Is close at hand
: "In mundo." There is some doubt what is the meaning of this expression here. Warner renders it "in all her trim."Standing pleading
: It was the custom at Rome, as with us for the advocate to stand while pleading the cause of his client.
I'll go nearer to her.
I' faith, I was waiting for you.
Are the things ready now? Have you by this brought over here to our house this female neighbour of yours, who was to assist you?
I sent for her as you requested me; but this companion of yours, your very good friend, was in a pet with his wife about something, I don't know what; he said, when I went to fetch her, that he wouldn't send her.
That's your greatest fault; you are not courteous enough.
It's not the part of matrons, but of harlots, to be showing courtesies, my husband, to the husbands of others. Go yourself and fetch her; I wish to attend in-doors, my husband, to what is requisite to be done.
Make haste then.
Very well.
And, i' faith, I to yours. How say you, you good-for-nothing fellow? What did I enjoin you? What did I beg of you?
What's the matter?
How nicely you've had your house empty for me! How well you have sent your wife over to our house here! Isn't it through yourself that I and the opportunity are lost, both of us?
Why don't you go hang yourself? Why, 'twas you yourself said that your wife would come and fetch mine from our house?
Then she declares that she has been to fetch her, and that you said you wouldn't let her go.
But she herself, of her own accord, said to me that she didn't care for her assistance.
But 'tis sheBut 'tis she
: The repetition of "quin," "but," is intended as a ludicrous mark of the contempt that these antagonists have for each other.
But I don't care for that.
But you are proving my ruin.
But that's as it should be. But I shall still go on delaying; but I very much long for nothing but to do you some mischief; but I'll do it with pleasure. Never this day shall you have a "but" the more than I. But, in fine, really, upon my faith, may the Gods confound you.
What now? Are you going to send your wife to my house?
You may take her, and be off to utter and extreme perdition, both with her and with that one of yours, and with that mistress of yours as well. A way with you, and attend to something else; I'll at once bid my wife to pass thither through the garden to your wife.
Now you are proving yourself a friend to me in genuine style!
Why, what is the matter—that she, frightened and half dead with fear, rushes hither out of doors? Pardalisca!
Just look back at me.
My master!
What's the matter? What?
I'm undone.
How undone?
I'm undone, and you are undone.
Disclose it, what's the matter with you?
Woe to you!
Aye, and the same to yourself.
That I mayn't fall down, prithee do hold, hold me.
Whatever it is, tell me quickly.
Do support my throbbing breast, prithee do make a little air with your cloak.
With the pure cream
:
Hold my ears, pray do.
Away to utter perdition; breast, ears, head, and yourself, may the Gods confound! For, unless I quickly learn from you this matter, whatever it is, I'll forth with be knocking your brains out, you viper, you hussey, who have thus far been making a laughing-stock of me.
My master!
What do you want, my servant?
You are too angry.
You are saying so too soon. But whatever this is, tell it; relate in a few words what has been the disturbance in-doors.
You shall know. Hear this most foul crime which just now in-doors at our house your female slave began to attempt after this fashion, a thing that does not befit the regulations lations of Attica.
What is it?
Fever prevents the use of my tongue.
What is it? Can I possibly learn from you what is the matter?
I'll tell you. Your female slave, she whom you intend to give as a wife to your bailiff, in-doors she—
In-doors what? What is it?
Is imitating the wicked practices of wicked women, in threatening her husband—
What then?
Ah!
What is it?
She says that she intends to take her husband's life. A sword—
What about that sword?
She has got one.
Ah! wretch that I am! Why has she got it?
She is pursuing them all at home all over the house, and she won't allow any person to approach her; and so, all, hiding in chests and under beds, are mute with fear.
I'm murdered and ruined outright! What malady is this that has so suddenly befallen her?
She is mad.
I do think that I am the most unfortunate of men!
Aye, and if you were to know the speeches she uttered to-day.
I long to know about what she said.
Listen. By all the Gods and Goddesses she swore that she would murder the person with whom she should bed.
Will she murder me?
Does that bear reference to yourself in any way?
Pshaw!
What business have you with her?
I made a mistake; him, the bailiff, I meant to say.
It's on purposeIt's on purpose
: She hints by this that she well knows what his thoughts are, and that really it is no mistake on his part; but that he is designedly deviating from the open path of rectitude, and turning aside into the bye-paths of lust and duplicity.
Does she threaten anything against myself?
She is hostile to you individually more than any person.
For what reason?
Because you have given her as a wife to Olympio; she says that she'll neither suffer your life, nor her own, nor that of her husband, to be prolonged until the morrow. I have been sent hither to tell you this, that you might beware of her.
Hark you, Pardalisca!
What is it?
There is —
What?
There is something that I want to enquire of you about.
You are causing me delay.
Why, you are causing me sorrow. But has Casina got that sword even still?
She has; but two of them.
Why two?
She says that this very day she'll murder you with the one, the bailiff with the other.
I am now the most utterly murdered of all people that do exist. I'll put on me a coat of mail; I think that's the best. What did my wife do? Didn't she go and take them away from her?
No person dares go near her.
She should have prevailed on her.
She is entreating her. She declares that assuredly she will lay them down on no other terms, unless she understands that she shall not be given to the bailiff.
But whether she likes it or no, because she refuses, she shall marry him this day. For why shouldn't I carry this out that I've begun, for her to marry me?—that, indeed, I didn't intend to say—but, our bailiff?
You're making your mistakes pretty often.
It's alarm that impedes my words. But, prithee, do tell my wife, that I entreat her to prevail upon her to put down the sword, and allow me to return in-doors.
I'll tell her.
And do you entreat her.
And I'll entreat her.
And in soft language, in your usual way. But do you hear me? If you manage this, I'll give you a pair of shoesA pair of shoes
: Perhaps these would prove very acceptable to Pardalisca, who, as a slave, was probably condemned to wear the heavy "sculponeæ" before mentioned, in l. 478.And a gold ring
: Slaves were not in general allowed to wear other than iron rings, called "condalia." See the Notes to the Trinummus, l. 1014, Meursius, as quoted by Limiers, goes so far as to suppose that this is an implied promise of her liberty to Pardalisca, because of this inability of the slaves to wear gold rings. That seems, however, to be a very far-fetched notion.
I'll do my best.
Take care and prevail.
Now then I'll be off; unless you detain me for anything.
Be off, and take care.
Briars beneath their banners
: This figure is derived partly from gardening, partly from military tactics. The assistants of the Cook are compared to briars, because they tear and carry off everything they meet; and their leader is requested to keep them "sub signis," "beneath the banners," lest, like soldiers on a march, leaving their ranks, they should stroll about to plunder and steal. The bad character of the hired cooks has been referred to in the Pseudolus. It will be also found enlarged upon in the Aulularia.
But how are they briars?
Because that which they have touched, they instantly seize hold of; if you go to snatch it from them, they instantly rend it; so, wherever they come, wherever they are, with a twofold lossWith a twofold loss
: Probably, pilfering in all directions, and then getting paid for their services.
Heyday, indeed!
Well, well! This way I'm delaying to go meet my master with a magnificent, patrician, and patronizing air.
My good man, save you.
I admit that so I amI admit that so I am
: "Fateor." His conscience pricking him for his disgraceful conduct, he is glad to catch the opportunity of alleging that he really is a "bonus vir" vice thus paying homage to virtue.
How goes it?
You are in love, but I'm hungering and thirsting.
You have come capitally provided.
Pooh! pooh!
But stop you, although you do hold me in contempt—
O dear, O dear! your converse has a bad smell to me.
What's the matter?
Will you not stop there?
Why, really, you are causing me Causing me
: This is in Greek in the original—
I shall be giving you a grand A grand
:
:
Do stop a bit.
How's this?
I'm your master.
What master?
He whose slave you are.
I, a slave?
Aye, and mine.
Am I not a free man? Remember! remember!
Stop and stay you there!
Let me alone.
I am your slave.
That's very good.
My dear little Olympio, my father, my patron, I do beg of you—
Well, you certainly are in your senses.
Of course I am your slave.
What need have I of so worthless a slave?
Well now, how soon are you going to provide me some amusementProvide me some amusement
: He perhaps alludes to the gratification of his villanous intentions with regard to Casina. If not, his meaning is still more gross. He is, without exception, the most despicable character, with the exception of Dinarchus, in the Truculentus, depicted in any Play of Plautus.
If the dinner were but drest.
Then let them be off this instant in-doors. Charmingly sauced up
: By the use of the word "ebria," he either means that the hashes are to be swimming with sauces and gravies, or that plenty of wine is to be provided.In the style of your sumptuous foreigners
: Barbarico ritu. He perhaps alludes to the Eastern style of entertainments, which were probably accompanied with more magnificence, and, at the same time, greater sobriety, which doubtless would not agree with his Epicurean notions.
Is there anything that detains you here?
The servant-maid says that Casina has got a sword in-doors, to deprive you and me of life with it.
I understand it. Just let her alone with it. They are imposing on you: I know these worthless baggages. However, do you now go into the house with me.
But, i' faith, I'm fearful of mischief: only do you go. Reconnoitre, first, what's going on within.
My life's as dear to me as yours is to you.
But only do go now.
If you'll go yourself, I'll go in with you.