T. Maccius Plautus Casina 1.1

OLYMPIO

Isn’t it to be allowed me for myself to speak and think about my own affairs by myself, just as I choose, without you as an overlooker? Why the plague are you following me about?

CHALINUS

Because I’m resolved, just like your shadow, wherever you go, to follow you about. Why troth, even if you are ready to go to the cross, I’m determined to follow you. Hence judge of the sequel,

whether you can or not, by your artifices, slily deprive me of Casina for a wife, just as you are attempting.

95

OLYMPIO

What business have you with me?

CHALINUS

What say you, impudence? Why are you creeping about in the city, you bailiff ² , so very valuable in this place?

OLYMPIO

Because I choose.

CHALINUS

But why ain’t you in the country, at your post of command?

Why don’t you rather pay attention to the business that has been entrusted to you, and keep yourself from meddling in city matters? Have you come hither to deprive me of my betrothed? Be off to the country—be off to your place of command, and be hanged to you.

100

OLYMPIO

Chalinus, I have not forgotten my duty.

I’ve given charge to one who will still take care that all’s right in the country. When I’ve got that for which I came hither to the city, to take her as my wife whom you are dying for—the fair and charming Casina, your fellow-servant—when I’ve carried her off with myself into the country as my wife,

105

I’ll then stick fast in the country, at my post of command.

110

CHALINUS

What, you marry her? By my faith, ’twere better I should die by a halter, than that you should be the winner of her.

OLYMPIO

She’s my prize; do you put yourself in a halter at once.

CHALINUS

Fellow, dug up from your own dunghill, is she to be your prize?

OLYMPIO

You’ll find that such is the fact.

115

Woe be unto you!

in what a many ways, if I only live, I’ll have you tormented at my wedding!

CHALINUS

What will you do to me?

OLYMPIO

What will I do to you? In the first place of all, you shall hold the lighted torch for this new-made bride of nine; that always, in future, you may be worthless ³ , and not esteemed.

Then next after that, when you get to the country-house, a single pitcher ⁴ shall be found you, and a single path, a single spring, a single brass cauldron, and eight casks; and unless these shall be always kept filled, I’ll load you with lashes. I’ll make you so thoroughly bent with carrying water,

120

that a horse’s crupper might be manufactured out of you. And then, in future, unless in the country you either feed on pulse, or, like a worm, upon the soil, should you require to taste of any better food, never, upon my faith, is hunger as full of hungriness as I’ll make you to be in the country.

125

After that, when you’re tired out, and starved with famine, care shall be taken that, at night, you go to bed as you deserve.

130

CHALINUS

What will you do?

OLYMPIO

You shall be shut up fast in a nook with bars, where you can listen while I’m caressing her, while she is saying to me, My soul, my own Olympio,

my life, my sweet, my delight, do let me kiss your dear eyes, my love! do, there’s a dear, let yourself be loved! my own day of happiness, my sparrow-chick, my own dove, my leveret! When these expressions shall be being uttered to me, then will you, you villain,

135

be wriggling about like a mouse in the middle of the wall. Now, that you mayn’t be trying to give me an answer, I’ll off in-doors; I’m tired of your talk.

140

(Goes into the house of STALINO.)

CHALINUS

I’ll follow you. Here, indeed, on my word, assuredly you shall do nothing without me for an overlooker.

(Follows him into the house.)