PAR. Wherefore? GNAT. Because you're melancholy. PAR. Not at all. GNAT. Well, do not be so!--Pray, now, what d'ye think Of this young handmaid? PAR. Troth, she's not amiss. GNAT. I plague the rascal. (_Half aside._) PAR. How the knave's deceiv'd! (_Half aside._) GNAT. Will not this gift be very acceptable To Thais, think you? PAR. You'd insinuate That we're shut out.--There is, alas, a change In all things. GNAT. For these six months, Parmeno, For six whole months at least, I'll make you easy; You sha'n't run up and down, and watch till daylight; Come, don't I make you happy? PAR. Very happy. GNAT. 'Tis my way with my friends. PAR. You're very good. GNAT. But I detain you: you, perhaps, was going Somewhere else. PAR. Nowhere. GNAT. May I beg you then To use your int'rest here, and introduce me To Thais? PAR. Hence! away! these doors Fly open now, because you carry her. GNAT. Would you have any one call'd forth? (_Exit._ PAR. Well, well! Pass but two days; and you, so welcome now, That the doors open with your little finger, Shall kick against them then, I warrant you, Till your heels ache again. _Re-enter GNATHO._ GNAT. Ha! Parmeno! Are you here still? What! are you left a spy, Lest any go-between should run by stealth To Thais from the Captain? (_Exit._ PAR. Very smart! No wonder such a wit delights the Captain! But hold! I see my master's younger son Coming this way. I wonder much he should Desert Piraeus, where he's now on guard. 'Tis not for nothing. All in haste he comes, And seems to look about. [Changes: SCENE II. _Labeled SCENE III in 1768 edition (see end of Scene I)._ _All quotation marks in this scene are supplied from the 1768 edition._ _Harper_ He was in a most wretched trim; his looks _Colman 1768_ Seeing him in a wretched trim; his looks But mine's a new profession; I the first _Harper edition prints "But mine 's" with anomalous spacing_ _Harper_ (Who once did profit and still profit by me,) _Colman 1768_ (Who, while my means were ample, profited, And, tho' now wasted, profit by me still,)] SCENE III. _Enter CHAEREA; PARMENO behind._ CHAER. Undone! undone! The Girl is lost; I know not where she is, Nor where I am: ah, whither shall I trace? Where seek? of whom inquire? or which way turn? I'm all uncertain; but have one hope still: Where'er she is, she can not long lie hid. Oh charming face! all others from my memory Hence I blot out. Away with common beauties! PAR. So, here's the other! and he mutters too I know not what of love. Oh what a poor Unfortunate old man their father is! As for this stripling, if he once begin, His brother's is but jest and children's play To his mad fury. CHAER. Twice ten thousand curses Seize the old wretch, who kept me back to-day; And me for staying! with a fellow too I did not care a farthing for!--But see! Yonder stands Parmeno.--Good-day!