The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (731 page)

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