Pam. And I'm to marry her immediately.

Char. Is this man talking in his sleep, and dreams.

On what he wishes waking?

Pam. And moreover,

For the child, Davus

Davus. Ah, sir, say no more.

You're th' only favourite of the gods.

Char. I'm made,

If this be true. I'll speak to them.

Pam. Who's there?

Charinus! oh, well met.

Char. I give you joy.

Pam. You've heard then—

[listening.

Char. Ev'ry word: and prithee now,

[comes forward.

In your good fortune, think upon your friend,
Chremes is now your own; and will perform
Whatever you shall ask.

Pam. I shall remember.

"Twere tedious to expect his coming forth : Along with me then to Glycerium!

Davus, do you go home, and hasten them

To fetch her hence.

Away, away!

Davus. I go.

[Exeunt Pam. and Char.

[Davus addressing the Audience.

Wait not till they come forth: Within

She'll be betroth'd; within, if aught remains

Undone, 'twill be concluded.-Clap your hands! **

THE

THE

EUNUCH.'

ACTED AT THE MEGALESIAN GAMES,

L. Postumius Albinus and L. Cornelius Merula, Curule-Ediles: principal actors, L. Ambivius Turpio and L. Attilius Prænestinus: the musick, composed for two right-handed flutes, by Flaccus, freedman to Claudius. It is from the Greek of Menander. acted twice 2, M. Valerius3, and C. Fannius, Consuls. It was

To please the candid, give offence to none,
This, says the Poet, ever was his care:

"Yet if there's one, who thinks he's hardly censur'd,

Let him remember he was the aggressor:

He, who translating many, but not well,

On good Greek fables fram'd poor Latin plays;
He, who but lately to the publick gave

"The Phantom' of Menander; he, who made,

7 In the Thesaurus,' the Defendant plead
And vouch the question'd treasure to be his,
Before the Plaintiff his own title shews,
Or whence it came into his father's tomb.

Henceforward, let him not deceive himself,
Or cry, "I'm safe, he can say nought of me."
I charge him that he err not, and forbear

To urge me farther; for I've more, much more, Which now shall be o'erlook'd; but shall be known,

If he pursue his slanders, as before.

Soon as this Play, the Eunuch' of Menander, Which we are now preparing to perform, Was purchas'd by the Ædiles, he obtain'd Leave to examine it: and afterwards When 'twas rehears'd before the Magistrates", "A thief, he cried, no Poet gives this piece. "Yet has he not deceiv'd us; for we know, "The Colax' 10 is an antient Comedy

"Of Nævius, and of Plautus; and from thence "The Parasite and Soldier both are stolen."

If that's the Poet's crime, it is a crime
Of ignorance, and not a studied theft.
Judge for yourselves! the fact is even thus.
The Colax' is a fable of Menander;
Wherein is drawn the character of Colax
The Parasite, and the vain-glorious Soldier:
Which characters, he scruples not to own,
He to his 'Eunuch' from the Greek transferr'd :
But that he knew ", those pieces were before
Made Latin, that he steadfastly denies ".
Yet if to other Poets 'tis not lawful
To draw the characters our fathers drew,
How can it then be lawful to exhibit
Slaves running to and fro; to represent
Good matrons, wanton harlots; or to shew
An eating parasite, vain-glorious soldier,
Supposititious children, bubbled dotards,
Or love, or hate, or jealousy?—In short,
Nothing's said now, but has been said before]
Weigh then these things with candour, and forgive
The Moderns, if what Antients did, they do.

Attend, and list in silence to our play,

That ye may know what 'tis the Eunuch means.

PERSONS.

PERSONS.

PROLOGUE.

LACHES, An Old Man.

PHEDRIA, A Youth.

CHEREA, A Youth.

ANTIPHO, A Youth.

CHREMES, A Youth.

THRASO, A Soldier.

GNATHO, A Parasite.

PARMENO, A Servant.

DORUS, The Eunuch.

SANGA, A Centurion.

SIMALIO; and other Mutes.

THAIS, A Harlot.

PYTHIAS, A Maidservant.

DORYAS, A Maidservant.

SOPHRONA, A Nurse..

PAMPHILA; and other Mutes.

SCENE-ATHENS.