Casina, or The Stratagem Defeated

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 752 sections

2.6.421b
Very well. (Goes into the house.)
2.6.422
Let us, as well, go in-doors; let’s entreat them to make all haste.
2.6.422b
Am I delaying at all?
2.6.423
For in his presence (pointing to CHALINUS) I don’t want there to be any further conversation. (They go into the house.)
2.7.424
If now I were to hang myself, I should be losing my pains,
2.7.425
and besides my pains, putting myself to the expense of purchasing a rope, and doing a pleasure to my evil-wishers. What need is there for me, who, indeed, am dead even as it is? At the lots I’m beaten; Casina’s to be married to the bailiff. And this now is not so much to be regretted, that the bailiff has got the better,
2.7.430
as the fact that the old man so vehemently desired that she shouldn’t be given me, and should marry him. How frightened he was, how in his misery he did bustle about, how he did caper about after the bailiff had won. By-the-bye, I’ll step aside here; I hear the door opening.
2.7.435
My well-wishers and friendsare coming out. Here in ambush I’ll lay in wait against them.
2.8.437
Only let him come into the country; I’ll send the fellow back into the city to you with his porter’s knot, as black as a collier.
2.8.439
So it ought to be.
2.8.439b
I’ll have that done and well taken care of.
2.8.440
I intended, if he had been at home, to send Chalinus to cater with you; that, even in his sadness, I might, in addition,inflict this misfortune upon our foe.
2.8.443
I’ll betake me back again to the wall; I’ll imitate the crab. Their conversation must be secretly picked up by me;
2.8.445
for the one of them is tormenting me, the other wasting me with anguish. Why, this whip-rascal is marching along in his white garb, a very receptacle for stripes. My own death I defer; I’m determined to send this fellow to Acheron before me.
2.8.449
How obsequious have I been found to you! A thing that you especially
2.8.450
desired, that same have I put in your power; this day the object that you love shall be with you, unknown to your wife.
2.8.451b
Hush! So may the Deities kindly bless me, I can hardly withhold my lips from kissing you on account of this, my own delight!
2.8.454
What? Kiss him? What’s the meaning of this? What’s this delight of yours?
2.8.456
Do you love me at all now?
2.8.456b
Aye, by my faith, myself even less than you. May I embrace you?
2.8.457c
You may.
2.8.458
How, when I touch you, I do seem to myself to be tasting honey!
2.8.455
I really do think he intends to choke the bailiff.
2.8.459
Away with you, you lover; get off, with your too close acquaintanceship!
2.8.465
I’ faith, I think that this very day they’ll be making terms. Surely,this old fellow is an universal admirer.
2.8.460
This is the reason, this is it why he made him his bailiff; some time ago, too, when I came in his way, he wanted to make me his chamberlain upon the like terms.
2.8.463
How subservient have I proved to you to-day, how attentive to your pleasure!
2.8.464
How surely, so long as I live, will I prove more of a well-wisher to you than to my own self!
2.8.467
How will I this day give full many a kiss to Casina! How will I, unknown to my wife, right pleasantly enjoy myself!
2.8.468b
Oho! Now, faith,at last I’ve got into the right track.
2.8.470
It’s himself that’s dying for Casina. I’ve caught the fellows.
2.8.471
Even now, by my troth, am I longing to embrace her; even now to be kissing her.
2.8.472
Do let her be brought out first from the house. Why the plague are you in such a hurry?
2.8.472b
I’m in love.
2.8.473
But I don’t think that this can possibly be managed to-day.
2.8.473b
It can, if, indeed, you think that you can possibly receive your freedom to-morrow.
2.8.475
Why, really, I must make still better use here of my ears; now, in one thicket, I shall be cleverly catching two boars.
2.8.477
At the house of this friend and neighbour of mine there’s a place provided; I have confided to him all my amorousness: he said that he would find me a room.
2.8.480
What will his wife do? Where will she be?
2.8.480b
I’ve cleverly contrived that: my wife will invite her here, to her own house, to the wedding; to be here with her, to help her, to sleep with her. I have requested it, and my wife has said that she will do so. She’ll be sleeping here: I’ll take care her husband is away from home.
2.8.485
You shall take your wife home into the country; that country shall be this house, for a period, until I’ve had my marriage with Casina. Hence,before daylight, you shall afterwards take her home to-morrow.Isn’t it very skilfully managed?
2.8.488b
Cleverly!
2.8.488c
Only do proceed; contrive away. By my troth, to your own mischance are you so clever.
2.8.490
Do you know what you must do now?
2.8.490b
Tell me.
2.8.490c
Take this purse. Be off and buy some provisions: make haste. But I want it nicely done: delicate eatables, just as she herself is a delicate bit.
2.8.492b
Very well.
2.8.493
Buy some cuttle-fish, mussels, calamaries, barley-fish.
2.8.494b
Aye, wheaten fish, if you know what you’re about.
2.8.495
Some sole-fish.
2.8.495b
Prithee, why those rather than soles of wood, with which your head may be banged, you most vile old fellow?
2.8.497
Should you like some tongue-fish?
2.8.497b
What need is there, since my wife’s at home? She is our tongue-fish, for she’s never silent.
2.8.499
While I’m about it, I must make choice out of the supply of fish what to purchase.
2.8.500b
You say what’s good: be off. I don’t care to spare for cost; provide abundantly. But it’s requisite also that I should see this neighbour of mine, that he may attend to what I’ve requested.
2.8.503b
Am I to go now?
2.8.503c
I wish you.
2.8.504
By three freedoms I could not be induced
2.8.505
this day to do other than provide a heavy retribution for them, and at once disclose all this matter to my mistress. I’ve caught and fully detected my enemies in their guilt. But if my mistress is ready now to do her duty, the cause is all our own: I’ll cleverly be beforehand with the fellows.
2.8.510
With omens in our favour the day proceeds: just conquered, we are the conquerors. I’ll go indoors, that that which another cook has seasoned, I now, in my turn, may season after another fashion; and that for him for whom it was prepared, it may really not be prepared; and that that may be prepared for him, which before was not prepared.
3.1.515
Now, Alcesimus, I shall know whether you are the very picture of friend or foe to me; now is the proof upon view; now is the contest going on. But why do I do so; forbear to correct me; save yourself all that. With your hoary head, at an age unfit; save yourself that as well. One who has a wife; save yourself that like wise.
3.1.520
I never saw a person more distracted with love than yourself.
3.1.521
Do take care that the house is clear.
3.1.521b
Why, faith, men-servants, maid-servants, all of them I’m determined to send out of the house to yours.
3.1.522b
Heyday! with your adroitness you are very adroit! But only take care and remember the lines which Colax repeats ; take care that every one comes with his own provisions, as if they were going to Sutrium.
3.1.525
I’ll remember it.
3.1.525b
Why now there’s no public ordinance better ordered than yourself, in fact. Attend to this. I’m now going to the Forum; I shall be here just now.
3.1.526b
Luck go with you.
3.1.527
Take care that your house gets a tongue.
3.1.527b
Why so?
3.1.527c
That when I come, it may invite me.
3.1.528
Pooh, pooh! you area person that stands in good need of a basting; you’re making too free with your fun.
3.1.529
Of what use is it for me to be in love, unless I’m quite ready and talkative?
3.1.530
But take you care that you haven’t to be sought for by me.
3.1.530b
I’ll be at home all the while.
3.2.531
This was the reason, then, i’ faith, why my husband entreated me, with such great earnestness, to make haste and invite my female neighbour to our house— that the house might be clear for him to be taking Casina there. Now, therefore, I shall by no means invite her,
3.2.535
so that liberty of free range shan’t be any way given to worn-out bell-wethers. (ALCESIMUS is coming out of his house.) But look, the pillar of the Senate’s coming forward, the safeguard of the public, my neighbour, the person who is finding free range for my husband. I’ faith, the measure of wit that has been sold to him, was purchased at no cheap rate.
3.2.539
I’m wondering that my wife, who’s already waiting at home, dressed out, to be sent for, hasn’t been invited by this to my neighbour’s here.
3.2.541
But see, here she is; she’s come to fetch her, I guess. (Going up to CLEOSTRATA.) Good day, Cleostrata!
3.2.541b
And you the same, Alcesimus. Where’s your wife?
3.2.542b
She’s waiting in-doors for you to send for her; for your husband requested me to send her to help you. Do you wish me to call her?
3.2.544b
Let it alone; I don’t care; if she’s busy.
3.2.544c
She’s at leisure.
3.2.545
I don’t care about it; I don’t want to be troublesome to her; I’ll see her at a future time.
3.2.546
Are you not getting ready for a wedding there at your house?
3.2.546b
I am getting ready and making preparations.
3.2.547
Don’t you require an assistant then?
3.2.547b
We have enough at home. When the marriage has taken place, then I’ll call upon her; for the present, farewell, and bid her the same from me. (Goes into her house.)
3.2.549
What am I to do now? To my sorrow. I’ve done a most disgraceful action
3.2.550
for the sake of that vile and toothless goat, who has engaged me in this. I’ve promised the aid of my wife out of doors, as though to go lick dishes like a dog. A worthless fellow, to tell me that his wife was going to send for her, whereas she herself declares that she does not want her. And upon my faith, it’s a wonder if this female neighbour of mine hasn’t already her suspicions of this.
3.2.555
But yet, on the other hand, when I reflect with myself on this notion, if there were anything of that, there would have been enquiries of me. I’ll go in-doors, that I may lay up the ship again in the dockyard.
3.2.558
Now he has been finely made a fool of. In what a bustle are these unfortunate old fellows. Now I do wish that that good-for-nothing decrepit husband of mine would come,
3.2.560
that I might make a fool of him in his turn, after I have thus fooled the other one. For I long to make a bit of a quarrel between these two. But look, he’s coming. Why, when you see him so serious, you’d think him a decent person. (She stands on one side, unseen.)
3.3.563
It’s a great folly, to my notion at least, for any man that’s in love to go to the Forum
3.3.565
on that day on which the object which he loves is close at hand; as I in my folly have been doing; I’ve spent the day, standing pleading for a certain relative of mine, who, faith, I’m very delighted has lost his cause; so that he hasn’t for nothing chosen me as his advocate to-day.
3.3.570
He ought first to ask and make enquiry, whether his mind is at home or not at home, whom he’s choosing for his advocate; if he says it isn’t, without his mind he should send him off home. (Catches sight of his wife.) But look, there’s my wife before the house! Alas! wretch that I am!
3.3.575
I’m afraid that she isn’t deaf, and has heard this.
3.3.576
By my troth, I have heard it to your great cost.
3.3.577
I’ll go nearer to her. (Goes up to CLEOSTRATA.) What are you about, my delight?
3.3.578
I’ faith, I was waiting for you.

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