 | The Lots |  |
SCENE V.
Enter PARDALISCA.Par.
Undone! undone! I'm ruin'd utterly!
Frightned to death! my limbs sink under me.
Where shall I find assistance or protection,
Refuge or succour! What surprizing things
Have I just seen within! such desperateness
New and unusual—Take good care, Cleostrata,
Care of yourself, keep from her, I beseech you;
Lest in the transport of her rage, she do
Some mischief to you—Force from her the sword;
She is distracted—
Sta.
What's the matter? why
Does she run out, in such a fright, and seemingly
Half dead with fear?—Hola! there, Pardalisca.
Par.
I'm ruin'd! whence that voice which strikes my ears?
Sta.
Look on me then—
Par.
What, is it you, my master!
327
What is the matter? What is't frightens you?
Par.
Oh! I'm quite spent.
Sta.
How spent?
Par.
Undone!
And you're the same.
Sta.
What is the matter with you?
Unfold—
Par.
Ah! woe be to you—
Sta.
And the like
To you—
Par.
O dear! Support me, I shall fall.
Sta.
What can this be? Explain to me directly.
Par.
Oh! my heart fails me; be so good to make
A little air, and fan me with your cloak.
Sta.
How this affair alarms me! I can't think
What it can be; perhaps she may have put
Too little water to her wine.
Par.
I beg you
Hold tight my temples—
Sta.
To the gallows with you!
Your temples, head and heart, and all of you
May the gods crush! For if you don't quick tell me
What is the matter, I myself, you serpent,
328
Par.
My master!
Sta.
Well, what would you have, my girl?
Par.
You are too angry.
Sta.
And you prate too much.
But say what is this matter—Speak in few:
What's this disturbance here within the house?
Par.
Well, you shall know: attend then to this evil,
This bad affair, this prank that your slave Casina
Is playing in the house; and what is not
According to the laws of the republick.
Sta.
What is it?
Par.
Fear does quite prevent my utterance.
Sta.
Of what? Can I not learn from you what sort
Of business 'tis?
Par.
I'll tell you then—This Casina
Whom you would marry to your bailiff—she
Within doors—
Sta.
What within doors? tell me what?
Par.
Is following the example of bad wives;
And threats her husband.
Sta.
How is that?
Par.
Alas!
329
What's that?
Par.
She says she'll take away his life.
A sword—
Sta.
Ha!
Par.
Yes, a sword—
Sta.
What of that sword?
Par.
Holds in her hand—
Sta.
Ah! wretched me!—For what!
Par.
Why she pursues all who're within the house,
Won't let a soul come near her; so that all,
Silent for fear, conceal themselves in chests,
Or under beds.—
Sta.
Undone! without resource.
What sudden ill is this befallen her?
Par.
She has lost her reason—
Sta.
I am the most wretched
Of men.
Par.
Ah! if you knew what she has said
To day.
Sta.
Why tell me then; what is't she said?
Par.
Attend: she swore by all the gods and goddesses,
She'd this night murder him who was to lie with her.
Sta.
Murder me!
Par.
You! why how are you concern'd?
Sta.
Psha! psha!
Par.
Why what have you to do with her?
330
'Twas a mistake. I should have said my bailiff.
Par.
From the high road you turn out knowingly
Into bye paths—
Sta.
But does she threaten me?
Par.
She's more averse to you than any body.
Sta.
Why so?
Par.
Because you'd marry her to Olympio.
She swears nor you, nor he, nor she herself,
Shall be alive to-morrow. I'm sent hither
To tell you this; and caution you to guard
Against her.
[runs off.
Sta.
I am ruin'd quite! by Hercules!
And sure there is not an old man in love,
Nor ever was, so wretched as myself.
Re-enter PARDALISCA.
Par.
[aside.]
I play upon him cleverly; for all
I've said has not one word of truth in it.
My mistress and her neighbour here, concerted
This scheme together, and dispatch'd me hither
To play it off.
Sta.
Hola! there, Pardalisca!
Par.
Well, what's the matter now?
Sta.
There is—
Par.
What is there?
Sta.
Something I want to examine you about.
Par.
You're only throwing hindrance in my way.
331
And you, sorrow and grief in mine—But say
Has Casina still got a sword?
Par.
A sword?—
Yes, two—
Sta.
How? two!
Par.
Yes, one to do your business;
The other for your bailiff—
Sta.
I'm a dead man,
More so than any man that now is living.
A coat of mail would be a proper thing
To wrap myself up in—What did my wife?
Did not she go, and take away her sword?
Par.
There's no one dar'd go near her.
Sta.
Yet she should
Have spoke her fair.
Par.
She did so: but in vain;
She would not part with it, unless she knew
That she should not be married to the bailiff.
Sta.
Spite of her teeth, and for she does not chuse it,
She shall be married, and this very day too.
Why should I not compleat my undertaking,
And get her married to me?—Not to me
I meant; but to our bailiff—
Par.
Very often
You blunder thus—
Sta.
All owing to my fright—
But prithee tell my wife, I beg she would
Intreat her to lay down the sword, that I
May go into my house.
Par.
I'll tell her so.
Sta.
Do you yourself intreat her too.
Par.
I will.
332
But use soft words, as you are us'd to do.
And do you mind me, if you should effect it,
I will present you with a pair of slippers;
Give you a gold ring for your finger too,
And many more good things.
Par.
I'll do my best.
Sta.
Endeavour to succeed.
Sta.
I'll go directly,
Unless ought should detain me.
Sta.
Get you gone then,
And take good care—But see, our eaterer
[Exit Pardalisca.
Comes with provisions, and his followers with him.
| The Lots | |