CHALINUS, alone.CHALINUS

to himself. If now I were to hang myself, I should be losing my pains, 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, 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. Sees STALINO and OLYMPIO, coming out. My well-wishers and friends Well-wishers and friends: Of course this is said ironically.are coming out. Here in ambush I'll lay in wait against them. Goes on one side.

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 knotWith his porter's knot: From a passage of Festus, it is conjectured that the word "furca" here means an implement by means of which burdens were slung over the shoulder, for much the same purpose as the knot of the porters of the present day., as black as a collier.

STALINO

So it ought to be.

OLYMPIO

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.

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 garbIn his white garb: Lipsius thinks that Olympio has assumed the white dress on becoming the freed-man of Stalino. There is more reason, however, for believing that he has assumed it as his wedding-garment, according to the usual custom among the Romans, with whom the bridegroom, bride, and guests invited to the wedding, were drest in white. So in the Scripture, St. Matthew xxii., 11—12: "When the King came in to see the guests, he saw there was a man which had not on a wedding-garment,and he said unto him, 'Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding-garment?'", a very receptacle for stripes. My own death I defer; I'm determined to send this fellow to Acheron before me.

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.

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!

CHALINUS

apart. What? Kiss him? What's the meaning of this? What's this delight of yours?

OLYMPIO

Do you love me at all now?

STALINO

Aye, by my faith, myself even less than you. May I embrace you?

OLYMPIO

You may. STALINO embraces him.

STALINO

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.

OLYMPIO

pushing STALINO away. Away with you, you lover; get off, with your too close acquaintanceship!

CHALINUS

apart. I' faith, I think thatI think that: This and the next six lines have been modified in the Translation, as they are replete with gross indecency. this very day they'll be making terms. Surely,this old fellow is an universal admirer. 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.

OLYMPIO

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!

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.

STALINO

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?

STALINO

I'm in love.

OLYMPIO

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.

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.

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.

OLYMPIO

What will his wife do? Where will she be?

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?

OLYMPIO

Cleverly!

CHALINUS

apart. 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?

OLYMPIO

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.

OLYMPIO

Very well.

STALINO

Buy some cuttle-fish, mussels, calamaries, barley-fish Barley-fish: "Hordeias." This was the name of some fish now unknown; for want of a better name, and to express the pun contained in the original, it has been called "barley-fish" in the translation, as Chalinus puns on its resemblance to "hordeum," "barley.".

CHALINUS

apart. Aye, wheaten fish, if you know what you're about.

STALINO

Some sole-fish Some sole-fish: "Soleas." Chalinus puns on this word, which means either "sole-fish" or "thin shoes." He thinks "sculponeæ" better suited. with which to bang the old fellow's head. These were wooden shoes worn by the rustic slaves, and resembled either the clogs of the north of England, with wooden soles and upper leathers, or the sabots of the Continent, which are made entirely of wood..

CHALINUS

apart. 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 Some tongue-fish: "Lingulaca" was, according to Festus, a kind of fish, or a talkative woman. To give some idea of the play on the word, it has been rendered "tongue-fish." Warner says, in a Note to his Translation, that small flat-fish, or young soles, are called "tongues" in the west of England?

STALINO

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.

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.

OLYMPIO

Am I to go now?

STALINO

I wish you. Exit OLYMPIO. STALINO goes into the house of ALCESIMUS.

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. 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 Was not prepared: He means that, spite of his preparations, Olympio shall not have Casina, and that he himself will; in which, however, he is disappointed in the end, as she is given to Euthynicus.. Goes into the house.

Enter ALCESIMUS and STALINO, from the house of the former.STALINO

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.

ALCESIMUS

I never saw a person more distracted with love than yourself.

STALINO

Do take care that the house is clear.

ALCESIMUS

Why, faith, men-servants, maid-servants, all of them I'm determined to send out of the house to yours.

STALINO

Heyday! with your adroitness you are very adroit! But only take care and remember the lines which Colax repeats Which Colax repeats: Colax, or, the Flatterer, was a Play of Menander's, which was translated by the Roman Comic writer Nævius, a little before the time of Plautus. It was not allowed to be acted at Rome, on account of some satirical passages in it which bore reference to the family of the Metelli.; take care that every one comes with his own provisions, as if they were going to SutriumGoing to Sutrium: This was a proverbial expression (used in the Colax), which had originated at the time when Brennus attacked Rome. Sutrium was a Roman colony in Etruria. Fearing an attack upon it by the Gauls, Camillus ordered that some troops should march to the assistance of the Sutrians, but that they should carry their own provisions with them..

ALCESIMUS

I'll remember it.

STALINO

Why now there's no public ordinance Public ordinance: See the Pseudolus, l. 748. better ordered than yourself, in fact. Attend to this. I'm now going to the Forum; I shall be here just now.

ALCESIMUS

Luck go with you.

STALINO

Take care that your house gets a tongue.

ALCESIMUS

Why so?

STALINO

That when I come, it may invite me.

ALCESIMUS

Pooh, pooh! you area person that stands in good need of a basting; you're making too free with your fun.

STALINO

Of what use is it for me to be in love, unless I'm quite ready and talkative? But take you care that you haven't to be sought for by me.

ALCESIMUS

I'll be at home all the while. Exit STALINO; ALCESIMUS goes into his house.

Enter CLEOSTRATA, from her house.CLEOSTRATA

to herself. 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, 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 The measure of wit: "Salis." Literally "salt." The meaning of this passage is obscure in the extreme, and it is difficult to form a conjecture what it really is, further than that it is not complimentary to Alcesimus. that has been sold to him, was purchased at no cheap rate.

ALCESIMUS

to himself. 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. But see, here she is; she's come to fetch her, I guess. Going up to CLEOSTRATA. Good day, Cleostrata!

CLEOSTRATA

And you the same, Alcesimus. Where's your wife?

ALCESIMUS

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? Going towards the door.

CLEOSTRATA

Let it alone; I don't care; * * if she's busy.

ALCESIMUS

She's at leisure.

CLEOSTRATA

I don't care about it; I don't want to be troublesome to her; I'll see her at a future time.

ALCESIMUS

Are you not getting ready for a wedding there at your house?

CLEOSTRATA

I am getting ready and making preparations.

ARC.

Don't you require an assistant then?

CLEOSTRATA

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.

ALCESIMUS

to himself. What am I to do now? To my sorrow. I've done a most disgraceful action 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 dishesTo go lick dishes: He alludes to the habit of puppies, and grown-up dogs as well, of being very ready to find their way to the cupboards of their neighbours. 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. 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 Lay up the ship: He means his wife, who is all dressed out ready for her voyage to her neighbours, and whom he will now order to be unrigged and towed into dock. again in the dockyard. Goes into his house. Enter CLEOSTRATA, from her house.

CLEOSTRATA

to herself. 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, 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.