 | The Eunuch |  |
Scen. 1.
Enter Thraso, and Gnato.Thr.
Did Thais (saiest thou) giue me such great thanks?
Gna.
Huge thankes sir.
Thr.
And glad saist? ha?
Gna.
Not so much for the gifts worth, as that it came
From you: that's her hearts pride sir.
Enter Parmeno and keepe aloofe.
Par.
I come forth to see
How time serues for conueiance of my present.
But lo the souldier.
Thr.
My kinde destenie
Sure of a child bestow'd this gift vpon me,
That all I do becomes most acceptable.
Gna.
Truly I note so much.
Thr.
The King himselfe
Still vsed to giue me singular great thankes
For all I did; to other men not so.
Gna.
The man that hath braine in him doth deriue
Oft times the glorie earn'd by others sweate
Vpon himselfe: a thing that's rife in you.
Thr.
Thou hast it.
Gna.
Therefore the King
still wore you—
Thra.
I,
Gna.
In his eye.
Thra.
True: gaue the ouersight
Of all his forces, all his plots to me.
Gna.
Rare!
Thr.
Then, if wearinesse at any time
Of men, or tediousnesse of businesse
Possest him; when he minded to be priuate,
Would—as it were—thou feelst me?
Gna.
Yes when he would
Vnloade his minde—as twere—of care.
Thr.
Yes, then
He would retire with me alone to banquet.
Gna.
ô strange! you do describe a rare choise King.
Thr.
I, he's a man of very few mens stampe.
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Rather of none's if he conuerse with you.
Thra.
All men enuied me; closely snapt at me;
I thus regard'hem; all (I say) bare me ill:
But one most deadly, whom the King had made
Oreseer of his Indian Elephants.
He at a time being ouer sawsie with me,
What said I to him, take you boldnesse Strato,
Because you haue command ouer the beastes?
Gna.
So helpe me God, an exlent wittie iest:
Oh singular! this was a wipe vnto him.
Ah! and what he?
Thr.
Strooke dumbe.
Gna.
How could he chuse?
Par.
Your faith good gods! desperate fellow, caitife,
Churchrobber.
Thr.
I but what thinkst thou Gnato.
Of that same ieast, wherewith I girded once
A youth of Rhodes being at dinner with me?
Did I nere tell't thee?
Gna.
Neuer: I pray tell it.
I haue heard it told aboue a thousand times.
Thr.
This Rhodian I speake of, a raw young strippling
Sat once at banquet with me: when by chance
I had my harlot with me: This greene nouice
Began to speake broad: how now impudence,
Say I to him, art thou thy selfe hare-haunched
And hunt'st for ven'son.
Gna.
ha, ha, he.
Thra.
How ist?
Gna.
Conceited, clearely, smooth, not to be mended
For Gods loue was't your iest? I thought it old.
Thr.
Hast heard it?
Gna.
Oft, abroad it beares the bell
For a prime wittie one.
Thr.
Twas mine.
Gna.
Alas,
Rash headlesse youth.
Par.
Now the gods confound thee.
Gna.
For Gods sake what did he?
Thr.
Blasted. All there
Were readie euery man to burst with laughter:
And in conclusion all gan now feare me.
Gna.
I could not blame 'hem.
Thr.
But doost heare wert
Best I cleard my selfe to Thais, of this maid:
For that she stands in iealousie I loue her?
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At no hand: rather striue to increase her doubt.
Thr.
Why?
Gna.
Aske you? find you not, if any time
She do commend or mention Phædria,
How it does vex you?
Thr.
Yes.
Gna.
To preuent that
This is your onely remedie. When she
Names Phædria to you, do you presently
Name Pamphila: if she at any time
Say, let vs haue home Phædria to banquet,
Reply you, call in Pamphila to sing:
In fine, giue like for like, to nettle her
Thr.
I, if she lou'd me, this might further Gnato.
Gna.
Seing she expects and loues what you do giue her,
She long since loueth you; you haue long since
Easily got the starte how you may grieue her.
Sheel alwayes stand in aw, least any time
Vpon offence tane youl bestow elsewhere
That benefit, she now doos reape from you
Thr.
Tis right thou saist. Strange, 't came not to my
Minde?
Gna.
That is a ieast indeed; because you bent not
Your mind ont: or else Thraso what rare straine
Had it produc'd, if minted in your braine.
Enter Thais and Pythias her maid, with other wenches attending.
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