The Comedies of Terence Part 27

PAR. I'll carry you for him.

CHaeR. I hear you.

PAR. I will say that you are he.

CHaeR. I understand you.

PAR. So shall you enjoy Those blessings which but now you envied him: Eat with her, be with her, touch, toy with her, And sleep by her: since none of Thais' maids Know you, or dream of what you are. Besides, Your figure, and your age are such, that you May well pa.s.s for an Eunuch.

CHaeR. Oh, well said!

I ne'er heard better counsel. Come, let's in?

Dress me, and carry me! Away, make haste!

PAR. What are you at? I did but jest.

CHaeR. You trifle.

PAR. I'm ruin'd: fool, what have I done? Nay, whither D'ye push me thus? You'll throw me down. Nay, stay!

CHaeR. Away.

PAR. Nay, prithee!

CHaeR. I'm resolv'd.

PAR. Consider; You carry this too far.

CHaeR. No, not at all.

Give way!

PAR. And Parmeno must pay for all.

Ah, we do wrong!

CHaeR. Is it then wrong for me To be convey'd into a house of harlots, And turn those very arts on them, with which They hamper us, and turn our youth to scorn?

Can it be wrong for me too, in my turn, To deceive them, by whom we're all deceiv'd?

No, rather let it be! 'tis just to play This trick upon them: which, if gray-beards know, They'll blame indeed, but all will think well done.

PAR. Well, if you must, you must; but do not then, After all's over, throw the blame on me.

CHaeR. No, no!

PAR. But do you order me?

CHaeR. I do: Order, command, force.

PAR. Oh, I'll not dispute Your pow'r. So, follow me.

CHaeR. Heav'n speed the plow.

[Changes:

SCENE III.

_Labeled SCENE IV in 1768 edition._

You know you've often told me; "Chaerea, ...

And mark how I will serve you!" ...

_Quotation marks supplied from 1768 edition_

_Harper_ CHaeR. Oh most unhappily! for other ills May be told, Parmeno!--I could swear too _Colman 1768_ CHaeR. Oh most unhappily! for lighter ills May pa.s.s for inconvenient, Parmeno.

Nay, I could swear, with a safe conscience too

He hobbled up to me.--"Holo! ho! Chaerea!"---- _All quotation marks in this speech supplied from 1768 edition_

_Harper_ CHaeR. Soon as I Came hither, she was out of sight.

PAR. Had she Any attendants?

_Colman 1768_ CHaeR. When I reach'd This place, the girl was vanish'd.

PAR. Had your lady Any attendants?

_Harper_ He and his gift together--I ne'er knew Till now that Thais was our neighbor.

PAR. She Has not been long so.

_Colman 1768_ He and his gift together--But till now I never knew this Thais was our neighbour.

PAR. She came but lately.

PAR. Yes, faith.

_Harper edition has question mark_

_Harper_ His fellow-servant, see her, speak with her, Be with her in the same house all day long, And sometimes eat, and sometimes sleep by her.

_Colman 1768_ His fellow-servant, see her all day long, Converse with her, dwell under the same roof, And sometimes eat, and sometimes sleep by her.

_Harper_ Order, command, force.

PAR. Oh, I'll not dispute Your pow'r. So, follow me.

CHaeR. Heav'n speed the plow.

_Colman 1768_ Order, command, compel you; nor will e'er Deny, or disavow my putting-on.

PAR. Come on then: follow me!

CHaeR. Heav'n grant success!]

ACT THE THIRD.

SCENE I.

_Enter THRASO and GNATHO._

THRASO. And Thais then returns me many thanks?

GNAT. Ten thousand.