THE PROLOGUE:I bid you, most worthy Spectators, welcome; who most highly esteem the Goddess Faith, and Faith esteems you. If I have said the truth, then give me loud applause, that even now, from the very beginning forward, I may know that you are favourably disposed towards me.
PROLOGVS:Salvere iubeo spectatores optumos,fidem qui facitis maxumi, et vos Fides.si verum dixi, signum clarum date mihi,ut vos mi esse aequos iam inde a principio sciam.
Those who make use of aged wine, I deem to be wise; and those as well, who, through choice, are the spectators of ancient Plays. Since antique works and words are pleasing to you,’tis just that ancient Plays should in preference please you; for the new Comedies which come out now-a-daysare much more worthless than the new-coined money. We, since we have heard the report in public, that you ardently wish for the Plays of Plautus, have brought forward this ancient Comedy of his, which you, who are among the older ones, have formerly approved.
qui utuntur vino vetere sapientis putoet qui libenter veteres spectant fabulas;⟨atque⟩ antiqua opera et verba cum vobis placent,aequom est placere ante ⟨alias⟩ veteres fabulas:nam nunc novae quae prodeunt comoediaemulto sunt nequiores quam nummi novi.nos postquam populi rumore intelleximusstudiose expetere vos Plautinas fabulas,antiquam éius edimus comoediam,quam vos probastis qui estis in senioribus;
But I am aware that those who are among the younger ones are not acquainted with it; still, that they may make acquaintance with it, we will carefully use our best endeavours. When this was first represented, it surpassed all other Plays. In those days there was the very elite of the poets, who have now departed hence to the place common to all.
nam iuniorum qui sunt non norunt, scio;verum ut cognoscant dabimus operam sedulo.haec cum primum acta est, vicit omnis fabulas.ea tempestate flos poetarum fuit,qui nunc abierunt hinc in communem locum.
But though departed, yet do they prove of advantage to those who are still existing. All of you, with the greatest earnestness, I would have entreated that you’ll kindly lend attention to this our company. Dismiss from your thoughts cares and monies due; let no man stand in dread of his duns.
sed tamen absentes prosunt ⟨pro⟩ praesentibus.vos omnes opere magno esse oratos volo,benigne ut operam detis ad nostrum gregem.eicite ex animo curam atque alienum aes …ne quis formidet flagitatorem suom:
’Tis a holiday this—to the bankers a holiday has been given.’Tis now a calm; about the Forum these are Halcyon days. Reasonably do they act: during the games they ask no man for money; but during the games to no one do they pay. If your ears are disengaged, give me your attention;
ludi sunt, ludus datus est argentariis;tranquillum est, Alcedonia sunt circum forum:ratione utuntur, ludis poscunt neminem,secundum ludos reddunt autem nemini.aures vocivae si sunt, animum advortite:
I wish to mention to you the name of the Play. “Clerumenae ” this Comedy is called in Greek; in Latin, “Sortientes.” Diphilus wrote it in Greek, and after that, over again, Plautus with the barking name in Latin afresh.(Pointing to the house of STALINO.)
comoediai nomen dare vobis volo.Clerumenoe vocatur haec comoediagraece, latine Sortientes. Deiphilushanc graece scripsit, post id rursum denuolatine Plautus cum latranti nomine.
An old married man is living here; he has a son; he, with his father, is dwelling in this house. He has a certain slave, who with disease is confined—aye, faith, to his bed, he really is, that I may tell no lie. But sixteen years ago, it happened that on a time this servant,at early dawn, beheld a female child being exposed. He went at once to the woman who was exposing it, and begged her to give it to himself. He gained his request: he took it away, and carried it straight home. He gave it to his mistress, and entreated her to take care of it, and bring it up.
senex híc maritus habitat; éi est filius,is una cum patre in illisce habitat aedibus.est éi quidam servos, qui in morbo cubat,immo hercle vero in lecto, ne quid mentiar;is servos, sed abhinc annos factum est sedecim,quom conspicatust primulo crepusculopuellam exponi. adít extemplo ad mulieremquae illam exponebat, orat ut eam det sibi:exorat, aufert; detulit recta domum,dat erae suae, orat ut eam curet, educet.
His mistress did so; with great care she brought it up, as though it had been her own daughter, not much different. Since then she has grown up to that age to be able to prove an attraction to the men; but this old gentleman loves this girl distractedly, and, on the other hand, so does his son as well.
era fecit, educavit magna industria,quasi si esset ex se nata, non multo secus.postquam ea adolevit ad eam aetatem, ut virisplacere posset, eam puellam hic senexamat efflictim, et item contra filius.
Each of them now, on either side, is preparing his legions, both father and son, each unknown to the other. The father has deputed his bailiff to ask her as his wife; he hopes that, if she’s given to him, an attraction out of doors will be, unknown to his wife, provided for him.
nunc sibi utérque contra legiones parat,paterque filiusque, clam alter alterum:pater adlegavit vilicum, qui posceretsibi istánc uxorem: is sperat, si ei sit data,sibi fore paratas clam uxorem excubias foris;
But the son has deputed his armour-bearer to ask her for himself as a wife. He knows that if he gains that request, there will be an object for him to love, within his abode. The wife of the old gentleman has found out that he is gratifying his amorousness; for that reason, she is making common cause together with her son.
filius is autem armigerum adlegavit suom,qui sibi eam uxorem poscat: scit, si id impetret,futurum quod amat intra praesepis suas.senis uxor sensit virum amóri operam dare,propterea úna consentit cum filio.
But this father, when he found out that his son was in love with this same woman, and was a hindrance to him, sent the young man hence upon business abroad. His mother, understanding this, still lends him, though absent, her assistance. Don’t you expect it; he will not, in this Play, to-day,return to the city. Plautus did not choose it: he broke down the bridge that lay before him in the way. There are some here, who, I fancy, are now saying among themselves, “Prithee, what means this, i’ faith?—the marriage of a slave Are slaves to be marrying wives, or asking them for themselves?”
ille autem postquam filium sensit suomeandem illam amare et esse ímpedimento sibi,hinc adulescentem peregre ablegavit pater;sciens ei mater dat operam absenti tamen.is, ne exspectetis, hodie in hac comoediain urbem non redibit: Plautus noluit,pontem interrupit, quí erat ei in itinere.sunt hic, inter se quos nunc credo dicere:“quaeso hercle, quíd istuc est? serviles nuptiae?servin uxorem ducent aut poscent sibi?
“They’ve introduced something new—a thing that’s done nowhere in the world.” But I affirm that this is done in Greece, and at Carthage, and here in our own country, and in the Apulian country; and that the marriages of slaves are wont to be solemnized there with more fuss than even those of free persons.
novom attulerunt, quod fit nusquam gentium.”at ego aio id fieri in Graecia et Carthagini,et hic in nostra terra † in Apulia;maioreque opere ibi serviles nuptiaequam liberales etiam curari solent;
If this is not the fact, if any one pleases, let him bet with me a stake towards a jug of honied wine, so long as a Carthaginian is the umpire in my cause, or a Greek in fact, or an Apulian. (A pause.) What now? You don’t take it? No one’s thirsty, I find. I’ll return to that foundling girl,whom the two slaves are, with all their might, contending for as a wife. She’ll be found to be both chaste and free, of freeborn parents, an Athenian girl, and assuredly of no immodesty at all will she be guilty in this Comedy at least. But i’ faith, for sure, directly afterwards, when the Play is over,if any one offers the money, as I guess, she’ll readily enter into matrimony with him, and not wait for good omens. Thus much I have to say. Farewell; be prosperous in your affairs, and conquer by true valour, as hitherto you’ve done.(Enter OLYMPIO, CHALINUS following him.
id ni fit, mecum pignus si quis volt datoin urnam mulsi, Poenus dum iudex sietvel Graecus adeo, vel mea causa Apulus.quid nunc? nihil agitis? sentio, nemo sitit.revortar ád illam puellam éxpositiciam:quam servi summa vi sibi uxorem expetunt,ea invenietur et pudica et libera,ingenua Atheniensis, neque quicquam stuprifaciet profecto in hac quidem comoedia.mox hercle vero, post transactam fabulam,argentum si quis dederit, ut ego suspicor,ultro ibit nuptum, non manebit auspices.tantum est. valete, bene rem gerite et vincitevirtute vera, quod fecistis antidhac.
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?
Olympio:Non mihi licere meam rem me solum, ut volo,loqui atque cogitare, sine ted arbitro?quid tu, malum, me sequere?
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.
Chalinvs:Quia certum est mihi,quasi umbra, quoquo tu ibis, te semper sequi;quin edepol etiam si in crucem vis pergere,sequi decretumst. dehinc conicito ceterum,possisne necne clam me sutelis tuispraeripere Casinam uxorem, proinde ut postulas.
OLYMPIO:What business have you with me?
Olympio:Quid tibi negotist mecum?
CHALINUS:What say you, impudence? Why are you creeping about in the city, you bailiff, so very valuable in this place?
Chalinvs:Quid ais, impudens?quid in urbe reptas, vilice haud magni preti?
OLYMPIO:Because I choose.
Olympio:Lubet.
CHALINUS:But why ain’t you in the country, at your post of command?
Chalinvs:Quin ruri es in praefectura tua?
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.
quin potius quod legatum est tibi negotium,id curas atque urbanis rebus te apstines?huc mihi venisti sponsam praereptum meam:abi rus, abi dierectus tuam in provinciam.
OLYMPIO:Chalinus, I have not forgotten my duty.
Olympio:Chaline, non sum oblitus officium meum:
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,I’ll then stick fast in the country, at my post of command.
praefeci ruri recte qui curet tamen.ego huc quod veni in urbem si impetravero,uxorem ut istam ducam, quam tu deperis,bellam et tenellam Casinam, conservam tuam,quando ego eam mecum rus uxorem abduxero,ruri incubabo usque in praefectura mea.
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.
Chalinvs:Tun illam ducas? hercle me suspendio,quam tu eius potior fias, satiust mortuom.
OLYMPIO:She’s my prize; do you put yourself in a halter at once.
Olympio:Mea praedast illa: proin tu te in laqueum induas.
CHALINUS:Fellow, dug up from your own dunghill, is she to be your prize?
Chalinvs:Ex sterculino effosse, tua illaec praeda sit?
OLYMPIO:You’ll find that such is the fact.Woe be unto you!in what a many ways, if I only live, I’ll have you tormented at my wedding!
Olympio:Scies hóc ita esse.Chalinvs:Vae tibi.Olympio:Quot te modis,si vivo, habebo in nuptiis miserum meis.
CHALINUS:What will you do to me?
Chalinvs:Quid tu mihi facies?
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, and not esteemed.
Olympio:Egone quid faciam tibi?primum omnium huic lucebis novae nuptae facem;postilla, ut semper, improbus nihilique eris:
Then next after that, when you get to the country-house, a single pitcher 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,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.
post id locorum quando ad villam veneris,dabitur tibi amphora una et una semita,fons unus, unum ahenum et octo dolia:quae nisi erunt semper plena, ego te implebo flagris.ita te aggerunda curvom aqua faciam probe,ut postilena possit ex te fieri.post autem érvi nisi tu acervom éderisaut quasi lumbricus terram, quod te postulesgustare quicquam, numquam edepol ieiuniumieiunumst aeque atque ego te ruri reddibo.
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.
post id, quom lassus fueris et famelicus,noctu ut condigne te cubes curabitur.
CHALINUS:What will you do?
Chalinvs:Quid facies?
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,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.(Goes into the house of STALINO.)
Olympio:Concludere in fénestram firmiter,unde auscultare possis quóm ego illam ausculer:quom mi illa dicet “mi animule, mi Olympio,mea vita, mea mellilla, mea festivitas,sine tuos ocellos deosculer, voluptas mea,sine amabo ted amari, meus festus dies,meus pullus passer, mea columba, mi lepus”,quom mi haec dicentur dicta, tum tu, furcifer,quasi mus, in medio pariete versabere.nunc ne tu te mihi respondere postules,abeo intro. taedet tui sermonis.—
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.) (Enter CLEOSTRATA and PARDALISCA, from the house of STALINO.)
Chalinvs:Te sequor.hic quidem pol certo nil ages síne med arbitro.—
CLEOSTRATA: (at the door, to the SERVANTS, within.)Seal fast the store-rooms, bring back the signet to me.
Cleostrata:Obsígnate céllas, reférte anulum ád me:
I’m going here to my next door neighbour; if my husband wants me for anything, take care and send for me thence.
ego húc transeo ín proxumum ád meam vicínam.vir sí quid volét me, facite hínc accersátis.
PARDALISCA:The old gentleman ordered a breakfast to be got ready for him to-day.
Pardalisca:Prándium iússerat sénex sibi parari.
CLEOSTRATA:Tut! Hold your tongue, and be off. (PARDALISCA goes into the house.) I don’t prepare it, and it shan’t be cooked; since he sets himself against myself and his son,for the sake of his passion and his appetite. A disgraceful fellow that! I’ll punish this lover with hunger, I’ll punish him with thirst, with abuse, with hardships.By my faith, I’ll thoroughly worry him with disagreable speeches; I’ll make him to pass a life in future just as he deserves—fit food for Acheron, a hunter after iniquity, a stable of infamy!
Cleostrata:St! tace átque abi; néque paro néque hodie coquetur,quándo is mi et fílio ádvorsatúr suoánimi amorísque causá sui,flágitium illud hóminis. ego illúm fame, ego illúm siti,maledíctis, malefáctis amátorem ulcíscar,ego pól illum probe íncommodís dictis ángam,fáciam uti proínde ut est dígnus vitám colat,Ácheruntis pábulum,flágiti persequentem†stabulúm nequitiae.
Now I’ll away hence to my neighbours, to lament my lot. But the door makes a noise; and see, she’s coming out of doors herself. On my word, I’ve not started for my call at a convenient time.(Enter MYRRHINA, from the house of ALCESIMUS.)MYRRHINA: (to her SERVANTS, at the door.)Follow me, my attendants, here next door. You there! Does any one hear this that I say? I shall be here, if my husband or any person shall seek me. Did I order my distaff to be taken there? For when I’m at home alone, drowsiness takes effect upon my hand.
nunc húc meas fortúnas eo quéstum ad vicínam.séd foris concrépuit, atque eápse eccam egreditúr foras:non pól per tempus iter húc mi incepi.Myrrhina:Sequimíni, comites, in próxumum me huc. heus vós, ecquis haec quae lóquor audit?ego hic éro, vir si aut quispiám quaeret.nam úbi domi sóla sum, sópor manus cálvitur.iussín colum ferrí mihi?
CLEOSTRATA:Myrrhina, good morrow.
Cleostrata:Myrrhína, salve.
MYRRHINA:Good morrow, my dear Cleostrata. But, prithee, why are you sad?
Myrrhina:Salvé mecastor. séd quid tu es tristís, amabo?
CLEOSTRATA:So all are wont to be who are unfortunately married; at home and abroad, there’s always enough to make them sad. But I was going to your house.
Cleostrata:Itá solent omnes quae súnt male nuptae:domi ét foris aegre quód siet, satis sémper est.nam ego íbam ad te.
MYRRHINA:And, troth, I was coming here to yours. But what is it that now distresses your mind? For the thing that distresses you, that same is a trouble to me.
Myrrhina:Et pol ego ístuc ad te.sed quíd est quod tuo nunc ánimo aegrest?nam quód tibi est aégre, idem mi ést dividiae.
CLEOSTRATA:On my word, I do believe you. For with good reason no female neighbour of mine do I love better than yourself, nor any one with whom I have more ties of intimacy, to afford me pleasure.
Cleostrata:Credo écastor, nam vícinam nemínem amo merito mágis quam tenec † qua in plura sint mihi quae ego velim.
MYRRHINA:I thank you kindly, and I long to know what this is.
Myrrhina:Amó te, atque istúc expetó scire quíd sit.
CLEOSTRATA:My husband has put slights upon me in a most unworthy manner.
Cleostrata:Péssumis mé modis déspicatúr domi.
MYRRHINA:Hah! What is it? Prithee, repeat that same again; for, on my word, I don’t in my mind sufficiently comprehend your complaints.
Myrrhina:Hém, quid est? díc idem (nám pol hau sátis meocórde accepí querellas tuas) ópsecro.
CLEOSTRATA:My husband has put slights upon me in a most unworthy manner,and I have not the advantage of enjoying my own rights.
Cleostrata:Vír me habet péssumis déspicatám modis,néc mihi iús meum óptinendi optio est.
MYRRHINA:’Tis surprising, if you say the truth; for husbands can scarce obtain from their wives what’s their own right.
Myrrhina:Míra sunt, véra si praédicas, nám viriiús suom ad múlieres óptinere haúd queunt.
CLEOSTRATA:Why, against my will, he demands a female servant of me, who belongs to myself, and was brought up at my own expense,for him to give to his bailiff. But he is in love with her himself.
Cleostrata:Quín mihi ancíllulam ingrátiis póstulat,quaé mea est, quaé meo edúcta sumptú siet,vílico suo sé dare,séd ipsus eam amat.
MYRRHINA:Pray, do hold your tongue.
Myrrhina:Obsecrotáce.
CLEOSTRATA: (looking round.)But here we may speak at present; we are alone—
Cleostrata:Nam hic nunc licet dícere:nós sumus.
MYRRHINA:It is so. But whence did you get her? For a good wife ought to have no propertyunknown to her husband; and she who has got any, it is not to her credit, for she must either have purloined it from her husband, or obtained it by unfaithfulness. Whatever is your own, all that I take to be your husband’s.
Myrrhina:Ita est. unde éa tibi est?nám peculí probam níl habere áddecetclám virum, ét quae habet, pártum ei haud cómmode est,quín viro aut súbtrahat aut stupro invénerit.hóc viri cénseo esse ómne, quidquíd tuom est.
CLEOSTRATA:Surely, you’re saying all this out of opposition to your friend.
Cleostrata:Tu quidem advorsum tuam amicam omnia loqueris.
MYRRHINA:Do hold your tongue, will you, simpleton, and attend to me. Do you forbear to oppose him, will you. Let him love on; that which he chooses let him do, so long as nothing’s denied you at home.
Myrrhina:Tace sís, stulta, et mi auscúlta. nolí sis tu illi advórsari,sine amét, sine quod libet íd faciat, quandó tibi nil domi délicuom est.
CLEOSTRATA:Are you quite in your senses? For really, you are saying these things against your own interest.
Cleostrata:Satin sána es? nam tu quidem ádvorsus tuam istaéc rem loquere.
MYRRHINA:Silly creature, do you always take care and be on guard against this expression from your husband—
Myrrhina:Insípiens,sempér tu huic verbo vítato abs tuo víro.
CLEOSTRATA:What expression?
Cleostrata:Cui verbo?
MYRRHINA:“Woman! out of doors with you!”CLEOSTRATA: (in a low voice.)
Myrrhina:Ei fóras, mulier.
’St! be quiet.MYRRHINA:What’s the matter?
Cleostrata:St, táce,Myrrhina:Quid est?
CLEOSTRATA:Hush!(Looks in a particular direction.)
Cleostrata:Ém.
MYRRHINA:Who is it that you see?
Myrrhina:Quis est, quém vides?
CLEOSTRATA:Why look, my husband’s coming; go you in-doors. Make all haste; be off, there’s a dear.
Cleostrata:Vireccum ít; intro ábi, adpropera, áge amabó.
MYRRHINA:You easily prevail; I’m off.
Myrrhina:Impetrás, abeo.
CLEOSTRATA:At a future time, when you and I shall have more leisure, then I’ll talk to you. For the present, adieu!
Cleostrata:Mox mágis cum otium mi et tibi érit, igiturtecúm loquar. nunc vale.
MYRRHINA:Adieu! (Goes into her house. CLEOSTRATA stands aside.)(Enter STALINO.)
Myrrhina:Váleas.—
STALINO: (to himself.)I do believe that love excels all things and delights that are exquisite. It is not possible for anything to be mentioned, that has more relish and more that’s delicious in it. Really, I do much wonder at the cooks, who employ sauces so many,that they don’t employ this one seasoning, which excels them all. For where love shall be the seasoning, that I do believe will please every one; nor can there be anything relishing or sweet, where love is not mixed with it. The gall which is bitter, that same it will make into honey; a man from morose into one cheerful and pleasant. This conjecture do I form rather from myself at home than from anything I’ve heard;
Lysidamvs:Omnibus rebus ego amorem credo et nitoribus nitidis antevenire,nec potis quicquam commemorari quod plus salis plusque leporis hodiehabeat; cocos equidem nimis demiror, ⟨tot⟩ qui utuntur condimentis,eos eo condimento uno ⟨non⟩ utier, omnibus quod praestat.nam úbi amor condiméntum inerit, cuivís placituram ⟨escam⟩ crédo;neque sálsum neque suave ésse potest quicquam, úbi amor non admíscetur:fel quód amarumst, id mél faciet, hominem éx tristi lepidum ét lenem.hanc égo de me coniécturam domi fácio magis quam ex aúditis;
who, since I’ve been in love with Casina, more than in my young days have excelled Neatness herself in neatness; I give employment to all the perfumers; wherever an unguent is excellent, I perfume myself, that I may please her. And I do please her, as I think. But inasmuch as she keeps living on, my wife’s a torment. (Catches sight of his WIFE, and speaks in a low voice.) I espy her standing there in gloominess. This plaguy baggage must be addressed by me with civility. (Going towards her.) My own wife and my delight, what are you about?(Takes hold of her.)CLEOSTRATA: (shaking him off.)Get you gone, and keep your hand off!
qui quóm amo Casinam, mágis niteo, mundítiis munditiam ántideo:myropólas omnes sollicito, ubicúmque est lepidum unguéntum, unguor,ut illí placeam; et placeo, út videor. sed uxór me excruciat, quía vivit.tristem ástare aspició. blande haec mihi mála res appellánda est.uxór mea meaque amoénitas, quid tu agis?Cleostrata:Abi atque abstine manum.
STALINO:O fie! my Juno. You shouldn’t be so cross to your own Jupiter. Where art come now?
Lysidamvs:Heiá, mea Iuno, nón decet esse té tam tristem tuó Iovi.quo núnc abis?
CLEOSTRATA:Let me alone. (Moves as if going.)
Cleostrata:Mítte me.
STALINO:Do stay.
Lysidamvs:Mane.
CLEOSTRATA: (still going.)I shan’t stay.
Cleostrata:Non máneo.
STALINO:I’ troth, then I’ll follow you. (Follows her.)CLEOSTRATA: (turning round.)
Lysidamvs:At pol ego té sequar.
Prithee, are you in your senses?STALINO:In my senses, inasmuch as I love you.
Cleostrata:Óbsecro, sanun est?Lysidamvs:Sánus quom téd amo.
CLEOSTRATA:I don’t want you to love me.
Cleostrata:Nólo ames.
STALINO:You can’t have your way there.
Lysidamvs:Nón potes ímpetrare.
CLEOSTRATA:You plague me to death.
Cleostrata:Énecas.
STALINO:I only wish you spoke the truth.
Lysidamvs:Véra dicás velim.
CLEOSTRATA:There I believe you. (Moves on.)
Cleostrata:Crédo ego istúc tibi.
STALINO:Do look back, O my sweet one.
Lysidamvs:Réspice, o mi lepos.
CLEOSTRATA:About as much, I suppose, as you are to me. Whence is this strong smell of perfumes, prithee?
Cleostrata:Nempe ita ut tú mihi es.unde híc, amabo, unguénta olent?
STALINO: (aside.)O dear, I’m undone; to my misfortune, I’m caught in the fact. Why delay to rub it off my head with my cloak? (Rubs his head with his cloak.) May good Mercury confound you, you perfumer, who provided me with this.
Lysidamvs:Oh périi, manufestó miserténeor. cessó caput pállio detérgere?út te bonus Mercúrius perdat, mýropola, quia haec míhi dedisti.
CLEOSTRATA:How now, you worthless grey gnat! I can hardly restrain myself from saying what you deserve.In your old age, good-for-nothing, are you walking along the streets reeking with perfumes?
Cleostrata:Ého tu nihili, cána culex, vix téneor quin quae décent te dicam,sénecta aetate únguentatus pér vias, ignáve, incedis?
STALINO:I’ faith, I lent my company to a certain friend of mine, while he was purchasing some perfumes.
Lysidamvs:Pól ego amico dédi cuidam operam, dum émit unguenta.
CLEOSTRATA:How readily he did trump that up. Are you ashamed of anything?
Cleostrata:Vt cito comméntust.écquid te pudet?
STALINO:Of everything that you like.
Lysidamvs:Ómnia quae tu vís.
CLEOSTRATA:In what dens of iniquity have you been lying?STALINO: (with an air of surprise.)
Cleostrata:Vbi in lustrá iacuisti?
I, in dens of iniquity?CLEOSTRATA:I know more than you think I do.
Lysidamvs:Égone in lustra?Cleostrata:Scío plus quam tu me árbitrare.
STALINO:What is it that you know?
Lysidamvs:Quíd id est? quid scis?
CLEOSTRATA:That not one among all the old men is more worthless than yourself, an old man.
Cleostrata:Té sene omniúm † senem néminem esse ignáviorem.
Whence come you, good-for-nothing? Where have you been? In what den amusing yourself? Where have you been drinking? You are come, on my word; look at his cloak, how it’s creased. (Points at it.)STALINO:May the Gods confound both me and yourself, if I this day have put a drop of wine into my mouth.
únde is, nihili? ubí fuisti? ubí lustratu'slustratus es? úbi bibisti?mádes mecastor: víde, palliolum ut rúgat.Lysidamvs:Di me et te ínfelicent,si égo in os méum hodie viní guttam índidi.
CLEOSTRATA:Very well then; just as you like:drink, eat, and squander away your property!
Cleostrata:Immo age, út lubet,bíbe, es, disperde rem.
STALINO:Hold, wife; there’s now enough of it; you din me too much. Do leave a little of your talk, that you may wrangle with me to-morrow. But what say you? Have you by this time subdued your temper, so as to do that in preference which your husband wishes to be done, rather than strive against him?
Lysidamvs:Óhe, iam satis, uxór, comprime te, nímium tinnis,relínque aliquantum orátionis, crás quod mecum lítiges.séd quid ais? iam domuisti animum, potius ut quod vir velitfieri, id facias, quam adversere contra?
CLEOSTRATA:About what matter are you speaking?
Cleostrata:Qua de re?
STALINO:Do you ask me? About the handmaid Casina—that she may be given in marriage to our bailiff,an honest servant, where she’ll be well off, in wood, warm water, food, and clothing, and where she may properly bring up the children which she may have, in preference to that rascally servant of an armour-bearer, a good-for-nothing and dishonest, a fellow that hasn’t this day a leaden dump of money his own.
Lysidamvs:Rogas?super ancilla Casina, ut detur nuptum nostro vilico,servo frugi atque ubi illi bene sit ligno, aqua calida, cibo,vestimentis, ubique educat pueros quos pariat † potiusquam illi servo nequam des, armigero nili atque improbo,cui hominí hodie peculi nummus non est plumbeus.
CLEOSTRATA:Upon my faith, I am surprised that in your old age youdo not remember your duty.
Cleostrata:Mirum ecastor, te senecta aétate officium tuomnon meminisse.
STALINO:How so?
Lysidamvs:Quid iam?
CLEOSTRATA:Because if you were to act rightly or becomingly, you’d let me manage the maid-servants, which is my own province.
Cleostrata:Quia, si facias recte aut commode,me sinas curare ancillas, quae mea est curatio.
STALINO:Why the plague do you wish to give her to a fellow that carries a shield?
Lysidamvs:Qui, malum, homini scutigerulo dáre lubet?
CLEOSTRATA:Because it’s our duty to gratify our only son.
Cleostrata:Quía enim filionos oportet opitulari único.
STALINO:But although he is an only one, not a bit the more is he my only son than I am his only father.
Lysidamvs:At quamquam unicust,nihilo magis ille unicust mihi filius quam ego illi pater:
It’s more becoming for him to conform to me, than for me to him.
illum mi aequiust quam me illi quae volo concedere.
CLEOSTRATA:By my troth, sir, you’re providing for yourself a serious piece of trouble.
Cleostrata:Tu ecastor tibi, homo, malam rem quaeris.
STALINO: (aside.)She suspects it, I find that. (To his wife.) What, I, do you mean?
Lysidamvs:Subolet, sentio.egone?
CLEOSTRATA:You; but why do. you stammer so? Why do you wish for this with such anxiety?
Cleostrata:Tu. nam quid friguttis? quid istuc tam cupide cupis?
STALINO:Why, that she may rather be given to a servant that’s honest, than to a servant that’s dishonest.
Lysidamvs:Vt enim frugi servo detur potius quam servo improbo.
CLEOSTRATA:What if I prevail upon, and obtain of the bailiff, that for my sakehe’ll give her up to the other one?
Cleostrata:Quid si ego impetro atque exoro a vilico, causa meaut eam illi permittat?
STALINO:But what if I prevail upon the armour-bearer to give her up to the other one? And I think that I can prevail upon him in this.
Lysidamvs:Quid si ego autem ab armigero impetro,⟨ut⟩ eam illi permittat? atque hóc credo impetrassere.
CLEOSTRATA:That’s agreed upon. Should you like that, in your name, I should call Chalinus hither out of doors? Do you beg of him, and I’ll beg of the bailiff.
Cleostrata:Convenit. vin tuis Chalinum huc evocem verbis foras?tú eum orato, ego autem orabo vilicum.
STALINO:I’m quite willing.
Lysidamvs:Sane volo.
CLEOSTRATA:He’ll be here just now. Now we’ll make trial which of us two is the most persuasive. (She goes into the house.)
Cleostrata:Iam hic erit. nunc experiemur, nostrum uter sit blandior.—
STALINO: (to himself.)May Hercules and the Gods confound her!—a thing that now I’m at liberty to say. I’m wretchedly distracted with love; but she, as though on purpose, thwarts me. My wife has some suspicion now of this that I’m planning; for that reason is she purposely lending her assistance to the armour-bearer.(Enter CHALINUS, from the house.)STALINO: (aside, on seeing him.)
Lysidamvs:Hercules dique istam perdant, quod nunc liceat dicere.ego discrucior miser amore, illa autem quasi ob industriammi advorsatur. subolet hoc iam uxori quod ego machinor:propter eam rem magis armigero dat operam de industria.
May all the Gods and Goddesses confound him!CHALINUS: (addressing him.)Your wife said that you were calling me.
Lysidamvs:qui illum di omnes deaeque perdant.Chalinvs:Te uxor aiebat tuame vocare.
STALINO:Why yes, I did order you to be sent for.
Lysidamvs:Ego énim vocari iussi.
CHALINUS:Tell me what you want.
Chalinvs:Eloquere quid velis.
STALINO:In the first place, I want you to speak to me with a more cheerful countenance.
Lysidamvs:Primum ego te porrectiore fronte volo mecum loqui;
CHALINUS:It would be folly for me to be morose toward you whose rule is the strongest.
stultitia est ei te esse tristem, cuius potestas plus potest.
STALINO:Indeed! I consider you to be an honest fellow.CHALINUS:So I find.But if you think so, why don’t you give me my freedom?
probum te et frugi hominem iam pridem esse arbitror.Chalinvs:Intellego.quin, si ita arbitrare, emittis me manu?
STALINO:Why so I wish to do; but it’s of no use for me to wish a thing to be done, unless you aid me with your actions.
Lysidamvs:Quin id volo.sed nihil est, me cupere factum, nisi tu factis adiuvas.
CHALINUS:What you wish, I only wish myself to be acquainted with it.
Chalinvs:Quid velis modo id velim me scire.
STALINO:Listen then; I’ll tell you. I’ve promised to give Casina as a wife to our bailiff.
Lysidamvs:Ausculta, ego eloquar.Casinam ego uxorem promisi vilico nostro dare.
CHALINUS:But your wife and your son have promised her to me.
Chalinvs:At tua uxor filiusque promiserunt mihi.
STALINO:I know it;
Lysidamvs:Scio.
but whether now would you prefer yourself to be single and a free man, or, as a married man, to pass your lives, yourself and your children, in slavery? This choice is your own: whichever condition of these two you prefer, take it.
sed utrum nunc tu caelibem te ésse mavis liberuman maritum servom aetatem degere et gnatos tuos?optio haec tua est: utram harum vis condicionem accipe.
CHALINUS:If I am free, I live at my own cost; at present I live at yours. As to Casina, I’m resolved to give way to no born man.
Chalinvs:Liber si sim, meo periclo vivam; nunc vivo tuo.de Casina certum est concedere homini nato nemini.
STALINO:Go in-doors, and at once be quick and call my wife here, out of doors; and bring hither together with you an urn, with some water, and the lots.
Lysidamvs:Intro abi atque actutum uxorem huc evoca ante aedis cito,et sitellam huc tecum efferto cúm aqua, et sortis.
CHALINUS:I’m quite agreable.
Chalinvs:Satis placet.
STALINO:I’ faith, in some way or other I’ll now ward off this weapon of yours; for if, as it is, I shall not be able to prevail by persuasion, at least I’ll try it by lot. There I shall take vengeance upon you and your abettors.
Lysidamvs:Ego pol istam iam aliquovorsum tragulam decidero.nam si sic nihil impetrare potero, saltem sortiar.ibi ego te et suffragatores tuos ulciscar.
CHALINUS:Still, for all that the lot will fall to me—
Chalinvs:Attamenmi obtinget sors.
STALINO:Aye, faith, for you to go to perdition with direful torments.
Lysidamvs:Vt quidem pol pereas cruciatu malo.
CHALINUS:She shall marry me, contrive what you will, in any way you please.
Chalinvs:Mi illa nubet, machinare quid lubet quo vis modo.
STALINO:Won’t you away hence from my sight?
Lysidamvs:Abin hinc ab oculis?
CHALINUS:Unwillingly you look upon me, still I shall live on. (Goes into the house.)
Chalinvs:Invitus me vides, vivam tamen.—
STALINO: (to himself.)Am I not a wretched man? Don’t all things go quite contrary with me? I’m now afraid that my wife will prevail upon Olympio not tomarry Casina. If that’s done, why look, it’s all over with me in my old age! If she does not prevail, there is still some tiny hope in the lots. But if the lots fail me, I’ll make a pillow of a sword, and lay me down upon it. But see, most opportunely Olympio’s coming out of doors.(Enter OLYMPIO, from the house, speaking to CLEOSTRATA, within.)
Lysidamvs:Sumne ego miser homo? satin omnes ⟨res⟩ sunt advorsae mihi?iam metuo, ne Olympionem mea uxor exoraveritne Casinam ducat: si id factum est, ecce me nullum senem;si non impetravit, etiam specula in sortist mihi.si sors autem decolassit, gladium faciam culcitameumque incumbam. sed progreditur optume eccum Olympio.
OLYMPIO:By my faith, all in an instant shut me up in a hot furnace,and parch me there for a hard-baked biscuit, good mistress, before you shall gain that point of me which you desire.STALINO: (apart.)
Olympio:Vna edepol opera in furnum calidum conditoatque ibi torreto me pro pane rubido,era, qua istuc opera a me impetres quod postulas.
I’m all right. My hope’s realized, according as I hear his words.OLYMPIO: (at the door, to his MISTRESS, within.)
Lysidamvs:Salvos sum, salva spes est, ut verba audio.
But why do you frighten me about liberty? Why, even though you should oppose it, and your son as well,against your wills and in spite of you both, for a single penny I can become free.STALINO: (stepping forward.)
Olympio:Quid tu me tua, era, libertate territas?qui si tu nolis filiusque etiam tuos,vobis invitis atque amborum ingratiisuna libella liber possum fieri.
What’s this? Who are you wrangling with, Olympio?
Lysidamvs:Quid istúc est? quicum litigas, Olympio?
OLYMPIO:With the same person that you always are.
Olympio:Cum eadem qua tu semper.
STALINO:What, with my wife?
Lysidamvs:Cum uxoré mea?
OLYMPIO:What wife are you speaking of to me? Really you are a hunter, as it were:
Olympio:Quam tu mi uxorem? quasi venator tu quidem es:
your nights and days you pass with a female cur.
dies átque noctes cum cane aetatem exigis.
STALINO:What does she say? What’s she talking to you about?
Lysidamvs:Quid agit, quid loquitur tecum?
OLYMPIO:She’s begging and entreating of me that I won’t be taking Casina as my wife.
Olympio:Orat, obsecrat,ne Casinam uxorem ducam.
STALINO:What did you say after that?
Lysidamvs:Quid tu postea?
OLYMPIO:Why, I declared that I wouldn’t give way to Jupiter himself, if he were to entreat me.
Olympio:Negavi enim ipsi me concessurum Iovi,si is mecum oraret.
STALINO:May the Gods preserve you for me!
Lysidamvs:Di te servassint mihi.
OLYMPIO:She’s now all in a ferment; she’s swelling so against me.
Olympio:Nunc in fermento totast, ita turget mihi.
STALINO:By my troth, I could like her to burst in the middle.
Lysidamvs:Ego edepol illam mediam diruptam velim.
OLYMPIO:I’ faith, I fancy she will, if indeed you manage cleverly. But your amorousness, i’ faith, is a cause of trouble to me; your wife is at enmity with me, your son at enmity,my fellow-servants at enmity.
Olympio:Credo edepol esse, siquidem tu frugi bonae es.verum edepol tua mihi odiosa est amatio:inimica est tua uxor mihi, inimicus filius,inimici familiares.
STALINO:What matters that to you? So long as (pointing to himself) this Jupiter only is propitious to you, do you take care and esteem the lesser Gods at a straw’s value.
Lysidamvs:Quid id refert tua?unus tibi hic dum propitius sit Iuppiter,tu istos minutos cave deos flocci feceris.
OLYMPIO:That’s great nonsense; as if you didn’t know how suddenly your human Jupiters take to dying.
Olympio:Nugae sunt istae magnae. quasi tu nescias,repente ut emoriantur humani Ioves.
So after all, if you, my Jupiter, are dead and gone, when your realm devolves upon the lesser Gods, who shall then come to the rescue of my back, or head, or legs?
responde: si tu Iuppiter sis mortuos,cum ad deos minoris redierit regnum tuom,quis mihi subveniet tergo aut capiti aut cruribus?
STALINO:Affairs will go with you better than you expect, if I obtain this—the enjoyment of my Casina.
Lysidamvs:Opinione melius res tibi habeát tua,si hoc impetramus, ut ego cum Casina cubem.
OLYMPIO:I’ faith, I do not think it possibly can be; so earnestly is your wife striving that she shall not be given to me.
Olympio:Non hercle opinor posse, ita uxor acritertua instat, ne mihi detur.
STALINO:But this way I’ll proceed: I’ll put the lots in an urn, and draw the lots for yourself and Chalinus. I find that the business has come to this pass; it’s necessary to fight with swords hand to hand.
Lysidamvs:At ego sic agam:coniciam sortis in sitellam et sortiartibi et Chalino. íta rem natam intellego:necessum est vorsis gladiis depugnarier.
OLYMPIO:What, if the lot should turn out different from what you wish?
Olympio:Quid si sors aliter quam voles evenerit?
STALINO:Speak with good omen. I rely upon the Gods; we’ll trust in the Gods.
Lysidamvs:Bene dice. dis sum fretus, deos sperabimus.
OLYMPIO:That expression I wouldn’t purchase at a rotten thread, for all people are relying upon the Gods; but still I’ve frequently seen many of those deceived who relied upon the Gods.
Olympio:Non ego istud verbum émpsim tittibilicio;nam omnes mortales dis sunt freti, sed tamenvidi ego dis fretos saepe multos decipi.
STALINO:But hold your tongue a little while. (Pointing.)
Lysidamvs:St, táce parumper.
OLYMPIO:What is it you mean?
Olympio:Quid vis?
STALINO:Why look; here’s Chalinus coming from the house, out here, with the urn and the lots. Now, with standards closing, we shall fight.(Enter CLEOSTRATA and CHALINUS, with the urn and lots.)
Lysidamvs:Eccum exit forasChalinus intus cum sitella et sortibus.nunc nos conlatis signis depugnabimus.
CLEOSTRATA:Let me know, Chalinus, what my husband wants with me.
Cleostrata:Fáce, Chaline, certiorem me, quid meus vir me velit.