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189 CASINA 1. One of many deified Roman virtues, Fides is the goddess of good faith, trust, loyalty, oaths, etc. 2. An undatable reference to the devaluation of Roman currency, presumably by diminution of the precious metal content. Olýmpio, The foreman of Lysidamus’ farm Chalínus, The squire of Lysidamus’ son Cleostráta, Lysidamus’ wife Pardalísca, Cleostrata’s maid Myrrhína, The neighbor, wife of Alcesimus Lysidámus, The old man Alcésimus, The neighbor Cook Mutes: Myrrhina’s maids Cooks characters not appearing: Cásina, The foundling maid of Cleostrata Euthynicus, The son of Lysidamus and Cleostrata SCENE: A street in Athens with two houses. The house of Lysidamus is stage left (toward the forum), that of Alcesimus stage right (toward the country). The speaker of the prologue enters. I bid you welcome, most excellent spectators! You show the greatest devotion to good faith—as Good Faith does to you!1 If I’m right, give me a clear sign, so that I’ll know right from the start that you’re on my side. (pauses for applause) I think people who enjoy vintage wine and vintage plays have good taste. Since old-fashioned craftsmanship and language please you, vintage plays ought to please you most of all. Nowadays the new comedies they produce are even more debased than the new coins.2 So after we heard the 03B-T1535-P3 2/20/01 5:35 PM Page 189 190 Plautus 3.Thespeakerpunsonthename“Plautus,”whichcouldmeanadogwithlarge,floppyears. rampant rumor that you fervidly fancy Plautine plays, we dusted off an oldfashioned comedy of his that you graybeards liked. Now I realize the young bucks don’t know it, but we’ll make sure they learn it. This play, when it premiered, topped them all! Back then was the golden age of poets, who since have gone the way of all flesh. But though they’re absent, they profit us as if still present. Please, I would really like you all to pay close attention to our troop. Forget your anxieties and debts. Nobody should fear his creditor: it’s a holiday , even for the bankers. All’s quiet; it’s vacation time in the forum. It’s in their interest: they don’t collect their money during a holiday; after a holiday they don’t refund yours. Lend me your ears—if they’re free. I want to give you the name of the play. This comedy is called “Clerumenoi” in Greek; that’s “Lot-Drawers” in Latin. Diphilus wrote it in Greek, and then Plautus, with the name that barks,3 rewrote it again in Latin. A married old man lives here. He’s got a son, who lives along with him in this house right here. He’s got a slave who’s resting on death’s door— no, no, by Hercules! To tell you the truth, he’s just resting on a bed! That slave, well, sixteen years ago he saw a baby girl being abandoned in the wee morning hours. He goes straight to the woman who’s abandoning it. He begshertogiveittohim.Hepersuadesher,carriesitaway,bringsitstraight home. He gives it to his mistress, begs her to care for it and raise it. The mistress did. She raised the girl with great care, pretty much as if she were her own daughter. After she reached that age when a girl can attract men, this old man here falls madly in love with her. And his son does, too. Now each prepares his legions against the other—father and son—without the other knowing it! The father has enlisted the foreman of his farm to ask for her hand in marriage. If she’s given to the foreman, he hopes he’ll go on some “night maneuvers” without his wife finding out. Meanwhile, the son has enlisted his squire to ask for her hand. He knows that if the squire gets her, he’ll have his love in his own nest. The old codger’s wife recognized that her husband was love-struck, so she concocted a plot with her son. But the father, after he found out that his son loved the very same girl and was blocking his way, sent the boy on a mission abroad. Knowing this, the mother is helping out her absent son. The son won’t return to town in today’s comedy. 03B-T1535-P3 2/20/01 5:35 PM Page 190 [18.218.61.16] Project MUSE...

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