“Comedy about the chest” by L. Ariosto in brief
The first in Italy “scientific” comedy takes place on the island of Metellino, in vague “antique” times. In the prologue, it is declared that modern authors can compete with the ancients in craftsmanship, although the Italian language is still inferior in ecclesiastical Greek and Latin.
The play begins with the fact that the young man Erofilo orders his slaves to go to Philostrato and resents the stubbornness of Nebbya, who clearly does not want to leave the house. The reasons for this conflict are revealed in the dialogue of servants. Nebbia tells Janda that the neighboring pimp Lucrano has two adorable maidens: one of them has Erofilo in love with the ears, and the son of the local bassam Carido. The merchant broke the price hoping to break a big jackpot from rich young people, but those entirely depend on their fathers. But here the old man Krisobolo left for several days, entrusting the protection of the property to the faithful steward, and Erofilo
In the next scene, there is a meeting between Eulalia and Koriska with Erofilo and Caridoro. The girls shower reproaches for the young man – they are generous with oaths and sighs, but they do nothing to rescue their beloved from captivity. Young people complain about the stinginess of their fathers, but they promise to act decisively. Caridoro incites Erofilo: if his father had been away for a day, he would have long ago cleaned up the storerooms. Erofilo declares that, for the sake of Eulalia, she is ready for everything and will release her today with the help of Volpino. The lovers diverge, seeing Aukrano. A merchant of live goods calculates how to draw out more money for the girls. Very opportunely turned ship, which
Further, the main role belongs to Volpino and Fulcho – servants of young lovers. Volpino sets out his plan: Erofilo must steal from his father’s room a chest, decorated with gold, and immediately declare the loss of bassam. Meanwhile, a friend Volpino, disguised as a merchant, will hand this expensive bag to the pimp as a pledge for Eulalia. When the watchman comes, Lukran will deny it, but who will believe him? Any girl a red price – fifty ducats, the chest is not less than a thousand. The foreman will certainly be put in jail, and then hanged or even quartered – to everyone’s pleasure. After some hesitation, Erofilo agrees, and another servant enters the stage – Trappola. He is dressed in Chrisobolo’s clothes, handed the chest and sent to Lucas. The treaty takes place quickly, and Tralpola takes Eulalia away from the house of the procurer.
At this time, a drunken company is marching along the street: the slaves of Erofilo liked the house of Filostrato very much, where they fed and fed generously. Only Nebbya continues to grumble, foreseeing that the matter will not end well and all the troubles will fall on his head. When she saw Eulalia from Trappol and realized that the pimp had sold her, they all agreed to serve the young master and easily beat off the girl, setting Trappol bruises. Volpino is desperate: the bail remains with the procurer, and Eulalia is kidnapped by unknown robbers. Volpino asks Erofilo first of all to get out the trunk, but all in vain – the inconsolable youth, forgetting about everything, rushes in search of the beloved. Lukrano is triumphant: for an insignificant girl he was given a trunk of filigree work, and, moreover, stuffed with gold brocade! Earlier the pimp prepared for departure only for a kind,
Volpino falls into a trap. Cunning plan turned against him, and to complete all the misfortunes home returns Chrysobol. The old man is in alarm, rightly believing that from a prodigal son and purposely servants nothing good can be expected. Volpino confirms his worst suspicions: the donkey Nebbya overlooked the master’s room, and from there carried a trunk with brocade. But the case can still be corrected, since the theft of the neighbor, apparently, was committed by a neighbor-procurer. Krisobolo immediately sends a servant to the bassam Critone, his best friend. The search brings brilliant results: the chest was found in the house of Lucas. Volpino is ready to take a breath, but a new misfortune awaits him: he completely forgot that Trappola is still in the house in the owner’s caftan. The old man will recognize his dress at first sight. Trappol grabs like a thief. Volpino recognizes him – this is all known dumb, which can only be explained by signs. The smart Trappol starts waving his arms, and Volpino translates: one of the servants presented Krisobolo’s clothes to the unfortunate one-tall, lean, with a big nose and gray head. Under this description, Nebbya fits perfectly, but then Krisobolo remembers how a pimper caught in the act was shouting that a chest was handed to him by a merchant in rich clothes. Under the threat of the gallows, Trappol is gifted with speech and admits that he gave the chest as a deposit for the girl on the orders of Erofilo and Volpino’s instigation. Enraged Krisobolo orders to lock Volpino in shackles, and his son threatens with his father’s curse. clothes Krisobolo gave the unfortunate one of the servants – tall, lean, with a big nose and gray head. Under this description, Nebbya fits perfectly, but then Krisobolo remembers how a pimper caught in the act was shouting that a chest was handed to him by a merchant in rich clothes. Under the threat of the gallows, Trappol is gifted with speech and admits that he gave the chest as a deposit for the girl on the orders of Erofilo and Volpino’s instigation. Enraged Krisobolo orders to lock Volpino in shackles, and his son threatens with his father’s curse. clothes Krisobolo gave the unfortunate one of the servants – tall, lean, with a big nose and gray head. Under this description, Nebbya fits perfectly, but then Krisobolo remembers how a pimper caught in the act was shouting that a chest was handed to him by a merchant in rich clothes. Under the threat of the gallows, Trappol is gifted with speech and admits that he gave the chest as a deposit for the girl on the orders of Erofilo and Volpino’s instigation. Enraged Krisobolo orders to lock Volpino in shackles, and his son threatens with his father’s curse. that he gave the chest as a deposit for the girl on the orders of Erofilo and Volpino’s instigation. Enraged Krisobolo orders to lock Volpino in shackles, and his son threatens with his father’s curse. that he gave the chest as a deposit for the girl on the orders of Erofilo and Volpino’s instigation. Enraged Krisobolo orders to lock Volpino in shackles, and his son threatens with his father’s curse.
Now it’s Fulcio who is eager to prove that in cunning he will not yield to anyone – not even Volpino. To start
Servant Caridoro hurries to Lucrano with friendly advice to carry away as soon as possible feet – the stolen chest was found by witnesses, and the basses had already ordered to uplift the thief. After catching the pander fear, Fulcho goes to Erofilo with a story about what happened next. LUCRANO begged for salvation, and Fulcho, breaking for a while, took the poor man to Caridoro, who did not immediately succumb to persuasion, and Fulcho whispered to the procurer what should be sent for Koriska-in her presence the son of bassam would become more accommodating. Everything worked out perfectly well: it remains to help out of the misfortune of Volpino and to get money for Lukrano, who wants to run, but can not, because he was left without a penny. Fulcio goes to Chrysololo with the news that Erofilo has got himself into an extremely unpleasant story, but Bassam Critone is ready to close his eyes on friendship by friendship if Lukrano does not file a complaint. pacify pimp simply – you just need to pay him for the girl Eulalia, because of which flared cheese-boron. The old miser, reluctantly, parted with a tidy sum and agreed that in negotiations with the procurer Volpino participated – alas, there is not a second such cunning in the house, and anybody’s son will be fooled around a finger!
At the end of the play, Fulcho, with good reason, calls himself a military leader-triumphant: the enemies are defeated and disgraced without any bloodshed. Freed from punishment, Volpino warmly thanks his companion. Erofilo rejoices: thanks to Fulcho, he received not only Eulalia, but also money for its maintenance. And the hero of the day offers viewers to go home – Lukrano is going to flee, and he does not need witnesses at all.
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