The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (688 page)

They certainly are;

games the like of which you've never seen. The Duke himself

will be there in person.

ARCITE

What pastimes are they?

What sort of things do they do?

SECOND COUNTRY FOLK

Wrastling and running.—’Tis a pretty fellow.

Wrestling and running.–This is a funny chap.

THIRD COUNTRY FOLK

Thou wilt not go along?

Won't you come along?

ARCITE

Not yet, sir.

Not yet, sir.

FOURTH COUNTRY FOLK

Well, sir,

Take your own time. Come, boys.

Well, sir,

take your own time. Come, boys.

FIRST COUNTRY FOLK

My mind misgives me

This fellow has a veng’ance trick o’ th’ hip,

Mark how his body’s made for’t.

I'm a bit worried,

this chap looks as though he could be a very good dancer,

see how his body looks as if he's made for it.

SECOND COUNTRY FOLK

I’ll be hang’d though

If he dare venture. Hang him, plum porridge!

He wrastle? He roast eggs! Come let’s be gone, lads.

I'll be hanged

if he dares to turn up. Hang him, great lumberer!

Him wrestle? As likely as him roasting eggs! Come on, let's go lads.

Exeunt four Countrymen.

ARCITE

This is an offer’d opportunity

I durst not wish for. Well I could have wrestled,

The best men call’d it excellent; and run

Swifter than wind upon a field of corn,

Curling the wealthy ears, never flew. I’ll venture,

And in some poor disguise be there. Who knows

Whether my brows may not be girt with garlands,

And happiness prefer me to a place

Where I may ever dwell in sight of her?

This is a better chance

and I could have hoped for. I used to be a good wrestler,

the experts said I was excellent; and I can run

faster than any wind that ever rustled

through a field of corn. I'll risk it,

and go there disguised as a poor man. Who knows,

I might win some prizes there and so

be given a position through my success

where I could live for ever in sight of her.

Exit Arcite.

Athens. A room in the prison.

(Jailer’s Daughter)

Enter Jailer’s Daughter alone.

JAILER’S DAUGHTER

Why should I love this gentleman? ’Tis odds

He never will affect me. I am base,

My father the mean keeper of his prison,

And he a prince. To marry him is hopeless;

To be his whore is witless. Out upon’t!

What pushes are we wenches driven to

When fifteen once has found us! First, I saw him:

I, seeing, thought he was a goodly man;

He has as much to please a woman in him

(If he please to bestow it so) as ever

These eyes yet look’d on. Next, I pitied him;

And so would any young wench o’ my conscience

That ever dream’d, or vow’d her maidenhead

To a young handsome man. Then, I lov’d him,

Extremely lov’d him, infinitely lov’d him;

And yet he had a cousin, fair as he too;

But in my heart was Palamon, and there,

Lord, what a coil he keeps! To hear him

Sing in an evening, what a heaven it is!

And yet his songs are sad ones. Fairer spoken

Was never gentleman. When I come in

To bring him water in a morning, first

He bows his noble body, then salutes me thus:

“Fair gentle maid, good morrow. May thy goodness

Get thee a happy husband!” Once he kiss’d me—

I lov’d my lips the better ten days after.

Would he would do so ev’ry day! He grieves much,

And me as much to see his misery.

What should I do to make him know I love him,

For I would fain enjoy him? Say I ventur’d

To set him free? What says the law then?

Thus much for law or kindred! I will do it,

And this night, or tomorrow, he shall love me.

Why do I love this gentleman? The odds are

that he will never love me. I am lowborn,

my father is the mean jailer of his prison,

and he is a prince. There's no hope of marrying him,

and I would be an idiot to be his whore. Dammit!

What lengths we girls are driven to

once we have turned fifteen! First, I saw him:

when I saw him I thought he was a handsome man;

he has as much good stuff to please a woman,

if he ever chooses to share it, as these eyes

ever saw. Next, I pitied him;

that's what any young girl would do if she

had ever dreamed, or promised her virginity

to a handsome young man. Then, I loved him,

loved him hugely, infinitely;

but he had a cousin, just as handsome;

but my heart had fallen for Palamon, and there,

lord, what a disturbance he causes! Hearing him

sing in the evening, how heavenly that is!

And yet his songs are sad. No gentleman

was ever so kindly spoken. When I come in

to bring him water in the morning, he first

bows to me, then he greets me in this way:

“Beautiful kind maid, good day. May your goodness

bring you a happy marriage!" He once kissed me–

I liked my lips so much more for the next ten days.

I wish he would do that every day! He is often depressed

and I'm just as depressed to see his misery.

What can I do to let him know I love him,

that I would like to have him? What if I risked

setting him free? What would the law say then?

I don't care about law or family! I will do it,

and tonight, or tomorrow, he will love me.

Exit.

Athens. An open place.

(Theseus, Hippolyta, Pirithous, Emilia, Arcite)

This short flourish of cornets, and shouts within. Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Pirithous, Emilia, Arcite disguised, with a garland, etc.

THESEUS

You have done worthily. I have not seen,

Since Hercules, a man of tougher sinews.

What e’er you are, you run the best, and wrastle,

That these times can allow.

You did very well. I have not seen,

since Hercules, a man with better muscles.

Whoever you are, you are the best runner, and wrestler,

that we have seen in these times.

ARCITE

I am proud to please you.

I am happy that you are pleased with me.

THESEUS

What country bred you?

What country did you grow up in?

ARCITE

This; but far off, prince.

This one; but a long way off, prince.

THESEUS

Are you a gentleman?

Are you a gentleman?

ARCITE

My father said so;

And to those gentle uses gave me life.

My father said so;

and he raised me as one.

THESEUS

Are you his heir?

Are you his heir?

ARCITE

His youngest, sir.

I am his youngest, sir.

THESEUS

Your father

Sure is a happy sire then. What proves you?

Your father

certainly is a lucky one then. What shows you are a gentleman?

ARCITE

A little of all noble qualities:

I could have kept a hawk, and well have hollow’d

To a deep cry of dogs; I dare not praise

My feat in horsemanship, yet they that knew me

Would say it was my best piece; last, and greatest,

I would be thought a soldier.

I have a little of all the noble qualities:

I can hunt with a hawk, and have

ridden with hounds; I dare not praise

my achievements in horsemanship, but those who know me

said it was my best accomplishment; lastly, and most important,

I want to be thought of as a soldier.

THESEUS

You are perfect.

You are perfect.

PIRITHOUS

Upon my soul, a proper man!

I swear, a real man!

EMILIA

He is so.

He certainly is.

PIRITHOUS

How do you like him, lady?

What do you think of him, lady?

HIPPOLYTA

I admire him;

I have not seen so young a man so noble

(If he say true) of his sort.

I admire him;

I have never seen such a young man

(if he's telling the truth) so noble.

EMILIA

Believe

His mother was a wondrous handsome woman,

His face, methinks, goes that way.

I imagine

his mother was a very beautiful woman,

I think his face shows that.

HIPPOLYTA

But his body

And fiery mind illustrate a brave father.

But his body