Perde 1
[Textpart 2]
Though slighted by you, I still kept these things in mind; as a reward for so doing, I am despised by you.
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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.
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PARMENO
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.
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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.
185
PHAEDRIA
Of course that which you desire must be done.
185
THAIS
I love you as you deserve; you act obligingly.
PHAEDRIA
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.
PHAEDRIA
For the next two days then, Thais, adieu.
190
THAIS
And the same to you, my Phaedria; do you desire aught else?
190
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.
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THAIS
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;
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