The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (337 page)

I, like a spiteful goddess, have sent him away

from his friends at court, to live with his encamped enemies,

where death and danger hunts down the noble:

he is too good and too beautiful for death and for me:

I embrace death myself, so that he can be free.

COUNTESS

Ah, what sharp stings are in her mildest words! Rinaldo, you did never lack advice so much, As letting her pass so: had I spoke with her, I could have well diverted her intents, Which thus she hath prevented.

Ah, her humble words are like daggers!

Rinaldo, you never did such an unwise thing

as letting her go like this: if I'd spoken to her

I could easily have put her off,

but with this letter she has avoided that.

Steward

Pardon me, madam: If I had given you this at over-night, She might have been o'erta'en; and yet she writes, Pursuit would be but vain.

Please excuse me, madam:

if I had woken you with this

she might have been overtaken; and yet, as she writes,

it would be pointless to chase her.

COUNTESS

What angel shall

Bless this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive,

Unless her prayers, whom heaven delights to hear

And loves to grant, reprieve him from the wrath

Of greatest justice. Write, write, Rinaldo,

To this unworthy husband of his wife;

Let every word weigh heavy of her worth

That he does weigh too light: my greatest grief.

Though little he do feel it, set down sharply.

Dispatch the most convenient messenger:

When haply he shall hear that she is gone,

He will return; and hope I may that she,

Hearing so much, will speed her foot again,

Led hither by pure love: which of them both

Is dearest to me. I have no skill in sense

To make distinction: provide this messenger:

My heart is heavy and mine age is weak;

Grief would have tears, and sorrow bids me speak.

Exeunt

What angel will

give a blessing to this unworthy husband? He cannot do well

unless her prayers, from one heaven loves to hear from

and answer, save him from the anger

of divine justice. Write, write, Rinaldo,

to this unworthy husband about his wife;

let every word show him her value

which he regards too cheaply: show my great grief.

However little he feels it, force him to.

Send the best messenger:

hopefully when he hears that she is gone

he will come back; and I hope maybe that she,

hearing that he has, will rush back here,

led by pure love: both of them

are equally dear to me. I don't have the ability

to distinguish between the two: get the messenger:

my heart is heavy and old age makes me weak;

grief wants me to cry, and sorrow makes me speak.

Enter an old Widow of Florence, DIANA, VIOLENTA, and MARIANA, with other Citizens

Widow

Nay, come; for if they do approach the city, we

shall lose all the sight.

Come on; if they come to the city, we

will miss seeing them.

DIANA

They say the French count has done most honourable service.

They say the French count has done great service.

Widow

It is reported that he has taken their greatest

commander; and that with his own hand he slew the

duke's brother.

Tucket

We have lost our labour; they are gone a contrary

way: hark! you may know by their trumpets.

It is reported that he captured their greatest

commander; and that he killed the Duke's brother

with his own hand.

(Trumpet)

We have wasted our time, they have gone round

another way: listen!You can hear their trumpets.

MARIANA

Come, let's return again, and suffice ourselves with

the report of it. Well, Diana, take heed of this

French earl: the honour of a maid is her name; and

no legacy is so rich as honesty.

Come on, let's go back, and be happy with

hearing the report. Well, Diana, make a note of this

French earl: a maid has her honor as her fame; and

honesty is greater than any inheritance.

Widow

I have told my neighbour how you have been solicited

by a gentleman his companion.

I was telling my neighbour how you have been propositioned

by a gentleman who is his companion.

MARIANA

I know that knave; hang him! one Parolles: a

filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the

young earl. Beware of them, Diana; their promises,

enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of

lust, are not the things they go under: many a maid

hath been seduced by them; and the misery is,

example, that so terrible shows in the wreck of

maidenhood, cannot for all that dissuade succession,

but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten

them. I hope I need not to advise you further; but

I hope your own grace will keep you where you are,

though there were no further danger known but the

modesty which is so lost.

I know that knave; hang him! He's called Parolles: he

is a filthy officer, making those suggestions for the

young Earl. Be wary of them, Diana; their promises,

bribes, oaths, presents, and all the other machinery of

lust, are not things they take seriously: many maids

have been seduced by them; and the terrible thing is,

that all these examples, which show how awful the loss

of virginity is, still cannot stop them from falling

and being caught in the traps that are set for them.

I hope I don't need to give you any other advice;

I hope your own grace will keep you where you are,

even if the only danger was a loss of modesty.

DIANA

You shall not need to fear me.

You don't need to worry about me.

Widow

I hope so.

Enter HELENA, disguised like a Pilgrim

Look, here comes a pilgrim: I know she will lie at

my house; thither they send one another: I'll

question her. God save you, pilgrim! whither are you bound?

I hope so.

Look, here comes a pilgrim: I know she will rest

at my house; they send each other there: I'll

question her. God bless you, pilgrim! Where are you going?

HELENA

To Saint Jaques le Grand.

Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you?

To great St James.

Please can you tell me where the Pilgrims stay?

Widow

At the Saint Francis here beside the port.

At the St Francis here by the port.

HELENA

Is this the way?

Is this the way?

Widow

Ay, marry, is't.

A march afar

Hark you! they come this way.

If you will tarry, holy pilgrim,

But till the troops come by,

I will conduct you where you shall be lodged;

The rather, for I think I know your hostess

As ample as myself.

That's right.

Listen! There are coming this way.

If you will wait, holy pilgrim,

just until the troops have passed,

I will take you to your lodging;

I'll be pleased to, for I think I know your hostess

as well as I know myself.

HELENA

Is it yourself?

Is it you?

Widow

If you shall please so, pilgrim.

If you will accept, pilgrim.

HELENA

I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure.

I thank you, and will wait until you are ready.

Widow

You came, I think, from France?

You came from France I think?

HELENA

I did so.

I did.

Widow

Here you shall see a countryman of yours

That has done worthy service.

You shall see a countryman of yours here

who has done good service.

HELENA

His name, I pray you.

Please tell me his name.

DIANA

The Count Rousillon: know you such a one?

The Count Rousillon: do you know him?

HELENA

But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him:

His face I know not.

Only by reputation, which is very good:

I don't know his face.

DIANA

Whatsome'er he is,

He's bravely taken here. He stole from France,

As 'tis reported, for the king had married him

Against his liking: think you it is so?

Whatever he may be,

he's done well here. He sneaked away from France,

so they say, because the king had made him marry

against his will: do you think that's true?

HELENA

Ay, surely, mere the truth: I know his lady.

Yes, that's nothing but the truth: I know his lady.

DIANA

There is a gentleman that serves the count

Reports but coarsely of her.

The count has a gentleman attending him

who only has bad things to say about her.

HELENA

What's his name?

What's his name?

DIANA

Monsieur Parolles.

Monsieur Parolles.

HELENA

O, I believe with him,

In argument of praise, or to the worth

Of the great count, she is too mean