University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

SCENE I.

Enter CLEOSTRATA and PARDALISCA.
CLEOSTRATA
[to PARDALISCA.]
Lock up the store-room, and bring me the key.
I'll just step to my neighbour here hard by,
And if my husband should want ought with me,
Let me be hither call'd immediately.

Par.
He had order'd to have dinner got for him—

Cle.
'St—hold your tongue, and get you gone. [Exit Par.]
I've not
Provided any dinner, nor to-day
Shall one be dress'd—since he, to gratify
His passion, sets him 'gainst his son and me.
Infamous man! I'll punish him with hunger,
And thirst; in word, in deed I'll be reveng'd,
And say, and do him all the spite I'm able.
In love forsooth! I'll plague him with my tongue,
By Pollux! and I'll make him lead the life
He well deserves; food for the grave, debauch'd,
Stable of filth! I'll pour out my complaints
Here to my neighbour—The door creaks—Herself
Is coming out. Troth, I've ill nick'd the time.

SCENE II.

Enter MYRRINA, [speaking to her servants within.]
Myr.
You, my attendants, follow me just by—
You there!—Does any of you hear my orders?
I'm to be found in this place, if my husband,
Or any one besides should ask for me.
When I'm at home alone, I am so drowsy,
My work drops from my hands. Did I not order
My distaff to be brought?

Cle.
Good day, Myrrina.

Myr.
The same to you, by Castor! But why sad,
My dear?

Cle.
No more so than those use to be
Who've got bad husbands—At home or abroad,
They always have enough to make them sad—
I was just going to your house.

Myr.
In troth!
And I was going too to yours. But what is't
That vexes you? whatever discontent
You feel, I feel the same.

Cle.
Troth I believe it.
For there's not any neighbour I love more,
Nor who deserves it better than yourself;
Nor one with whom I'd wish to be more intimate—

Myr.
I thank you—Let me know then what it is?

Cle.
My husband in a most unworthy manner
Has acted towards me; nor have I the advantage
To enjoy what is my own.

Myr.
How! What is that
You say? Repeat it once again. By Pollux!
I can't conceive the cause of your complaints.

Cle.
My husband in a most unworthy manner
Has acted towards me.

Myr.
Wonderful indeed!
If what you say is true. For husbands scarce
Can from their wives obtain what is their due.

Cle.
Well then, he wants a waiting-maid that's mine,
Brought up at my expence, to give his bailiff,
Spite of my teeth too. But he is in love
With her himself.

Myr.
No more of that, I beg you.

Cle.
Here we may say our pleasure: for we are—

Myr.
True, so we are: But say, how came you by
This waiting-maid? You know, a modest wife
Should never be possest of any property
Her husband knows not of; and if she is,
She can't make use of it, but she must pilfer
From him, or else obtain it by bad means.
Whatever is your own, in my opinion,
Is all your husband's property.

Cle.
All this
You speak against your friend.

Myr.
You simpleton,
No more, but list to me—Oppose him not.
Let him love on: let him do what he likes,
So he but gives you all your rights at home.

Cle.
Have you your senses? Why you speak against
Your proper interest.

Myr.
'Tis you are a fool.
Take care your husband make you not that compliment.

Cle.
What compliment?

Myr.
Divorce you.

Cle.
'St! no more.

Myr.
The matter?

Cle.
'St.

Myr.
Why, whom d'you see?

Cle.
My husband
Is coming back, look there.

Myr.
Go in, make haste.
I beg—

Cle.
I willingly comply—I'm gone—

Myr.
We shall be more at leisure by and by,
I then will talk with you: adieu!

Cle.
Adieu!

[stands apart.
[Exit Myrrina.

SCENE III.

Enter STALINO.
Stal.
In my opinion love's to be preferr'd
To all things; and of every excellency
'Tis the most excellent. Nor is there aught
That can be mention'd, has a higher relish,
Or more of sweetness in it. I much wonder,
Your cooks, who use so many different sorts
Of seasoning, should never in their sauces
Put some of this, which so excells them all.
The sauce that has the seasoning of love
Must please all palates. And without a mixture,
A little dash of love, no sauce will have
A relish, nor taste sweet upon the palate.
Love changes gall to honey, to sweet, bitter;
Clears up the gloom, and renders strait the man
Agreeable and pleasant. This opinion,
I from my own experience rather form
Than what I hear without doors. For, e'er since
I've been in love with Casina, I surpass
Neatness itself in neatness. Now I visit
All the perfumers; and where'er I meet
A perfume that is excellent, I use it,
That I may please her. And it seems to me
That I succeed—But there's one thing torments me,
My wife's alive—I see her standing there,
And gloomy too. However disagreeable,
I must be civil to her—notwithstanding—
My wife! my joy, how do'st thou?

[to Cle.
Cle.
Get you gone,
And touch me not.

Sta.
O fie! O fie! my Juno,
It don't become thee to behave so peevishly
To thine own Jupiter—Where art going now?

Cle.
Let me alone.

Sta.
Nay stay.

Cle.
I will not stay.

Sta.
By Pollux! then I'll follow thee.

Cle.
I prithee!
Have you your wits?

Sta.
Yes sure, when I love thee.

Cle.
I do not want your love.

Sta.
You'll have it tho'.

Cle.
I'm plagu'd to death w'you.

Sta.
Would that you spoke truth.

Cle.
There I believe you—

Sta.
But look back upon me,
My sweeting—

Cle.
Yes, as much as you are mine.
But whence this stink of perfumes?

Sta.
I'm undone!
Plainly discover'd. Why not with my cloak
Strait wipe them of? May Mercury confound thee,
Thou vile perfumer, that hast given them me!

Cle.
Thou good for nothing grey old gnat; I scarce
Refrain from calling you what you deserve.
One of your age to walk the streets, perfum'd so!

Sta.
By Pollux! I was only with a friend
Who bought some.

Cle.
See, how soon he has hammer'd out
An answer! Are you then asham'd of nothing?

Sta.
Yes, I'm asham'd of ev'ry thing you'd have.

Cle.
What brothel, say, have you been lying in?

Sta.
I, in a brothel!

Cle.
Yes, I know more of you
Than you imagine.

Stal.
Well, what is't you know?

Cle.
That you're of all old fellows the most sneaking.
Thou thing of nothing, whence art thou now come?
Where hast thou been? What whore hast thou been lying with?
Where is it thou'st been drinking? Yes, 'tis so,
By Castor's temple! look but at his cloak,
How wrinkled 'tis.

Sta.
The gods confound us both!
If I have touch'd a drop of wine to-day.

Cle.
Well, well, do what you like: drink, eat, consume
Your substance.

Sta.
Hold, wife, now there is enough.
Restrain your tongue, you din my ears too much.
Be sparing of your chattering, leave some
To scold at me to-morrow. But what say you?
Has't so far got the better of thy temper,
To do the thing thy husband has desir'd,
Rather than contradict him?

Cle.
About what?

Sta.
A pretty question that? why touching Casina
Your handmaid, to bestow her as a wife
On our Olympio here, an honest servant;
With him all will be well: she'll have her wood,
Bath, food, and cloathing; she will have wherewith
To bring up any children she may have;
Rather than give her to that armour-bearer,
That good for nothing sorry fellow there,
Who is not worth a single doit; unless
It is a leaden one.

Cle.
By Castor's temple!
I wonder much, that at your time of life
You should not know your duty.

Sta.
How! Why so?

Cle.
For if you did what's right and reasonable,
You'd leave to me the care of my maid-servants;
It is my proper business.

Sta.
So you'd give her,
(A mischief on you!) to that 'squire at armes?

Cle.
We should do something for our only son.

Sta.
Tho' he's my only son, he is not more
My only son, than I'm his only father.
And 'tis more just that to my will he should
Conform himself, than I to his.—

Cle.
Good man,
You're only seeking evil for yourself,
By Castor's temple!

Sta.
Yes, she smells a rat,
[aside.
I find 'tis so— [to her]
What! I, do you say?

Cle.
Yes, you.
Why that impatient air else? why desire
This thing so vehemently?

Sta.
Because I'd rather
She should be given to an honest servant
Than a dishonest one.

Cle.
Suppose I should
Intreat, nay more, engage Olympio,
On my account, to give her up to him?

Sta.
Suppose I from Chalinus should obtain
His free consent to take her? Why, then I
Should gain my point.

Cle.
We stand on even ground then.
Shall I, in your name, call Chalinus hither?
You'll talk with him, as I will with Olympio.

Sta.
With all my heart.

Cle.
He'll soon be here—And now
Let's try, which of us two can best persuade.

[Exit.
Sta.
May Hercules! and all the gods confound her!
Now I'm at liberty to say as much.
This love torments me, and in my opinion
My wife makes it a point to make me angry.
She has some mistrust of what I am contriving,
And for that reason she assists Chalinus.

SCENE IV.

Enter CHALINUS.
Sta.
May all the gods and goddesses confound him!

[aside, and seeing Chal. entering.
Chal.
Your wife, sir, told me that you wanted me.

Sta.
'Tis true, I order'd her to send you to me.

Cha.
Tell me your pleasure.

Sta.
First, I'd have you speak
With a more open countenance.

Cha.
'Twould be
A folly to be gloomy in his presence,
Who has such power o'er me.

Sta.
Long ago
I've look'd upon thee as an honest fellow.

Cha.
I know so. Yet if that was your opinion,
Why have you not before this time bestow'd
My freedom on me?

Sta.
I have wish'd to do it.
But my intention will not signify,
Unless you now assist me with your actions.

Cha.
I should be glad to know what you'd command me.

Sta.
Attend—I'll tell you—I have promised
To marry Casina to our Olympio.

Cha.
But both your wife and son have promised
To marry her to me.

Sta.
I know it well.
But would you rather live a single man,
And have your freedom giv'n you; or be married,
And you and all your children still be slaves?
You have your choice; so take which likes you best.

Cha.
I must preserve my life at my own peril,
Should I be free; 'tis now preserv'd at yours.
For Casina, to no man born I'll yield her.

Sta.
Go in, and call my wife directly hither.
And bring the urn, some water, and the lots—

Cha.
Content—

Sta.
Her plot I some how will defeat.
For if I can get nothing by persuasion,
At least I'll try my fate by lot. And there
I may avenge myself on your abettors.

Cha.
Yet for all that the lot may fall on me.

Sta.
That with vexation you may burst yourself.

Cha.
Yet I will marry her, plot what you will,
And in whatever way—

Sta.
Hence from my sight!

Cha.
I know you look at me against your will:
Yet notwithstanding I may live the longer.

[Exit.
Sta.
And am not I a wretch! All things go contrary.
I am afraid my wife may have prevail'd
Upon Olympio not to marry Casina.
'Tis over with me then in my old age.
If she has not prevail'd, I have some hope
In the decision of my fate by lot.
If too the lot deceives me, I've no more
To do, but make a pillow of my sword,
And lay me down upon't—Things howe'er
Go well; for see, Olympio coming hither.

[stands apart.

SCENE V.

Enter OLYMPIO, speaking to CLEOSTRATA within.
Olym.
By Pollux' temple! rather shut me up
At once in a hot oven, and there bake me
Like a sea-biscuit, rather than gain of me
What you require—

Sta.
[aside.]
So, safe's the word—From what
I hear, my hope's secure.

Olym.
Why frighten me
With mentioning my liberty? which, if
Neither yourself, nor yet your son will give me,
In spite of both your teeth I can obtain it;
And that too for a trifle.

Sta.
What is this?
[to him.
Who is it you are wrangling with, Olympio?

Olym.
The same you're ever wrangling with yourself.

Sta.
What, with my wife?

Olym.
Why tell me of your wife?
You're as it were a hunter; pass your life,
Your days and nights too, with a cur that is
Howling perpetually.

Sta.
What is she about?
What is she talking to you of?

Olym.
She begs,
Intreats I would not marry Casina.

Sta.
What have you said to that?

Olym.
Why I have told her
I would not give her up to Jove himself,
If he should beg her of me.

Sta.
May the gods preserve you!
To be assisting to me.

Olym.
Now, her blood
Is altogether in a ferment; she's
In such a chafe against me.

Sta.
I could wish
By Pollux' temple! she would burst asunder.

Olym.
Troth! if you manage well, I think she has.
But your affection, sir, has made me enemies.
Your wife's my enemy, your son's the same;
The same my fellow slaves.

Sta.
What's that to you?
So Jupiter is but propitious to you,
No matter for the lesser gods, despise them.

Olym.
Meer empty words!—As if you did not know
Our Jupiters below may die, when least
They think of, or expect it. And at length
If you, who are my Jupiter, should die,
And to the lesser gods your empire pass,
Who'll of my back take care, my head, my legs?

Sta.
Affairs, I tell you, will go better with you
Than you imagine, if I can obtain
This of you, that I may enjoy my Casina.

Olym.
By Hercules! I think that ne'er can be,
Because your wife's so earnest to prevent
My having her.

Sta.
But thus I'll manage it.
I'll throw the lots into the urn, and draw
For you and for Chalinus. Thus it stands.
'Tis necessary, now the sword is drawn,
To throw away the scabbard.

Olym.
But suppose
The lot should not turn out what you would have it?

Sta.
Speak words of better omen—I rely
On my good fortune; let us hope in that.

Olym.
I would not give a farthing for such hopes.
All mortal men rely upon good fortune,
Yet many of them have I seen deceiv'd.

Sta.
Peace, peace a little.

Olym.
What's the matter, sir?

Sta.
See, there's Chalinus coming from the house
Both with the urn and lots. For open war then.

[stands apart.

SCENE VI.

Enter CLEOSTRATA and CHALINUS with an urn, and lots.
Cle.
Give me to know, Chalinus, what my husband
Would have with me—

Cha.
Have?—why, by Castor's temple!
To see you burning on the funeral pile
Without the Metian gate.

Cle.
I well believe it.

Cha.
'Tis more than my belief, I know 'tis certain.

Sta.
I've in my house more artists than I thought for.
This man, I find, is a diviner—Well,
Suppose we hoist our standards, and go meet him.
Follow me.—Well, the matter?

Cha.
See, I've brought
All that you order'd me; your wife, the lots,
The urn, ay, and myself into the bargain.

Sta.
That last is what I did not want.

Cha.
I thought so.
I'm in your sides a thorn, I see—I say
This to you, for I see you're in a sweat.
Hark ye! does not your dear heart pant thro' fear?

Sta.
A scoundrel!—

Cle.
Peace, and hold your tongue, Chalinus.
Correct him there.

Olym.
Nay, rather him, who dares
Put in his oar.

Sta.
Now hither bring the urn,
Give me the lots: and lend me your attention.
I've ever thought [to Cle.]
my dear, to have ow'd to you
And to your importunity, that Casina
Should have been yielded up to my disposal,
To be my wife: and still I think the same.

Cle.
What! given up to you?

Sta.
Yes sure, to me.
Psha! that is not the thing I'd say—No, not
To him, to me I meant: thro' eagerness
To have her for myself, by Hercules!
I've long been chattering amiss, meer prattle.

Cle.
By Pollux! so you have; and still do so—

Sta.
For him! no! for myself, by Hercules!
Ah! now at length, with much ado, I'm gotten
Into the right road—

Cle.
Very frequently
By Pollux! you get out of 't—

Sta.
So it happens
Whene'er we long for any thing with earnestness—
But both of us, both he and I now sue
To you for each our right.

Cle.
How's that?

Sta.
My honey!
I'll tell thee: 'tis to give our bailiff here
Our Casina for a wife.

Cle.
By Pollux! no;
Nor do I think it should be done.

Sta.
Well then
We'll draw the lots.

Cle.
Who hinders you from doing it?

Sta.
I think it is the best and fairest way.
In one word, if it happens as we wish,
We shall rejoice: if not, why then, we must
Bear it with patience.—Here's a lot for you.
[giving a lot to Olympio.
See what's the mark upon it.

Olym.
Number one.

Cha.
It is not fair to give a lot to him
[pointing to Olympio.
Before you've given one to me.

Sta.
Take this—

[giving a lot to Cha.
Cha.
Well, give it me—But hold, there is a thing
Comes now into my mind—Look in the urn,
And see there is no other lot beneath
The water.

Sta.
Rascal! think you that I am
Like you—There's none I tell you—So be quiet.

Cha.
O may the chance be mine, to thy destruction!

Olym.
By Pollux' temple! I suppose it will:
I know your piety; 'twill well deserve it.
Hold—Is your lot of poplar wood, or sir?

Cha.
What's that to you?

Olym.
Because I am afraid
Lest it should float upon the water.

Sta.
Brave!
Take care now—Cast the lots for both—
No cheating, wife, by Ceres! no.

Olym.
To her
I do not chuse to trust.

Sta.
Come, courage, man!

Olym.
She'll lay a spell upon the lot, by Hercules!
If once she touches it.

Cha.
No words.

Olym.
I've done;
And pray the gods to be propitious to me!

Cha.
So be it, and make you bear along with you
The handcuff and the gibbet.

Olym.
No, I tell you,
Not so, but that the lot may fall to me.

Cha.
And that you strait be hang'd up by the feet,
By Hercules!

Olym.
And when you snuff your nose,
Your eyes may through it fall from out your head.
But why afraid? Ay, there's no more to do,
But to prepare the rope—'Tis over with you.

Sta.
Prithee, attend to what you are about.

Olym.
Well, I have done.

Sta.
Now, you, Cleostrata,
Lest you should think that I in this affair
Have acted with deceit, I give you leave.
Draw you the lot—

Olym.
You ruin me.

Cha.
No, no.
It will be an advantage.

Cle.
You do well.

Cha.
I pray the gods, your lot may run away
From out the urn.

Olym.
How's that? Because you are
Yourself a runaway; you'd have all else
Be like you. No, I rather wish your lot
May, as you're drawing it, dissolve within
The water, in like manner, as 'tis said
That did of Hercules' descendant—

Cha.
No,
Rather, that you be made so hot with lashes,
That you shall melt yourself.

Sta.
Have done, Olympio.

Olym.
I will, if that mark'd rascal would but let me.

Sta.
Now may the gods be favourable to me!

Olym.
With all my heart; and to me too!

Cha.
Not so.

Olym.
By Hercules! Yes.

Cha.
By Hercules! I say
To me.

Stal.
He'll win, and you will live a wretch.
Give him a good round slap i'th'chops for me.
Do as I bid you.

Cle.
Lift not up your hand.

Olym.
What with my open hand, or with it clench'd?

Sta.
Which you like best.

Olym.
Then take it; that's for you.

[strikes him.
Cle.
What right have you to touch him?

Olym.
Why, my master,
My Jupiter, commanded me to do it.

Cle.
[to Chalinus.]
Return the blow—

[Chalinus strikes Olympio.
Olym.
My Jupiter, assist me!
I shall be murder'd—

Sta.
[to Chal.]
How dare you to strike him?

Cha.
Because my Juno here commanded me.

Sta.
I must have patience since my wife is pleas'd
While I'm alive to be my mistress.

Cle.
Why,
I've the same right to speak to him, as you
To speak to your Olympio.

Olym.
Why do you sully
This my good omen?

Sta.
Of yourself take care,
Chalinus—

Cha.
Yes, when he has beat my teeth out.

Sta.
Come on, my dear, now let us draw our lots.
You, be attentive there—And you [to Cleostrata.]
the same.

Olym.
I know not where I am! I can no more!
My heart goes pit-a-pat: it dances so,
'Twill make its way, I fear, from out my breast.

Cle.
[putting her hand into the urn.]
I've got hold of a lot.

Sta.
Well, draw it out then.

Cha.
Am I alive or dead?

Olym.
Come, shew it us—
'Tis mine.

Cha.
That's a choak pear indeed.

Cle.
You've lost, Chalinus—

Sta.
I rejoice, Olympio,
That then we're to live longer—

Olym.
Ay, that's owing
To my own piety, added to that
Of all my ancestors—

Sta.
Go in, my dear,
And make all ready for the wedding.

Cle.
Yes,
I'll do what you command me.

Sta.
You remember
The village where he is to marry her,
Is far off in the country.

Cle.
Yes, I know it.

Sta.
Go in, and tho' 'twill be concern to you,
See it be done with care.

Cle.
It shall be so.

[Exit.
Sta.
And let us too go in, and hasten them.

Olym.
Do I detain you, sir?

Sta.
When she was by,
I did not chuse to say another word—

[Exeunt Stalino and Olympio.
Cha.
'Twould be lost labour now to hang myself;
And more, would put me, too, to the expence
Of purchasing a rope; and, add to all,
'Twould be a pleasure to my enemies.
Why should a man, already dead as I am,
Go hang himself? 'Tis fortune's fault, not mine,
That I have lost. And now our Casina
Is to be married to Olympio.
Nor does it give me now so much concern
That he has won, as to see Stalino
So vehemently desire that I should miss her;
And that Olympio should marry her.
In what a fright he put himself! the wretch!
What hurry was he in! And when Olympio
Had won, how did he leap for joy! But hold,
I'll go this way apart—I hear the door
Opening; and forth are coming my good friends,
[ironically.]
And those who assist me well—From this sly corner
I will contrive some plot against them both.

[goes apart.

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.