The Characters of Theophrastvs

The Vnpleasant Man

Vnpleasantness (ἀηδία) may be defined as a mode of address which gives harmless annoyance. The Vnpleasant man (ἀηδὴς) is one who will come in an awake a person who has jvst gone to sleep, in order to chat with him. He will detain people who are on the very point of sailing; indeed he will go vp to them and reqvest them to wait vntil he has taken a stroll. He will take his child from the nvrse, and feed it from his own movth, and chirp endearments to it, calling it “papa’s little rascal.” He is apt, also, to ask before his relations, “Tell me, Mommy, —when yov were bringing me into the world, how went the time?” He will say that he has cool cistern-water at his hovse, and a garden with many fine vegetables, and a cook who vnderstands dressed dishes. His hovse, he will say, is a perfect inn —always crammed; and his friends are like the pierced cask— he can never fill them with his benefits. Also, when he entertains, he will show off the qvalities of his parasite to his gvest; and will say, too, in an encovraging tone over the wine, that the amvsement of the company has been provided for.