Eunuchus; or, The Eunuch (830-857b)

What could I do? Just as you ordered, she was intrusted to his care only.

Hussy, I’ve been intrusting the sheep to the wolf. I’m quite ashamed to have been imposed upon in this way. What sort of man was he?

Hush! hush! mistress, pray; we are all right. Here we have the very man.

Where is he?

Why there, to the left.

Don’t you see?

I see.

Order him to be seized as quickly as possible.

What can we do to him, simpleton?

What do to him, do you ask? Pray, do look at him; if his face doesn’t seem an impudent one.

Not at all.[*]

Besides, what effrontery he has.

At Antipho’s,[*] both of them, father and mother,

just as if on purpose, were at home, so that I couldn’t any way get in, but that they must have seen me. In the mean time, while I was standing before the door, a certain acquaintance of mine was coming full upon me. When I espied him, I took to my heels as fast as I could down a narrow unfrequented alley; thence again

to another, and thence to another; thus have I been most dreadfully harassed with running about, that no one might recognize me. But isn’t this Thais that I see? It is she. I’m at a stand. What shall I do? But what need I care? What can she do to me?

Let’s accost him. (To CHAEREA.) Good Mister Dorus, welcome; tell me,

have you been running away?

Madam, I did so.

Are you quite pleased with it?

No.

Do you fancy that you’ll get off with impunity?

Forgive this one fault; if I’m ever guilty of another, then kill me.

Were you in fear of my severity?

No.

No? What then?

I was afraid of her, lest she might be accusing me to you.

What had you done?

A mere trifle.

Come now, a trifle, you impudent fellow. Does this appear a trifle to you, to ravish a virgin, a citizen?

I took her for my fellow-servant.