Davus----

DAVUS. Ah, Sir, say no more.
You're th' only favorite of the Gods.

CHAR. I'm made,
If this be true. I'll speak to them. (_Comes forward._)

PAM. Who's there?
Charinus! oh, well met.

CHAR. I give you joy.

PAM. You've heard then----

CHAR. Ev'ry word: and prithee now,
In your good fortune, think upon your friend.
Chremes is now your own; and will perform
Whatever you shall ask.

PAM. I shall remember.
'Twere tedious to expect his coming forth:
Along with me then to Glycerium!
Davus, do you go home, and hasten them
To fetch her hence. Away, away!

DAVUS. I go. (_Exeunt PAMPHILUS and CHARINUS._
(_DAVUS addressing the audience._)
Wait not till they come forth: within
She'll be betroth'd; within, if aught remains
Undone, 'twill be concluded--Clap your hands!

* * * * *
* * * *

THE EUNUCH.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

PROLOGUE.
LACHES.
PHAEDRIA.
CHAEREA.
ANTIPHO.
CHREMES.
THRASO.
GNATHO.
PARMENO.
DORUS.
SANGA.
SIMALIO, ETC.

THAIS.
PYTHIAS.
DORIAS.
SOPHRONA.
PAMPHILA.

SCENE, ATHENS.

PROLOGUE.

To please the candid, give offense to none,
This, says the Poet, ever was his care:
Yet if there's one who thinks he's hardly censur'd,
Let him remember he was the aggressor:
_He_, who translating many, but not well,
On good Greek fables fram'd poor Latin plays;
_He_, who but lately to the public gave
The Phantom of Menander; _He_, who made,
In the Thesaurus, the Defendant plead
And vouch the question'd treasure to be his,
Before the Plaintiff his own title shows,
Or whence it came into his father's tomb.

Henceforward, let him not deceive himself,
Or cry, "I'm safe, he can say naught of me."
I charge him that he err not, and forbear
To urge me farther; for I've more, much more,
Which now shall be o'erlook'd, but shall be known,
If he pursue his slanders, as before.

Soon as this play, the Eunuch of Menander,
Which we are now preparing to perform,
Was purchas'd by the AEdiles, he obtain'd
Leave to examine it: and afterward
When 'twas rehears'd before the Magistrates,
"A Thief," he cried, "no Poet gives this piece.
Yet has he not deceived us: for we know,
The Colax is an ancient comedy
Of Naevius, and of Plautus; and from thence
The Parasite and Soldier both are stolen."

If that's the Poet's crime, it is a crime
Of ignorance, and not a studied theft.
Judge for