Cistellaria, or The Casket (1-774)

SILENIUM

Inasmuch as hitherto I have loved you, and have deemed you to be my friend, my dear Gymnasium, and your mother as well; so have you shown it to me this day, both you and she. If you had been my own sister, how more you two could possibly have held me in esteem I know not; but, according as is my way of thinking, I conceive it could not possibly be, such ready assistance, all other things laid aside, have you given me. For this reason do I love you, and for it a vast obligation have you both conferred upon me.

GYMNASIUM

I' faith, at such a price as this, indeed, it's easy for us to give you our attendance and to do you good offices; so handsomely and so elegantly have you entertained us at breakfast at your house, as we shall ever remember.

SILENIUM

It has been done with hearty good will by me, and will be done, to get those things which I shall think you are desirous of.

A PROCURESS

As the man said, who was borne by a prospering breeze on a calm sea: "I rejoice that we came

[*] to you;" in such a delightful manner have we been here this day received; nor except in the management, was there anything there at your house but what pleased me.

SILENIUM

How so, prithee?

A PROCURESS

Too seldom did the servant give me something to drink, and, as it was, it clouded the colour of the wine.

GYMNASIUM

Pray, is that becoming to be mentioned here?

A PROCURESS

It's both right and proper; there's no other person here.

SILENIUM

With reason do I love you both, who esteem and honor me.

A PROCURESS

I' faith, my dear Silenium, it befits this class to be kindly disposed among themselves, and carefully to keep up friendships, when you see these matrons of elevated rank, born of the noblest families, how they value friendship, and how carefully they keep it united between themselves. If we do that same thing, if we imitate the same example, still as it is, with difficulty do we exist with their extreme dislike. Of their own enjoyments they would have us to be in want, in resources of our own they would have us not to possess any power, and to stand in need of them in all matters, that we may be their humble servants

[*]. If you wait upon them, you'd rather be giving your room than your company. So very kind are they before the world to our class; in private, if ever there's the opportunity, underhandedly they pour cold water[*] upon us. They declare that we are in the habit of having commerce with their husbands; they say that we are their supplanters; they attempt to crush us. Because we are the free daughters of slaves [*], both I and your mother, we became Courtesans; she brought up yourself, and I this girl pointing to GYMNASIUM, by chance-fathers. Nor yet for the sake of vanity have I driven her to the calling of a Courtesan, but that I mightn't starve.

SILENIUM

But it had been better to give her in marriage to a husband in preference.

A PROCURESS

Heyday, now! Surely, faith, she's married to a husband every day; she has both been married to one to-day, she'll be marrying again to-night. I've never allowed her to go to bed a widow. For if she weren't to be marrying, the household would perish with doleful famine.

GYMNASIUM

It behoves me, mother, to be just as you wish I should be.

A PROCURESS

I' troth, I don't regret it, if you will prove such as you say you'll be; for if, indeed, you shall be such as I intend, you'll never be a Hecale

[*] in your old age, and you'll ever keep that same tender age which you now have, and you'll prove a loss to many and a profit to myself full oft, without any outlay of my own.

GYMNASIUM

May the Gods grant it.

A PROCURESS

Without your own energies

[*], the Gods cannot possibly do anything in this.

GYMNASIUM

I' faith, for my own part, I'll zealously devote my energies to it. But what mean you amid this conversation, apple of my eye, my own Silenium? (never did I see you more sad;) prithee, do tell me, why does mirth so shun you? And you are not so neat as you usually are. SILENIUM sighs. Do look at that, please, how deep a sigh she heaved. You are pale too. Tell us both what's the matter with you, and in what you want our aid; so that we may know. Prithee, don't by your tears be causing me anxiety.

SILENIUM

My dear Gymnasium, I'm sadly affected; I feel ill, I am shockingly distrest; I am pained in spirits, I feel pain in my eyes, I am in pain from faintness. What shall I say, but that my own folly drives me to sadness?

GYMNASIUM

Take you care, then, that you have your folly entombed in that very same place from which it takes its rise.

SILENIUM

What shall I do?

GYMNASIUM

Hide it in darkness, in the very deepest recesses of your breast. Take you care and have it so, that you yourself are alone sensible of your own folly, without any other witnesses.

SILENIUM

But I've got the heart-ache.

GYMNASIUM

Why so? For what reason have you the heartache, prithee, tell me, a thing that I neither have, nor any other woman whatever, according as the men say?

SILENIUM

If there's any heart to feel pain, it does feel pain; but if there isn't, still this pains me here. Pointing to her left-side.

A PROCURESS

This woman's in love.

GYMNASIUM

Come now, to begin to be in love, is it bitter, prithee?

A PROCURESS

Why, troth, love is most fruitful both in honey and in gall; inasmuch as it produces sweetness in a mere taste, but causes bitterness even to repletion.

SILENIUM

Of that character is the malady that afflicts me, my dear Gymnasium.

GYMNASIUM

Love is full of treachery.

SILENIUM

He's taking his spoils of me, then.

GYMNASIUM

Be of good courage, you'll get the better of this malady.

SILENIUM

I trust it will be so, if the physician comes that can administer the medicine to this malady.

GYMNASIUM

He will come.

SILENIUM

A hard expression is that to one in love, "He will come," unless he does come. But by my own fault and foolishness, am I, wretched creature, more afflicted, because for him alone have I longed for myself, with whom to pass my life.

A PROCURESS

That is more suitable to a married woman, my dear Silenium, to love but one, and with him to pass her life, to whom she has once been married; but, indeed, a Courtesan is most like a flourishing city; she cannot alone increase her fortunes without a multitude of men.

SILENIUM

I want you to give heed to this matter; the thing on account of which you have been sent for to me, I'll disclose. Now, my mother, because I don't wish myself to be called a Courtesan, complied with my desire; in that matter she indulged myself who have been obedient to her; to allow me to live with him alone whom I so ardently loved.

A PROCURESS

I' faith, she acted foolishly. But look, have you ever kept company with any man?

SILENIUM

With no one, indeed, except Alcesimarchus; nor has any other person whatever committed an infringement on my chastity.

A PROCURESS

Prithee, by what means did this man gain your good graces?

SILENIUM

At the festival of Bacchus my mother took me to see the procession. While I was returning home, from a secret look-out he secretly traced me even to the door; after that, he insinuated himself into the friendship of my mother and myself as well, by endearments, presents, and gifts.

A PROCURESS

I should like a man of that sort to be offered me. How I'd work him.

SILENIUM

What need is there of words? Through intercourse, I on the other hand began to love him, and he myself.

A PROCURESS

O my dear Silenium—!

SILENIUM

What's the matter?

A PROCURESS

You ought to pretend to be in love; for if you fall in love at once, you'll be much better consulting the interests of him whom you love than your own.

SILENIUM

But in solemn form he took an oath before my mother that he would take me as his wife. Now, another woman is about to be taken home by him, a Lemnian lady, his relation, who is living here hard by pointing to DEMIPHO'S house; for his father has compelled him. Now my mother is enraged with me, because I didn't return home to her, when I came to know of this matter, that he was about to take another as his wife.

A PROCURESS

Nothing's unfair in love.

SILENIUM

Now, I entreat you that you'll let her pointing to GYMNASIUM be here only for the next three days, and keep house for me; for I've been sent for to my mother's house.

A PROCURESS

Although this will be a troublesome three days for me, and you'll be causing me a loss, I'll do so.

SIL,

You act kindly and like a friend. But you, my dear Gymnasium, if in my absence Alcesimarchus shall come, don't you chide him roughly; however he has deserved of myself, still he has my affections; but, prithee, act gently, so that you mayn't say anything that may cause him pain. Take the keys giving them to her; if you have need to take out anything for use, take it out. I wish to go—

GYMNASIUM

weeping. How you have drawn tears from me.

SILENIUM

My dear Gymnasium, kindly, farewell.

GYMNASIUM

Take care of yourself, there's a dear. Prithee, will you go in this dishabille? Pointing to her dress.

SILENIUM

It's right that such neglect should attend upon my prospects thus disarranged.

GYMNASIUM

At least do lift up that outer garment

[*].

SILENIUM

Let it be dragged, while I myself am being dragged down.

GYMNASIUM

Since so it pleases you, fare you well and prosper.

SILENIUM

If I could, I would. (Exit.)

GYMNASIUM

Mother, do you wish anything of me, before I go indoors? Upon my faith, to me she does seem to be in love.

A PROCURESS

For this reason, then, it is, that I'm repeatedly dinning it into your ears, not to be in love with any man. Go in-doors.

GYMNASIUM

Do you wish anything of me?

A PROCURESS

That you may fare well.

GYMNASIUM

Fare you well GYMNASIUM goes into the house of SILENTIUM.

A PROCURESS

to the AUDIENCE. It's the same fault with myself as with a great part of us women who are following this calling; who, as soon as ever we have got our load of food, are forthwith full of talk; more than is enough do.we say. Why, myself now, inasmuch as I'm filled to my heart's content, and because I've charged myself quite full of the choicest of wine, it pleases me to use my tongue more at freedom; to my misfortune I can't keep silent on that which it were necessary to be silent upon. But once upon a time, that girl, who has gone hence in tears, from a lane I carried off a little child exposed. There is here a certain youth, of the highest rank; his father, of a very high family, is living at Sicyon

[*]; he is dying desperately in love for this young woman, who has just. now gone hence in tears; on the other hand, she is smitten with love. I made a present of her to my friend, this Courtesan: who had often made mention of it to me that somewhere I must find for her a boy or a girl, just born, that she herself might pass it off as her own. As soon as ever the opportunity befell me, I immediately granted her request in that which she had asked of me. After she had received this female child from me, at once she was brought to bed of the same female child which she had received from me, without the aid of a midwife and without pain, just as other women bring forth, who seek a trouble to themselves; but she said that her lover was a foreigner, and that by reason of that circumstance she was palming it off. This, we two alone are aware of, I who gave the child to her, and she who received it from me; to the AUDIENCE except yourselves, indeed. Thus was this affair managed; if any occasion should arise, I wish you to remember this circumstance. I'm off home. (Exit.)

THE GOD OF HELP

To the AUDIENCE. This old woman is both a much-talker and a much-tippler. Isn't it the fact that she has hardly left room to a Divinity for him to speak, so much has she forestalled him in talking about the substitution of this girl? But if she had held her tongue, still I was about to mention it—a God, who could do it better; for my name is Help. Now to the AUDIENCE lend your attention, that I may clearly explain this plot to you. Some time since, at Sicyon,: there was the Festival of Bacchus; a merchant of Lemnos

[*] came hither to the games, and he, an ungovernable young man, ravished a maiden [*] in the dark, in the street, at the dead of night. He, as he knew that he was deserving of a heavy punishment, at once found shelter with his heels, and made off for Lemnos, where he then lived. She whom he had ravished, the ninth ensuing month completed, brought forth a daughter here [*]. Since she did not know the person guilty of this deed, who he was, she made the servant [*] of her father partaker of her counsels, and gave to that servant the child to be exposed to death. He exposed it; this woman took up the child; that servant, who had exposed it, secretly took note whither or to what house she carried away the child. As you have heard her own self confess, she gave this child to the Courtesan Melænis; and she brought her up as being her own daughter, honestly and virtuously. But then, this Lemnian married a neighbour there, his relation, for his wife. She departed this life; there she was compliant to her husband. After he had performed the due obsequies to his wife, at once he removed hither; here he married for his wife that same woman [*] whom formerly,when a maid, he ravished. When he understood that it was she whom he had ravished, she told him that, in consequence of the violation, she had brought forth a daughter, and had at once given her to a servant to be exposed. He forthwith ordered this same servant to make enquiries, if anyhow he could discover who had taken it up. Now to that task is the servant always assiduously devoting his attention, if he can find out that Courtesan, whom formerly, when he himself exposed her, he from his hidingplace had seen take her up. Now, what remains unpaid, I wish to discharge, that my name may be struck out, so that I mayn't remain a debtor. A young man [*] is here at Sicyon, his father is alive; with affection he distractedly dotes upon this exposed girl, who just now went hence in tears unto her mother; and she loves him in return, which is the most delightful love of all. As human matters go, nothing is granted for everlasting: the father is wishful to give the young man a wife. When the mother [*] came to know of this, she ordered her to be sent for home. Thus have these matters come to pass. Kindly fare you well, and conquer by inborn valour, as you have done before; defend your allies, both ancient ones and new; increase resources by your righteous laws; destroy your foes; laud and laurels gather; that, conquered by you, the Pœni [*] may suffer the penalty. (Exit.)

ALCESIMARCHUS

I do believe that Love was the first to invent torture among mankind. This conjecture do I form from myself at home, not to go seek it out of doors; I, who surpass all men, exceed them in the pangs of my feelings. I'm tossed, tormented, agitated, goaded, whirled on the wheel of love in my misery, I'm deprived of sensation, carried one way, carried another way, I'm torn and rent asunder; such clouded faculties of mind have I, where I am, there I am not; where I am not, there my thoughts are; to such a degree have I now all kinds of feelings in me; what I like, then all at once I like not the same; so much does love trifle with me changing my mind, drive me, pursue, desire, and seize for itself, retain, trepan, and promise; what it gives, it gives not; it deludes me; what this moment it has persuaded me, it now dissuades me from; what it has dissuaded me from, it now points out to me that same. After the manner of the sea is it experienced by me; so much does it distract my enamoured feelings; and only in that, in my misery, I do not sink utterly, is there any evil removed from me thus ruined; in such a way has my father detained me these six days running in the country, at his house there; nor has it been allowed me in the meantime to visit my mistress. Isn't this dreadful to relate?[*]

MELAENIS

Are you joking for this reason, because you've got another wife engaged, a rich lady of Lemnos? Have her then! We are neither of a family so great as you are, nor is our wealth so substantial as yours; but still I have no fears that any one will impeach our oath; you then, if you shall feel any pain, will know for what reason you do feel pain.

ALCESIMARCHUS

May the Gods confound me—

MELAENIS

Whatever you wish for, I desire it may befall you.

ALCESIMARCHUS

If ever I'll marry that wife which my father has engaged for me.

MELAENIS

And me, if ever I give you my daughter for a wife.

ALCESIMARCHUS

Will you allow me to be forsworn?

MELAENIS

Yes, and a little more easily than myself and my affairs to go to ruin, and my daughter to be trifled with. Begone! go seek where there is confidence enough in your oaths; here now, with us, Alcesimarchus, you've renounced your title

[*] to our friendship.

ALCESIMARCHUS

Make trial of me but once.

MELAENIS

I have made that trial full oft; which I lament has been so made.

ALCESIMARCHUS

Give her back to me.

MELAENIS

Under new circumstances I'll use an old proverb: "What I have given, I wish I had not given; what's left, that I shall not give."

ALCESIMARCHUS

Won't you restore her again to me?

MELAENIS

Answer yourself for me.

ALCESIMARCHUS

You won't restore her then?

MELAENIS

You know the whole of my resolution already.

ALCESIMARCHUS

Is that quite resolved upon by you in your heart?

MELAENIS

Why, in fact, I'm thinking about something else; i' faith, I don't at present catch these words of yours with my ears.

ALCESIMARCHUS

Not hear? Why, what are you doing?

MELAENIS

Then do you give heed at once, that you may know what you are doing.

ALCESIMARCHUS

Then, so may the Gods and Goddesses of above and below, and of middle rank

[*], and so may Juno the queen and the daughter[*] of supreme Jove, and so may Saturn his uncle—

MELAENIS

I' troth, his father—

ALCESIMARCHUS

And so may Ops the opulent, his grandam—

MELAENIS

Indeed, his mother, rather.

ALCESIMARCHUS

Juno his daughter, and Saturn his uncle, supreme Jove—You are maddening me; it's through you I make these mistakes.

MELAENIS

Go on saying so.

ALCESIMARCHUS

Is it that I'm to know

[*] what conclusion you are going to come to?

MELAENIS

Go on talking; I shall not send her back, that's resolved upon.

ALCESIMARCHUS

Why then, so may Jupiter, and so may Juno and Saturn, to me, so may—I don't know what to say—Now I know—Yes, madam, listen, that you may know my mind; may all the Deities, great and small, and those honored with the platter

[*] * * * cause me not surviving to give a kiss this day to Silenium, if I don't this very day murder you and your daughter and myself, and after that, with the break of day, if I don't to-morrow kill you both, and indeed, by all the powers, if at the third onset I don't demolish you all, if you don't send her back to me. I've said what I intended. Farewell. Goes into his FATHER'S house.

MELAENIS

to herself. He's gone in-doors in a rage. What shall I do now? If she comes back to him, matters will be just in the same position. When satiety begins to take possession; he'll be turning her out of doors, when he shall be bringing home this Lemnian wife. But still I'll go and follow him; there's necessity for caution, lest he, in love, should be doing some mischief. In fine, since with strict justice a poor person's not allowed to contend with a rich one, I'll lose my labour rather than lose my daughter. But who's this that straight along the street is directing his course this way? Both the other matter do I fear, and this do I dread; so utterly in trepidation am wretched I. She stands aside.

LAMPADISCUS

to himself. I've followed the old woman with my clamour through the streets; I've kept her most dreadfully plagued. In what a multitude of ways has she, this day, kept guard upon herself, and been able to remember nothing. How many alluring things, what advantages I've promised her. Blow many inventions I've applied to her, how many stratagems in questioning her. With difficulty have I extorted it from her that she should tell me, because I promised to give her a cask of wine.

PHANOSTRATA

to herself. I seemed just now to be hearing the voice of my servant Lampadiscus before the house.

LAMPADISCUS

stepping forward. You are not deaf, mistress, you heard aright.

PHANOSTRATA

What are you doing here?

LAMPADISCUS

A thing for you to rejoice at.

PHANOSTRATA

What's that?

LAMPADISCUS

pointing to the house of SILENIUM. A little while ago, I saw a woman coming out of that house there.

PHANOSTRATA

Her that took up my daughter?

LAMPADISCUS

You have the matter rgiht.

PHANOSTRATA

What after that?

LAMPADISCUS

I told her in what way I had seen her take up the daughter of my mistress from the Hippodrome. Then she was in a fright.

MELAENIS

apart. Now my body's in a shudder, my heart is throbbing; for I recollect that from the Hippodrome the little female infant was brought to me, and that I brought it up as my own.

PHANOSTRATA

Come, prithee, do go on; my soul's longing to hear how the matter proceeded.

MELAENIS

apart. I only wish you couldn't hear.

LAMPADISCUS

I proceed * * * saying

[*], "This old woman calls you her daughter wrongfully. * * * * * * * * For this woman here is your foster-mother, so don't think she is your mother. I'm to take you back and invite you to opulence, where you may be settled in a noble family, where your father may present you with twenty great talents for a portion. For this is not a place where after the Etrurian mode [*] you are disgracefully to earn a dowry for yourself by prostitution of your person."

PHANOSTRATA

Is she, pray, a Courtesan, who took it up?

LAMPADISCUS

Yes, she was a Courtesan. But how it happened, I'll tell you about that matter. I was now winning her over to me by my persuasion. The old woman embraced her knees, weeping and entreating that she would not forsake her; saying that she was her own daughter; and she took a solemn oath to me that she herself had borne her. " Her," said she, "whom you are in search of, I gave to a friend of mine to bring her up as her own daughter; and she is alive," said she. "Where is she?" immediately said I.

PHANOSTRATA

Preserve me, ye Gods, I do entreat you.

MELAENIS

apart. But me you are undoing!

PHANOSTRATA

You ought to have enquired to whom she gave it.

LAMPADISCUS

I did enquire, and she said to the Courtesan Melænis.

MELAENIS

apart. He has mentioned my name? I'm utterly undone!

LAMPADISCUS

When she mentioned her, I straightway asked, "Where does she live?" said I; "take and show me." "She has been carried off hence," says she, "to live abroad."

MELAENIS

He's sprinkling

[*] a little cold water now.

LAMPADISCUS

"Wherever she has been carried off, thither we will follow. Do you trifle in this fashion? You are undone, if, i' faith, you don't disclose this."I insisted to such a degree, that the old woman swore that she would soon inform me.

PHANOSTRATA

But you oughtn't to have let her go.

LAMPADISCUS

She's all safe; but she said that she wished first to meet a certain woman, a friend of hers, with whom this was a matter of interest in common, and I'm sure she'll come.

MELAENIS

apart. She'll be discovering me, and adding her own distress to mine.

PHANOSTRATA

Make me acquainted what you now wish me to do.

LAMPADISCUS

Go in-doors, and be of good heart. If your husband shall come, bid him wait at home, lest he should be required by me, if I want him for anything. I'm going to run back to the old woman.

PHANOSTRATA

Lampadio, prithee, do take care.

LAMPADISCUS

I'll have this matter well managed.

PHANOSTRATA

I trust in the Gods and in yourself.

LAMPADISCUS

And I in the same.—that you'll now go home. PHANOSTRATA goes into her house.

MELAENIS

coming forward. Young man, stay and listen.

LAMPADISCUS

What, are you calling to me, woman?

MELAENIS

To you.

LAMPADISCUS

What's the matter? For I'm fully engaged.

MELAENIS

Pointing to the house of DEMIPHO. Who lives there?

LAMPADISCUS

Demipho, my master.

MELAENIS

It is he, I suppose, that has betrothed his daughter with such great wealth to Alcesimarchus?

LAMPADISCUS

It is he himself.

MELAENIS

How now, you? What other daughter, then, are you people now in search of?

LAMPADISCUS

I'll tell you; not his daughter by his wife, but his wife's daughter.

MELAENIS

What's the meaning of that speech?

LAMPADISCUS

By a former woman, I say, my master had a daughter born.

MELAENIS

Surely, just now you said you were in search of the daughter of her who has been talking here.

LAMPADISCUS

Her daughter I am in search of.

MELAENIS

In what way then, pray, is she a "former woman," who is now his wife?

LAMPADISCUS

Woman, whoever you are, you weary me with your prating. The middle woman

[*] whom he had for a wife, of her this maiden was born that's being given to Alcesimarchus. That wife is dead. Do you understand now?

MELAENIS

I understand that quite well; but it's this knotty point I'm enquiring about, how the first can be the last, the last be the first.

LAMPADISCUS

The fact is this; this woman he ravished before he took her home as his wife; before that she was pregnant, and before that she gave birth to a daughter: after she gave birth to her, she ordered the infant to be exposed; I myself exposed her; another woman took her away; I was on the look-out; after that, my master married her. That girl, her daughter, we are now in search of. MELÆNIS turns aside her head. Why now, with face upturned, are you looking up towards the heavens?

MELAENIS

Now, then, be off at once whither you were hastening; I won't detain you; I understand it now.

LAMPADISCUS

I' troth, to the Deities I do give thanks; for if you hadn't understood me, I do think you would never have let me go. (Exit.)

MELAENIS

to herself. Now it's necessary for me to be honest, whether I will or no, although I had rather not; I find the thing is discovered. Now will I myself lay them under an obligation to me, rather than she shall peach upon me. I'll go home, and I'll bring Silenium to her parents. (Exit.)

MELAENIS

I've disclosed the whole matter to you; follow, my Silenium, that you may rather belong to those to whom you ought to belong, than be mine. Although against my will I shall part with you, still I'll reconcile my mind to consult that which in especial conduces to your benefit. Giving her a casket. For here in this are the trinkets

[*], together with which she who gave you to me formerly brought you to me; that your parents may recognize you the more easily. Take this casket, Halisca, and then go and knock at that door pointing to the house of DEMIPHO: say that I request that some one will come from within. Make haste, quickly. Enter ALCESIMARCHUS, from his FATHER'S house, with his sword drawn.

ALCESIMARCHUS

calling aloud. Death, receive me unto thyself, a friend and well-wisher to me!

SILENIUM

My mother, to our sorrow, we are undone!

ALCESIMARCHUS

aloud, to himself. Whether shall I pierce my side here striking his right side or on the left.

MELAENIS

to SILENIUM. What's the matter with you?

SILENIUM

pointing. Don't you see Alcesimarchus? He's grasping a sword. ALC. aloud, in a frantic manner. What art about? Thou art delaying. Quit the light of day.

SILENIUM

Do run and aid him, pray, that he mayn't kill himself. They run to assist him, on which HALISCA drops the casket.

ALCESIMARCHUS

O Safety more healthful than my own safety, you now, whether I wish or don't wish, alone do cause me to live.

MELAENIS

Fie on it! Were you ready to commit such violence?

ALCESIMARCHUS

I've nought to do with you—to you I'm dead. Clasping SILENIUM in his arms. Her, as I hold her, I'm determined not to lose. For, by heaven, I am resolved henceforth to have her entirely rivetted fast unto me. Goes to the door of the house, and calls. Where are you, servants? Shut the door with bolts, with bars, when I shall have carried her within the threshold! He carries SILENIUM into the house, followed by HALISCA.

MELAENIS

exclaiming, while wringing her hands. He's gone off: he has carried the damsel away. I'll go—I'll at once follow him in-doors, that he may know of me these same things, if from being angered with me I can render him pleased. Goes into the house.

LAMPADISCUS

I do believe I never saw a more tormenting old nag than this is. What she just now confessed to me, is she to be denying it? But look, I see my mistress. Why seeing the casket on the ground, how's this, that this casket is lying here with these trinkets, and that I see no other person in the street? I must act the child's part

[*]; I'll stoop to pick up the casket. Picks it up. from her house.

PHANOSTRATA

What are you about, Lampadio?

LAMPADISCUS

giving the casket to PHANOSTRATA. Is this casket from out of our house here, I wonder. For I picked it up, lying here near the door.

PHANOSTRATA

What news do you bring about the old woman?

LAMPADISCUS

That there's not one other on earth more wicked. She denies all those things which she just now confessed to me. But, i' faith, for me to allow that old jade to be laughing at me, it's preferable for me to die by any kind of death.

PHANOSTRATA

Ye Gods, I do adjure you by our trust in you! Opening the casket.

LAMPADISCUS

Why do you call upon the Gods?

PHANOSTRATA

Save us!

LAMPADISCUS

What's the matter?

PHANOSTRATA

These are the trinkets with which you exposed my little daughter to death.

LAMPADISCUS

Are you in your senses?

PHANOSTRATA

These certainly are.

LAMPADISCUS

Do you persist?

PHANOSTRATA

These are they.

LAMPADISCUS

If any other woman were to speak to me after that fashion, I should say she was drunk.

PHANOSTRATA

By heaven! I'm talking no nonsense. But prithee, whence in the world did these come, or what Deity placed this before our door? As though for a given purpose, at the very instant sacred Hope comes to my aid?

HAL.

to herself. Unless the Gods give me some aid, I'm utterly undone; nor do I know whence I am to seek for aid. To such a degree does carelessness possess wretched me in mind, which I sadly fear may be lighting upon my own back, if my mistress knows that I'm so negligent as I really am. The casket which I took and held in my hands here before the door, where it is I know not; except, as I fancy, it was dropt by me about this spot. Looks about on the ground. My good sirs to the AUDIENCE, my kind Spectators, do give me information if any one has seen it, if any one has taken it away, or any one picked it up; and whether in this direction or that he has taken his departure? She pauses for a reply. I'm none the wiser for asking these persons, or for worrying them, who are always delighted at a woman's mishaps. Now I'll mark if there are any footsteps here; for if no one had passed this way since I went in-doors, the casket would be lying here. Why say "here?" It's lost, I guess; it's done for. It's all over with unhappy and unlucky me! It's nowhere, and nowhere am I. This, by its loss, has proved my loss. But still, as I've begun, I'll e'en go on; I'll make search; for both within do I fear, and without I am afraid; so much, on either side, does fear agitate me now. In this are mortals intensely wretched. He is now joyous, whoever he is, that has found it, which is of no use at all to any person else; to myself it may be. But I cause delay to myself, while I'm doing this with remissness. Halisca, attend to what you are about: look down upon the ground, and look round about; search with your eyes; guess with shrewdness.

LAMPADISCUS

apart, at a distance. Mistress!

PHANOSTRATA

apart. Well, what's the matter?

LAMPADISCUS

apart. That's she. Pointing at HALISCA.

PHANOSTRATA

apart. Who?

LAMPADISCUS

apart. She who let fall the casket. Why surely she's tracing out that spot where it fell.

PHANOSTRATA

apart. It seems so.

HAL.

to herself, looking on the ground. But that person has gone this way; this way I perceive the imprint of his shoe

[*]; this way I'll follow him. She moves along, still looking on the ground. In this spot now has he stopped, along with another person. Here now a circle [*] presents itself to my sight, nor did he go straight forward this way; here he came to a pause. This way did he come out of that circle. Here was a conference with some one. It points to two persons now. Who are these? Heyday I see the footsteps of only one. But he has gone this way. I'll consider it: hither he went from thence; from hence he has never gone. I'm troubling myself to no purpose. What's lost is lost; my hide [*] along with the casket. I'll go in-doors again. Going towards the house of the FATHER of ALCESIMARCHUS.