1. SEMP. __ Baxa, Pármeno, nuestras capas y espadas, si te parece   que es hora que vamos a comer.  

SEMPRONIO.  Parmeno, I pray thee bring down our cloaks, and our rapiers; for I think it be time for us to go to dinner.  

    2. PARM. __ Vamos presto. Ya creo que se quexarán de nuestra tardança.   No por essa calle, sino por estotra,   porque nos entremos por la yglesia   y veremos si ouiere acabado Celestina sus deuociones:   lleuarla hemos de camino.  

PARM.  Come, let us go presently; for I think they will find fault with us, for staying so long.   Let us not go through this, but that other street, that we may go in by the Vestals, so shall we see, whether Celestina have ended her devotions, and take her along with us.  

    3. SEMP. __ A donosa hora ha de estar rezando.  

SEMPR. What?  Do you think to find her at her theme now?  Is this a fit hour?  This a time for her to be at her orisons?  

    4. PARM. __ No se puede dezir sin tiempo fecho   lo que en todo tiempo se puede fazer.  

PARM.  That can never be said out of time, which ought to be done at all times.  

    5. SEMP. __ Verdad es; pero mal conoces a Celestina.   quando ella tiene que hazer, no se acuerda de Dios   ni cura de santidades.   quando ay que roer en casa, sanos están los santos;   quando va a la yglesia con sus cuentas en la mano,   no sobra el comer en casa.  

SEMPR.  It is true, but I see, you know not Celestina; when she has anything to do, she never thinks upon heaven, the devil a whit that she cares then for devotion; when she hath anything in the house to gnaw upon, farewell all holiness, farewell all prayers: and indeed, her going to any of these ceremonies, is but to spy and pry only upon advantages for such persons as she may prevaricate, and make for her profit. 

  avnque ella te crió, mejor conozco yo sus propriedades que tú.   Lo que en sus cuentas reza   es los virgos que tiene a cargo   y quántos enamorados ay en la cibdad   y quántas moças tiene encomendadas   y qué despenseros le dan ración   y quál lo mejor y cómo les llaman por nombre,   porque quando los encontrare no hable como estraña   y qué canónigo es más moço y franco.   quando menea los labios es fengir mentiras,   ordenar cautelas para hauer dinero:   por aquí le entraré, esto me responderá, estotro replicaré.   assí viue ésta, que nosotros mucho honrramos.  

And, though she bred thee up, I am better acquainted with her qualities, than you are.  That which she doth ruminate: how many cracked maidenheads she hath then in cure; how many lovers in this city; how many young wenches are recommended unto her; what stewards afford her provision; which is the more bountiful: and how she may call every man by his name; that when she chanceth to meet them, she may not salute then as strangers.  When you see her lips go, then is she inventing of lies, and devising sleights, and tricks for to get money; then doth she thus dispute with herself; In this manner will I make my speech; in this fashion will I close with him.  Thus then will he answer me; and to this I must thus reply. Thus lives this creature, whom we so highly honour.  

    6. PARM. __ Más que esso sé yo;   sino, porque te enojaste estotro día, no quiero hablar; quando lo dixe a Calisto.  

PARM.  Tush, this is nothing;  I know more than this.  But, because you were angry the t'other day, when I told Calisto so much, I will forbear to speak of it. 

    7. SEMP. __ Avnque lo sepamos para nuestro   prouecho,  no lo publiquemos para nuestro daño.   Saberlo nuestro amo es echalla por quien es y no curar della.   Dexándola, verná forçado otra,   de cuyo trabajo no esperemos parte, como desta,   que de grado o por fuerça nos dará de lo que le diere.  

SEMPR.  Though we may know so much for our own good, yet let us not publish it to our own hurt; for, to have our master to know it, were but to make him discard her for such a one as she is, and not to care for her; and so leaving her, he must needs have another, of whose pains we shall reap no profit, as we shall be sure to do by her, who by fair means, or by foul, shall give us part of her gains.  

    8. PARM. __ Bien has dicho. calla,   que está abierta la puerta.  En casa está. Llama antes que entres,   que por ventura están embueltas   y no querrán ser assí vistas.  

PARM.  Well, and wisely hast thou spoken; but hush: the door is open, and she in the house.  Call before you go in; peradventure, they are not yet fully ready; or things are not in that order as they would have it; and then will they be loth to be seen.  

    9. SEMP. __ Entra, no cures, que todos somos de casa.   Ya ponen la mesa.  

SEMPR.  Go in, man, never stand upon those niceties; for we are all of a house.  Now, just now, they are covering the table.   

    10. CEL. __ ¡O mis enamorados, mis perlas de oro¡   ¡Tal me venga el año, qual me parece vuestra venida!  

CELEST.  O my young amorous youths, my pearls of gold!   Let the year go about as well with me, as you are both welcome unto me.  

    11. PARM. __ ¡Qué palabras tiene la noble¡   Bien ves, hermano, estos halagos fengidos.  

PARM.  What compliments has the old bawd!  Brother, I make no question, but you well enough perceive her foistings and her flatteries.  

    12. SEMP. __ Déxala, que deso viue. Que no sé quién diablos le mostró tanta ruyndad.  

SEMPR.  Oh!  You must give her leave, it is her living.  But I wonder what devil taught her all her knacks and her knaveries.  

    13. PARM. __ La necessidad y pobreza, la hambre.   Que no ay mejor maestra en el mundo,   no ay mejor despertadora y aviuadora de ingenios.   ¿Quién mostró a las picaças y papagayos   ymitar nuestra propia habla con sus harpadas lenguas,   nuestro órgano y boz, sino ésta?  

PARM.  What?  Marry, I will tell you.  Necessity, poverty and hunger; than which there are no better tutors in the world: no better quickeners, and revivers of the wit.  Who taught your pies, and your parrots to imitate our proper language, and tone, with their slit tongues, save only necessity?  

    14. CEL. __ ¡Mochachas¡¡mochachas¡¡bobas! Andad acá baxo, presto,   que están aquí dos hombres, que me quieren forçar.  

CELEST.  Hola: wenches, girls:  Where be you, you fools?  Come down; come hither quickly, I say; for there are a couple of young gallants that would ravish me. 

    15. ELIC. __ ¡Más nunca acá vinieran¡! y mucho combidar con tiempo¡   Que ha tres horas que está aquí mi prima.   Este perezoso de Sempronio haurá sido causa de la tardança,   que no ha ojos por do verme.  

ELICIA. Would they would never have come hither for me.  Oh!   It is a fine time of day!  Is this a fit hour, when you have invited your friends, to a feast?  You have made my cousin to wait here these three long hours: but this same lazy-gut, Sempronio, was the cause, I warrant you, of all this stay; for he has no eyes to look upon me.  

    16. SEMP. __ Calla, mi señora, mi vida, mis amores.   Que quien a otro sirue, no es libre.   assí que sujeción me relieua de culpa.   No ayamos enojo, assentémonos a comer.  

SEMPR.  Sweetheart; I pray thee be quiet.  My life, my love!   You know full well, that he that serves another, is not his own man.  He that is bound, must obey.  So that my subjection frees me from blame.  I pray thee be not angry.  Come, let us sit down, and fall to our meat.  

    17. ELIC. __ ¡Assí¡¡Para assentar a comer, muy diligente¡   ¡A mesa puesta con tus manos lauadas y poca vergüença  

ELICIA.  Ay, it is well, you are ready at all times to sit down, and eat, as soon as the cloth is  laid, with a clean pair of hands, but a shameless  face.  

    18. SEMP. __ Después reñiremos; comamos agora.   Assiéntate, madre Celestina, tú primero.  

SEMPR.  Come, we will chide and brawl after dinner: now let us fall to our victuals.  Mother Celestina, will it please you to sit down first?  

    19. CEL. __ Assentaos vosotros, mis hijos,   que harto lugar ay para todos, a Dios gracias:   tanto nos diessen del parayso, quando allá vamos.   Poneos en orden, cada vno cabe la suya;   yo, que estoy sola, porné cabo mí este jarro y taça,  

CELEST.  No, first sit you down, my son, for here is room enough for us all; let everyone take their place, as they like, and sit next her whom he loves best: as for me, who am a sole woman, I will sit me down here by this jar of wine and this good goblet.  

  que no es más mi vida de quanto con ello hablo.   Después que me fuy faziendo vieja,   no sé mejor oficio a la mesa, que escanciar.   Porque quien la miel trata, siempre se le pega dello.   Pues de noche en inuierno no ay tal escallentador de cama.   Que con dos jarrillos destos, que beua, quando me quiero acostar,   no siento frío en toda la noche.   desto aforro todos mis vestidos,   quando viene la nauidad; esto me callenta la sangre;  

For I can live no longer, than while I talk with one of these two.  Ever since that I was grown in years, I know no better office at board than to fall a-skinking, and to furnish the table with pots and flagons; for he that handles honey, shall feel it still clinging to his fingers.  Besides, in a cold winter's night, you cannot have a better worming- pan.  For, when I toss off two of these little pots, when I am e'en ready to go into my bed, why, I feel not a jot of cold all the night long.  With this, I fur all my clothes at Christmas: this warms my blood;  

  esto me sostiene continuo en vn ser;   esto me faze andar siempre alegre;   esto me para fresca;   desto vea yo sobrado en casa,   que nunca temeré el mal año.   Que vn cortezón de pan ratonado me basta para tres días. esto quita la   tristeza del coraçón, más que el oro ni el coral;   esto da esfuerço al moço y al viejo fuerça,   pone color al descolorido, coraje al couarde, al floxo diligencia,   conforta los celebros, saca el frío del estómago,   quita el hedor del anélito, haze potentes los fríos,   haze suffrir los afanes de las labranças,   a los cansados segadores haze sudar toda agua mala,   sana el romadizo y las muelas,  

This keeps me still in one estate; this makes me merry, where'er I go; this makes me look fresh, and ruddy, as a rose.  Let me still have store of this in my house, and a fig for a dear year, it shall never hurt me: for one crust of mouse-eaten bread will serve me three whole days; This drives away all care and sorrow from the heart, better than either gold or coral; this gives force to a young man, and vigour to an old man; it adds colour to the discoloured; courage to the coward; diligence to the slothful; it comforteth the brain; it expels cold from the stomach; it takes away the stinkingness of the breath; it makes  cold constitutions, to be potent and active: it  makes husbandmen endure the toil of tillage; it makes  your painful and weary mowers to sweat out all  their waterish ill humours; it remedies rheumes, and cures the toothache.  

  sostiénese sin heder en la mar, lo qual no haze el agua.   Más propriedades te diría dello, que todos teneys cabellos.   assí que no sé quién no se goze en mentarlo.   No tiene sino una tacha,   que lo bueno vale caro y lo malo haze daño.   assí que con lo que sana el hígado enferma la bolsa.   Pero todavía con mi fatiga busco lo mejor,   para esso poco que beuo.   vna sola dozena de vezes a cada comida.   No me harán passar de allí,   saluo si no soy combidada como agora.  

This may you keep long at sea without stinking; so can you not water:  I could tell you more properties of this wholesome liquor, than all of you have hairs on your head.  So that I know not the man, whom it doth not delight to hear it but mentioned, the very name of it is so pleasing: only, it has but this one fault; that that which is good, costs us dear; and that is which bad, does us hurt, so that what maketh the liver sound, the same maketh the purse light; But for all this, I will be sure to seek after the best; for that little which I drink, which is only some dozen times a meal.  Which number, I never pass, unless now, when I am feasted, or so.  

  PARM   20. . __ Madre, pues tres vezes dizen que es bueno y honesto todos los que escriuieron.  

PARM.  It is the common opinion of all: that thrice in a dinner, is good, honest, competent, and sufficient for any man.  And all that do write thereof, do allow you no more. 

  CEL   21. . __ Hijos, estará corrupta la letra, por treze tres.  

CELEST.  Son, the phrase is corrupted; they have put three times, instead of thirteen.  

    22. SEMP. __ Tía señora, a todos nos sabe bien.   ¡Comiendo y hablando¡Porque después no haurá tiempo para entender en los amores deste perdido   de nuestro amo   y de aquella graciosa y gentil Melibea.  

SEMPR.  Aunt, we all like well of your gloss.  Let us eat, and talk, and talk and eat:  for else we shall not afterwards have time to discourse of the love of our lost master, and of that fair, handsome, and courteous Melibea, lovely gentle Melibea.  

    23. ELIC. __ ¡Apártateme allá, dessabrido, enojoso¡   ¡Mal prouecho te haga lo que comes¡,  

ELICIA.  Get thee out of my sight, thou distasteful companion, thou disturber of my mirth; may the devil choke thee with that thou hast eaten.  

  tal comida me has dado.   Por mi alma, reuesar quiero quanto tengo en el cuerpo,   de asco de oyrte llamar aquella gentil.   ¡Mirad quién gentil¡¡Jesú, Jesú¡   ¡Y qué hastio y enojo es ver tu poca vergüença ? A quién, gentil?   ¡Mal me haga Dios, si ella lo es ni tiene parte dello;   sino que ay ojos, que de lagaña se agradan.   Santiguarme quiero de tu necedad y poco conocimiento.   ¡O quién estouiesse de gana para disputar contigo su hermosura y gentileza¡   ¿Gentil es Melibea?  

Thou hast given me my dinner for today; now as I live, I am ready to rid my stomach, and to cast up all that I have in my body, to hear that thou shouldst call her fair and courteous, lovely and gentle.  I pray thee how fair, how lovely, how courteous, how gentle is she?  It angers me to the heart-blood, to see you have so little shame with you.  How gentle, how fair is she more than other women? Believe me, if she be as thou reportest her; nay, if she gave any jot in her of beauty, or any the least gracefulness.  But I see there are some eyes, that make no differences betwixt Joan, and my lady, and that it is with everyone as he likes, as the good man said, when he kissed his cow.  Draff I perceive is good enough for swine.  I will cross myself in pity of thy great ignorance, and wont of judgment; who I pray, had any mind to dispute with you, touching her beauty, and her gentleness?  Gentle Melibea? Fair Melibea? 

Entonce lo es, entonce acertarán,   quando andan a pares los diez mandamientos, aquella hermosura por vna moneda se compra de la   tienda.  Por cierto, que conozco yo en la calle donde ella viue quatro donzellas,   en quien Dios mas repartió su gracia que no en Melibea.  

And is Melibea so gentle, is she so fair, as you make her out to be?  Then it must be so; and then shall both these hit right in her, when two Sundays come together.  All the beauty she hath, may be bought at every pedlar's, or painter's shop for a penny matter, or the like triffle: and believe me, I myself, upon mine own knowledge, know, that, in that very street where she dwells, there are four maidens at the least, if not more, to whom Nature hath imparted a greater part of beauty, and other good graces in greater abundance, than she hath on Melibea;  

  Que si algo tiene de hermosura, es por buenos atauíos, que trae.   Poneldos a vn palo, también direys que es gentil.   Por mi vida, que no lo digo por alabarme;   mas creo que soy tan hermosa como vuestra Melibea.  

and, if she have any jot of handsomeness in her, she may thank her good clothes, her neat dressings, and costly jewels, which if they were hung upon a post, thou wouldst as well say by that too, that it were fair and gentle;  and by my faye, be it spoken without ostentation, I think my penny to be as good silver as hers, and that I am ever way as fair as your Melibea.  

    24. AREU. __ Pues no la has tu visto como yo, hermana mia.   Dios me lo demande, si en ayunas la topasses,   si aquel día pudieses comer de asco.  

AREUSA.  O sister! Hadst thou seen her as I have seen her, I tell thee no lie, if though shouldst have met her fasting, thy stomach would have taken such a loathing, that all that day though woudlst not have been able to have eaten any meat.  

  Todo el año se está encerrada con mudas de mill suziedades.   Por vna vez que aya de salir donde pueda ser vista,   enuiste su cara con hiel y miel,   con vnas tostadas y higos passados y con otras cosas, que por reuerencia de la mesa dexo de   dezir.  las riquezas las hazen a estas hermosas y ser alabadas; que no las gracias de su cuerpo.  

 All the year long she is mewed up at home, where she is daubed over with a thousand sluttish slibber-slabbers; all which, forsooth, she must endure, for once perhaps going abroad in a twelvemonth to be seen:  she anoints her face with gall and honey, with parched grape and figs crushed and pressed together, with many other things which, for manner's sake, and reverence of the table, I omit to mention.  It is their riches, that make such creatures as she to be accounted fair; it is their wealth, that causeth them to be thus commended, and not the graces, and goodly features of their bodies:  

  Que assí goze de mí, vnas tetas tiene, para ser donzella, como si tres vezes houiesse parido:   no parecen sino dos grandes calabaças.   El vientre no se le he visto;   pero juzgando por lo otro, creo que le tiene tan floxo, como vieja de cincuenta años.   No sé qué se ha visto Calisto,   porque dexa de amar otras, que más ligeramente podría hauer   y con quién más él holgasse   sino que el gusto dañado muchas vezes juzga por dulce lo amargo.  

For, she has such breasts, being a maid, as if she had been the mother of three children; and are for all the world, like nothing more than two great pompeans, or big bottled gourds.  Her belly I have not seen, but judging it by the rest, I verily believe it, to be slack and as flaggy, as a woman of fifty year old.  I know not what Calisto should see in her, that for her sake, he should forsake the love of others, whom he may with great ease obtain, and far more pleasure enjoy:  unless it be, that like the palate that is distasted, he thinketh sour things the sweetest.  

    25. SEMP. __ Hermana, paréceme aquí que cada bohonero alaba sus agujas,   que el contrario desso se suena por la cibdad.  

SEMPR.  Sister, it seemeth here unto me, that every peddler praiseth his own needles;  but I assure you, the quite contrary is spoken of her throughout the whole city.  

    26. AREU. __ Ninguna cosa es más lexos de verdad que la vulgar opinión. Nunca alegre viuirás   si por voluntad de muchos te riges.   Porque éstas son conclusiones verdaderas,   que qualquier cosa que el vulgo piensa, es vanidad;   lo que fabla, falsedad; lo que reprueua es bondad; lo que aprueua, maldad.  

AREUSA.  There is nothing father from the truth, than the opinion of a vulgar, and nothing more false, than the reports of the multitude, nor shalt thou ever live a merry life, if thou govern thyself by the will of the common people:  and these conclusions, are uncontrollable, and infallibly true; that whatsoever thing the vulgar thinks, is vanity: whatsoever they speak, is falsehood: what they reprove, that is good: what they approve, that is bad.  

  y pues este es su más cierto vso y costumbre,   no juzgues la bondad y hermosura de Melibea por esso ser la que afirmas.  

And since this is a true rule, and common custom amongst them, do not judge of Melibea's either goodness or beauty, by that which they affirm.

    27. SEMP. __ Señora, el vulgo parlero no perdona las tachas de sus señores   y así yo creo que, si alguna touiesse Melibea,   ya sería descubierta de los que con ella más que con nosotros tratan.   y avnque lo que dizes concediesse, Calisto es cauallero, Melibea fijadalgo:  

SEMPR.  Gentlewomen; let me answer you in a word.  Your ill-tongued multitude, and prattling vulgar, never pardon the faults of great persons, no, not of their sovereign himself, which makes me to think, that if Melibea had so many defects, as you tax her withal, they would ere this have been discovered by those who know her better than we do.  And howbeit I should admit all you have spoken true, yet pardon me, if I press you with this particular.  Calisto is a noble gentleman; Melibea the daughter of honorable parents;  

  assí que los nacidos por linaje escogido búscanse vnos a otros.   Por ende no es de marauillar que ame antes a ésta que a otra.  

 So that, it is usual with those, that are descended of such high lineage, to seek and inquire each after other; and therefore it is no marvel, if he rather love her, than another.  

    28. AREU. __ Ruyn sea quien por ruyn se tiene. las obras hazen linaje, que al fin todos somos   hijos de Adán y Eua.   Procure de ser cada vno bueno por sí   y no vaya buscar en la nobleza de sus passados la virtud.  

AREUSA.  Let him be base, that holds himself base; they are the noble actions of men, that make men noble.  For in conclusion, we are all of one making, flesh and blood all.  Let every man strive to be good of himself, and not go searching for his virtue in the nobleness of his ancestors.  

    29. CEL. __ Hijos, por mi vida que cessen essas razones de enojo.   y tú, Elicia, que te tornes a la mesa y dexes essos enojos.  

CELEST.  My good children; as you love me, cease this contentious kind of talk: and you Elicia; I pray you come to the table again; sit you down, I say, and do not vex, and grieve yourself as you do.  

    30. ELIC. __ Con tal que mala pro me hiziesse,   con tal que rebentasse en comiéndolo.   ¿Hauía yo de comer con esse maluado,   que en mi cara me ha porfiado   que es más gentil su andrajo de Melibea, que yo?  

ELICIA.  With this condition, that my meat may be my poison, and that my belly may burst with that I eat.  Shall I sit down and eat with this wicked Villain, that hath stoutly maintained it to my face and no body must ay him nay, That Melibea: That dish-clout of his, is fairer than I?

    31. SEMP. __ Calla, mi vida, que tú la comparaste.   toda comparación es odiosa: tú tienes la culpa y no yo.  

SEMPR.  I prythee, sweet-heart, be quiet, it was you that made the comparison; and comparisons, you know, are odious: and therefore it is you that are in the fault, not I.

    32. AREU. __ Ven, hermana, a comer.   No hagas agora esse plazer a estos locos porfiados;   si no, leuantarme he yo de la mesa.  

AREUSA.  Come, sister, come, and sit with us; I pray, come eat with us.  Have you more wit, than to be angry with such a cross fool as he?  I would not do him so much pleasure, as to forbear my meat with him; let him go hang, if he be peevish, will you be peevish too?  I pray you sit down, unless you will have me likewise to rise from the table.

    33. ELIC. __ Necessidad de complazerte me haze contentar a esse enemigo mio y vsar de virtud con todos.  

ELICIA.  The necessity which I have imposed upon myself, to please thee in all things, and in all thy requests, makes me against my will, to give contentment to this enemy of mine; and to carry myself out of my respect to this good company more fairly towards him, than otherwise I would.

    34. SEMP. __ ¡He¡¡he¡¡he!   

SEMPR.  Ha, ha, he.

    35. ELIC. __ ¿De qué te ríes?   ¡De mal cancre sea comida essa boca desgraciada, enojosa!  

ELICIA.  What dost thou laugh at?  Now the evil canker eat and consume that unpleasing and offensive mouth of thine.  

    36. CEL. __ No le respondas, hijo;   si no, nunca acabaremos.   Entendamos en lo que faze a nuestro caso. Dezidme, ¿Como quedó Calisto?? Cómo   lo dexastes?   ¿Cómo os pudistes entramos descabullir dél?  

CELEST.  Son I pray thee no more.  Do not answer her; for then we shall never make an end:  this is nothing to the present purpose; let us follow our business, and attend that which may tend to our good.  Tell me, how does Calisto? How happed it you left him thus all alone? How fell it out, that both of you could slip away from him?

    37. PARM. __ Allá fue a la maldición, echando fuego, desesperado,   perdido, medio loco, a missa a la Magdalena,   a rogar a Dios que te dé gracia,   que puedas bien roer los huessos destos pollos   y protestando no boluer a casa   hasta oyr que eres venida con Melibea en tu arremango.   Tu saya y manto y avn mi sayo, cierto está;   lo otro vaya y venga.   El quándo lo dará no lo sé.  

PARM.  He flung from us with a vengeance, fretting and fuming like a madman, his eyes sparkling forth fire, his mouth venting forth curses, despairful, discontented in mind, and like one that is half besides himself:  and is now gone to Saint Mary Magdalen's, to desire of God, that thou mayest well and truly gnaw the bones of these chickens; vowing never to come home, till he hear that thou art come with Melibea in thy lap.  Thy gown and kirtle, and my cassock are cock-sure.  For the rest let the world slide; but when we shall have it, that I know not, all the craft is in the catching.  

    38. CEL. __ Sea quando fuere. buenas son mangas passada la pasqua.   Todo aquello alegra que con poco trabajo se gana,   mayormente viniendo de parte donde tan poca mella haze,   de hombre tan rico, que con los saluados de su casa podría yo salir de lazeria,   según lo mucho le sobra.   No les duele a los tales lo que gastan   y según la causa por que lo dan;   no sienten con el embeuecimiento del amor,   no les pena, no veen, no oyen.  

CELEST.  Let it come when it will come, it shall be welcome, whenever it comes.  A cassock is good wear after winter. And sleeves are good after Easter: everything makes the heart merry that is gotten with ease, and without any labour, especially coming from thence, where it leaves so small a gap, and from a man of that wealth and substance, who with the very bran and scraps of his house, would make me of a beggar to become rich:  such is the surplus and store of his goods; and such as he, it never grieves them what they spend, considering the cause wherefore they give: For they feel it not; when they are in the heat and passion of their love, it pains them not; they neither see, nor hear;  

  Lo qual yo juzgo por otros, que he conocido menos apassionados y metidos en este fuego de   amor, que a Calisto veo.   Que ni comen ni beuen, ni ríen ni lloran,   ni duermen ni velan, ni hablan ni callan,   ni penan ni descansan, ni están contentos   ni se quexan, según la perplexidad de aquella dulce y fiera llaga de sus coraçones.   y si alguna cosa destas la natural necessidad les fuerça a hazer   están en el acto tan oluidados,   que comiendo se oluida la mano de lleuar la vianda a la boca.  

 which I judge to be true by others, that I have known to be less passionate, and less scorched in the fiery flames of love, than Calisto is; insomuch, that I have seen them neither eat nor drink; neither laugh nor weep; neither sleep nor wake; neither speak nor hold their peace;  neither live in pain nor yet find ease; neither be contented, nor yet complain or discontentment, answerable to the perplexity of that sweet and cruel wound of their hearts.  And if natural necessity forceth them to any one of these, they are so wholly forgetful of themselves, and struck into such sudden senselessness of their present being and condition, that eating, their hands forget to carry their meat to their mouths.  

  Pues si con ellos hablan, jamás conueniente respuesta bueluen.   Allí tienen los cuerpos; con sus amigas los coraçones y sentidos.   mucha fuerça tiene el amor: no sólo la tierra, mas avn las mares traspassa, según su   poder.  ygual mando tiene en todo género de hombres.   todas las dificultades quiebra.   Ansiosa cosa es, temerosa y solicita.   todas las cosas mira en derredor.   assí que, si vosotros buenos enamorados haués sido,   juzgarés yo dezir verdad.  

 Besides, if you talk with them, they never answer you directly.  Their bodies are there with you, but where they love, there are their hearts and their senses.  Great is the force of love.  His power doth not only reach over the earth, but passeth also over the seas.  He holds an equal command over all mankind.  He breaks through all kind of difficulties, and dangers whatsoever.  It is a tormentful thing, full of fear, and of care.  His eye rolls every way; nothing can escape him. And if any of you that be here, were ever true lovers, and did love faithfully indeed, he will say I speak the truth.  

    39. SEMP. __ Señora, en todo concedo con tu razón,   que aquí está quien me causó algún tiempo andar fecho otro Calisto,   perdido el sentido, cansado el cuerpo, la cabeça vana,   los días mal dormiendo, las noches todas velando,   dando alboradas, haziendo momos, saltando paredes,   poniendo cada día la vida al tablero,   esperando toros, corriendo cauallos, tirando barra,   echando lança, cansando amigos, quebrando espadas,  

SEMPR.  Mother, you and I are both of a mind.  For here is she present who caused me once to become another Calisto, desperate, and senseless in my doings; weary in my body, idle in my brain, sleeping ill a days, and watching too well a-nights, up by break of day, playing the fool with thousands of gesticulations, and odd antics, leaping over walls, putting my life every day in hap-hazard and manifold dangers, standing in harm's way before bulls, running horses, throwing the bar, tossing the pike, tiring out my friends, cracking of blades,  

  haziendo escalas, vistiendo armas y otros mill actos de enamorado,   haziendo coplas, pintando motes, sacando inuenciones.   Pero todo lo doy por bienempleado, pues tal joya gané.  

making ladders of ropes, putting on armour, and a thousand other idle acts of a lover, making ballads, penning of sonnets, painting mottoes, making purposes, and other the like devices.  All which I hold well spent, and think myself happy in them, sithence they gained me so great and fair a jewel.  

    40. ELIC. __ ¡Mucho piensas que me tienes ganada¡   Pues hágote cierto que no has tú buelto la cabeça,   quando está en casa otro que más quiero, más gracioso que tú y avn que no anda buscando   cómo me dar enojo.   A cabo de vn año, que me vienes a uer, tarde y con mal.  

ELICIA.  You do well to persuade yourself so:  but howsoever you conceit you have gained me, I assure thee, thy back is no sooner turned, but another is presently with me, whom I love better than thee, and is a properer man than thou art, and one that will not go vexing and angering me, as thou dost.  It is a year ere your worship forsooth can find in your heart to come and see me; and then as good have your room, as your company, unless it were better.

    41. CEL. __ Hijo, déxala dezir, que deuanea.   mientra más desso la oyeres, más se confirma en su amor.   todo es porque haués aquí alabado a Melibea.   No sabe en otra cosa, que os lo pagar,   sino en dezir esso y creo que no vee la hora de hauer comido   para lo que yo me sé.  

CELEST.  Son, give her leave to ease her stomach, let her speak her mind; for the wench, I think, is mad.  And the more she talks thus lavishly and wildly; assure thyself, she is the more confirmed in thy love.  All this stir is, because you commended Melibea so highly; and she, poor soul, knows not how to be even with you, but to pay you home in this coarse kind of coin, and hard language.  And I believe, I shall not see her eat yet awhile, for a thing that I know;

  Pues esotra su prima yo me la conozco.   Gozá vuestras frescas mocedades,   que quien tiempo tiene y mejor le espera, tiempo viene que se arrepiente.   Como yo hago agora por algunas horas que dexé perder,   quando moça, quando me preciauan, quando me querían.   Que ya, ¡Mal pecado¡, caducado he,   nadie no me quiere.   ¡Que sabe Dios mi buen desseo¡   Besaos y abraçaos,   que a mí no me queda otra cosa sino gozarme de vello.   mientra a la mesa estays, de la cinta arriba todo se perdona.  

and this other her cousin here, I know her meaning well enough.  Go too, my masters, take the benefit of your youth, enjoy the flower of this your fresh and lively age.  For he that will not when he may, when he would he shall have nay. And repentance shall be the recompense of his tarriance, who hath time, and will not take it, as I myself do now repent me of those hours, which I sometimes lost, when I was young, when men did esteem of me, and when they loved me; for now, the worse luck is mine, I am a decayed creature, I wax old, withered, and full of wrinkles; nobody will now look after me, yet my mind is still the same; and want rather ability, than desire.  Fall to your flap, my masters, kiss and clip , as for me, I have nothing else to do, but to look on and please mine eye.  It is some comfort to me yet, to be a spectator of your sports. Never stand upon nice terms, for whilst you sit at board, it is lawful to do anything from the girdle upwards.  All play above board is fair and pardonable;

  quando seays aparte, no quiero poner tassa,   pues que el rey no la pone.   Que yo sé por las mochachas, que nunca de importunos os acusen   y la vieja Celestina mascará de dentera con sus botas enzías las migajas de los manteles.   Bendígaos Dios, ¡Cómo lo reys   y holgays, putillos, loquillos, trauiessos¡   ¡En esto auía de parar   el nublado de las questioncillas, que aués tenido¡   ¡Mirá no derribés la mesa!  

When you are alone by yourselves, close together at it in a corner, I will not clap a fine on your heads, because the king doth not impose any such taxation. And as for these young wenches, I know, they will never accuse you of ravishment.  And as for old Celestina, because her teeth will be on edge, she will mumble with her dull and empty gums the crumbs off the napkins.  

    42. ELIC. __ Madre, a la puerta llaman.   ¡El solaz es derramado!  

ELICIA.   Mother, somebody knocks at the door.  

    43. CEL. __ Mira, hija, quién es:   por ventura será quien lo acreciente y allegue.  

CELEST.  Daughter, look who it is.  

    44. ELIC. __ O la boz me engaña   o es mi prima Lucrecia.  

ELICIA.  Either the voice deceives me, or else it is my cousin Lucrecia.  

    45. CEL. __ Abrela y entre ella y buenos años.   Que avn a ella algo se le entiende desto que aquí hablamos;   avnque su mucho encerramiento le impide el gozo de su mocedad.  

CELEST.  Open the door and let her come in, for she also understands somewhat touching that point, whereof we discoursed last; though being shut up so close at home, as she is: she is mightily hindered in the fruition of her friculation, and cannot enjoy her youth with the like liberty as others do.  

     46. AREU. __ Assí goze de mí, que es verdad,   que éstas, que siruen a señoras, ni gozan deleyte   ni conocen los dulces premios de amor. Nunca tratan con parientes, con yguales a quien pueden   hablar tú por tú,   con quien digan: ¿  qué cenaste?  

AREUSA.  Now, I see it is most true, that these same chambermaids, these forsooth that wait upon ladies, enjoy not a jot of delight, nor are acquainted with the sweet rewards of love.  They never converse with their kindred, nor with their equals, with whom they may say, thou for thou; or, so hail fellow, well met, as to ask in familiar language; Wench, what hast thou to supper?  

  ¿Estás preñada?? quántas gallinas crías?   lléuame a merendar a tu casa;   muéstrame tu enamorado;   ¿  quánto ha que no te vido?   ¿  cómo te va con él?   ¿  quién son tus vezinas?   y otras cosas de ygualdad semejantes.  

Art thou with child yet?  How many hens dost thou keep at home?  Shall we go make our bever at thy house? Come, let us go laugh and be merry there. Sirrah, show me thy sweetheart, which is he? Oh wonderful!  How long is it since I saw thee last?  How is it with thee, wench?  How hast thou done this great while?  Tell me I pray thee, who are thy neighbors now?  And a thousand other the like unto these.  

  ¡  O tía, y qué duro nombre   y que graue y soberuio es señora contino en la boca¡   Por esto me viuo sobre mí, desde que me sé conocer.   Que jamás me precié de llamarme de otrie; sino mía.   Mayormente destas señoras que agora se vsan.   Gástase con ellas lo mejor del tiempo,   y con una saya rota de las que ellas desechan   pagan seruicio de diez años.   Denostadas, maltratadas las traen, contino sojuzgadas,   que hablar delante dellas no osan.  

O aunt!   How hard a name it is, how troublesome, and how proud a thing to carry the name of a lady up and down continually in one's mouth!   And this makes me to live of myself ever since I came to years of understanding and discretion.  For I could never endure to be called by any other name than mine own; especially by these ladies we have nowadays.  A wench may wait upon them, and spend in their service the better part of their time, and with an old cast gown, which hath scarce e'er a whole piece in it, they make payment of ten years service.  They will revile their maids, and call then all to naught; they will use them extreme hardly, and keep them in such awe, and continual slavery, that they dare as well be hanged, as to speak but one word before them.  

  y quando veen cerca el tiempo de la obligación de casallas,   leuántanles vn caramillo   que se echan con el moço o con el hijo   o pídenles celos del marido   o que meten hombres en casa   o que hurtó la taça o   perdió el anillo;   danles vn ciento de açotes   y échanlas la puerta fuera, las haldas en la cabeça,   diziendo: allá yrás, ladrona, puta, no destruyrás mi casa y honrra.  

And when they see the time draw on, that they be ready and ripe for marriage, and that they should both in reason and conscience do them some good that ways, they take occasion to wrangle, and fall out with them, and falsely to object unto them, that they have trod their show awry, either with some one of her ladyship's servants, or with her son, or put jealousies betwixt her and herhusband; or that they bring men privily into her house; or that they have stolen such a goblet, or lost such a ring:  for which they will not stick to strip them, and lam them soundly, bestowing perhaps 100 stripes upon them, and afterwards thrust them out of doors, with their hair about their ears and their fardles  at their backs, rating them in most vile manner, crying, Out of my doors, you thief, you whore, you strumpet:   this is now place for such paltry baggages.  Thou shalt not spoil my house, I will not be thus dishonoured by thee.  

4406} >  assí que esperan galardón, sacan baldón;   esperan salir casadas, salen amenguadas;   esperan vestidos y joyas de boda, salen desnudas y denostadas.   estos son sus premios, éstos son sus beneficios y pagos.  

So that instead of expected recompense, they receive nothing but bitter revilements.  Where they expect to go preferred out of the house, they go prejudiced out of the house.  And where they expect to be well married, they are quite marred in their reputation.  And where they expect jewels and wedding apparel, there are they sent out naked and disgraced.  These are their rewards, these their benefits, and these the payments they receive for their service.  

  Oblíganseles a dar marido, quítanles el vestido.   La mejor honrra que en sus casas tienen, es andar hechas callejeras,   de dueña en dueña, con sus mensajes a cuestas.  

They are bound to give them husbands, and in lieu thereof, they strip them out of their clothes.  The greatest grace and honour which they have in their lady's house, is to be employed in walking the streets from one lady's house, is to be employed in walking the streets from one lady to another, and to deliver their lady's message:  As, My lady hath sent to know how you do?  How you did rest tonight?  How your physique wrought with you; and how many occasions it have your ladyship, etc.?  

  Nunca oyen su nombre propio de la boca dellas; sino puta acá, puta acullá.   ¿A dó vas, tiñosa?? Qué heziste, vellaca?   ¿Por qué comiste esto, golosa?   ¿Cómo fregaste la sartén, puerca?   ¿Por qué no limpiaste el manto, suzia?   ¿Cómo dixiste esto, necia?? Quién perdió el plato, desaliñada?   ¿Cómo faltó el paño de manos, ladrona?   A tu rufián lo aurás dado.   ven acá, mala muger,   la gallina hauada no paresce: pues búscala presto;   si no, en la primera blanca de tu soldada la contaré.   y tras esto mill chapinazos y pellizcos, palos y açotes.  

They never hear their own name out of their lady's mouth. But the best they can call them by, is, Come hither, you whore, get you gone, you drab, or I'll set you going:  whither gad you now, you mangy harlotry; you pocky slut?  What have you done today, you loitering quean? Why did you eat this, you ravening thing, you gorbelly, you greedy cormorant?  Ah, you filthy sow, how clean this frying pan is kept?  This piss-pot, minion, it is well scoured, it is not? Why you lazy-bones, did you not brush my clothes when I left them off, and make clean my mantle?  Why said you thus and thus, you sot, you foolish ass?  Who lost the piece of plate, you scattergood, you draggle-tail?  What's become of my handkercherchief, you purloining thief?  You have given it to one of your copesmates, some sweetheart of yours, that must help to make you a whore: come hither, you foul flapse, say, where is my hen, my crammed hen, that I cannot find her?  You were best look her me out, and that quickly too, unless you mean I shall make you pay for her, when I come to pay your wages.  And besides all this, her pantofles shall walk about her ears a thousand times a day; pinchings, cudgellings, and scourgings shall be as common to her as her meat and drink. 

  No ay quien las sepa contentar, no quien pueda sofrillas.   Su plazer es dar bozes, su gloria es reñir.   De lo mejor fecho menos contentamiento muestran.   Por esto, madre, he quesido más viuir en mi pequeña casa, esenta y señora,   que no en sus ricos palacios sojuzgada y catiua.  

 There is not any that knows how to please and content them; not any that can endure their tartness and cursedness:  their delight is to speak loud; their glory to chide and to brawl, and the better one does, and the more one seeks to please them, the less are they contented.  And this, mother, is the reason, why I have rather desired to live free from controlment, and to be mistress in a poor little house of mine own, than to live a slave and at command in the richest palace of the proudest lady of them all.  

    47. CEL. __ En tu seso has estado,   bien sabes lo que hazes.   Que los sabios dizen: que vale más vna migaja de pan con paz,   que toda la casa llena de viandas con renzilla.   Mas agora cesse esta razón, que entra Lucrecia.  

CELEST.  Thou art in the right, my girl; I will take no care for you, you will shift for yourself; I perceive you know what you do, you need not to be told on which wide your bread is buttered, you are no baby, I see: and wise men tell us, that better is a crust of bread, and a cup of cold water with peace and quietness, than a house full of dainties, with brabbling and wrangling. But now let us leave this argument, for here comes Lucrecia. 

    48. LUCR. __ Buena pro os haga, tía y la compañía.   Dios bendiga tanta gente y tan honrrada.  

LUCRECIA.  Much good to you, good aunt, and to all this fair company and great meeting.  

    49. CEL. __ ¿Tánta, hija?? Por mucha has ésta?   Bien parece que no me conosciste en mi prosperidad,   oy ha veynte años.   ¡Ay, quién me vido y quién me vee agora,   no sé cómo no quiebra su coraçón de dolor¡   Yo vi, mi amor a esta mesa, donde   agora están tus primas assentadas,   nueue moças de tus días, que la mayor no passaua de deziocho años   y ninguna hauía menor de quatorze.  

CELEST.  So great, daughter?  Hold you this so great a meeting?  It appears that you have not known me in my prosperity, which is now some twenty years since.  There be those that have seen me in better case than I am now; and he that now sees me, I wonder his heart doth not burst with sorrow.  I tell thee, wench, I have seen at this table, where your kinswomen now sit, nine gallant young wenches, much about your age; for the eldest was not above eighteen, and not one of them under fourteen.   

  Mundo es, passe, ande su rueda,   rodee sus alcaduzes, vnos llenos, otros vazíos.   La ley es de fortuna que ninguna cosa en vn ser mucho tiempo permanesce:   su orden es mudanças.   No puedo dezir sin lágrimas la mucha honrra que entonces tenía;   avnque por mis pecados y mala dicha poco a poco ha venido en diminución.   Como declinauan mis días, assí se diminuya y menguaua mi prouecho.  

But such is this world, it comes and goes upon wheels.  We are like pots in a water wheel, or like buckets in a well: one up, and another down, one full, and another empty; it is fortune's law, that nothing can continue any long time in one, and the selfsame state of being.  Her order is alteration; her custom, change.  I cannot without tears deliver unto you the great honour I then lived in; though now (such is my ill fortune) by little and little, it hath gone decaying: and as my days declined; so diminished and decreased my profit.  

  Prouerbio es antiguo, que quanto al mundo es o crece o descrece.   todo tiene sus límites,   todo tiene sus grados.   Mi honrra llegó a la cumbre, según quien yo era:   de necessidad es que desmengües  y abaxe.   Cerca ando de mi fin.   En esto veo que me queda poca vida.   Pero bien sé que sobí para decender,  

It is an old sayin; that whatsoever is in this world, it doth either increase or decrease. Everything hath its limits; everything its degrees of more or less:  my honour did mount to that height, as was fitting a woman of my quality to rise unto; and now of force, it must descend and fall as much:  By this I know, that I am near to my end, and that the lease of my life is now expiring, and all my years are almost spent and gone; and I also well know, that I did ascend, that I might descend;  

  florescí para secarme, gozé para entristecerme,   nascí para biuir, biuí para crecer,   crecí para enuejecer, enuejecí para morirme.   y pues esto antes de agora me consta,   sofriré con menos pena mi mal; avnque del todo no pueda despedir   el sentimiento,   como sea de carne sentible formada.  

that I flourished, for to wither; that I had joy, that I might have sorrow; that I was born to live; liv'd, to grow; grew, to grow old; and grow old to die:  and though it did always appear unto me, that I ought in this respect to suffer my misery the more patiently, yet as I am formed of flesh and blood, and bear this heavy mass of sin about me, I cannot but think on't now and then with grief, nor can I wholly, as I would, blot every thought thereof out of the woeful roll of my wretched remembrance.  

    50. LUCR. __ Trabajo tenías, madre, con tantas moças,   que es ganado muy trabajoso de guardar.  

LUCRECIA.  Methinks, mother, it could not choose but be wondrous troublesome unto you, to have the charge of so many young wenches.  For they are very dangerous cattle to keep, and will ask a great deal of pains.

    51. CEL. __ ¿Trabajo, mi amor? Antes descanso y aliuio.   todas me obedescían, todas me honrrauan,   de todas era acatada, ninguna salía de mi querer,   lo que yo dezía era lo bueno,   a cada qual daua su cobro.   No escogían más de lo que yo les mandaua:   coxo o tuerto o manco,   aquél hauían por sano, que más dinero me daua.  

CELEST.  Pains, sweetheart?  Nay, they were an ease and pleasure unto me; they did all of them obey me:  not one of them that would swerve from my will; what I said, stood for law; it was good and current amongst them;  not any one of them; to whom I gave entertainment, ever made their own choice any further than it stood with my liking; were he lame, crooked, squint-eyed, or crippled: all was one, he was the welcomest and the soundest, that brought me the soudnest gains;  

  Mío era el prouecho, suyo el afán.   Pues seruidores, ¿No tenía por su causa dellas?   Caualleros viejos y moços,   abades de todas dignidades, desde obispos hasta sacristanes.   En entrando por la yglesia, vía derrocar bonetes en mi honor,   como si yo fuera vna duquesa.   El que menos auía que negociar comigo,   por más ruyn se tenía.   De media legua que me viessen, dexauan las horas.   vno a vno, dos a dos, venían a donde yo estaua   a uer si mandaua algo, a preguntarme cada vno por la suya.   Que hombre havía, que estando diziendo missa,   en viéndome entrar, se turbaua,   que no fazía ni dezía cosa a derechas.  

mine was the profit, and theirs the pains.  Besides, I needed no servants; for in keeping them, I had servants enough.  Why, your noblemen, your knights, your old men, your young men, your learned men, men of all sorts and dignities, from the highest to the lowest; why, they were all at my service: and when I came to a feast, my foot was no sooner in, but I had presently as many bonnets vailed unto me as if I had been a duchess:  he that had least acquaintance, least business with me, was held the most vile, and basest fellow.  They spying on me almost a league off; they would forsake their most earnest occasions, one by one, two by two, and come to me, to see if I would command them any service; and withal ask me severally, how his love how his mistress did? When they saw me once pass by, you should have such a shuffling and scraping of feet, and all in such a general gaze, and so out of order, that they did neither do nor say anything aright.  

  vnos me llamauan señora, otros tía,   otros enamorada, otros vieja honrrada. Allí se concertauan sus   venidas a mi casa,   allí las ydas a la suya,   allí se me ofrecían dineros,   allí promesas, allí otras dádiuas,   besando el cabo de mi manto y avn algunos en la cara,   por me tener más contenta.   agora hame traydo la fortuna a tal estado,   que me digas: buena pro hagan las çapatas.  

One would call me mistress, another aunt, other their love, others honest old woman.  There they would consent, when they should come to my house; there they would agree when I should go unto theirs; there they would offer me money; there they would make me large promises; there likewise present me with gifts:  some kissing the lappet of my coat, and some other my cheek, that by these kindness they might give me contentment, and work me to their will.  But now fortune hath brought me to so low a place in her wheel, that you may say unto me, Mich you good dich you with your old ware, your hinges are now grown rusty for want of oiling.  

    52. SEMP. __ Espantados nos tienes con tales cosas   como nos cuentas de essa religiosa gente y benditas coronas.   ¡Sí, que no serían todos!  

SEMPR.  Mother, you make my hair stand on end, to hear these strange things which you recount unto us; would your nobles, your knights, and learned men fall so low? I am sure, they are now all of them so bad as you make them to be.

    53. CEL. __ No, hijo, ni Dios lo mande que yo tal cosa leuante.   Que muchos viejos deuotos hauía con quien yo poco medraua   y avn que no me podían ver;   pero creo que de embidia de los otros que me hablauan.   Como la clerezía era grande, hauía de todos:   vnos muy castos, otros que tenían cargo de mantener a las de mi oficio.  

CELEST.  No, my son, Jove forbid that I should raise any such report, or lay a general scandal upon any of their rank.  For there were many old good men amongst them, with whom I had but small dealings, and could scarce endure to see me, but amongst the greatest, as they grew great in number, so had I a great number of them: some of one sort, and some of another; some I found very chaste, and some that took the charge upon them to maintain such traders as myself.  

  y avn todavía creo que no faltan.   y embiauan sus escuderos y moços a que me acompañassen,   y apenas era llegada a mi casa quando entrauan por mi puerta   muchos pollos y gallinas, ansarones, anadones, perdizes, tórtolas,   perniles de tocino, tortas de trigo, lechones.   Cada qual, como lo recebía de aquellos diezmos de Dios,   assí lo venían luego a registrar,   para que comiese yo y aquellas sus deuotas. ¿Pues, vino?? No   me sobraua?   De lo mejor que se beuía en la ciudad,   venido de diuersas partes, de Monuiedro,   de Luque, de Toro, de Madrigal,   de Sant Martin y de otros muchos lugares,  

And I am still of this belief, that of these there is no lack; and these forsooth would send their squires and young men to wait upon me, whithersoever I went; and I should scarce have set my foot within mine own doors, but straight at the heels of me, you should have one come in with chickens, another with hens, a third with geese, a fourth with ducks.  This man sends me in partridges, that man turtle-doves, he a gammon of bacon, such a one a tart, or a custard, and some good fellow or other a good sucking pig, or two: for every one, as soon as he had a convenient present, so they came presently to register them in my house, that I and those their pretty sounds might merrily eat them together.  And as for wine we wanted none; the best that a man could lay his lips to in the whole city, was sent unto me from divers parts and corners of the town, as that of Monviedro, of Luque, of Toro, of Madrigal, or San Martin, and many other towns and villages;  

  y tantos que, avnque tengo la diferencia de los gustos y sabor en la boca,   no tengo la diuersidad de sus tierras en la memoria.   Que harto es que vna vieja como yo,   en oliendo qualquiera vino, diga de dónde es.   Pues otros curas sin renta, no era ofrecido el bodigo,   quando, en besando el filigrés la estola,   era del primer boleo en mi casa.   Espessos, como piedras a tablado,   entrauan mochachos cargados de prouisiones por mi puerta.   No sé cómo puedo viuir, cayendo de tal estado.  

and indeed so many, that albeit I still keep the differences of their taste and relish in my mouth, yet do I not retain the diversity of their soils in my remembrance.  For it is enough for such an old woman as I, that when a good cup of wine comes near my nose, I can be able to say, This is such a wine, or it comes from such a place, or person; why, your presents from all parts, from all sorts, came upon me as thick as hops, as flies to a pot of honey, or as stones that are thrown upon a stage:  boys came tumbling in at my door, with as much provision as they could carry on their backs. But now those good days are past, I have eaten all my white bread in my youth, and know not how in the world to live, being fallen from so happy an estate.  

    54. AREU. __ Por Dios, pues somos venidas a hauer plazer,   no llores, madre, ni te fatigues:   que Dios lo remediará todo.  

AREUSA.  Since we are come hither to be merry, good mother, do not weep, I pray, do not vex yourself: be of good cheer, pluck up your heart like a woman; the world, while we are in it, is bound to keep us all, and no doubt but you shall have enough.  

    55. CEL. __ Harto tengo, hija, que llorar,   acordándome de tan alegre tiempo y tal vida, como yo tenía,   y quán seruida era de todo el mundo.   Que jamás houo fruta nueua, de que yo primero no gozasse,   que otros supiessen si era nascida.   En mi casa se hauía de hallar,   si para alguna preñada se buscasse.  

CELEST.  Oh daughter!   I have cause enough, I think, to weep, when I call to mind those pleasant days that are past and gone, that merry life which then I led, and how I had the world at will, being served, honoured and sought to of all.  Why, then there was not any new fruit or any thing like dainty, which I had not in my hands, before others knew they were scarce blossomed: in those days, they were sure to be found in my house, if any one with child should long for such a toy.  

    56. SEMP. __ Madre, ningun prouecho trae la memoria del buen tiempo,   si cobrar no se puede; antes tristeza.   Como a ti agora, que nos has sacado el plazer de entre las manos.   Alcese la mesa. Yrnos hemos a holgar   y tú darás respuesta a essa donzella, que aquí es venida.  

SEMPR.  Mother, the remembrance of the good time we have had, doth profit us nothing, when it cannot be recovered again, but rather brings grief and sorrow to ourselves, as this interrupting discourse hath done: but mother, we will go off and solace ourselves, whilst you stay here: and give this maid her answer. 

    57. CEL. __ Hija Lucrecia, dexadas estas razones, querría que me dixiesses   a qué fue agora tu buena venida.  

CELEST.  Daughter Lucrecia, passing over our former discourse, I pray you tell me what is the cause of your happy coming hither?  

    58. LUCR. __ Por cierto, ya se me hauía oluidado mi principal demanda y mensaje   con la memoria de esse tan alegre tiempo como has contado   y assí me estuuiera vn año sin comer,   escuchándote y pensando en aquella vida buena, que aquellas moças gozarían,   que me parece y semeja que estó yo agora en ella.  

LUCRECIA.  Believe me, I had almost forgot my chief errand unto you, with thinking on that merry time which you talked of.  Methinks, I could continue fasting almost a whole year in hearkening unto thee, and thinking on that pleasant life which those young wenches led; methinks that with the very talking thereof, I have a conceit with myself that at this present I feel myself in the same happiness with them.  

  Mi venida, señora, es lo que tú sabrás:   pedirte el ceñidero y, demás desto,   te ruega mi señora sea de ti visitada y muy presto,   porque se siente muy fatigada de desmayos y de dolor del coraçón.  

I shall now, mistress, give you to understand the cause of my coming:  I am sent unto you for my lady's girdle; and moreover, my lady entreats you that you would come and visit her, and that out of hand, for she feels herself very ill, and much pained and and troubled with griefs and pangs about the heart;  I assure you she is very heart-sick.  

    59. CEL. __ Hija, destos dolorcillos tales, más es el ruydo que las nuezes.   Marauillada estoy sentirse del coraçón muger tan moça.  

CELEST.  Of these petty griefs, the report is more than the pain.   Is't about the heart, say you? I marvel (I promise you) that so young a gentlewoman as she is, should be pained at the heart.  

    60. LUCR. __ ¡Assí te arrastren, traydora¡   ¿Tú no sabes qué es?   haze la vieja falsa sus hechizos y vasse;   después házese de nueuas.  

LUCRECIA.  Would thou wert as well dragged along the streets, thou old traitorous hag, as thou know'st well enough what she ails. The subtle old bawd comes and does her witcheries and her tricks, and then goes her ways, an afterwards, when one comes unto her for help, she makes forsooth as if she knew no such matter; it is news, forsooth, to her.  

    61. CEL. __ ¿Qué dizes, hija?  

CELEST.  What sayest thou daughter?  

    62. LUCR. __ Madre, que vamos presto y me des el cordón.  

LUCRECIA.  Marry, I say, mother, would we were gone [at} > once; and that you would give me the girdle.  

    63. CEL. __ Vamos, que yo le lleuo.  

CELEST.  Come, let us go.  I will carry it along with me.