SCENE II.

Enter Chærea.

Chær. At Antipho’s, as if for spite, there were

His father and his mother both at home,

So that I could by no means enter, but

They must have seen me. Meanwhile, as I stood

Before the door, came by an old acquaintance,

At sight of whom I flew, with all my speed,

Into a narrow, unfrequented alley;

And thence into another, and another,

Frighten’d and flurried as I scampered on,

Lest any one should know me in this habit.

But is that Thais? She. I’m all aground.

Lest any one should know me.—But is that

Thais? ’Tis she herself. I’m all aground.

What shall I do?—Pshaw! what have I to care?

What can she do to me?

Thais. Let’s up to him.

Oh, Dorus! good Sir, welcome!—And so, Sirrah,

You ran away.

Chær. Yes, madam!

Thais. And you think

It was a clever trick, I warrant you?

Chær. No, madam!

Thais. Can you believe that you shall go unpunish’d?

Thais. And you think

It was a clever trick?

Chær. No, madam!

Thais. Can you

Believe that you shall go unpunish’d for it?

Chær. Forgive me this one fault! If I commit

Another, kill me!

Thais. Do you dread my cruelty?

Chær. No, ma’am!

Thais. What then?

Chær. I was afraid, lest She

Accuse me to you. (Pointing to Pythias.)

Thais. Of what crime?

Thais. Upon what account?

Chær. A little matter.

Pyth. Rogue! a little matter?

Is it so little, think you, to abuse

A virgin, and a citizen!

Chær. I thought

She was my fellow-servant.

Pyth. Fellow-servant!

I can scarce hold from flying at his hair.

Monstrous! he’s come to make his sport of us.

Thais. Away! you rave.

Pyth. Not I. If I had done ’t,

Pyth. Why so? if I had done ’t,

I should have still been in the monster’s debt;

Particularly, as he owns himself

Your servant.

Thais. Well—no more of this.—Oh, Chærea,

You’ve done a deed unworthy of yourself:

For granting I, perhaps, might well deserve

This injury, it was not honorable

In you to do it.—As I live, I know not

What counsel to pursue about this girl;

You’ve so destroy’d my measures, that I can’t

Restore her, without blushing to her friends,

Nor so deliver her, as I propos’d,

To make them thank me for my kindness, Chærea!

Chær. Henceforth, I hope, eternal peace shall be

Betwixt us, Thais! Oft from things like these,

And bad beginnings, warmest friendships rise.

What if some God hath order’d this?

Thais. Indeed,

I’ll so interpret it, and wish it so.

Chær. I prithee do!—and be assured of this,

That naught I did in scorn, but all in love.

Thais. I do believe it; and, on that account,

More readily forgive you: for oh! Chærea,

I am not form’d of an ungentle nature,

Nor am I now to learn the pow’r of love.

Chær. Now, Thais, by my life, I love thee too.

Pyth. Then, by my troth, you must take care of him.

Chær. I durst not——

Pyth. I don’t mind a word you say.

Thais. Have done!

Chær. But now, in this one circumstance,

Let me beseech you to assist me, Thais!

I trust myself entirely to your care:

Let me beseech you to assist me! I

Commit myself entirely to your care:

Invoke you, as my patroness; implore you.

Perdition seize me, but I’ll marry her!

Thais. But if your father——

Chær. What of him? I know

He’ll soon consent, provided it appears

That she’s a citizen.

Thais. If you will wait

A little while, her brother will be here:

He’s gone to fetch the nurse that brought her up;

And you shall witness the discovery.

Chær. I will remain then.

Thais. But, in the mean time,

Had you not rather wait within, than here

Before the door?

Chær. Much rather.

Pyth. What the plague

Are you about?

Thais. What now?

Pyth. What now, indeed?

Will you let him within your doors again?

Thais. Why not?

Pyth. Remember that I prophesy,

He’ll make some fresh disturbance.

Thais. Prithee, peace!

Pyth. It seems, you have not had sufficient proof

Of his assurance.

Chær. I’ll do no harm, Pythias!

Pyth. I’ll not believe it, till I see it, Chærea.

Pyth. I’ll not believe it, Chærea, till I see it.

Chær. But you shall keep me, Pythias!

Pyth. No, not I.

For, by my troth, I would trust nothing with you,

Neither to keep, nor be kept by you.—Hence!

Away!

Thais. Oh brave! the brother’s here! (Looking out.)

Chær. Confusion!

Let’s in, dear Thais! I’d not have him see me

Here in this dress.

Thais. Why so? Are you asham’d?

Chær. I am indeed.

Pyth. Indeed! asham’d! oh dear!

Think of the girl!

Thais. Go in! I’ll follow you.

Pythias, do you stay here to bring in Chremes.

Exeunt Thais and Chærea.