Publii Terentii Carthaginiensis Afris poëtae lepidissimi comoediae sex Anglo-Latinae in usum ludi-discipulorum, quo Feliciùs venustatem linguae Latinae ad sermonem quotidianum exercendum assequantur / a Carolo Hoole ... = Six comedies of that excellent poet Publius Terentius, an African of Carthage, in English and Latine : for the use of young scholars, that they may the more readily attain the purity of the Latine tongue for common discourse / by Charles Hoole ...

Act II. Scen. 3.

Chaerea, Parmeno.

Ch.

I Am undone, the maid is nowhere to be found; and I am lost too, that lost her Out of my sight. Where should I seek her? where should I look after her? whom should I ask for her? What way should I tak? I am uncertain: yet this is my onely hope, Whereever she is, she cannot be long concealed. O beautifull face! I will [line 5] From henceforward blot out all other women out of my mind; I am weary of These common ordinary beauties.

Par.

But look you where the other brother is, He talks something of love.

Ch.

O this unfortunate old man!

Par.

This is he indeed, Who if he begin to love, you will say his other brother was but a sport and a iest, In comparison of these things which his mad fit will afford.

Ch.

I wish [line 10] Some mischief had befallen thot old man that stayed me to day; And me too, because I stood still, and did not set him light. But look where Parmeno is, God save you.

Par.

Why are you so sad? why are you not merry? whence come you?

Ch.

Truly I do not know either whence I come, nor whither I go, I have so utterly [line 15] Forgotten my self.

Par.

How, I pray you?

Ch.

I am in love.

Par.

How now?

Ch.

Now, Parmeno, Shew your self what an honest man you are; you know you often promised me, saying, Chaerea, Do but find out one that you can love, and I will let you know how far I am able to pleasure you in that matter; when I give thee all my Fa∣thers provision Into thy cock-loft privately.

Par.

Go on, you fool.

Ch.

Truly this was done: [line 20] See that you perform your promise.

Par.

If so be the thing Be worthy that one should bestow pains about it.

Ch.

The maid is not like

Our ordinary Lasses, whom the mothers strive that they may have their shoulders Down, and have their bodies laced, that they may be slender. If so be One be a little grosser, they say she is a Champion, they abridge them of their diet; [line 25] Although their nature be good, yet by their looking to they make them as small as bulrushes, and therefore they are loved.

Par.

What a one was thine?

Ch.

Such a feature of a face is seldome seen.

P.

Wh••o.

Ch.

Her Colour is natural, her bodie is sound, and full of good blood.

P.

Of what yeers is she?

Ch.

Sixteen▪

P.

The very prime of her age.

Ch.

See thou procure me her, either by force, or by privie stealth, or by love for a while. It makes no matter to me, so I may but have her.

P.

What whose maid is she?

Ch.

[line 30] Truly, I cannot tell.

Par.

Whence is she?

Ch.

I can tell you just as much.

Par.

Where dwelleth she?

Ch.

I cannot tell that neither. Where lost you her?

Ch.

In the way.

Par.

How Came you to lose her?

Ch.

Truly as I came I was now angry at my self for that, Neither do I think there is any man to whom all good fortunes. Fall out more▪ cross.

Par.

What villany is this?

Ch.

I am undone.

Par.

What is done?

Ch.

[line 35] Do you ask? Do you not know Archimedes a kinsman of my fa∣and of his age? Why should I not?

Ch.

He, as I was following the maid, met me. Truly it was inconveniently.

Ch.

Nay indeed unluckily, for other things may be accounted incon∣veniences. I may safely swear I had not seen him at all these six or seven months Last post, but just now, when I had least mind to see him, and when I h•••• no need. [line 40] Why, is not this a very strange thing? What say you?

P.

Yes.

Ch.

He presently came running to me, a great way off, being crooked, ••rembling, with his lips hanging down, groaning; Ho, h••, I speak to you? Chaerea, saith he, I stood still. Wot you what I would have with you? Tell me; To morrow

I must have a trial. What then? I would have you be sure to tell your father, that be may Remember to be of my counsel betimes in the morning. He was an hour telling this, [line 45] I asked him if he would have any thing else? He said, nothing at all, I go my way; When I looked this way towards the maid, she fairly had turned in the mean while Into this street of ours.

P.

It is a wonder if he do not speak of this maid which Was given erewhile for a present to Thais.

Ch.

When I came hither, here was no maid;

P.

Did any company follow the maid?

Ch.

Yes, a Parasite [line 50] With a servant maid.

P.

It is even she. Say no more; the matter is now at a point.

Ch.

You minde other things.

P.

Truly I minde this.

Ch.

Do you know who she is? tell me, Or have you seen her?

P.

I have seen her, and know her.

Ch.

And wot you where she is?

P.

Shee is brought hither to Thais the whore, and is given her for a present.

Ch.

Who [line 55] Is he that is such an able man with so great a present?

P.

Thraso the souldier, Phaedria's corrival.

Ch.

You tell me my brother hath a hard game to play.

P.

Yes, Indeed if you knew but what a gift he hath provided on the other side to match with this, Then you would say so the rather.

Ch.

What I pray you, in good sooth?

P.

An Eunuch.

Ch.

That Ill-favoured fellow I pray you, whom he bought yesterday, that old man, [line 60] That is more like a woman then a man?

P.

That very same.

Ch.

Certainly the man will be Thrust out of doors with his gift. But I did not know that that Thais was our neighbour.

P.

She hath not been long so.

Ch.

I am undone. That I should never have seen her yet. Come tell me, is she as handsome as she is reported to be?

P.

Yes.

Ch.

But Shee is not to be compared to this of mine.

P.

That is another matter.

Ch.

I pray thee in earnest [line 65]

Parmeno, see to it, that may obtain her.

Par.

I will do the best I can, and will do my endeavour, I will help you; would you have me do more?

Ch.

Why do you go home now?

Par.

That I may bring these slaves to Thais, so as your brother bade me.

Ch.

O that happy Eunuch, that is to be bestowed into this house!

Par.

Why so?

Ch.

Do you ask? He shall alwayet behold his fellow∣servant at home [line 70] Of a perfect beauty: he shall discourse with her; he shall be with her In one house; he shall sometimes take his victuals with her; he shall sometimes Sleep by her side.

Par.

What if you your self now should be made the happy man?

Ch.

How, Parmeno? answer me.

Par.

You moy take his clothes.

Ch.

His clothes? What then must I do afterwards?

Par.

I will bring you in his stead.

Ch.

I hear you.

Par.

[line 75] I will say that you are he.

Ch.

I understand you.

Par.

You may enjoy those commodities Which you said erewhile he was like to enjoy. You may diet with her, you may by her touch her, Dally with her, and sleep by her side: forasmuch as none of them Knoweth you, nor can they tell who you are. Besides your counte∣nance and age is such, As you may easily prove your self to be the Eunuch.

Ch.

You have said well, I never knew [line 80] Better counsel to be given. Come on, let us go in, dress me just now, bring me to her As fast as you can.

Par.

What do you mean? truly I did but jest.

Ch.

You prate.

Par.

I am undone: what have I done poor wretch? whether do you thrust me? you will throw me over by and by. Truly I read you, tarry.

Ch.

Let us go.

Par.

Do you go on.

Ch.

I am resolved.

Par.

Have a care this be not too rash a resolution now.

Ch.

Truly it is not: Let me do it.

Par.

[line 85] But the punishment will light upon me. Alas! we com∣mit a villanous act.

Ch.

Is it

A villanous act, i•• I be brought into a bawdy-house, and now come even with Those whores, which contemn our young years, and continually tor∣ment us every way, And beguile them so as they have beguiled us; Or rather, is it fit I should put up these things? It is but just that I should [line 90] Play them a trick; which will they that know it ••nd fault withal? Every body will think it was well done.

Par.

What is that; if you be resolved to do it, do it. But do not lay the blame on me afterwards.

Ch.

I will not▪

Par.

Do you bid me do it?

Ch.

I bid you; noy, I charge and command you.

Par.

I will never resist Your authority. Follow me.

Ch.

God speed us well.