PHÆD. Oh monstrous! monstrous! now indeed I see How false she is, and what a wretch I am! Spite of myself I love; and knowing, feeling, With open eyes run on to my destruction; And what to do I know not.
PAR. What to do? What should you do, Sir, but redeem yourself As cheaply as you can?--at easy rates If possible--if not--at any rate---- And never vex yourself.
PAR. Aye, if you're wise; and do not add to love More troubles than it has, and those it has Bear bravely! But she comes, our ruin comes; For she, like storms of hail on fields of corn, Beats down our hopes, and carries all before her.
THAIS. Ah me! I fear lest Phædria take offense And think I meant it other than I did, That he was not admitted yesterday. (_To herself, not seeing them._)
PHÆD. I tremble, Parmeno, and freeze with horror.
PAR. Be of good cheer! approach yon fire--she'll warm you.
THAIS. Who's there? my Phædria? Why did you stand here? Why not directly enter?
PAR. Not one word Of having shut him out!
PHÆD. Because, forsooth, these doors will always fly Open to me, or that because I stand The first in your good graces. (_Ironically._)
PHÆD. No more?--O Thais, Thais, would to Heaven Our loves were parallel, that things like these Might torture you, as this has tortur'd me: Or that your actions were indifferent to me!
THAIS. Grieve not, I beg, my love, my Phædria! Not that I lov'd another more, I did this. But I by circumstance was forc'd to do it.
PAR. So then, it seems, for very love, poor soul, You shut the door in 's teeth.
THAIS. Ah Parmeno! Is't thus you deal with me? Go to!--But hear Why I did call you hither?
THAIS. But tell me first, can yon slave hold his peace?
PAM. I? oh most faithfully: But hark ye, madam! On this condition do I bind my faith: The truths I hear, I will conceal; whate'er Is false, or vain, or feign'd, I'll publish it. I'm full of chinks, and run through here and there: So if you claim my secrecy, speak truth.
THAIS. My mother was a Samian, liv'd at Rhodes.
THAIS. There a certain merchant Made her a present of a little girl, Stol'n hence from Attica.
THAIS. I think so, but we can not tell for certain. Her father's and her mother's name she told Herself; her country and the other marks Of her original, she neither knew, Nor, from her age, was 't possible she should. The merchant added further, that the pirates, Of whom he bought her, let him understand, She had been stol'n from Sunium. My mother Gave her an education, brought her up In all respects as she had been her own; And she in gen'ral was suppos'd my sister. I journeyed hither with the gentleman To whom alone I was connected then, The same who left me all I have.