y
authorizing you.

PAR. Follow me; may the Gods prosper it! (_They go into the house of
LACHES._)

ACT THE THIRD.

SCENE I.

_Enter THRASO and GNATHO._

THRA. Did Thais really return me many thanks?

GNA. Exceeding {thanks}.

THRA. Was she delighted, say you?

GNA. Not so much, indeed, at the present itself, as because it was
given by you; really, in right earnest, she does exult at that.

_Enter PARMENO unseen, from LACHES' house._

PAR. (_apart._) I've come here to be on the look-out, that when there
is an opportunity I may take {the presents}. But see, here's the
Captain.

THRA. Undoubtedly it is the case with me, that every thing I do is a
cause for thankfulness.

GNA. Upon my faith, I've observed it.

THRA. The most mighty King,[62] even, always used to give me especial
thanks for whatever I did; but not so to others.

GNA. He who has the wit that you have, often by his words appropriates
to himself the glory that has been achieved by the labor of others.

THRA. You've just hit it.[63]

GNA. The king, then, kept you in his eye.[64]

THRA. Just so.

GNA. To enjoy your society.

THRA. True; he intrusted {to me} all his army, all his state secrets.

GNA. Astonishing!

THRA. Then if, on any occasion, a surfeit of society, or a dislike of
business, came upon him, when he was desirous to take some recreation;
just as though-- you understand?[65]

GNA. I know; just as though on occasion he would rid his mind of those
anxieties.

THRA. You have it. Then he used to take me aside as his only boon
companion.

GNA. Whew! You are telling of a King of refined taste.

THRA. Aye, he is a person of that sort; a man of but very few
acquaintanceships.

GNA. (_aside._) Indeed, of none,[66] I fancy, if he's on intimate
terms with you.

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