Act IV, Scene VIII

Enter THRASO, followed by GNATHO, SANGA, and other Attendants.

THRA. Am I to submit, Gnatho, to such a glaring affront as this being put upon me? I’d die sooner. Simalio, Donax, Syriscus, follow me! First, I’ll storm the house.

GNA. Quite right.

THRA. I’ll carry off the girl.

GNA. Very good.

THRA. I’ll give her own self a mauling.

GNA. Very proper.

THRA. (arranging the men.) Advance hither to the main body, Donax, with your crowbar; you, Simalio, to the left wing; you, Syriscus, to the right. Bring up the rest; where’s the centurion Sanga, and his maniple of rogues?

SAN. (coming forward.) See, here he is.

THRA. What, you booby, do you think of fighting with a dish-clout, to be bringing that here?

SAN. What, I? I knew the valor of the general, and the prowess of the soldiers; and that this could not possibly go on without bloodshed; how was I to wipe the wounds?

THRA. Where are the others?

SAN. Plague on you, what others? Sannio is the only one left on guard at home.

THRA. (to GNATHO.) Do you draw up your men in battle order; I’ll be behind the second rank; from that position I’ll give the word to all. (Takes his place behind the second rank.)

GNA. (aside.) That’s showing prudence; as soon as he has drawn them up, he secures a retreat for himself.

THRA. (pointing to the arrangements.) This is just the way Pyrrhus used to proceed.

CHREMES and THAIS appear above at a window.

CHREM. Do you see, Thais, what plan he is upon? Assuredly, that advice of mine about closing the door was good.

THAIS. He who now seems to you to be a hero, is in reality a mere vaporer; don’t be alarmed.

THRA. (to GNATHO.) What seems best to you?

GNA. I could very much like a sling to be given you just now, that you might pelt them from here on the sly at a distance; they would be taking to flight.

THRA. (to GNATHO.) But look (pointing), I see Thais there herself.

GNA. How soon are we to fall to?

THRA. Hold (holding him back); it behooves a prudent person to make trial of every thing before arms. How do you know but that she may do what I bid her without compulsion?

GNA. Ye Gods, by our trust in you, what a thing it is to be wise! I never come near you but what I go away from you the wiser.

THRA. Thais, in the first place, answer me this. When I presented you that girl, did you not say that you would give yourself up to me alone for some days to come?

THAIS. Well, what then?

THRA. Do you ask the question? You, who have been and brought your lover under my very eyes? What business had you with him? With him, too, you clandestinely betook yourself away from me.

THAIS. I chose to do so.

THRA. Then give me back Pamphila; unless you had rather she were taken away by force.

CHREM. Give her back to you, or you lay hands upon her? Of all the--

GNA. Ha! What are you about? Hold your tongue.

THRA. What do you mean? Am I not to touch my own?

CHREM. Your own, indeed, you gallows-bird!

GNA. (to CHREMES.) Have a care, if you please. You don’t know what kind of man you are abusing now.

CHREM. (to GNATHO.) Won’t you be off from here? Do you know how matters stand with you? If you cause any disturbance here to-day, I’ll make you remember the place, and day, and me too, for the rest of your life.

GNA. I pity you, who are making so great a man as this your enemy.

CHREM. I’ll break your head this instant if you are not off.

GNA. Do you really say so, puppy? Is it that you are at?

THRA. (to CHREMES.) What fellow are you? What do you mean? What business have you with her?

CHREM. I’ll let you know: in the first place, I assert that she is a freeborn woman.

THRA. (starting.) Ha!

CHREM. A citizen of Attica.

THRA. Whew!

CHREM. My own sister.

THRA. Brazen face!

CHREM. Now, therefore, Captain, I give you warning; don’t you use any violence toward her. Thais, I’m going to Sophrona, the nurse, that I may bring her here and show her these tokens.

THRA. What! Are you to prevent me from touching what’s my own?

CHREM. I will prevent it, I tell you.

GNA. (to THRASO.) Do you hear him? He is convicting himself of theft. Is not that enough for you?

THRA. Do you say the same, Thais?

THAIS. Go, find some one to answer you. (She and CHREMES go away from the window.)

THRA. (to GNATHO.) What are we to do now?

GNA. Why, go back again: she’ll soon be with you, of her own accord, to entreat forgiveness.

THRA. Do you think so?

GNA. Certainly, yes. I know the disposition of women: when you will, they won’t; when you won’t, they set their hearts upon you of their own inclination.

THRA. You judge right.

GNA. Shall I dismiss the army then?

THRA. Whenever you like.

GNA. Sanga, as befits gallant soldiers, take care in your turn to remember your homes and hearths.

SAN. My thoughts have been for some time among the sauce-pans.

GNA. You are a worthy fellow.

THRA. (putting himself at their head.) You follow me this way.

(Exeunt omnes.