1. ELIC. __ ¿Qué bozear es este de mi prima?   Si ha sabido las tristes nueuas que yo le traygo,   no auré yo las albricias de dolor que por tal mensaje se ganan.   Llore, llore, vierta lágrimas,   pues no se hallan tales hombres a cada rincón.   Plázeme que assí lo siente.  

ELICIA.  What ails my cousin, that she cries and takes on as she does?  It may be she hath already heard of that ill news, which I came to bring her: if she have, I shall have no reward of her for my heavy tidings.  So, weep, weep on, weep they belly-full; let thine eyes break their banks, and overflow thy bosom with an eternal deluge; for two such men were not everywhere to be had; it is some ease yet unto me, that she so resents the matter, and hath so true a feeling of their deaths.  

  Messe aquellos cabellos como yo triste he fecho,   sepa que es perder buena vida más trabajo que la misma muerte.   ¡ O quánto más la quiero que hasta aquí por el gran sentimiento que muestra!  

Do, tear and rend thy hair, as I (poor soul) have done before thee:  and think, and consider with thyself that to fall from a happy life is more miserable than death itself.  O how I hug her in my heart!   How much more than ever heretofore, do I now love her; that she can express her passion in such lively colours, and, paint forth sorrow to its perfect and true life!  

   2. AREUSA. __ Vete de mi casa, rufián, vellaco, mentiroso, burlador,   que me traes engañada, boua, con tus offertas vanas.   Con tus ronces y halagos hasme robado quanto tengo.   Yo te di, vellaco, sayo y capa, espada y broquel,   camisas de dos en dos a las mill marauillas labradas,  

AREUSA.  Get thee out of my house,  thou ruffianly rascal; thou lying companion; thou cheating scoundrel!   Thou hast deluded me, thou villain; thou hast played bob-fool with me, by thy vain and idle offers; and with thy fair words and flattering speeches (a pox on that smooth tongue of thine!) thou hast robbed me of all that I have!  

  yo te di armas y cauallo,   púsete con señor que no le merescías descalçar;   agora vna cosa que te pido que por mí fagas   pónesme mill achaques.  

I gave thee (you rogue) a jerkin and a cloak, a sword and a buckler, and a couple of shirts, wrought with a thousand devices, all of needlework; I furnished thee with arms and a horse, and placed thee with such a master, as thou wast not worthy to wipe his shoes.  And now that I entreat thee to do a business for me, thou makest a thousand frivolous excuses. 

   3. CENTURIO. __ Hermana mia, mándame tú matar con diez hombres por tu servicio   y no que ande vna legua de camino a pie. 

CENTURIO.  Command me to kill ten men to do you service, rather than to put me to walk a league on foot for you.  

   4. AREU. __ Porqué jugaste tú el cauallo, tahur vellaco?   Que si por mí no ouiesse sido, estarías tú ya ahorcado.   Tres vezes te he librado de la justicia,   quatro vezes desempeñado en los tableros.    ¿ Porqué lo hago?   ¿ Porqué soy loca?   ¿ Porqué tengo fe con este couarde?   ¿ Porqué creo sus mentiras?   ¿ Porqué le consiento entrar por mis puertas?  

AREUSA.  Why then did you play away your horse?   You must be a dicer with a murrain; had it not been for me, thou hadst been hanged long since.  Thrice have I freed thee from the gallows; four times have I disimpawned thee, first from this, and then from that ordinary, when as thou might'st have rotted in prison, had not I redeemed thee and paid thy debts.  O that I should have anything to do with such a villain!    That I should be such a fool!   That I should have any affiance in such a false-hearted, white-livered slave! That I should believe him and his lies!   That I should once suffer him to come within my doors!  

  ¿ Qué tiene bueno?   Los cabellos crespos, la cara acuchillada,   dos vezes açotado, manco de la mano del espada,   treynta mugeres en la putería.   Salte luego de ay.   No te vea yo más,   no me hables ni digas que me conoces;  

What a devil is there good in him?  His hair is curled and shagged like a water spaniel; his face scotched and notched; he hath been twice whipped up and down the town; he is lame on his sword-arm, and hath some thirty whores in the common stews.  Get thee out of my house, and that presently too; look me no more in the face; speak not to me, no not a word; neither say thou, that thou didst ever know me;  

  si no, por los huesos del padre que me hizo   y de la madre que me parió, yo te haga dar mill palos   en essas espaldas de molinero.   Que ya sabes que tengo quien lo sepa hazer y, hecho, salirse con ello.  

lest, by the bones of my father who begot me, and of  my mother who brought me forth, I cause 2,000. Bastinadoes to be laid upon that miller's back of thine!   For, I would thou shouldst know, I have a friend in a corner, that will not stick to do a greater matter than that for me, and come off handsomely with it, when he has done.   

   5. CENT. __ Loquear, bouilla¡Pues si yo me ensaño, alguna llorará.   Mas quiero yrme y çofrirte,   que no sé quien entra, no nos oyan.  

CENTURIO.  The fool is mad, I think.  But do you hear, dame?  If I be nettled, I shall sting somebody; if my choler be moved, I shall draw tears from some; I shall make somebody put finger in the eye; I shall, i'faith.  But for once, I will go my ways and say nothing; I will suffer all this at your hands, lest somebody may come in, or the neighbours chance to hear us. 

   6. ELIC. __ Quiero entrar, que no es son de buen llanto   donde ay amenazas y denuestos.  

ELICIA.  I will in, for that is no true sound of sorrow, which sends forth threatenings and revilings.  .  

   7. AREU. __ Ay triste yo¡?  eres tú, mi Elicia   ? !   Jesú, Jesú¡No lo puedo creer.   ¿ Qué es esto?  ¿ Quién te me cubrió de dolor?   ¿ Qué manto de tristeza es éste?   Cata, que me espantas, hermana mia. dime presto qué cosa es, que estoy sin tiento,   ninguna gota de sangre has dexado en mi cuerpo.  

AREUSA.  O wretch that I am!   is't you, my  Elicia? I can hardly believe it.  But what means this? Who hath clothed thee thus in sorrow?  What mourning weed is this?  Believe me (cousin) you much affright me. Tell me quickly what's the matter?  For I long to know it.  Oh! what a qualm comes over my stomach!   Thou hast not left me one drop of blood in my body.  

   8. ELIC. __ Gran dolor, gran pérdida¡   Poco es lo que muestro con lo que siento y encubro;   más negro traygo el coraçón que el manto, las entrañas que las tocas.   Ay hermana, hermana, que no puedo fablar¡   No puedo de ronca sacar la boz del pecho.  

ELICIA.  Great sorrow, great loss; that which I show, is but little to that which I feel and conceal.   My heart is blacker than my mantle; my bowels, than my veil.  Ah, cousin, cousin!   I am not able to speak through hoarseness; I cannot for sobbing, send my words from out my breast.  

   9. AREU. __ Ay triste¡?  Qué me tienes suspensa?   dímelo, no te messes, no te rascuñes ni maltrates.   ¿ es común de entrambos este mal? ?  Tócame a mí?  

AREUSA.  Ay, miserable me!   why dost thou hold me  in suspense?  Tell me, tell me, I say, do not you tear your hair, do not you scratch and martyr you face, deal not so ill with yourself.  Is this evil common to us both?  Appertains it also unto me?  

   10. ELIC. __ Ay prima mia y mi amor¡   Sempronio y Pármeno ya no biuen,   ya no son en el mundo.   sus ánimas ya están purgando su yerro.   Ya son libres desta triste vida.  

ELICIA.  Ay, my cousin! my dear love!   Sempronio and Parmeno are now no more;  they live not; they  are no longer of this world,  dead, alas they are dead. 

   11. AREU. __ Qué me cuentas? No me lo digas.   calla por Dios, que me caeré muerta.  

AREUSA.  What dost thou tell me?  no more I  entreat thee; for pity hold thy peace, lest I fall down dead at thy feet.  

   12. ELIC. __ Pues más mal ay que suena.   Oye a la triste, que te contará más quexas.   Celestina, aquélla que tú bien conosciste,   aquélla que yo tenía por madre,   aquélla que me regalaua,  

ELICIA.  There is yet more ill news to come unto thine ears.  Listen well to this woeful wight, and she shall tell thee a longer tale of woe; thy sorrow have not yet their end:  Celestina, she whom thou  knewst well; she whom I esteemed as my mother; she who  did cocker me as her child; she who did cover all  my infirmities;  

  aquélla que me encubría,   aquélla con quien yo me honrraua entre mis yguales,   aquélla por quien yo era conoscida en toda la ciudad y arrabales,   ya está dando cuenta de sus obras.   mill cuchilladas le vi dar a mis ojos:   en mi regaço me la mataron.  

she who made me to be honoured  amongst my equals; she by whose means I was know through  all the city and suburbs of the same, stands now  rendering up an account of all her works.  I saw her with these eyes stabbed in a thousand places.  They slew her in my lap, I folding her in mine arms.  

   13. AREU. __ O fuerte tribulación¡!   O dolorosas nueuas, dignas de mortal lloro¡   ¡ O acelerados desastres¡!   O pérdida incurable¡   ¿ Cómo ha rodeado atan presto la fortuna su rueda?   ¿ Quién los mató?? Cómo murieron?   Que estoy enuelesada, sin tiento, como quien cosa impossible oye.   No ha ocho días que los vide biuos   y ya podemos dezir: perdónelos Dios.   Cuéntame, amiga mia, cómo es acaescido tan cruel y desastrado caso. 

AREUSA.  O strong tribulation!   O heavy news worthy our bewailing!   O swift-footed misfortunes!    O incurable destruction!   O irreparable loss!   O how quickly hath fortune turned about her wheel!   Who slew them?  How did they die?  Thou hast made me almost besides myself with this thy news, and to stand amazed as one, who hears a thing that seems to be impossible.  It is not eight days ago since I saw them all alive.  Tell me (good friend) how did this cruel and unlucky chance happen?  

   14. ELIC. __ Tú lo sabrás. Ya oyste dezir, hermana,   los amores de Calisto y la loca de Melibea.   Bien verías cómo Celestina auía tomado el cargo, por intercessión de Sempronio,   de ser medianera, pagándole su trabajo.   La qual puso tanta diligencia y solicitud,   que a la segunda açadonada sacó agua.  

ELICIA.  You shall know.  I am sure (cousin) you have already heard tell of the love betwixt Calisto and that fool Melibea.  And you likewise saw how Celestina, at the intercession of Sempronio, so as she might be paid for her pains, undertook the charge of that business, and to be the means to effect it for him; wherein she used such diligence, and was so careful in the following of it, that she drew water at the second spitting.  

  Pues, como Calisto tan presto vido buen concierto   en cosa que jamás lo esperaua,   a bueltas de otras cosas dio a la desdichada de mi tía vna cadena de oro.   y como sea de tal calidad aquel metal,   que mientra más beuemos dello más sed nos pone,   con sacrílega hambre, quando se vido tan rica,   alçóse con su ganancia   y no quiso dar parte a Sempronio ni a Pármeno dello,   lo qual auía quedado entre ellos que partiessen lo que Calisto diesse.  

Now when Calisto saw so good and so quick a dispatch, which he never hoped to have effected, amongst divers other things, he gave this my unfortunate aunt a chain of gold.  And as it is the nature of that metal, that the more we drink thereof, the more we thirst; she, when she saw herself so rich, appropriated the whole gain to herself, and would not let Sempronio and Parmeno have their parts, it being before agreed upon between them, that whatsoever Calisto gave her they should share it alike.  

  Pues, como ellos viniessen cansados vna mañana   de acompañar a su amo toda la noche, muy ayrados de   no sé qué questiones   que dizen que auían auido,   pidieron su parte a Celestina de la cadena para remediarse.  

Now, they being come home weary one morning from accompanying their master, with whom they had been abroad all night, being in great choler  and  heat upon I know not what quarrels  and brawls  (as they themselves said) that had betided them, they  demanded part of the chain of Celestina, for to  relieve themselves therewith.  

  Ella púsose en negarles la conuención y promesa   y dezir que todo era suyo lo ganado,   y avn descubriendo otras cosillas de secretos,   que, como dizen: riñen las comadres, etc.   assí que ellos muy enojados, por vna parte   los aquexaua la necessidad, que priua todo amor;   por otra, el enojo grande y cansancio que trayan, que acarrea alteración;   por otra, auían la fe quebrada de su mayor esperança.  

She stood upon denial of any such covenant or promise made between them, affirming the whole gain to be due to her, and discovering with all other petty matters of some secrecy.  For (as it is in the proverb) when gossips brawl, then out goes all.  So that they being mightily enraged, on the one side necessity did urge them, which rends and breaks all the love in the world; on the other side the great anger and weariness they brought thither with them, which many times works an alteration in us.  And besides, they saw that they were forsaken in their fairest hopes, she breaking her faith and promise with them:

  No sabían qué hazer.   Estuuieron gran rato en palabras.   Al fin, viéndola tan cobdiciosa, perseuerando en su negar,   echaron mano a sus espadas y diéronle mill cuchilladas.  

 so that they knew not  in the world what to do; and  so continued a great while  upon terms with her,  some hard words passing to and fro  between them.   But in the end perceiving her covetous disposition,  and finding that she still persevered in her denial,  they laid hands upon their swords, and hacked  and  hewed her in a thousand pieces.

   15. AREU. __ O desdichada muger¡?  Y en esto auía su vejez de fenescer¡   ¿ y dellos, qué me dizes?  ¿ En qué pararon?  

AREUSA.  O unfortunate woman!   Wast thou ordained to end thy days in so miserable a manner as this? But for them, I pray, what became of them?  How came they to their end?  

   16. ELIC. __ Ellos, como ouieron hecho delicto, por huyr de la justicia,   que acaso passaua por allí,   saltaron de las ventanas   y quasi muertos los prendieron y sin más dilación los degollaron.  

ELICIA.  They, as soon as ever they had committed this foul murder, that they might avoid the Justice, the Alcalde passing by by chance at that very instant, made me no more ado, but leapt presently out at the windows; and being in a manner dead with the fall, they presently apprehended them, and without any further delay, chopped off their heads. 

   17. AREU. __ O mi Pármeno y mi amor¡   ¡ Y quánto dolor me pone su muerte¡   Pésame del grande amor que con el tan poco tiempo auía puesto,   pues no me auía más de durar.  

AREUSA.  O my Parmeno, my love, what sorrow do I feel for thy sake?  How much doth thy death torment me!   It grieves me, for that my great love, which in so short a space I had settled upon him, sithence it was not my fortune to enjoy him longer.  

  Pero pues ya este mal recabdo es hecho,   pues ya esta desdicha es acaescida,   pues ya no se pueden por lágrimas comprar ni restaurar sus vidas,   no te fatigues tú tanto, que cegarás llorando.   Que creo que poca ventaja me lleuas en sentimiento   y verás con quánta paciencia lo çuffro y passo. 

But being that this ill success hath ensued, being that this mischance hath happened, and being that their lives now lost, cannot be bought, or restored by tears, do not thou vex thyself so much in grieving and weeping  out thine eyes:  I  grieve as much, and believe  thou hast but little advantage of me in thy sorrowing;  and yet thou seest with what patience I bear it and  pass it over.  

   18. ELIC. __ Ay que rauio¡!   Ay mezquina, que salgo de seso¡   ¡ Ay, que no hallo quién lo sienta como yo¡   No hay quien pierda lo que yo pierdo.  

ELICIA.  O!   I grow mad.  O wretch that I am, I am ready to run out of my wits!   Ay me, there is not anybody's grief, that is like to mine; there is not anybody, that hath lost that which I have lost!  

   ¡ O quánto mejores y más honestas fueran mis lágrimas en passión ajena, que en la propia mía¡    ¿ A dónde yré, que pierdo madre, manto y abrigo;   pierdo amigo y tal que nunca faltaua de mi marido?   ¡ O Celestina sabia, honrrada y autorizada,   quántas faltas me encobrías con tu buen saber¡  

O how much better and more honest had my tears been in another person's passion than mine own!   Whither shall I go?  For I have lost both money, meat, drink? and clothes; I have lost my friend, and such a one, that had he been my husband, he could not have been  more kind unto me.  O thou wise Celestina, thou much honoured matron, and of great authority; how often didst thou cover my faults by the singular wisdom!  

  Tú trabajauas, yo holgaua; tú salías fuera, yo estaua encerrada;   tú rota, yo vestida; tú entrauas contino como abeja por casa, yo destruya,   que otra cosa no sabía hazer.   ¡ O bien y gozo mundano, que mientra eres posseydo eres menospreciado   y jamás te consientes conocer hasta que te perdemos¡  

Thou tookest pains, whilst I took pleasure; thou wentest abroad, whilst I stayed at home; thou wentest in tatters  and rags, whilst I did ruffle in silks  and satins; thou still camest home like a bee,  continually laden, whilst I did nothing but spend  and play the unthrift:  for I knew not else what  to do.  O thou worldly happiness, and joy, which whilst thou art possessed, art the less esteemed!   Nor dost thou ever let us know what thou art, till we know what that thou art not; finding our loss, greater by wanting, than in enjoying thee;  never knowing what  we have, til we have thee not.  

  ¡ O Calisto y Melibea, causadores de tantas muertes¡   ¡ Mal fin ayan vuestros amores,   en mal sabor se conuiertan vuestros dulces plazeres¡   Tórnese lloro vuestra gloria, trabajo vuestro descanso.   las yeruas deleytosas, donde tomays los hurtados solazes, se conuiertan en culebras,   los cantares se os tornen lloro,   los sombrosos árboles del huerto se sequen con vuestra vista,   sus flores olorosas se tornen de negra color.  

O Calisto and Melibea, occasioners of so many deaths! Let some ill attend upon your love; let your sweet meat have some sour sauce; you pleasure, pain; let your joy be turned into mourning, the pleasant flowers whereon you took your stolen solace, let them be turned into serpents and snakes; your songs, let them be turned into howlings; the shady trees of the garden, let them be blasted and withered with your looking on them; your sweet scenting blossoms and buds, let them be black and dismal to behold!  

   19. AREU. __ Calla, por Dios, hermana, pon silencio a tus quexas,   ataja tus lágrimas, limpia tus ojos, torna sobre tu vida.   Que quando vna puerta se cierra, otra suele abrir la fortuna,   y este mal, avnque duro, se soldará.   y muchas cosas se pueden vengar que es impossible remediar y   ésta tiene el remedio dudoso y la vengança en la mano. 

AREUSA.  Good cousin, content yourself, I pray, be quiet; enjoin silence to your complaints; stop the conduit-pipes to your tears; wipe your eyes; take heart gain unto you.  For when fortune shuts one gate, she usually sets open another; and this estate of yours, though it be never so much broken, it will be soldered  and made whole again:  and many  things may be revenged, which are impossible to be remedied; whereas this hath a doubtful remedy, and a  ready revenge.  

   20. ELIC. __ De quién se ha de auer enmienda,   que la muerta y los matadores me han acarreado esta cuyta?   No menos me fatiga la punición de los delinquentes que el yerro cometido.  

ELICIA.  But by whom shall we mend ourselves?   Of whom shall we be revenged, when as her death, and those that slew her have brought all this affliction and anguish upon me?  Nor doth the punishment of the delinquent less grieve me than the error they committed.  

  ¿ Qué mandas que haga, que todo carga sobre mí?   Pluguiera a Dios que fuera yo con ellos   y no quedara para llorar a todos.   Y de lo que más dolor siento   es ver que por esso no dexa aquel vil de poco sentimiento   de ver y visitar festejando cada noche a su estiércol de Melibea,   y ella muy ufana en ver sangre vertida por su seruicio. 

What would you have me to do, when as all the burden lies upon my shoulders?  I would with all my heart that I were now with them, that I might not lie here, to lament and bewail them all as I do.   And that which grieves me most, is, to see that for all this, that villain Calisto, who hath no sense, nor feeling of his servants' deaths, goes every night to see and visit his filth Melibea, feasting and solacing himself  in her company, whilst she  grows proud, glorying to see so much blood to be  sacrificed to her service. 

   21. AREU. __ Si esso es verdad, ¿ de quién mejor se puede tomar vengança?   De manera que quien lo comió, aquél lo escote.   Déxame tú, que si yo les caygo en el rastro,   quándo se veen y cómo, por dónde y a qué hora,   no me ayas tú por hija de la pastellera vieja, que bien conosciste,   si no hago que les amarguen los amores.   y si pongo en ello a aquél con quien me viste   que reqía quando entrauas,  

AREUSA.  If this be true, of whom can we revenge ourselves better?  And therefore, he that hath eaten the meat, let him pay the shot; leave the matter to me,  let me alone to deal with them: for, if I  can but track them, or but once find the scent of  their footing, or but have the least inkling in the world, when, how, where, and at what hour they visit one another, never hold me true daughter to that old  pasty-wench whom you knew full well, if I do not give them sour sauce to their sweet meat; and make that their love distasteful,  which now they swallow down with delight:  and if  I employ in this business that ruffian, whom you found  me railing against, when you came into the house,  

  si no sea él peor verdugo para Calisto que Sempronio de Celestina.   Pues, ¡ qué gozo auría agora él en que le pusiesse yo en algo por mi seruicio, que se fue muy triste de verme   que le traté mal¡   y vería él los cielos abiertos en tornalle yo a hablar y mandar.   Por ende, hermana, dime tú de quién pueda yo saber el negocio cómo passa,   que yo le haré armar vn lazo   con que Melibea llore quanto agora goza.  

if  he prove not a worse executioner for Calisto, than Sempronio was for Celestina,  never trust me more.   O! how quickly the villain would fat himself with  joy, and how happy would he hold himself, if I would  but impose any service upon him!   For he went away  from me very sad and heavy, to see how coarsely I used  him:  and should I but now send for him again, and  speak kindly unto him, he would think himself taken up  in some strange sweet rapture;  so much will he be  ravished with joy.  And therefore tell me (cousin) how I may learn how this business goes, for I will set  such a trap for them, as if they be taken in it, shall  make Melibea weep as much as now she laugheth.  

   22. ELIC. __ Yo conozco, amiga, otro compañero de Pármeno, moço de cauallos,   que se llama Sosia, que le acompaña cada noche.   quiero trabajar de se lo sacar todo el secreto   y este será buen camino para lo que dizes.  

ELICIA.  Marry, I know (sweet cousin) another companion of Parmeno's,  Calisto's groom of the stable, whose name is Sosia, who accompanies him every night  that he goes:  I will see what I can suck from him; and this (I suppose) will be a very good course for the matter you talk of.  

   23. AREU. __ Más hazme este plazer, que me embíes acá esse Sosia.   Yo le halagaré y diré mill lisonjas y offrescimientos   hasta que no le dexe en el cuerpo de lo hecho y por hazer.   Después a él y a su amo haré reuessar el plazer comido.  

AREUSA.  But hear you me, cousin, I pray do me the kindness, to send Sosia hither unto me, I will take him in hand a little, I will entertain talk with him; and one while I will so flatter him, another while make him such fair offers, that in the end, I will dive into him and reach the very depth of his heart, and learn from him, as well what hath been already, as what is to be done hereafter:  at least learn so much as we desire to know, or may serve our turn:  and when I shall have effected this, I will  make him and his master to vomit up all the pleasure  they have eaten.  

  y tú, Elicia, alma mia, no recibas pena.   Passa a mi casa tu ropa y alhajas y vente a mi compaqía,   que estarás muy sola y la tristeza es amiga de la soledad.   Con nueuo amor oluidarás los viejos.   vn hijo que nasce restaura la falta de tres finados:   con nueuo sucessor se pierde la alegre memoria y plazeres perdidos del passado.   De vn pan que yo tenga, ternás tú la meytad. Más   lástima tengo de tu fatiga que de los que te la ponen.  

And thou (Elicia) that art as dear to me as mine own soul, do not you vex yourself any more, but bring your apparel and such implements as you have, and come and live with me; for there where you are, you shall remain all alone: and sadness (you know) is a friend to solitariness.  What wench!    A new love will make thee forget the old: one son that is born, will repair the love of three that be dead.  With a new successor, we receive anew the joyful memory, and lost delights of forepast times.  If I have a loaf of bread, or a penny in my purse, thou shalt have half of it.  And I have more compassion of thy sorrow, than of those that did cause it.  

  Verdad sea, que cierto duele más   la pérdida de lo que hombre tiene   que da plazer la esperança de otro tal, avnque sea cierta.   Pero ya lo hecho es sin remedio y los muertos irrecuperables.   y como dizen: mueran y biuamos.   A los biuos me dexa a cargo,   que yo te les daré tan amargo xarope a beuer,   qual ellos a ti han dado.  

 True it is, that the loss of that doth grieve a man more, which he already possesseth, than the hope of the like good can glad him, be it never so certain.  You see, the matter is past all remedy, and dead men cannot be recalled; you know the old saying:  fie upon this weeping, let them die, and we live.  As for the rest that remain behind, leave that to me; I will take order for Calisto and Melibea; and I shall give them as bitter a potion to drink, as they have given thee.  

   ¡ Ay prima, prima, cómo sé yo, quando me ensaño,   reboluer estas tramas, avnque soy moça¡   y de al me vengue Dios,   que de Calisto Centurio me vengará.  

 O cousin, cousin, how witty am I when I am angry, to turn all these their plots upside down!   And though I am but young, and a  girl to speak of, to break the neck of these their devices, I shall overthrow them horse and foot. 

   24. ELIC. __ Cata que creo que, avnque llame el que mandas,   no aurá effecto lo que quieres,   porque la pena de los que murieron por descobrir el secreto   porná silencio al biuo para guardarle.  

ELICIA.  Bethink yourself well, what you mean to do.  For I promise you, though I should  do as  you would have me, and should send Sosia unto you,  yet can I not be persuaded that your desire will take  effect.  For the punishment of those who lately suffered for disclosing their secrets, will make him seal up his lips, and look a little better to his life.  

  Lo que me dizes de mi venida a tu casa te agradesco mucho.   y Dios te ampare y alegre en tus necessidades,   que bien muestras el parentesco y hermandad no seruir de viento,   antes en las aduersidades aprouechar.   Pero, avnque lo quiera hazer, por gozar de tu dulce compaqía,   no podrá ser por el daño que me vernía.  

Now for my coming to your house, and to dwell with you, as the offer is very kind, so I yield you the best kind of thanks I can render you, and  Jove bless you for it and help you in your necessity;  for therein dost thou well show that kindred and  alliance serve not for shadows, but ought rather to be  profitable  and helpful in adversity:  and  therefore, though I should be willing to do as you  would have me in regard of that desire, which I have  to enjoy your sweet company; yet can it not  conveniently be done in regard of that loss which would light upon me;  for I know it cannot but be greatly to my hindrance.  

  La causa no es necessario dezir,   pues hablo con quien me entiende. Que allí, hermana, soy conoscida, allí   estoy aparrochada.   Jamás perderá aquella casa el nombre de Celestina, que Dios aya.   Siempre acuden allí moças conoscidas y allegadas,   medio parientas de las que ella crió.   Allí hazen sus conciertos, de donde se me seguirá algún prouecho.   y también essos pocos amigos que me quedan, no me saben otra morada.   Pues ya sabes quán duro es dexar lo vsado   y que mudar costumbre es a par de muerte  

The reason thereof I need not to tell you, because I speak to one that is intelligent, and understand my meaning; for there, cousin, where I am, I am well known; there am I well customed; that house will never lose the name of Old Celestina; thither continually resort your young wenches bordering thereabouts, loving creatures, willing worms, and such as are best know abroad, being of half blood to those, whom Celestina bred up;  there they drive all their bargains, and there they make their matches, and do many other things besides (as you know well enough) whereby now and then I reap  some profit.  Besides, those few friends that I have, know not elsewhere to seek after me.  Moreover, you are not ignorant, how hard a matter it is to forego that which we have been used unto, and to alter custom, is alter custom is as distasteful as death: 

  y piedra mouediza que nunca moho la cobija.   Allí quiero estar, siquiera porque el alquile de la casa,   que está pagado por ogaño,   no se vaya en balde.   assí que, avnque cada cosa no abastasse por sí, juntas aprouechan y ayudan.   Ya me paresce que es hora de yrme.   De lo dicho me lleuo el cargo.   Dios quede contigo, que me voy.  

a rolling  stone never gathers moss, and therefore I will abide  where I am:  and if for no other reason, yet will I stay there, because my house-rent is free, having a  full year yet to come, and will not let it be lost, by lying idle and empty; so that though every  particular reason may not take place, yet when I weigh  them altogether, I hope I shall rest excused, and you  contented.  It is now high time for me to be gone; what we talked of, I will take that charge upon me; and so farewell.