Humanitext Reader

Plautus · Casina §360-415

Drawing of Lots for Casina and the Slaves' Quarrel

Passage 6 of 14 · Latin

Summary

Lysidamus and Cleostrata begin the drawing of lots for Casina on behalf of Olympio and Chalinus, during which the rival slaves engage in mutual insults and minor physical altercations.

§360Tibi quidem edepol ita videtur; stimulus ego nunc sum tibi, §361fodico corculum; adsudascis iam ex metu, mastigia.
To you indeed, by Pollux, it seems so; but now I am a spur to you, I sting your little heart; you are already sweating with fear, you scoundrel.
§362Tace, Chaline.
Be silent, Chalinus.
§362bComprime istum.
Silence him.
§362cImmo istunc, qui didicit dare.
Rather that one, who has learned to yield.
§363Adpone hic sitellam, sortis cedo mihi.
Place the urn here, give me the lots.
animum advortite.
Pay attention.
§364atque ego censui aps te posse hoc me impetrare, uxor mea, §365Casina ut uxor mihi daretur; et nunc etiam censeo.
And I thought I could obtain this from you, my wife, that Casina should be given to me as a wife; and even now I think so.
§366Tibi daretur illa?
She be given to you?
§366bMihi enim—ah, non id volui dicere: §367dum mihi volui, huic dixi, atque adeo mihi dum cupio—perperam
To me indeed—ah, I didn't want to say that: while I wanted her for myself, I said 'for him', and even while I desire her for myself—wrongly by Hercules, I have been talking nonsense for some time.
§368iam dudum hercle fabulor. §368bPol tu quidem, atque etiam facis.
By Pollux, indeed you are, and you are still doing so.
§369Huic—immo hercle mihi—vah, tandem redii vix veram in viam.
For him—no indeed, by Hercules, for me—ah, at last I have barely returned to the right path.
§370Per pol saepe peccas.
By Pollux, you make mistakes often.
§370bIta fit, ubi quid tanto opere expetas.
So it happens when you desire something so greatly.
§371sed te uterque tuo pro iure, ego atque hic, oramus.
But both of us, I and this man, beg you, in accordance with your right.
§371bQuid est?
What is it?
§372Dicam enim, mea mulsa: de istac Casina huic nostro vilico §373gratiam facias.
For I will tell you, my sweet: concerning that Casina, to this farm-bailiff of ours grant this favor.
§373bAt pol ego néque facio neque censeo.
But by Pollux, I neither do so nor do I think it right.
§374Tum igitur ego sortis utrimque iam.
Then, therefore, I will draw lots for both sides now.
§374bQuis votat?
Who forbids it?
§375Optimum atque aequissimum istud esse iure iudico.
I judge that to be the best and most equitable course by right.
§376postremo, si illuc quod volumus eveniet, gaudebimus; §377sin secus, patiemur animis aequis.
Finally, if that which we wish happens, we shall rejoice; but if otherwise, we shall bear it with calm minds.
tene sortem tibi.
Take the lot for yourself.
§378vide quid scriptum est.
See what is written.
§378bVnum.
One.
§378cIniquom est, quia isti prius quam mihi dedit.
It is unfair, because he gave to that fellow before me.
§379Accipe hanc sis.
Take this, please.
§379bCedo.
Give it here.
mane, unum venit in mentem modo: §380vide ne quae illic insit alia sortis sub aqua.
Wait, one thing just came to mind: see that there is no other lot in there under the water.
§380bVerbero, §381men te censes esse?
You scoundrel, do you think I am like you?
§381bNulla est.
There is none.
habe quietum animum modo.
Just keep a quiet mind.
§382Quod bonum atque fortunatum sit mihi— §382bMagnum malum §383tibi quidem edepol credo eveniet; novi pietatem tuam.
May it be good and fortunate for me— A great evil by Pollux, indeed I believe will happen to you; I know your piety.
§384sed mane dum: num ista aut populna sors aut abiegnast tua?
But wait a moment: is that lot of yours made of poplar or fir?
§385Quid tu id curas?
Why do you care about that?
§385bQuia enim metuo, né in aqua summa natet.
Because indeed I fear lest it should float on the top of the water.
§386†Auge cave.
Take great care.
conicite sortes nunciam ambo huc.
Cast the lots in here now, both of you.
eccere.
Behold!
§387uxor, aequa.
Wife, shake them up.
§387bNoli uxori credere.
Do not trust your wife.
§387cHabe animum bonum.
Be of good courage.
§388Credo hercle, hodie devotabit sortis si attigerit.
By Hercules, I believe she will curse the lots if she touches them today.
§388bTace.
Be silent.
§389Taceo.
I am silent.
deos quaeso— §389bVt quidem tu hodie canem et furcam feras.
I pray to the gods— That indeed you may carry a dog and a fork today.
§390Mihi ut sortito eveniat— §390bVt quidem hercle pedibus pendeas.
That it may turn out to me by lot— That indeed, by Hercules, you may hang by your feet.
§391At tu ut oculos emungare ex capite per nasum tuos.
And you, that you may blow your eyes out of your head through your nose.
§392Quid times? paratum oportet esse iam laqueum tibi.
What are you afraid of? A noose ought to be ready for you by now.
§393Periisti.
You are ruined.
§393bAnimum advortite ambo.
Pay attention, both of you.
§393cTaceo.
I am silent.
§393dNunc tu, Cleostrata, §394ne a me memores malitiose de hac re factum aut suspices, §395tibi permitto: tute sorti.
Now you, Cleostrata, lest you say or suspect that this was done maliciously by me concerning this matter, I permit you: draw the lot yourself.
§395bPerdis me.
You ruin me.
§395cLucrum facit.
He gains.
§396Bene facis.
You do well.
§396bDeos quaeso—ut tua sors ex sitella effugerit.
I pray to the gods—that your lot may escape from the urn.
§397Ain tu? quia tute es fugitivos, omnes te imitari cupis?
Is that what you say? Because you yourself are a runaway, do you wish everyone to imitate you?
§398utinam tua quidem, sicut factum esse Herculeis praedicant §399quondam prognatis, in sortiendo sors deliquerit.
Would that yours indeed, just as they say happened to the descendants of Hercules once upon a time, may your lot fail in the drawing.
§400Tu ut liquescas ipse, actutum virgis calefactabere.
That you yourself may melt, you shall straightway be warmed with rods.
§401Hoc age sis, Olympio.
Get on with this, please, Olympio.
§401bSi hic litteratus me sinat.
If this learned gentleman would let me.
§402Quod bonum atque fortunatum mihi sit.
May it be good and fortunate for me.
§402bIta vero, et mihi.
Indeed, and for me.
§403Non.
No.
§403bImmo hercle.
Nay, by Hercules.
§403cImmo mihi hercle.
Nay, for me, by Hercules.
§403dHic vincet, tu vives miser.
This man will win, you will live miserably.
§404Percide os tu illi † hodie.
Strike him on the mouth today.
age, ecquid fit? ne obiexis manum.
Come, is anything happening? Don't hold out your hand.
§405Compressan palma an porrecta ferio?
Shall I strike with closed fist or with open palm?
§405bAge ut vis.
Do as you wish.
§405cEm tibi.
There's for you.
§406Quid tibi istunc tactio est.
What business have you to touch him?
§406bQuia Iuppiter iussit meus.
Because my Jupiter ordered it.
§407Feri malam, ut ille, rursum.
Strike him on the cheek in return, just like him.
§407bPerii, pugnis caedor, Iuppiter.
I'm ruined, I'm being beaten with fists, Jupiter!
§408Quid tibi tactio hunc fuit?
What business had you to touch him?
§408bQuia iussit haec Iuno mea.
Because this Juno of mine ordered it.
§409Patiundum est, siquidem me vivo mea uxor imperium exhibet.
It must be endured, since my wife exercises authority while I am alive.
§410Tam huic loqui licere oportet quam isti.
It is right for this man to be allowed to speak as much as that one.
§410bCur omen mihi §411vituperat?
Why does he ruin my omen?
§411bMalo, Chaline, tibi cavendum censeo.
Chalinus, I think you should beware of trouble.
§412Temperi, postquam oppugnatum est os.
Just in time, after my mouth has been attacked!
§412bAge, uxor, nunciam §413sorti.
Come, wife, now draw lots.
vos advortite animum. prae metu ubi sim nescio.
Pay attention, you two. I don't know where I am for fear.
§414perii, cor lienósum, opinor, habeo, iam dudum salit, §415de labore pectus tundit.
I'm undone, I think I have a diseased heart, it has been jumping for some time, it beats against my chest from the struggle.

Notes

  1. §362cdidicit dare — The verb dare (to give/yield) is used here with a vulgar double entendre, implying submissive yielding or bribery, typical of Plautine slave-slang.
  2. §384populna sors aut abiegnast tua — Asking about the wood types (poplar or fir) reflects Chalinus' suspicion that a lighter wood would float to the top of the water (in aqua summa natet, §385b), allowing Cleostrata to select or manipulate the lot easily.
  3. §398sors deliquerit — Meaning 'lest the lot dissolve/fail.' It refers to the myth of the Heraclidae dividing the Peloponnese, where Cresphontes used a lot made of sun-dried clay that dissolved in water to win Messenia, thus avoiding drawing his opponent's lot.
  4. §406Quid tibi istunc tactio est — A colloquial and archaic construction where a verbal noun (tactio) retains verbal force and takes a direct object in the accusative case (istunc). Quid functions adverbially as 'why'.
  5. §412Temperi — An adverb meaning 'seasonably' or 'in good time'. Here, Chalinus uses it ironically: Lysidamus warns him after Chalinus' mouth has already been struck.

Cite this passage

Plautus, Casina §360-415. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0119.phi006.humanitext-lat2:360-415

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