University of Virginia Library

SCENE VII.

Re-enter OLYMPIO and STALINO.
Olym.
Let him but once come to us in the country.
[meaning Chalinus.
I'll send the fellow back to you to town,
Bearing his furca; and with stripes as black
As any collier.

Sta.
That will be but right.

Olym.
I'll see it done.

Sta.
And, if he is at home,
I fain would send him off to sup with you;
And thus distress our enemy the more,
By making this addition to his sorrow.

Cha.
[apart:]
I'll, like a river crab, retire to the wall,
And lie in wait to catch at their discourse.
For one of them torments and tortures me,
The other makes me pine and waste with envy—
The rascal's got his wedding-garment on,
For stripes that receptacle—I defer
My own death—For I am resolv'd to send
Him first before me to the shades below.

Olym.
How I am found obsequious to your will!
I have procur'd for you what most of all things
You coveted.—This day you will be blest,
With the dear company of her you love;
And that, without the knowledge of your wife—

Sta.
No more—May all the gods for ever be
Propitious to me! but my lips will scarce
Refrain from kissing you for these your services,
My joy, my pleasure!

Cha.
[apart.]
What is it that he means
By kissing? What is this? What is't you mean
By calling him your joy, your pleasure?

Olym.
What!
You love me then?

Sta.
More than myself, I swear.
Let me embrace thee.

Olym.
What! embrace me, sir?

Chal.
[apart.]
By Hercules! he'll smother him I think.

Olym.
Stand off, sir lover, I am not your mistress—
You'll own how well I have obey'd your orders,
And made myself subservient to your pleasure!

Sta.
So much so, I shall ever while I live
Wish for your happiness, more than for my own.
How happy shall I be this day with Casina!
How many pleasures shall I now partake of,
Without the knowledge of my wife!

Cha.
[apart.]
Hah! Hah!
I'm got at last in the right track I find.
He is in love with Casina. Yes, yes,
I have them both.

Sta.
By Hercules! I long,
Earnestly long to kiss, and to embrace her.

Olym.
But let her first be brought out of the house,
You're in a plaguy hurry sure!

Sta.
Why, I'm
In love.

Olym.
I think it can't be done to-day.

Sta.
It can; if you but think 'tis in my power
To-morrow to bestow your freedom on you.

Cha.
[apart.]
Hah! I must listen now with both my ears.
I now shall catch two boars in the same thicket.

Sta.
There's a place ready at a friend and neighbour's,
I've trusted him with all my love, and he
Has promis'd me a room convenient.

Olym.
But
His wife? Where will his wife bestow herself?

Sta.
That too I've cleverly contriv'd—My wife
Will strait invite her hither to the wedding,
To keep her company, to share her labour,
And sleep with her—Such orders have I given,
And my wife too has told me, she'd comply—
She'll lie here at our house; and I'll take care
Her husband shall not be at home—Do you
Pretend to take your wife into the country,
His house shall be the country for so long,
Until I've here consummated with Casina;
And you to-morrow morn by break of day,
Shall bear her off indeed into the country.
Is it not well contriv'd?

Olym.
Oh! skilfully.

Cha.
[apart.]
Go on then—Plot, contrive—By Hercules!
Your stratagems shall turn to your confusion.

Sta.
Attend to what I now would have you do.

Olym.
Say on—

Sta.
Here, take my purse—Begone, and haste
To buy provisions for our entertainment.
But I would have them nice and delicate,
For she herself is delicate and nice.

Olym.
It shall be done.

Sta.
Be sure to buy some lobsters,
Oysters and smelts—

Cha.
[apart.]
And add some furmity
If you are wise, and know what you're about.

Sta.
Some soles.

Cha.
[apart.]
Or rather some old soles of shoes,
To slap you in the face, filthy old fellow.

Olym.
Suppose some tongues?

Sta.
Not when my wife's at home:
We want no tongue then, her's will ne'er be silent.

Olym.
When I'm upon the spot, I then can pick
And chuse, and buy what seems to me the best.

Sta.
You're right—Away! spare for no cost, provide
In plenty—I must now go to my neighbour,
And see that he takes care of what I've order'd.

Olym.
Shall I go now?

Sta.
Yes, now, away directly.

[Exeunt Olympio and Chalino severally.
CHALINUS comes forward.
Cha.
Had I three freedoms offer'd me directly,
I'd not accept them, were I to forego
The plot I'm planning 'gainst them, and not lay
This whole affair quite open to my mistress.
My foes I've plainly taken in the toil—
Now if my mistress will but do her duty,
Our cause is all our own—I now shall be
Fairly before my chaps; the omens all
Are on our side to-day: tho' just now conquer'd,
We yet shall come off victors. I'll go in,
And 'stead of what the other cook's provided,
Dress in my turn another kind of dish—
The dish that's ready shan't be done enough;
And what's not yet prepar'd, shall soon be ready.

[Exit.