The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 446
Tale-Porter, as well as five or six honest women that were
there. Why would I broadcast lies?
MOPSA
Pray you now, buy it.
Please, buy it.
Clown
Come on, lay it by: and let's first see moe
ballads; we'll buy the other things anon.
Come on, put it on one side: let's see more
ballads first; we'll buy the other things in due course.
AUTOLYCUS
Here's another ballad of a fish, that appeared upon
the coast on Wednesday the four-score of April,
forty thousand fathom above water, and sung this
ballad against the hard hearts of maids: it was
thought she was a woman and was turned into a cold
fish for she would not exchange flesh with one that
loved her: the ballad is very pitiful and as true.
Here's another ballad about a fish, that appeared
off the coast on Wednesday the 80th of April,
forty thousand fathoms out of the water, and sang
this ballad against the hard hearts of maids:
it was thought she was a woman and was turned into a cold
fish because she would not give her body to someone
who loved her: the ballot is as sad as it is true.
DORCAS
Is it true too, think you?
You think it is true as well?
AUTOLYCUS
Five justices' hands at it, and witnesses more than
my pack will hold.
Five judges have signed to it, and more witnesses
then I could fit in my pack.
Clown
Lay it by too: another.
Put that to one side too: tell us about another.
AUTOLYCUS
This is a merry ballad, but a very pretty one.
This is a jolly ballad, but a very pretty one.
MOPSA
Let's have some merry ones.
Let's have some jolly ones.
AUTOLYCUS
Why, this is a passing merry one and goes to
the tune of 'Two maids wooing a man:' there's
scarce a maid westward but she sings it; 'tis in
request, I can tell you.
Well, this is a very jolly one and goes to the
tune of ‘Two maids wooing a man:’ all
the girls to the west of here are singing it; it's
very much the fashion, I can tell you.
MOPSA
We can both sing it: if thou'lt bear a part, thou
shalt hear; 'tis in three parts.
We can both sing it: if you take a part, you
will hear it; it is in three parts.
DORCAS
We had the tune on't a month ago.
The tune of it got here a month ago.
AUTOLYCUS
I can bear my part; you must know 'tis my
occupation; have at it with you.
I can sing my part; you know this is my
job; let's all sing together.
SONG
AUTOLYCUS
Get you hence, for I must go
Where it fits not you to know.
Go away, for I must go
to a place you cannot know of.
DORCAS
Whither?
Where?
MOPSA
O, whither?
Oh, where?
DORCAS
Whither?
Where?
MOPSA
It becomes thy oath full well,
Thou to me thy secrets tell.
You should keep your promise,
and tell me all your secrets.
DORCAS
Me too, let me go thither.
Me too, let me go there.
MOPSA
Or thou goest to the grange or mill.
Or you're going to the farm or the mill.
DORCAS
If to either, thou dost ill.
If to either, you're doing wrong.
AUTOLYCUS
Neither.
Neither.
DORCAS
What, neither?
What, neither?
AUTOLYCUS
Neither.
Neither.
DORCAS
Thou hast sworn my love to be.
You have sworn to be my love.
MOPSA
Thou hast sworn it more to me:
Then whither goest? say, whither?
You swore it more to me:
so where are you going? Tell me, where?
Clown
We'll have this song out anon by ourselves: my
father and the gentlemen are in sad talk, and we'll
not trouble them. Come, bring away thy pack after
me. Wenches, I'll buy for you both. Pedlar, let's
have the first choice. Follow me, girls.
Exit with DORCAS and MOPSA
We'll sing this song between ourselves soon: my
father and the gentlemen are talking seriously, and we'll
leave them to it. Come with me and bring your goods.
Girls, I'll treat you both. Pedlar, give us
first choice. Follow me, girls.
AUTOLYCUS
And you shall pay well for 'em.
Follows singing
Will you buy any tape,
Or lace for your cape,
My dainty duck, my dear-a?
Any silk, any thread,
Any toys for your head,
Of the new'st and finest, finest wear-a?
Come to the pedlar;
Money's a medler.
That doth utter all men's ware-a.
Exit
And you will pay well for them.
Will you buy any tape,
or lace for your cape,
my sweet duck, my dear?
Any silk, any thread,
any decorations for your head,
of the newest and finest style?
Come to the pedlar;
money gets involved
when men are offering their goods.
Re-enter Servant
Servant
Master, there is three carters, three shepherds,
three neat-herds, three swine-herds, that have made
themselves all men of hair, they call themselves
Saltiers, and they have a dance which the wenches
say is a gallimaufry of gambols, because they are
not in't; but they themselves are o' the mind, if it
be not too rough for some that know little but
bowling, it will please plentifully.
Master, there are three carters, three shepherds,
three cowherds, three swine-herds, that have dress themselves
up in skins, they call themselves
Saltiers, and they have a dance which the girls
say is a mess, because they are
not in it; but they would like to please you with it
if it's not too rough for those who don't do anything
more exciting than a game of bowls.
Shepherd
Away! we'll none on 't: here has been too much
homely foolery already. I know, sir, we weary you.
Go away! We won't have it: there has been too much
vulgar tomfoolery already. I know, sir, we are tiring you.
POLIXENES
You weary those that refresh us: pray, let's see
these four threes of herdsmen.
You're only tiring the ones that are entertaining us:
please, let's have a look at these four trios of herdsmen.
Servant
One three of them, by their own report, sir, hath
danced before the king; and not the worst of the
three but jumps twelve foot and a half by the squier.
One of the trios, according to them, sir, has
danced for the
king; and the best one
of the three can jump exactly twelve and a half feet.
Shepherd
Leave your prating: since these good men are
pleased, let them come in; but quickly now.
Quit your jabbering: since these good men have
agreed, let them come in; look sharp about it.
Servant
Why, they stay at door, sir.
Exit
Here a dance of twelve Satyrs
Why, they're just at the door, sir.
Here is a dance of twelve satyrs.
POLIXENES
O, father, you'll know more of that hereafter.
To CAMILLO
Is it not too far gone? 'Tis time to part them.
He's simple and tells much.
Oh, father, you'll know more about that later.
Hasn't this gone far enough? It's time to separate them.
He's simple and has told us plenty.
To FLORIZEL
How now, fair shepherd!
Your heart is full of something that does take
Your mind from feasting. Sooth, when I was young
And handed love as you do, I was wont
To load my she with knacks: I would have ransack'd
The pedlar's silken treasury and have pour'd it
To her acceptance; you have let him go
And nothing marted with him. If your lass
Interpretation should abuse and call this
Your lack of love or bounty, you were straited
For a reply, at least if you make a care
Of happy holding her.
Hello there, fair shepherd!
Your heart is full of something that takes
your mind off the feast. I swear, when I was young
and fell in love as you have, I used
to load my girl with gifts: I would have stripped
the pedlar's silken treasury and offered
it all to her; you have let him go
without doing a single deal. If your girl
takes this the wrong way, and accuses you
of a lack of love or generosity, you would be
hard-pressed for a reply, at least if you care
about making her happy.
FLORIZEL
Old sir, I know
She prizes not such trifles as these are:
The gifts she looks from me are pack'd and lock'd
Up in my heart; which I have given already,
But not deliver'd. O, hear me breathe my life
Before this ancient sir, who, it should seem,
Hath sometime loved! I take thy hand, this hand,
As soft as dove's down and as white as it,
Or Ethiopian's tooth, or the fann'd
snow that's bolted
By the northern blasts twice o'er.
Old gentleman, I know
she doesn't care about these fripperies:
the gifts she wants from me are packed and locked
up in my heart, which I have given already,
but not delivered. Let me make my vows of love
before this ancient gentleman, who, it would seem,
was once a lover himself. I take your hand, this hand,
as soft as a dove's feathers and as white as them,
or as an Ethiopian's tooth, or the blown snow
that's been twice sifted by the north wind.
POLIXENES
What follows this?
How prettily the young swain seems to wash
The hand was fair before! I have put you out:
But to your protestation; let me hear
What you profess.
What's all this?
How much nicer the young lad seems to make
the hand that was lovely already! I have upset you:
but on to your protestation; let me hear
what you have to say.
FLORIZEL
Do, and be witness to 't.
Do, and you can witness it.
POLIXENES
And this my neighbour too?
And my neighbour here too?
FLORIZEL
And he, and more
Than he, and men, the earth, the heavens, and all:
That, were I crown'd the most imperial monarch,
Thereof most worthy, were I the fairest youth
That ever made eye swerve, had force and knowledge
More than was ever man's, I would not prize them
Without her love; for her employ them all;
Commend them and condemn them to her service
Or to their own perdition.
Him too, and more
than him, and men, the Earth, the heavens, and all:
so that, if I were crowned the most powerful monarch,
and fully deserved it, if I was the most handsome youth
that ever caught the eye, had greater strength and knowledge
than any man ever had, I would not value them
without her love; I would use them all for her;
I would offer them to her service or else
get rid of them.
POLIXENES
Fairly offer'd.
A good offer.
CAMILLO
This shows a sound affection.
This shows a true love.
Shepherd
But, my daughter,
Say you the like to him?
But, my daughter,
do you feel the same way?
PERDITA
I cannot speak
So well, nothing so well; no, nor mean better:
By the pattern of mine own thoughts I cut out
The purity of his.
I cannot speak
as well, nothing so good; nor could I mean better:
I shape my thoughts exactly
to the mould of his.
Shepherd
Take hands, a bargain!
And, friends unknown, you shall bear witness to 't:
I give my daughter to him, and will make
Her portion equal his.
Join your hands, it's a deal!
And, unknown friends, you will witness it:
I give my daughter to him, and will give her
a dowry to match his fortune.
FLORIZEL
O, that must be
I' the virtue of your daughter: one being dead,
I shall have more than you can dream of yet;
Enough then for your wonder. But, come on,
Contract us 'fore these witnesses.
Oh, the fortune must be
the virtues of your daughter: when one person is dead,
I shall have more than you can ever dream of;
but let's wait until that happens. But, come on,
join us in front of these witnesses.
Shepherd
Come, your hand;
And, daughter, yours.
Come, give me your hand;
and, daughter, yours.
POLIXENES
Soft, swain, awhile, beseech you;
Have you a father?
Please, lad, just a moment;
do you have a father?
FLORIZEL
I have: but what of him?
I have: but what about him?
POLIXENES
Knows he of this?
Does he know about this?
FLORIZEL
He neither does nor shall.
He doesn't and he won't.
POLIXENES
Methinks a father
Is at the nuptial of his son a guest
That best becomes the table. Pray you once more,
Is not your father grown incapable
Of reasonable affairs? is he not stupid
With age and altering rheums? can he speak? hear?
Know man from man? dispute his own estate?
Lies he not bed-rid? and again does nothing
But what he did being childish?
&
nbsp; I think a father
is the most important guest
at his son's wedding. Let me ask you,
has your father become incapable
of behaving normally? Has he become
senile with age and changing health? Can he speak? Hear?
Distinguish one man from another? Run his own household?
Is he bedridden? Can he do nothing
but the things he did as a child?
FLORIZEL
No, good sir;
He has his health and ampler strength indeed
Than most have of his age.
No, good sir;
he has his health, and is in fact stronger
than most men of his age.
POLIXENES
By my white beard,
You offer him, if this be so, a wrong
Something unfilial: reason my son
Should choose himself a wife, but as good reason
The father, all whose joy is nothing else
But fair posterity, should hold some counsel
In such a business.
By my white beard,
if that's the case you are doing him a wrong
that a son should not: it is permissible
for a son to choose himself a wife, but just as much
the father, whose happiness is all to do with
his descendants, should have some say