The Eunuch: Act the First: Scene II

THAIS. Ah me! I fear lest Phaedria take offenseAnd think I meant it other than I did,That he was not admitted yesterday. (To herself, not seeing them.)PHAED. I tremble, Parmeno, and freeze with horror.

PAR. Be of good cheer! approach yon fire--she'll warm you.

THAIS. Who's there? my Phaedria? Why did you stand here?Why not directly enter?

PAR. Not one wordOf having shut him out!THAIS. Why don't you speak?

PHAED. Because, forsooth, these doors will always flyOpen to me, or that because I standThe first in your good graces. (Ironically.)

THAIS. Nay, no more!

PHAED. No more?--O Thais, Thais, would to HeavenOur loves were parallel, that things like theseMight torture you, as this has tortur'd me:Or that your actions were indifferent to me!

THAIS. Grieve not, I beg, my love, my Phaedria!Not that I lov'd another more, I did this.But I by circumstance was forc'd to do it.

PAR. So then, it seems, for very love, poor soul,You shut the door in 's teeth.

THAIS. Ah Parmeno!Is't thus you deal with me? Go to!--But hearWhy I did call you hither?THAIS. But tell me first, can yon slave hold his peace?

PAM. I? oh most faithfully: But hark ye, madam!On this condition do I bind my faith:The truths I hear, I will conceal; whate'erIs false, or vain, or feign'd, I'll publish it.I'm full of chinks, and run through here and there:So if you claim my secrecy, speak truth.

THAIS. My mother was a Samian, liv'd at Rhodes.

PAR. This sleeps in silence. (Archly.)

THAIS. There a certain merchantMade her a present of a little girl,Stol'n hence from Attica.

THAIS. I think so, but we can not tell for certain.Her father's and her mother's name she toldHerself; her country and the other marksOf her original, she neither knew,Nor, from her age, was 't possible she should.The merchant added further, that the pirates,Of whom he bought her, let him understand,She had been stol'n from Sunium. My motherGave her an education, brought her upIn all respects as she had been her own;And she in gen'ral was suppos'd my sister.I journeyed hither with the gentlemanTo whom alone I was connected then,The same who left me all I have.

PAR. Both theseAre false, and shall go forth at large.

PAR. Because nor you with one could be content,Nor he alone enrich'd you; for my masterMade good and large addition.

THAIS. I allow it,But let me hasten to the point I wish:Meantime the captain, who was then but youngIn his attachment to me, went to Caria.I, in his absence, was address'd by you;Since when, full well you know, how very dearI've held you, and have trusted you with allMy nearest counsels.

PHAED. And yet ParmenoWill not be silent even here.

PAR. Oh, Sir,Is that a doubt?

THAIS. Nay, prithee now, attend!My mother's lately dead at Rhodes: her brother,Too much intent on wealth, no sooner sawThis virgin, handsome, well-accomplish'd, skill'dIn music, than, spurr'd on by hopes of gain,In public market he expos'd and sold her.It so fell out, my soldier-spark was there,And bought her, all unknowing these events,To give to me: but soon as he return'd,And found how much I was attach'd to you,He feign'd excuses to keep back the girl;Pretending, were he thoroughly convinc'dThat I would still prefer him to yourself,Nor fear'd that when I had receiv'd the girl,I would abandon him, he'd give her to me;But that he doubted. For my part, I thinkHe is grown fond of her himself.

PHAED. Is thereAught more between them?

THAIS. No; for I've inquir'd,And now, my Phaedria, there are sundry causesWherefore I wish to win the virgin from him.First, for she's call'd my sister; and moreover,That I to her relations may restore her.I'm a lone woman, have nor friend, nor kin:Wherefore, my Phaedria, I would raise up friendsBy some good turn:--And you, I prithee now,Help me to do it. Let him some few daysBe my gallant in chief. What! no reply?

PHAED. Abandon'd woman! Can I aught replyTo deeds like these?

PAR. Oh excellent! well said!He feels at length; Now, master, you're a man.

PHAED. I saw your story's drift.--"A little girlStol'n hence--My mother brought her up--was call'dMy sister--I would fain obtain her from him,That I to her relations might restore her----"All this preamble comes at last to this.I am excluded, he's admitted. Why?But that you love him more than me, and fearLest this young captive win your hero from you.THAIS. Do I fear that?

PHAED. Why, prithee now, what else?Does he bring gifts alone? didst e'er perceiveMy bounty shut against you? Did I not,Because you told me you'd be glad to haveAn Ethiopian servant-maid, all elseOmitted, seek one out? You said besides,You wish'd to have an Eunuch, 'cause forsooth,They were for dames of quality; I found one:For both I yesterday paid twenty minae,Yet you contemn me--I forgot not these,And for these I'm despis'd.

THAIS. Why this, my Phaedria?Though I would fain obtain the girl, and thoughI think by these means it might well be done;Yet, rather than make you my enemy,I'll do as you command.

PHAED. Oh, had you saidThose words sincerely. "Rather than make youMy enemy!"--Oh, could I think those wordsCame from your heart, what is 't I'd not endure!PAR. Gone! conquer'd with one word! alas, how soon!

THAIS. Not speak sincerely? from my very soul?What did you ever ask, although in sport,But you obtain'd it of me? yet I can'tPrevail on you to grant but two short days.

PHAED. Well--for two days--so those two be not twenty.

PHAED. Or? no more.

THAIS. It shall not be: but you will grant me those.

PHAED. Your will must be a law.

THAIS. Thanks, my sweet Phaedria!

PHAED. I'll to the country: there consume myselfFor these two days: it must be so: we mustGive way to Thais. See you, Parmeno,The slaves brought hither.

PHAED. My Thais,For these two days farewell!

THAIS. Farewell, my Phaedria!Would you aught else with me?

PHAED. Aught else, my Thais?Be with yon soldier present, as if absent:All night and day love me: still long for me:Dream, ponder still of me; wish, hope for me:Delight in me; be all in all with me;Give your whole heart, for mine's all yours, to me. (Exeunt.

HarperThe truths I hear, I will conceal; whate'erIs false, or vain, or feign'd, I'll publish it.Colman 1768The truths I hear, I will conceal; but falsehood,

HarperPAR. Both theseAre false, and shall go forth at large.Colman 1768PAR. These articlesAre both rank falsehoods, and shall out.

PHAED. I saw your story's drift.--"A little girl ...That I to her relations might restore her----"