Perde 5
[Textpart 2]
Most opportunely the brother himself is coming.
CHAEREA
I’faith, I’m undone. Prithee,
let’s be gone in-doors, Thais. I don’t want him to see me in the street with this dress on.
905
THAIS
For what reason, pray? Because you are ashamed?
PYTHIAS
Just so? But the young woman—
THAIS
Go first; I’ll follow. You stay here, Pythias, that you may show Chremes in.
[Textpart 3]
Well! what now can suggest itself to my mind?
PYTHIAS
What, I wonder, in order that I may repay the favor to that villain who palmed this fellow off upon us?
910
CHREMES
Really, do bestir yourself more quickly, nurse.
SOPHRONA
I am bestirring.
CHREMES
So I see; but you don’t stir forward.
PYTHIAS
Have you yet shown the tokens to the nurse?
PYTHIAS
Prithee, what does she say? Does she recognize them?
CHREMES
Yes, with a full recollection of them.
PYTHIAS
Upon my faith, you do bring good news; for I really wish well to this young woman. Go in-doors: my mistress has been for some time expecting you at home. (CHREMES and SOPHRONA go into THAIS’s house.) But look, yonder I espy that worthy fellow, Parmeno, coming: just see, for heaven’s sake, how leisurely he moves along. I hope I have it in my power to torment him after my own fashion.
915
I’ll go in-doors, that I may know for certain about the discovery; afterward I’ll come out, and give this villain a terrible fright.
920
[Textpart 4]
I’ve just come back to see what Chaerea has been doing here. If he has managed the affair with dexterity, ye Gods, by our trust in you, how great and genuine applause will Parmeno obtain!
PARMENO
For not to mention that a passion, full of difficulty and expense, with which he was smitten for a virgin, belonging to an extortionate courtesan, I’ve found means of satisfying for him, without molestation, without outlay, and without cost; then, this other point—that is really a thing that I consider my crowning merit,
925
