THIRD COUNTRY FOLK
And I.
And me.
FOURTH COUNTRY FOLK
Why then have with ye, boys! ’Tis but a chiding.
Let the plough play today, I’ll tickle’t out
Of the jades’ tails tomorrow.
Well then I'll come with you, boys! I'll only get a telling off.
I'll leave the plough idle today, I'll whip the nags
unmercifully tomorrow.
FIRST COUNTRY FOLK
I am sure
To have my wife as jealous as a turkey.
But that’s all one, I’ll go through, let her mumble.
I am sure
my wife will be as jealous as a turkey.
But that doesn't matter, I'll do it, let her grumble.
SECOND COUNTRY FOLK
Clap her aboard tomorrow night, and stow her,
And all’s made up again.
Jump on board her tomorrow night, fill her up,
and everything will be all right again.
THIRD COUNTRY FOLK
Ay, do but put
A fescue in her fist, and you shall see her
Take a new lesson out, and be a good wench.
Do we all hold against the Maying?
Yes, just put
a rod in her fist, and you will see her
learn a new lesson, and behave herself.
Are we all determined to go to the May Day Festival?
FOURTH COUNTRY FOLK
Hold?
What should ail us?
Determined?
What is there to stop us?
THIRD COUNTRY FOLK
Arcas will be there.
Arcas will be there.
SECOND COUNTRY FOLK
And Sennois,
And Rycas, and three better lads nev’r danc’d
Under green tree; and ye know what wenches, ha?
But will the dainty domine, the schoolmaster,
Keep touch, do you think? For he does all, ye know.
And Sennois,
and Rycas, and three better lads never danced
under the maypole; and you know what girls there will be, eh?
But will that refined schoolmaster, come up
to scratch, do you think? For he organises everything, you know.
THIRD COUNTRY FOLK
He’ll eat a horn-book ere he fail. Go to!
The matter’s too far driven between him
And the tanner’s daughter to let slip now;
And she must see the Duke, and she must dance too.
He'd eat a textbook before he let us down. Come on!
The business between him and the tanner's
daughter is too far gone for him to back out now;
and she must see the Duke, and she must dance.
FOURTH COUNTRY FOLK
Shall we be lusty?
Shall we be lusty?
SECOND COUNTRY FOLK
All the boys in Athens
Blow wind i’ th’ breech on ’s, and here I’ll be,
And there I’ll be, for our town, and here again,
And there again. Ha, boys, heigh for the weavers!
We'll leave all the boys in Athens
puffing in our wake, and I'll be here,
then I'll be there, for our town, and here again,
and there again. Come on boys, hurray for the weavers!
FIRST COUNTRY FOLK
This must be done i’ th’ woods.
We must do this in the woods.
FOURTH COUNTRY FOLK
O, pardon me!
Oh, excuse me!
SECOND COUNTRY FOLK
By any means; our thing of learning says so—
Where he himself will edify the Duke
Most parlously in our behalfs. He’s excellent i’ th’ woods,
Bring him to th’ plains, his learning makes no cry.
This is the way; our educated man says so–
he himself will instruct the Duke energetically on our behalf.
He is excellent in the woods,
bring him to the open country and he doesn't make a sound.
THIRD COUNTRY FOLK
We’ll see the sports, then every man to ’s tackle!
And, sweet companions, let’s rehearse by any means
Before the ladies see us, and do sweetly,
And God knows what may come on’t.
We'll watch the games, then every man should look to his equipment!
And, sweet friends, let's find any way we can rehearse
before the ladies see us, and if we do it well,
God knows what good it might do us.
FOURTH COUNTRY FOLK
Content. The sports
Once ended, we’ll perform. Away, boys, and hold!
I agree. Once the sports
are over, we'll do our bit. Off we go, boys, and stick together!
ARCITE
Comes forward.
By your leaves, honest friends: pray you, whither go you?
If you'll excuse me, honest friends: may I ask where you are going?
FOURTH COUNTRY FOLK
Whither? Why, what a question’s that?
Where? Why, what sort of question is that?
ARCITE
Yes, ’tis a question
To me that know not.
Well, it's a question
asked by me who doesn't know the answer.
THIRD COUNTRY FOLK
To the games, my friend.
We're going to the games, my friend.
SECOND COUNTRY FOLK
Where were you bred you know it not?
Where were you born to not know that?
ARCITE
Not far, sir.
Are there such games today?
Not far away, sir.
Are they holding these games today?
FIRST COUNTRY FOLK
Yes, marry, are there;
And such as you never saw. The Duke himself
Will be in person there.
They certainly are;
games the like of which you've never seen. The Duke himself
will be there in person.
ARCITE
What pastimes are they?
What sort of things do they do?
SECOND COUNTRY FOLK
Wrastling and running.—’Tis a pretty fellow.
Wrestling and running.–This is a funny chap.
THIRD COUNTRY FOLK
Thou wilt not go along?
Won't you come along?
ARCITE
Not yet, sir.
Not yet, sir.
FOURTH COUNTRY FOLK
Well, sir,
Take your own time. Come, boys.
Well, sir,
take your own time. Come, boys.
FIRST COUNTRY FOLK
My mind misgives me
This fellow has a veng’ance trick o’ th’ hip,
Mark how his body’s made for’t.
I'm a bit worried,
this chap looks as though he could be a very good dancer,
see how his body looks as if he's made for it.
SECOND COUNTRY FOLK
I’ll be hang’d though
If he dare venture. Hang him, plum porridge!
He wrastle? He roast eggs! Come let’s be gone, lads.
I'll be hanged
if he dares to turn up. Hang him, great lumberer!
Him wrestle? As likely as him roasting eggs! Come on, let's go lads.
Exeunt four Countrymen.
ARCITE
This is an offer’d opportunity
I durst not wish for. Well I could have wrestled,
The best men call’d it excellent; and run
Swifter than wind upon a field of corn,
Curling the wealthy ears, never flew. I’ll venture,
And in some poor disguise be there. Who knows
Whether my brows may not be girt with garlands,
And
happiness prefer me to a place
Where I may ever dwell in sight of her?
This is a better chance
and I could have hoped for. I used to be a good wrestler,
the experts said I was excellent; and I can run
faster than any wind that ever rustled
through a field of corn. I'll risk it,
and go there disguised as a poor man. Who knows,
I might win some prizes there and so
be given a position through my success
where I could live for ever in sight of her.
Exit Arcite.
Athens. A room in the prison.
(Jailer’s Daughter)
Enter Jailer’s Daughter alone.
JAILER’S DAUGHTER
Why should I love this gentleman? ’Tis odds
He never will affect me. I am base,
My father the mean keeper of his prison,
And he a prince. To marry him is hopeless;
To be his whore is witless. Out upon’t!
What pushes are we wenches driven to
When fifteen once has found us! First, I saw him:
I, seeing, thought he was a goodly man;
He has as much to please a woman in him
(If he please to bestow it so) as ever
These eyes yet look’d on. Next, I pitied him;
And so would any young wench o’ my conscience
That ever dream’d, or vow’d her maidenhead
To a young handsome man. Then, I lov’d him,
Extremely lov’d him, infinitely lov’d him;
And yet he had a cousin, fair as he too;
But in my heart was Palamon, and there,
Lord, what a coil he keeps! To hear him
Sing in an evening, what a heaven it is!
And yet his songs are sad ones. Fairer spoken
Was never gentleman. When I come in
To bring him water in a morning, first
He bows his noble body, then salutes me thus:
“Fair gentle maid, good morrow. May thy goodness
Get thee a happy husband!” Once he kiss’d me—
I lov’d my lips the better ten days after.
Would he would do so ev’ry day! He grieves much,
And me as much to see his misery.
What should I do to make him know I love him,
For I would fain enjoy him? Say I ventur’d
To set him free? What says the law then?
Thus much for law or kindred! I will do it,
And this night, or tomorrow, he shall love me.
Why do I love this gentleman? The odds are
that he will never love me. I am lowborn,
my father is the mean jailer of his prison,
and he is a prince. There's no hope of marrying him,
and I would be an idiot to be his whore. Dammit!
What lengths we girls are driven to
once we have turned fifteen! First, I saw him:
when I saw him I thought he was a handsome man;
he has as much good stuff to please a woman,
if he ever chooses to share it, as these eyes
ever saw. Next, I pitied him;
that's what any young girl would do if she
had ever dreamed, or promised her virginity
to a handsome young man. Then, I loved him,
loved him hugely, infinitely;
but he had a cousin, just as handsome;
but my heart had fallen for Palamon, and there,
lord, what a disturbance he causes! Hearing him
sing in the evening, how heavenly that is!
And yet his songs are sad. No gentleman
was ever so kindly spoken. When I come in
to bring him water in the morning, he first
bows to me, then he greets me in this way:
“Beautiful kind maid, good day. May your goodness
bring you a happy marriage!" He once kissed me–
I liked my lips so much more for the next ten days.
I wish he would do that every day! He is often depressed
and I'm just as depressed to see his misery.
What can I do to let him know I love him,
that I would like to have him? What if I risked
setting him free? What would the law say then?
I don't care about law or family! I will do it,
and tonight, or tomorrow, he will love me.
Exit.
Athens. An open place.
(Theseus, Hippolyta, Pirithous, Emilia, Arcite)
This short flourish of cornets, and shouts within. Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Pirithous, Emilia, Arcite disguised, with a garland, etc.
THESEUS
You have done worthily. I have not seen,
Since Hercules, a man of tougher sinews.
What e’er you are, you run the best, and wrastle,
That these times can allow.
You did very well. I have not seen,
since Hercules, a man with better muscles.
Whoever you are, you are the best runner, and wrestler,
that we have seen in these times.
ARCITE
I am proud to please you.
I am happy that you are pleased with me.
THESEUS
What country bred you?
What country did you grow up in?
ARCITE
This; but far off, prince.
This one; but a long way off, prince.
THESEUS
Are you a gentleman?
Are you a gentleman?
ARCITE
My father said so;
And to those gentle uses gave me life.
My father said so;
and he raised me as one.
THESEUS
Are you his heir?
Are you his heir?
ARCITE
His youngest, sir.
I am his youngest, sir.
THESEUS
Your father
Sure is a happy sire then. What proves you?
Your father
certainly is a lucky one then. What shows you are a gentleman?
ARCITE
A little of all noble qualities:
I could have kept a hawk, and well have hollow’d
To a deep cry of dogs; I dare not praise
My feat in horsemanship, yet they that knew me
Would say it was my best piece; last, and greatest,
I would be thought a soldier.
I have a little of all the noble qualities:
I can hunt with a hawk, and have
ridden with hounds; I dare not praise
my achievements in horsemanship, but those who know me
said it was my best accomplishment; lastly, and most important,
I want to be thought of as a soldier.
THESEUS
You are perfect.
You are perfect.
PIRITHOUS
Upon my soul, a proper man!
I swear, a real man!
EMILIA
He is so.
He certainly is.
PIRITHOUS
How do you like him, lady?
What do you think of him, lady?
HIPPOLYTA
I admire him;
I have not seen so young a man so noble
(If he say true) of his sort.
I admire him;
I have never seen such a young man
(if he's telling the truth) so noble.
EMILIA
Believe
His mother was a wondrous handsome woman,
His face, methinks, goes that way.
I imagine
his mother was a very beautiful woman,
I think his face shows that.
HIPPOLYTA
But his body
And fiery mind illustrate a brave father.
But his body
and passionate mind show he had a brave father.
PIRITHOUS
Mark how his virtue, like a hidden sun,
Breaks through his baser garments.
See how his virtue, like the sun behind clouds,
shows through his poor clothes.
HIPPOLYTA
He’s well got sure.
He's certainly well bred.
THESEUS
What made you seek this place, sir?
What made you come to this place, sir?
ARCITE
Noble Theseus,
To purchase name, and do my ablest service
To such a well-found wonder as thy worth,
For only in thy court, of all the world,
Dwells fair-ey’d honor.
Noble Theseus,
to win fame, and to offer my best service
to such a great man as you,
for it's only in your court, out of all the world,
where glorious honour can be found.
PIRITHOUS
All his words are worthy.
Everything he says is good.
THESEUS
Sir, we are much indebted to your travel,
Nor shall you lose your wish. Pirithous,
Dispose of this fair gentleman.
Sir, we appreciate your coming here,
and you shall get what you wish. Pirithous,
make arrangements for this fine gentleman.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) Page 419