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

by William Shakespeare

  just an hour ago I was as sorry to have lost

  as I was glad to have Arcite; and now I am as glad

  to have him as I am sorry for Arcite. Oh you gods,

  what things you make of us! We love things

  we don't have, don't like what we have, we're still

  like children in some ways. Let us be thankful

  for the way things are, and leave you to decide

  things that are beyond us. Let us go,

  and make the most of our time.

  Flourish. Exeunt.

  (Epilogue)

  EPILOGUE

  I would now ask ye how ye like the play,

  But as it is with schoolboys, cannot say;

  I am cruel fearful. Pray yet stay a while,

  And let me look upon ye. No man smile?

  Then it goes hard, I see. He that has

  Lov’d a young handsome wench then, show his face—

  ’Tis strange if none be here—and if he will

  Against his conscience, let him hiss, and kill

  Our market. ’Tis in vain, I see, to stay ye;

  Have at the worst can come, then! Now what say ye?

  And yet mistake me not: I am not bold,

  We have no such cause. If the tale we have told

  (For ’tis no other) any way content ye

  (For to that honest purpose it was meant ye),

  We have our end; and ye shall have ere long

  I dare say many a better, to prolong

  Your old loves to us. We, and all our might,

  Rest at your service. Gentlemen, good night.

  I would ask you now how you like the play,

  but I'm like a schoolboy, I can't ask;

  I am very afraid. Please stay awhile,

  and let me look at you. Is nobody smiling?

  Then you don't like it, I see. If anyone here

  has loved a handsome young girl, show his face–

  it would be strange if there were none–and if he

  wants to be a hypocrite, let him hiss, and ruin

  our ticket sales. I can see there's no point in trying to stop you;

  give it your worst then! Now what do you say?

  And yet don't misunderstand me: I am not angry,

  we have no reason to be. If the story we have told

  (for it's just a story) has pleased you in any way

  (for that was what we were trying to do),

  we have our reward; and I daresay before long

  you will see many better plays, and that will make you

  remain as our patrons. We, and all our strength,

  are at your service. Gentlemen, good night.

  Flourish.

  LEONTES, King of Sicilia

  MAMILLIUS, his son

  CAMILLO, Sicilian Lord

  ANTIGONUS, Sicilian Lord

  CLEOMENES, Sicilian Lord

  DION, Sicilian Lord

  Other Sicilian Lords.

  Sicilian Gentlemen.

  Officers of a Court of Judicature

  POLIXENES, King of Bohemia

  FLORIZEL, his son

  ARCHIDAMUS, a Bohemian Lord

  A Mariner

  Gaoler

  An Old Shepherd, reputed father of Perdita

  CLOWN, his son

  Servant to the Old Shepherd

  AUTOLYCUS, a rogue

  TIME, as Chorus

  HERMIONE, Queen to Leontes

  PERDITA, daughter to Leontes and Hermione

  PAULINA, wife to Antigonus

  EMILIA, a lady attending on the Queen

  Other Ladies, attending on the Queen

  MOPSA, shepherdess

  DORCAS, shepherdess

  Lords, Ladies, and Attendants

  Satyrs for a Dance

  Shepherds, Shepherdesses, Guards, &c.

  SCENE: Sometimes in Sicilia; sometimes in Bohemia.

  SCENE I. Antechamber in LEONTES' palace.

  Enter CAMILLO and ARCHIDAMUS

  ARCHIDAMUS

  If you shall chance, Camillo, to visit Bohemia, on

  the like occasion whereon my services are now on

  foot, you shall see, as I have said, great

  difference betwixt our Bohemia and your Sicilia.

  If you happen, Camillo, to visit Bohemia, on

  the same sort of mission as I am undertaking,

  you will see, as I said, a great

  difference between our Bohemia and your Sicily.

  CAMILLO

  I think, this coming summer, the King of Sicilia

  means to pay Bohemia the visitation which he justly owes him.

  I think, this coming summer, the King of Sicily

  intends to make the return visit to Bohemia which he is due.

  ARCHIDAMUS

  Wherein our entertainment shall shame us; we will be

  justified in our loves; for indeed--

  When he does our entertainment will embarrass us; we will

  make up for it with our love; for in fact–

  CAMILLO

  Beseech you,--

  Please, now–

  ARCHIDAMUS

  Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge:

  we cannot with such magnificence, in so rare--I know

  not what to say. We will give you sleepy drinks,

  that your senses, unintelligent of our insufficience,

  may, though they cannot praise us, as little accuse

  us.

  Honestly, I know what I'm talking about:

  we cannot compete with such magnificence, such rarities–I don't

  know what to say. We shall have to drug your drinks,

  so that your senses, being unable to see our inadequacies,

  might, although they couldn't praise us, not criticise us.

  CAMILLO

  You pay a great deal too dear for what's given freely.

  You're trying too hard for something we'd be delighted to give.

  ARCHIDAMUS

  Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me

  and as mine honesty puts it to utterance.

  Believe me, I'm saying what I know,

  in the manner which honesty compels me.

  CAMILLO

  Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bohemia.

  They were trained together in their childhoods; and

  there rooted betwixt them then such an affection,

  which cannot choose but branch now. Since their

  more mature dignities and royal necessities made

  separation of their society, their encounters,

  though not personal, have been royally attorneyed

  with interchange of gifts, letters, loving

  embassies; that they have seemed to be together,

  though absent, shook hands, as over a vast, and

  embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed

  winds. The heavens continue their loves!

  Sicily cannot treat Bohemia with enough kindness.

  They were educated together as children; and

  such affection grew up between them

  that they are now inseparable. Since the

  responsibilities of adulthood and their royal duties

  forced them to live apart, their meetings,

  though not personal, have been carried out by

  substitutes, with a royal exchange of gifts, letters,

  loving messages; so it seemed as though they were together,

  though apart; as if they shook hands over a great distance;

  and embraced, as it were, from far corners

  of the earth. May the gods keep them so affectionate!

  ARCHIDAMUS

  I think there is not in the world either malice or

  matter to alter it. You have an unspeakable

  comfort of your young prince Mamillius: it is a

  gentleman of the greatest promise that ever came

  into my note.

  I don't think t
hat there is any evil or

  subject in the world that could alter it. You are

  incredibly lucky to have your young Prince Mamillius:

  he's got more promise than any gentleman who ever

  came to my attention.

  CAMILLO

  I very well agree with you in the hopes of him: it

  is a gallant child; one that indeed physics the

  subject, makes old hearts fresh: they that went on

  crutches ere he was born desire yet their life to

  see him a man.

  I certainly agree with you about his potential: he

  is a gallant child; he's one who cheers the soul,

  livens up old hearts: people who were

  already walking with sticks before he was born

  want to live long enough to

  see him grow up to be a man.

  ARCHIDAMUS

  Would they else be content to die?

  Would they have been happy to die otherwise?

  CAMILLO

  Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should

  desire to live.

  Yes; if there was no other reason for living.

  ARCHIDAMUS

  If the king had no son, they would desire to live

  on crutches till he had one.

  Exeunt

  If the king didn't have a son, they would want to live,

  sticks and all, until he had one.

  SCENE II. A room of state in the same.

  Enter LEONTES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS, POLIXENES, CAMILLO, and Attendants

  POLIXENES

  Nine changes of the watery star hath been

  The shepherd's note since we have left our throne

  Without a burthen: time as long again

  Would be find up, my brother, with our thanks;

  And yet we should, for perpetuity,

  Go hence in debt: and therefore, like a cipher,

  Yet standing in rich place, I multiply

  With one 'We thank you' many thousands moe

  That go before it.

  Nine months have passed since

  I left my throne

  empty: it would take as much time again,

  my brother, to thank you properly,

  and I would still be in your debt

  forever: so one ‘thank you’ must act

  like a zero added to the end of a number,

  worthless in itself but multiplying all the

  thousands which went before it.

  LEONTES

  Stay your thanks a while;

  And pay them when you part.

  Don't thank me yet;

  do that when you leave.

  POLIXENES

  Sir, that's to-morrow.

  I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance

  Or breed upon our absence; that may blow

  No sneaping winds at home, to make us say

  'This is put forth too truly:' besides, I have stay'd

  To tire your royalty.

  Sir, I'm leaving tomorrow.

  I am worried by thoughts of what might happen,

  or be brewing, while I'm away; I hope

  there are no ill winds blowing at home, that would make me say,

  "My fears were justified." Anyway, I've outstayed

  your royal welcome.

  LEONTES

  We are tougher, brother,

  Than you can put us to't.

  I can put up with you

  for far longer, brother.

  POLIXENES

  No longer stay.

  I can't stay any longer.

  LEONTES

  One seven-night longer.

  Just another week.

  POLIXENES

  Very sooth, to-morrow.

  No, I must go tomorrow.

  LEONTES

  We'll part the time between's then; and in that

  I'll no gainsaying.

  We'll split the difference, and that's

  my last word on the matter.

  POLIXENES

  Press me not, beseech you, so.

  There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' the world,

  So soon as yours could win me: so it should now,

  Were there necessity in your request, although

  'Twere needful I denied it. My affairs

  Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder

  Were in your love a whip to me; my stay

  To you a charge and trouble: to save both,

  Farewell, our brother.

  Please don't tempt me.

  There is nobody in the world who could

  convince me as easily as you; you would do now,

  if there was any reason for your request, even

  if I really ought to refuse it. My affairs

  are calling me home; to stop me would be

  doing me wrong, even though done out of love;

  it would not do you credit for me to stay; to

  prevent this I say goodbye, my brother.

  LEONTES

  Tongue-tied, our queen?

  speak you.

  Silent, my queen?

  Speak.

  HERMIONE

  I had thought, sir, to have held my peace until

  You have drawn oaths from him not to stay. You, sir,

  Charge him too coldly. Tell him, you are sure

  All in Bohemia's well; this satisfaction

  The by-gone day proclaim'd: say this to him,

  He's beat from his best ward.

  I was going to keep my peace until

  you had made him promise to stay. You, sir,

  have not done your best. Tell him, you are certain

  that everything is fine in Bohemia; I had the news

  from there just yesterday; tell him we've beaten

  his best defence.

  LEONTES

  Well said, Hermione.

  Well said, Hermione.

  HERMIONE

  To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong:

  But let him say so then, and let him go;

  But let him swear so, and he shall not stay,

  We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.

  Yet of your royal presence I'll adventure

  The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia

  You take my lord, I'll give him my commission

  To let him there a month behind the gest

  Prefix'd for's parting: yet, good deed, Leontes,

  I love thee not a jar o' the clock behind

  What lady-she her lord. You'll stay?

  If he said he was longing to see his son, that would be a good reason:

  but if that's the case let him say so, and let him go;

  but if he says he can't stay for the reason he's given

  we'll drive him out of here with canes.

  But I'll ask for you to stay here

  an extra week. If you do then when you host

  my husband in Bohemia I'll let him stay

  a month longer than his allotted time, even though,

  good Leontes, I don't love you a whisker less

  than any other lady loves her lord. Will you stay?

  POLIXENES

  No, madam.

  No, madam

  HERMIONE

  Nay, but you will?

  No meaning yes?

  POLIXENES

  I may not, verily.

  I really can't.

  HERMIONE

  Verily!

  You put me off with limber vows; but I,

  Though you would seek to unsphere the

  stars with oaths,

  Should yet say 'Sir, no going.' Verily,

  You shall not go: a lady's 'Verily' 's

  As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet?

  Force me to keep you as a prisoner,

  Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees

  When you depart, and save your thanks. How say you?

  My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread 'Verily,'

 
One of them you shall be.

  Really!

  You put me off with shoddy excuses; but I,

  even though you're trying to swear so forcefully

  that you must go,

  will still say, 'Sir, don't go.' Really,

  you shan't go: a lady's 'really' is just

  as powerful as a lord's. Do you still say you'll go?

  You'll force me to keep you as a prisoner,

  Not as a guest; you'll have to pay for your keep

  when you leave, never mind your thanks. What do you say?

  Will you be my prisoner, or my guest? With your "really",

  you'll be one of them.

  POLIXENES

  Your guest, then, madam:

  To be your prisoner should import offending;

  Which is for me less easy to commit

  Than you to punish.

  I'll be your guest then madam:

  to be your prisoner would mean I would have to commit an offence,

  and that would be easier for you to punish

  than for me to commit.

  HERMIONE

  Not your gaoler, then,

  But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you

  Of my lord's tricks and yours when you were boys:

  You were pretty lordings then?

  So I won't be your jailer, then,

  but your kind hostess. come, I want to question you

  about the tricks you and my lord got up to when you were boys:

  you were pretty little lords then?

  POLIXENES

  We were, fair queen,

  Two lads that thought there was no more behind

  But such a day to-morrow as to-day,

  And to be boy eternal.

  We were, fair queen,

  two lads who thought there was no more to come

  except a tomorrow which would be the same as today,