Perde 2
[Textpart 3]
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,
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and are you aware where she is?
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PARMENO
She has been brought here (pointing) to the house of Thais the Courtesan.Thais the Courtesan. 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?
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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.
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CHAEREA
What! that unsightly creature, pray, that he purchased yesterday, an old woman?
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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. 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 has 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.
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CHAEREA
But nothing in comparison with this damsel of mine?
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PARMENO
Another thing altogether.
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