Great Jupiter! O wicked and audacious fellow!PYTHIAS Woe unto me! Now at last will you believe that we have been insulted in a disgraceful manner?PHAEDRIA It is no wonder that you believe what the fellow says. (Aside.) What I’m to do I know not. (Aside to DORUS.) Hark you, deny it all again. (Aloud.) Can I not this day extract the truth from you? Did you really see my brother Chaerea?DORUS No.PHAEDRIA He can’t be brought to confess without being punished, I see: follow me this way. At one moment he affirms, at another denies. (Aside.) Ask pardon of me.DORUS Indeed, I do entreat you, Phaedria.PHAEDRIA(kicking him.)Be off in-doors.DORUS Oh! oh!PHAEDRIA(aside.)How in any other fashion to get decently out of this I don’t know; for really it’s all up with me. (Aloud, with pretended indignation.) Will you be trifling with me even here, you knave?(Follows DORUS into the house.)PYTHIAS I’m as certain that this is the contrivance of Parmeno as that I’m alive.DORIAS So it is, no doubt.PYTHIAS I’faith, I’ll find out a method to-day to be even with him. But now, what do you think ought to be done, Dorias?DORIAS Do you mean with regard to thisgirl?PYTHIAS Yes; whether I ought to mention it or be silent?DORIAS Upon my word, if you are prudent,This text appears at the end of line 720b in the Latin. you won’t know what you do know, either about the Eunuch or the girl’s misfortune. By this method you’ll both rid yourself of all perplexity, and have done a service to her.Have done a service to her: Though some would have illi here to refer to the damsel, and others again to Phaedria, it is pretty clear that Madame Dacier is right in suggesting that Thais is the person meant. Say this only, that Dorus has run away.PYTHIAS I’ll do so.DORIAS But don’t I see Chremes? Thais will be here just now.PYTHIAS Why so?DORIAS Because when I came away from there, a quarrel had just commenced between them.PYTHIAS Take in these golden trinkets; I shall learn from him what’s the matter.(DORIAS takes the casket into the house.)

(Enter CHREMES, somewhat drunk.)CHREMES Heyday! upon my faith, I’ve been bamboozled: the wine that I’ve drunk has got the upper hand. But, so long as I was reclining, how extremely sober I did seem to myself to be; when I got up, neither feet nor senses were quite equal to their duty.PYTHIAS Chremes! CHREMES(turning round.)Who’s that? What, Pythias; dear me, how much more charming you nowseem to me than a short time since!PYTHIAS Troth now, you are much more merry, that’s certain.CHREMES Upon my faith, it is a true saying, that Venus grows cold without Ceres and Bacchus. But has Thais got here long before me?PYTHIAS Has she already come away from the Captain’s?CHREMES A long time ago; an age since. There has been a most violent quarrel between them.PYTHIAS Did she say nothing about you following her?