The new parasite, of whom Gnatho may be considered as the representative, had been delineated in the characters of Theophrastus, and has more resemblance to Shakspeare’s Osrick, or to the class of parasites described by Juvenal as infesting the families of the Great in the latter ages of Rome(305). Thraso, the braggart captain, in the _Eunuchus_, is ridiculous enough to supply the audience with mirth, without indulging in the extravagant bluster of Pyrgopolinices. A scene in the fourth act gives the most lively representation of the conceit and ridiculous vanity of this soldier, who, calling together a few slaves, pretends to marshal and draw them up as if they formed a numerous army, and assumes all the airs of a general. This part is so contrived, that nothing could have more happily tended to make him appear ridiculous though he says nothing extravagant, or beyond what might naturally be expected from the mouth of a coxcomb. One new feature in Thraso’s character is his fondness for repeating his jests, and passion for being admired as a wit no less than a warrior. There is, perhaps, nowhere to be found a truer picture of the fond and froward passion of love, than that which is given us in the character of Phædria. Horace and Persius, when they purposely set themselves to expose and exaggerate its follies, could imagine nothing beyond it. The former, indeed, in the third satire of his second book, where he has given a picture of the irresolution of lovers, has copied part of the dialogue introduced near the commencement of the _Eunuchus_. The love, however, both of Phædria and Chærea is more that of temperament than sentiment: Of consequence, the _Eunuchus_ is inferior to the _Andria_ in delicacy and tenderness; but there are not wanting passages which excel in these higher qualities. Addison has remarked(306), that Phædria’s request to his mistress, on leaving her for a few days, is inimitably beautiful and natural— “Egone quid velim? Cum Milite isto præsens, absens ut sies; Dies noctesque me ames: me desideres: Me somnies: me expectes: de me cogites: Me speres: me te oblectes: mecum tota sis: Meus fac sis postremo animus, quando ego sum tuus.” This demand was rather exorbitant, and Thais had some reason to reply—_Me miseram!_