Act 2
[II. 1]
NICOMACO alone.
What kind of shadows do I have around my eyes this morning? It seems like I have glares that won't let me see clearly; and last night, I would have noticed the smallest detail. Have I drunk too much? Perhaps I have. Oh God, old age brings every kind of trouble! But I'm not so old yet that I can't compete for Clizia. Is it possible that I've fallen in love like this? And, what's worse, my wife has noticed it; and it's not hard to guess why I want to give this girl to Pirro. In the end, it doesn't sit right with me. Still, I must try to win my way. Pirro, oh Pirro, come down; come out.
[II. 2]
PIRRO, NICOMACO.
Pir. Here I am.
Ni. Pirro, tonight I want you to lead the bride in any way possible.
Pir. I'll deserve her now.
Ni. Slow down a bit. Step by step, as Mirra said. We must also do things in a way that the house doesn't turn upside down. You see, my wife is not satisfied with it. Eustachio wants her too. It seems that Cleandro favors him, and he's turned against God and the devil. But you stay strong in your determination to have her. Don't doubt it, for I'll support you all. In the worst case, I'll give her to you despite their opposition. And whoever wants to grumble, let them grumble.
Pir. In the name of God, tell me what you want me to do.
Ni. Don't leave from here onward so that, if I want you, you'll be ready.
Pir. I'll do as you say, but I forgot to tell you something.
Ni. What is it?
Pir. Eustachio is in Florence.
Ni. In Florence? Who told you?
Pir. Our neighbor, Ser Ambrogio, in the villa. He told me that Eustachio entered through the door with him last night.
Ni. What! Last night? Where has he been tonight?
Pir. Who knows?
Ni. So be it. Go, do what I told you. Sofronia must have sent for Eustachio, and this scoundrel valued her letters more than mine. I wrote to him to do a thousand things that will ruin me if they're not done. In the name of God, I'll make him pay. If only I knew where he is and what he's doing. But here comes Sofronia, leaving the house.
[II. 3]
SOFRONIA, NICOMACO.
Sofr. I have locked Clizia and Doria in the room. We need to protect this girl from our son, from her husband, from the servants; everyone is circling around her.
Ni. Sofronia, where are you going?
Sofr. To Mass.
Ni. But it's still carnival; think about what you'll do for Lent.
Sofr. I believe that doing good is necessary at all times, and it's even more appreciated when others are doing wrong. But it seems to me that in our attempt to do good, we're doing it from the wrong side.
Ni. How? What would you have us do?
Sofr. Not just talk about it, and since we have a beautiful, good, and worthy young woman in our house, and we've put so much effort into raising her, let's not throw her away. When everyone used to praise us, now everyone will criticize us for giving her to a brainless glutton who knows nothing but shaving a little and wouldn't harm a fly.
Ni. My dear Sofronia, you're mistaken. This man is young and handsome, and if he doesn't know, he's capable of learning, and he loves her. These are three great qualities in a husband: youth, beauty, and love. I don't think we can find better options or qualities in every doorstep. If he doesn't have wealth, you know that wealth comes and goes. And he's one of those who can make it come, and I won't abandon him because, to tell you the truth, I'm thinking of buying that house that I've rented from our neighbor Damone, and I'll fill it with furnishings. Even if it costs me four hundred florins, I'll invest...
Sofr. Ah, ah, ah!
Ni. You're laughing?
Sofr. Who wouldn't?
Ni. Yes, what do you mean? I won't use it for a shop.
Sofr. Is it possible that you want to give your son more than is appropriate and give this man more than he deserves? I don't know what to say; I suspect there's something more to it.
Ni. What could there be?
Sofr. If there were someone who didn't know, I would tell them. But since you know, I won't tell you.
Ni. What do I know?
Sofr. Let it go. What motivates you to give her to him? Couldn't she be married better with this dowry or less?
Ni. Yes, I believe so. Nevertheless, it's the love I have for both of them that motivates me. Since I've raised them both, it seems right to benefit them both.
Sofr. If that's what motivates you, haven't you also raised your steward, Eustachio?
Ni. Yes, I have. But what do you want? The face of that man, who has no gentility and is used to living in the countryside with cows and sheep? Oh, if we were to give her to him, she would die of sorrow.
Sofr. And with Pirro, she'll die of hunger. I remind you that the qualities of men lie in having some virtue, knowing how to do something like Eustachio does—being accustomed to work, managing markets, taking care of other people's things as well as his own. He's a man who could survive on water alone. Moreover, you know he has a good capital. On the other hand, Pirro is always in taverns, at games, a wastrel who would starve on a mountain pasture.
Ni. Haven't I told you what I want to give him?
Sofr. Haven't I told you that you're throwing it away? Let me tell you this, Nicomaco, you have spent on nurturing her, and I have put effort into raising her. Therefore, since I have a say in it, I also want to have a say in how things will go. Either I will speak ill and create so many scandals that you will feel ashamed, I don't know how you can show your face. Go, discuss these matters with your mask.
Ni. What are you saying? Are you crazy? Now you make me want to give her to him even more. And because of this love, I want him to lead her tonight, and I'll marry her off, even if your eyes pop out.
Sofr. Whether he marries her or not, it's up to him.
Ni. You threaten me with gossip; make sure I don't speak. Do you think I'm blind and don't see through your tricks? I knew very well that mothers love their sons, but I didn't think they would lend a hand to their improprieties.
Sofr. What are you saying? What is impropriety?
Ni. Oh, don't make me say it. You understand, and I understand. Each of us knows how many times we've invoked Saint Blaise. Let's act in agreement; otherwise, we'll become the talk of the town.
Sofr. What kind of agreement do you want? This girl should not be thrown away, or I will turn not just the house, but Florence, upside down.
Ni. Sofronia, Sofronia, whoever named you didn't dream that you're a hot-headed woman full of hot air.
Sofr. In the name of God, I'm going to Mass. We'll see each other later.
Ni. Listen for a moment. Is there a way for us to sort out this matter without making fools of ourselves?
Sofr. Not fools, but unhappy, yes.
Ni. There are many respectable men in this town, we have many relatives, there are many good religious people. Let's ask them about the things we disagree on, and either you or I will be convinced through them.
Sofr. Where shall we go?
Ni. We can't go to anyone other than Friar Timoteo, who is our household confessor, and he's a saintly man who has already performed some miracles.
Sofr. Which ones?
Ni. What do you mean, which ones? Don't you know that through his prayers, Lady Lucrezia, the wife of Messer Nicia Calfucci, who was barren, became pregnant?
Sofr. A great miracle, a friar impregnating a woman! It would be a miracle if a woman could impregnate him.
Ni. Is it possible that you always cross my path with these stories?
Sofr. I want to go to Mass, and I don't want to postpone my matters in person.
Ni. Well, go then. I'll wait for you at home. I believe it's best not to stray too far, so that Clizia doesn't get taken away somewhere.
[II. 4]
SOFRONIA alone.
Anyone who knew Nicomaco a year ago and knows him now would be amazed at the great transformation he has undergone. He used to be a serious, determined, and respectable man. He used his time honorably. He would rise early in the morning, attend Mass, and take care of the day's provisions. If he had business in the square, the market, with the magistrates, he would handle it. Otherwise, he would engage in honorable conversations with fellow citizens or retreat to his study, where he would tend to his writings and organize his accounts. Pleasantly, he would have dinner with his company and afterwards, he would talk to his son, advising him, making him aware of people, and teaching him how to live through ancient and modern examples. He would then go out, spending the whole day either in business or in serious and honest recreations. When evening came, he was always at home by the time of the Ave Maria prayer. He would spend a little time with us by the fire if it was winter, and then he would retire to his study to review his affairs. We would have a cheerful supper at three o'clock. This order of his life was an example to everyone else in the house, and everyone was ashamed not to imitate him. Thus, things went well and smoothly. But since this fancy for her entered his mind, his affairs have become confused, his properties have deteriorated, his businesses have declined. He constantly shouts without knowing why. He enters and exits the house a thousand times a day, not knowing what he's doing. He never returns at a time when we can have dinner or supper on time. If you speak to him, he either doesn't respond or responds irrelevantly. The servants, seeing this, make fun of him, and his son has given up on respecting him. Everyone does as they please, and ultimately, no one hesitates to do what they see him doing. So, I fear that if God doesn't intervene, this poor household will be ruined. I, too, want to go to Mass and commend myself to God as much as I can. I see Eustachio and Pirro quarreling. What fine husbands they are preparing to be for Clizia!
[II. 5]
PIRRO, EUSTACHIO.
Pir. What are you doing in Florence, you sad thing?
Eust. I don't have to tell you.
Pir. You are so filthy; you look like a cleaned toilet.
Eust. You have so little brain that I wonder why children don't throw stones at you.
Pir. We'll soon find out who has more brain, you or me.
Eust. Pray that the master lives, or else you'll end up begging.
Pir. Have you seen Nicomaco?
Eust. What do you care if I've seen him or not?
Pir. It will be your concern, because if he doesn't change his mind, and if you don't return to the villa on your own, he'll have you brought in by the constables.
Eust. My being in Florence gives you a lot of trouble.
Pir. It gives more trouble to others than to me.
Eust. So, leave it and think of other things.
Pir. But the flesh attracts.
Eust. You look and smirk.
Pir. I see that you would make a fine husband.
Eust. Well, do you know what I want to tell you? Even the Duke was building walls, but if he catches you, you'll end up climbing little walls. How much better it would be if Nicomaco drowned you in his well! At least the poor girl would die instantly.
Pir. Oh, you lazy peasant, perfumed with manure! Do you even have the flesh to sleep beside such a delicate girl?
Eust. She'll have plenty of flesh with you. If her sad fate allows it, she will either become a whore within a year, or she will die of sorrow. But for the former, you will be in agreement with her, for by gobbling up a little corn, you'll be the one devouring her.
Pir. Let it go. Everyone sharpens their own knives. We'll see who will speak better. I'm going home before I break your head.
Eust. And I'm going back to church.
Pir. You're wise not to step out of bounds.