Introduction THE SUBJECT. A CERTAIN citizen of Athens had a
 daughter named Pamphila, and a son called Chremes. The former was stolen
 while an infant, and sold to a Rhodian merchant, who having made a present
 of her to a Courtesan of Rhodes ,
 she brought her up with her own daughter Thais, who was somewhat older. In
 the course of years, Thais following her mother's way of life, removes to
 Athens . Her mother dying,
 her property is put up for sale, and Pamphila is purchased as a slave by
 Thraso, an officer and an admirer of Thais, who happens just then to be
 visiting Rhodes . During the absence
 of Thraso, Thais becomes acquainted with Phasdria, an Athenian youth, the
 son of Laches; she also discovers from Chremes, who lives near Athens , that Pamphila, her former
 companion, is his sister. Thraso returns, intending to present to her the
 girl he has bought, but determines not to do so until she has discarded
 Phaedria. Finding that the girl is no other than Pamphila, Thais is at a
 loss what to do, as she both loves Phaedria, and is extremely anxious to
 recover Pamphila. At length, to please the Captain, she excludes Phaedria,
 but next day sends for him, and explains to him her reasons, at the same
 time begging of him to allow Thraso the sole right of admission to her house
 for the next two days, and assuring him that as soon as she shall have
 gained possession of the girl, she will entirely throw him off. Phaedria
 consents, and resolves to spend these two days in the country; at the same
 time he orders Parmeno to take to Thais a Eunuch and an Aethiopian girl,
 whom he has purchased for her. The Captain also sends Pamphila, who is
 accidentally seen by Chaerea, the younger brother of Phaedria; he, being
 smitten with her beauty, prevails upon Parmeno to introduce him into the
 house of Thais, in the Eunuch's dress. Being admitted there, in the absence
 of Thais, lie ravishes the damsel. Shortly afterward Thraso quarrels with
 Thais, and comes with all his attendants to her house to demand the return
 of Pamphila, but is disappointed. In conclusion, Pamphila is recognized by
 her brother Chremes, and is promised in marriage to Chaerea; while Thraso
 becomes reconciled to Phaedria, through the mediation of Gnatho, his
 Parasite. THE
						TITLE Colman has the following remark on this
 Play: "This seems to lave been the most popular of all the Comedies of
 Terence. Suetonius and Donatus both inform us that it was acted with the
 greatest applause, and that the Poet received a larger price for it from
 the Aediles than had ever been paid for any before, namely, 8000
 sesterces, which is about equal to 200 crowns, which in those times was
 a considerable sum." 
						OF THE PLAY. PERFORMIED at the Megalensian Games; L. Posthumius Albinus and L. Cornelius
 Merula being Curule Aediles. L. Ambivius Turpio and L. Atilius Praenestinus
 performed it. Flaccus, the freedman of Claudius, composed the music to two
 treble flutes. From the Greek of Menander. It was acted twice, Acted twice This probably
 means "twice in one day." As it is generally supposed that something is
 wanting after the figures II, this is presumed to be " die ," "in one day," in confirmation of which Suetonius
 informs us that it really was performed twice in one day. Donatus says
 it was performed three times, by which he may probably mean, twice on
 one day and once on another. M. Valerius and C. Fannius being
 Consuls. Being Consuls 
 M. Valerius Messala and C. Fannius Strabo were Consuls in the year from
 the building of the City 591, or B.C. 162 . 
 THE SUMMARY OF C. SULPITIUS APOLLINARIS. THE Captain, Thraso, being ignorant of the same, has brought from abroad a
 girl who used wrongly to be called the sister of Thais, and presents her to
 Thais herself: she in reality is a citizen of Attica . To the same woman, Phaedria, an admirer of Thais,
 orders a Eunuch whom he has purchased, to be taken, and he himself goes away
 into the country, having been entreated to give up two days to Thraso. A
 youth, the brother of Phaedria, having fallen in love with the damsel sent
 to the house of Thais, is dressed up in the clothes of the Eunuch. Parmeno
 prompts him; he goes in; he ravishes the maiden; but at length her brother
 being discovered, a citizen of Attica , betroths her who has been ravished, to the youth,
 and Thraso prevails upon Phaedria by his entreaties. THE PROLOGUE. IF there is any one who desires to please as many good men as possible,
 and to give offense to extremely few, among those does our Poet enroll
 his name. Next, if there is one who thinks 
 If there
 is one who thinks : He alludes to his old enemy, Luscus
 Lavinius, the Comic Poet, who is alluded to in the Prologue to the
 Andria , and has since
 continued his attacks upon him. that language too harsh is
 here applied to him, let him bear this in mind—that it is an answer,
 not an attack; inasmuch as he has himself been the first aggressor; who,
 by translating plays verbally, 
 By translating
 literally : " Bene vertendo, at eosdem
 scribendo male ." This passage has greatly puzzled some
 of the Commentators. Bentley has, however, it appears, come to the most
 reasonable conclusion; who supposes that Terence means by " bene vertere ," a literal translation, word
 for word, from the Greek, by which a servile adherence to the idiom
 of that language was preserved to the neglect of the Latin idiom; in
 consequence of which the Plays of Luscus Lavinius were, as he
 remarks, " male scriptae ," written in
 bad Latin. and writing them in bad Latin, has made out of
 good Greek Plays Latin ones by no means good. Just as of late he has
 published the Phasma 
 Has published the
 Phasma : The fasma/, or
 "Apparition," was a play of Menander, so called, in which a young
 man looking through a hole in the wall between his father's house
 and that next door, sees a young woman of marvelous beauty, and is
 struck with awe at the sight, as though by an apparition; in the
 Play, the girl's mother is represented as having made this hole in
 the wall, and having decked it with garlands and branches that it
 may resemble a consecrated place; where she daily performs her
 devotions in company with her daughter, who has been privately
 brought up, and whose existence is unknown to the neighbors. On the
 youth coming by degrees to the knowledge that the object of his
 admiration is but a mortal, his passion becomes sdoviolent that it
 will admit of no cure but marriage, with the celebration of which
 the Play concludes. Bentley
 gives us the above information from an ancient Scholiast, whose name
 is unknown, unless it is Donatus himself, which is doubtful. It
 would appear that Luscus Lavinius had lately made a translation of
 this Play, which, from its servile adherence to the language of the
 original, had been couched in ungrammatical language, and probably
 not approved of by the Audience. Donatus thinks that this is the
 meaning of the passage, and that, content with this slight reference
 to a well-known fact, the author passes it by in contemptuous
 silence. [the Apparition] of Menander; and in the Thesaurus
 [the Treasure] has described 
 And in the Thesaurus has
 described Cook has the following appropriate remark upon
 this passage: "In the 'Thesaurus,' or 'Treasure' of Luscus Lavinius,
 a young fellow, having wasted his estate by his extravagance, sends
 a servant to search his father's monument: but he had before sold
 the ground on which the monument was, to a covetous old man; to whom
 the servant applies to help him open the monument; in which they
 discover a hoard and a letter. The old fellow sees the treasure and
 keeps it; the young one goes to law with him, and the old man is
 represented as opening his cause first before the judge, which he
 begins with these words:— 'Athenienses, bellum cum
 Rhodiensibus, Quod fuerit, quid ego praedicem?' 
 'Athenians, why should I relate the war with the Rhodians?' And lie
 goes on in a manner contrary to the rules of court; which Terence
 objects to, because the young man, who was the plaintiff, should
 open his cause first. Thus far Bentley, from the same Scholiast [as referred to in
 the last Note]. This Note is a clear explanation of the four verses
 to which it belongs. Hare concurs with Madame Dacier in her opinion
 'de Thesauro,' that it is only a
 part of the Phasma of Menander, and not a distinct Play; but were I
 not determined by the more learned Bentley, the text itself would not permit me to be
 of their opinion; for the words 'atque in
 Thesauro scripsit' seem plainly to me to be a
 transition to another Play. The subject of the Thesaurus is related
 by Eugraphius, though not with all the circumstances mentioned in my
 Note from Bentlev." Colman also remarks here: "Menander and his
 contemporary Philemon, each of them wrote a Comedy under this title.
 We have in the above Note the story of Menander's; and we know that
 of Philemon's from the 'Trinummus' of Plautus, which was a
 Translation of it." him from whom the gold is demanded, as
 pleading his cause why it should be deemed his own, before the person
 who demands it has stated how this treasure belongs to him, or how it
 came into the tomb of his father. Henceforward, let him not deceive
 himself, or fancy thus, "I have now done with it; there's nothing that
 he can say to me." I recommend him not to be mistaken, and to refrain
 from provoking me. I have many other points, as to which for the present
 he shall be pardoned, which, however, shall be brought forward
 hereafter, if he persists in attacking me, as he has begun to do. After
 the Aediles had purchased the Eunuch of Menander, the Play which we are
 about to perform, he managed to get an opportunity of viewing
 it. 
 Opportunity of viewing it Colman thinks
 that this means something "stronger than merely being present at the
 representation," and he takes the meaning to be, that having
 obtained leave to peruse the MS., he furnished himself with
 objections against the piece, which he threw out when it came to be
 represented before the magistrates. Cooke thinks that the passage
 only means, "that he bustled and took pains to be near enough at the
 representation to see and hear plainly." The truth seems to be that
 Lavinius managed to obtain admission at the rehearsal or trial of
 the merits of the piece before the magistrates, and that he then
 behaved himself in the unseemly manner mentioned in the text. 
 When the magistrates were present it began to be performed. He exclaimed
 that a thief, no Poet, had produced the piece, but still had not
 deceived 
 Produced the piece, but still had not
 deceived him There is a pun here upon the resemblance in
 meaning of the words " verba dare " and
 " fabulam dare ." The first
 expression means to "deceive" or "impose upon;" the latter phrase
 has also the same meaning, but it may signify as well "to represent"
 or "produce a Play." Thus the exclamation in its ambiguity may mean,
 "he has produced a Play, and has not succeeded in deceiving us," or
 "he has deceived us, and yet has not deceived us." This is the
 interpretation which Donatus puts upon the passage. him;
 that, in fact, it was the Colax, an old Play of Plautus; Colax, an old Play of
 Plautus Although Nonius Marcellus professes to quote
 from the Colax of Plautus (so called from the Greek Κολὺξ, "a flatterer" or "parasite"),
 some scholars have disbelieved in the existence of any Play of
 Plautus known by that name. Cooke says: "If Plautus had wrote a Play
 under the title of 'Colax,' I should think it very unlikely that it
 should have escaped Terence's eye, considering how soon he
 flourished after Plautus, his being engaged in the same studies, and
 his having such opportunities to consult the libraries of the great;
 for though all learning was then confined to Manuscripts, Terence
 could have no difficulty in coming at the best copies. The character
 of the 'Miles Gloriosus' [Braggart Captain] here mentioned, I am
 inclined to think the same with that which is the hero of Plautus's
 Comedy, now extant, and called 'Miles Gloriosus,' from which Terence
 could not take his Thraso. Pyrgopolinices and Thraso are both full
 of themselves, both boast of their valor and their intimacy with
 princes, and both fancy themselves beloved by all the women who see
 them; and they are both played off by their Parasites, but they
 differ in their manner and their speech: Plautus's Pyrgopolinices is
 always in the clouds, and talking big, and of blood and
 wounds—Terence's Thraso never says too little nor much, but is an
 easy ridiculous character, continually supplying the Audience with
 mirth without the wild extravagant bluster of Pyrgopolinices;
 Plautus and Terence both took their soldiers and Parasites from
 Menander, but gave them different dresses." Upon this Note Colman
 remarks: "Though there is much good criticism in the above Note, it
 is certain that Plautus did not take his 'Miles Gloriosus' from the
 Colax of Menander, as he himself informs us it was translated from a
 Greek play called Αλάζων, 'the
 Boaster,' and the Parasite is but a trifling character in that play,
 never appearing after the first Scene." and that from it were
 taken the characters of the Parasite and the Captain. If this is a
 fault, the fault is the ignorance of the Poet; not that he intended to
 be guilty of theft. That so it is, you will now be enabled to judge. The
 Colax is a Play of Meander's; in it there is Colax, a Parasite, and a
 braggart Captain: he does not deny that he has transferred these
 characters into his Eunuch from the Greek; but assuredly he does deny
 this, that he was aware that those pieces had been already translated
 into Latin. But if it is not permitted us to use the same characters as
 others, how can it any more be allowed to represent hurrying
 servants, 
 Hurrying servants On the " currentes servi ," see the Prologue to the
 Heautontimorumenos, l. 31 .
 Ovid , in the Amores, B. i., El. 15, l. 17, 18 , mentions a very similar
 combination of the characters of Menander's Comedy: "So long as the
 deceitful slave, the harsh father, the roguish procuress, and the
 cozening courtesan shall endure, Menander will exist." to
 describe virtuous matrons, artful courtesans, the gluttonous parasite,
 the braggart captain, the infant palmed off, the old man cajoled by the
 servant, about love, hatred, suspicion? In fine, nothing is said now
 that has not been said before. Wherefore it is but just that you should
 know this, and make allowance, if the moderns do what the ancients used
 to do. Grant me your attention, and give heed in silence, that you may
 understand what the Eunuch means. Enter PHAEDRIA and PARMENO. PHAEDRIA What then, shall I do? What,
 then, shall I do? Phaedria, on being sent for by Thais,
 breaks out into these words as he enters, after having deliberated
 upon his parting with her. Both Horace and Persius have imitated this passage in
 their Satires. Ought I not to go, not now even, when I am
 sent for of her own accord? Or ought I rather so to behave myself as not
 to put up with affronts from Courtesans? She shut her door against me;
 she now invites me back. Ought I to return? No; though she should
 implore me. PARMENO l'faith, if indeed you only can, there's nothing better or more
 spirited; but if you begin, and can not hold out stoutly, and if, when
 you can not endure it, while no one asks you, peace being not made, you
 come to her of your own accord, showing that you love her, and can not
 endure it, you are done for; it's all over with you; you are ruined
 outright. She'll be jilting you, when she finds you overcome. Do you
 then, while there's time, again and again reflect upon this, master,
 that a matter, which in itself admits of neither prudence nor
 moderation, you are unable to manage with prudence. In love there are
 all these evils; wrongs, suspicions, enmities reconcilements, war, then
 peace; if you expect to render these things, naturally uncertain,
 certain by dint of reason, you wouldn't effect it a bit the more than if
 you were to use your endeavors to be mad with reason. And, what you are
 now, in anger, meditating to yourself, "What! I to her? What! I to her?)—Ver. 65. Donatus remarks that this
 is an abrupt manner of speaking familiarly to persons in anger; and
 that the sentences are thus to be understood, "I, go to her? Her,
 who has received him! Who has excluded me!"—inasmuch as indignation
 loves to deal in Ellipsis and Aposiopesis. Who—him! Who—me!
 Who wouldn't? Only let me alone; I had rather die; she shall find out
 what sort of a person I am;" these expressions, upon my faith, by a
 single false tiny tear, which, by rubbing her eyes, poor thing, she can
 hardly squeeze out perforce, she will put an end to; and she'll be the
 first to accuse you; and you will be too ready to give satisfaction to
 her. PHAEDRIA O disgraceful conduct! I now perceive, both that she is perfidious, and
 that I am a wretched man. I am both weary of her, and burn with passion;
 knowing and fully sensible, alive and seeing it, I am going to ruin; nor
 do I know what I am to do. PARMENO What you are to do? Why, only to redeem yourself, thus captivated, at
 the smallest price you can; if you can not at a very small, rate, still
 for as little as you can; and do not afflict yourself. PHAEDRIA Do you persuade me to this? PARMENO If you are wise. And don't be adding to the troubles which love itself
 produces; those which it does produce, bear patiently. But see, here she
 is coming herself, the downfall of our fortunes, The
 downfall of our fortunes)—Ver. 79. Colman observes, "There is an extreme elegance in
 this passage in the original; and the figurative expression is
 beautifully employed." "Calamitas" was
 originally a word used in husbandry, which signified the destruction
 of growing corn; because, as Donatus says, "Comminuit calamum et segetem;" —"it strikes down the
 blades and standing corn." —for that which we ought ourselves
 to enjoy she intercepts. Enter THAIS from her house. THAIS to herself, not seeing them. Ah wretched me! I fear lest
 Phaedria should take it amiss or otherwise than I intended it, that he
 was not admitted yesterday. PHAEDRIA aside to PARMENO. I'm trembling and shivering all over,
 Parmeno, at the sight of her. PARMENO apart. Be of good heart; only approach this fire, Approach this fire)—Ver. 85. "Ignem" is generally supposed to be used figuratively
 here, and to mean "the flame of love." Eugraphius, however, would
 understand the expression literally, observing that courtesans
 usually had near their doors an altar sacred to Venus , on which they daily
 sacrificed. you'll soon be warmer than you need. THAIS turning round. Who is it that's speaking here? What, are
 you here, my Phaedria? Why are you standing here? Why didn't you come
 into the house at once? PARMENO whispering to PHAEDRIA. But not a word about shutting you
 out! THAIS Why are you silent? PHAEDRIA Of course, it's because Of course it's
 because)—Ver. 89. It must be observed that these words, conmencing
 with "Sane, quia vero," in the original,
 are said by Phaedria not in answer to the words of Thais immediately
 preceding, but to her previous question, "Cur non
 recta introibas?" "Why didn't you come into the house
 at once?" and that they are spoken in bitter irony. this door
 is always open to me, or because I'm the highest in your favor? THAIS Pass those matters by. PHAEDRIA How pass them by? O Thais, Thais, I wish that I had equal affection with
 yourself, and that it were in like degree, that either this might
 distress you in the same way that it distresses me, or that I might be
 indifferent at this being done by you. THAIS Prithee, don't torment yourself, my life, my Phaedria. Upon my faith, I
 did it, not because I love or esteem any person more than you; but the
 case was such that it was necessary to be done. PARMENO ironically. I suppose that, poor thing, you shut him out
 of doors, for love, according to the usual practice. THAIS Is it thus you act, Parmeno? Well, well. To PHAEDRIA. But
 listen—the reason for which I desired you to be sent for hither— PHAEDRIA Go on. THAIS First tell me this; can this fellow possibly hold his tongue?
 pointing to PARMENO. 
 PARMENO What, I? Perfectly well. But, hark you, upon these conditions I pledge
 my word to you; the truth that I hear, I'm silent upon, and retain it
 most faithfully; but if I hear what's false and without foundation, it's
 out at once; I'm full of chinks, and leak in every direction. Therefore,
 if you wish it to be kept secret, speak the truth. THAIS My mother was a Samian; she lived at Rhodes — PARMENO That may be kept a secret. THAIS There, at that period, a certain merchant made present to my mother of a
 little girl, who had been stolen away from Attica here. PARMENO What, a citizen? THAIS I think so; we do not know for certain: she herself used to mention her
 mother's and her father's name; her country and other tokens she didn't
 know, nor, by reason of her age, was she able. The merchant added this:
 that he had heard front the kidnappers that she had been carried off
 from Sunium. 
 From Sunium : This was a town
 situate near a lofty Promontory of that name in Attica . It was famous for a fair
 which was held there. "Sunium's rocky brow" is mentioned by Byron in
 the song of the Greek Captive in the third Canto of Don Juan. 
 When my mother received her, she began carefully to teach her every
 thing, and to bring her up, just as though she had been her own
 daughter. Most persons supposed that she was my sister. Thence I came
 hither with that stranger, with whom alone at that period I was
 connected; he left me all which I now possess— PARMENO Both these things are false; out it goes. THAIS How so? PARMENO Because you were neither content with one, nor was he the only one to
 make you presents; for he likewise pointing to PHAEDRIA 
 brought a pretty considerable share to you. THAIS Such is the fact; but do allow me to arrive at the point I wish. In the
 mean time, the Captain, who had begun to take a fancy to me, set out to
 Caria ; 
 Set out
 for Caria 
 : This
 was a country of Asia Minor 
 upon the sea-coast, opposite to the island of Rhodes . since when, in the
 interval, I became acquainted with you. You yourself are aware how very
 dear I have held you; and how I confess to you all my nearest
 counsels. PHAEDRIA Nor will Parmeno be silent about that. PARMENO O, is that a matter of doubt? THAIS Attend; I entreat you. My mother died there recently; her brother is
 somewhat greedy after wealth. When he saw that this damsel was of
 beauteous form and understood music, hoping for a good price, he
 forthwith put her up for sale, and sold her. By good fortune this friend
 of mine was present; he bought her as a gift to me, not knowing or
 suspecting any thing of all this. He returned; but when he perceived
 that I had formed a connection with you as well, lie feigned excuses on
 purpose that he might not give her; he said that if he could feel
 confidence that he should be preferred to yourself by me, so as not to
 apprehend that, when I had received her, I should forsake him, then he
 was ready to give her to me; but that he did fear this. But, so far as I
 can conjecture, he has set his affections upon the girl. PHAEDRIA Any thing beyond that? THAIS Nothing; for I have made inquiry. Now, my Phaedria, there are many
 reasons why I could wish to get her away from him. In the first place,
 because she was called my sister; moreover, that I may restore and
 deliver her to her friends. I am a lone woman; I have no one here,
 neither acquaintance nor relative; wherefore, Phaedria, I am desirous by
 my good offices to secure friends. Prithee, do aid me in this, in order
 that it may be the more easily effected. Do allow him for the few next
 days to have the preference with me. Do you make no answer? PHAEDRIA Most vile woman! Can I make you any answer after such behavior as
 this? PARMENO Well done, my master, I commend you; aside he's galled at
 last. To PHAEDRIA. You show yourself a man. PHAEDRIA I was not aware what you were aiming at; "she was carried away from
 here, when a little child; my mother brought her up as though her own;
 she was called my sister; I wish to get her away, that I may restore her
 to her friends." The meaning is, that all these expressions, in fine,
 now amount to this, that I am shut out, he is admitted. For what reason?
 Except that you love him more than me: and now you are afraid of her who
 has been brought hither, lest she should win him, such as he is, from
 yourself. THAIS I, afraid of that? PHAEDRIA What else, then, gives you concern? Let me know. Is he the only person
 who makes presents? Have you found my bounty shut against you? Did I
 not, when you told me that you wished for a servant-maid from
 Aethiopia, 
 Servant-maid from Aethiopia : No
 doubt Aethiopian or negro slaves were much prized by the great, and
 those courtesans whose object it was to ape their manners. 
 setting all other matters aside, go and seek for one? Then you said that
 you wanted a Eunuch, because ladies of quality 
 Ladies of
 quality : "Reginae," literally
 "queens," here means women of rank and distinction. alone
 make use of them; I found you one. I yesterday paid twenty
 minae 
 Paid twenty minoe : The "mina" contained
 one hundred "drachmae" of about 9¾d. each. for
 them both. Though slighted by you, I still kept these things in mind; as
 a reward for so doing, I am despised by you. THAIS Phaedria, what does this mean? Although I wish to get her away, and
 think that by these means it could most probably be effected; still,
 rather than make an enemy of you, I'll do as you request me. PHAEDRIA I only wish that you used that expression from your heart and
 truthfully, "rather than make an enemy of you." If I could believe that
 this was said sincerely, I could put up with any thing. PARMENO aside. He staggers; how instantaneously is he vanquished
 by a single expression! THAIS I, wretched woman, not speak from my heart? What, pray, did you ever ask
 of me in jest, but that you carried your point? I am unable to obtain
 even this of you, that you would grant me only two days. PHAEDRIA If, indeed, it is but two days; but don't let these days become
 twenty. THAIS Assuredly not more than two days, or— PHAEDRIA "Or?" I won't have it. THAIS It shall not be; only do allow me to obtain this of you. PHAEDRIA Of course that which you desire must be done. THAIS I love you as you deserve; you act obligingly. PHAEDRIA to PARMENO. I shall go into the country; there I shall
 worry myself for the next two days: I'm resolved to do so; Thais must be
 humored. Do you, Parmeno, take care that they are brought hither. PARMENO Certainly. PHAEDRIA For the next two days then, Thais, adieu. THAIS And the same to you, my Phaedria; do you desire aught else? PHAEDRIA What should I desire? That, present with the Captain, you may be as if
 absent; that night and day you may love me; may feel my absence; may
 dream of me; may be impatient for me; may think about me; may hope for
 me; may centre your delight in me; may be all in all with me; in fine,
 if you will, be my very life, as I am yours. (Exeunt PHAEDRIA and
 PARMENO. THAIS to herself. Ah wretched me! 
 Ah
 wretched me! : Donatus remarks that the Poet judiciously
 reserves that part of the plot to betold here, which Thais did not
 relate to Phaedria in the presence of Parmeno; whom the Poet keeps
 in ignorance as to the rank of the damsel, that he may with the more
 probability dare to assist Chaerea in his attempt on her. 
 perhaps now he puts but little faith in me, and forms his estimate of me
 from the dispositions of other women. 
 From the dispositions of
 other women : Donatus observes that this is one of the
 peculiar points of excellence shown by Terence, introducing common
 characters in a new manner, without departing from custom or nature;
 since he draws a good Courtesan, and yet engages the attention of
 the Spectators and amuses them. Colman has the following Note here:
 "Under the name of Thais, Menander is supposed to have drawn the
 character of his own mistress, Glycerium, and it seems he introduced
 a Courtesan of the same name into several of his Comedies. One
 Comedy was entitled 'Thais,' from which St. Paul took the sentence in his Epistle to the
 Corinthians, 'Evil communications corrupt good manners.'" Plutarch
 has preserved four lines of the Prologue to that Comedy, in which
 the Poet, in a kind of mock-heroic manner, invokes the Muse to teach
 him to depict the character of his heroine. By my troth, I,
 who know my own self, am very sure of this, that I have not feigned any
 thing that's false, and that no person is dearer to my heart than this
 same Phaedria; and whatever in the present case I have done, for this
 girl's sake have I done it; for I trust that now I have pretty nearly
 discovered her brother, a young man of very good family; and he has
 appointed this day to come to me at my house. I'll go hence in-doors,
 and wait until he comes. She goes into her house. 
 Enter PHAEDRIA and PARMENO. PHAEDRIA Mind that those people are taken there, as I ordered. PARMENO I'll do so. PHAEDRIA And carefully. PARMENO It shall be done. PHAEDRIA And with all speed. PARMENO It shall be done. PHAEDRIA Have you had sufficient instructions? PARMENO Dear me! to ask the question, as though it were a matter of difficulty.
 I wish that you were able, Phaedria, to find any thing as easily as this
 present will be lost. PHAEDRIA Together with it, I myself am lost, which concerns me more nearly. Don't
 bear this with such a feeling of vexation. PARMENO By no means; on the contrary, I'll see it done. But do you order any
 thing else? PHAEDRIA Set off my present with words, as far as you can; and so far as you are
 able, do drive away that rival of mine from her. PARMENO Pshaw! I should have kept that in mind, even if you hadn't reminded
 me. PHAEDRIA I shall go into the country and remain there. PARMENO I agree with you. Moves as if going. 
 PHAEDRIA But hark you! PARMENO What is it you want? PHAEDRIA Are you of opinion that I can muster resolution and hold out so as not
 to come back within the time? PARMENO What, you? Upon my faith, I don't think so; for either you'll be
 returning at once, or by-and-by, at night, want of sleep will be driving
 you hither. PHAEDRIA I'll do some laborious work, that I may be continually fatigued, so as
 to sleep in spite of myself. PARMENO When wearied, you will be keeping awake; by this you will be making it
 worse. PHAEDRIA Oh, you talk to no purpose, Parmeno: this softness of spirit, upon my
 faith, must be got rid of; I indulge myself too much. Could I not do
 without her, pray, if there were the necessity, even for a whole three
 days? PARMENO Whew! an entire three days! Take care what you are about. PHAEDRIA My mind is made up. (Exit.) 
 PARMENO to himself. Good Gods! What a malady is this! That a man
 should become so changed through love, that you wouldn't know him to be
 the same person! Not any one was there 
 Not any one was
 there : —Ver. 226-7. Very nearly the same words as these
 occur in the Mostellaria of Plautus, 1. 29, 30: "Than whom,
 hitherto, no one of the youth of all Attica has been considered more temperate or
 equally frugal." less inclined to folly than he, and no one
 more discreet or more temperate. But who is it that's coming this way?
 Heyday! surely this is Gnatho, the Captain's Parasite; he's bringing
 along with him the damsel as a present to her. Heavens! How beautiful!
 No wonder if I make but a sorry figure here to-day with this decrepit
 Eunuch of mine. She surpasses Thais herself. Stands
 aside. 
 Enter GNATHO at a distance, leading PAMPHILA. GNATHO to himself. Immortal Gods! how much does one man excel
 another! What a difference there is between a wise person and a fool!
 This strongly came into my mind from the following circumstance. As I
 was, coming along to-day, I met a certain person of this place, of my
 own rank and station, no mean fellow, one who, like myself, had guttled
 away his paternal estate; I saw him, shabby, dirty, sickly, beset with
 rags and years;—"What's the meaning of this garb?" said I; he answered,
 "Because, wretch that I am, I've lost what I possessed: see to what I am
 reduced,—all my acquaintances and friends forsake me." On this I felt
 contempt for him in: comparison with myself. "What!" said I, "you
 pitiful sluggard, have you so managed matters as to have no hope left?
 Have you lost your wits together with your estate? Don't you see me, who
 have risen from the same condition? What a complexion I have, how spruce
 and well dressed, what portliness of person? I have every thing, yet
 have nothing; and although I possess nothing, still, of nothing am I in
 want." "But I," said he, "unhappily, can neither be a butt nor submit to
 blows." 
 Nor submit to blows : It has been
 remarked in the Notes to the Translation of Plautus that the
 Parasites had, in consequence of their state of dependence, to
 endure blows and indignities from their fellow-guests. Their
 attempts to be "ridiculi" or "drolls"
 were made in order to give some small return to their entertainers.
 See especially the character of Gelasimus in the Stichus of Plautus,
 and the words of Ergasilus in the Captivi, 1. 88, 90. Diderot, as:
 quoted by Colman, observes: "This is the only Scene in Terence which
 I remember that can be charged with being superfluous. Thraso has
 made a present to Thais of a young girl. Gnatho is to convey her.
 Going along with her, he amuses himself with giving the Spectators a
 most agreeable eulogium on his profession. But was that the time for
 it? Let Gnatho pay due attention on the stage to the young woman
 whom he is charged with, and let him say what he will to himself, I
 consent to it." "What!" said I, "do you suppose it is managed
 by those means? You are quite mistaken. Once upon a time, in the early
 ages, there was a calling for that class; this is a new mode of
 coney-catching; I, in fact, have been the first to strike into this
 path. There is a class of men who strive to be the first in every thing,
 but are not; to these I make my court; I do not present myself to them
 to be laughed at; but I am the first to laugh with them, and at the same
 time to admire their parts: whatever they say, I commend; if they
 contradict that self-same thing, I commend again. Does any one deny? I
 deny: does he affirm? I affirm: in fine, I have so trained myself as to
 humor them in every thing. This calling is now by far the most
 productive." PARMENO apart. A clever fellow, upon my faith! From being fools
 he makes men mad outright. GNATHO to himself, continuing. While we were thus talking, in
 the mean time we arrived at the market-place; overjoyed, all the
 confectioners ran at once to meet me; fishmongers, 
 Fishmongers : "Cetarii;" 
 strictly speaking, "dealers in large fish." butchers,
 cooks, 
 Cooks : The "coqui" were in the habit of standing in the
 market-place for hire by those who required their services. See the
 Pseudolus, the Aulularia, and the Mercator of Plautus, and the Notes
 to Bohn's Translation. See also a remark on the knavish character of
 the sausage-makers in the Truculentus of Plautus, 1. 110. 
 sausage-makers, and fishermen, whom, both when my fortunes were
 flourishing and when they were ruined, I had served, and often serve
 still: they complimented me, asked me to dinner, and gave me a hearty
 welcome. When this poor hungry wretch saw that I was in such great
 esteem, and that I obtained a living so easily, then the fellow began to
 entreat me that I would allow him to learn this method of me; I bade him
 become my follower 
 Become my follower :
 "Sectari." In allusion to the manners
 of the ancient Philosophers, who were wont to be followed by a crowd
 of their disciples, who were styled "sectatores" and "sectae." Gnatho intends to found a new school of
 Parasites, who shall be called the "Gnathonics," and who, by their
 artful adulation, shall contrive to be caressed instead of being
 maltreated. Artotrogus, the Parasite in the Miles Gloriosus of
 Plautus, seems, however, to have forestalled Gnatho as the founder
 of this new school. if he could; as the disciples of the
 Philosophers take their names from the Philosophers themselves, so too,
 the Parasite; ought to be called Gnathonics. PARMENO apart to the Audience. Do you see the effects of ease and
 feeding at another's cost? GNATHO to Iimself, continuing. But why do I delay to take this
 girl to Thais, and ask her to come to dinner? Aside, on seeing
 PARMENO. But I see Parmeno, our rival's servant, waiting
 before the door of Thais with a sorrowful air; all's safe; no doubt
 these people are finding a cold welcome. I'm resolved to have some sport
 with this knave. PARMENO aside. They fancy that, through this present, Thais is
 quite their own. GNATHO accosting PARMENO. With his very best wishes Gnatho
 greets Parmeno, his very good friend.—What are you doing? PARMENO I'm standing. 
 I'm standing : "Quid agitur?" "Statur." The same joke occurs in the Pseudolus of Plautus, l. 457. "Quid agitur? Statur hic ad hunc
 modum?" "What is going on?" or "What are you about?" "About standing
 here in this fashion;" assuming an attitude. Colman observes that
 there is much the same kind of conceit in the "Merry Wives of Windsor." FALSTAFF. "My honest lads, I will tell you what I am
 about." PISTOL. "Two yards or more." Cooke has the following note: "' Quid
 agitur ' is to be supposed to have a single meaning as
 spoken by Gnatho, but Parmeno archly renders it ambiguous by his
 answer. Our two first English translations, that by Bernard and that
 by Hoole, make nothing of it, nor indeed any other part of their
 author. Echard follows Madame Dacier, and perceives a joke; but he
 does not render ' quid agitur ' as the
 question ought to be translated. ' Quid
 agitur ' sometimes means,' What are you doing?'
 Sometimes, 'How do you do?' 'How are you?' or 'How goes the world
 with you?'" 
 GNATHO So I perceive. Pray, do you see any thing here that don't please
 you? PARMENO Yourself. GNATHO I believe you,—but any thing else, pray? PARMENO Why so? GNATHO Because you are out of spirits. PARMENO Not in the least. GNATHO Well, don't be so; but what think you of this slave? pointing to
 her. 
 PARMENO Really, not amiss. GNATHO aside. I've galled the fellow. PARMENO aside, on overhearing him. How mistaken you are in your
 notion! GNATHO How far do you suppose this gift will prove acceptable to Thais? PARMENO It's this you mean to say now, that we are discarded there. Hark you,
 there are vicissitudes in all things. GNATHO For the next six months, Parmeno, I'll set you at ease; you sha'n't have
 to be running to and fro, or sitting up till daylight. Don't I make you
 happy? PARMENO Me? O prodigiously! GNATHO That's my way with my friends. PARMENO I commend you. GNATHO I'm detaining you; perhaps you were about to go somewhere else. PARMENO Nowhere. GNATHO In that case then, lend me your services a little; let me be introduced
 to her. PARMENO Very well; GNATHO knocks at the door, which immediately
 opens now the door is open for you, aside 
 because you are bringing her. GNATHO going into the house of THAIS, ironically. Should you
 like any one to be called out from here? Goes in with PAMPHILA,
 and shuts the door. 
 PARMENO to himself. Only let the next two days go by; you who, at
 present, in such high favor, are opening the door with one little
 finger, assuredly I'll cause to be kicking at that door full oft, with
 your heels, to no purpose. Re-enter GNATHO from the
 house. 
 GNATHO Still standing here, Parmeno? Why now, have you been left on guard here,
 that no go-between might perchance be secretly running from the Captain
 to her? (Exit.) 
 PARMENO Smartly said; really they ought to be wonderful things to please the
 Captain. But I see my master's youngest son coming this way; I wonder
 why he has come away from the Piraeus , From the Piroeus)—Ver.
 290. The Piraeus was
 the chief harbor of Athens , at the mouth of the Cephisus, about three
 miles from the City. It was joined to the town by two walls, one of
 which was built by Themistocles, and the other by Pericles. It was
 the duty of the Athenian youth to watch here in turn by way of
 precaution against surprise by pirates or the enemy. for he
 is at present on guard there in the public service. It's not for
 nothing; he's coming in a hurry, too; I can't imagine why he's looking
 around in all directions. Enter CHAEREA on the other side of the stage, in haste. CHAEREA to himself. I'm utterly undone! The girl is nowhere; nor
 do I know where I am myself, to have lost sight of her. Where to inquire
 for her, where to search for her, whom to ask, which way to turn, I'm at
 a loss. I have only this hope; wherever she is, she can not long be
 concealed. O what beauteous features! from this moment I banish all
 other women from my thoughts; I can not endure these every-day
 beauties. PARMENO apart. Why look, here's the other one. He's saying
 something, I don't know what, about love. O unfortunate old man, their
 father! This assuredly is a youth, who, if he does begin, you will say
 that the other one was mere play and pastime, compared with what the
 madness of this one will cause. CHAEREA to himself, aloud. May all the Gods and Goddesses
 confound that old fellow who detained me to-day, and me as well who
 stopped for him, and in fact troubled myself a straw about him. But see,
 here's Parmeno. Addressing him. Good-morrow to you. PARMENO Why are you out of spirits, and why in such a hurry? Whence come
 you? CHAEREA What, I? I'faith, I neither know whence I'm come, nor whither I'm going;
 so utterly have I lost myself. PARMENO How, pray? CHAEREA I'm in love. PARMENO starting. Ha! CHAEREA Now, Parmeno, you may show what sort of a man you are. You know that you
 often promised me to this effect: "Chaerea, do you only find some object
 to fall in love with; I'll make you sensible of my usefulness in such
 matters," when I used to be storing up my father's provisions for you on
 the sly in your little room. In your little
 room)—Ver. 310. Though "cellulam" seems to
 be considered by some to mean "cupboard" or "larder," it is more
 probable that it here signifies the little room which was
 appropriated to each slave in the family for his own use.
 
 PARMENO To the point, you simpleton. CHAEREA Upon my faith, this is the fact. Now, then, let your promises be made
 good, if you please, or if indeed the affair is a deserving one for you
 to exert your energies upon. The girl isn't like our girls, whom their
 mothers are anxious to have with shoulders kept down, and chests well
 girthed, 
 Shoulders kept down and chests well
 girthed : Ovid, in the Art of Love, B. iii., 1. 274,
 alludes to the "strophium" or "girth" here referred to: "For high
 shoulders, small pads are suitable; and let the girth encircle the
 bosom that is too prominent." Becker thinks that the "strophium" was
 different from the "fascia" or "stomacher," mentioned in the Remedy of
 Love, 1. 338: "Does a swelling bosom cover all her breast, let no
 stomacher conceal it." From Martial we learn that the "strophium"
 was made of leather. that they may be slender. If one is a
 little inclined to plumpness, they declare that she's training for a
 boxer, 
 Training for a boxer : "Pugilem." This means "robust as a boxer," or
 "athlete." These persons were naturally considered as the types of
 robustness, being dieted for the purpose of increasing their flesh
 and muscle. and stint her food; although their constitutions
 are good, by their treatment they make them as slight as bulrushes; and
 so for that reason they are admired, forsooth. PARMENO What sort of a girl is this one of yours? CHAEREA A new style of beauty. PARMENO ironically. Astounding! CHAEREA Her complexion genuine, 
 Complexion genuine :
 "Color verus." The same expression is used by Ovid, in the Art of
 Love, B. iii., 1. 164: "Et melior vero quaeritur
 arte color:" "And by art a color is sought superior to
 the genuine one." her flesh firm and full of
 juiciness. 
 Full of juiciness : "Succi plenum." A similar expression occurs in
 the Miles Gloriosus of Plautus, 1. 787, where Periplecoimenus wishes
 inquiry to be made for a woman who is "siccam, at
 succidam," "sober, but full of juice:" i. e. replete
 with the plumpness and activity of youth. 
 PARMENO Her age? CHAEREA Her age Sixteen. PARMENO The very flower of youth. The very flower of
 youth)—Ver. 319. Ovid makes mention of the "flos" or "bloom" of youth, Art of Love, B. ii., 1.
 663: "And don't you inquire what year she is now passing, nor under
 what Consulship she was born; a privilege which the rigid Censor
 possesses. And this, especially, if she has passed the bloom of
 youth, and her best years are fled, and she now pulls out the
 whitening hairs." 
 CHAEREA Do you make, it your care to obtain her for me either by force, stealth,
 or entreaty; so that I only gain her, it matters not how to me. PARMENO Well, but to whom does the damsel belong? CHAEREA That, i'faith, I don't know. PARMENO Whence did she come? CHAEREA That, just as much. PARMENO Where does she live? CHAEREA Nor yet do I know that. PARMENO Where did you see her? CHAEREA In the street. PARMENO How did you come to lose her? CHAEREA Why, that's what I was just now fretting myself about; and I do not
 believe that there is one individual to whom all good luck is a greater
 stranger than to myself. What ill fortune this is! I'm utterly
 undone! PARMENO What's the matter? CHAEREA Do you ask me? Do you know Archidemides, my father's kinsman and
 years'-mate? PARMENO Why not? CHAEREA He, while I was in full pursuit of her, met me. PARMENO Unseasonably, upon my faith. CHAEREA Aye, unhappily, rather; for other ordinary matters are to be called
 "unseasonable," Parmeno. It would be safe for me to make oath that I
 have not seen him for fully these six or seven months, until just now,
 when I least wanted, and there was the least occasion. Come now! isn't
 this like a fatality? What do you say? PARMENO Extremely so. CHAEREA At once he came running up to me, from a considerable distance,
 stooping, palsied, hanging his lip, and wheezing. "Halloo, Chaerea!
 halloo!" said he; "I've something to say to you." I stopped. "Do you
 know what it is I want with you?" said he. "Say on," said I. "To-morrow
 my cause comes on," said he. "What then?" "Be sure and tell your father
 to remember and be my advocate Be my advocate)—Ver.
 340. "Advocatus." It must be remembered
 that this word did not among the Romans bear the same sense as
 the-word "advocate" does with us. The "advocati" were the friends of
 a man who accompanied him when his cause was pleaded, and often
 performed the part of witnesses; those who assisted a person in a
 dispute or difficulty were also his "advocati," and in this respect
 distantly resembled the "second" or "friend" of a party in the
 modern duel. In the Phormio, Hegio, Cratinus, and Crito are
 introduced as the "advocati" of Demipho. See also the Paenulus of
 Plautus, and the Notes to that Play in Bohn's Translation. 
 in the morning." In talking of this, an hour elapsed. An hour elapsed)—Ver. 341. "Hora" is here used to signify the long time, that, in
 his impatience, it appeared to him to be. I inquired if he
 wanted any thing else. "That's all," said he. I left him. When I looked
 in this direction for the damsel, she had that very instant turned this
 way down this street of ours. PARMENO aside. 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)—Ver.
 347. "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)—Ver. 352. 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)—Ver. 361. 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 lias 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? PARMENO Home; to take those slaves to Thais, as your brother ordered me. CHAEREA Oh, lucky Eunuch that! really, to be sent as a present to that house!
 PARMENO Why so? CHAEREA Do you ask? He will always see at home a fellow-servant of consummate
 beauty, and be conversing with her; he will be in the same house with
 her; sometimes he will take his meals with her; sometimes sleep near
 her. PARMENO What now, if you yourself were to be this fortunate person? CHAEREA By what means, Parmeno? Tell me. PARMENO Do you assume his dress. CHAEREA His dress! Well, what then? PARMENO I'll take you there instead of him. CHAEREA musing. I hear you. PARMENO I'll say that you are he. CHAEREA I understand you. PARMENO You may enjoy those advantages which you just now said lie would enjoy;
 you may take your meals together with her, be in company with her, touch
 her, dally with her, and sleep by her side; as not one of these women is
 acquainted with you, nor yet knows who you are. Besides, you are of an
 age and figure that you may easily pass for a eunuch. CHAEREA You speak to the purpose; I never knew better counsel given. Well, let's
 go in at once; dress me up, take me away, lead me to her, as fast as you
 can. PARMENO What do you mean? Really, I was only joking. CHAEREA You talk nonsense. PARMENO I'm undone! Wretch that I am! what have I done? CHAEREA pushes
 him along. Whither are you pushing me? You'll throw me down
 presently. I entreat you, be quiet. CHAEREA Let's be off. Pushes him. 
 PARMENO Do you still persist? CHAEREA I am resolved upon it. PARMENO Only take care that this isn't too rash a project. CHAEREA Certainly it isn't; let me alone for that. PARMENO Aye, but I shall have to pay the penalty Have to pay
 the penalty)—Ver. 381. "In me cudetur faba," literally, "the bean
 will be struck" or "laid about me;" meaning, "I shall have to smart
 for it." There is considerable doubt what is the origin of this
 expression, and this doubt existed as early as the time of Donatus.
 He says that it was a proverb either taken from the threshing of
 beans with a flail by the countrymen; or else from the circumstance
 of the cooks who have dressed the beans, but have not moistened them
 sufficiently, being sure to have them thrown at their heads, as
 though for the purpose of softening them. Neither of these solutions
 seems so probable as that suggested by Madame Dacier, that dried
 beans were inserted in the thongs of the "scuticae," or "whips,"
 with which the slaves were beaten. According to others the knots in
 the whips were only called "fabae," from their resemblance to beans.
 for this? CHAEREA Pshaw! PARMENO We shall be guilty of a disgraceful action. CHAEREA What, is it disgraceful Is it disqraceful)—Ver.
 382. Donatus remarks that here Terence obliquely defends the subject
 of the Play. to be taken to the house of a Courtesan, and to
 return the compliment upon those tormentors who treat us and our
 youthful age so scornfully, and who are always tormenting us in every
 way;—to dupe them just as we are duped by them? Or is it right and
 proper that in preference my father should be wheedled out of his money
 by deceitful pretexts? Those who knew of this would blame me; while all
 would think the other a meritorious act. PARMENO What's to be done in such case? If you are determined to do it, you must
 do it: but don't you by-and-by be throwing the blame upon me. CHAEREA I shall not do so. PARMENO Do you order me, then? CHAEREA I order, charge, and command you; I will never disavow my authorizing
 you. PARMENO Follow me; may the Gods prosper it! They go into the house of
 LACHES. 
 Enter THRASO and GNATHO. THRASO Did Thais really return me many thanks? GNATHO Exceeding thanks. THRASO Was she delighted, say you? GNATHO Not so much, indeed, at the present itself, as because it was given by
 you; really, in right earnest, she does exult at that. Enter
 PARMIENO unseen, from LACHES' house. 
 PARMENO apart. I've come here to be on the look-out, that when
 there is an opportunity I may take the presents. But see, here's the
 Captain. THRASO Undoubtedly it is the case with me, that every thing I do is a cause for
 thankfulness. GNATHO Upon my faith, I've observed it. THRASO The most mighty King, 
 The most mighty King : It
 has been suggested that Darius III. is here alluded to, who was a
 contemporary of Menander. As however Pyrrhus, king of Epirus , is mentioned in this Play,
 there is no necessity to go out of the way to make Terence guilty of
 an anachronism. Madame Dacier suggests that Seleucus, king of part
 of Asia Minor , is meant;
 and as Thraso is called "a stranger" or "foreigner" toward the end
 of the Play, he probably was intended to be represented as a native
 of Asia and a subject of
 Seleucus. One of the Seleuci was also favored with the services of
 Pyrgopolinices, the "Braggart Captain" of Plautus, in the Miles
 Gloriosus. See 1. 75 in that Play: "For King Seleucus entreated me
 with most earnest suit that I would raise and enlist recruits for
 him." even, always used to give me especial thanks for
 whatever I did; but not so to others. GNATHO He who has the wit that you have, often by his words appropriates to
 himself the glory that has been achieved by the labor of others. THRASO You've just hit it. You've just hit it)—Ver. 401.
 Colman here remarks, quoting the following passage from Shakspeare's
 "Love's Labor Lost," "That that Poet was familiarly acquainted with
 this Comedy is evident from the passage, 'Holofernes says, Novi
 hominem tanquam te. His humor is lofty, his discourse peremptory,
 his tongue filed, his eye ambitious, his gait majestical, and his
 general behavior vain, ridiculous, and Thrasonical.'" We may remark
 that the previous words of Gnatho, though spoken with reference to
 the King, contain a reproach against the Captain's boastfulness,
 though his vanity will not let him perceive it. 
 GNATHO The king, then, kept you in his eye. In his
 eye)—Ver. 401. "In oculis" is generally supposed to mean "as dearly
 in his eyes." As, however, the Satraps of the East were called "the
 king's eyes," those who suppose that Darius is alluded to, might
 with some ground consider the passage as meaning that the king
 ranked him in the number of his nobles. See the Paenulus of Plautus,
 1. 693, and the Note in Bohn's Translation. 
 THRASO Just so. GNATHO To enjoy your society. THRASO True; he intrusted to? me all his army, all his state secrets. GNATHO Astonishing! THRASO Then if, on any occasion, a surfeit of society, or a dislike of
 business, came upon him, when he was desirous to take some recreation;
 just as though—you understand? 
 You understand : He says
 this at the very moment when lie is at a loss what to say next; the
 Parasite obligingly steps in to help him out with the
 difficulty. 
 GNATHO I know; just as though on occasion he would rid his mind of those
 anxieties. THRASO You have it. Then he used to take me aside as his only boon
 companion. GNATHO Whew! You are telling of a King of refined taste. THRASO Aye, he is a person of that sort; a man of but very few
 acquaintanceships. GNATHO aside. Indeed, of none, 
 Indeed, of none :
 "Immo, nullorum arbitror, si tecum vivit." This expression which is
 used "aside," has two meanings, neither of which is complimentary to
 the Captain. It may mean, "he has no society if he associates with
 you," making the Captain equivalent to nobody; or it may signify,
 "if he associates with you he'll be sure to drive all his other
 acquaintances away." I fancy, if he's on intimate terms with
 you. THRASO All the people envied me, and attacked me privately. I don't care one
 straw. They envied me dreadfully; but one in particular, whom the King
 had appointed over the Indian elephants. 
 Over the
 Indian elephants : Here he shows his lofty position to
 perfection; he dares to take down the pride of one who commanded
 even the royal elephants. The Braggart Captain of Plautus comes into
 collision with the elephants themselves: l. 26. Artotrogus says to
 him, "In what a fashion it was you broke the fore-leg of even an
 elephant in India with your
 fist!" Once, when he became particularly troublesome,
 "Prithee, Strato," said I, "are you so fierce because you hold command
 over the wild beasts?" GNATHO Cleverly said, upon my faith, and shrewdly. Astounding! You did give the
 fellow a home thrust. What said he? THRASO Dumfounded, instantaneously. GNATHO How could he be otherwise? PARMENO apart. Ye Gods, by our trust in you! a lost and miserable
 fellow the one, and the other a scoundrel. THRASO Well then, about that: matter, Gnatho, the way in which I touched up the
 Rhodian at a banquet—did I never tell you? GNATHO Never; but pray, do tell me. Aside. I've heard it more
 than a thousand times already. THRASO There was in my company at a banquet, this young man of Rhodes, whom I'm
 speaking of. By chance I had a mistress there; he began to toy with her,
 and to annoy me. "What are you doing, sir impudence?" said I to the
 fellow; "a hare yourself, and looking out for game?" 
 Lookinq
 out for game? : "Pulmentum," more strictly speaking, "A
 nice bit." Patrick has the following Note on this passage: "'Lepus
 tute es, et pulmentum quaeris?' A proverbial expression in use at
 that time: the proper meaning of it, stripped of its figure, is,
 'You are little more than a woman yourself, and do you want a
 mistress?'" We learn from Donatus and Vopiscus, that Livius
 Andronicus had used this proverb in his Plays before Terence.
 Commentators who enter into a minute explanation of it offer many
 conjectures rather curious than solid, and of a nature not fit to be
 mentioned here. Donatus seems to think that allusion is made to a
 story prevalent among the ancient naturalists that the hare was in
 the habit of changing its sex. 
 GNATHO pretending to laugh very heartily. Ha, ha, ha! THRASO What's the matter? GNATHO How apt, how smart, how clever; nothing could be more excellent.
 Prithee, was this a saying of yours? I fancied it was an old one. THRASO Did you ever hear it before? GNATHO Many a time; and it is mentioned among the first-rate ones. THRASO It's my own. GNATHO I'm sorry though that it was said to a thoughtless young man, and one of
 respectability. PARMENO apart. May the Gods confound you! GNATHO Pray, what did he do? THRASO . Quite disconcerted. All who were present were dying with laughter; in
 short, they were all quite afraid of me. GNATHO [Not without reason. THRASO But hark you, had I best clear myself of this to Thais, as to her
 suspicion that I'm fond of this girl? GNATHO By no means: on the contrary, rather increase her jealousy. THRASO Why so? GNATHO Do you ask me? Don't you see, if on any occasion she makes mention of
 Phaedria or commends him, to provoke you— THRASO I understand. GNATHO That such may not be the case, this method is the only remedy. When she
 speaks of Phaedria, do you instantly mention Pamphila. If at any time
 she says, "Let's invite Phaedria to make one," do you say, "Let's ask
 Pamphila to sing." If she praises his good looks, do you, on the other
 hand, praise hers. In short, do you return like for like, which will
 mortify her. THRASO If, indeed, she loved me, 
 If, indeed, she loved
 me : Colman has the following Note upon this passage: "I am
 at a loss to determine whether it was in order to show the absurdity
 of the Captain or from inadvertence in the Poet, that Terence here
 makes Thraso and Gnatho speak in contradiction to the idea of
 Thais's wonderful veneration for Thraso, with which they opened the
 Scene." this might be of some use, Gnatho. GNATHO Since she is impatient for and loves that which you give her, she
 already loves you; as it is, then, it is an easy matter for her to feel
 vexed. She will be always afraid lest the presents which she herself is
 now getting, you may on some occasion be taking elsewhere. THRASO Well said; that never came into my mind. GNATHO Nonsense. You never thought about it; else how much more readily would
 you yourself have hit upon it, Thraso! Enter THAIS from her house, attended by PYTHIAS. THAIS as she comes out. I thought I just now heard the
 Captain's voice. And look, here he is. Welcome, my dear Thraso. THRASO O my Thais, my sweet one, how are you? How much do you love me in return
 for that music girl? PARMENO apart. How polite! What a beginning he has made on
 meeting her! THAIS Very much, as you deserve. GNATHO Let's go to dinner then. (To THRASO.) What do you stand here for? PARMENO apart. Then there's the other one: you would declare that
 he was born for his belly's sake. THRASO When you please; I sha'n't delay. PARMENO apart. I'll accost them, and pretend as though I had just
 come out. He comes forward. Are you going any where,
 Thais? THAIS Ha! Parmeno; well done; just going out for the day. PARMENO Where? THAIS aside, pointing at THRASO. Why! don't you see him? PARMENO aside. I see him, and I'm sorry for it.
 Aloud. Phaedria's presents are ready for you when you
 please. THRASO impatiently. Why are we to stand here? Why don't we be
 off? PARMENO to THRASO. Troth now, pray, do let us, with your leave,
 present to her the things we intend, and accost and speak to her. THRASO ironically. Very fine presents, I suppose, or at least
 equal to mine. PARMENO The fact will prove itself. Goes to the door of LACHES' house and
 calls. Ho there! bid those people come out of doors at once,
 as I ordered. Enter from the house a BLACK GIRL. 
 PARMENO Do you step forward this way. To THAIS. She comes all the
 way from Aethiopia. THRASO contemptuously. Here are some three minae in value. GNATHO Hardly so much. PARMENO Where are you, Dorus? Step this way. Enter CHAEREA from the
 house, dressed like the EUNUCH. 
 PARMENO There's a Eunuch for you—of what a genteel appearance! of what a prime
 age! THAIS God bless me, he's handsome. PARMENO What say you, Gnatho? Do you see any thing to find fault with? And what
 say you, Thraso? Aside. They hold their tongues; they
 praise him sufficiently thereby. To THAIS. Make trial of
 him in literature, try him in exercises, 
 In
 exercises : Reference will be found made to the
 "palaestrae," or "places of exercise," in the Notes to the
 Translation of Plautus. and in music; I'll warrant him well
 skilled in what it becomes a gentleman to know. THRASO That Eunuch, if occasion served, 
 If occasion
 served : The Aposiopesis in this line is very aptly
 introduced, on account of the presence of the female; but it
 admirably illustrates the abominable turpitude of the speaker, and
 perhaps in a somewhat more decent manner than that in which Plautus
 attributes a similar tendency to his Braggart Captain, l.
 1111. even in my sober senses, I— PARMENO And he who has sent these things makes no request that you will live for
 him alone, and that for his own sake others may be excluded; he neither
 tells of battles nor shows his scars, nor does he restrict you as
 looking at THRASO a certain person does; but when it
 is not inconvenient, whenever you think fit, whenever you have the time,
 he is satisfied to be admitted. THRASO to GNATHO, contemptuously. It appears that this is the
 servant of some beggarly, wretched master. GNATHO Why, faith, no person, I'm quite sure of that, could possibly put up
 with him, who had the means to get another. PARMENO You hold your tongue—a fellow whom I consider beneath all men of the
 very lowest grade: for when you can bring yourself to flatter that
 fellow pointing at THRASO , I do believe you could pick
 your victuals out of the very flames. 
 Out of the very
 flames : This was a proverb expressive of the lowest
 degree of meanness and infamy. When they burned the bodies of the
 dead, it was the custom of the ancients to throw meat and various
 articles of food upon the funeral pile, and it was considered the
 greatest possible affront to tell a person that he was capable of
 snatching these things out of the flames. 
 THRASO Are we to go now? THAIS I'll take these in-doors first pointing to CHAEREA and the
 AETHIOPIAN , and at the same time I'll order what I wish;
 after that I'll return immediately. Goes into the house with
 PYTHIAS, CHAEREA, and the SLAVE. 
 THRASO to GNATHO. I shall be off. Do you wait for her. PARMENO It is not a proper thing for a general to be walking in the street with
 a mistress. THRASO Why should I use many words with you? You are the very ape of your
 master. (Exit PARMENO. GNATHO laughing. Ha, ha, ha! THRASO What are you laughing at? GNATHO At what you were mentioning just now; that saying, too, about the
 Rhodian, recurred to my mind. But Thais is coming out. THRASO You go before; take care that every thing is ready at home. GNATHO Very well. (Exit.) 
 Re-enter THAIS, with PYTHIAS and FEMALE ATTENDANTS. 
 THAIS Take care, Pythias, and be sure that if Chremes should happen to
 come, 
 If Chremes should happen to come : This is
 the first allusion to the arrangement which ultimately causes the
 quarrel between Thais and the Captain. to beg him to wait; if
 that is not convenient, then to come again; if he can not do that, bring
 him to me. PYTHIAS I'll do so. THAIS Well, what else was I intending to say? O, do you take particular care
 of that young woman; be sure that you keep at home. THRASO Let us begone. THAIS to her attendants. You follow me. Exeunt THAIS and
 THRASO, followed by the Attendants. PYTHIAS goes into the
 house. 
 Enter CHREMES. CHREMES to himself. Why, really, the more and more I think of it,
 I shouldn't be surprised if this Thais should be doing me some great
 mischief; so cunningly do I perceive myself beset by her. Even on the
 occasion when she first requested me to be fetched to her (any one might
 ask me, "What business had you with her?" Really I don't know.) When I
 came, she found an excuse for me to remain there; she said that she had
 been offering a sacrifice, 
 Had been offering a
 sacrifice : It was the custom to sacrifice before
 entering on affairs of importance. Thus, too, Jupiter, in the
 Amphitryon of Plautus, l. 938, speaks of offering sacrifice on his
 safe return. and that she was desirous to speak upon some
 important business with me. Even then I had a suspicion that all these
 things were being done for her artful purposes. She takes her place
 beside me; pays every attention to me; seeks and opportunity of
 conversation. When the conversation flagged, she turned off to this
 point—how long since my father and mother died? I said that it was now
 a long time ago. Whether I had any country-house at Sunium, and how far
 from the sea? I suppose that this has taken her fancy, and she expects
 to get it away from me. Then at last, whether any little sister of mine
 had been lost from there; whether any person was with her; what she had
 about her when she was lost; whether any one could recognize her. Why
 should she make these inquiries? Unless, perhaps, she pretends—so great
 is her assurance—that she herself is the same person that was formerly
 lost when a little girl. But if she is alive, she is sixteen years old,
 not older; whereas Thais is somewhat older than I am. She has sent to
 press me earnestly to come. Either let her speak out what she wants, or
 not be troublesome; I assuredly shall not come a third time
 knocking at the door of THAIS . Ho! there, ho! there!
 Is any one here? It's I, Chremes. Enter PYTHIAS from the
 house. 
 PYTHIAS O most charming, dear creature! CHREMES apart. I said there was a design upon me. PYTHIAS Thais entreated you most earnestly to come again to-morrow. CHREMES I'm going into the country. PYTHIAS Do, there's a dear sir. CHREMES I can not, I tell you. PYTHIAS Then stay here at our house till she comes back. CHREMES Nothing less likely. PYTHIAS Why, my dear Chremes? Taking hold of him. 
 CHREMES shaking her off. Away to perdition with you! PYTHIAS If you are so determined about it, pray do step over to the place where
 she is. CHREMES I'll go there. PYTHIAS calling at the door. Here, Dorias DORIAS
 enters , show this person directly to the Captain's.
 (Exit CHREMES with DORIAS, PYTHIAS goes into the
 house.) 
 Enter ANTIPHO. ANTIPHO to himself. Yesterday some young fellows of us agreed
 together at the Piraeus 
 that we were to go shares today in a club-entertainment. We gave Chaerea
 charge of this matter; our rings were given 
 Our rings
 were given : It was the custom of parties who agreed to
 join in a "symbola," or "club" or "picnic" entertainment, to give
 their rings as pledges to the "rex convivii," or "getter up the
 feast." Stakes were also deposited on making bets at races. See
 Ovid's Art of Love, B. i., l. 168. as pledges; the place and
 time arranged. The time has now gone by; at the place appointed there
 was nothing ready. The fellow himself is nowhere to be met with; I
 neither know what to say nor what to suppose. Now the rest have
 commissioned me with his business, to look for him. I'll go see,
 therefore, if he's at home. But who's this, I wonder, coming out of
 Thais's? Is it he, or is it not? 'Tis the very man! What sort of being
 is this? What kind of garb is this? What mischief is going on now? I can
 not sufficiently wonder or conjecture. But, whatever it is, I should
 like first at a distance to try and find out. He stands
 apart. 
 Enter CHAEREA from the house of Thais, in the EUNUCH'S dress. CHAEREA looking around, then aloud to himself. Is there any body
 here? There's no one. Is there any one following me from there? There's
 not a person. Now am I not at liberty to give vent to these raptures? O
 supreme Jupiter ! now assuredly
 is the time for me to meet my death, 
 To meet my
 death : There is a passage in the Othello of Shakspeare
 extremely similar to this: —"If I were now to die, I were now to be most happy; for, I fear, My soul hath her content so absolute, That not another comfort, like to this, Succeeds in unknown fate." (act II, scene i) when I can so well endure it; lest my life should
 sully this ecstasy with some disaster. But is there now no inquisitive
 person to be intruding upon me, to be following me wherever I do, to be
 deafening me, worrying me to death, with asking questions; why thus
 transported, or why so overjoyed, whither I'm going, whence I'm come,
 where I got this garb, what is my object, whether I'm in my senses or
 whether downright mad? ANTIPHO apart. I'll accost him, and I'll do him the favor which I
 see he's wishing for. Accosting him. Chaerea, why are you
 thus transported? What's the object of this garb? Why is it that you're
 so overjoyed? What is the meaning of this? Are you quite right in your
 senses? Why do you stare at me? What have you to say? CHAEREA O joyous day! O welcome, my friend! There's not one in all the world
 whom I would rather wish to see at this moment that yourself. ANTIPHO Pray, do tell me what all this means. CHAEREA Nay rather, i'faith, I beg of you to listen to me. Do you know the
 mistress whom my brother is so fond of? ANTIPHO I know her; I suppose you mean Thais? CHAEREA The very same. ANTIPHO So far I recollect. CHAEREA To-day a certain damsel was presented to her. Why now should I extol or
 commend her beauty to you, Antipho, since you yourself know how nice a
 judge of beauty I am? I have been smitten by her. ANTIPHO Do you say so? CHAEREA If you saw her, I am sure you would say she's exquisite. What need of
 many words? I fell in love with her. By good luck there was at our house
 a certain Eunuch, whom my brother had purchased for Thais, and he had
 not as yet been sent to her. On this occasion, Parmeno, our servant,
 made a suggestion to me, which I adopted. ANTIPHO What was it? CHAEREA Be quiet, and you shall hear the sooner; to change clothes with him, and
 order myself to be taken there in his stead. ANTIPHO What, instead of the Eunuch? CHAEREA The fact. ANTIPHO To receive what advantage, pray, from this plan? CHAEREA Do you ask? That I might see, hear, and be in company with her whom I
 loved, Antipho. Is that a slight motive, or a poor reason? I was
 presented to the woman. She, as soon as she received me, joyfully took
 me home to her house and intrusted the damsel— ANTIPHO To whom? To you? CHAEREA To me. ANTIPHO ironically. In perfect safety, at all events. CHAEREA She gave orders that no male was to come near her, and commanded me not
 to stir away from her; that I was to remain alone with her in the inner
 apartments. 
 In the inner apartments : The
 "Gynecaea," or women's apartments, among the Greeks, always occupied
 the interior part of the house, which was most distant from the
 street, and there they were kept in great seclusion. Looking
 bashfully on the ground, I nodded assent. ANTIPHO ironically. Poor fellow! CHAEREA continuing. "I am going out," said she, "to dinner." She
 took her maids with her; a few novices of girls 
 A few
 novices of girls : These "noviciae" were young slaves
 recently bought, and intended to be trained to the calling of a
 Courtesan. remained, to be about her. These immediately made
 preparations for her to bathe. I urged them to make haste. While
 preparations were being made, the damsel sat in a room looking up at a
 certain painting, 
 At a certain painting :
 See the story of Jupiter 
 and Danaë, the daughter of Acrisius, king of Argos , in the Metamorphoses of
 Ovid, B. iv., l. 610. Pictures of Venus and Adonis, and of
 Jupiter and Ganymede,
 are mentioned in the Menaechmi of Plautus; l. 144, and paintings on
 the walls are also mentioned in the Mostellaria of Plautus, l. 821,
 where Tranio tries to impose upon Theuropides by pretending to point
 out a picture of a crow between two vultures. in which was
 represented how Jove 
 How Jove : Donatus
 remarks here that this was "a very proper piece of furniture for the
 house of a Courtesan, giving an example of loose and mercenary Love,
 calculated to excite wanton thoughts, and at the same time hinting
 to the young lover that he must make his way to the bosom of his
 mistress, like Jupiter to
 Danaë, in a shower of gold. Oh the avarice of
 harlots!" is said once to have sent a golden shower into the
 bosom of Danaë. I myself began to look at it as well, and as he
 had in former times played the like game, I felt extremely delighted
 that a God should change himself into money, and slily come through the
 tiles of another person's house, to deceive the fair one by means of a
 shower. But what God was this? He who shakes the most lofty temples of
 heaven with his thunders. Was I, a poor creature of a mortal, 
 A
 poor creature of a mortal : "Homuncio." He uses this word
 the better to contrast his abject nature as a poor mortal with the
 majesty of Jupiter . St.
 Augustin refers to this
 passage. The preceding line is said by Donatus to be a parody on a
 passage by Ennius. not to do the same? Certainly, I was to do
 it, and without hesitation. While I was thinking over these matters with
 myself, the damsel meantime was fetched away to bathe; she went, bathed,
 and came back; after which they laid her on a couch. I stood waiting to
 see if they gave me any orders. One came up, "Here, Dorus," said she,
 "take this fan, 
 Take this fan : As to the fans of
 the ancients, see the Trinummus of Plautus, l. 252, and the Note to
 the passage in Bohn's Translation. See also the Amours of Ovid , B. iii., El. 2, l.
 38. and let her have a little air in this fashion, while we
 are bathing; when we have bathed, if you like, you may bathe too." With
 a demure air I took it. ANTIPHO Really, I should very much have liked to see that impudent face of yours
 just then, and what figure a great donkey like you made, holding a
 fan! CHAEREA continuing. Hardly had she said this, when all, in a
 moment, betook themselves off: away they went to bathe, and chattered
 aloud; 
 Chattered aloud : This line bears a
 strong resemblance to two lines found in Anstey's new Bath Guide:
 "And how the young ladies all set up their clacks, All the while an old woman was rubbing their backs." just as the way is when masters are absent.
 Meanwhile, sleep overtook the damsel; I slily looked askance 
 I
 slily looked askance : This way of looking aside,
 "limis," is mentioned in the Miles Gloriosus of Plautus, where
 Milphidippa tells Acroteleutium to look at the Captain sideways,
 "Aspicito limis," l. 1217; also in the Bacchides, l. 1131. Those
 familiar with the works of Hogarth will readily call to mind the
 picture of Bedlam in the Rake's Progress, where the young woman is
 looking askance through her fan at the madman in his cell. 
 through the fan; 
 Through the fan : This shows that
 the fan was probably one made of thin boards, and not of
 feathers. this way showing how : at the same
 time I looked round in all directions, to see whether all was quite
 safe. I saw that it was. I bolted the door. ANTIPHO What then? CHAEREA Eh? What then, you simpleton? ANTIPHO I own I am. CHAEREA Was I to let slip the opportunity offered me, so excellent, so
 short-lived, 
 So short-lived : Colman has the following Note
 here: "Short indeed, considering the number of incidents, which,
 according to Chaerea's relation, are crowded into it. All the time
 allowed for this adventure is the short space between the departure
 of Thais and Thraso and the entrance of Chaerea; so that all this
 variety of business of sleeping, bathing, ravishing, &c., is
 dispatched during the two soliloquies of Antipho and Chaerea, and
 the short Scene between Chremes and Pythias. The truth is, that a
 very close adherence to the unities often drives the Poet into as
 great absurdities as the perfect violation of them." so
 longed for, so unexpected. In that case, i'faith, I really should have
 been the person I was pretending to be. ANTIPHO Troth, you certainly are in the right; but, meantime, what has been
 arranged about the club-entertainment? CHAEREA All's ready. ANTIPHO You are a clever hand; but where? At your house? CHAEREA No, at Discus's, our
 freedman. ANTIPHO That's a long way off. CHAEREA Then let's make so much the greater haste. ANTIPHO Change your dress. CHAEREA Where am I to change it? I'm at a loss; for at present I'm an exile from
 home; I'm afraid of my brother, lest he should be in-doors: and then
 again of my father, lest he should have returned from the country by
 this. ANTIPHO Let's go to my house; there is the nearest place for you to change. CHAEREA 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 chariotraces
 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. PHAEDRIA I'll let you know immediately. Goes into the house of
 LACHES. 
 DORIAS Ruined outright! Prithee, my dear, I never did so much as hear of a deed
 so abominable! PYTHIAS Why, faith, I had heard that they were extremely fond of the women, but
 were incapable; unfortunately what has happened never came into my mind;
 otherwise I should have shut him up somewhere, and not have intrusted
 the girl to him. Enter PHAEDRIA from the house of LACHES, with DORUS in CHAEREA'S clothes. PHAEDRIA dragging him out. Come out, you villain! What, do you lag
 behind, you runaway? Out with you, you sorry bargain! DORUS crying out. Mercy, I do entreat you! PHAEDRIA Oh, do look at that! How the villain distorts his face. What means your
 coming back hither? Why this change of dress? What have you to say? If I
 had delayed a moment, Pythias, I shouldn't have found him at home: he
 had just prepared, in this fashion, for flight. Pointing at his
 dress. 
 PYTHIAS Have you caught the fellow, pray? PHAEDRIA Caught him, why not? PYTHIAS O well done! DORIAS Upon my faith that really is capital! PYTHIAS Where is he? PHAEDRIA Do you ask the question? Don't you see him? Pointing to the
 EUNUCH. 
 PYTHIAS staring about. See whom, pray? PHAEDRIA This fellow, to be sure pointing . PYTHIAS What person is this? PHAEDRIA The same that was brought to your house to-day. PYTHIAS Not one of our people has ever beheld this person with her eyes,
 Phaedria. PHAEDRIA Not beheld him? PYTHIAS Prithee, did you fancy that this was he who was brought to our
 house? PHAEDRIA Why, I had no other. PYTHIAS O dear! this one really isn't to be compared with the other. He was of a
 handsome and genteel appearance. PHAEDRIA He seemed so, just then, because he was decked out in party-colored
 clothes: 
 In party-colored clothes : It was
 the custom to dress Eunuchs in party-colored clothes of bright hue.
 Most probably it was from them that the "motley" descended to the
 fools and buffoons of the Middle Ages. now he appears ugly,
 for this reason—because he hasn't got them on. PYTHIAS Prithee, do hold your tongue; as though indeed the difference was so
 trifling. A young man was brought to our house to-day, whom, really,
 Phaedria, you would have liked to look upon. This is a withered,
 antiquated, lethargic, old fellow, with a speckled complexion. 
 With a speckled complexion : "Colore stellionino;"
 probably having spots or freckles on his face like a "stellio" or
 "lizard." 
 PHAEDRIA starting. Hah! What tale is this? You'll so befool me
 that I sha'n't know what I bought. To DORUS. How now,
 sirrah, did I not buy you? DORUS You did buy me. PYTHIAS Bid him answer me in my turn. PHAEDRIA Question him. PYTHIAS to DORUS. Did you come here to-day to our house?
 DORUS shakes his head. He says, no. But it was the
 other one that came, about sixteen years of age; whom Parmeno brought
 with him. PHAEDRIA to DORUS. Well now, in the first place tell me this,
 where did you get that dress that you have on? What, are you silent?
 Monster of a fellow, are you not going to speak? Shakes
 him. 
 DORUS Chaerea came. PHAEDRIA What, my brother? DORUS Yes. PHAEDRIA When? DORUS To-day. PHAEDRIA How long since? DORUS Just now. PHAEDRIA With whom? DORUS With Parmeno. PHAEDRIA Did you know him before? DORUS No. PHAEDRIA How did you know he was my brother? DORUS Parmeno said he was. He gave me these clothes. PHAEDRIA I'm undone! DORUS He himself put on mine; afterward, they both went out together. PYTHIAS Now are you quite satisfied that I am sober, and that we have told you
 no falsehood? Is it now sufficiently evident that the girl has been
 ravished? PHAEDRIA Avaunt, you beast, do you believe what he says? PYTHIAS What is there to believe? The thing speaks for itself. PHAEDRIA apart to DORUS. Step aside a little this way. Do you
 hear? DORUS steps aside. A little further still. That
 will do. Now tell me this once more; did Chaerea take your clothes off
 you? DORUS He did. PHAEDRIA And did he put them on? DORUS He did. PHAEDRIA And was he brought here instead of you? DORUS Yes. PHAEDRIA 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 this girl? PYTHIAS Yes; whether I ought to mention it or be silent? DORIAS Upon my word, if you are prudent, 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 now seem 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? CHREMES Nothing at all; only, on going away, she gave me a nod. PYTHIAS Well now, wasn't that enough? CHREMES Why, I didn't know that she meant that, until the Captain gave me an
 explanation, because I was dull of comprehension; for he bundled me out
 of the house. But look, here she is; I wonder how it was I got here
 before her. Enter THAIS. THAIS to herself. I really do believe that he'll be here
 presently, to force her away from me. Let him come; but if he touches
 her with a single finger, that instant his eyes shall be torn out. I can
 put up with his impertinences and his high-sounding words, as long as
 they remain words: but if they are turned into realities, he shall get a
 drubbing. CHREMES Thais, I've been here some time. THAIS O my dear Chremes, you are the very person I was wanting. Are you aware
 that this quarrel took place on your account, and that the whole of this
 affair, in fact, bore reference to yourself? CHREMES To me? How so, pray? THAIS Because, while I've been doing my best to recover and restore your
 sister to you, this and a great deal more like it I've had to put up
 with. CHREMES Where is she? THAIS At home, at my house. CHREMES starting. Hah! THAIS What's the matter? She has been brought up in a manner worthy of
 yourself and of her. CHREMES What is it you say? THAIS That which is the fact. Her I present to you, nor do I ask of you any
 return for her. CHREMES Thanks are both felt and shall be returned in such way, Thais, as you
 deserve. THAIS But still, take care, Chremes, that you don't lose her, before you
 receive her from me; for it is she, whom the Captain is now coming to
 take away from me by force. Do you go, Pythias, and bring out of the
 house the casket with the tokens. 
 Casket with the
 tokens : It was the custom with the ancients when they
 exposed their children, to leave with them some pledge or token of
 value, that they might afterward be recognized by means of them. The
 catastrophes of the Curculio, the Rudens, and other Plays of
 Plautus, are brought about by taking advantage of this circumstance.
 The reasons for using these tokens will be stated in a future
 Note. 
 CHREMES looking down the side Scene. Don't you see him,
 Thais? PYTHIAS to THAIS. Where is it put? THAIS In the clothes' chest. Tiresome creature, why do you delay?
 PYTHIAS goes into the house. 
 CHREMES What a large body of troops the Captain is bringing with him against
 you. Bless me! THAIS Prithee, are you frightened, my dear sir? CHREMES Get out with you. What, I frightened? There's not a man alive less
 so. THAIS Then now is the time to prove it. CHREMES Why, I wonder what sort of a man you take me to be. THAIS Nay, and consider this too; the person that you have to deal with is a
 foreigner; 
 Is a foreigner : And therefore the
 more unlikely to obtain redress from an Athenian tribunal. See the
 Andria , l. 811, and the
 Note to the passage. of less influence than you, less known,
 and one that has fewer friends here. CHREMES I'm aware of that; but it's foolish to run the risk of what you are able
 to avoid. I had rather we should prevent it, than, having received an
 injury, avenge ourselves upon him. Do you go in and fasten the door,
 while I run across hence to the Forum; I should like us to have the aid
 of some legal adviser in this disturbance. Moves, as if
 going. 
 THAIS holding him. Stay. CHREMES Let me go, I'll be here presently. THAIS There's no occasion, Chremes. Only say that she is your sister, and that
 you lost her when a little girl, and have now recognized her; then show
 the tokens. Re-enter PYTHIAS from the house, with the
 trinkets. 
 PYTHIAS giving them to THAIS. Here they are. THAIS giving them to CHREMES. Take them. If he offers any
 violence, summon the fellow to justice; do you understand me? CHREMES Perfectly. THAIS Take care and say this with presence of mind. CHREMES I'll take care. THAIS Gather up your cloak. Aside. Undone! the very person whom
 I've provided as a champion, wants one himself. They all go into
 the house. 
 Enter THRASO, followed by GNATHO, SANGA, and other Attendants. THRASO Am I to submit, Gnatho, to such a glaring affront as this being put upon
 me? I'd die sooner. Simalio, Donax, Syriscus, follow me! First, I'll
 storm the house. GNATHO Quite right. THRASO I'll carry off the girl. GNATHO Very good. THRASO I'll give her own self a mauling. GNATHO Very proper. THRASO arranging the men. Advance hither to the main body,
 Donax, with your crowbar; you, Simalio, to the left wing; you, Syriscus,
 to the right. Bring up the rest; where's the centurion Sanga, and his maniple 
 And his maniple : We learn from the Fasti of Ovid, B.
 iii., l. 117-8, that in early times the Roman armies carried bundles
 or wisps of hay upon poles by way of standards. "A long pole used to
 bear the elevated wisps, from which circumstance the manipular
 soldier derives his name." It appears from this passage, and from
 other authors, that to every troop of one hundred men a "manipulus"
 or wisp of hay (so called from "manum implere," to "fill the hand,"
 as being "a handful"), was assigned as a standard, and hence in time
 the company itself obtained the name of "manipulus," and the
 soldier, a member of it, was called "manipularis." The "centurio,"
 or "leader of a hundred," was the commanding officer of the
 "manipulus." of rogues? SANGA coming forward. See, here he is. THRASO What, you booby, do you think of fighting with a dish-clout, 
 With a dish-clout : "Peniculo." This word meant a sponge
 fastened to a stick, or the tail of a fox or an ox, which was used
 as dusters or dish-clouts are at the present day for cleaning
 tables, dishes, or even shoes. See the Menaechmi of Plautus, ver. 77
 and 391. to be bringing that here? SANGA What, I? I knew the valor of the general, and the prowess of the
 soldiers; and that this could not possibly go on without bloodshed; how
 was I to wipe the wounds? THRASO Where are the others? SANGA Plague on you, what others? Sannio is the only one left on guard at
 home. THRASO to GNATHO. Do you draw up your men in battle order; I'll
 be behind the second rank; 
 Be behind the second
 rank : "Post principia." The Captain, with that
 discretion which is the better part of valor, chooses the safest
 place in his army. The "principes" originally fought in the van,
 fronting the enemy, and behind them were the "hastati" and the
 "triarii." In later times the "hastati" faced the enemy, and the
 "principes" were placed in the middle, between them and the
 "triarii;" but though no longer occupying the front place, they
 still retained the name. Thraso, then, places himself behind the
 middle line. from that position I'll give the word to all.
 Takes his place behind the second rank. 
 GNATHO aside. That's showing prudence; as soon as he has drawn
 them up, he secures a retreat for himself. THRASO pointing to the arrangements. This is just the way
 Pyrrhus used to proceed. 
 Pyrrhus used to proceed :
 He attempts to defend his cowardice by the example of Pyrrhus, the
 powerful antagonist of the Romans, and one of the greatest generals
 of antiquity. He might have more correctly cited the example of
 Xerxes, who, according to Justin, did occupy that position in his
 army. 
 CHREMES and THAIS appear above at a window. 
 CHREMES Do you see, Thais, what plan he is upon? Assuredly, that advice of mine
 about closing the door was good. THAIS He who now seems to you to be a hero, is in reality a mere vaporer;
 don't be alarmed. THRASO to GNATHO. What seems best to you? GNATHO I could very much 
 I could very much :
 Although Vollbehr gives these words to Gnatho, yet, judging from the
 context, and the words "ex occulto," and remembering that Thais and
 Chremes are up at the window, there is the greatest probability that
 these are really the words of Thais addressed aside to
 Chremes. like a sling to be given you just now, that you
 might pelt them from here on the sly at a distance; they would be taking
 to flight. THRASO to GNATHO. But look pointing , I see Thais
 there herself. GNATHO How soon are we to fall to? THRASO Hold holding him back ; it behooves a prudent person to
 make trial of every thing before arms. How do you know but that she may
 do what I bid her without compulsion? GNATHO Ye Gods, by our trust in you, what a thing it is to be wise! I never
 come near you but what I go away from you the wiser. THRASO Thais, in the first place, answer me this. When I presented you that
 girl, did you not say that you would give yourself up to me alone for
 some days to come? THAIS Well, what then? THRASO Do you ask the question? You, who have been and brought your lover under
 my very eyes? What business had you with him? With him, too, you
 clandestinely betook yourself away from me. THAIS I chose to do so. THRASO Then give me back Pamphila; unless you had rather she were taken away by
 force. CHREMES Give her back to you, or you lay hands upon her? Of all the— GNATHO Ha! What are you about? Hold your tongue. THRASO What do you mean? Am I not to touch my own? CHREMES Your own, indeed, you gallows-bird! 
 You
 gallows-bird : "Furcifer;" literally, "bearer of the
 furca." 
 GNATHO to CHREMES. Have a care, if you please. You don't know
 what kind of man you are abusing now. CHREMES to GNATHO. Won't you be off from here? Do you know how
 matters stand with you? If you cause any disturbance here to-day, I'll
 make you remember the place, and day, and me too, for the rest of your
 life. GNATHO I pity you, who are making so great a man as this your enemy. CHREMES I'll break your head this instant if you are not off. GNATHO Do you really say so, puppy? Is it that you are at? THRASO to CHREMES. What fellow are you? What do you mean? What
 business have you with her? CHREMES I'll let you know: in the first place, I assert that she is a freeborn
 woman. THRASO starting. Ha! CHREMES A citizen of Attica . THRASO Whew! CHREMES My own sister. THRASO Brazen face! CHREMES Now, therefore, Captain, I give you warning; don't you use any violence
 toward her. Thais, I'm going to Sophrona, the nurse, that I may bring
 her here and show her these tokens. THRASO What! Are you to prevent me from touching what's my own? CHREMES I will prevent it, I tell you. GNATHO to THRASO. Do you hear him? He is convicting himself of
 theft. Is not that enough for you? THRASO Do you say the same, Thais? THAIS Go, find some one to answer you. She and CHREMES go away from the
 window. 
 THRASO to GNATHO. What are we to do now? GNATHO Why, go back again: she'll soon be with you, of her own accord, to
 entreat forgiveness. THRASO Do you think so? GNATHO Certainly, yes. I know the disposition of women: when you will, they
 won't; when you won't, they set their hearts upon you of their own
 inclination. THRASO You judge right. GNATHO Shall I dismiss the army then? THRASO Whenever you like. GNATHO Sanga, as befits gallant soldiers, 
 As befits gallant
 soldiers : Beaumont and Fletcher not improbably had this scene
 in view in their picture of the mob regiment in Philaster. The
 ragged regiment which Shakspeare places under the commend of
 Falstaff was not very unlike it, nor that which owned the valiant
 Bombastes Furioso as its Captain. take care in your turn to
 remember your homes and hearths. SANGA My thoughts have been for some time among the sauce-pans. GNATHO You are a worthy fellow. THRASO putting himself at their head. You follow me this way.
 (Exeunt omnes.) 
 Enter THAIS from her house, followed by PYTHIAS. THAIS What! do you persist, hussy, in talking ambiguously to me? "I do know;"
 "I don't know;" "he has gone off;" "I have heard;" "I wasn't there."
 Don't you mean to tell me plainly, whatever it is? The girl in tears,
 with her garments torn, is mute; the Eunuch is off: for what reason?
 What has happened? Won't you speak? PYTHIAS Wretch that I am, what am I to say to you? They declare that he was not
 a Eunuch. THAIS What was he then? PYTHIAS That Chaerea. THAIS What Chaerea? PYTHIAS That stripling, the brother of Phaedria. THAIS What's that you say, you hag? PYTHIAS And I am satisfied of it. THAIS Pray, what business had he at my house? What brought him there? PYTHIAS I don't know; unless, as I suppose, he was in love with Pamphila. THAIS Alas! to my confusion, unhappy woman that I am, I'm undone, if what you
 tell me is true. Is it about this that the girl is crying? PYTHIAS I believe so. THAIS How say you, you arch-jade? Did I not warn you about this very thing,
 when I was going away from here? PYTHIAS What could I do? Just as you ordered, she was intrusted to his care
 only. THAIS 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? PYTHIAS Hush! hush! mistress, pray; we are all right. Here we have the very
 man. THAIS Where is he? PYTHIAS Why there, to the left. Don't you see? THAIS I see. PYTHIAS Order him to be seized as quickly as possible. THAIS What can we do to him, simpleton? PYTHIAS What do to him, do you ask? Pray, do look at him; if his face doesn't
 seem an impudent one. THAIS Not at all. PYTHIAS Besides, what effrontery he has. Enter CHAEREA, in the EUNUCH'S dress, on the other side of the stage. CHAEREA to himself. At Antipho's, 
 At
 Antipho's : Madame Decier here observes that Chaerea
 assigns very natural reasons for not having changed his dress; in
 which the art of Terence is evident, since the sequel of the Play
 makes it absolutely necessary that Chaerea should appear again
 before Thais in the habit which he wore while in the house. 
 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? THAIS to PYTHIAS. Let's accost him. To CHAEREA. 
 Good Mister Dorus, welcome; tell me, have you been running away? CHAEREA Madam, I did so. THAIS Are you quite pleased with it? CHAEREA No. THAIS Do you fancy that you'll get off with impunity? CHAEREA Forgive this one fault; if I'm ever guilty of another, then kill me. THAIS Were you in fear of my severity? CHAEREA No. THAIS No? What then? CHAEREA pointing at PYTHIAS. I was afraid of her, lest she might
 be accusing me to you. THAIS What had you done? CHAEREA A mere trifle. PYTHIAS Come now, a trifle, you impudent fellow. Does this appear a trifle to
 you, to ravish a virgin, a citizen? CHAEREA I took her for my fellow-servant. PYTHIAS Fellow-servant? I can hardly restrain myself from flying at his hair. A
 miscreant! Even of his own free will he comes to make fun of us. THAIS to PYTHIAS. Won't you begone from here, you mad
 woman? PYTHIAS Why so? Really, I do believe I should be something in this hang-dog's
 debt, if I were to do so; especially as he owns that he is your
 servant. THAIS We'll pass that by. Chaerea, you have behaved unworthily of yourself;
 for if I am deserving in the highest degree of this affront, still it is
 unbecoming of you to be guilty of it. And, upon my faith, I do not know
 what method now to adopt about this girl: you have so confounded all my
 plans, that I can not possibly return her to her friends in such a
 manner as is befitting and as I had intended; in order that, by this
 means, I might, Chaerea, do a real service to myself. CHAEREA But now, from henceforth, I hope, Thais, that there will be lasting
 good-will between us. Many a time, from some affair of this kind and
 from a bad beginning, great friendships have sprung up. What if some
 Divinity has willed this? THAIS I'faith, for my own part I both take it in that view and wish to do
 so. CHAEREA Yes, prithee, do so. Be sure of this one thing, that I did not do it for
 the sake of affronting you, but in consequence of passion. THAIS I understand, and, i'faith, for that reason do I now the more readily
 forgive you. I am not, Chaerea, of a disposition so ungentle, or so
 inexperienced, as not to know what is the power of love. CHAEREA So may the Deities kindly bless me, Thais; I am now smitten with you as
 well. PYTHIAS Then, i'faith, mistress, I foresee you must have a care of him. CHAEREA I would not dare— PYTHIAS I won't trust you at all in any thing. THAIS to PYTHIAS. Do have done. CHAEREA Now I entreat you that you will be my assistant in this affair. I
 intrust and commit myself to your care; I take you, Thais, as my
 protectress; I implore you; I shall die if I don't have her for my
 wife. THAIS But if your father should say any thing— CHAEREA Oh, he'll consent, I'm quite sure of that, if she is only a citizen. THAIS If you will wait a little, the brother himself of the young woman will
 be here presently; he has gone to fetch the nurse, who brought her up
 when a little child; you yourself, shall be present Chaerea, at his
 recognition of her. CHAEREA I certainly will stay. THAIS In the mean time, until he comes, would you prefer that we should wait
 for him in the house, rather than here before the door? CHAEREA Why yes, I should like it much. PYTIH. to THAIS. Prithee, what are you going to do? THAIS Why, what's the matter? PYTHIAS Do you ask? Do you think of admitting him after this into your
 house? THAIS Why not? PYTHIAS Trust my word for it, he'll be creating some new disturbance. THAIS O dear, prithee, do hold your tongue. PYTHIAS You seem to me to be far from sensible of his assurance. CHAEREA I'll not do any thing, Pythias. PYTHIAS Upon my faith, I don't believe you, Chaerea, except in case you are not
 trusted. CHAEREA Nay but, Pythias, do you be my keeper. PYTHIAS Upon my faith, I would neither venture to give any thing to you to keep,
 nor to keep you myself: away with you! THAIS Most opportunely the brother himself is coming. CHAEREA I'faith, I'm undone. Prithee, let's be gone in-doors, Thais. I don't
 want him to see me in the street with this dress on. THAIS For what reason, pray? Because you are ashamed? CHAEREA Just so. PYTHIAS Just so? But the young woman— THAIS Go first; I'll follow. You stay here, Pythias, that you may show Chremes
 in. THAIS and CHAEREA go into the house. 
 Enter CHREMES and SOPHRONA. PYTHIAS to herself. Well! what now can suggest itself to my mind?
 What, I wonder, in order that I may repay the favor to that villain who
 palmed this fellow off upon us? CHREMES Really, do bestir yourself more quickly, nurse. SOPHRONA I am bestirring. CHREMES So I see; but you don't stir forward. PYTHIAS to CHREMES. Have you yet shown the tokens to the
 nurse? CHREMES All of them. PYTHIAS Prithee, what does she say? Does she recognize them? CHREMES Yes, with a full recollection of them. PYTHIAS Upon my faith, you do bring good news; for I really wish well to this
 young woman. Go in-doors: my mistress has been for some time expecting
 you at home. CHREMES and SOPHRONA go into THAIS'S house. 
 But look, yonder I espy that worthy fellow, Parmeno, coming: just see,
 for heaven's sake, how leisurely he moves along. I hope I have it in my
 power to torment him after my own fashion. I'll go in-doors, that I may
 know for certain about the discovery; afterward I'll come out, and give
 this villain a terrible fright. Goes into the house. 
 Enter PAIMENO. PARMENO to himself. I've just come back to see what Chaerea has
 been doing here. If he has managed the affair with dexterity, ye Gods,
 by our trust in you, how great and genuine applause will Parmeno obtain!
 For not to mention that a passion, full of difficulty and expense, with
 which he was smitten for a virgin, belonging to an extortionate
 courtesan, I've found means of satisfying for him, without molestation,
 without outlay, and without cost; then, this other point-that is really
 a thing that I consider my crowning merit, to have found out the way by
 which a young man may be enabled to learn the dispositions and manners
 of courtesans, so that by knowing them betimes, he may detest them ever
 after. PYTHIAS enters from the house unperceived. For
 while they are out of doors, nothing seems more cleanly, nothing more
 neat or more elegant; and when they dine with a gallant, they pick
 daintily about: 
 Pick daintily about : He seems here
 to reprehend the same practice against which Ovid warns his fair
 readers, in his Art of Love, B. iii. l. 75. He says, "Do not first
 take food at home," when about to go to an entertainment.
 Westerhovius seems to think that "ligurio" means, not to "pick
 daintily," but "to be fond of good eating;" and refers to the
 Bacchides of Plautus as portraying courtesans of the "ligurient"
 kind, and finds another specimen in Bacchis in: the
 Heautontimorumenos. to see the filth, the dirtiness, the
 neediness of these women; how sluttish they are when at home, and how
 greedy after victuals; in what a fashion they devour the black bread
 with yesterday's broth:—to know all this, is salvation to a young
 man.< Enter PYTHIAS from the house. 
 PYTHIAS apart, unseen by PARMENO. Upon my faith, you villain,
 I'll take vengeance upon you for these sayings and doings; so that you
 sha'n't make sport of us with impunity. Aloud, coming
 forward. O, by our trust in the Gods, what a disgraceful
 action! O hapless young man! O wicked Parmeno, to have brought him
 here! PARMENO What's the matter? PYTHIAS I do pity him; and so that I mightn't see it, wretched creature that I
 am, I hurried away out of doors. What a dreadful example they talk of
 making him! PARMENO O Jupiter! What is this tumult? Am I then undone? I'll accost her.
 What's all this, Pythias? What are you saying? An example made of
 whom? PYTHIAS Do you ask the question, you most audacious fellow? You've proved the
 ruin of the young man whom you brought hither for the Eunuch, while you
 were trying to put a trick upon us. PARMENO How so, or what has happened? Tell me. PYTHIAS I'll tell you: that young woman who was to-day made a present to Thais,
 are you aware that she is a citizen of this place, and that her brother
 is a person of very high rank? PARMENO I didn't know that. PYTHIAS But so she has been discovered to be; he, unfortunate youth, has
 ravished her. When the brother came to know of this being done, in a
 most towering rage, he— PARMENO Did what, pray? PYTHIAS First, bound him in a shocking manner. PARMENO Bound him? PYTHIAS And even though Thais entreated him that he wouldn't do so— PARMENO What is it you tell me? PYTHIAS Now he is threatening that he will also do that which is usually done to
 ravishers; a thing that I never saw done, nor wish to. PARMENO With what assurance does he dare perpetrate a crime so heinous? PYTHIAS How "so heinous?" PARMENO Is it not most heinous? Who ever saw any one taken up as a ravisher in a
 courtesan's house? PYTHIAS I don't know. PARMENO But that you mayn't be ignorant of this, Pythias, I tell you, and give
 you notice that he is my master's son. PYTHIAS How! Prithee, is it he? PARMENO Don't let Thais suffer any violence to be done to him. But why don't I
 go in myself? PYTHIAS Take care, Parmeno, what you are about, lest you both do him no good and
 come to harm yourself; for it is their notion, that whatever has
 happened, has originated in you. PARMENO What then, wretch that I am, shall I do, or how resolve? But look, I see
 the old gentleman returning from the country; shall I tell him or shall
 I not? By my troth, I will tell him; although I am certain that a heavy
 punishment is in readiness for me; but it's a matter of necessity, in
 order that he may rescue him. PYTHIAS You are wise. I'm going in-doors; do you relate to him every thing
 exactly as it happened. Goes into the house. 
 Enter LACHES. LACHES to himself. I have this advantage This advantage : Donatus here
 observes that the Poet introduces Laches, as he has Parmeno just
 before, in a state of perfect tranquillity, that their sudden change
 of feeling may be the more diverting to the Audience. from my
 country-house being so near at hand; no weariness, either of country or
 of town, ever takes possession of me; when satiety begins to come on, I
 change my locality. But is not that our Parmeno? Surely it is he. Whom
 are you waiting for, Parmeno, before the door here? PARMENO pretends not to see him. Who is it Turning
 round. Oh, I'm glad that you have returned safe. LACHES Whom are you waiting for? PARMENO aside. I'm undone: my tongue cleaves to my mouth through
 fright. LACHES Why, what is it you are trembling about? Is all quite right? Tell
 me. PARMENO Master, in the first place, I would have you persuaded of what is the
 fact; whatever has happened in this affair has happened through no fault
 of mine. LACHES What is it? PARMENO Really you have reason to ask. I ought first to have told you the
 circumstances. Phaedria purchased a certain Eunuch, to make a present of
 to this woman here. LACHES To what woman? PARMENO To Thais. LACHES Bought? Good heavens, I'm undone! For how much? PARMENO Twenty minae. LACHES Done for, quite. PARMENO Then, Chaerea is in love with a certain music-girl here. Pointing
 to THAIS'S house. 
 LACHES How! What? In love? Does he know already what a courtesan means? Is he
 come to town? One misfortune close upon another. PARMENO Master, don't look so at me; he didn't do these things by my
 encouragement. LACHES Leave off talking about yourself. If I live, you hang-dog, I'll— But
 first give me an account of it, whatever it is. PARMENO He was taken to the house of Thais in place of the Eunuch. LACHES In place of the Eunuch? PARMENO Such is the fact. They have since apprehended him in the house as a
 ravisher, and bound him. LACHES Death! PARMENO Mark the assurance of courtesans. >LACH. Is there any other calamity or misfortune besides, that you have not
 told me of? PARMENO That's all. LACHES Do I delay rushing in here? Runs into the house of
 THAIS. 
 PARMENO to himself. There's no doubt but that I shall have a
 heavy punishment for this affair, only that I was obliged to act thus.
 I'm glad of this, that some mischief will befall these women here
 through my agency, for the old man has, for a long time, been on the
 look-out for some occasion 
 For some occasion : We
 learn from Donatus that Menander was more explicit concerning the
 resentment of Laches against Thais, on account of her having
 corrupted Phaedria. to do them a bad turn; at last he has
 found it. Enter PYTHIAS from the house of THAIS, laughing. PYTHIAS to herself, on entering. Never, upon my faith, for a long
 time past, has any thing happened to me that I could have better liked
 to happen, than the old gentleman just now, full of his mistake, coming
 into our house. I had the joke all to myself, as I knew 
 As I knew : She enjoyed it the more, knowing that the
 old man had nothing to fear, as he had just heard the fiction which
 she had imparted to Parmeno. Donatus observes that the terror of
 Laches accounts for his sudden consent to the union of Chaerea with
 Pamphila; for though he could not settle the matter any other way
 with credit, he was glad to find that his son had made an unequal
 match rather than endangered his life. Colman, however, observes
 with considerable justice: "I think Chaerea apologizes still better
 for this arrangement in the Scene with Thais at the opening of this
 Act, where he says that he is confident of obtaining his father's
 consent, provided Pamphila proves to be a citizen; and, indeed, the
 match between them is rather a reparation of an injury done to her
 than a degradation of himself." what it was he feared. PARMENO apart. Why, what's all this? PYTHIAS Now I'm come out to meet with Parmeno. But, prithee, where is he?
 Looking around. 
 PARMENO apart. She's looking for me. PYTHIAS And there he is, I see; I'll go up to him. PARMENO What's the matter, simpleton? What do you mean? What are you laughing
 about? Still going on? PYTHIAS laughing. I'm dying; I'm wretchedly tired with laughing
 at you. PARMENO Why so? PYTHIAS Do you ask? Upon my faith, I never did see, nor shall see, a more silly
 fellow. Oh dear, I can not well express what amusement you've afforded
 in-doors. And still I formerly took you to be a clever and shrewd
 person. Why, was there any need for you instantly to believe what I told
 you? Or were you not content with the crime, which by your advice the
 young man had been guilty of, without betraying the poor fellow to his
 father as well? Why, what do you suppose his feelings must have been at
 the moment when his father saw him clothed in that dress? Well, do you
 now understand that you are done for? Laughing. 
 PARMENO Hah! what is it you say, you hussy? Have you been telling me lies? What,
 laughing still? Does it appear so delightful to you, you jade, to be
 making fools of us? PYTHIAS laughing. Very much so. PARMENO Yes, indeed, if you can do it with impunity. PYTHIAS Exactly so. PARMENO By heavens, I'll repay you! PYTHIAS I believe you; but, perhaps, that which you are threatening, Parmeno,
 will need a future day; you'll be trussed up directly, for rendering a
 silly young man remarkable for disgraceful conduct, and then betraying
 him to his father; they'll both be making an example of you.
 Laughing. 
 PARMENO I'm done for! PYTHIAS This reward has been found you in return for that present of
 yours; 
 In return for that present of
 yours : By the present she means Chaerea in the disguise
 of the Eunuch. I'm off. Goes into the
 house. 
 PARMENO to himself. Wretch that I am; just like a rat, this day
 I've come to destruction through betrayal of myself. 
 Through
 betrayal of myself : Which betrays itself by its own
 squeaking. 
 Enter THRASO and GNATHO. GNATHO to THRASO. Well now? With what hope, or what design, are
 we come hither? What do you intend to do, Thraso? THRASO What, I? To surrender myself to Thais, and do what she bids me. GNATHO What is it you say? THRASO Why any the less so, than Hercules served Omphale. 
 Hercules
 served Omphale : He alludes to the story of Omphale,
 Queen of Lydia , and
 Hercules . Being
 violently in love with her, the hero laid aside his club and boar's
 skin, and in the habit of a woman plied the spindle and distaff with
 her maids. See a curious story of Omphale, Hercules , and Faunus , in the Fasti of Ovid , B. ii. l. 305. As to the
 reappearance of Thraso here, Colman has the following remarks: "Thraso, says
 Donatus, is brought back again in order to be admitted to some share
 in the good graces of Thais, that he may not be made unhappy at the
 end of the Play; but surely it is an essential part of the poetical
 justice of Comedy to expose coxcombs to ridicule and to punish them,
 though without any shocking severity, for their follies." 
 GNATHO The precedent pleases me. Aside. I only wish I may see
 your head stroked down with a slipper; 
 With a
 slipper : He doubtless alludes to the treatment of
 Hercules by Omphale;
 and, according to Lucian ,
 there was a story that Omphale used to beat him with her slipper or
 sandal. On that article of dress, see the Notes to the Trinummus of
 Plautus, 1. 252. but her door makes a noise. THRASO Confusion! Why, what mischiefs this? I never saw this person before;
 why, I wonder, is he rushing out in such a hurry? They stand
 aside. 
 Enter CHAEREA from the house of THAIS, on the other side of the stage. CHAEREA to himself, aloud. O fellow-townsmen, is there any one
 alive more fortunate than me this day? Not any one, upon my faith: for
 clearly in me have the Gods manifested all their power, on whom, thus
 suddenly, so many blessings are bestowed. PARMENO apart. Why is he thus overjoyed? CHAEREA seeing PARMENO, and running up to him. O my dear Parmeno,
 the contriver, the beginner, the perfecter of all my delights, do you
 know what are my transports? Are you aware that my Pamphila has been
 discovered to be a citizen? PARMENO I have heard so. CHAEREA Do you know that she is betrothed to me? PARMENO So may the Gods bless me, happily done. GNATHO apart to THRASO. Do you hear what he says? CHAEREA And then, besides, I am delighted that my brother's mistress is secured
 to him; the family is united. Thais has committed herself to the
 patronage of my father; 
 To the patronage of my
 father : It was the custom at Athens for strangers, such as
 Thais was, to put themselves under the protection (in clientelam) of
 some wealthy citizen, who, as their patron, was bound to protect
 them against injury. An exactly parallel case to the present is
 found in the Miles Gloriosus of Plautus, 1. 799, where the wealthy
 Periplecomenus says, "Habeo, eccillam, meam clientam, meretricem
 adolescentulam." "Why, look, I have one, a dependent of mine, a
 courtesan, a very young woman." she has put herself under our
 care and protection. PARMENO Thais, then, is wholly your brother's. CHAEREA Of course. PARMENO Then this is another reason for us to rejoice, that the Captain will be
 beaten out of doors. CHAEREA Wherever my brother is, do you take care that he hears this as soon as
 possible. PARMENO I'll go look for him at home. Goes into the house of
 LACHES. 
 THRASO apart to GNATHO. Do you at all doubt, Gnatho, but that I
 am now ruined everlastingly? GNATHO to THRASO. Without doubt, I do think so. CHAEREA to himself. What am I to make mention of first, or
 commend in especial? Him who gave me the advice to do so, or myself, who
 ventured to undertake it? Or ought I to extol fortune, who has been my
 guide, and has so opportunely crowded into a single day events so
 numerous, so important; or my father's kindness and indulgence Oh
 Jupiter, I entreat you, do preserve these blessings unto us!
 Enter PHAEDRIA from the house of LACHES. 
 PHAEDRIA to himself. Ye Gods, by our trust in you, what incredible
 things has Parmeno just related to me! But where is my brother? CHAEREA stepping forward. Here he is. PHAEDRIA I'm overjoyed. CHAEREA I quite believe you. There is no one, brother, more worthy to be loved
 than this Thais of yours: so much is she a benefactress to all our
 family. PHAEDRIA Whew! are you commending her too to me? THRASO apart. I'm undone; the less the hope I have, the more I
 am in love. Prithee, Gnatho, my hope is in you. GNATHO apart. What do you wish me to do? THRASO apart. Bring this about, by entreaties or with money,
 that I may at least share Thais's favors in some degree. GNATHO apart. It's a hard task. THRASO apart. If you set your mind on any thing, I know you
 well. If you manage this, ask me for any present you like as your
 reward; you shall have what you ask. GNATHO apart. Is it so? THRASO apart. It shall be so. GNATHO apart. If I manage this, I ask that your house, whether
 you are present or absent, may be open to me; that, without invitation,
 there may always be a place for me. THRASO apart. I pledge my honor that it shall be so. GNATHO apart. I'll set about it then. PHAEDRIA Who is it I hear so close at hand? Turning round. O
 Thraso— THRASO coming forward. Save you both— PHAEDRIA Perhaps you are not aware what has taken place here. THRASO I am quite aware. PHAEDRIA Why, then, do I see you in this neighborhood? THRASO Depending on your kindness. PHAEDRIA Do you know what sort of dependence you have? Captain, I give you
 notice, if ever I catch you in this street again, even if you should say
 to me, "I was looking for another person, I was on my road this way,"
 you are undone. GNATHO Come, come, that's not handsome. PHAEDRIA I've said it. GNATHO I didn't know you gave yourself such airs. PHAEDRIA So it shall be. GNATHO First hear a few words from me; and when I have said the thing, if you
 approve of it, do it. PHAEDRIA Let's hear. GNATHO Do you step a little that way, Thraso. THRASO stands
 aside. In the firs place, I wish you both implicitly to
 believe me in this, that whatever I do in this matter, I do it entirely
 for my own sake; but if the same thing is of advantage to yourselves, it
 would be folly for you not to do it. PHAEDRIA What is it? GNATHO I'm of opinion that the Captain, your rival, should be received among
 you. PHAEDRIA starting. Hah! CHAEREA Be received? GNATHO to PHAEDRIA. Only consider. I'faith, Phaedria, at the
 free rate you are living with her, and indeed very freely you are
 living, you have but little to give; and it's necessary for Thais to
 receive a good deal. That all this may be supplied for your amour and
 not at your own expense, there is not an individual better suited or
 more fitted for your purpose than the Captain. In the first place, he
 both.has got enough to give, and no one does give more profusely. He is
 a fool, a dolt, a blockhead; night and day he snores away; and you need
 not fear that the lady will fall in love with him; you may easily have
 him discarded whenever you please. CHAEREA to PHAEDRIA. What shall we do? GNATHO And this besides, which I deem to be of even greater importance,—not a
 single person entertains in better style or more bountifully. CHAEREA It's a wonder if this sort of man can not be made use of in some way or
 other. PHAEDRIA I think so too. GNATHO You act properly. One thing I have still to beg of you,—that you'll
 receive me into your fraternity; I've been rolling that stone 
 Been rolling that stone : Donatus thinks that he alludes
 to the story of Sisyphus, who, in the Infernal Regions, was
 condemned eternally to roll a stone up a hill, which, on arriving at
 the summit, immediately fell to the bottom. for a
 considerable time past. PHAEDRIA We admit you. CHAEREA And with all my heart. GNATHO Then I, in return for this, Phaedria, and you, Chaerea, make him over to
 you Make him over to you)—Ver. 1086.. "Vobis
 propino." The word "propino" was properly applied to the act of
 tasting a cup of wine, and then handing it to another; he means that
 he has had his taste of the Captain, and is now ready to hand him
 over to them. to be eaten and drunk to the dregs. CHAEREA Agreed. PHAEDRIA He quite deserves it. He quite deserves it)—Ver
 1087. Cooke has the following appropriate remark: "I can not think
 that this Play, excellent as it is in almost all other respects,
 concludes consistently with the manners of gentlemen; there is a
 meanness in Phaedria and Chaerea consenting to take Thraso into
 their society, with a view of fleecing him, which the Poet should
 have avoided." 
 GNATHO calling to THRASO. Thraso, whenever you please, step this
 way. THRASO Prithee, how goes it? GNATHO How? Why, these people didn't know you; after I had discovered to them
 your qualities, and had praised you as your actions and your virtues
 deserved, I prevailed upon them. THRASO You have managed well; I give you my best thanks. Besides, I never was
 any where but what all were extremely fond of me. GNATHO to PHAEDRIA and CHAEREA. Didn't I tell you that he was a
 master of the Attic elegance? PHAEDRIA He is no other than you mentioned. Pointing to his FATHER'S
 house. Walk this way. To the AUDIENCE. Fare
 you well, and grant us your applause.