The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 213
or no, the velvet knows; but 'tis a goodly patch of
velvet: his left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a
half, but his right cheek is worn bare.
Oh Madam, out there is my lord, your son, with a patch
of velvet on his face: whether or not there is a scar
underneath it, only the velvet knows; but it is a good piece
of velvet: his left cheek has a good thick beard on it,
but his right cheek is bare.
LAFEU
A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery
of honour; so belike is that.
A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a badge
of honour; I expect this is.
Clown
But it is your carbonadoed face.
But it is a boiled face.
LAFEU
Let us go see your son, I pray you: I long to talk
with the young noble soldier.
Please, let us go and see your son: I'm longing to talk
with the young noble soldier.
Clown
Faith there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate fine
hats and most courteous feathers, which bow the head
and nod at every man.
Exeunt
Well there's a dozen of them, with delicate fine
hats and lovely feathers, which bounce
and nod at everyone.
Enter HELENA, Widow, and DIANA, with two Attendants
HELENA
But this exceeding posting day and night
Must wear your spirits low; we cannot help it:
But since you have made the days and nights as one,
To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs,
Be bold you do so grow in my requital
As nothing can unroot you. In happy time;
Enter a Gentleman
This man may help me to his majesty's ear,
If he would spend his power. God save you, sir.
But all this travel, day and night
must be wearing you out; it can't be helped:
but since you have given up day and night
To exhaust yourself on my behalf
be assured that you are so deserving
of my reward that nothing will stop me repaying you.
In good time–
This man can help me influence his Majesty,
if he is willing to. God save you sir.
Gentleman
And you.
And you.
HELENA
Sir, I have seen you in the court of France.
Sir, I have seen you at the French court.
Gentleman
I have been sometimes there.
I have sometimes been there.
HELENA
I do presume, sir, that you are not fallen
From the report that goes upon your goodness;
And therefore, goaded with most sharp occasions,
Which lay nice manners by, I put you to
The use of your own virtues, for the which
I shall continue thankful.
I assume, sir, that you are still just as good
as reports say you are;
and so, spurred on by very pressing need,
which means I can't stand on ceremony, I ask you
to use your virtues in my service, for which
I will always be grateful.
Gentleman
What's your will?
What is it you want?
HELENA
That it will please you
To give this poor petition to the king,
And aid me with that store of power you have
To come into his presence.
That you will agree
to give this poor petition to the King,
and help me with the influence you have
to get an audience with him.
Gentleman
The king's not here.
The King's not here.
HELENA
Not here, sir!
Not here, sir!
Gentleman
Not, indeed:
He hence removed last night and with more haste
Than is his use.
Indeed he is not:
he left here last night, more quickly
than he usually does.
Widow
Lord, how we lose our pains!
Lord, all our efforts are for nothing!
HELENA
All's well that ends well yet,
Though time seem so adverse and means unfit.
I do beseech you, whither is he gone?
All's well that ends well, remember,
even though time and circumstances seem against us.
May I ask you, where has he gone?
Gentleman
Marry, as I take it, to Rousillon;
Whither I am going.
Why, as far as I know, to Rousillon:
which is where I'm going.
HELENA
I do beseech you, sir,
Since you are like to see the king before me,
Commend the paper to his gracious hand,
Which I presume shall render you no blame
But rather make you thank your pains for it.
I will come after you with what good speed
Our means will make us means.
I beg you, sir,
since you are likely to see the King before me,
put this petition in his gracious hand,
which I don't think will get you into any trouble,
in fact you will be glad you took the trouble.
I will come after you as fast
as our resources permit.
Gentleman
This I'll do for you.
I'll do this for you.
HELENA
And you shall find yourself to be well thank'd,
Whate'er falls more. We must to horse again.
Go, go, provide.
Exeunt
And you will be much thanked for it,
whatever happens. We must start travelling again.
Go, go, help us.
Enter Clown, and PAROLLES, following
PAROLLES
Good Monsieur Lavache, give my Lord Lafeu this
letter: I have ere now, sir, been better known to
you, when I have held familiarity with fresher
clothes; but I am now, sir, muddied in fortune's
mood, and smell somewhat strong of her strong
displeasure.
Good Monsieur Lavache, give my Lord Lafeu this
letter: in the past you have known me
when I had cleaner clothes on; but I'm now
rather trampled in the mud by Fortune
and I smell somewhat of her displeasure.
Clown
Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish, if it
smell so strongly as thou speakest of: I will
henceforth eat no fish of fortune's buttering.
Prithee, allow the wind.
Well, Fortune's displeasure is really pretty filthy,
if it smells as bad as you: I will not eat
any fish cooked by Fortune from now on.
Would you mind standing downwind of me?
PAROLLES
Nay, you need not to stop your nose, sir; I spake
but by a metaphor.
No, you needn't hold your nose, sir; I was speaking
metaphorically.
Clown
Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will stop my
nose; or against any man's metaphor. Prithee, get
thee further.
Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stinks, I will hold
my nose; the same as against any man's metaphor. Please,
get further away.
PAROLLES
Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.
Please sir, deliver this letter for me.
Clo
wn
Foh! prithee, stand away: a paper from fortune's
close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look, here he
comes himself.
Enter LAFEU
Here is a purr of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's
cat,--but not a musk-cat,--that has fallen into the
unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he
says, is muddied withal: pray you, sir, use the
carp as you may; for he looks like a poor, decayed,
ingenious, foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his
distress in my similes of comfort and leave him to
your lordship.
Exit
Pah! Stand further off, please; paper from fortune's
lavatory to give to a nobleman! Look, here he
comes himself.
Here's a plaything of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's
cat–not a sweet smelling cat–that has fallen into the
filthy fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he
says, he has been dirtied by it: please, sir, treat the
poor fish kindly; for he looks like a poor, decayed,
cunning, foolish, rascally knave. I feel sorry
for the distress he feels at my words of comfort
so I'll leave him to your lordship.
PAROLLES
My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly
scratched.
My lord, I am a man who has been cruelly scratched
by Fortune.
LAFEU
And what would you have me to do? 'Tis too late to
pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the
knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who
of herself is a good lady and would not have knaves
thrive long under her? There's a quart d'ecu for
you: let the justices make you and fortune friends:
I am for other business.
What do you want me to do about it? It's too late
to trim her nails now. What have you been doing
to Fortune that has made her scratch you, for she
is a good lady and doesn't put up with knaves
for long? Here's sixpence for you:
apply to the magistrates for relief:
I've got other things to do.
PAROLLES
I beseech your honour to hear me one single word.
I beg your honor just to let me have a word.
LAFEU
You beg a single penny more: come, you shall ha't;
save your word.
I know, you just want another penny: alright, you shall have it;
don't bother with your word.
PAROLLES
My name, my good lord, is Parolles.
My name, my good lord, is Parolles.
LAFEU
You beg more than 'word,' then. Cox my passion!
give me your hand. How does your drum?
You want more than a word, then. Good heavens!
Give me your hand. How's your drum?
PAROLLES
O my good lord, you were the first that found me!
Oh my good lord, you were the first one to find me out!
LAFEU
Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that lost thee.
Was I, indeed? And I was the first one to lose you.
PAROLLES
It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace,
for you did bring me out.
It's up to you, my lord, to show me some favor,
since you were the one who made me lose it.
LAFEU
Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at once
both the office of God and the devil? One brings
thee in grace and the other brings thee out.
Trumpets sound
The king's coming; I know by his trumpets. Sirrah,
inquire further after me; I had talk of you last
night: though you are a fool and a knave, you shall
eat; go to, follow.
Get lost, knave! Are you asking me to play
both God and the Devil? One brings
you grace and the other makes you lose it.
The King's coming; I recognise his trumpets. Sir,
you may ask for me later; I heard talk of you
last night: although you are a fool and a knave, you shall
eat; come on, follow me.
PAROLLES
I praise God for you.
Exeunt
I thank God for your kindness.
Flourish. Enter KING, COUNTESS, LAFEU, the two French Lords, with Attendants
KING
We lost a jewel of her; and our esteem
Was made much poorer by it: but your son,
As mad in folly, lack'd the sense to know
Her estimation home.
We lost a jewel in her, and our wealth
was greatly reduced because of it: but your son,
completely madly, didn't have the sense to know
her true worth.
COUNTESS
'Tis past, my liege;
And I beseech your majesty to make it
Natural rebellion, done i' the blaze of youth;
When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force,
O'erbears it and burns on.
That is the past, my lord;
I beg your Majesty to see it
as a natural rebellion, caused by the hot headedness of youth;
that raging fire can be too strong for the force of reason,
it swamps it and roars on.
KING
My honour'd lady,
I have forgiven and forgotten all;
Though my revenges were high bent upon him,
And watch'd the time to shoot.
My dear lady,
I have forgiven and forgotten everything;
although I did have my revenge prepared
and was waiting for a time to attack.
LAFEU
This I must say,
But first I beg my pardon, the young lord
Did to his majesty, his mother and his lady
Offence of mighty note; but to himself
The greatest wrong of all. He lost a wife
Whose beauty did astonish the survey
Of richest eyes, whose words all ears took captive,
Whose dear perfection hearts that scorn'd to serve
Humbly call'd mistress.
I have to say this,
asking you to excuse me, the young lord
did a great wrong to his Majesty, his mother
and his lady; but he did the greatest wrong of all
to himself. He lost a wife
whose beauty astonished the eyes of those
who have seen many beauties, whose words captivated all listeners,
whose absolute perfection made humble servants
out of the proudest hearts.
KING
Praising what is lost
Makes the remembrance dear. Well, call him hither;
We are reconciled, and the first view shall kill
All repetition: let him not ask our pardon;
The nature of his great offence is dead,
And deeper than oblivion we do bury
The incensing relics of it: let him approach,
A stranger, no offender; and inform him
So 'tis our will he should.
Praising what has been lost
renews sweet memories. Well, call him here;
we have made up, and our first meeting
will stop any mention of the past: he doesn't have to ask for pardon;
the details of his great offence are forgotten
and we have buried the unhappy memories of it
beyond recovery: let him come in
with a clean slate; tell him
that I invite him to do so.
Gentleman
I shall, my liege.
I shall, my lord.
KING
What says he to your daughter? have you spoke?
What has he said to your daughter? Have you spoken to him?
LAFEU
All that he is hath reference to your highness.
He will do whatever your Highness wishes.
KING
Then shall we have a match. I have letters sent me
That set him high in fame.
Enter BERTRAM
In that case we shall have a marriage. I have received letters
which speak very well of him.
LAFEU
He looks well on't.
He looks well.
KING
I am not a day of season,
For thou mayst see a sunshine and a hail
In me at once: but to the brightest beams
Distracted clouds give way; so stand thou forth;
The time is fair again.
I am not always one thing nor the other
you might see sunshine and hail
coming from me at the same time: but the darkest clouds
give way to the brightest sunbeams; so come here,
good times have returned.
BERTRAM
My high-repented blames,
Dear sovereign, pardon to me.
Dear King, please forgive me