The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)

by William Shakespeare

From ashes ancient Gower is come;

  Assuming man's infirmities,

  To glad your ear, and please your eyes.

  It hath been sung at festivals,

  On ember-eves and holy-ales;

  And lords and ladies in their lives

  Have read it for restoratives:

  The purchase is to make men glorious;

  Et bonum quo antiquius, eo melius.

  If you, born in these latter times,

  When wit's more ripe, accept my rhymes.

  And that to hear an old man sing

  May to your wishes pleasure bring

  I life would wish, and that I might

  Waste it for you, like taper-light.

  This Antioch, then, Antiochus the Great

  Built up, this city, for his chiefest seat:

  The fairest in all Syria,

  I tell you what mine authors say:

  This king unto him took a fere,

  Who died and left a female heir,

  So buxom, blithe, and full of face,

  As heaven had lent her all his grace;

  With whom the father liking took,

  And her to incest did provoke:

  Bad child; worse father! to entice his own

  To evil should be done by none:

  But custom what they did begin

  Was with long use account no sin.

  The beauty of this sinful dame

  Made many princes thither frame,

  To seek her as a bed-fellow,

  In marriage-pleasures play-fellow:

  Which to prevent he made a law,

  To keep her still, and men in awe,

  That whoso ask'd her for his wife,

  His riddle told not, lost his life:

  So for her many a wight did die,

  As yon grim looks do testify.

  What now ensues, to the judgment of your eye

  I give, my cause who best can justify.

  Exit

  Ancient Gower has risen from the ashes

  to sing a song of ancient days,

  reassuming the weak body of a man

  to bring you entertaining sights and sounds.

  This song has been sung at festivals,

  on the holy evenings and at country fairs;

  and lords and ladies have at times

  read it to raise their spirits:

  the benefit is that it raises men up,

  and the old things are the best.

  If you, born in these later times,

  when knowledge has expanded, accept my song,

  and if it suits your desires

  to hear an old man sing,

  I would wish for life, so that I can

  burn it up for you like a bright candle.

  This, then, is Antioch, which Antiochus the Great

  built, this city, as his principal base,

  the loveliest in all of Syria–

  I'm telling you what the historians say.

  The king chose himself a mate,

  who died and left behind a daughter,

  cheerful, sweet tempered and beautiful

  as if heaven had put all its grace into her;

  the father took a liking to her,

  and persuaded her into incest.

  Bad child, worse father, to tempt his own daughter

  into an evil that nobody should do.

  But what they started became so accepted

  through the passage of time it was no longer seen as a sin.

  The beauty of this sinful lady

  made many princes travel there,

  to ask for her as a bedfellow,

  to join them in the pleasures of marriage;

  to prevent this he passed a law

  to keep her for himself and deter others;

  it was that whoever wanted to marry her

  who could not solve his riddle would be killed.

  So many a young man died for her,

  as you can see from this grisly display.

  What happens next I put to your judgement;

  it's up to you to say if it is believable or not.

  Enter ANTIOCHUS, Prince PERICLES, and followers

  ANTIOCHUS

  Young prince of Tyre, you have at large received

  The danger of the task you undertake.

  Young prince of Tyre, you have a full understanding

  of the danger of the task that faces you.

  PERICLES

  I have, Antiochus, and, with a soul

  Embolden'd with the glory of her praise,

  Think death no hazard in this enterprise.

  I have, Antiochus, and, with my soul

  strengthened by the thought of her glory,

  I am not afraid to risk death for this.

  ANTIOCHUS

  Bring in our daughter, clothed like a bride,

  For the embracements even of Jove himself;

  At whose conception, till Lucina reign'd,

  Nature this dowry gave, to glad her presence,

  The senate-house of planets all did sit,

  To knit in her their best perfections.

  Music. Enter the Daughter of ANTIOCHUS

  Bring in my daughter, dressed as a bride,

  suitable to be a bride of Jove himself;

  between her conception and her birth

  nature brought her under the influence

  of lucky planets which gave her all their

  perfection, to make her a joy to all who see her.

  PERICLES

  See where she comes, apparell'd like the spring,

  Graces her subjects, and her thoughts the king

  Of every virtue gives renown to men!

  Her face the book of praises, where is read

  Nothing but curious pleasures, as from thence

  Sorrow were ever razed and testy wrath

  Could never be her mild companion.

  You gods that made me man, and sway in love,

  That have inflamed desire in my breast

  To taste the fruit of yon celestial tree,

  Or die in the adventure, be my helps,

  As I am son and servant to your will,

  To compass such a boundless happiness!

  Look how she comes, dressed like the spring,

  she epitomises grace, and her thoughts contain

  every virtue which gives mankind greatness!

  Her face is a book of praise, where you can read

  nothing but exquisite pleasures, as from there

  all sorrows have been removed, and angry temper

  could never sit alongside her mildness.

  You gods, that made me a man, and direct my love,

  who have given me a burning desire

  to taste the fruit from that heavenly tree

  or die in the attempt, help me,

  as I am obedient and serve your desires,

  to capture such an infinite happiness!

  ANTIOCHUS

  Prince Pericles,--

  Prince Pericles–

  PERICLES

  That would be son to great Antiochus.

  Who wants to be a son to the great Antiochus.

  ANTIOCHUS

  Before thee stands this fair Hesperides,

  With golden fruit, but dangerous to be touch'd;

  For death-like dragons here affright thee hard:

  Her face, like heaven, enticeth thee to view

  Her countless glory, which desert must gain;

  And which, without desert, because thine eye

  Presumes to reach, all thy whole heap must die.

  Yon sometimes famous princes, like thyself,

  Drawn by report, adventurous by desire,

  Tell thee, with speechless tongues and semblance pale,

  That without covering, save yon field of stars,

  Here they stand martyrs, slain in Cupid's wars;

  And with dead cheeks advise thee to desist

  For going on death's net, whom none resist.

&nbs
p; In front of you is this beautiful garden,

  with golden fruit, but picking it is dangerous;

  there are deadly dragons guarding it against you.

  Her face, like heaven, tempts you to look at

  her infinite glory, which you have to earn;

  if your eye is found not to deserve the privilege

  of looking, your whole body must die.

  Those heads over there were once famous Princes, like yourself,

  attracted by stories, taking risks through desire,

  let them tell you, with their speechless tongues and pale faces,

  that with no roof except for the starry sky,

  they are here as martyrs, killed in Cupid's wars;

  their dead cheeks advise you to give up

  before you rush into death's trap, which nobody can escape.

  PERICLES

  Antiochus, I thank thee, who hath taught

  My frail mortality to know itself,

  And by those fearful objects to prepare

  This body, like to them, to what I must;

  For death remember'd should be like a mirror,

  Who tells us life's but breath, to trust it error.

  I'll make my will then, and, as sick men do

  Who know the world, see heaven, but, feeling woe,

  Gripe not at earthly joys as erst they did;

  So I bequeath a happy peace to you

  And all good men, as every prince should do;

  My riches to the earth from whence they came;

  But my unspotted fire of love to you.

  To the Daughter of ANTIOCHUS

  Thus ready for the way of life or death,

  I wait the sharpest blow, Antiochus.

  Antiochus, I thank you, for teaching

  me about the frail nature of my life,

  and showing me those terrible objects so I can

  prepare my body for whatever comes;

  we should remember at death is like a mirror,

  which tells us life is just a breath, to trust it would be wrong.

  So I'll make my will and I'll be like sick men,

  who although they are part of the world have a glimpse of heaven,

  and in their pain they don't hang on to earthly joys:

  and so I leave you peace and happiness

  and the same to all good men, as every prince should;

  I leave my body to the earth from which it came;

  [to the Princess] but I leave you the pure flame of my love.

  So, I am prepared for life or death,

  do your worst, Antiochus.

  ANTIOCHUS

  Scorning advice, read the conclusion then:

  Which read and not expounded, 'tis decreed,

  As these before thee thou thyself shalt bleed.

  If you won't take advice, then read the riddle:

  if you read it and can't explain it the law is

  that you will bleed like the ones who came before you.

  Daughter

  Of all say'd yet, mayst thou prove prosperous!

  Of all say'd yet, I wish thee happiness!

  Of all the ones who've tried, may you be successful!

  Of all the ones who've tried, I wish you happiness!

  PERICLES

  Like a bold champion, I assume the lists,

  Nor ask advice of any other thought

  But faithfulness and courage.

  He reads the riddle

  I am no viper, yet I feed

  On mother's flesh which did me breed.

  I sought a husband, in which labour

  I found that kindness in a father:

  He's father, son, and husband mild;

  I mother, wife, and yet his child.

  How they may be, and yet in two,

  As you will live, resolve it you.

  Sharp physic is the last: but, O you powers

  That give heaven countless eyes to view men's acts,

  Why cloud they not their sights perpetually,

  If this be true, which makes me pale to read it?

  Fair glass of light, I loved you, and could still,

  Takes hold of the hand of the Daughter of ANTIOCHUS

  Were not this glorious casket stored with ill:

  But I must tell you, now my thoughts revolt

  For he's no man on whom perfections wait

  That, knowing sin within, will touch the gate.

  You are a fair viol, and your sense the strings;

  Who, finger'd to make man his lawful music,

  Would draw heaven down, and all the gods, to hearken:

  But being play'd upon before your time,

  Hell only danceth at so harsh a chime.

  Good sooth, I care not for you.

  I take to the field like a bold knight,

  refusing to be influenced by anything

  but faithfulness and courage.

  I am no viper, yet I feed

  on the flesh of the mother who bore me.

  I looked for a husband, and in that task

  I found that kindness in a father.

  He is father, son, and gentle husband;

  I am mother, wife, but I am his child:

  how can they be so many when they are only two,

  if you want to live, you'll have to explain it.

  That last instruction is pretty blunt: but, you powers

  that give heaven infinite vision over the the acts of men:

  why do the stars go out for ever,

  if this is true, which makes me pale just to read it?

  You beautiful lady, I loved you, and could still,

  if you were not filled with such evil.

  But I must tell you that I am now revolted;

  it would be a bad man who,

  knowing of the sin inside, would still touch you.

  You are a beautiful violin, and your senses are the strings,

  which, if played by a man in lawful fashion,

  would make heaven on earth and all the gods would listen;

  but you have been plucked before your time,

  and only devils would dance to such harsh music.

  [Turning towards the Princess]

  I swear, I don't care about you.

  ANTIOCHUS

  Prince Pericles, touch not, upon thy life,

  For that's an article within our law,

  As dangerous as the rest. Your time's expired:

  Either expound now, or receive your sentence.

  Prince Pericles, do not touch her or you are dead,

  that's another of our laws,

  as deadly as the rest. Your time is up:

  either give us the answer or receive your sentence.

  PERICLES

  Great king,

  Few love to hear the sins they love to act;

  'Twould braid yourself too near for me to tell it.

  Who has a book of all that monarchs do,

  He's more secure to keep it shut than shown:

  For vice repeated is like the wandering wind.

  Blows dust in other's eyes, to spread itself;

  And yet the end of all is bought thus dear,

  The breath is gone, and the sore eyes see clear:

  To stop the air would hurt them. The blind mole casts

  Copp'd hills towards heaven, to tell the earth is throng'd

  By man's oppression; and the poor worm doth die for't.

  Kings are earth's gods; in vice their law's

  their will;

  And if Jove stray, who dares say Jove doth ill?

  It is enough you know; and it is fit,

  What being more known grows worse, to smother it.

  All love the womb that their first being bred,

  Then give my tongue like leave to love my head.

  Great King,

  few people like to hear the sins they enjoy described;

  if I answered it would be too close to the bone for you.

  If anyone knows all the things that monarc
hs get up to,

  he's safer keeping it to himself;

  when such vice is described it becomes like a wind,

  clouding the sight of others, so they sin too;

  and yet death is dearly bought in this way,

  the breath is gone, and the sore eyes see enough

  to keep those clouds out of them. The blind mole

  throws his mountains up to heaven, to tell them

  the earth is full of man's wrongs; and the poor worm dies for it.

  Kings are the gods of Earth; they govern themselves in their sins;

  and if Jove sins, who dares to say that he's wrong?

  It's enough that you know about it; and the best thing to do,

  as when things are more widely known they get worse, to keep it quiet.

  Everyone loves the womb that they came from,

  so give my tongue permission to love my head, and stay there.

  ANTIOCHUS

  [Aside] Heaven, that I had thy head! he has found

  the meaning:

  But I will gloze with him.--Young prince of Tyre,

  Though by the tenor of our strict edict,

  Your exposition misinterpreting,

  We might proceed to cancel of your days;

  Yet hope, succeeding from so fair a tree

  As your fair self, doth tune us otherwise:

  Forty days longer we do respite you;

  If by which time our secret be undone,

  This mercy shows we'll joy in such a son:

  And until then your entertain shall be

  As doth befit our honour and your worth.

  Exeunt all but PERICLES

  God, if only I had your head! He has

  solved it:

  but I will try and put him off–young Prince of Tyre,

  by the strict letter of our law,

  as you have not given the right answer,

  we could end your life;

  but as you are such a good man we hope

  that things will turn out differently:

  we give you forty more days' grace;

  if you can find out the answer before then,

  the mercy I'm showing now shows how pleased I'll be to have you as a son;

  and until then you will be looked after

  in a way suited to my position and your worth.

  PERICLES

  How courtesy would seem to cover sin,

  When what is done is like an hypocrite,