Perde 2
[Textpart 6]
Are you not dead now?
OLYMPIO
Show it. (She shows it.) It’s mine.
CHALINUS
Really this is an unlucky mishap.
CLEOSTRATA
You are beaten, Chalinus.
STALINO
Then I’m glad that we are to survive after all, Olympio.
OLYMPIO
Through my own piety and that of my forefathers has it happened.
STALINO
Wife, go in-doors and make ready for the wedding.
CLEOSTRATA
I’ll do as you bid me.
STALINO
Do you know that it’s to a distance in the country, at the farm-house,that he is to take her?
420
STALINO
Go in-doors,and although this is disagreable to you, still take care and attend to it.
CLEOSTRATA
Very well. (Goes into the house.)
STALINO
Let us, as well, go in-doors; let’s entreat them to make all haste.
OLYMPIO
Am I delaying at all?
For in his presence (pointing to CHALINUS) I don’t want there to be any further conversation. (They go into the house.)
[Textpart 7]
If now I were to hang myself, I should be losing my pains,
CHALINUS
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,
425
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.
430
My well-wishers and friendsWell-wishers and friends: Of course this is said ironically.are coming out. Here in ambush I’ll lay in wait against them.
435
[Textpart 8]
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.
