Perde 2
[Textpart 3]
I’ faith, I lent my company to a certain friend of mine, while he was purchasing some perfumes.
CLEOSTRATA
How readily he did trump that up. Are you ashamed of anything?
STALINO
Of everything that you like.
CLEOSTRATA
In what dens of iniquity have you been lying?
STALINO
I, in dens of iniquity?
CLEOSTRATA
I know more than you think I do.
STALINO
What is it that you know?
CLEOSTRATA
That not one among all the old men is more worthless than yourself, an old man.
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.)
245
STALINO
May the Gods confound both me and yourself, if I this day have put a drop of wine into my mouth.
CLEOSTRATA
Very well then; just as you like:
drink, eat, and squander away your property!
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?
CLEOSTRATA
About what matter are you speaking?
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-bearerAn armour-bearer: The armiger was a general campservant, who was ready to hold the arms, pitch the tent, or run on the messages of his master., a good-for-nothing and dishonest, a fellow that hasn’t this day a leaden dump of money his own.
255
CLEOSTRATA
Upon my faith, I am surprised that in your old age you
do not remember your duty.
260
CLEOSTRATA
Because if you were to act rightly or becomingly, you’d let me manage the maid-servants, which is my own province.
260
