# File lib/trollop.rb, line 831
  def parse(paramlist, _neg_given)
    paramlist.map do |pg|
      pg.map do |param|
        next param if param.is_a?(Date)
        begin
          begin
            require 'chronic'
            time = Chronic.parse(param)
          rescue LoadError
            # chronic is not available
          end
          time ? Date.new(time.year, time.month, time.day) : Date.parse(param)
        rescue ArgumentError
          raise CommandlineError, "option '#{self.name}' needs a date"
        end
      end
    end
  end