1. PLEB. __ Alisa, amiga, el tiempo, según me parece, se nos va, como dizen, entre los manos. Corren los días como agua de río.  

PLEBERIO. My wife and friend Alisa, time (methinks) slips (as they say) from between our hands; and our days do glide away like water down a river.  There is not anything that flies so swift, as the life of man: death still follows us, and hedges us in on every side, whereunto we ourselves now draw nigh.  

No hay cosa tan ligera para huyr como la vida. La muerte nos sigue y rodea, de la qual somos vezinos y hazia su vandera nos acostamos, según natura. esto vemos muy claro, si miramos nuestros yguales, nuestros hermanos y parientes en derredor. todos los come ya la tierra, todos están en sus perpetuas moradas.  

 We are now (according to the course of nature) to be shortly under his banner; this we may plainly perceive, if we will but behold our equals, our brethren and our kinsfolk round about us; the grave hath devoured them all; they are all brought to their last home.  

 y pues somos inciertos quándo auemos de ser llamados, viendo tan ciertas señales, deuemos echar nuestras baruas en remojo y aparejar nuestros fardeles para andar este forçoso camino; no nos tome improuisos ni de salto aquella cruel boz de la muerte.  

And sinthence we are uncertain when we shall be called hence, seeing such certain and infallible signs of our short abode, it behoveth us (as it is in the proverb) to lay our beard a-soaking, when we see our neighbours shaving off, and to fear lest that which befell them yesterday, may befall us tomorrow. Let us therefore prepare ourselves, and pack up our fardles, for to go this enforced journey which cannot be avoided. Let not that cruel and doleful sounding trumpet of death, summon us away on the sudden and unprovided.  

Ordenemos nuestras ánimas con tiempo, que más vale preuenir que ser preuenidos. Demos nuestra hazienda a dulce sucessor, acompañemos nuestra vnica hija con marido, qual nuestro estado requiere, porque vamos descansados y sin dolor deste mundo.  

Let us prepare ourselves, and set things in order whilst we have time, for it is better to prevent than to be prevented: let us confer our substance on our sweet successor; let us couple our only daughter to a husband, such a one as may suit with our estate, that we may go quietly and contentedly out of this world.  

Lo qual con mucha diligencia deuemos poner desde agora por obra, y lo que otras vezes auemos principiado en este caso, agora aya execución. No quede por nuestra negligencia nuestra hija en manos de tutores,  

The which with much diligence and carefulness, we ought from henceforth to endeavour and put in execution:  and what we have at other times commenced in this matter, we ought now to consummate it. I would not by our negligence have our daughter in guardians' hands; I like not she should be a ward: she is now fit for marriage,

pues parescerá ya mejor en su propia casa que en la nuestra. Quitarla hemos de lenguas de vulgo, porque ninguna virtut ay tan perfecta que no tenga vituperadores y maldizientes. No ay cosa con que mejor se conserue la limpia fama en las vírgines, que con temprano casamiento.  

and therefore much better for her to be in a house of her own, than in ours; by which means we shall free her from the tongues of the vulgar; for there is no virtue so absolute and so perfect, which hath not her detracting and foul-mouthed slanderers; neither is there anything, whereby a virgin's good name is kept more pure and unspotted, than by a mature and timely marriage.  

¿Quién rehuyría nuestro parentesco en toda la ciudad?  ¿Quién no se hallará gozoso de tomar tal joya en su compaqía? ¿En quién caben las quatro principales cosas que en los casamientos se demandan, conuiene a saber: lo primero, discrición, honestidad y virginidad; segundo, hermosura; lo tercero, el alto origen y parientes; lo final, riqueza? De todo esto la dotó natura. qualquiera cosa que nos pidan hallarán bien complida.

Who in all this city will refuse our alliance? Who will not be glad to enjoy such a jewel, in whom those four principal things concur, which are demanded and desired in marriage? The first, discretion, honesty and virginity.  The second, beauty. The third, noble birth and parentage. The last, riches. With all these nature hath endowed her. Whatsoever they shall require of us, they shall find it to be full and perfect.  

  2. ALI. __ Dios la conserue, mi señor Pleberio, porque nuestros desseos veamos complidos en nuestra vida. Que antes pienso que faltará ygual a nuestra hija,  

ALISA. My lord Pleberio, heaven bless her, and send her so to do, that we may see our desires accomplished in our lifetime. And I am rather of opinion that we shall want one that is equal with our daughter,

según tu virtut y tu noble sangre, que no sobrarán muchos que la merezcan. Pero como esto sea officio de los padres y muy ageno a las mugeres, como tú lo ordenares, seré yo alegre, y nuestra hija obedecerá, según su casto biuir y honesta vida y humildad.

considering her virtue and nobleness of blood, than that there are over-many that are worthy to wear her; but because this office more properly appertaineth to the father than the mother, as you shall dispose of her, so shall I rest contented, and she remain obedient, as shall best beseem her chaste carriage, her honest life, and meek disposition.  

  3. LUCR. __ Avn si bien lo supiesses, rebentarías  ¡¡Ya¡¡ya¡¡Perdido es lo mejor¡ ¡Mal año se os apareja a la vejez¡  

LUCRECIA. But if you knew as much as I do, your hearts would burst in sunder. I, I, you mistake your mark, she is not the woman you wot of; the best is lost; an ill year is like to attend upon your old age.

Lo mejor, Calisto lo lleua. No hay quien ponga virgos, que ya es muerta Celestina. Tarde acordays y más auíades de madrugar. ¡escucha¡¡escucha¡Señora Melibea.  

Calisto hath plucked that flower wherein you so much glory. There is not any that can now new film her, or repair her lost virginity, for Celestina is dead, the only curer of a cracked maidenhead, you have awaked somewhat of the latest; you should have risen a little earlier. Hark, hark; good mistress Melibea, hark, I say.

  4. MELIB. __ Que hazes ay escondida, loca?

MELIBEA. What does the fool there sneaking in the corner?

  5. LUCR. __ Llégate aquí, señora, oyrás a tus padres la priessa que traen por te casar.

LUCRECIA. Come hither, madame, and you shall hear now how forward your father and mother are to provide you a husband, you shall be married out of hand, out of hand, madame.

  6. MELIB. __ Calla, por Dios, que te oyrán. Déxalos parlar, déxalos deuaneen. vn mes ha que otra cosa no hazen ni en otra cosa entienden. No parece sino que les dize el coraçón el gran amor que a Calisto tengo y todo lo que con él vn mes ha he passado.  

MELIBEA. For all loves' sake speak softly; they will hear you by and by; Let them talk on, they begin to dote; for this month they have had no other talk; their mind hath run on nothing else; it may be their heart tells them of the great love which I bear to Calisto, as also of that which for this month's space hath passed between us.  

No sé si me han sentido, no sé qué se sea aquexarles más agora este cuydado que nunca. Pues mándoles yo trabajar en vano. Por demás es la cítola en el molino. ¿Quién es el que me ha de quitar mi gloria? ¿Quién apartarme mis plazeres?  

I know not whether they have had any inkling of our meeting? Or whether they have overheard us? Nor can I devise in the world, what should be the reason why they should be so hot upon the matter, and more eager for the marrying of me now, than ever heretofore: but they shall miss of their purpose; they shall labour it in vain: for to what use serves the clapper in the mill, if the miller be deaf? Who is he that can remove me from my glory? Who can withdraw me from my pleasure?

Calisto es mi ánima, mi vida, mi señor, en quien yo tengo toda mi esperança. conozco dél que no biuo engañada. Pues él me ama, ¿con qué otra cosa le puedo pagar?  

Calisto is my soul, my life, my lord; on whom I have set up my rest, and in whom I have placed all my hopes; I know that in him I cannot be deceived. And since that he loves me, with what other thing but love can I requite him?

todas las debdas del mundo resciben compensación en diuerso género; el amor no admite sino solo amor por paga. En pensar en él me alegro, en verlo me gozo, en oyrlo me glorifico. haga y ordene de mí a su voluntad.  

All the debts in the world receive their payment in diverse kind; but love admits no other payment, but love. I glad myself in thinking on him; I delight myself in seeing him, and rejoice myself in hearing him. Let him do with me what he will, and dispose of me at his pleasure;

Si passar quisiere la mar, con él yré; si rodear el mundo, lléueme consigo; si venderme en tierra de enemigos, no rehuyré su querer. Déxenme mis padres gozar dél, si ellos quieren gozar de mí. No piensen en estas vanidades ni en estos casamientos: que más vale ser buena amiga que mala casada.  

if he will go to sea, I will go with him; if he will round the world, I will along him; if he will sell me for a slave in the enemy's country, I will not resist his desire. Let my parents let me enjoy him, if they mean to enjoy me; let them not settle their thoughts upon these vanities, nor think no more upon those their marriages. For, it is better to be well beloved, than ill married; and a good friend is better than a bad husband.  

Déxenme gozar mi mocedad alegre, si quieren gozar su vejez cansada; si no, presto podrán aparejar mi perdición y su sepultura. No tengo otra lástima sino por el tiempo que perdí de no gozarlo, de no conoscerlo, después que a mí me sé conoscer.  

Let them suffer me to enjoy the pleasure of my youth, if they mind to enjoy any quietness in their age; if not, they will but prepare destruction for me, and for themselves a sepulcher. I grieve for nothing more, than for the time that I have lost in not enjoying him any sooner, and that he did not know me, as soon as he was known unto me.  

No quiero marido, no quiero ensuziar los ñudos del matrimonio, ni las maritales pisadas de ageno hombre repisar, como muchas hallo en los antiguos libros que ley o que hizieron más discretas que yo, más subidas en estado y linaje.  

I will no husband; I will not sully the knots of matrimony, nor tread against the matrimonial steps of another man; nor walk in the way of wedlock with a stranger, as I find many have done, in those ancient books which I have read, which were far more discreet and wiser than myself; and more noble in their estate and lineage;  

las quales algunas eran de la gentilidad tenidas por diosas, assí como Venus, madre de Eneas y de Cupido, el dios del amor, que siendo casada corrompió la prometida fe marital.  

whereof some were held among the heathens for goddesses, as was Venus, the mother of Aeneas and of Cupid, the god of love, who being married broke her plighted troth of wedlock,  

y avn otras, de mayores fuegos encendidas, cometieron nefarios y incestuosos yerros, como Mirra con su padre, Semíramis con su hijo, Canasce con su hermano y avn aquella forçada Thamar, hija del rey Dauid. otras avn más cruelmente traspossaron las leyes de natura, como Pasiphé, muger del rey Minos, con el toro.  

as likewise divers others, who were inflamed with a greater fire, and did commit most nefarious and incestuous errors, as Myrrha with her father, Semiramis with her son; Canace with her brother; others also in a more cruel and beastly fashion did transgress the law of nature, as Pasiphae, the wife of king Minos, with a bull:  

Pues reynas eran y grandes señoras, debaxo de cuyas culpas la razonable mía podrá passar sin denuesto.  

and these were queens and great ladies, under whose faults (considering the foulness of them) mine may pass as reasonable without note of shame or dishonesty.

Mi amor fue con justa causa. Requerida y rogada, catiuada de su merescimiento, aquexada por tan astuta maestra como Celestina, seruida de muy peligrosas visitaciones, antes que concediesse por entero en su amor.  

My love was grounded upon a good and just cause, and a far more lawful ground. I was wooed and sued unto, and captivated by Calisto's good deserts; being thereunto solicited by that subtle and cunning mistress in her art, dame Celestina, who adventured herself in many a dangerous visit, before that ever I would yield myself true prisoner to his love.  

Y después vn mes ha, como has visto, que jamás noche ha faltado sin ser nuestro huerto escalado como fortaleza y muchas auer venido en balde y por esso no me mostrar más pena ni trabajo.  

 And now for this month and more (as you yourself have seen) he hath not failed, no, not so much as one night, but hath still scaled our garden walls, as if he had come to the scaling of a fort; and many times hath been repulsed, and assaulted it in vain, being driven to withdraw his siege. And yet for all this, he continued more constant and resolute still, and never would give over, as one that thought his labour to be well bestowed.  

Muertos por mí sus seruidores, perdiéndose su hazienda, fingiendo absencia con todos los de la ciudad, todos los días encerrado en casa con esperança de verme a la noche.  

 For my sake his servants have been slain; for my sake he hath wasted and consumed his substance; for my sake he hath feigned absence with all his friends in the city; and all day long he hath had the patience to remain close prisoner in his own house, and only upon hope (wherein he counted himself happy) to see me in the night.  

¡Afuera, afuera la ingratitud, afuera las lisonjas y el engaño con tan verdadero amador, que ni quiero marido ni quiero padre ni parientes¡ Faltándome Calisto, me falte la vida, la qual, porque él de mí goze, me aplaze.  

Far, far therefore from me be all ingratitude; far be all flattery and dissimulation towards so true and faithful a lover; for I regard (in my regard to him) neither husband, father, nor kindred; for in losing my Calisto, I lose my life, which life of mine doth therefore please me, because I pleaseth him; which I desire no longer to enjoy than he shall joy in it.

  7. LUCR. __ Calla, señora, escucha, que todavía perseueran.  

LUCRECIA. Peace, madame, hark, hark, they continue in their discourse.  

  8. PLEB. __ Pues, ¿qué te parece, señora muger?  ¿Deuemos hablarlo a nuestra hija, deuemos darle parte de tantos como me la piden, para que de su voluntad venga, para que diga quál le agrada?  

PLEBERIO.  Since (wife) methinks you seem to like well of this motion, it is not amiss that we make it know to our daughter; we may do well to tell her how many do desire her, and what store of suitors would be willing to come unto her, to the end that she may the more willingly entertain our desire, and make choice of him whom she liketh best.  

Pues en esto las leyes dan libertad a los hombres y mugeres, avnque estén so el paterno poder, para elegir.  

 For in this particular the laws allow both men and women, though they be under paternal power, for to make their own choice.

  9. ALI. __ Qué dizes?? En qué gastas tiempo  ?? Quién ha de yrle con tan grande nouedad a nuestra Melibea, que no la espante?  

ALISA. What do you mean, husband? Why do you talk and spend time in this? Who shall be the messenger to acquaint our daughter Melibea with this strange news, and shall not affright her therewith?  

¡Cómo¡? y piensas que sabe ella qué cosa sean hombres?  ¿Si se casan o qué es casar? ¿O que del ayuntamiento de marido y muger se procreen los hijos? ¿piensas que su virginidad simple le acarrea torpe desseo de lo que no conosce ni ha entendido jamás? ¿piensas que sabe errar avn con el pensamiento?  

Alas, do you think that she can tell what a man means, or what it is to marry or be married? Or whether by the conjunction of man and woman children are begot or no? Do you think, that her simple and unspotted virginity, can suggest unto her any filthy desire, of that which as yet she neither knows nor understandeth, nor cannot so much as conceive what it means? It is the least part of her thought.

No lo creas, señor Pleberio, que si alto o baxo de sangre o feo o gentil de gesto le mandáremos tomar, aquello será su plazer, aquello aurá por bueno. Que yo se bien lo que tengo criado en mi guardada hija.  

Believe it, my lord Pleberio, she doth not so much as dream on any such matter; and assure yourself, be he what he will be, either noble or base, fair or foul, we will make her to take whom it pleaseth us; whom we like, him shall she like; she shall confirm her will to ours, and shall think that fit, which we think fit, and no further; for I know, I trow, how I have bred and brought up my daughter.  

  10. MELIB. __ Lucrecia, Lucrecia, corre presto, entra por el postigo en la sala y estóruales su hablar, interrúmpeles sus alabanças con algún fingido mensaje, si no quieres que vaya yo dando bozes como loca, según estoy enojada del concepto engañoso que tienen de mi ignorancia.

MELIBEA.  Lucrecia, Lucrecia, run, hie thee quickly, and go in by the back-door in the hall, and break off their discourse with some feigned errand or other, unless thou wouldst have me cry out, and take on like Bedlam; so much am I out of patience with their misconceit of my ignorance.  

  11. LUCR. __ Ya voy, señora.  

LUCRECIA. I go, madame.