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

by William Shakespeare

  embraces his son-in-law; then again worries he his

  daughter with clipping her; now he thanks the old

  shepherd, which stands by like a weather-bitten

  conduit of many kings' reigns. I never heard of such

  another encounter, which lames report to follow it

  and undoes description to do it.

  Then you missed an indescribable sight.

  You would have seen one happiness

  on top of another, in such a way that it

  seemed that sorrow wept to leave them, for their

  joy was drowned in tears. There was a rolling of eyes,

  holding up of hands, with faces so

  contorted that they could only be known by their clothes,

  not their appearance. Our king, being beside

  himself with joy at finding his daughter, as if that joy

  had now become a loss, cried, ‘oh, your mother, your

  mother!’ Then he asked Bohemia for forgiveness; then embraced

  his son-in-law; then again he ruffled his

  daughter by hugging her; now he thanked the old

  shepherd, who was standing by, like a weatherbeaten

  gargoyle which had seen many kings' reigns. I never heard of such

  a meeting, which cannot be imagined from hearing about it,

  it was indescribable.

  Second Gentleman

  What, pray you, became of Antigonus, that carried

  hence the child?

  Tell me, what became of Antigonus, who carried

  the child there?

  Third Gentleman

  Like an old tale still, which will have matter to

  rehearse, though credit be asleep and not an ear

  open. He was torn to pieces with a bear: this

  avouches the shepherd's son; who has not only his

  innocence, which seems much, to justify him, but a

  handkerchief and rings of his that Paulina knows.

  It's still like a legend, which still has things to say

  even when nobody believes it or is even listening.

  He was torn to pieces by a bear: this

  is sworn to by the shepherd's son; he is backed up

  not only by his innocence, which seems great, but a

  handkerchief and rings of his that Paulina recognised.

  First Gentleman

  What became of his bark and his followers?

  What happened to his ship and his followers?

  Third Gentleman

  Wrecked the same instant of their master's death and

  in the view of the shepherd: so that all the

  instruments which aided to expose the child were

  even then lost when it was found. But O, the noble

  combat that 'twixt joy and sorrow was fought in

  Paulina! She had one eye declined for the loss of

  her husband, another elevated that the oracle was

  fulfilled: she lifted the princess from the earth,

  and so locks her in embracing, as if she would pin

  her to her heart that she might no more be in danger

  of losing.

  It was wrecked at the same time as their master died,

  the shepherd saw it: so all the

  things which conspired to expose the child were

  lost at the moment it was found. But oh, what a

  noble battle Paulina fought between joy and

  sorrow. She had one eye cast down at the loss of

  her husband, another raised up because the Oracle was

  fulfilled: she lifted the princess off the ground

  and hugged her so tight, it was as if she wanted

  to pin her to her heart so that she could never

  lose her again.

  First Gentleman

  The dignity of this act was worth the audience of

  kings and princes; for by such was it acted.

  The beauty of this act was worthy of its audience of

  kings and princes; because it was played out by them.

  Third Gentleman

  One of the prettiest touches of all and that which

  angled for mine eyes, caught the water though not

  the fish, was when, at the relation of the queen's

  death, with the manner how she came to't bravely

  confessed and lamented by the king, how

  attentiveness wounded his daughter; till, from one

  sign of dolour to another, she did, with an 'Alas,'

  I would fain say, bleed tears, for I am sure my

  heart wept blood. Who was most marble there changed

  colour; some swooned, all sorrowed: if all the world

  could have seen 't, the woe had been universal.

  One of the prettiest touches of all, and the one which

  caught my eye, pulling the water out if not

  the fish, was when, at the story of the queen's

  death, with the manner of how it happened being

  honestly confessed and lamented by the king, how

  hearing it wounded his daughter; until, between

  one sad sigh and another she said, ‘Alas,’

  and did, I would say, bleed tears, for I am sure my

  heart wept blood. The hardest people changed

  colour; some fainted, all lamented: if everybody

  could have seen it, the whole world would be sorrowing.

  First Gentleman

  Are they returned to the court?

  Have they gone back to the court?

  Third Gentleman

  No: the princess hearing of her mother's statue,

  which is in the keeping of Paulina,--a piece many

  years in doing and now newly performed by that rare

  Italian master, Julio Romano, who, had he himself

  eternity and could put breath into his work, would

  beguile Nature of her custom, so perfectly he is her

  ape: he so near to Hermione hath done Hermione that

  they say one would speak to her and stand in hope of

  answer: thither with all greediness of affection

  are they gone, and there they intend to sup.

  No: when the princess heard about her mother's statue,

  which Paulina has–a piece which took many

  years to complete, only just finished by that amazing

  Italian master, Julio Romano, who, if he had

  eternity and could make his works breathe, would

  put Nature out of business, he copies her so perfectly:

  he has made such a perfect image of Hermione that

  they say that one would speak to her and wait expecting

  an answer: so they have gone there with the eagerness of love

  intending to drink their fill.

  Second Gentleman

  I thought she had some great matter there in hand;

  for she hath privately twice or thrice a day, ever

  since the death of Hermione, visited that removed

  house. Shall we thither and with our company piece

  the rejoicing?

  I thought she had some great business going on there;

  for she has, alone, two or three times a day, ever

  since the death of Hermione, visited that isolated

  building. Shall we go there and add our company

  to the rejoicing?

  First Gentleman

  Who would be thence that has the benefit of access?

  every wink of an eye some new grace will be born:

  our absence makes us unthrifty to our knowledge.

  Let's along.

  Exeunt Gentlemen

  Who wouldn't be there if they were allowed in?

  Some new beauty seems to happen every second:

  not being there means we're missing out.

  Let's go.

  AUTOLYCUS

  Now, had I not the dash of my former life in me,

  would
preferment drop on my head. I brought the old

  man and his son aboard the prince: told him I heard

  them talk of a fardel and I know not what: but he

  at that time, overfond of the shepherd's daughter,

  so he then took her to be, who began to be much

  sea-sick, and himself little better, extremity of

  weather continuing, this mystery remained

  undiscovered. But 'tis all one to me; for had I

  been the finder out of this secret, it would not

  have relished among my other discredits.

  Enter Shepherd and Clown

  Here come those I have done good to against my will,

  and already appearing in the blossoms of their fortune.

  Now, if I didn't have the taint of my former life on me,

  promotion would come my way. I brought the old

  man and his son to the prince's ship: I told him I heard

  them talk of a bundle and goodness knows what else: but he

  at that time, too concerned with the shepherd's daughter,

  as he then thought she was, who began to be very

  seasick, and he wasn't much better, with the bad

  weather carrying on, this mystery was not

  investigated. But it's all the same to me; if I

  had discovered the secret, it wouldn't

  have outweighed all my other black marks.

  Here come the ones I have helped without meaning to,

  their appearance shows they've already gone up in the world.

  Shepherd

  Come, boy; I am past moe children, but thy sons and

  daughters will be all gentlemen born.

  Come, boy; I'm past child-rearing age, but your sons and

  daughters will all be born gentlemen.

  Clown

  You are well met, sir. You denied to fight with me

  this other day, because I was no gentleman born.

  See you these clothes? say you see them not and

  think me still no gentleman born: you were best say

  these robes are not gentlemen born: give me the

  lie, do, and try whether I am not now a gentleman born.

  I'm glad to meet you, sir. You refused to fight with me

  the other day, because I was not born a gentleman.

  Do you see these clothes? You can't look at them

  and still say I am not a born gentleman: you might just as well

  say these robes are not born gentlemen: lie to me

  now, go on, and see if I am not a born gentleman.

  AUTOLYCUS

  I know you are now, sir, a gentleman born.

  I know you have now, sir, become a born gentleman.

  Clown

  Ay, and have been so any time these four hours.

  Yes, and I have been for the last four hours.

  Shepherd

  And so have I, boy.

  And so have I, boy.

  Clown

  So you have: but I was a gentleman born before my

  father; for the king's son took me by the hand, and

  called me brother; and then the two kings called my

  father brother; and then the prince my brother and

  the princess my sister called my father father; and

  so we wept, and there was the first gentleman-like

  tears that ever we shed.

  Yes you have: but I was a born gentleman before my

  father; because the king's son took me by the hand, and

  called me his brother; and then the two kings called my

  father brother; and then the prince my brother and

  the princess my sister called my father father; and

  so we wept, and those were the first gentlemanly

  tears that we ever shed.

  Shepherd

  We may live, son, to shed many more.

  We may live, son, to shed many more.

  Clown

  Ay; or else 'twere hard luck, being in so

  preposterous estate as we are.

  Yes, or else we would be very unlucky, seeing

  the preposterous state we're in.

  AUTOLYCUS

  I humbly beseech you, sir, to pardon me all the

  faults I have committed to your worship and to give

  me your good report to the prince my master.

  I humbly beg you, sir, to forgive me all the

  wrongs I have done your worship and to give

  a good report of me to the prince my master.

  Shepherd

  Prithee, son, do; for we must be gentle, now we are

  gentlemen.

  Please do this, son; for we must be gentle, now we are

  gentlemen.

  Clown

  Thou wilt amend thy life?

  You will change your lifestyle?

  AUTOLYCUS

  Ay, an it like your good worship.

  Yes, if it pleases your good worship.

  Clown

  Give me thy hand: I will swear to the prince thou

  art as honest a true fellow as any is in Bohemia.

  Give me your hand: I will swear to the Prince that you

  are as honest a loyal fellow as anyone in Bohemia.

  Shepherd

  You may say it, but not swear it.

  You can say it, but don't swear it.

  Clown

  Not swear it, now I am a gentleman? Let boors and

  franklins say it, I'll swear it.

  Not swear it, now I'm a gentleman? Let peasants and

  yeomen say it, I shall swear it.

  Shepherd

  How if it be false, son?

  What if it turns out to be false, son?

  Clown

  If it be ne'er so false, a true gentleman may swear

  it in the behalf of his friend: and I'll swear to

  the prince thou art a tall fellow of thy hands and

  that thou wilt not be drunk; but I know thou art no

  tall fellow of thy hands and that thou wilt be

  drunk: but I'll swear it, and I would thou wouldst

  be a tall fellow of thy hands.

  However false it is, a true gentleman may swear

  to it on behalf of a friend: and I'll swear to

  the prince that you are a good and brave man

  and that you won't get drunk; although I know you are not

  a good and brave man and that you will get

  drunk: but I'll swear to it, and I want you to be

  a good and brave man.

  AUTOLYCUS

  I will prove so, sir, to my power.

  I'll do the best I can, sir.

  Clown

  Ay, by any means prove a tall fellow: if I do not

  wonder how thou darest venture to be drunk, not

  being a tall fellow, trust me not. Hark! the kings

  and the princes, our kindred, are going to see the

  queen's picture. Come, follow us: we'll be thy

  good masters.

  Exeunt

  Yes, do anything you can to show you're a good fellow: if I do not

  wonder how you can dare to get drunk, if you're not

  a good fellow, don't trust me. Listen! The kings

  and the princes, our relatives, are going to see the

  image of the queen. Come on, follow us: we will be your

  good masters.

  SCENE III. A chapel in PAULINA'S house.

  Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, FLORIZEL, PERDITA, CAMILLO, PAULINA, Lords, and Attendants

  LEONTES

  O grave and good Paulina, the great comfort

  That I have had of thee!

  O wise and good Paulina, what great comfort

  I have had from you!

  PAULINA

  What, sovereign sir,

  I did not well I meant well. All my services

  You have paid home: but that you have vouchsafed,

  With your crown'd brother and
these your contracted

  Heirs of your kingdoms, my poor house to visit,

  It is a surplus of your grace, which never

  My life may last to answer.

  Your highness,

  when I did wrong I meant well. You have repaid

  all my services: but that you have condescended,

  with your crowned brother and these

  heirs to your kingdoms, to visit my poor house,

  is a great overpayment of kindness

  which I can never live long enough to repay.

  LEONTES

  O Paulina,

  We honour you with trouble: but we came

  To see the statue of our queen: your gallery

  Have we pass'd through, not without much content

  In many singularities; but we saw not

  That which my daughter came to look upon,

  The statue of her mother.

  Oh Paulina,

  we are only giving you trouble: but I came

  to see the statue of my queen: we have

  walked through your gallery, and been very impressed

  with the things you have; but we did not see

  the thing which my daughter came to look at,

  the statue of her mother.

  PAULINA

  As she lived peerless,

  So her dead likeness, I do well believe,

  Excels whatever yet you look'd upon

  Or hand of man hath done; therefore I keep it

  Lonely, apart. But here it is: prepare

  To see the life as lively mock'd as ever

  Still sleep mock'd death: behold, and say 'tis well.

  PAULINA draws a curtain, and discovers HERMIONE standing like a statue

  I like your silence, it the more shows off

  Your wonder: but yet speak; first, you, my liege,

  Comes it not something near?