Casina, or The Stratagem Defeated

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 752 sections

2.3.233b
You can’t have your way there.
2.3.233c
You plague me to death.
2.3.234
I only wish you spoke the truth.
2.3.234b
There I believe you. (Moves on.)
2.3.235
Do look back, O my sweet one.
2.3.235b
About as much, I suppose, as you are to me. Whence is this strong smell of perfumes, prithee?
2.3.236b
O dear, I’m undone; to my misfortune, I’m caught in the fact. Why delay to rub it off my head with my cloak? (Rubs his head with his cloak.) May good Mercury confound you, you perfumer, who provided me with this.
2.3.239
How now, you worthless grey gnat! I can hardly restrain myself from saying what you deserve.
2.3.240
In your old age, good-for-nothing, are you walking along the streets reeking with perfumes?
2.3.241
I’ faith, I lent my company to a certain friend of mine, while he was purchasing some perfumes.
2.3.241b
How readily he did trump that up. Are you ashamed of anything?
2.3.242b
Of everything that you like.
2.3.242c
In what dens of iniquity have you been lying?
2.3.243
I, in dens of iniquity?
2.3.243b
I know more than you think I do.
2.3.243c
What is it that you know?
2.3.244
That not one among all the old men is more worthless than yourself, an old man.
2.3.245
Whence come you, good-for-nothing? Where have you been? In what den amusing yourself? Where have you been drinking? You are come, on my word; look at his cloak, how it’s creased. (Points at it.)
2.3.246b
May the Gods confound both me and yourself, if I this day have put a drop of wine into my mouth.
2.3.247b
Very well then; just as you like:
2.3.248_250
drink, eat, and squander away your property!
2.3.248_250b
Hold, wife; there’s now enough of it; you din me too much. Do leave a little of your talk, that you may wrangle with me to-morrow. But what say you? Have you by this time subdued your temper, so as to do that in preference which your husband wishes to be done, rather than strive against him?
2.3.253b
About what matter are you speaking?
2.3.253c
Do you ask me? About the handmaid Casina—that she may be given in marriage to our bailiff,
2.3.255
an honest servant, where she’ll be well off, in wood, warm water, food, and clothing, and where she may properly bring up the children which she may have, in preference to that rascally servant of an armour-bearer, a good-for-nothing and dishonest, a fellow that hasn’t this day a leaden dump of money his own.
2.3.259
Upon my faith, I am surprised that in your old age you
2.3.260
do not remember your duty.
2.3.260b
How so?
2.3.260c
Because if you were to act rightly or becomingly, you’d let me manage the maid-servants, which is my own province.
2.3.262
Why the plague do you wish to give her to a fellow that carries a shield?
2.3.262b
Because it’s our duty to gratify our only son.
2.3.263b
But although he is an only one, not a bit the more is he my only son than I am his only father.
2.3.265
It’s more becoming for him to conform to me, than for me to him.
2.3.266
By my troth, sir, you’re providing for yourself a serious piece of trouble.
2.3.266b
She suspects it, I find that. (To his wife.) What, I, do you mean?
2.3.267b
You; but why do. you stammer so? Why do you wish for this with such anxiety?
2.3.268
Why, that she may rather be given to a servant that’s honest, than to a servant that’s dishonest.
2.3.269
What if I prevail upon, and obtain of the bailiff, that for my sake
2.3.270
he’ll give her up to the other one?
2.3.270b
But what if I prevail upon the armour-bearer to give her up to the other one? And I think that I can prevail upon him in this.
2.3.272
That’s agreed upon. Should you like that, in your name, I should call Chalinus hither out of doors? Do you beg of him, and I’ll beg of the bailiff.
2.3.273b
I’m quite willing.
2.3.274
He’ll be here just now. Now we’ll make trial which of us two is the most persuasive. (She goes into the house.)
2.3.275
May Hercules and the Gods confound her!—a thing that now I’m at liberty to say. I’m wretchedly distracted with love; but she, as though on purpose, thwarts me. My wife has some suspicion now of this that I’m planning; for that reason is she purposely lending her assistance to the armour-bearer.
2.4.279
May all the Gods and Goddesses confound him!
2.4.279b
Your wife said that you were calling me.
2.4.280b
Why yes, I did order you to be sent for.
2.4.280c
Tell me what you want.
2.4.281
In the first place, I want you to speak to me with a more cheerful countenance.
2.4.282
It would be folly for me to be morose toward you whose rule is the strongest.
2.4.283
Indeed! I consider you to be an honest fellow.
2.4.283b
So I find.
2.4.284_285
But if you think so, why don’t you give me my freedom?
2.4.294_285b
Why so I wish to do; but it’s of no use for me to wish a thing to be done, unless you aid me with your actions.
2.4.287
What you wish, I only wish myself to be acquainted with it.
2.4.287b
Listen then; I’ll tell you. I’ve promised to give Casina as a wife to our bailiff.
2.4.289
But your wife and your son have promised her to me.
2.4.289b
I know it;
2.4.290
but whether now would you prefer yourself to be single and a free man, or, as a married man, to pass your lives, yourself and your children, in slavery? This choice is your own: whichever condition of these two you prefer, take it.
2.4.293
If I am free, I live at my own cost; at present I live at yours. As to Casina, I’m resolved to give way to no born man.
2.4.295
Go in-doors, and at once be quick and call my wife here, out of doors; and bring hither together with you an urn, with some water, and the lots.
2.4.296b
I’m quite agreable.
2.4.297
I’ faith, in some way or other I’ll now ward off this weapon of yours; for if, as it is, I shall not be able to prevail by persuasion, at least I’ll try it by lot. There I shall take vengeance upon you and your abettors.
2.4.299b
Still, for all that the lot will fall to me—
2.4.300b
Aye, faith, for you to go to perdition with direful torments.
2.4.301
She shall marry me, contrive what you will, in any way you please.
2.4.302
Won’t you away hence from my sight?
2.4.302b
Unwillingly you look upon me, still I shall live on. (Goes into the house.)
2.4.303
Am I not a wretched man? Don’t all things go quite contrary with me? I’m now afraid that my wife will prevail upon Olympio not to
2.4.305
marry Casina. If that’s done, why look, it’s all over with me in my old age! If she does not prevail, there is still some tiny hope in the lots. But if the lots fail me, I’ll make a pillow of a sword, and lay me down upon it. But see, most opportunely Olympio’s coming out of doors.
2.5.309
By my faith, all in an instant shut me up in a hot furnace,
2.5.310
and parch me there for a hard-baked biscuit, good mistress, before you shall gain that point of me which you desire.
2.5.312
I’m all right. My hope’s realized, according as I hear his words.
2.5.313
But why do you frighten me about liberty? Why, even though you should oppose it, and your son as well,
2.5.315
against your wills and in spite of you both, for a single penny I can become free.
2.5.317
What’s this? Who are you wrangling with, Olympio?
2.5.318
With the same person that you always are.
2.5.318b
What, with my wife?
2.5.319
What wife are you speaking of to me? Really you are a hunter, as it were:
2.5.320
your nights and days you pass with a female cur.
2.5.321
What does she say? What’s she talking to you about?
2.5.321b
She’s begging and entreating of me that I won’t be taking Casina as my wife.
2.5.322b
What did you say after that?
2.5.323
Why, I declared that I wouldn’t give way to Jupiter himself, if he were to entreat me.
2.5.324b
May the Gods preserve you for me!
2.5.325
She’s now all in a ferment; she’s swelling so against me.
2.5.326
By my troth, I could like her to burst in the middle.
2.5.327
I’ faith, I fancy she will, if indeed you manage cleverly. But your amorousness, i’ faith, is a cause of trouble to me; your wife is at enmity with me, your son at enmity,
2.5.330
my fellow-servants at enmity.
2.5.330b
What matters that to you? So long as (pointing to himself) this Jupiter only is propitious to you, do you take care and esteem the lesser Gods at a straw’s value.
2.5.333
That’s great nonsense; as if you didn’t know how suddenly your human Jupiters take to dying.
2.5.335
So after all, if you, my Jupiter, are dead and gone, when your realm devolves upon the lesser Gods, who shall then come to the rescue of my back, or head, or legs?
2.5.338
Affairs will go with you better than you expect, if I obtain this—the enjoyment of my Casina.
2.5.340
I’ faith, I do not think it possibly can be; so earnestly is your wife striving that she shall not be given to me.
2.5.341b
But this way I’ll proceed: I’ll put the lots in an urn, and draw the lots for yourself and Chalinus. I find that the business has come to this pass; it’s necessary to fight with swords hand to hand.
2.5.345
What, if the lot should turn out different from what you wish?
2.5.346
Speak with good omen. I rely upon the Gods; we’ll trust in the Gods.
2.5.347
That expression I wouldn’t purchase at a rotten thread, for all people are relying upon the Gods; but still I’ve frequently seen many of those deceived who relied upon the Gods.
2.5.350
But hold your tongue a little while. (Pointing.)
2.5.350b
What is it you mean?

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