Acto XVII

Sumario: ELICIA, caresciendo de la castimonia de Penelope, determina de despedir el pesar y luto que por causa de los muertos trae, alabando el consejo de AREUSA en este proposito; la qual va a casa de AREUSA, adonde viene SOSIA, al qual AREUSA con palabras fictas saca todo el secreto que esta entre CALISTO y MELIBEA.

Act XVII

Argument: Elicia, lacking Penelope's chastity, decides to end the sorrow and mourning that she had because of those who had died. She takes the advice of Areusa and goes to her house just as Sosia gets there. With her feigned words, Areusa gets all of his secrets out about Calisto and Melibea.

ELIC. __ Mal me va con este luto. Poco se visita mi casa, poco se passea mi calle. Ya no veo las músicas de la aluorada, ya no las canciones de mis amigos, ya no las cuchilladas ni ruydos de noche por mi causa y, lo que peor siento, que ni blanca ni presente veo entrar por mi puerta. De todo esto me tengo yo la culpa, que si tomara el consejo de aquella que bien me quiere, de aquella verdadera hermana, quando el otro día le lleué las nueuas deste triste negocio, que esta mi mengua ha acarreado, no me viera agora entre dos paredes sola, que de asco ya no ay quien me vea.

Eli.__This mourning is detrimental to my business. Hardly anybody visits the house and few pass by this street. I no longer here music in the morning or the serenades; I no longer hear the sounds of knives or night noises that are mad because of me, and the worst part is that I do not even see a penny come through my door. This is all my fault, for if I had heeded the advice of  the one who loves me, that true sister, when the other day I brought her the news of this sad business, which my loss has caused, I would have not seen myself alone between two walls, arousing disgust in anyone who looks at me.

El diablo me da tener dolor por quien no sé si, yo muerta, lo tuuiera. Osadas, que me dixo ella a mí lo cierto: nunca, hermana, traygas ni muestres más pena por el mal ni muerte de otro que él hiziera por ti. Sempronio holgara, yo muerta; pues ¿por qué, loca, me peno yo por él degollado? ¿Y qué sé si me matara a mí, como era acelerado y loco, como hizo a aquella vieja que tenía yo por madre? Quiero en todo seguir su consejo de Areusa, que sabe más del mundo que yo y verla muchas vezes y traer materia cómo biua.

The devil is making me suffer for one who I don't even know would do the same for me if I was dead. For sure, what she told me was the truth: never, sister, have nor show more sorrow for the error or death of others than what they would do for you. Sempronio would be having fun if I were dead; so why, you, madwoman, are you mourning for the beheaded? And how do I know that he would not have killed me as well, being wild and crazy, like he killed to that woman whom I considered my mother? I want to follow Areusa's advice, for she knows more about the world than me so I should go see her more often and see how I can benefit my life.

¡O qué participación tan suaue, qué conuersación tan gozosa y dulce¡ No en balde se dize: que vale más vn día del hombre discreto que toda la vida del nescio y simple. Quiero, pues, deponer el luto, dexar tristeza, despedir las lágrimas, que tan aparejadas han estado a salir. Pero como sea el primer officio que en nasciendo hazemos, llorar, no me marauilla ser más ligero de començar y de dexar más duro. Mas para esto es el buen seso, viendo la pérdida al ojo, viendo que los atauíos hazen la muger hermosa, avnque no lo sea, tornan de vieja moça y a la moça más.

Oh what a pleasurable interaction, what a sweet and delightful conversation! It is not in vain when they say: one day with a wise man is worth more than a lifetime with a simpleton and fool. Now, I want to get rid of my mourning, leave sadness and say goodbye to my tears, which have been  so quick to come out. But since it is the first thing you do since the day you are born, it does not surprise me that it is so easy to begin and so hard to stop. The best remedy for this is a good mind; seeing my loss with my eyes and seeing how nice clothes makes a woman beautiful, though she may not be, for they make the old woman young and the young woman younger.

No es otra cosa la color y aluayalde, sino pegajosa liga en que se trauan los hombres. Ande, pues, mi espejo y alcohol, que tengo dañados estos ojos; anden mis tocas blancas, mis gorgueras labradas, mis ropas de plazer. Quiero adereçar lexía para estos cabellos, que perdían ya la ruuia color y, esto hecho, contaré mis gallinas, haré mi cama, porque la limpieza alegra el coraçón, barreré mi puerta y regaré la calle, porque los que passaren vean que es ya desterrado el dolor.

Rouge and whitening is nothing else but a kind of birdlime in which men get stuck. Come one my mirror and ointments; for my eyes are damaged. Come on my white veil, my embroidered collar and my fancy clothes. I want to get some lye for my hair, since it has lost its blonde color and when this is done I will count my chickens and make my bed, because cleanliness makes the heart glad; I will sweep my doorstep and clean the street so that those who pass by can see that the pain has left me.

Mas primero quiero yr a visitar mi prima, por preguntarle si ha ydo allá Sosia y lo que con él ha passado, que no lo he visto después que le dixe cómo le quería hablar Areusa. Quiera Dios que la halle sola, que jamás está desacompañada de galanes, como buena tauerna de borrachos.

But first I want to go and visit my cousin, and ask her if Sosia has come by there and what has happened with him, for I have not seen Sosia since the day I told him Areusa wanted to speak to him. I hope that God may let me see her alone, for she is never unaccompanied by young men, just like a good tavern is full of drunks.

ELIC. __ Cerrada está la puerta. No deue estar allá hombre. Quiero llamar. Tha, tha.

Eli.__The door is shut. Nobody should be inside. I want to knock. Knock, knock.

AREU. __ Quién es?

Are.__Who is it?

ELIC. __ Abre, amiga; Elicia soy.

Eli.__Open, sister; it is Elicia.

AREU. __ Entra, hermana mia. Véate Dios, que tanto plazer me hazes en venir como vienes, mudado el hábito de tristeza. Agora nos gozaremos juntas, agora te visitaré, vernos hemos en mi casa y en la tuya. Quiçá por bien fue para entrambas la muerte de Celestina, que yo ya siento la mejoría más que antes. Por esto se dize que los muertos abren los ojos de los que biuen, a vnos con haziendas, a otros con libertad, como a ti.

Are.__Come in, my sister. May God look at you, for it gives me much pleasure to see how you have come, having changed your sorrowful habit. Now we will have fun together, now I will dress you and we will see each other in my house and yours. Maybe Celestina's death was for the best, since I feel that I am better off than before. This is why they say that the dead open the eyes of the living; they give riches to some,  to others like you, freedom.

ELIC. __ A tu puerta llaman. Poco espacio nos dan para hablar, que te querría preguntar si auía venido acá Sosia.

Eli.__They are knocking at the door. They have given us little time to talk, for I wanted to ask you if Sosia had come by here.

AREU. __ No ha venido; después hablaremos. !Qué porradas que dan. !Quiero yr abrir, que o es loco o priuado! ¿Quién llama?

Are.__He has not come; we will talk later. What loud knocks they are giving! I want to open already for it is either a madman or a good friend! Who is it?

SOS. __ Abreme, señora. Sosia soy, criado de Calisto.

Sos.__Open up mistress. It is Sosia, Calisto's servant.

AREU. __ Por los santos de Dios, el lobo es en la conseja. Escóndete, hermana, tras esse paramento y verás quál te lo paro, lleno de viento de lisonjas, que piense, quando se parta de mí, que es él y otro no. Y sacarle he lo suyo y lo ageno del buche con halagos, como él saca el poluo con la almohaça a los cauallos.

Are.__By the saints of God, it is the wolf from the fable. Hide, sister, behind this screen and you will see who will fill him up so, with the winds of flatteries that when he leaves here he will think it is he and not the other, my favorite. And with adulation  I will get out of his belly all the secrets, the way he takes out the with the currycomb the dust from the horses.

¿Es mi Sosia, mi secreto amigo? ¿El que yo me quiero bien sin que él lo sepa? ¿El que desseo conoscer por su buena fama? ¿El fiel a su amo? ¿El buen amigo de sus compañeros? Abraçarte quiero, amor, que agora que te veo creo que ay más virtudes en ti que todos me dezían. Andacá, entremos a assentarnos, que me gozo en mirarte, que me representas la figura del desdichado de Pármeno

Is it my Sosia, my secret friend? The one I love so much without him noticing it? The one who I want to know because of his great reputation? The one who is faithful to his master? The good friend to his companions? I want to hug you, love, for now that I see you I think that you have more virtues than what they told me. Come here, let us go in and sit down, for I delight by just looking at you; for you look so much like the unlucky Parmeno.

Con esto haze oy tan claro día que auías tú de venir a uerme. ?Dime, señor, ¿conoscíasme antes de agora?

You have made it a clearer day by coming to visit me. Tell me, sit, did you know me before now?

SOS. __ Señora, la fama de tu gentileza, de tus gracias y saber buela tan alto por esta ciudad que no deues tener en mucho ser de más conoscida que conosciente, porque ninguno habla en loor de hermosas que primero no se acuerde de ti que de quantas son.

Sos.__Mistress, the fame of your graciousness and knowledge flies so high over this city that you are known by more people than you know; for nobody praises a beautiful girl without remembering your name first before the others.

12. ELIC. __ ¡O hideputa el pelón y cómo se desasna! ¡Quién le ve yr al agua con sus cauallos en cerro y sus piernas de fuera, en sayo, y agora en verse medrado con calças y capa, sálenle alas y lengua!

Eli.__Oh what a son of a whore, baldheaded, and how he tries to look cute! If you could only see him going to get water for his horses without a saddle and with his bare legs hanging out of his frock; and now he has dressed himself with in shoes and a cape, and growing a tongue and wings!

13. AREU. __ Ya me correría con tu razón, si alguno estuuiesse delante, en oyrte tanta burla como de mí hazes; pero, como todos los hombres traygays proueydas essas razones, essas engañosas alabanças, tan comunes para todas, hechas de molde, me quiero de ti espantar.

Are.__I would be embarrassed by what you say if we were in front of others just by hearing how you make fun of me; but, since all men bring those words, those deceitful praises, so common and made from the same mold; it makes me want to run away from you.

Pero hágote cierto, Sosia, que no tienes dellos necessidad; sin que me alabes te amo y sin que me ganes de nueuo me tienes ganada. Para lo que te embié a rogar que me viesses, son dos cosas, las quales, si más lisonja o engaño en ti conozco, te dexaré de dezir, avnque sean de tu prouecho.

But I want you to know, Sosia, that you do not need them; for I love you even if you do not praise me. Even without winning me over you have won me. I begged for you to come see me for two things; but if you flatter me or are deceitful I will not tell you, although they are for your benefit.

SOS. __ Señora mia, no quiera Dios que yo te haga cautela. Muy seguro venía de la gran merced, que me piensas hazer y hazes. No me sentía digno para descalçarte. Guía tú mi lengua, responde por mí a tus razones, que todo lo avré por rato y firme.

Sos.__My lady, God forbid I should make you have such caution. I came very sure of the great benefit that you intended and will give me. I did not even feel worthy enough to take off your shoes. Guide my tongue and respond for me,  for I will agree with everything that you say.

AREU. __ Amor mio, ya sabes quánto quise a Pármeno, y como dizen: quien bien quiere a Beltrán a todas sus cosas ama. Todos sus amigos me agradauan, el buen seruicio de su amo, como a él mismo, me plazía. Donde vía su daño de Calisto, le apartaua.

Are.__My love, you already know how much I loved Parmeno, and as they say: he who loves Bertran, loves everything of his. All of his friends pleased me; the good service he had for his master pleased me as much as it pleased him. Whenever he saw that Calisto was in harm's way, he helped him escape.

Pues como esto assí sea, acordé dezirte, lo vno, que conozcas el amor que te tengo y quánto contigo y con tu visitación siempre me alegrarás y que en esto no perderás nada, si yo pudiere, antes te verná prouecho

And since this is true, I recall the first thing I have to tell you; you should know the love that I have for you and how much your visit will always please me and if it is up to me, from this you will lose nothing, for you will only have benefits.

Lo otro y segundo, que pues yo pongo mis ojos en ti, y mi amor y querer, auisarte que te guardes de peligros y más de descobrir tu secreto a ninguno, pues ves quánto daño vino a Pármeno y a Sempronio de lo que supo Celestina,

The other and the second part, is that ever since I laid my eyes on you, my love and my affection, I wanted to advise you about how to keep yourself away from danger, and especially about not telling your secrets to anybody because you already know all the harm that came to Parmeno and Sempronio because of what Celestina knew.

porque no querría verte morir mallogrado como a tu compañero. Harto me basta auer llorado al vno. Porque has de saber que vino a mí una persona y me dixo que le auías tú descubierto los amores de Calisto y Melibea y cómo la auía alcançado y cómo yuas cada noche a le acompañar y otras muchas cosas, que no sabría relatar.

For I would not want to see you die like your companion did. I have cried enough for him. Because you should know that somebody came to me and told me that you had discovered the loves between Calisto and Melibea and they also knew how he had reached her and how you had gone at night to accompany him and many other things, which I cannot remember now.

Cata, amigo, que no guardar secreto es propio de las mugeres. No de todas, sino de las baxas y de los niños. Cata que te puede venir gran daño. Que para esto te dio Dios dos oydos y dos ojos y no más de vna lengua,  porque sea doblado lo que vieres y oyeres que no el hablar. Cata no confíes que tu amigo te ha de tener secreto de lo que le dixeres, pues tú no le sabes a ti mismo tener. Quando ouieres de yr con tu amo Calisto  a casa de aquella señora, no hagas bullicio, no te sienta la tierra, que otros me dixeron que yuas cada noche dando bozes, como loco, de plazer.

Careful, friend, for only women tell their secrets. And not all of them, but only the lowest ones and children. For this is why God gave you two ears and two eyes and no more than one tongue, so that what you see and hear should be double of what you say. Be careful and do not trust in the fact that your friend will keep your secret, especially if you cannot keep it yourself. When you go with your master Calisto to the house of that lady, do not make noise, do not let the earth know you are there, for others told me that you went every night yelling loudly like a madman because of your joy.

SOS. __ ¡O cómo son sin tiento y personas desacordadas los que tales nueuas, señora, te acarrean! Quien te dixo que de mi boca lo hauía oydo, no dize verdad. Los otros de verme yr con la luna de noche a dar agua a mis cauallos, holgando y auiendo plazer, diziendo cantares por oluidar el trabajo y desechar enojo, y esto antes de las diez, sospechan mal y de la sospecha hazen certidumbre, affirman lo que barruntan.

Sos.__Oh what how brainless and mad are those who brought you such news, mistress, Whoever told you that they heard those noises coming from my mouth is lying. Some others who  might have seen me at night under the moonlight going to give my horses water, idling around and being happy, singing in order to forget the work and to get rid of my anger, and all that before ten o'clock, got suspicious and then turn their suspicions into certainty, the affirm what they conjecture.

Sí, que no estaua Calisto loco, que a tal hora auía de yr a negocio de tanta affrenta sin esperar que repose la gente, que descansen todos en el dulçor del primer sueño. Ni menos auía de yr cada noche,  que aquel officio no çufre cotidiana visitación.

And Calisto would be crazy if he did his serious business without waiting for people to go to bed, before they are all resting in the sweetness of their first sleep. And he does not even go every night, for such a matter will not endure a constant visitation.

Y si más clara quieres, señora, ver su falsedad, como dizen, que toman antes al mentiroso que al que coxquea, en vn mes  no auemos ydo ocho vezes, y dicen los falsarios reboluedores que cada noche.

And if you want more proof, mistress, to see their falsehood; for as they say, the liar is sooner caught than the lame; we have not even gone eight times this month, yet these false instigators say that it has been every night.

AREU. __ Pues por mi vida, amor mio, porque yo los acuse y tome en el lazo del falso testimonio, me dexes en la memoria los días qué aueys concertado de salir y, si yerran, estaré segura de tu secreto y cierta de su leuantar. Porque no siendo su mensaje verdadero, será tu persona segura de peligro y yo sin sobresalto de tu vida. Pues tengo esperança de gozarme contigo largo tiempo.

Are.__Then by my life, my love, so that I can accuse them and catch them in their false testimony; tell me what day it was that you have decided to go and if they are wrong, I will be sure of your secrecy and certain of their lies. For if their message is not true, you will be safe from harm and I fom socking news about your life. For I wish to be able to delight with you for a long time.

SOS. __ Señora, no alarguemos los testigos. Para esta noche en dando el relox las doze está hecho el concierto de su visitación por el huerto. Mañana preguntarás lo que han sabido, de lo qual si alguno te diere señas, que me tresquilen a mí a cruzes.

Sos.__Mistress, let us not depend upon the witnesses. Tonight when the clock strikes twelve it has been set that they will visit in the garden. Tomorrow you will ask what they know, and if anybody gives you a different answer, may my hair be cut in crosses.

AREU. __ ¿Y por qué parte, alma mia, porque mejor los pueda contradezir, si anduuieren errados vacilando?

Are.__And through where, my heart, so that I can contradict them even better, in case they wondering in conjectures?

SOS. __ Por la calle del vicario gordo, a las espaldas de su casa.

Sos.__By the street of the fat vicar, by the back of his house.

ELIC. __ ¡Tiénente, don handrajoso! ¡No es más menester! Maldito sea  el que en manos de tal azemilero se confía! ¡ Qué desgoznarse haze el badajo!

Eli.__That is enough, you ragamuffin! No more is needed! Cursed be the one who confides in the hands of this mule-driver! that chatterbox is going wild!

AREU. __ Hermano Sosia, esto hablado, basta para que tome cargo de saber tu innocencia y la maldad de tus aduersarios. Vete con Dios, que estoy ocupada en otro negocio y me he detenido mucho contigo.

Are.__Brother Sosia, what you have said is enough for me to have proof of your innocence and of the evil of your adversaries. Go with God, for I am busy with some other work and I have detained myself with you for too long.

ELIC. __ ¡O sabia muger! ¡O despidiente propio, qual le merece el asno que ha vaziado su secreto tan de ligero!

Eli.__Oh wise woman! Oh what a proper dismissal, which is so deserved by the ass who has let go of his secrets so easily!

SOS. __ Graciosa y suaue señora, perdóname si te he enojado con mi tardança. Mientra holgares con mi seruicio, jamás hallarás quien tan de grado auenture en él su vida. Y queden los ángeles contigo.

Sos.__Gracious and sweet, mistress, forgive me if I have angered you ith my dalliance . For as long you may be pleased with my service, you will never find anybody who is more willing to give up their life for you. May the angels be with you.

AREU. __ Dios te guíe. !Allá yrás,
azemilero! ¡Muy vfano vas por tu vida! Pues toma para tu ojo, vellaco, y perdona, que te la doy de espaldas.

Are.__May God guide you. Go away mule driver! You are very proud of your life! Well, take this for your eyes only and pardon me if I give it (the finger] to you from my back!

¿A quién digo? Hermana, sal acá. ?Qué te parece, quál le embío? Assí sé yo tratar los tales, assí salen de mis manos los asnos, apaleados como éste y los locos corridos y los discretos espantados y los deuotos alterados y los castos encendidos.

Who am I speaking to? Sister, come out. What do you think about the one I sent away? That is how I  know to treat those like him; that is how the asses come out of my hands, beaten like this one; the mad ones are driven away quickly, the discreet ones are scared away and the devote and chaste ones are set on fire.

Pues, prima, aprende, que otra arte es ésta que la de Celestina; avnque ella me tenía por boua, porque me quería yo serlo. Y pues ya tenemos deste hecho sabido quanto desseáuamos, deuemos yr a casa de aquellotro cara de ahorcado que el jueues eché delante de ti baldonado de mi casa, y haz tú como que nos quieres fazer amigos y que rogaste que fuesse a verlo.

So now you, cousin, must learn that this is nothing else but Celestina's art, although she thought I was a fool, because I was when I wanted to be. And so now that we know all that we want, we should go to the house of the other one, the one who looks like a hanged person, whom I so rudely kicked out of my house on Thursday in front of you. Act as if you wanted to us to make peace and you begged me to go see him.