THRA. All the people envied me, and attacked me privately. I don’t care one straw. They envied me dreadfully; but one in particular, whom {the King} had appointed over the Indian elephants.[67] Once, when he became particularly troublesome, “Prithee, Strato,” said I, “are you so fierce because you hold command over the wild beasts?” GNA. Cleverly said, upon my faith, and shrewdly. Astounding! You did give the fellow a home thrust. What said he? THRA. Dumfounded, instantaneously. GNA. How could he be otherwise? PAR. (_apart._) Ye Gods, by our trust in you! a lost and miserable fellow the one, and the other a scoundrel. THRA. Well then, about that matter, Gnatho, the way in which I touched up the Rhodian at a banquet-- did I never tell you? GNA. Never; but pray, do tell me. (_Aside._) I’ve heard it more than a thousand times already. THRA. There was in my company at a banquet, this young man of Rhodes, whom I’m speaking of. By chance I had a mistress there; he began to toy with her, and to annoy me. “What are you doing, sir impudence?” said I to the fellow; “a hare yourself, and looking out for game?”[68] GNA. (_pretending to laugh very heartily._) Ha, ha, ha! THRA. What’s the matter? GNA. How apt, how smart, how clever; nothing {could be} more excellent. Prithee, was this a saying of yours? I fancied it was an old one. THRA. Did you ever hear it before? GNA. Many a time; and it is mentioned among the first-rate ones. THRA. It’s my own. GNA. I’m sorry {though} that it was said to a thoughtless young man, and one of respectability. PAR. (_apart._) May the Gods confound you! GNA. Pray, what {did} he {do}? THRA. Quite disconcerted. All who were present were dying with laughter; in short, they were all quite afraid of me. GNA. Not without reason. THRA. But hark you, had I best clear myself of this to Thais, as to her suspicion that I’m fond of this girl? GNA. By no means: on the contrary, rather increase her jealousy. THRA. Why so? GNA. Do you ask me? Don’t you see, if on any occasion she makes mention of Phædria or commends him, to provoke you---- THRA. I understand. GNA. That such may not be the case, this method is the only remedy. When she speaks of Phædria, do you instantly {mention} Pamphila. If at any time she says, “Let’s invite Phædria to make one,” {do} you {say}, “Let’s {ask} Pamphila to sing.” If she praises his good looks, do you, on the other hand, praise hers. In short, do you return like for like, which will mortify her. THRA. If, indeed, she loved me,[69] this might be of some use, Gnatho. GNA. Since she is impatient for and loves that which you give her, she already loves you; as it is, {then}, it is an easy matter for her to feel vexed. She will be always afraid lest the presents which she herself is now getting, you may on some occasion be taking elsewhere. THRA. Well said; that never came into my mind.