Casina, or The Stratagem Defeated (470-510)

It’s himself that’s dying for Casina. I’ve caught the fellows.

Even now, by my troth, am I longing to embrace her; even now to be kissing her.

Do let her be brought out first from the house. Why the plague are you in such a hurry?

I’m in love.

But I don’t think that this can possibly be managed to-day.

It can, if, indeed, you think that you can possibly receive your freedom to-morrow.

Why, really, I must make still better use here of my ears; now, in one thicket, I shall be cleverly catching two boars.

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.

What will his wife do? Where will she be?

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?

Cleverly!

Only do proceed; contrive away. By my troth, to your own mischance are you so clever.

Do you know what you must do now?

Tell me.

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.

Very well.

Buy some cuttle-fish, mussels, calamaries, barley-fish[*].

Aye, wheaten fish, if you know what you’re about.

Some sole-fish[*].

Prithee, why those rather than soles of wood, with which your head may be banged, you most vile old fellow?

Should you like some tongue-fish[*]?

What need is there, since my wife’s at home? She is our tongue-fish, for she’s never silent.

While I’m about it, I must make choice out of the supply of fish what to purchase.

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.

Am I to go now?

I wish you.

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[*].