Perde 2
[Textpart 8]
Some sole-fishSome sole-fish: Soleas. Chalinus puns on this word, which means either sole-fish or thin shoes. He thinks sculponeae 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..
495
CHALINUS
Prithee, why those rather than soles of wood, with which your head may be banged, you most vile old fellow?
495
OLYMPIO
Should you like some tongue-fishSome 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.
500
CHALINUS
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.
505
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 preparedWas 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..
510
