 | The Eunuch |  |
SCENE VII.
Enter PYTHIAS, PARMENO at a distance.Pyth.
Well! I was ne'er more pleas'd in all my life,
Than when I saw th'old man come blund'ring in.
I had the jest alone; for I alone
Knew what he was afraid of.
Par.
Hey! what now?
Pyth.
I'm now come forth t'encounter Parmeno.
Where is he?
She seeks me.
Pyth.
Oh, there he is.
I'll go up to him.
Par.
Well, fool, what's the matter?
[Pythias laughs.
What wou'd you? what d'ye laugh at? Hey! what still?
Pyth.
Oh, I shall die: I'm horribly fatigu'd
With laughing at you.
[laughing heartily.
Par.
Why so? pray!
Pyth.
Why so?
[laughing.
I ne'er saw, ne'er shall see, a greater fool.
Oh, it's impossible to tell, what sport
You've made within.—I swear, I always thought
That you had been a shrewd, sharp, cunning fellow.
What! to believe directly what I told you!
Or was you prick'd in conscience for the sin
The young man had committed thro' your means,
How d'ye suppose he felt, when old Grey-beard
Surpriz'd him in that habit?—What! you find
That you're undone.
[laughing heartily.
Par.
What's this, Impertinence?
Was it a lie, you told me? D'ye laugh still?
Is't such a jest to make fools of us, hag?
Pyth.
Delightful!
[laughing.
Par.
If you don't pay dearly for it!—
Pyth.
Perhaps so.
[laughing.
Par.
I'll return it.
Pyth.
Oh, no doubt on't.
[laughing.
But what you threaten Parmeno, is distant:
You'll be truss'd up to-day; who first draw in
A raw young lad to sin, and then betray him.
They'll both conspire to make you an example.
[laughing.
Par.
I'm done for.
Pyth.
Take this, slave as a reward
For the fine gift you sent us; so, farewell!
[Exit Pythias.
Par.
I've been a fool indeed; and like a rat,
Betray'd myself to-day by my own squeaking.
There is a great error, in regard to the Unity of Time, in Terence's Eunuch, when Laches, the old Man, enters by mistake into the house of Thais, where betwixt his Exit and the Entrance of Pythias, who comes to give ample relation of the disorders he has raised within, Parmeno, who was left upon the stage, has not above five lines to speak. C'est bien employer un temps si court.
Dryden's Essay of Dramatick Poesie.Besides the absurdity here taken notice of by Dryden, in regard to Time, there is also another inconvenience, in the present instance, arising from too strict an adherence to the Unity of Place. What a figure would this narration of Pythias have made, if thrown into action! The circumstances are in themselves as truly comick as those of any scene in this excellent play; and it would be well worth while to follow Laches into the house, to be present at the ridiculous distress and confusion which his presence must occasion.
There is however, much more to be commended, and even imitated, than censured in the construction of this last act. All that passes between Pythias, Parmeno, and Laches, is truly admirable.
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