had
rather die; she shall find out what sort of a person I am;" these
expressions, upon my faith, by a single false tiny tear, which, by
rubbing her eyes, poor thing, she can hardly squeeze out perforce, she
will put an end to; and she'll be the first to accuse you; and you
will be too ready to give satisfaction to her.

PHAED. O disgraceful conduct! I now perceive, both that she is
perfidious, and that I am a wretched man. I am both weary of her, and
burn with passion; knowing {and} fully sensible, alive and seeing it,
I am going to ruin; nor do I know what I am to do.

PAR. What you are to do? Why, only to redeem yourself, {thus}
captivated, at the smallest price you can; if you can not at a very
small rate, still for as little as you can; and do not afflict
yourself.

PHAED. Do you persuade me to this?

PAR. If you are wise. And don't be adding to the troubles which love
itself produces; those which it does produce, bear patiently. But see,
here she is coming herself, the downfall of our fortunes,[31]-- for
that which we ought ourselves to enjoy she intercepts.

SCENE II.

_Enter THAIS from her house._

THAIS (_to herself, not seeing them._) Ah wretched me! I fear lest
Phaedria should take it amiss or otherwise than I intended it, that he
was not admitted yesterday.

PHAED. (_aside to PARMENO._) I'm trembling and shivering all over,
Parmeno, at the sight of her.

PAR. (_apart._) Be of good heart; {only} approach this fire,[32]
you'll soon be warmer than you need.

THAIS (_turning round._) Who is it that's speaking here? What, are you
here, my Phaedria? Why are you standing here! Why didn't you come into
the house at once?

PAR. (_whispering to PHAEDRIA._) But not a word about shutting you out!

THAIS. Why are you silent?

PHAED. Of course, it's because[33] this door is always open to me, or
because I'm the highest in your favor?

THAIS. Pass those matters by.

PHAED. How pass them by? O Thais, Thais, I wish that I had equal
affection with yourself, and that it were in like degree, that either
this, might distress you in the same way that it distresses me, or
that I might be indifferent at this being done by you.

THAIS. Prithee, don't torment yourself, my life, my Phaedria. Upon my
faith, I did it, not because I love or esteem any person more {than
you}; but the case was such {that} it was necessary to be done.

PAR. (_ironically._) I suppose that, poor thing, you shut him out of
doors, f