PAR. Is it not most heinous? Who ever saw any one taken up as a ravisher in a courtesan’s house? PYTH. I don’t know. PAR. But that you mayn’t be ignorant of this, Pythias, I tell you, {and} give you notice that he is my master’s son. PYTH. How! Prithee, is it he? PAR. Don’t let Thais suffer any violence to be done to him. But why don’t I go in myself? PYTH. Take care, Parmeno, what you are about, lest you both do him no good and come to harm yourself; for it is their notion, that whatever has happened, has originated in you. PAR. What then, wretch that I am, shall I do, or how resolve? But look, I see the old gentleman returning from the country; shall I tell him or shall I not? By my troth, I will tell him; although I am certain that a heavy punishment is in readiness for me; but it’s a matter of necessity, in order that he may rescue him. PYTH. You are wise. I’m going in-doors; do you relate to him every thing exactly as it happened. (_Goes into the house._) SCENE VI. _Enter LACHES._ LACH. (_to himself._) I have this advantage[104] from my country-house being so near at hand; no weariness, either of country or of town, ever takes possession of me; when satiety begins to come on, I change my locality. But is not that our Parmeno? Surely it is he. Whom are you waiting for, Parmeno, before the door here? PAR. (_pretends not to see him._) Who is it? (_Turning round._) Oh, I’m glad that you have returned safe. LACH. Whom are you waiting for? PAR. (_aside._) I’m undone: my tongue cleaves {to my mouth} through fright. LACH. Why, what is it you are trembling about? Is all quite right? Tell me. PAR. Master, in the first place, I would have you persuaded of what is the fact; whatever has happened in this affair has happened through no fault of mine. LACH. What {is it}? PAR. Really you have reason to ask. I ought first to have told you the circumstances. Phædria purchased a certain Eunuch, to make a present of to this woman here. LACH. To what woman? PAR. To Thais. LACH. Bought? Good heavens, I’m undone! For how much? PAR. Twenty minæ. LACH. Done for, quite. PAR. Then, Chærea is in love with a certain music-girl here. (_Pointing to THAIS’S house._) LACH. How! What? In love? Does he know already what a courtesan means? Is he come to town? One misfortune close upon another. PAR. Master, don’t look so at me; he didn’t do these things by my encouragement. LACH. Leave off talking about yourself. If I live, you hang-dog, I’ll---- But first give me an account of it, whatever it is. PAR. He was taken to the house of Thais in place of the Eunuch. LACH. In place of the Eunuch? PAR. Such is the fact. They have since apprehended him in the house as a ravisher, and bound him. LACH. Death! PAR. Mark the assurance of courtesans. LACH. Is there any other calamity or misfortune besides, that you have not told me of? PAR. That’s all. LACH. Do I delay rushing in here? (_Runs into the house of THAIS._)