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We’re still in Act 2 of Casina, here. Myrrhina has just gone back into her house, as Cleostrata’s husband, Lysidamus, was seen approaching. I’m not sure if Roman theater had the same constraints on number of actors on stage at the same time as Greek tragic theater did, but I would assume that they’d keep the number down anyway if only to make it easier to reuse actors and keep everything clear. So at this point, there are three people standing there: Cleostrata (mother of our purported romantic lead, who never appears in this play); her husband Lysidamus (rival for possession of Casina, who also never appears in this play); and her handmaiden Pardalisca, who hasn’t spoken since her brief line at the beginning of this act.
(The skipped numbers in the scenes are because I’m not bothering to mark every “scene change”, as they’re being used every time someone new steps onto the stage. I’m just using them here for my own reference. All of the act and scene divisions were added after the fact, anyway; these sorts of things, like the cast list, don’t appear in Plautus’ time, and probably not even in the time when the title acrostic and/or prologue were added.)
Act 2, Scene 3
LYSIDAMUS: I believe that love surpasses all things and glittering brightnesses, and nothing comes to mind which has more of taste and pleasantness; I’m completely amazed that cooks, who use spices*, don’t use that alone as a spice, which is at hand for everyone. For where the spice of love is present, I believe it will please them; and nothing can be salted or sweet, where love isn’t mixed in. If poison is loved, love will make it honey, and make a man charming and gentle out of sadness.
As for my part, I’ll make this union more than what I’ve heard; because I love Casina, I shine more, I surpass Elegance herself in my elegance; I frequent all the perfume-sellers, and wherever there is sweet perfume, I perfume myself, so that I will be pleasing there; and I am pleasing, I believe.
But my wife torments me, because she’s alive. I see her standing nearby, scowling; I must speak winningly to this monster.
My wife, my joy, how are you?
CLEOSTRATA: Go away, and keep your hands off me.
LYSIDAMUS: Now now, my Juno, it’s not seemly to be so grim towards your Jove. Where are you going now?
CLEOSTRATA: Leave me alone.
LYSIDAMUS: Stay!
CLEOSTRATA: I’m not staying.
LYSIDAMUS: And by Pollux, I’ll follow you.
CLEOSTRATA: I ask you, are you sane?
LYSIDAMUS: I’m sane. How I love you!
CLEOSTRATA: Don’t love me.
LYSIDAMUS: You can’t give me orders.
CLEOSTRATA: You’re plaguing me to death.
LYSIDAMUS: (I wish you were speaking literally.)
CLEOSTRATA: I believe you there.
LYSIDAMUS: Look, my sweet.
CLEOSTRATA: Certainly I’m as sweet to you as you are to me. Where’s this from, this reek of perfumes?
LYSIDAMUS: (Oh, now I’m done for. I’m clearly caught as a wretch. Why was I so slow to wipe my head with my cloak? May good Mercury** ruin you, perfume-seller, since you gave me these things.)
CLEOSTRATA: Bah, you gray-haired gnat, I’m hardly caught unless I’ll tell you what’s seemly. At this advanced age, you slug, are you really walking through public streets reeking of perfumes?
LYSIDAMUS: By Pollux, I helped out a friend, and he repaid me with perfume.
CLEOSTRATA: How swiftly you lie! Are you ashamed of anything?
LYSIDAMUS: Everything you wish.
CLEOSTRATA: Where did you lie down in swamps?
LYSIDAMUS: Me, in swamps?
CLEOSTRATA: I know more than you think I do.
LYSIDAMUS: What is it? What do you know?
CLEOSTRATA: That of all old men, no one is more ignorant than you are, old man, in your old age.*** Where did you come from, nowhere? Where were you? Where were you frequenting brothels? Where were you drinking? You’re drunk, by Castor; look at how wrinkled your cloak is.
LYSIDAMUS: May the gods make you and me unhappy, if I inserted a drop of wine into my mouth today.
CLEOSTRATA: Certainly, do as you please; drink, eat, ruin your estate.
LYSIDAMUS: Stop, wife, that’s quite enough; control yourself, you’re rattling on. Leave yourself some remaining speech, so that you can argue with me tomorrow. But what are you saying? You’ve broken my spirit, more than a man would wish to happen, you’ve accomplished that, so why are you set against me?
CLEOSTRATA: Why?
LYSIDAMUS: You’re asking? Concerning the maid Casina, that she be given in marriage to our steward, an honest man, and where she will be supplied with wood, hot water, grain, clothes, and where she might raise the children she bears... More than if you give her to that worthless slave, a soldier’s servant and a wastrel, a man who hasn’t got so much as a lead penny today.
CLEOSTRATA: By Castor, I am amazed that at your advanced age, you don’t remember your own duty.
LYSIDAMUS: What’s that?
CLEOSTRATA: Since, if you’re acting honorably and properly, you give me the care of the slave-girls, who are my responsibility.
LYSIDAMUS: Damnation, who wants to give [one of them] to a shield-bearing man?^
CLEOSTRATA: Well, since it was proper for us to give aid to our only son...
LYSIDAMUS: But however “only” he is, that son of mine is no more “only” than I am as his father; it’s more fair that he concede to me that which I want.
CLEOSTRATA: By Castor, man, you’re seeking trouble for yourself; he realizes it, I think.
LYSIDAMUS: What, me?
CLEOSTRATA: You. Why are you stuttering? What is it that you desire with so great a desire?
LYSIDAMUS: Just for her to be given to an honest slave instead of to a shameful one.
CLEOSTRATA: What if I give orders and ask the steward for her, that he send her to me for my own sake?
LYSIDAMUS: However, what if I order the shieldbearer to send her away? Then I believe I’ll have achieved what I wanted.
CLEOSTRATA: He’d agree with that. Shall I call this Chalinus outside by your orders? You command him; however, I’ll make requests of your steward.
LYSIDAMUS: I have reasonable desires.
CLEOSTRATA: So he will be here. Now we’ll find out which of us is more persuasive.
[Cleostrata presumably leaves the scene at this point.]
LYSIDAMUS: “May Hercules and the gods ruin that woman,” is what I wish to say now. I am a wretch tormented by love; moreover, she acts against me, as if on purpose! It seems as if my wife senses what I’m scheming; and because of that, she wants to give the girl to that shield-bearer on purpose. As for him in particular, may all the gods and goddesses ruin him!
[Aaaand here comes Chalinus.]
CHALINUS: Your wife said you were calling for me.
LYSIDAMUS: Indeed, I ordered her to do so.
CHALINUS: Speak forth what you wish.
LYSIDAMUS: First I want you to speak to me in a more respectful manner; it’s stupidity for you to be scowling more than him when you’re more able than he is. I think that you have been a good and honest man for some time now.
CHALINUS: I understand. But if you think that’s so, why haven’t you freed me?
LYSIDAMUS: Haven’t wanted to. But there’s nothing I wish done that you don’t aid me in with your deeds.
CHALINUS: I’d like to know what you want from me in this manner.
LYSIDAMUS: Listen, and I’ll tell you. I’ve promised to give Casina to my steward as a wife.
CHALINUS: But your wife and son promised her to me.
LYSIDAMUS: I know. But would you prefer to be free and celibate now, or to spend your life as a married slave with your children? This is your choice; take your pick of whichever of these you like.
CHALINUS: If I should be free, I’d live at my own expense; for now, I live at yours. Regarding Casina, it’s certain she’ll be handed over to no man born.
LYSIDAMUS: Go inside and promptly summon my wife to the temple here, and bring along with you an urn with water and pebbles.^^
CHALINUS: Just as you like.
LYSIDAMUS: By Pollux, in one way or another I’ll deflect this javelin now. For if I can get what I want by nothing else, I can draw lots. I will avenge myself on you and your supporters here.
CHALINUS: Nevertheless, fortune may fall to me.
LYSIDAMUS: So that, by Pollux, you’d die on a wicked crucifix.
CHALINUS: That woman will be married to me; you may devise whatever schemes you want, however you like.
LYSIDAMUS: Won’t you get out of my sight?
CHALINUS: You don’t want to see me; nevertheless, I’ll keep living.
[Chalinus finally goes inside.]
LYSIDAMUS: Am I wretched man? Are all things set against me? Now I’m afraid my wife has persuaded Olympio not to marry Casina. If that’s so, I’m an old man of no worth. If she hasn’t commanded him, there’s a glimmer of hope for me in lot-drawing. However, if luck deprives^^^ me, I will make a sword my pillow and sleep on it. But look, best of all, Olympio is approaching.
[As stated, Olympio shows up.]
OLYMPIO: By Pollux, you might as well put me in a hot oven and bake me, mistress, like a red-brown loaf, as order me to do such as thing as what you’re thinking of...
LYSIDAMUS: I’m well, and I hope you’re well, hearing your words.
OLYMPIO: ...Why are you scaring me with talk of freedom, mistress? Since even if you and your son don’t want it, with both of you unwilling and ungracious, I can become free for a penny.%
LYSIDAMUS: What’s this? Who are you arguing with, Olympio?
OLYMPIO: The same woman you’re always arguing with.
LYSIDAMUS: With my wife?
OLYMPIO: What, with your wife? It’s as if you’re a hunter; you spend your life, days and nights, with your dog.
LYSIDAMUS: What’s she doing? What did she say to you?
OLYMPIO: She asks, begs, that I not take Casina as a wife.
LYSIDAMUS: And what did you say to that?
OLYMPIO: I said I wouldn’t give in to Jove himself, if he asked it of me.
LYSIDAMUS: May the gods preserve you for me!
OLYMPIO: Now the whole girl is in fermentation; she’s increasing this way for me.
LYSIDAMUS: By Pollux, I hope she splits down the middle.
OLYMPIO: I believe, by Pollux, she already has, if you’re any good with women. But, by Pollux, your love is dangerous to me; your wife is hostile to me, your son is hostile, the other slaves are hostile.
LYSIDAMUS: What’s that to you? So long as your one Jupiter is favorable to you, make sure to consider those little godlings worthless.
OLYMPIO: Those trifles are huge; it’s as if you didn’t know that human Joves die suddenly. But indeed, if you are a mortal Jupiter, when your rulership will have passed on to these lesser gods, what will fall upon my back or head or limbs?
LYSIDAMUS: Your affairs will go better for you than you think, if we get what we want here, so that I can sleep with Casina.
OLYMPIO: By Hercules, I don’t think it’s possible; your wife is pressing me cruelly, so that I won’t get her.
LYSIDAMUS: But I’ll make it so; I’ll throw together the lots in the jar, and draw them for you and Chalinus. I understand the matter’s come to this; it’s necessary to fight with crossed swords.
OLYMPIO: And what if the luck comes out other than you wish?
LYSIDAMUS: Hush. I’m relying on the gods, we will hope for the gods.
OLYMPIO: I wouldn’t buy that for a penny. For all mortals rely on the gods, and yet I’ve seen many men, relying on the gods, get trapped.
LYSIDAMUS: Hush! Quickly, be quiet.
OLYMPIO: What do you want?
LYSIDAMUS: Look, he’s coming out doors over there: Chalinus, with the urn and lots. Now we’ll fight with the gathered symbols.
---
* There’s an implied pun here in that the name Casina is derived from casia, cinnamon. The notes suggest that an explicit pun might have also been dropped at some point, in the various edits of the play. In any case, remember how Cleostrata is keeping her husband from dinner? The food/sex thing is going to be coming up a lot in this play.
** Mercury being invoked in this case as the god of tradesmen.
*** This is much snappier in the Latin. “te sene ominium senum senem neminem esse ignauiorem.”
^ The text and notes are a little unclear on this point, but I gather that being a shieldbearer--the personal attendant of a soldier--is a much lower, less lucrative, and less stable position for a slave than being a steward, which is pretty much the top achievement for a privately owned slave.
^^ This is the standard equipment for a method of drawing lots. The pebbles (or non-floating wood pieces) would be marked, and dropped at the bottom of an urn filled with water. Then they’d be drawn out, with the water keeping the marks on them from being too easily visible.
^^^ This verb can also mean “beheads”, which renders the rest of the sentence more entertaining.
% That is, if he makes Lysidamus, who has legal ownership of him, happy in these schemes.
(The skipped numbers in the scenes are because I’m not bothering to mark every “scene change”, as they’re being used every time someone new steps onto the stage. I’m just using them here for my own reference. All of the act and scene divisions were added after the fact, anyway; these sorts of things, like the cast list, don’t appear in Plautus’ time, and probably not even in the time when the title acrostic and/or prologue were added.)
Act 2, Scene 3
LYSIDAMUS: I believe that love surpasses all things and glittering brightnesses, and nothing comes to mind which has more of taste and pleasantness; I’m completely amazed that cooks, who use spices*, don’t use that alone as a spice, which is at hand for everyone. For where the spice of love is present, I believe it will please them; and nothing can be salted or sweet, where love isn’t mixed in. If poison is loved, love will make it honey, and make a man charming and gentle out of sadness.
As for my part, I’ll make this union more than what I’ve heard; because I love Casina, I shine more, I surpass Elegance herself in my elegance; I frequent all the perfume-sellers, and wherever there is sweet perfume, I perfume myself, so that I will be pleasing there; and I am pleasing, I believe.
But my wife torments me, because she’s alive. I see her standing nearby, scowling; I must speak winningly to this monster.
My wife, my joy, how are you?
CLEOSTRATA: Go away, and keep your hands off me.
LYSIDAMUS: Now now, my Juno, it’s not seemly to be so grim towards your Jove. Where are you going now?
CLEOSTRATA: Leave me alone.
LYSIDAMUS: Stay!
CLEOSTRATA: I’m not staying.
LYSIDAMUS: And by Pollux, I’ll follow you.
CLEOSTRATA: I ask you, are you sane?
LYSIDAMUS: I’m sane. How I love you!
CLEOSTRATA: Don’t love me.
LYSIDAMUS: You can’t give me orders.
CLEOSTRATA: You’re plaguing me to death.
LYSIDAMUS: (I wish you were speaking literally.)
CLEOSTRATA: I believe you there.
LYSIDAMUS: Look, my sweet.
CLEOSTRATA: Certainly I’m as sweet to you as you are to me. Where’s this from, this reek of perfumes?
LYSIDAMUS: (Oh, now I’m done for. I’m clearly caught as a wretch. Why was I so slow to wipe my head with my cloak? May good Mercury** ruin you, perfume-seller, since you gave me these things.)
CLEOSTRATA: Bah, you gray-haired gnat, I’m hardly caught unless I’ll tell you what’s seemly. At this advanced age, you slug, are you really walking through public streets reeking of perfumes?
LYSIDAMUS: By Pollux, I helped out a friend, and he repaid me with perfume.
CLEOSTRATA: How swiftly you lie! Are you ashamed of anything?
LYSIDAMUS: Everything you wish.
CLEOSTRATA: Where did you lie down in swamps?
LYSIDAMUS: Me, in swamps?
CLEOSTRATA: I know more than you think I do.
LYSIDAMUS: What is it? What do you know?
CLEOSTRATA: That of all old men, no one is more ignorant than you are, old man, in your old age.*** Where did you come from, nowhere? Where were you? Where were you frequenting brothels? Where were you drinking? You’re drunk, by Castor; look at how wrinkled your cloak is.
LYSIDAMUS: May the gods make you and me unhappy, if I inserted a drop of wine into my mouth today.
CLEOSTRATA: Certainly, do as you please; drink, eat, ruin your estate.
LYSIDAMUS: Stop, wife, that’s quite enough; control yourself, you’re rattling on. Leave yourself some remaining speech, so that you can argue with me tomorrow. But what are you saying? You’ve broken my spirit, more than a man would wish to happen, you’ve accomplished that, so why are you set against me?
CLEOSTRATA: Why?
LYSIDAMUS: You’re asking? Concerning the maid Casina, that she be given in marriage to our steward, an honest man, and where she will be supplied with wood, hot water, grain, clothes, and where she might raise the children she bears... More than if you give her to that worthless slave, a soldier’s servant and a wastrel, a man who hasn’t got so much as a lead penny today.
CLEOSTRATA: By Castor, I am amazed that at your advanced age, you don’t remember your own duty.
LYSIDAMUS: What’s that?
CLEOSTRATA: Since, if you’re acting honorably and properly, you give me the care of the slave-girls, who are my responsibility.
LYSIDAMUS: Damnation, who wants to give [one of them] to a shield-bearing man?^
CLEOSTRATA: Well, since it was proper for us to give aid to our only son...
LYSIDAMUS: But however “only” he is, that son of mine is no more “only” than I am as his father; it’s more fair that he concede to me that which I want.
CLEOSTRATA: By Castor, man, you’re seeking trouble for yourself; he realizes it, I think.
LYSIDAMUS: What, me?
CLEOSTRATA: You. Why are you stuttering? What is it that you desire with so great a desire?
LYSIDAMUS: Just for her to be given to an honest slave instead of to a shameful one.
CLEOSTRATA: What if I give orders and ask the steward for her, that he send her to me for my own sake?
LYSIDAMUS: However, what if I order the shieldbearer to send her away? Then I believe I’ll have achieved what I wanted.
CLEOSTRATA: He’d agree with that. Shall I call this Chalinus outside by your orders? You command him; however, I’ll make requests of your steward.
LYSIDAMUS: I have reasonable desires.
CLEOSTRATA: So he will be here. Now we’ll find out which of us is more persuasive.
[Cleostrata presumably leaves the scene at this point.]
LYSIDAMUS: “May Hercules and the gods ruin that woman,” is what I wish to say now. I am a wretch tormented by love; moreover, she acts against me, as if on purpose! It seems as if my wife senses what I’m scheming; and because of that, she wants to give the girl to that shield-bearer on purpose. As for him in particular, may all the gods and goddesses ruin him!
[Aaaand here comes Chalinus.]
CHALINUS: Your wife said you were calling for me.
LYSIDAMUS: Indeed, I ordered her to do so.
CHALINUS: Speak forth what you wish.
LYSIDAMUS: First I want you to speak to me in a more respectful manner; it’s stupidity for you to be scowling more than him when you’re more able than he is. I think that you have been a good and honest man for some time now.
CHALINUS: I understand. But if you think that’s so, why haven’t you freed me?
LYSIDAMUS: Haven’t wanted to. But there’s nothing I wish done that you don’t aid me in with your deeds.
CHALINUS: I’d like to know what you want from me in this manner.
LYSIDAMUS: Listen, and I’ll tell you. I’ve promised to give Casina to my steward as a wife.
CHALINUS: But your wife and son promised her to me.
LYSIDAMUS: I know. But would you prefer to be free and celibate now, or to spend your life as a married slave with your children? This is your choice; take your pick of whichever of these you like.
CHALINUS: If I should be free, I’d live at my own expense; for now, I live at yours. Regarding Casina, it’s certain she’ll be handed over to no man born.
LYSIDAMUS: Go inside and promptly summon my wife to the temple here, and bring along with you an urn with water and pebbles.^^
CHALINUS: Just as you like.
LYSIDAMUS: By Pollux, in one way or another I’ll deflect this javelin now. For if I can get what I want by nothing else, I can draw lots. I will avenge myself on you and your supporters here.
CHALINUS: Nevertheless, fortune may fall to me.
LYSIDAMUS: So that, by Pollux, you’d die on a wicked crucifix.
CHALINUS: That woman will be married to me; you may devise whatever schemes you want, however you like.
LYSIDAMUS: Won’t you get out of my sight?
CHALINUS: You don’t want to see me; nevertheless, I’ll keep living.
[Chalinus finally goes inside.]
LYSIDAMUS: Am I wretched man? Are all things set against me? Now I’m afraid my wife has persuaded Olympio not to marry Casina. If that’s so, I’m an old man of no worth. If she hasn’t commanded him, there’s a glimmer of hope for me in lot-drawing. However, if luck deprives^^^ me, I will make a sword my pillow and sleep on it. But look, best of all, Olympio is approaching.
[As stated, Olympio shows up.]
OLYMPIO: By Pollux, you might as well put me in a hot oven and bake me, mistress, like a red-brown loaf, as order me to do such as thing as what you’re thinking of...
LYSIDAMUS: I’m well, and I hope you’re well, hearing your words.
OLYMPIO: ...Why are you scaring me with talk of freedom, mistress? Since even if you and your son don’t want it, with both of you unwilling and ungracious, I can become free for a penny.%
LYSIDAMUS: What’s this? Who are you arguing with, Olympio?
OLYMPIO: The same woman you’re always arguing with.
LYSIDAMUS: With my wife?
OLYMPIO: What, with your wife? It’s as if you’re a hunter; you spend your life, days and nights, with your dog.
LYSIDAMUS: What’s she doing? What did she say to you?
OLYMPIO: She asks, begs, that I not take Casina as a wife.
LYSIDAMUS: And what did you say to that?
OLYMPIO: I said I wouldn’t give in to Jove himself, if he asked it of me.
LYSIDAMUS: May the gods preserve you for me!
OLYMPIO: Now the whole girl is in fermentation; she’s increasing this way for me.
LYSIDAMUS: By Pollux, I hope she splits down the middle.
OLYMPIO: I believe, by Pollux, she already has, if you’re any good with women. But, by Pollux, your love is dangerous to me; your wife is hostile to me, your son is hostile, the other slaves are hostile.
LYSIDAMUS: What’s that to you? So long as your one Jupiter is favorable to you, make sure to consider those little godlings worthless.
OLYMPIO: Those trifles are huge; it’s as if you didn’t know that human Joves die suddenly. But indeed, if you are a mortal Jupiter, when your rulership will have passed on to these lesser gods, what will fall upon my back or head or limbs?
LYSIDAMUS: Your affairs will go better for you than you think, if we get what we want here, so that I can sleep with Casina.
OLYMPIO: By Hercules, I don’t think it’s possible; your wife is pressing me cruelly, so that I won’t get her.
LYSIDAMUS: But I’ll make it so; I’ll throw together the lots in the jar, and draw them for you and Chalinus. I understand the matter’s come to this; it’s necessary to fight with crossed swords.
OLYMPIO: And what if the luck comes out other than you wish?
LYSIDAMUS: Hush. I’m relying on the gods, we will hope for the gods.
OLYMPIO: I wouldn’t buy that for a penny. For all mortals rely on the gods, and yet I’ve seen many men, relying on the gods, get trapped.
LYSIDAMUS: Hush! Quickly, be quiet.
OLYMPIO: What do you want?
LYSIDAMUS: Look, he’s coming out doors over there: Chalinus, with the urn and lots. Now we’ll fight with the gathered symbols.
---
* There’s an implied pun here in that the name Casina is derived from casia, cinnamon. The notes suggest that an explicit pun might have also been dropped at some point, in the various edits of the play. In any case, remember how Cleostrata is keeping her husband from dinner? The food/sex thing is going to be coming up a lot in this play.
** Mercury being invoked in this case as the god of tradesmen.
*** This is much snappier in the Latin. “te sene ominium senum senem neminem esse ignauiorem.”
^ The text and notes are a little unclear on this point, but I gather that being a shieldbearer--the personal attendant of a soldier--is a much lower, less lucrative, and less stable position for a slave than being a steward, which is pretty much the top achievement for a privately owned slave.
^^ This is the standard equipment for a method of drawing lots. The pebbles (or non-floating wood pieces) would be marked, and dropped at the bottom of an urn filled with water. Then they’d be drawn out, with the water keeping the marks on them from being too easily visible.
^^^ This verb can also mean “beheads”, which renders the rest of the sentence more entertaining.
% That is, if he makes Lysidamus, who has legal ownership of him, happy in these schemes.