The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (323 page)

Monsieur Parolles, you were born under a charitable star.

Monsieur Parolles, you were born under a star sign which makes you kind.

PAROLLES

Under Mars, I.

I was born under Mars.

HELENA

I especially think, under Mars.

Definitely under Mars, I think.

PAROLLES

Why under Mars?

Why under Mars?

HELENA

The wars have so kept you under that you must needs

be born under Mars.

You can have been so much in the wars that you must

have been born under Mars.

PAROLLES

When he was predominant.

When he was in the ascendant.

HELENA

When he was retrograde, I think, rather.

I think when he was descending, actually.

PAROLLES

Why think you so?

Why do you think that?

HELENA

You go so much backward when you fight.

You are always going backwards when you fight.

PAROLLES

That's for advantage.

That's to get an advantage.

HELENA

So is running away, when fear proposes the safety;

but the composition that your valour and fear makes

in you is a virtue of a good wing, and I like the wear well.

So is running away, when you're inspired by fear;

but the mixture of your bravery and fear

makes a good outfit, and I like the look of it.

PAROLLES

I am so full of businesses, I cannot answer thee

acutely. I will return perfect courtier; in the

which, my instruction shall serve to naturalize

thee, so thou wilt be capable of a courtier's

counsel and understand what advice shall thrust upon

thee; else thou diest in thine unthankfulness, and

thine ignorance makes thee away: farewell. When

thou hast leisure, say thy prayers; when thou hast

none, remember thy friends; get thee a good husband,

and use him as he uses thee; so, farewell.

I'm too busy to answer you properly.

I will come back the perfect courtier; and when I do

I will teach you all the ways of the court

so you will be ready for a courtier's

advice and be able to understand it;

otherwise you'll die lonely,

kept alone by your ignorance: goodbye.

When you have the time, say your prayers;

don't bother remembering your friends;

get yourself a husband and

treat him the same as he treats you.

Exit

HELENA

Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie,

Which we ascribe to heaven: the fated sky

Gives us free scope, only doth backward pull

Our slow designs when we ourselves are dull.

What power is it which mounts my love so high,

That makes me see, and cannot feed mine eye?

The mightiest space in fortune nature brings

To join like likes and kiss like native things.

Impossible be strange attempts to those

That weigh their pains in sense and do suppose

What hath been cannot be: who ever strove

So show her merit, that did miss her love?

The king's disease--my project may deceive me,

But my intents are fix'd and will not leave me.

We have the power to take fate into our own hands,

which we usually say is controlled by the stars; the fateful sky

gives us free rein, it only pulls back

our clumsy plans when we are clumsy ourselves.

What is the power that gives me so much love,

that lets me look when I cannot touch?

Fate leaves a space for nature to come in,

to join those who are similar and let them naturally kiss.

Strange plans look impossible to those

who weigh things in the balance sensibly and think

that nothing can be changed: who was there who ever

showed such merit, missing her love?

The king's disease-I may be deceiving myself with this plan,

but my mind is made up, I'm going ahead.

Exit

Flourish of cornets. Enter the KING of France, with letters, and divers Attendants

KING

The Florentines and Senoys are by the ears;

Have fought with equal fortune and continue

A braving war.

The Florentines and the Siennese are still at loggerheads;

they have had equal success and are continuing

a fierce war.

First Lord

So 'tis reported, sir.

So they say, sir.

KING

Nay, 'tis most credible; we here received it

A certainty, vouch'd from our cousin Austria,

With caution that the Florentine will move us

For speedy aid; wherein our dearest friend

Prejudicates the business and would seem

To have us make denial.

No, you can believe it; I've been told

it's definite by my cousin the King of Austria,

who warns that the Florentines will be coming to us

looking for help; and our dear friend

has weighed up the matter and seems

to want us to refuse.

First Lord

His love and wisdom,

Approved so to your majesty, may plead

For amplest credence.

His love and wisdom,

which your Majesty so values, means

we should give his views the greatest respect.

KING

He hath arm'd our answer,

And Florence is denied before he comes:

Yet, for our gentlemen that mean to see

The Tuscan service, freely have they leave

To stand on either part.

He has prepared our answer for us,

and Florence is refused before she asks.

But for any of our gentlemen who want

to fight in Tuscany, they have my permission

to fight for either side.

Second Lord

It well may serve

A nursery to our gentry, who are sick

For breathing and exploit.

It may well be

a good training ground for our gentry, who are itching

for exercise and adventure.

KING

What's he comes here?

Who's this coming?

Enter BERTRAM, LAFEU, and PAROLLES

First Lord

It is the Count Rousillon, my good lord,

Young Bertram.

It is Count Rousillon, my good lord,

young Bertram.

KING

Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face;

Frank nature, rather curious than in haste,

Hath well composed thee. Thy father's moral parts

Mayst thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris.

Young man, you look like your father;

nature has clearly worked carefully, not swiftly,

and made you well. May you also have inherited

your father's moral character! Welcome to Paris.

BERTRAM

My thanks and duty are your majesty's.

I give you my thanks, and I am at your Majesty's service.

KING

I would I had that corporal soundness now,

As when thy father and myself in friendship

First tried our soldiership! He did look far

Into the service of the time and was

Discipled of the bravest: he lasted long;

But on us both did haggish age steal on

And wore us out of act. It much repairs me

To talk of your good father. In his youth

He had the wit which I can well observe

To-day in our young lords; but they may jest

Till their own scorn return to them unnoted

Ere they can hide their levity in honour;

So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness

Were in his pride or sharpness; if they were,

His equal had awaked them, and his honour,

Clock to itself, knew the true minute when

Exception bid him speak, and at this time

His tongue obey'd his hand: who were below him

He used as creatures of another place

And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks,

Making them proud of his humility,

In their poor praise he humbled. Such a man

Might be a copy to these younger times;

Which, follow'd well, would demonstrate them now

But goers backward.

I wish that I was as healthy now

as I was when your father and I in friendship

First became soldiers! He spent

a long time in service and had

the bravest followers: he lasted for a long time;

but that old witch, age, crept up on us

and curtailed our actions. It cheers me up

to talk about your good father. In his youth

he was as witty as the young lords

whom I see today; but they can joke

until they're blue in the face

before they can match their wit with honour;

he was so courteous, there was no contempt or bitterness

in his pride or his wit; if there was

it was only ever to his equals, and his honour,

which governed him, knew the right time

to speak when he was offended, and at this time

his tongue would follow his hand: those below him

he treated as if they had a different position

and bowed his noble head to their lower ranks,

making them delighted with his humility;

he humbled himself to praise them. A man like this

would be a good example for modern times;

if it was followed, it would show these young ones

that they have actually fallen backwards.

BERTRAM

His good remembrance, sir,

Lies richer in your thoughts than on his tomb;

So in approof lives not his epitaph

As in your royal speech.

The best memorial for him, Sir,

is your memories rather than what's written on his tomb;