BILINGUAL EDITION SPANISH ENGLISH (by J. Mabbe)
IN PARALLEL TEXTS
| ACTO IVSumario: CELESTINA, andando por el camino, habla consigo misma hasta llegar a la puerta de PLEBERIO, donde hallo a LUCRECIA, criada de PLEBERIO. Ponese con ella en razones. Sentidas por ALISA, madre de MELIBEA, y sabido que es CELESTINA, hacela entrar en casa. Viene un mensajero a llamar a ALISA. Vase. Queda CELESTINA en casa con MELIBEA y le descubre la causa de su venida. | ACTUS IV The Argument: CELESTINA going on her way, talks to herself, till she comes to Pleberio′s gate, where she meets with Lucrecia, one of Pleberio′s maidservants; she into discourse with her, who, being overheard by Alisa, Melibea′s mother, and understanding it was Celestina, causes her to come the house. A messenger comes to call away Alisa′s she goes her ways; Celestina in the meanwhile being left alone with Melibea, discovers unto her the cause of her coming. Interlocutors: Celestina, Lucrecia, Alisa, MELIBEA. |
| 1. CEL. __ Agora, que voy sola, quiero mirar bien lo que Sempronio ha temido deste mi camino. Porque aquellas cosas, que bien no son pensadas, avnque algunas vezes ayan buen fin, comúnmente crían dessuariados efetos. Assí que la mucha especulación nunca carece de buen fruto. Que, avnque yo he dissimulado con él, podría ser que, si me sintiessen en estos passos de parte de Melibea, que no pagasse con pena, que menor fuesse que la vida, o muy amenguada quedasse, quando matar no me quisiessen, manteándome o açotándome cruelmente. Pues amargas cient monedas serían estas. ¡Ay cuytada de mí¡En qué lazo me he metido¡ Que por me mostrar solícita y esforçada pongo mi persona al tablero! ? Qué faré, cuytada, mezquina de mí, que ni el salir afuera es prouechoso ni la perseuerancia carece de peligro? ¿Pues yré o tornarme he? ¡O dubdosa y dura perplexidad¡ ¡No sé quál escoja por más sano¡ | CELESTINA. Now that I am all alone, I will, as I walk by myself, weigh and consider that which Sempronio feared concerning my travail in this business. For those things which are not well weighed though sometimes they take good effect, yet commonly fall out ill, so that much speculation brings forth much good fruit. For, although I dissembled with him it may be that, if my intent should chance to be found out it would cost me little less than my life: or at least, if they should not kill me, I should rest much impaired in my credit, either by their tossing me in a blanket, or by causing me to be cruelly whipped, so that my hundred crowns in gold be purchased at too dear rate. Ay, wretched me! Into what a labyrinth have I put myself? For that I might shew myself solicitous and resolute, I have put myself upon the hazard of the dice. Woe is me! What shall I do? To go back is not for my profit, and to go on stands not with my safety. Shall I persist; or shall I desist? In what a doubtful and strange perplexity? I know not which I were best to choose. " |
| ¡En el osar, manifiesto peligro; en la couardía, denostada, perdida¡ ¿A donde yrá el buey que no are? Cada camino descubre sus dañosos y hondos barrancos. Si con el furto soy tomada, nunca de muerta o encoroçada falto, a bien librar. Si no voy, ¿Qué dirá Sempronio? Que todas estas eran mis fuerças, saber y esfuerço, ardid y ofrecinmento, astucia y solicitud. Y su amo Calisto ¿Qué dirá?? qué hará?? qué pensará; sino que ay nueuo engaño en mis pisadas y que yo he descubierto la celada, por hauer más prouecho desta otra parte, como sofística preuaricadora? O si no se le ofrece pensamiento tan odioso, dará bozes como loco Diráme en mi cara denuestos rabiosos. Proporná mill inconuenientes, que mi deliberación presta le puso, diziendo: Tú, puta vieja, ¿Por qué acrescentaste mis pasiones con tus promessas? Alcahueta falsa, para todo el mundo tienes pies, para mí lengua; para todos obra, para mi palabra; para todos remedio, para mí pena; para todos esfuerço, para mí te faltó; para todos luz, para mí tiniebla. Pues, vieja traydora, ¿Por qué te me | On my daringness dependeth manifest danger, on my cowardice shameful damage. Which way shall the ox go, but he must needs plough? Every way, discovers and dangerous furrows, But in case I should not go, what will Sempronio then say? ′ They power, thy wisdom, thy stoutness, thy courage, thy fair offers, thy tricks, thy subtleness, what? Are they all come to this?′ And his master Calisto, what will he say? What will he do? Or what will he think? Save only this, that there is much deceit in my steps, and that I have discovered this plot like a prevaricating sophistress playing the traitor on both sides, that I might gain by both? And if he do not entertain so hateful a thought, he will rail like a madman; he will upbraid me to my face with most reproachful terms; he will propose a thousand inconveniences, which my hasty deliberation was the cause of, saying, ′ you old whore; why didst thou increase my passions with they promises? False bawd for all the world besides thy feet can walk, for me only thy tongue; others can have works, I only words. Others can have remedy at they hands; I only the man that must endure torment. To all others thy force can extend itself; and to me is it only wanting. To all others thou art light, to me darkness. thou old treacherous, wretch; why didst thou offer thyself unto me? |
| Que tu ofrecimiento me puso esperança; la esperança dilató mi muerte, sostuuo mi viuir, púsome título de hombre alegre. Pues no hauiendo efeto, ni tú carecerás de pena ni yo de triste desesperación. ¡Pues triste yo¡Mal acá, mal acullá: pena en ambas partes¡Quando a los estremos falta el medio, arrimarse el hombre al más sano, es discreción. Más quiero offender a Pleberio, que enojar a Calisto. Yr quiero. Que mayor es la vergüença de quedar por couarde, que la pena, cumpliendo como osada lo que prometí, pues jamás al esfuerço desayudó la fortuna. Ya veo su puerta. En mayores afrentas me he visto. ¡Esfuerça, esfuerça, Celestina ¡ ¡No desmayes¡Que nunca faltan rogadores para mitigar las penas. todos los agüeros se adereçan fauorables o yo no sé nada desta arte. Quatro hombres, que he topado, a los tres llaman juanes y los dos son cornudos. La primera palabra, que oy por la calle, fue de achaque de amores. Nunca he tropeçado como otras vezes. Las piedras parece que se apartan y me fazen lugar que passe. Ni me estoruan las haldas ni siento cansancio en | For it was thy offer that did put me in hope: and that hope did delay my death, prolonged my life, and did put upon me the title of a glad man. Now, for that thy promises have no proved effectual, neither shalt thou want punishment, nor I woeful despair.′ So that, (miserable woman that I am), it is ill here, and it is ill there; pain and grief on either hand: but when extremes shall want their mean, of two evils it is the wiser course to incline to the lesser. And therefore I had rather offend Pleberio than displeaseCALISTO. Well then, I will go. For greater will my shame be, to be condemned for a coward, than my punishment, in daring to accomplish what I promised. Besides Fortune still friendeth those that are bold and valiant. Lo, yonder′s the gate; I have seen myself in greater danger than this in my days. Coraggio, coraggio, Celestina; be not dismayed: for there are never suitors wanting for the mitigating of punishment. All divinations are in my favour or else I am nobody in this my art, Of four men that I meet by the way three of them were Johns; whereof two were cuckolds. The first word that I heard passing along the street, was a love complaint. I have not stumbled since I cam forth, as at other times I used to do. Methinks the very stones of the street did sunder themselves on from another to give me way as I passed. Nor did the skirts of my clothes hinder my feet. Nor do I feel any weariness in my legs. Every one saluteth me. Not a dog that hath once barked at me: I have neither seen any bird of a black feather, neither thrush nor crow, nor any other of nature; and, which is a better sign of good luck than all these, yonder do I see Lucrecia standing at Melibea′s gate, which is kinswoman to Elicia; |
| 2. LUCRECIA. __ ¿Quién es esta vieja, que viene haldeando? | LUCRECIA. What old witch is this that comes thus trailing her tail on the ground? |
| 3. CEL. __ Paz sea en esta casa. | CELEST. [God be near and peace.}> |
| 4. LUCR. __ Celestina, madre, seas bienvenida. ¿Quál Dios te traxo por estos barrios no acostumbrados? | LUCRECIA. Mother Celestina, you be welcome. [good Lord, what a God′s name brought you hither?}> |
| 5. CEL. __ Hija, mi amor, desseo de todos vosotros, traerte encomiendas de Elicia y avn ver a tus señoras, vieja y moça. Que después que me mudé al otro barrio, no han sido de mí visitadas. | CELEST. daughter, my love, the desire I have to see all my good friends, and to bring you commendations fro your cousin Elicia; as also to see my old and young mistress, whom I have not seen since I went from this end of the town. |
| 6. LUCR. __ ¿A eso sólo saliste de tu casa? Marauíllome de ti, que no es essa tu costumbre ni sueles dar passo sin prouecho. | LUCRECIA. Is this your only errand from home? you make me much to marvel; for I am sure you were not wont to stir your stumps, nor to go a foot forth of doors, unless it were for your profit. |
| 7. CEL. __ ¿Más prouecho quieres, boua, que complir hombre sus desseos? y también como a las viejas nunca nos fallecen necessidades, mayormente a mí, que tengo que mantener hijas agenas, ando a vender vn poco de hilado. | CELEST. What greater profit, you fool, would you have, than a man to comply with his desires? Besides such old women as we never want business, especially myself, who, having the breeding of so many men′s daughters as I have, I go to see if I can sell a little yarn. |
| 8. LUCR. __ ¡Algo es lo que yo digo¡ En mi seso estoy, que nunca metes aguja sin sacar reja. Pero mi señora la vieja vrdió vna tela: tiene necessidad dello y tú de venderlo. Entra y espera aquí, que no os desauenirés. | LUCRECIA. Did not I tell you so before? I wot well what I said; But to let that pass, my old mistress hath begun a web; she hath need to buy it, and thou hast need to sell it. Come in and stay here awhile, (Lucr. Goes up to her mistress.) |
| 9. ALISA. __ ¿Con quién hablas, Lucrecia? | ALISA. Lucrecia, who is that you talk withal? |
| 10. LUCR. __ Señora, con aquella vieja de la cuchillada, que solía viuir en las tenerías, a la cuesta del río. | LUCRECIA. With that old woman forsooth with the who sometimes dwelt hard y here in Tanners′ Row, close upon the riverside. |
| 11. ALI. __ Agora la conozco menos. Si tú me das a entender lo incógnito por lo menos conocido, es coger agua en cesto. | ALISA. Now I am further to seek than I was before; if thou wilt give me to understand an unknown thing by a thing that is less known, [it}> is to take up water in a sieve. |
| 12. LUCR. __ ¡Jesú, señora¡Más conoscida es esta vieja que la ruda. No sé cómo no tienes memoria de la que empicotaron por hechizera, que vendía las moças a los abades y descasaua mill casados. | LUCRECIA. Madame! Why, this old woman is better known than the herd rue. Do not you remember her that stood on the pillory for a witch? That sold young wenches [to your Abbey Lubbers}> And that hath marred many thousands of marriges |
| 13. ALI. __ ¿Qué oficio tiene? Quiçá por aquí la conoceré mejor. | What trade is she of? /a> It may be by that I shall know her better. |
| 14. LUCR. __ Señora, perfuma tocas, haze solimán y otros treynta officios. Conoce mucho en yeruas, cura niños y avn algunos la llaman la vieja lapidaria. | LUCRECIA. Forsooth, she perfumes cauls, [coifs for the head}>, veils, and the like;> she makes your sublimate mercury, and hath some thirty several trades besides; she is very skillful in herbs; she can cure little children: and some call her the old woman lapidary, for her great dealing in stones.> |
| 15. ALI. __ Todo esso dicho no me la da a conocer; dime su nombre, si le sabes. | ALISA. Al this makes me never a whit the wiser. Tell me her name, if thou knowest it. |
| 16. LUCR. __ ¿Si le sé, señora? No ay niño ni viejo en toda la cibdad, que no lo sepa: ¿Hauíale yo de ignorar? | LUCRECIA. If I knew it? Why, there is neither young nor old in all this city but knows it. And should not I then know it? |
| 17. ALI. __ ¿Pues por qué no le dizes? | ALISA. If you know it so well,> why then do not you tell it me? |
| 18. LUCR. __ ¡He vergüença! | LUCRECIA. I am ashamed, forsooth.> |
| 19. ALI. __ Anda, boua, dile. No me indignes con tu tardança. | ALISA. Go too, you fool; tell me her name; do not anger me by this your delay. |
| 20. LUCR. __ Celestina, hablando con reuerencia, es su nombre. | LUCRECIA. Her name (saving your reverence) is Celestina. |
| 21. ALI. __ ¡Hy¡hy¡hy¡mala landre te mate, si de risa puedo estar, viendo el desamor que deues de tener a essa vieja, que su nombre has vergüença nombrar¡ Ya me voy recordando della. ¡Vna buena pieça¡ No me digas más. Algo me verná a pedir. di Que suba. | ALISA. Hi, hi, hi! Now beshrew your fingers! O my heart¡O my sides! > I am not able to stand for laughing to see that the loathing which thou hast of this poor> old woman should make thee ashamed to name her unto me. Now I call her to mind; go to; you are a wag,> no more of this. She, poor soul,> is come to beg somewhat of me. Bid her come up. |
| 22. LUCR. __ Sube, tía. | LUCRECIA. Aunt, you come up. (Celestina comes up.) |
| 23. CEL. __ Señora buena, la gracia de Dios sea contigo y con la noble hija. Mis passiones y enfermedades han impedido mi visitar tu casa, como era razón; mas Dios conoce mis limpias entrañas, mi verdadero amor, que la distancia de las moradas no despega el querer de los coraçones. Assí que lo que mucho desseé, la necessidad me lo ha hecho complir. Con mis fortunas aduersas otras, me sobreuino mengua de dinero. No supe mejor remedio que vender vn poco de hilado, que para vnas toquillas tenía allegado. Supe de tu criada que tenías dello necessidad. Avnque pobre y no de la merced de Dios, veslo aquí, si dello y de mí te quieres seruir. | CELEST. My good lady, all blessings abide with you. [The grace of God be with thee}> and your noble daughter. My many griefs and infirmities have hindered my visiting of this your house, as in duty I was bound to do; but heaven [God}> knows how fair are the entrails of my inward affection, It knows the and trueness of my love. For distance of place diplaceth not that love which is lodged in the heart: so that what hertofore in myself I did much desire, now my necessity hath made me to perform. And amongst other my many crosses in this life, in my purse grow daily less and less; so that I have no better remedy than to sell this little parcel of yarn to make coifs and understanding by our maid that you had need thereof (howbeit I am poor in everything, I praise [God}>, save the richness of this grace) it is wholly at your command, if either it or I may do you any service. |
| 24. ALI. __ Vezina honrrada, tu razón y ofrecimiento me mueuen a compassión y tanto, que quisiera cierto más hallarme en tiempo de poder complir tu falta, que menguar tu tela. Lo dicho te agradezco. Si el hilado es tal, serte ha bien pagado. | ALISA. Honest neighbour, thy discourse and kind offer move me to compassion: and so move me, that I had rather light upon some fit occasion, whereby I might supply thy wants, than diminish thy web, still thanking thee for thy kind offer: and, if it be such as will serve my turn, I shall pay you well for it. |
| 25. CEL. __ ¿Tal señora? Tal sea mi vida y mi vejez y la de quien parte quisiere de mi jura. Delgado como el pelo de la cabeça, ygual, rezio como cuerdas de vihuela, blanco como el copo de la nieue, hilado todo por estos pulgares, aspado y adreçado. Veslo aquí en madexitas. Tres monedas me dauan ayer por la onça, assí goze desta alma pecadora. | CELEST. Madame, by my life, as I am true old woman, or by any other oath you shall put me to, it is as fine as the hair of your head, even as nothing more strong, as the strings of a viol, white as a flake of snow, spun all with mine own fingers, reeled and wound up Look you, lady, on some of the same in skeins; Three royals, as I am true woman [and as this my sinful soul shall be saved}>, I received no longer ago than yesterday for an ounce. |
| 26. ALI. __ Hija Melibea, quédese esta muger honrrada contigo, que ya me parece que es tarde para yr a visitar a mi hermana, su muger de Cremes, que desde ayer no la he visto, y también que viene su paje a llamarme, que se le arrezió desde vn rato acá el mal. | ALISA. Daughter Melibea, I will leave this honest woman with you; for methinks it is now high time, to go visit my sister, wife unto Chremes: I have not seen her since yesterday; and besides, her page is now come to call me, and tells me that her old fit hath already been on her this while. |
| 27. CEL. __ Por aquí anda el diablo aparejando oportunidad, arreziando el mal a la otra. ¡ Ea¡Buen amigo, ¡ tener rezio! Agora es mi tiempo o nunca. No la dexes, lléuamela de aquí a quien digo. | CELEST. Now does the devil go preparing opportunity for my stratagem, by reinforcing this sickness upon the other. Go on, my good friend, stand stiffly For now is the time or never; see you leave her not: and remove away this woman from me. |
| 28. ALI. __ ¿Qué dizes, amiga? | ALISA. Say, friend, what is that thou sayest? |
| 29. CEL. __ Señora, que maldito sea el diablo y mi pecado, porque en tal tiempo houo de crescer el mal de tu hermana, que no haurá para nuestro negocio oportunidad. ¿Y qué mal es el suyo? | CELEST. I say, madame, cursed be the devil and my evil fortune, that your sister′s sickness is grown now upon her shall have no fit time to dispatch our business: But, I pray, what is her sickness? |
| 30. ALI. __ Dolor de costado y tal que, según del moço supe que quedaua, temo no sea mortal. Ruega tú, vezina, por amor mio, en tus deuociones por su salud a Dios. | ALISA. A pain in her side, which takes her in such grievous manner, that, if it be true which her page tells me, I fear me it will cost her her life. Good neighbour, let me entreat you for my sake to recommend her recovery unto your best devotions |
| 31. CEL. __ Yo te prometo, señora, en yendo de aquí, me vaya por essos monesterios, donde tengo frayles deuotos mios, y les dé el mismo cargo, que tú me das. Y demás desto, ante que me desayune, dé quatro bueltas a mis cuentas. | CELEST. lady, I promise, that as soon as I go hence, I will hie me to my friends, upon whom I will lay the same charge as you have laid upon me. |
| 32. ALI. __ Pues, Melibea, contenta a la vezina en todo lo que razón fuere darle por el hilado. Y tú, madre, perdóname, que otro día se verná en que más nos veamos. | ALISA. Melibea? Content our neighbour, and give her that which is reason for her yarn. And you, mother, I pray hold me excused, for I doubt not but you and I shall have another day, when we shall have more leisure to enjoy one another. |
| 33. CEL. __ Señora, el perdón sobraría donde el yerro falta. De Dios seas perdonada, que buena compañía me queda. Dios la dexe gozar su noble juuentud y florida mocedad, que es el tiempo en que más plazeres y mayores deleytes se alcançarán. Que, a la mi fe, la vejez no es sino mesón de enfermedades, posada de pensamientos, amiga de renzillas, congoxa continua, llaga incurable, manzilla de lo passado, pena de lo presente, cuydado triste de lo porvenir, vezina de la muerte, choça sin rama, que se llueue por cada parte, cayado de mimbre, que con poca carga se doblega. | CELEST. Madame, there is no need of pardon, where there is no fault committed. Jove pardon you, and I do. For I thank you, you have left me here with very good company. Jove grant she may long enjoy her noble youth and this her flourishing prime, a time wherein more pleasures and delights are found than in this old decayed carcass of mine, which is nothing else but an inn full of infirmities, a storehouse of sad and melancholy thoughts, a friend to brawling, a continual grief and incurable plague; pitying that which is past, punished in that which is present, and full of wretched care in that which is to come: a near neighbour unto death; a poor cabin without one bough of shelter, whereinto it rains on all sides; a stick of willow, a staff of weak osiers, which is doubled with any the least stress you put it to. (Alisa departs.) |
| 34. MELIB. __ ¿Por qué dizes, madre, tanto mal de lo que todo el mundo con tan eficacia gozar y ver dessean? | MELIBEA. Tell me, mother, why do you speak so ill of that which the whole world so earnestly desireth to enjoy and see? |
| 35. CEL. __ Dessean harto mal para sí, dessean harto trabajo. Dessean llegar allá, porque llegando viuen y el viuir es dulce y viuiendo enuejescen. Assí que el niño dessea ser moço y el moço viejo y el viejo, más; avnque con dolor. Todo por viuir. Porque como dizen, biua la gallina con su pepita. Pero ¿Quién te podría contar, señora, sus daños, sus inconvenientes, sus fatigas, sus cuydados, sus enfermedades, su frío, su calor, su descontentamiento, su renzilla, su pesadumbre, aquel arrugar de cara, aquel mudar de cabellos su primera y fresca color, aquel poco oyr, aquel debilitado ver, puestos los ojos a la sombra, aquel hundimiento de boca, aquel caer de dientes, aquel carecer de fuerça, aquel flaco andar, aquel espacioso comer? Pues ¡Ay, ay¡Señora¡, si lo dicho viene acompañado de pobreza, allí verás callar todos los otros trabajos, quando sobra la gana y falta la prouisión; ¡Que jamás sentí peor ahíto, que de hambre! | CELEST. They desire so much their more hurt; they desire so much their more grief; they desire to live to be old, because by living to be old, they live. And life (you know) is sweet; and living, they come to be old. Hence is it, that your children desire to be men, and your men to be old men; and your old men to be more old; and though they live in never so much pain, For, as it is in the proverb, fain would be hen live for all her pip; . But who is he, lady, that can recount unto you the inconveniences of old age? The discommodities it brings with it? Its torments, its cares, its troubles, its infirmities, its colds, its heats, its discontentments, its brawls, its griefs, Those wrinkles in the face? That change and alteration in the hair? That fading of fresh and lively colour? That want of hearing? That weakness of sight? in the eyes, seeing, as if they were shut up in a shade? That sinking of the jaws? That toothlessness of the gums? That failingnesss of force That feebleness of legs? That slowness in feeding? Besides, madame, which makes me sigh to think upon it, when all these miseries I have told you come accompanied with poverty, all sorrows to this must stoop and strike sail, when the appetite shall be great and the provision small, for I never knew any worse habit than that of hunger. |
| 36. MELIB. __ Bien conozco que dize cada uno de la feria, segund le va en ella: assí que otra canción cantarán los ricos. | MELIBEA. I perceive, as it goes with you. so you speak of the fair. the rich will sing another song. |
| 37. CEL. __ Señora, hija, a cada cabo ay tres leguas de mal quebranto. A los ricos se les va la bienaventurança, la gloria y descanso por otros alvañares de asechanças, que no se parescen, ladrillados por encima con lisonjas. Aquél es rico que está bien con Dios. Más segura cosa es ser menospreciado que temido. Mejor sueño duerme el pobre, que no el que tiene de guardar con solicitud lo que con trabajo ganó y con dolor ha de dexar. Mi amigo no será simulado y el del rico sí. Yo soy querida por mi persona; el rico por su hazienda. Nunca oye verdad, todos le hablan lisonjas a sabor de su paladar, todos le han enbidia. Apenas hallarás vn rico, que no confiese que le sería mejor estar en mediano estado o en honesta pobreza. Las riquezas no hazen rico, mas ocupado; no hazen señor, mas mayordomo. Más son los posseydos de las riquezas que no los que las posseen. A muchos traxo la muerte, a todos quita el plazer y a las buenas costumbres ningunas cosa es | CELEST. Daughter and mistress, if you have one mile of good, have three of bad. true contentedness, glory and quietness, run from the rich by other gutters of subtlety and deceit; which pipes, are never perceived, because they are bricked over with flatteries. He is rich that hath God′s blessing. Safer it is with him that is despised than with him that is feared, and a far better sleep doth the poor man take than he who is bound to keep that with care, which he hath gotten with labour and must leave with sorrow. My friend will not dissemble with me, but the rich man′s will with him; I am loved for mine own sake, the rich man for his wealth′s sake. A rich man shall never hear the truth; everyone will flatter him, and seek to please his humour in whatsoever he shall say. Besides, he lies open to every man′s envy; and you shall scarce find one rich man but will confess that it had been better for him to have been in a middling estate, or in honest poverty. For riches make not a man rich, but busied; not a master, but a steward. More are they that are possessed by their riches, than they that possess their riches, to many they have been a means of their death; and most men they have robbed of their pleasure and to say the truth, they are enemies to all goodness. Have you not heard say, men have lain down and dreamed of their riches, and behold, they have waked and found nothing in their hands? Every rich man hath a dozen of sons or nephews, which repeat no other prayer, nor tender any other orison to God but that He would be pleased to take him out of this world; and desire nothing more than to see the hour that they may come to see him underground, and what was his, in their hands, and with a small charge, to lay him up in his last and everlasting mansion here on earth. |
| 38. MELIB. __ Madre, pues que assí es, gran pena ternás por la edad que perdiste. ¿Querrías boluer a la primera? | MELIBEA. Methinks, mother, it should be a great grief unto you, to think upon those which are past Would you not be willing to run them over again? |
| 39. CEL. __ Loco es, señora, el caminante que, enojado del trabajo del día, quisiesse boluer comienço la jornada para tornar otra vez aquel lugar. Que todas aquellas cosas, cuya possessión no es agradable, más vale poseellas, que esperallas. Porque más cerca está el fin de ellas, quanto más andado del comienço. No ay cosa más dulce ni graciosa al muy cansado que el mesón. Assí que, avnque la moçedad sea alegre, el verdadero viejo no la dessea. Porque el que de razón y seso carece, quasi otra cosa no ama, sino lo que perdió. | CELEST. That traveller, lady, were a fool, who, having tired out himself with a hard day′s travel, would, to begin his journey again, desire to return to the same place from whence he came. For all those things, whose possession is no whit pleasing, it is better to enjoy them than to desire their longer stay. For then are they so much the nearer to their end, by how much the farther they are from their beginning. Nor is there anything in the world more sweet to him that is truly weary, than his inn, So that though youth be a thing very jocund, yet he that is truly old doth not desire it. But he indeed that wants reason and true understanding, that man in a manner loves nothing else but the days that are |
| 40. MELIB. __ Siquiera por viuir más, es bueno dessear lo que digo. | MELIBEA. Were it but only to live, it is good to desire that which I say. |
| 41. CEL. __ Tan presto, señora, se va el cordero como el carnero. Ninguno es tan viejo, que no pueda viuir vn año ni tan moço, que oy no pudiesse morir. Assí que en esto poca avantaja nos leuays. | CELEST. As soon, lady, dies the young lamb as the old sheep; there is no man so old but he may live one year more, nor no man so young but he may die today, so that in this you have little or no advantage of us. |
| 42. MELIB. __ Espantada me tienes con lo que has hablado. Indicio me dan tus razones que te aya visto otro tiempo. Dime, madre, eres tú Celestina, la que solía morar a las tenerías, cabe el río? | MELIBEA. Thou has scared me with thy words; thy reasons put me in remembrance that I have seen thee heretofore. Tell me, mother, are not thou Celestina, that dwelt in Tanner′s Row near the river? |
| 43. CEL. __ Hasta que Dios quiera. | CELEST. Even the very same. |
| 44. MELIB. __ Vieja te has parado. Bien dizen que los días no se van en balde. Assí goze de mí, no te conociera, sino por essa señaleja de la cara. Figúraseme que eras hermosa. Otra pareces, muy mudada estás. | MELIBEA. By my fay, you are an old woman. Well, I see it is a true saying that days go not away in vain. Now (never trust me) I did not know you; neither should I, had it not been for that slash over your face; then were you fair, [now methinks you are as it were another woman,}> now wonderfully altered. |
| 45. LUCR. __ ¡Hy¡hy¡hy¡Mudada está el diablo¡ ¡Hermosa era con aquel su Dios os salue, que trauiessa la media cara! | LUCRECIA. She changed? Hi, hi, hi¡the devil she is: she was fair |
| 46. MELIB. __ ¿Qué hablas, loca?? Qué es lo que dizes? ¿De qué te ríes? | MELIBEA. What sayest thou, fool? Speak, what is′t thou sayest? What laughest thou at? |
| 47. LUCR. __ De cómo no conocías a la madre en tan poco tiempo en la filosomía de la cara. | LUCRECIA. As thou not know Mother missing[in such a short time in the physiognomy of her face.}> |
| 48. MELIB. __ No es tan poco tiempo dos años; y más que la tiene arrugada. | missing[ MELIBEA. Two years is not such a short time; and besides, she has wrinkles in her face.}> |
| 49. CEL. __ Señora, ten tú el tiempo que no ande; terné yo mi forma, que no se mude. ¿No has leydo que dizen: verná el día que en el espejo no te conozcas? Pero también yo encanecí temprano y parezco de doblada edad. Que assí goze desta alma pecadora y tú desse cuerpo gracioso, que de quatro hijas, que parió mi madre, yo fué la menor. Mira cómo no soy vieja, como me juzgan. | CELEST. Madame, take you hold on time, that it slip not from you. As for my complexion, that will never change: have you not read what they say, the day will come, when thou shalt not know thyself in a glass? Though I am now grown gray before my time, and seem double the years I am of, of four daughters which my mother had, myself was the youngest. And therefore, I am sure, I am not so old as you take me to be. |
| 50. MELIB. __ Celestina, amiga, yo he holgado mucho en verte y conocerte. También hasme dado plazer con tus razones. Toma tu dinero y vete con Dios, que me paresce que no deues hauer comido. | MELIBEA. Friend Celestina, I am very glad both to see and know thee; and I have taken great pleasure in thy discourse. Here, take your money and farewell; for thou lookest, poor soul, as if thou hadst eaten nothing all this day. |
| 51. CEL. __ ¡O angélica ymagen¡O perla preciosa, y cómo te lo dizes¡ Gozo me toma en verte fablar. ¿Y no sabes que por la diuina boca fué dicho contra aquel infernal tentador, que no de solo pan viuiremos? Pues assí es, que no el solo comer mantiene. Mayormente a mí, que me suelo estar vno y dos días negociando encomiendas agenas ayuna, saluo hazer por los buenos, morir por ellos. Esto tuue siempre, querer más trabajar siruiendo a otros, que holgar contentando a mí. Pues, si tú me das licencia, diréte la necessitada causa de mi venida, que es otra que la que fasta agora as oydo y tal, que todos perderíamos en me tornar en balde sin que la sepas. | CELEST. O image! O precious pearl! How truly have you guessed! I am ravished hearing thee speak. [And do you not know how by that divine mouth it was uttered against that hellish tempter, that man live not only by bread?}> But yet it is not only eating, that maintaineth a man or woman, especially me, who use to be fasting a whole, nay, two days together, in soliciting other folk′s businesses. to do good offices for the good, and, to die for them. And it was evermore my fashion rather to seek trouble to myself by serving of others, than to please and content myself. Wherefore, if you will give me leave, I will tell you the necessitated cause of my coming, which is another matter than any you have yet heard; and such as we were all undone, if I should return in vain, and you not know it. |
| 52. MELIB. __ Di, madre, todas tus necessidades, que, si yo las pudiere remediar, de muy buen grado lo haré por el passado conoscimiento y vezindad, que pone obligación a los buenos. | MELIBEA. Acquaint me, mother, with all your necessities and wants, and if I can help you in them I shall willingly do it, as well out of our old acquaintance as out of neighbourhood, which in good mind is a sufficient bond |
| 53. CEL. __ ¿Mías, señora? Antes agenas, como tengo dicho; que las mías de mi puerta adentro me las passo, sin que las sienta la tierra, comiendo quando puedo, beuiendo quando lo tengo. Que con mi pobreza jamás me faltó, a Dios gracias, vna blanca para pan y vn quarto para vino, después que embiudé; que antes no tenía yo cuydado de lo buscar, que sobrado estaua vn cuero en mi casa y vno lleno y otro vazío. Jamás me acosté sin comer vna tostada en vino y dos dozenas de soruos, por amor de la madre, tras cada sopa. Agora, como todo cuelga de mí, en vn jarrillo malpegado me lo traen, que no cabe dos açumbres. seys vezes al día tengo de salir por mi pecado, con mis canas a cuestas, a le henchir a la tauerna. Mas no muera yo muerte, hasta que me vea con vn cuero o tinagica de mis puertas adentro. Que en mi ánima no ay otra prouisión, que como dizen: pan y vino anda camino, que no moço garrido. Assí que donde no ay varón, todo | CELEST. My wants, madame? Nay, others′, as I told you, not mine. For mine own, I pass at home with myself in mine own house without letting the whole country to know them; eating when I may, and drinking when I can get it. For, for all my poverty, I never wanted a penny to buy me bread, nor a to send for wine, no, not in all this time of my widowhood. For before, I never took thought for any, but had always a good vessel still in my house. And when one was empty another was full. I never went to bed, but I did first eat a toast well steeped in wine, and two dozen of draughts, sipping still the wine after ever sop, for fear of the mother, But now that I husband all things myself I am fain to fetch my wine in a little poor jar, which will scarce hold a pottle. And sometimes in punishment of my sins I am forced to go six times a day with these my silver hairs about my shoulders, to fill and fetch my wine myself at the tavern. Nor would I by my goodwill die, till I see myself have a good rundlet or tierce of mine own within mine own doors. For, on my life, there is no provision in the world like unto it. For, as the saying is, it is bread and wine, not the young man that is spruce and fine, and travel with mettle; yet let me tell you that, where the good man is missing, all other good is wanting. For ill does the spindle move, when the beard does not wag above. And this I thought good to tell you by the way upon those speeches, which I used concerning others′, and not mine own necessities. |
| 54. MELIB. __ Pide lo que querrás, sea para quien fuere. | MELIBEA. Ask what thou wilt, be it either for thyself or anybody else, |
| 55. CEL. __ ¡Donzella graciosa y de alto linaje¡ tu suaue fabla y alegre gesto, junto con el aparejo de liberalidad, que muestras con esta pobre vieja, me dan osadía a te lo dezir. Yo dexo vn enfermo a la muerte, que con sola una palabra de tu noble boca salida, que le lleue metida en mi seno, tiene por fe que sanará, según la mucha deuoción tiene en tu gentileza. | CELEST. My most gracious lady, descended of high parentage, your sweet words and cheerful gesture, accompanied with that kind and free proffer, which you are pleased to make to this poor old woman, gives boldness to to speak I come lately from one, whom I let sick to the death, who only with on word, which should come from your noble mouth, and entrusted in this my bosom -I verily assure myself it will save his life, so great is the devotion which he bears to your gentle disposition, |
| 56. MELIB. __ Vieja honrrada, no te entiendo, si más no declaras tu demanda. Por vna parte me alteras y prouocas a enojo; por otra me mueues compasión. No te sabría boluer respuesta conueniente, según lo poco que he sentido de tu habla. Que yo soy dichosa, si de mi palabra ay necessidad para salud de algún cristiano. Porque hazer beneficio es semejar a Dios, y el que le da le recibe, quando a persona digna dél le hace. Y demás desto, dizen que el que puede sanar al que padece, no lo faziendo, le mata. Assí que no cesses tu petición por empacho ni temor. | MELIBEA. Good woman, I understand thee not, unless thou deliver thy mind unto me in plain terms. On the one side thou dost anger me and provoke me to displeasure; on the other thou dost move and stir me to compassion. Neither know I how to return thee a convenient answer, because I have not fully comprehended thy meaning; I should think myself happy, if my words might save the life of any man, For to do good is to be like unto de Deity [God}>. Besides he that doth a benefit, receives it, when it is done to a person that desires it. And he that can cure one that is sick, not doing it, is guilty of his death; and therefore give not over thy petition, but proceed and fear nothing. |
| 57. CEL. __ El temor perdí mirando, señora, tu beldad. Que no puedo creer que en balde pintasse Dios vnos gestos más perfetos que otros, más dotados de gracias, más hermosas faciones; sino para fazerlos almazén de virtudes, de misericordia, de compassión, ministros de sus mercedes y dádiuas, como a ti. Y pues como todos seamos humanos, nascidos para morir, sea cierto que no se puede dezir nacido el que para sí nasció. Porque sería semejante a los brutos animales, en los quales avn ay algunos piadosos, como se dize del vnicornio, que se humilla a qualquiera donzella. El perro con todo su ímpetu y braueza, quando viene a morder, si se echan en el suelo, no haze mal: esto de piedad. ¿Pues las aues? Ninguna cosa el gallo come, que no participe y llame las gallinas a comer dello. El pelicano rompe el pecho por dar a sus hijos a comer de sus entrañas. Las cigüeñas mantienen otro tanto tiempo a sus padres viejos en el nido, quanto ellos le dieron ceuo siendo pollitos. Pues tal conoscimiento dio la natura a los animales y aues? | CELEST. All fear fled, fair lady, in beholding your beauty. For I cannot be persuaded that Nature [God}> did paint in vain one face fairer than another, more enriched with grace more beautiful than another, were it not to make them magazines of virtue, of mercy, compassion ministers of her blessings, of those gifts and graces, which she hath bestowed upon yourself Besides, sithence we are all mortal and born to die, as also, that it is most certain that be cannot be said truly to be born, who is only born for himself-for then should men be like unto brute beasts, amongst which there are some, that are very pitiful: as your unicorn of whom it is reported that he will humble himself at the feet of a virgin; and your dog, for all his fierceness and cruelness when he comes to bite another, if he throw himself down at his feet, he will do him no harm; and this is all out of pity. Again, to come to your birds your cock eateth not anything, but he first calleth his hens about him, The pelican with her beak breaketh up her own breast, that she may give her very entrails to her young ones to eat. The storks maintain their aged parents |
| 58. MELIB. __ Por Dios, sin más dilatar, me digas quién es esse doliente, que de mal tan perplexo se siente, que su passión y remedio salen de vna misma fuente. | MELIBEA. For God′s love, without any more dilating tell me who is this sick man, who feeling such great perplexity, hath both his sickness and his cure, flowing from one and the selfsame fountain. |
| 59. CEL. __ Bien ternás, señora, noticia en esta cibdad de vn cauallero mancebo, gentilhombre de clara sangre, que llaman Calisto. | CELEST. You cannot choose, lady, but know a young gentleman in this city, nobly descended, whose name is Calisto. |
| 60. MELIB. __ ¡Ya, ya, ya¡Buena vieja no me digas más, no pases adelante. ¿Esse es el doliente por quien has fecho tantas premissas en tu demanda? ¿Por quién has venido a buscar la muerte para ti? ¿Por quién has dado tan dañosos passos, desuergonçada barvuda? ¿Qué siente esse perdido, que con tanta passión vienes? De locura será su mal. ¿Qué te parece? ¡Si me fallaras sin sospecha desse loco, con qué palabras me entrauas¡ No se dize en vano que el más empezible miembro del mal hombre o muger es la lengua. ¡Quemada seas, alcahueta falsa, hechizera, enemiga de onestad, causadora de secretos yerros¡ ¡Jesú, Jesú ¡! Quítamela, Lucrecia, de delante, que me fino, que no me ha dexado gota de sangre en el cuerpo¡ Bien se lo mereçe esto y más, quien a estas tales da oydos. Por cierto, si no mirasse a mi honestidad y por no publicar su osadía desse atreuido, yo te fiziera, maluada, que tu razón y vida acabaran en vn tiempo. | MELIBEA. Enough, enough! No more, good old woman! not a word more, Is this the sick patient, for whom thou hast made so many prefaces to come to thy purpose? Camest thou to seek they death? Knowest thou for whom, thou bearded impudent, thou hast trodden these dangerous steps? What ails this wicked one, that thou pleadest for him with such passion? He is fool-sick, is he not? What wouldst thou have thought, if thou shouldst have found me without some suspicion and jealousy of this fool? with what words hast thou come upon me? I see it is not said in vain that the most hurtful member in a man or woman is the tongue. I will have thee burned, thou false witch, thou enemy to honesty, thou causeress of secret errors; ! Lucrecia, out of my sight with her, I die; she hath not left me one drop of blood in my body! But I well deserve this and more, for giving ear to such as she is. Believe me, were it not that I regarded mine honour, and that I am unwilling to publish to the world his presumptuous audaciousness and boldness, I would so handle thee, thou accursed hag, that thy discourse and thy life should have ended both together. |
| 61. CEL. __ ¡En hora mala acá vine, si me falta mi conjuro¡ ¡Ea pues¡: bien sé a quién digo. ¡ Ce, hermano, que se va todo a perder! | CELEST. In an ill hour came I hither, if my spells and conjuration fail me. Go to, go to; I wot well enough to whom I speak. |
| 62. MELIB. __ ¿Avn hablas entre dientes delante mí, para acrecentar mi enojo y doblar tu pena? ¿Querrías condenar mi onestidad por dar vida a vn loco? ¿Dexar a mi triste por alegrar a él y lleuar tú el prouecho de mi perdición, el galardón de mi yerro? ¿Perder y destruyr la casa y la honrra de mi padre por ganar la de vna vieja maldita como tú? ¿Piensas que no tengo sentidas tus pisadas y entendido tu dañado mensaje? Pues yo te certifico que las albricias, que de aquí saques, no sean sino estoruarte de más ofender a Dios, dando fin a tus días. Respóndeme, traydora, ¿ Cómo osaste tanto fazer? | MELIBEA. Darest thou yet speak before me and mutter words between thy teeth, for to augment my anger and double thy punishment? Wouldst thou have me soil mine honour, for to give life to a madman? Shall I make myself sad to make him merry? Wouldst thou thrive by my loss? And reap profit by my perdition? And receive remuneration by my error? Wouldst thou have me overthrow and ruin my father′s house and honour, for to raise that of such an old rotten bawd as thou art? Dost thou think, I do not track thee step by step? Or that I understand not thy damnable errand? But I assure thee, the reward that thou shalt get thereby, shall be no other, save, that I may take from thee all occasion of farther offending heaven, to give an end to thy evil days. Tell me, traitor as thou art, how didst thou dare to proceed so far with me? |
| 63. CEL. __ Tu temor, señora, tiene ocupada mi desculpa. Mi inocencia me da osadía, tu presencia me turba en verla yrada y lo que más siento y me pena es recibir enojo sin razón ninguna. Por Dios, señora, que me dexes concluyr mi dicho, que ni él quedará culpado ni yo condenada. Y verás cómo es todo más seruicio de Dios, que passos deshonestos; más para dar salud al enfermo, que para dañar la fama al médico. Si pensara, señora, que tan de ligero hauías de conjecturar de lo passado nocibles sospechas, no bastara tu licencia para me dar osadía a hablar en cosa, que a Calisto ni a otro hombre tocasse. | CELEST. My fear of you, madame, doth interrupt my excuse; but my innocency puts new courage into me: your presence again disheartens me, in seeing you so angry. But that which grieves and troubles me most, is that I receive displeasure without any reason, [For God′s love,}> give me leave, good lady, to make an end of my speech, and then will you neither blame it nor condemn me: then will you see that I rather seek to do [God}> good service, than endeavour any dishonest course; and that I do it more to add health to the patient, than to detract anything from the fame of the physician. And had I thought that your ladyship would so easily have made this noxious suspicion, your licence should not have been sufficient warrant to have emboldened me to speak anything, that might concern Calisto, or any other man |
| 64. MELIB. __ ¡Jesú¡No oyga yo mentar más esse loco, saltaparedes, fantasma de noche, luengo como cigüeña, figura de paramento malpintado; sinó, aquí me caeré muerta. ¡Este es el que el otro día me vido y començó a desuariar comigo en razones, haziendo mucho del galán¡ Dirásle, buena vieja, que, si pensó que ya era todo suyo y quedaua por él el campo, porque holgué más de consentir sus necedades, que castigar su yerro, quise más dexarle por loco, que publicar su grande atreuimiento. Pues auísale que se aparte deste propósito y serle ha sano; sinó, podrá ser que no aya comprado tan cara habla en su vida. Pues sabe que no es vencido, sino el que se cree serlo, y yo quedé bien segura y él vfano. De los locos es estimar a todos los otros de su calidad. Y tú tórnate con su mesma razón; que respuesta de mí otra no haurás ni la esperes. Que por demás es ruego a quien no puede hauer misericordia. Y dá gracias a Dios, pues tan libre vas desta | MELIBEA. [Iesu}>, let me hear no more of this madman, this leaper over walls; this hobgoblin; long shanked, like a stork; in shape and proportion, like a picture in arras, that is ill wrought; unless you would have me to fall down dead where I stand! This is he who saw me the other day, and began to court me with phrases, professing himself to be a gallant. Tell him, good old woman, if he think that I was wholly his and that he had won the field, because it pleased me rather to consent to his folly than correct his fault, that I was willing rather to let him go like a fool to publish this his presumptuous enterprise. Moreover, advise him to relinquish his purpose, if he purpose to impart health to himself; which if he refuse to do, never brought words all the days of his life at a dearer rate. Besides, I would have him know that no man is overcome, but he that thinks himself so to be. So shall I live secure, and he contented. But it is evermore the nature of fools, to think others like themselves. Return thou with this very answer |
| 65. CEL. __ ¡Más fuerte estaua Troya y avn otras más brauas he yo amansado¡ ninguna tempestad mucho dura. | CELEST. Troy stood out more stoutly, and held out longer. No storm lasteth long. |
| 66. MELIB. __ ¿Qué dizes, enemiga? Fabla, que te pueda oyr. ¿Tienes desculpa alguna para satisfazer mi enojo y escusar tu yerro y osadía? | MELIBEA. You mine enemy, what say you? Speak out, I pray, that I may hear you. Hast thou anything to say in thy excuse, whereby thou mayest satisfy my anger, and clear thyself of this thy error and bold attempt? |
| 67. CEL. __ Mientras viuiere tu yra, más dañará mi descargo. Que estás muy rigurosa y no me marauillo: que la sangre nueua poca calor ha menester para heruir. | CELEST. Whilst your choler lives, my cause must needs die. But [I}> wonder not that you should be thus rigorous with me: for a little heat will serve to set you blood a boiling. |
| 68. MELIB. __ ¿Poca calor?? Poco lo puedes llamar, pues quedaste tú viua y yo quexosa sobre tan gran atreuimiento? ¿Qué palabra podías tú querer para esse tal hombre, que a mí bien me estuuiesse? Responde, pues dizes que no has concluydo: ¡Quiçá pagarás lo passado! | MELIBEA. Little heat, Indeed thou mayest well say little; because thyself yet lives, whilst I with grief endure thy great presumption. What words canst thou demand of me for such a one as he is, that may stand with my good? Answer because thou sayest thou has not yet concluded. And perhaps thou mayest for that which is past. |
| 69. CEL. __ Vna oración, señora, que le dixeron que sabías de sancta Polonia para el dolor de las muelas. Assí mismo tu cordón, que es fama que ha tocado todas las reliquias, que ay en Roma y Jerusalem. Aquel cauallero, que dixe, pena y muere dellas. Esta fué mi venida. Pero, pues en mi dicha estaua tu ayrada respuesta, padézcase él su dolor, en pago de buscar tan desdichada mensajera. Que, pues en tu mucha virtud me faltó piedad, también me faltará agua, si a la mar me embiara. Pero ya sabes que el deleyte de la vengança dura un momento y el de la misericordia para siempre. | CELEST. Marry, a madame, which, as he is informed by many of his good friends, your ladyship hath, [of Saint Appollonia,}> which cureth the toothache; as also that same admirable girdle of yours, [For the report goes it hath touched all the relics that are in Rome and Jerusalem.}> Now this gentleman I told you of, is exceedingly pained with the toothache, and even at death′s door with it. And this was the cause of my coming: but since it was my ill hap to receive so harsh and answer, let him still continue in his pain, as a punishment due unto him for sending so unfortunate a messenger. For since in that muchness of your virtue I have found much of your pity wanting, I fear me he would also want water, should he send me to the sea to fetch it. And you know, that the delight of vengeance endureth but a moment, but that of pity continueth for ever |
| 70. MELIB. . __ Si esso querías, ¿Por qué luego no me lo espresaste? ¿Por qué me lo dixiste en tan pocas palabras? | MELIBEA. It this be that thou wouldst have, why didst thou not tell me of it sooner? Or why didst thou not deliver it in other words? |
| 71. CEL. __ Señora, porque mi limpio motiuo me hizo creer que, avnque en menos lo propusiera, no se hauía de sospechar mal. Que, si faltó el deuido preámbulo, fué porque la verdad no es necessario abundar de muchas colores. Compassión de su dolor, confiança de tu magnificencia ahogaron en mi boca al principio la espresión de la causa. Y pues conosces, señora, que el dolor turba, la turbación desmanda y altera la lengua, la qual hauía de estar siempre atada con el seso, ¡Por Dios¡Que no me culpes. Y si el otro yerro ha fecho, no redunde en mi daño, pues no tengo otra culpa, sino ser mensajera del culpado. No quiebre la soga por lo más delgado. No seas la telaraña, que no muestra su fuerça sino contra los flacos animales. No paguen justos por peccadores. Imita la diuina justicia, que dixo: El ánima que pecare, aquella misma muera; a la humana, que jamás condena al padre por el delicto del hijo ni al hijo por el del padre. | CELEST. Because my plain meaning made me believe that, though I should have proposed it in any other words whatsoever, yet would you not have suspected any evil in them. For, if I were failing in the fitness of my preface it was because truth needeth no colours. The very compassion that I had of his pain, and the confidence of your maginificency did choke in my mouth, when I first began the expression of the cause. And for that you know, lady, that sorrow works turbation, and turbation doth disorder and alter the tongue, which ought always to be tied to the brain, for heaven′s [God′s}> love, lay not the fault on me; and if he hath committed and error, let not that redound to my hurt; for I am no farther blameable of any fault, than as I am the messenger of the faulty. Break not the rope where it is weakest. Be not like the cobweb. Which never shows its force but on poor little flies. [Let not the righteous be punished for the sinful, but rather imitate that Divine Justice, whose sentence is that the soul which sinneth shall die your death.}> No human law condemns the father for the son′s offence, nor the son for the father′s; nor indeed, lady, is it any reason, that his presumption should occasion my perdition; though considering his desert, I should not greatly care that he should be the delinquent and myself be |
| 72. MEL. __ No me marauillo, que vn solo maestro de vicios dizen que basta para corromper vn gran pueblo Por cierto, tantos y tales loores me han dicho de tus falsas mañas, que no sé si crea que pedías oración. | MELIBEA. I now wonder not that your ancients were wont to say that one only teacher of vice was sufficient to mar a great city. For I have heard such and so many tales of thy false tricks, that I know not whether I may believe thy errand was for this charm. |
| 72. CEL. __ Nunca yo la reze y si la rezare no sea oyda, si otra cosa de mí se saque, avnque mill tormentos me diessen. | CELEST. Never let me pray, or if I pray, let me never be heard, if you can draw any other thing from me, though I were to be put to a thousand torments¡ |
| 73. MELIB. __ Mi passada alteración me impide a reyr de tu desculpa. Que bien sé que ni juramento ni tormento te torcerá a dezir verdad, que no es en tu mano. | MELIBEA. My former late anger will not give me leave to laugh at thy excuse. For I wot very well that neither oath nor torment shall make thee to speak the truth. For it is not in thy power to do it. |
| 74. CEL. __ Eres mi señora. Téngote de callar, hete yo de seruir, hasme tú de mandar. Tu mala palabra será víspera de vna saya. | CELEST. You are my good lady it is my duty to hold my peace; you must command, but your rough language, I hope, will cost your ladyship petticoat. |
| 75. MELIB. __ Bien la has merescido. | MELIBEA. And well hast thou deserved it. |
| 76. CEL. __ Si no la he ganado con la lengua, no la he perdido con la intención. | CELEST. If I have not gained it with my tongue, I hope I have not lost it with my intention. |
| 77. MELIB. __ Tanto afirmas tu ignorancia, que me hazes creer lo que puede ser. Quiero pues en tu dubdosa desculpa tener la sentencia en peso y no disponer de tu demanda al sabor de ligera interpretación. No tengas en mucho ni te marauilles de mi passado sentimiento, porque concurrieron dos cosas en tu habla, que qualquiera dellas era bastante para me sacar de seso: nombrarme esse tu cauallero, que comigo se atreuió a hablar, y también pedirme palabra sin más causa, que no se podía sospechar sino daño para mi honrra. Pero pues todo viene de buena parte, de lo passado aya perdón. Que en alguna manera es aliuiado mi coraçón, viendo que es obra pía y santa sanar los passionados y enfermos. | MELIBEA. Thou dost so confidently plead thy ignorance, that thou makest me almost ready to believe thee; yet will I in this thy so doubtful an excuse hold my sentence in suspense, and will not dispose of thy demand upon the relish of so light an interpretation. Neither would I have thee to think much of it, nor make it any such wonder that I was so exceedingly moved; for two hings did concur in thy discourse, the least of which was sufficient to make me run out of my wits. First, in naming this gentleman unto me, who thus presumed to talk with me: then, that thou shouldst entreat me for him, without any further cause given; which could not but engender a strong suspicion of intention of hurt to my honour. But since all is well meant I pardon all that is past; for my heart is now somewhat lightened, sithence it is a pious and a holy work, to cure the sick and help the distressed. |
| 78. CEL. __ ¡Y tal enfermo, señora¡Por Dios, si bien le conosciesses, no le juzgasses por el que has dicho y mostrado con tu yra. En Dios y en mi alma, no tiene hiel; gracias, dos mill: en franqueza, Alexandre; en esfuerço, Etor; gesto, de vn rey; gracioso, alegre; jamás reyna en él tristeza. De noble sangre, como sabes. gran justador, pues verlo armado, vn Sant George. Fuerça y esfuerço, no tuuo Ercules tanta. La presencia y faciones, dispusición, desemboltura, otra lengua hauía menester para las contar. Todo junto semeja ángel del cielo. Por fe tengo que no era tan hermoso aquel gentil Narciso, que se enamoró de su propia figura, quando se vido en las aguas de la fuente. Agora, señora, tiénele derribado vna sola muela que jamás cessa de quexar. | CELEST. Ay, and so sick, madame, that, did you know it as well as I, you would not judge him the man, which in your anger you have censured him to be. By my fay, the poor gentleman hath no gall at all, He is endued with thousands of graces: for bounty he is an Alexander; for strength an Hector; he has the presence of a prince; he is fair in his cariage, and pleasant there is no melancholy that reigneth in him; nobly descended, as yourself well knows; a great tilter; and to see him in his armour, it becomes him so well,> that you would take him to be another Saint George. Hercules had not that force and courage as he hath; his deportment, his person, his feature, his disposition, his agility had need of another manner of tongue to express it than mine. Take him all together and I am verily persuaded that that fair and gentle Narcissus, who was enamoured with his own proper beauty, when, he viewed himself in the water, was nothing so fair as he, whom now one poor tooth with the extremity of its pain doth so torment, that he doth nothing but complain. |
| 79. MELIB. __ ¿Y qué tanto tiempo ha? | MELIBEA. The age, I pray, how long hath he had it? |
| 80. CEL. __ Podrá ser, señora, de veynte y tres años: que aquí está Celestina, que le vido nascer y le tomó a los pies de su madre. | CELEST. His age, madame? Marry, I think he is about some three and twenty. For here stands she, who saw him born, and took him up from his mother′s feet. |
| 81. MELIB. __ Ni te pregunto esso ni tengo necessidad de saber su edad; sino qué tanto ha que tiene el mal. | MELIBEA. This is not that which I ask thee; nor do I care to know his age. I ask thee how long he hath been troubled with his toothache? |
| 82. CEL. __ Señora, ocho días. Que parece que ha vn año en su flaqueza. Y el mayor remedio que tiene es tomar vna vihuela y tañe tantas canciones y tan lastimeras, que no creo que fueron otras las que compuso aquel Emperador y gran músico Adriano, de la partida del ánima, por sofrir sin desmayo la ya vezina muerte. Que avnque yo sé poco de música, parece que faze aquella vihuela fablar. Pues, si acaso canta, de mejor gana se paran las aues a le oyr, que no aquel antico, de quien se dize que mouía los árboles y piedras con su canto. Siendo este nascido no alabaran a Orfeo. Mirá, señora, si vna pobre vieja, como yo, si se fallará dichosa en dar la vida a quien tales gracias tiene. Ninguna muger le vee, que no alabe a Dios, que assí le pintó. Pues, si le habla acaso, no es más señora de sí, de lo que él ordena. Y pues tanta razón tengo, juzgá, señora, por bueno mi propósito, mis passos saludables y vazíos de sospecha. | CELEST. Some eight days, madame, but you would think he had had it a year, he is grown so weak with it, and the greatest ease and> best remedy he hath, is to take his viol, whereto he sings so many songs, and in such doleful notes, that I verily believe they did far exceed those which that great emperor and musician Hadrian composed conerning the soul′s departure from the body, the better to endure without dismayment his approaching death. For, though I have but little skill in music, methinks he makes the viol, when he plays thereon,> to speak; and when he sings thereunto, the birds with a better will listen unto him than to that musician of old, which made the trees and stones to move. Had he been born then, Orpheus lost his prey> whose hand did draw so perfect a piece; and, if it be their hap to talk with him, they are no more mistresses of themselves, but are wholly at his disposing; Wherefore, seeing I have so great reason conceive, good lady, my purpose to be honest, my courses commendable and free from suspicion |
| 83. MELIB. __ ¡O quánto me pesa con la falta de mi paciencia¡Porque siendo él ignorante y tú ynocente, haués padescido las alteraciones de mi ayrada lengua. Pero la mucha razón me relieua de culpa, la qual tu habla sospechosa causó. En pago de tu buen sofrimiento, quiero complir tu demanda y darte luego mi cordón. y porque para escriuir la oración no haurá tiempo sin que venga mi madre, si esto no bastare, ven mañana por ella muy secretamente. | MELIBEA. O how I am fallen out with mine own impatience¡How angry with myself that, he being ignorant and thou innocent of any intended ill,> thou hast endured the distemperature of my enraged tongue! But the great reason I had for it,> frees me from any fault of offence, urged thereunto by thy suspicious speeches: but in requital of thy sufferance, I will forthwith fulfil thy request and likewise give thee my girdle. And, because I have not leisure to write the charm, till my mother comes home, if this will not serve the turn, come secretly for it tomorrow morning. |
| 84. LUCR. __ ¡Ya, ya, perdida es mi ama¡ ¿Secretamente quiere que venga Celestina? ¡Fraude ay¡Más le querrá dar, que lo dicho! | LUCRECIA. Now, now, is my mistress quite undone. she will have Celestina come secretly tomorrow. I smell a rat; I fear me she will part with something more than words. |
| 85. MELIB. __ ¿Qué dizes, Lucrecia? | MELIBEA. What sayest thou, Lucrecia? |
| 86. LUCR. __ Señora, que baste lo dicho; que es tarde. | LUCRECIA. Marry, I say, madame, you have worded well. For it is now somewhat late. |
| 87. MELIB. __ Pues, madre, no le des parte de lo que passó a esse cauallero, porque no me tenga por cruel o arrebatada o deshonesta. | MELIBEA. I pray, mother, say nothing to this gentleman of what hath passed lest he should hold me either cruel, sudden, or dishonest. |
| 88. LUCR. __ No miento yo, que ¡Mal va este fecho! | LUCRECIA. I did not lie even now; I see well enough how ill the world goes. |
| 89. CEL. __ Mucho me marauillo, señora Melibea, de la dubda que tienes de mi secreto. No temas, que todo lo sé sofrir y encubrir. Que bien veo que tu mucha sospecha echó, como suele, mis razones a la más triste parte. Yo voy con tu cordón tan alegre, que se me figura que está diziéndole allá su coraçón la merced, que nos hiziste y que lo tengo de hallar aliuiado. | CELEST. Madame, I much marvel you should entertain any the least doubt of my service. Fear you not; for I can suffer and cover anything: and I well perceive that your great jealousy and suspicion of me made you (as commonly it doth) to interpret my speeches to the worst sense. Well, I will take my leave, and go hence with this girdle so merrily as if I did presently see his heart leaping for you, that you have graced him with a kindness; and I doubt not but I shall find him much eased of his pain. |
| 90. MELIB. __ Más haré por tu doliente, si menester fuere, en pago de lo sofrido. | MELIBEA. I will do more for your sick patient than this, if need require, in requital of your great patience. |
| 91. CEL. __ Más será menester y más harás y avnque no se te agradezca. | CELEST. We shall need more, and you must do more than this, though perhaps you will not so well like of it, and scarce thank us for it. |
| 92. MELIB. __ ¿Qué dizes, madre, de agradescer? | MELIBEA. Mother, what′s that thou talkest of thanks? |
| 93. CEL. __ Digo, señora, que todos lo agradescemos y seruirémos y todos quedamos obligados. Que la paga más cierta es, quando más la tienen de complir. | CELEST. Marry I say, madame, that we both give you thanks, that we are both at your service, and rest both deeply indebted and that the payment is there most certain, where the party is most bound to satisfy. |
| 94. LUCR. __ ¡Trastrócame essas palabras! | LUCRECIA. What chop-logic have we here? |
| 95. CEL. __ ¡Hija Lucrecia¡Ce¡Yrás a casa y darte he vna lexía, con que pares essos cavellos más que el oro. No lo digas a tu señora. Y avn darte he vnos poluos para quitarte esse olor de la boca, que te huele vn poco, que en el reyno no lo sabe fazer otra sino yo y no ay cosa que peor en la muger parezca. | CELEST. Daughter Lucrecia, hold thy peace; If tomorrow I may see thee at my house, I will give thee such a lye as shall make thy hair as yellow as gold; but tell not your mistress of it. Thou shalt also have a powder of me to sweeten thy breath, which is a little of the strongest. There is not any in this kingdom that can make it but myself. And there is not anything in a woman that can be worse |
| 96. LUCR. __¡O¡Dios te dé buena vejez, que más necessidad tenía de todo esso que de comer. | LUCRECIA. A blessing on your aged heart; for I have more need of this than of my meat. |
| 97. CEL. __ Pues, porqué murmuras contra mí, loquilla? Calla, que no sabes si me aurás menester en cosa de más importancia. No prouoques a yra a tu señora, más de lo que ella ha estado. Déxame yr en paz. | CELEST. And yet, you fool, you will be talking against me. Hold thy peace; for thou know′st not what need thou mayest have of me. Do not exasperate your mistress and make her more angry now than she was before. But let me go hence in peace. |
| 98. MELIB. __ ¿Qué le dizes, madre? | MELIBEA. What sayest thou mother? |
| 99. CEL. __ Señora acá nos entendemos. | CELEST. Nothing, madame, we have done already. |
| 100. MELIB. __ Dímelo que me enojo quando yo presente se habla cosa de que no aya parte. | MELIBEA. Nay, you must tell me for I cannot abide that anybody should speak anything in my presence, and I not have a part therein. |
| 101. CEL. __ Señora, que te acuerde la oración, para que la mandes escriuir y que aprenda de mí a tener mesura en el tiempo de tu yra, en la qual yo vsé lo que se dize: que del ayrado es de apartar por poco tiempo, del enemigo por mucho. Pues tú, señora, tenías yra con lo que sospechaste de mis palabras, no enemistad. Porque, avnque fueran las que tú pensauas, en sí no eran malas: que cada día hay hombres penados por mugeres y mugeres por hombres, y esto obra la natura y la natura ordenóla Dios y Dios no hizo cosa mala. Y assí quedaua mi demanda, como quiera que fuesse, en sí loable, pues de tal tronco procede, y yo libre de pena. Más razones destas te diría, si no porque la prolixidad es enojosa al que oye y dañosa al que habla. | CELEST. I entreated her to put your ladyship in mind of the charm, that it might be writ out and that she should learn of me to temper herself in the time of your anger, putting her in mind of that ancient adage, `From an angry man get thee gone but for a while, but from an enemy for ever.′ But you, madame, had only a quarrel to those words of mine which you suspected, and not any enmity And say they had been such as you conceited them, yet were they not so bad For it is every day′s experience to see men pained and tormented for women, and women as much for men. And this Nature worketh, and Nature, you know, works nothing that is ill: so that my demand, you see, was, as my desire was it should be, in itself commendable, as having its growth from so good a root. Many the like reasons could I render you, were not prolixity tedious to the hearer and hurtful to the speaker. |
| 102. MELIB. __ En todo has tenido buen tiento, assí en el poco hablar en mi enojo, como con el mucho sofrir. | MELIBEA. Thou hast shown a great deal of temper, as well in saying little, when thou saw′st me angry, as also in thy great sufferance. |
| 103. CEL. __ Señora, sofrite con temor, porque te ayraste con razón. Porque con la yra morando poder, no es sino rayo. Y por esto passé tu rigurosa habla hasta que tu almazén houiesse gastado. | CELEST. Madame, I endured your chiding with fear, because I knew you were angry with reason. Besides, a fit of anger is but like a flash of lightning; which made me the more willing to give way, till your heat were overpast. |
| 104. MELIB. __ En cargo te es esse cauallero. | MELIBEA. This gentleman is beholding unto you, |
| 105. CEL. __ Señora, más merece. Y si algo con mi ruego para él he alcançado, con la tardança lo he dañado. Yo me parto para él, si licencia me das. | CELEST. Not so, madame; his deserts challenge more at my hands. And if by my entreaties I have done him any good, I fear me, by my over-long stay I have done him as much harm. And therefore if your ladyship will license me, I will haste to see how he does. |
| 106. MELIB. __ Mientra más ayna la houieras pedido, más de grado la houieras recabdado. Ve con Dios, que ni tu menssaje me ha traydo prouecho ni tu yda me puede venir daño. | MELIBEA. Hadst thou spoke for it sooner, sooner hadst thou been sped. Go thy ways, thy message being as bootless as thy departure shall be harmless. |