Cistellaria, or The Casket (697-713)

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.

Hallo, woman-stop; there are some persons who wish to meet with you.

Who’s calling me back?

A good female and a bad male want you.

Away with you, bad male; I want a good one. (To herself.) After all, he who calls knows better what he wants than I who am called; I’ll return. (Aloud.) Prithee, have you seen any person hereabouts pick up a casket with some trinkets, which I, to my misfortune, have lost here?

For when, just now, we were running into the house of Alcesimarchus, that he mightn’t put an end to his life, at that moment I think that, through terror, the casket fell down from me here.

This woman’s to our purpose; let’s then give heed to her a little, mistress.

To my sorrow, I’m utterly undone. What shall I say to my mistress, who bade me with such earnestness take care of it, through which Silenium might the more readily recognize her parents—who, when little, was adopted by my mistress as her own,