 | The Eunuch |  |
Scen. 5.
Chæ.Is none about the doores? Not one. Doos none
Come yet behind me neither? No not one.
May I not now at pleasure vent my ioy?
Oh Iupiter! now truly is the time
I easilie could brooke to part with life:
Least some insuing wretchednesse thereof
Should hap to soure my present happinesse.
No curious inquisitor now meete me?
That vp and downe would hant me, wearie me,
Kill me with tedious questions, why I skippe thus?
Why am so iocund? Whither I am going?
Or whence do come? in what place got these clothes?
What is my ayme? whither Ime mad or sober?
Ant.
Ile to him, and obtaine the thankes of him
He so desires to part with. Chærea,
Why in such rapture man! whence this attire?
Why art so pleasant? or what aymst thou at?
Art in thy wits? Why starest thou so vpon me?
Why speak'st not?
Chæ.
Oh happie day? ô friend well met.
There's no man liuing, I would rather see
At this time then thy selfe.
Ant.
I prithee, say
What is the matter!
Chæ.
Nay truly I pray thee
Giue me the hearing. Know'st thou not her here
My brother is in loue withall?
Ant.
Yes Thais:
As I do guesse.
Chæ.
The same.
Ant.
So I remember.
Chæ.
A certaine maid was giuen her to day.
What need I blazon or set out to thee
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Thou knowest me choise in such disciphering.
She did inflame my heart.
Ant.
What saist?
Chæ.
thou'lt say
She from the whole sex beares the Bell away,
If euer thou shalt see her. What neede words?
I gan to loue her: by good chance there was
At home an Eunuch which my brother had
bought for this Thais, not then sent to her.
Here our man Parmeno an odde inckling gaue me
Of a deuice, which quickly I laid hold on.
Ant.
What
Chæ.
If you would silent keepe, you would
Know sooner.
First to change cloathes with him, then cause my selfe
To be conueyed for him.
Ant.
What for the Eunuch?
Chæ.
Yes.
Ant.
What aduantage shold you winne thereby?
Chæ.
Mak'st thou a question? I should see, should heare,
Should be with her I loued, Antipho.
Was it a slight cause, or a trifling reason?
I was brought to her; when she had receiued me
She gladly led me home: commits the maid—
Ant.
To whom? To thee?
Chæ.
To me.
Ant.
a sure safeguard.
Chæ.
She chargeth me that no man come to her;
Commands me further, I not start from her;
But that alone I keepe with her alone,
In a close chamber: I say, yes forsooth;
Vpon the ground looking demurely:
Ant.
Caitise.
Chæ.
I am to go now foorth (saies she) to banquet
And with her leades along her maiden seruants,
(A few young nouice wenches left behind
To attend vpon the maid) these presently
Prepare for her to Bathe. I wish them haste
While they make things in readinesse, the maid
Sits in a closet, looking on a table:
Wherein was painted, how that Iupiter
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I look'd vpon the piece too: and because
He had in former times plaid the like pranke,
My spirits were the more incouraged:
In that a God had taken human shape,
And in gold dew dropping himselfe through tiles
Had closely, finely, wantond with his lemman
And which o'th' Gods had done't? marie the same
Who shakes with thunder heauens high arched frame
Should I wormeling (then) make scruple of it?
I did not, but imbrac'd it willingly.
When this I cast in mind, the maid meane while
Is cal'd for in, to wash: goes, bathes, returnes;
And afterward they lay her in her bed:
I waiting stand if they'ld bid me do ought.
One comes to me, and sayes, you sirra Dorus
Take you this fanne; and thus fanne wind vpon her:
When we haue washt, you (if you will) wash too.
I take it with sad countenance.
Ant.
At that time
I would ha' seene that bashfull face of thine
How thou great Asse didst stand holding a fanne.
Chæ.
She had scarse spoken it, when all together
Hurring out of the roome, depart to Bathe;
And make such noise, as seruants commonly
Are wont to do, when Masters are from home.
Meane while a slumber seases on the maide.
I priuily (thus) on the fannes side do leere,
And looke about too, if all else be cleare:
I saw all safe, and bolted fast the doore.
Ant.
What then?
Chæ.
What then foole?
Ant.
I confesse it.
Chæ.
Should I let slippe such opportunitie,
So profferd, short, wish'd and not hoped for?
I had beene then indeed such as I shewd for.
Ant.
Tis true thou sayest. But in the meane while what's done
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Chæ.
why all is readie.
Ant.
Thou art carefull: where? at your house?
Chæ.
No at Discus
Our free-mans.
Ant.
Tis farre hence, let's make more haste
Go shift your cloathes.
Chæ.
Where should I go to shift?
Ime lost; from whom I stand as banished;
I doubt my brother may be now within:
Feare also, least my father be returnd
Out of the countrey.
Ant.
Go we to our house,
That's the next place, where you may shift your selfe:
Chæ.
The aduise is good, lets go: withall I minde
To take thy counsell, how I may my loue
Further enioy.
Ant.
Content, our wits will prooue.
Exeunt Chæ. and Antipho.
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