Casina, or The Stratagem Defeated

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 752 sections

2.5.350c
Why look; here’s Chalinus coming from the house, out here, with the urn and the lots. Now, with standards closing, we shall fight.
2.6.353
Let me know, Chalinus, what my husband wants with me.
2.6.354
By my troth, he wants to see you burning outside of the Metian gate.
2.6.355
I’ faith, I believe he does want that.
2.6.355b
But, by my troth, I don’t believe it, but I know it for certain.
2.6.356
I’ve got more men of business than I imagined: I’ve got this fellow, a Diviner, in my house. What, if we move our standards nearer, and go to meet them? Follow me. (Goes up to CLEOSTRATA and CHALINUS.) What are you about?
2.6.358b
All the things are here which you ordered; your wife, the lots, the urn, and myself.
2.6.359b
By yourself only, there is more here than I want.
2.6.360
I’ faith, so it seems to you indeed. I’m a stinger to you now; I’m pricking that dear little heart of yours; even now it’s palpitating from alarm.
2.6.361a
Whip-knave—
2.6.362
Hold your tongue, Chalinus,
2.6.362b
Do make that fellow be quiet.
2.6.362c
No, that fellow rather (pointing to OLYMPIO), who has learned to misbehave.
2.6.363
Set the urn down here. (CHALINUS puts it down.) Give me the lots: lend your attention now. But I did think, my wife, that I could have prevailed upon you thus far,
2.6.365
for Casina to be given me as my wife, and even now I think so.
2.6.366
She, given to you?
2.6.366b
Why yes, to me—dear me, I didn’t mean to say that. While I meant for myself, I said him; (aside) why really, while I’m wanting her for myself, I’ve already, i’ faith, been chattering at random.
2.6.368b
Upon my word, you really have; and you are still doing so.
2.6.369
For him—no, no; for myself, i’ faith. Plague take it, at last, with great difficulty, I’ve got into the right road!
2.6.370
Very often, i’ faith, you are making your mistakes.
2.6.370b
Such is the case when you desire anything very much. But each of us, both he (pointing to OLYMPIO) and I, apply to you for our rights—
2.6.371b
How’s that?
2.6.372
Why, I’ll tell you, my sweet. As to this Casina, you must make a present of her to this bailiff of ours.
2.6.373b
But, i’ faith, I neither do make it, nor do I in tend it.
2.6.374
In that case, then, I’ll divide the lots between them.
2.6.374b
Who forbids you?
2.6.375
I judge with reason that that is the best and fairest way. In fine, if that happens which we desire, we shall be glad; but if otherwise, we’ll bear it with equanimity. (Giving a lot to OLYMPIO.) Take, this lot—take it; see what’s written on it.
2.6.378b
Number one.
2.6.378c
It isn’t fair, be cause that fellow has got one before me.
2.6.379
Take this, will you.
2.6.379b
Give it me. Stop though; one thing has just now come into my mind.
2.6.380
Do you see that there’s no other lot in there by chance at the bottom of the water.
2.6.380b
Whip-rascal! do you take me to be your own self?
2.6.381b
There is none; only set your feelings at rest.
2.6.382
May it prove lucky and fortunate to me, a great mischance to you!
2.6.382b
I’ faith, it will certainly fall to you, I fancy; I know your pious ways. But stop a bit; is that lot of yours of poplar or of fir?
2.6.385
Why do you trouble yourself about that?
2.6.385b
Why, because I’m afraid that it may float on the surface of the water. (They go up to the urn.)
2.6.386
Capital!—take care! Now then, both of you, throw your lots in here. (Pointing to the urn.) Look now, wife, all’s fair. (They throw them in.)
2.6.387b
Don’t you trust your wife.
2.6.387c
Be of good courage.
2.6.388
Upon my faith, I do believe that she’ll lay a spell upon the lots this very day, if she touches them.
2.6.388b
Hold your tongue.
2.6.389
I’ll hold my tongue. I pray the Gods—
2.6.389b
Aye,that this day you may have to endure the chain and the bilboes.
2.6.390
That the lot may fall to me.
2.6.390b
Aye, faith, that you may hang up by the feet.
2.6.391
Aye, that you may blow your eyes out of your head through your nose.
2.6.392
What are you afraid of? It must be ready by this— (Turning to OLYMPIO.) A halter for you, I mean.
2.6.393
You’re undone!
2.6.393b
Give attention, both of you.
2.6.393c
I’ll be mum.
2.6.393d
Now you, Cleostrata, that you may not say that anything has been done cheatingly by me in this matter, or suspect it,
2.6.395
I give you leave, do you yourself draw the lots.
2.6.395b
You are ruining me.
2.6.395c
He’s gaining an advantage rather.
2.6.396
You do what’s fair.
2.6.396b
I pray the Gods that your lot say run away out of the urn.
2.6.397
Say you so? Because you are a runaway yourself, do you wish all to follow your example? I wish, indeed, that that lot of yours, as they say that of the descendants of Hercules once did, may melt away while the lots are drawing.
2.6.400
And you, that you may melt away yourself, and just now be made hot with twigs.
2.6.401
Attend, will you, to the business in hand, Olympio!
2.6.401b
Yes, if this thrice-dotted fellow ’ll let me.
2.6.402
May this prove lucky and fortunate to me.
2.6.402b
Yes indeed; to me as well.
2.6.403
Not so.
2.6.403b
By my troth, yes, I say.
2.6.403c
By my troth, yes, for myself, I say.
2.6.403d
He’ll be the winner; you’ll live in wretchedness.
2.6.404
Do you give him a punch in the face this instant! Well, what are you about?
2.6.404a
Don’t you raise your hand.
2.6.405
With clenched or open hand am I to strike him?
2.6.405b
Do just as you please.
2.6.405c
There’s for you, take that!
2.6.406
What business have you to touch him?
2.6.406b
Because my Jupiter (pointing to STALINO) commanded me.
2.6.407
Do you slap him in the face in return.
2.6.407b
I’m being murdered, I’m being punched with his fists, Jupiter!
2.6.408
What business had you to touch him?
2.6.408b
Because this Juno of mine (pointing to CLEOSTRATA) ordered me.
2.6.409
I must put up with it, since, as long as I live, my wife will have the mastery.
2.6.410
He (pointing to CHALINUS) ought to be allowed to speak as much as that fellow.
2.6.410b
Why by his talk does he occasion me an unlucky omens
2.6.411b
I think, Chalinus, you should be on your guard against a mishap.
2.6.412
Full time, after my face has been battered!
2.6.412b
Come, wife, now then draw the lots. (To the SERVANTS.) Do you give your attention. (To CLEOSTRATA.) And give it, you, as well.
2.6.414
Where I am I know not. I’m undone, I’ve got my heart full of maggots, I think; it’s jumping about already;
2.6.415
with its throbbing it beats against my breast.
2.6.415b
I’ve got hold of a lot.
2.6.415c
Draw it out, then.
2.6.416
Are you not dead now?
2.6.416b
Show it. (She shows it.) It’s mine.
2.6.416c
Really this is an unlucky mishap.
2.6.417
You are beaten, Chalinus.
2.6.417b
Then I’m glad that we are to survive after all, Olympio.
2.6.418b
Through my own piety and that of my forefathers has it happened.
2.6.419
Wife, go in-doors and make ready for the wedding.
2.6.419b
I’ll do as you bid me.
2.6.420
Do you know that it’s to a distance in the country, at the farm-house,that he is to take her?
2.6.420b
I know.
2.6.421
Go in-doors,and although this is disagreable to you, still take care and attend to it.

Perseus Latin. CTS URN phi0119.phi006.perseus-eng2. Via the Perseus Digital Library / Open Greek and Latin TEI corpora. Licence: Available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source.