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875
(Enter OLYMPIO, in great alarm, from the house of ALCESIMUS.)
OLYMPIO
(bawling aloud.)
Neither where to fly to, nor where to conceal myself, nor how to hide this disgrace, do I know; so much have my master and myself been supereminently disgraced at these nuptials of ours. I’m now so ashamed, and now so afraid, and so ridiculous are we both. But, a simpleton, I’m now doing what’s new to me: I’m ashamed at that which has never shamed me before.
(To the AUDIENCE.) Lend me your attention, while I repeat my exploits; it’s worth your while to catch them with your ears;
875
so ridiculous to be heard, to be repeated, are these mishaps which I have met with in the house. [When straightway
1
I had led my new-made bride into the room, I fastened the bolt; but, however, the gloom there was just like the night. I placed, I propped things against the door; I struggled hard
2
that before the old fellow
with my bride.
880
Then I began to be slow in my proceedings, for I looked behind me every now and then, lest the old fellow should break in
, a kiss, that provocative to lust, I asked of her first. She pushed back my hand, and allowed me not to give her a kiss in a quiet way.
885
But then the more anxious was I, the more desirous to assert my privilege with Casina, and I longed to do the old fellow out of that task. The door I blocked up, so that the old man might not over-power me.
(from the house.)
889890
Neither where to fly to, nor where to conceal myself, nor how to hide this disgrace, do I know; so much have my master and myself been supereminently disgraced at these nuptials of ours. I’m now so ashamed, and now so afraid, and so ridiculous are we both. But, a simpleton, I’m now doing what’s new to me: I’m ashamed at that which has never shamed me before.
(To the AUDIENCE.) Lend me your attention, while I repeat my exploits; it’s worth your while to catch them with your ears;
875
so ridiculous to be heard, to be repeated, are these mishaps which I have met with in the house. [When straightway
1
I had led my new-made bride into the room, I fastened the bolt; but, however, the gloom there was just like the night. I placed, I propped things against the door; I struggled hard
2
that before the old fellow
with my bride.
880
Then I began to be slow in my proceedings, for I looked behind me every now and then, lest the old fellow should break in
, a kiss, that provocative to lust, I asked of her first. She pushed back my hand, and allowed me not to give her a kiss in a quiet way.
885
But then the more anxious was I, the more desirous to assert my privilege with Casina, and I longed to do the old fellow out of that task. The door I blocked up, so that the old man might not over-power me.
(from the house.)
889890
MYRRHINA
(apart to CLEOSTRATA.)
Come now, you accost him.
(Pointing to OLYMPIO.)
Come now, you accost him.
(Pointing to OLYMPIO.)
CLEOSTRATA
(accosting OLYMPIO.)
Where is your newly-made bride?
Where is your newly-made bride?
OLYMPIO
(aside.)
By heavens, I’m utterly undone; the thing’s all out.
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By heavens, I’m utterly undone; the thing’s all out.
893895
CLEOSTRATA
(overhearing him.)
It’s right, then, that you should relate the whole affair as it happened. What’s going on in-doors? How fares Casina? Is she quite obsequious to your will?
It’s right, then, that you should relate the whole affair as it happened. What’s going on in-doors? How fares Casina? Is she quite obsequious to your will?
OLYMPIO
I’m ashamed to tell it.
I’m ashamed to tell it.
CLEOSTRATA
Relate it in its order just as you proceeded.
Relate it in its order just as you proceeded.
OLYMPIO
Upon my faith, I am ashamed.
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Upon my faith, I am ashamed.
899900
CLEOSTRATA
Proceed boldly. After you went to bed, I want you to tell what took place after that.
Proceed boldly. After you went to bed, I want you to tell what took place after that.
OLYMPIO
But it’s a disgraceful matter.
But it’s a disgraceful matter.
CLEOSTRATA
I’ll take care that those who hear it shall be on their guard as to mentioning it.
I’ll take care that those who hear it shall be on their guard as to mentioning it.
OLYMPIO
That’s the principal thing.
That’s the principal thing.
CLEOSTRATA
You kill me with weariness. Why don’t you proceed?
You kill me with weariness. Why don’t you proceed?
OLYMPIO
3
—Ubi
us subtus porro
quid.
—Ubi
us subtus porro
quid.
OLYMPIO
Babae!
Babae!
CLEOSTRATA
Quid?
Quid?
OLYMPIO
Papae!
quid est?
Papae!
quid est?
OLYMPIO
Oh, erat maximum. Gladium ne haberet metui; id quaerere occœpi. Dum, gladiumne habeat, quaero, arripio capulum.
Sed, quom cogito, non habuit gladium; nam id esset frigidius.
910
Oh, erat maximum. Gladium ne haberet metui; id quaerere occœpi. Dum, gladiumne habeat, quaero, arripio capulum.
Sed, quom cogito, non habuit gladium; nam id esset frigidius.
910
CLEOSTRATA
Eloquere.
Eloquere.
OLYMPIO
At pudet.
At pudet.
CLEOSTRATA
Num radix fuit?
Num radix fuit?
OLYMPIO
Non fuit.
Non fuit.
CLEOSTRATA
Num cucumis?
Num cucumis?
OLYMPIO
Profecto hercle non fuit quidquam olerum; Nisi quidquid erat, calamitas profecto attigerat nunquam. Ita, quidquid erat, grande erat.
Profecto hercle non fuit quidquam olerum; Nisi quidquid erat, calamitas profecto attigerat nunquam. Ita, quidquid erat, grande erat.
MYRRHINA
Quid fit denique? Edisserta.
915
Quid fit denique? Edisserta.
915
OLYMPIO
4
—sepit veste id, quî estis. Ubi illum saltum video obseptum; Rogo, ut altero sinat ire. Ita, quidquid erat, grande erat. Tollo ut obvortam cubitissim
Ullum mutire
Surge, ut ineam in
Atque illam in
925
4
—sepit veste id, quî estis. Ubi illum saltum video obseptum; Rogo, ut altero sinat ire. Ita, quidquid erat, grande erat. Tollo ut obvortam cubitissim
Ullum mutire
Surge, ut ineam in
Atque illam in
925
MYRRHINA
Perlepide narrat
Perlepide narrat
OLYMPIO
When I addressed Casina,
Casina, said I,
my dear wife, why do you slight your husband in this fashion? Really, upon my faith, you do this quite without my deserving it, inasmuch as I have given you the preference as my wife.
She answered not a word.
When I attempted a kiss, a beard pricked my lips just like briars.
Forthwith, as I was upon my knees, she struck my head with her feet. I tumbled headlong from the bed; she leapt down upon me and punched my face. From there in silence out of doors I came in this guise; by your leaves I say it; may the old fellow drink of the same cup that I have been drinking of.
930
When I addressed Casina,
Casina, said I,
my dear wife, why do you slight your husband in this fashion? Really, upon my faith, you do this quite without my deserving it, inasmuch as I have given you the preference as my wife.
She answered not a word.
When I attempted a kiss, a beard pricked my lips just like briars.
Forthwith, as I was upon my knees, she struck my head with her feet. I tumbled headlong from the bed; she leapt down upon me and punched my face. From there in silence out of doors I came in this guise; by your leaves I say it; may the old fellow drink of the same cup that I have been drinking of.
930
CLEOSTRATA
Most excellent. But where’s your cloak?
Most excellent. But where’s your cloak?
OLYMPIO
(pointing to the house of ALCESIMUS.)
I left it here in-doors.
I left it here in-doors.
CLEOSTRATA
Well now; hasn’t a very nice trick been played you?
935
Well now; hasn’t a very nice trick been played you?
935
OLYMPIO
Yes, and deservedly. Hush! the door makes a noise. What, is she following me, I wonder?
(They go to a distance.)
Yes, and deservedly. Hush! the door makes a noise. What, is she following me, I wonder?
(They go to a distance.)
Casina. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1913.
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