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. ANTIPHO Very well. (Exeunt.) (Enter DORIAS, with a casket in her hand.) DORIAS (to herself.) 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, Took off her golden jewels : This was probably because it was contrary to the laws of Athens for a Courtesan to appear with gold or jewels in the street. Madame Dacier suggests another reason, in which there is some force, although it is ridiculed by Cooke. Thais may have supposed that the Captain, when irritated, might not have scrupled to take them away from her. Indeed, nothing would be more probable, than that he would be ready to take them by way of security for the return of the slave, whom he had thus, to no purpose, presented to her. In reference to the preceding line, we may remark that it was not customary among the Greeks for females of good character to appear at table with strangers. 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. (Goes into the house.) (Enter PHAEDRIA.) PHAEDRIA (to himself.) While I was going While I was going : Donatus remarks that here the Poet artfully finds a reason to bring Phaedria back again; as he at first with equal art sent him out of the way, to give probability to those incidents necessary to happen in his absence. 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 At a distance : Extremâ lineâ. There have been many suggestions offered for the origin of this figurative expression. Some suggest that it alludes to the last or lowest stage of the supposed ladder of love; others that it refers to the first or elementary line traced by the student, when beginning to learn the art of painting. It is however more generally thought to be a metaphor taken from the chariot races in the Circus, where, in going round the turning-place, he who was nearest was said currere in primâ lineâ; the next, in secundâ; and so on to the last, who took the widest range, and was said to run in extremâ lineâ. 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? (Stands apart.) (Enter PYTHIAS and DORIAS in haste from the house of THAIS.) PYTHIAS (aloud.) 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! PHAEDRIA (apart.) I dread what this may be. PYTHIAS Besides, too, the villain, after he had abused the girl, rent all the poor thing’s clothes, and tore her hair as well. PHAEDRIA (apart, in surprise.) Ha! PYTHIAS If he were just now in my reach, how eagerly would I fly at that villain’s eyes with my nails! PHAEDRIA (apart.) 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? PYTHIAS Why, Phaedria, whom should I be looking for? Away with you, as you deserve, with such fine presents of yours. PHAEDRIA What is the matter? PYTHIAS 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. PHAEDRIA What is it you say? PYTHIAS I’m ruined outright! PHAEDRIA You are drunk. PYTHIAS I wish that they were so, who wish ill to me. DORIAS Oh, prithee, my dear Pythias, what a monstrous thing this is! PHAEDRIA You are out of your senses. How could a Eunuch possibly do this? PYTHIAS 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. PHAEDRIA 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. PYTHIAS Pray, go and see whether he is there.