Eunuchus; or, The Eunuch (611b-662b)

You say right. Let’s be off; besides, I want to take counsel with you about this girl, by what means I may be able to secure the future possession of her.

Very well.

So may the Gods bless me, but from what I have seen, I’m terribly afraid that

this mad fellow will be guilty of some disturbance to-day or of some violence to Thais. For when this young man, the brother of the damsel, arrived, she begged the Captain to order him to be admitted; he immediately began to get into a passion, and yet didn’t dare refuse; Thais still insisted that he would invite the man in. This she did for the sake of detaining him; because there was no opportunity just then of telling him what she wanted to disclose about her sister.

He was invited in, and took his seat. Then she entered into discourse with him. But the Captain, fancying it was a rival brought before his very eyes, wanted in his turn to mortify her: Hark you, boy, said he, go fetch Pamphila, that she may amuse us here. She exclaimed, At a banquet! Certainly not. The Captain still persisted to a downright quarrel.

Meanwhile my mistress secretly took off her golden jewels,[*] and gave them to me to take away: this is a sign, I’m sure, that she’ll betake herself from there as soon as she possibly can.

While I was going[*] into the country, I began on the road, as it mostly happens when there is any anxiety on the mind,

to reflect with myself upon one thing after another, and upon every thing in the worst light. What need of words? While I was musing thus, inadvertently I passed my country-house. I had already got some distance from it, when I perceived this; I returned again, really feeling quite uneasy; when I came to the very turning that leads to the house, I came to a stop,

and began to reason with myself; What! must I stay here alone for two days without her? Well, and what then? It’s nothing at all. What? Nothing at all? Well now, if I haven't the privilege of touching her, am I not even to have that of seeing her? If I may not do the one, at least I may the other. Surely to love at a distance[*]

even, is better than nothing at all. I purposely passed the house. But how’s this, that Pythias is suddenly hurrying out in such a fright?

Where, wretch that I am, shall I find this wicked and impious fellow? Or where look for him? That he should dare to commit so audacious a crime as this! I’m ruined outright!

I dread what this may be.

Besides, too, the villain, after he had abused the girl,

rent all the poor thing’s clothes, and tore her hair as well.

Ha!

If he were just now in my reach, how eagerly would I fly at that villain’s eyes with my nails!

Really I can’t imagine what disturbance has happened to us at home in my absence. I’ll accost them. (Going up to them.) What’s the matter? Why in such haste? Or whom are you looking for, Pythias?

Why, Phaedria, whom should I be looking for? Away with you, as you deserve, with such fine presents of yours.

What is the matter?

What, do you ask? The Eunuch you gave us, what confusion he has caused. He has ravished the girl whom the Captain made present of to my mistress.

What is it you say?

I’m ruined outright!

You are drunk.

I wish that they were so, who wish ill to me.

Oh, prithee, my dear Pythias, what a monstrous thing this is!

You are out of your senses. How could a Eunuch possibly do this?

I know nothing about him: as to what he has done, the thing speaks for itself. The girl is in tears; and when you ask her what’s the matter, she does not dare tell. But he, a precious fellow, is nowhere to be seen. To my sorrow I suspect too,

that when he took himself off he carried something away from the house.

I can not enough wonder, whither this varlet can possibly have betaken himself to any distance from here; unless perhaps he has returned home to our house.

Pray, go and see whether he is there.