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437
(Enter STALINO and OLYMPIO, from the house.)
OLYMPIO
Only let him come into the country; I’ll send the fellow back into the city to you with his porter’s knot
1
, as black as a collier.
Only let him come into the country; I’ll send the fellow back into the city to you with his porter’s knot
1
, as black as a collier.
STALINO
So it ought to be.
So it ought to be.
OLYMPIO
I’ll have that done and well taken care of.
I’ll have that done and well taken care of.
STALINO
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.
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.
440
CHALINUS
(apart, retreating to the wall of the house.)
I’ll betake me back again to the wall; I’ll imitate the crab. Their conversation must be secretly picked up by me;
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
2
, a very receptacle for stripes. My own death I defer; I’m determined to send this fellow to Acheron before me.
445
I’ll betake me back again to the wall; I’ll imitate the crab. Their conversation must be secretly picked up by me;
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
2
, a very receptacle for stripes. My own death I defer; I’m determined to send this fellow to Acheron before me.
445
OLYMPIO
How obsequious have I been found to you! A thing that you especially
desired, that same have I put in your power; this day the object that you love shall be with you, unknown to your wife.
450
How obsequious have I been found to you! A thing that you especially
desired, that same have I put in your power; this day the object that you love shall be with you, unknown to your wife.
450
STALINO
Hush! So may the Deities kindly bless me, I can hardly withhold my lips from kissing you on account of this, my own delight!
Hush! So may the Deities kindly bless me, I can hardly withhold my lips from kissing you on account of this, my own delight!
CHALINUS
(apart.)
What? Kiss him? What’s the meaning of this? What’s this delight of yours?
What? Kiss him? What’s the meaning of this? What’s this delight of yours?
OLYMPIO
Do you love me at all now?
Do you love me at all now?
STALINO
Aye, by my faith, myself even less than you. May I embrace you?
Aye, by my faith, myself even less than you. May I embrace you?
OLYMPIO
You may.
(STALINO embraces him.)
You may.
STALINO
How, when I touch you, I do seem to myself to be tasting honey!
How, when I touch you, I do seem to myself to be tasting honey!
CHALINUS
(apart.)
I really do think he intends to choke the bailiff.
455
I really do think he intends to choke the bailiff.
455
OLYMPIO
(pushing STALINO away.)
Away with you, you lover; get off, with your too close acquaintanceship!
Away with you, you lover; get off, with your too close acquaintanceship!
CHALINUS
(apart.)
I’ faith, I think that
3
this very day they’ll be making terms. Surely,this old fellow is an universal admirer.
465
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.
460
I’ faith, I think that
3
this very day they’ll be making terms. Surely,this old fellow is an universal admirer.
465
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.
460
OLYMPIO
How subservient have I proved to you to-day, how attentive to your pleasure!
How subservient have I proved to you to-day, how attentive to your pleasure!
STALINO
How surely, so long as I live, will I prove more of a well-wisher to you than to my own self!
How will I this day give full many a kiss to Casina! How will I, unknown to my wife, right pleasantly enjoy myself!
How surely, so long as I live, will I prove more of a well-wisher to you than to my own self!
How will I this day give full many a kiss to Casina! How will I, unknown to my wife, right pleasantly enjoy myself!
CHALINUS
(apart.)
Oho! Now, faith,at last I’ve got into the right track.
It’s himself that’s dying for Casina. I’ve caught the fellows.
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Oho! Now, faith,at last I’ve got into the right track.
It’s himself that’s dying for Casina. I’ve caught the fellows.
470
STALINO
Even now, by my troth, am I longing to embrace her; even now to be kissing her.
Even now, by my troth, am I longing to embrace her; even now to be kissing her.
OLYMPIO
Do let her be brought out first from the house. Why the plague are you in such a hurry?
Do let her be brought out first from the house. Why the plague are you in such a hurry?
STALINO
I’m in love.
I’m in love.
OLYMPIO
But I don’t think that this can possibly be managed to-day.
But I don’t think that this can possibly be managed to-day.
STALINO
It can, if, indeed, you think that you can possibly receive your freedom to-morrow.
It can, if, indeed, you think that you can possibly receive your freedom to-morrow.
CHALINUS
(apart.)
Why, really, I must make still better use here of my ears; now, in one thicket, I shall be cleverly catching two boars.
475
Why, really, I must make still better use here of my ears; now, in one thicket, I shall be cleverly catching two boars.
475
STALINO
(pointing to the house of ALCESIMUS.)
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.
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.
OLYMPIO
What will his wife do? Where will she be?
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What will his wife do? Where will she be?
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STALINO
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.
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?
485
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.
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?
485
OLYMPIO
Cleverly!
Cleverly!
CHALINUS
(apart.)
Only do proceed; contrive away. By my troth, to your own mischance are you so clever.
Only do proceed; contrive away. By my troth, to your own mischance are you so clever.
STALINO
Do you know what you must do now?
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Do you know what you must do now?
490
OLYMPIO
Tell me.
Tell me.
STALINO
(giving him a purse.)
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.
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.
OLYMPIO
Very well.
Very well.
STALINO
Buy some cuttle-fish, mussels, calamaries, barley-fish
4
.
Buy some cuttle-fish, mussels, calamaries, barley-fish
4
.
CHALINUS
(apart.)
Aye, wheaten fish, if you know what you’re about.
Aye, wheaten fish, if you know what you’re about.
STALINO
Some sole-fish
5
.
495
Some sole-fish
5
.
495
CHALINUS
(apart.)
Prithee, why those rather than soles of wood, with which your head may be banged, you most vile old fellow?
Prithee, why those rather than soles of wood, with which your head may be banged, you most vile old fellow?
OLYMPIO
Should you like some tongue-fish
6
?
Should you like some tongue-fish
6
?
STALINO
What need is there, since my wife’s at home? She is our tongue-fish, for she’s never silent.
What need is there, since my wife’s at home? She is our tongue-fish, for she’s never silent.
OLYMPIO
While I’m about it, I must make choice out of the supply of fish what to purchase.
While I’m about it, I must make choice out of the supply of fish what to purchase.
STALINO
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.
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.
OLYMPIO
Am I to go now?
Am I to go now?
STALINO
I wish you.
(Exit OLYMPIO. STALINO goes into the house of ALCESIMUS.)
I wish you.
CHALINUS
(coming forward.)
By three freedoms I could not be induced
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.
505
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
7
.
510
(Goes into the house.)
By three freedoms I could not be induced
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.
505
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
7
.
510
Casina. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1913.
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