you; make an end of it; you’ve said your last.It’s all over with you,—you’ve said your last.Ilicet and conclamatum est, are words of mournful import, which were used with regard to the funeral rites of the Romans. Ilicet, you may begone, was said aloud when the funeral was concluded. Conclamare, implied the ceremony of calling upon the dead person by name, before light was set to the funeral pile; on no answer being given, he was concluded to be really dead, and the pile was set fire to amid the cries of those present: conclamatum est would consequently signify that all hope has gone. CHAEREA You are thinking about something else.PARMENO Indeed I’m thinking of this same matter.CHAEREA Pray, tell me, do you know her, or did you see her?PARMENO I did see, and I do know her, I am aware to what house she has been taken.CHAEREA What, my dear Parmeno, do you know her,and are you aware where she is?PARMENO She has been brought here (pointing) to the house of Thais the Courtesan.Thais the Courtesan. Cooke remarks here, somewhat hypercritically as it would seem: Thais is not called meretrix here opprobriously, but to distinguish her from other ladies of the same name, who were not of the same profession. She has been made a present to her.CHAEREA What opulent person is it, to be presenting a gift so precious as this?PARMENO The Captain Thraso, Phaedria’s rival. CHAEREA An unpleasant business for my brother, it should seem.PARMENO Aye, and if you did but know what present he is pitting against this present, you would say so still more.CHAEREA Troth now, what is it, pray?PARMENO A Eunuch.A Eunuchl: Eunuchs formed part of the establishment of wealthy persons, who, in imitation of the Eastern nobles, confided the charge of their wives, daughters, or mistresses to them. Though Thais would have no such necessity for his services, her wish to imitate the reginae, or great ladies, would make him a not unacceptable present. See the Addresses of Ovid to the Eunuch Bagous in the Amours, B. ii., El. 2, 3. CHAEREA What! that unsightly creature, pray, that he purchased yesterday, an old woman?PARMENO That very same.CHAEREA To a certainty, the gentleman will be bundled out of doors, together with his present; but I wasn’t aware that this Thais is our neighbor.PARMENO It isn’t long since she came.CHAEREA Unhappy wretch that I am! never to have seen her, even. Come now, just tell me, is she as handsome as she is reported to be?As she is reported to be. Donatus remarks this as an instance of the art of Terence, in preserving the probability of Chaerea’s being received for the Eunuch. He shows hereby that he is so entirely a stranger to the family that he does not even know the person of Thais. It is also added that she has not been long in the neighborhood, and he has been on duty at the Piraeus. The meaning of his regret is, that, not knowing Thais, he will not have an opportunity of seeing the girl. PARMENO Quite.CHAEREA But nothing in comparison with this damsel of mine?PARMENO Another thing altogether.CHAEREA Troth now, Parmeno, prithee do contrive for me to gain possession of her.PARMENO I’ll do my best, and use all my endeavors; I’ll lend you my assistance. (Going.) Do you want any thing else with me?CHAEREA Where are you going now?