that matter, Gnatho, the way in which I touched
up the Rhodian at a banquet-- did I never tell you?

GNA. Never; but pray, do tell me. (_Aside._) I've heard it more than a
thousand times already.

THRA. There was in my company at a banquet, this young man of Rhodes,
whom I'm speaking of. By chance I had a mistress there; he began to
toy with her, and to annoy me. "What are you doing, sir impudence?"
said I to the fellow; "a hare yourself, and looking out for game?"[68]

GNA. (_pretending to laugh very heartily._) Ha, ha, ha!

THRA. What's the matter?

GNA. How apt, how smart, how clever; nothing {could be} more
excellent. Prithee, was this a saying of yours? I fancied it was an
old one.

THRA. Did you ever hear it before?

GNA. Many a time; and it is mentioned among the first-rate ones.

THRA. It's my own.

GNA. I'm sorry {though} that it was said to a thoughtless young man,
and one of respectability.

PAR. (_apart._) May the Gods confound you!

GNA. Pray, what {did} he {do}?

THRA. Quite disconcerted. All who were present were dying with
laughter; in short, they were all quite afraid of me.

GNA. Not without reason.

THRA. But hark you, had I best clear myself of this to Thais, as to
her suspicion that I'm fond of this girl?

GNA. By no means: on the contrary, rather increase her jealousy.

THRA. Why so?

GNA. Do you ask me? Don't you see, if on any occasion she makes
mention of Phaedria or commends him, to provoke you----

THRA. I understand.

GNA. That such may not be the case, this method is the only remedy.
When she speaks of Phaedria, do you instantly {mention} Pamphila. If at
any time she says, "Let's invite Phaedria to make one," {do} you {say},
"Let's {ask} Pamphila to sing." If she praises his good looks, do you,
on the other hand, praise hers. In short, do you return like for like,
which will mortify her.

THRA. If, indeed, she loved me,[69] this might be of some use, Gnatho.

GNA. Since she is impatient for and loves that which you give her, she
already loves you; as it is, {then}, it is an easy matter for her to
feel vexed. She will be always afraid lest the presents which she
herself is now getting, you may on some occasion be taking elsewhere.

THRA. Well said; that never came into my mind.

GNA. Nonsense. You never thought about it; else how much more readily
would you yourself have hit upon it, Thraso!

SCENE II.

_Enter THAIS from her house, attended by PYTHIAS._