The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (823 page)

Your Highness

will only make yourself hardhearted through doing this;

besides, the effects that you create will be

both unpleasant and infectious.

QUEEN.

O, content thee.

Enter PISANIO

[Aside] Here comes a flattering rascal; upon him

Will I first work. He's for his master,

An enemy to my son.- How now, Pisanio!

Doctor, your service for this time is ended;

Take your own way.

Oh, relax.

[Aside] Here comes an obsequious rascal; I'll try

these things on him first. He's on his master's side,

he's an enemy to my son.–Hello there, Pisanio!

Doctor, that's all I need from you for now;

off you go.

CORNELIUS.

[Aside] I do suspect you, madam;

But you shall do no harm.

I have my suspicions of you, madam;

but you shall do no harm.

QUEEN.

[To PISANIO] Hark thee, a word.

Listen, I want a word.

CORNELIUS.

[Aside] I do not like her. She doth think she has

Strange ling'ring poisons. I do know her spirit,

And will not trust one of her malice with

A drug of such damn'd nature. Those she has

Will stupefy and dull the sense awhile,

Which first perchance she'll prove on cats and dogs,

Then afterward up higher; but there is

No danger in what show of death it makes,

More than the locking up the spirits a time,

To be more fresh, reviving. She is fool'd

With a most false effect; and I the truer

So to be false with her.

I don't trust her. She thinks she has

strange slow acting poisons. I know what she's like,

and I won't trust someone as unpleasant as her

with such dangerous drugs. The ones I've given her

will bring unconsciousness for a while,

and perhaps she'll first try them on cats and dogs,

then afterwards on bigger creatures; but there is

no danger in the imitation of death it produces,

it just knocks the subject out for a while, so they

then awake refreshed. She has been fooled

with these false things; and I am the more honest

for being false with her.

QUEEN.

No further service, Doctor,

Until I send for thee.

I don't need you any more, Doctor,

until I send for you.

CORNELIUS.

I humbly take my leave.

Exit

I humbly take my leave.

QUEEN.

Weeps she still, say'st thou? Dost thou think in time

She will not quench, and let instructions enter

Where folly now possesses? Do thou work.

When thou shalt bring me word she loves my son,

I'll tell thee on the instant thou art then

As great as is thy master; greater, for

His fortunes all lie speechless, and his name

Is at last gasp. Return he cannot, nor

Continue where he is. To shift his being

Is to exchange one misery with another,

And every day that comes comes comes to

A day's work in him. What shalt thou expect

To be depender on a thing that leans,

Who cannot be new built, nor has no friends

So much as but to prop him?

[The QUEEN drops the box. PISANIO takes it up]

Thou tak'st up

Thou know'st not what; but take it for thy labour.

It is a thing I made, which hath the King

Five times redeem'd from death. I do not know

What is more cordial. Nay, I prithee take it;

It is an earnest of a further good

That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how

The case stands with her; do't as from thyself.

Think what a chance thou changest on; but think

Thou hast thy mistress still; to boot, my son,

Who shall take notice of thee. I'll move the King

To any shape of thy preferment, such

As thou'lt desire; and then myself, I chiefly,

That set thee on to this desert, am bound

To load thy merit richly. Call my women.

Think on my words. Exit PISANIO

A sly and constant knave,

Not to be shak'd; the agent for his master,

And the remembrancer of her to hold

The hand-fast to her lord. I have given him that

Which, if he take, shall quite unpeople her

Of leigers for her sweet; and which she after,

Except she bend her humour, shall be assur'd

To taste of too.

Re-enter PISANIO and LADIES

So, so. Well done, well done.

The violets, cowslips, and the primroses,

Bear to my closet. Fare thee well, Pisanio;

Think on my words.

Exeunt QUEEN and LADIES

She's still weeping, you say? Do you think that in time

she will stop, and listen to sense

where she's now possessed by stupidity? Work on her.

When you bring me word that she loves my son,

I tell you that at that moment you will then be

as great as your master: greater, as

he has lost all his fortunes, and is under

sentence of death. He cannot come back, nor

can he remain where he is: to change his location

was just exchanging one misery for another,

and it will get worse every day.

What expectations can you have,

leaning on such a fragile support?

He can't strengthen his position, and he has no friends

to help him. [The Queen drops the box. Pisiano picks it up.]

You don't know what

you're picking up: but take it to help your work:

it's something I have made, which has saved the King

from death five times. I don't know anything

that has such a good effect. No, please take it;

it's a token of the good things

I intend for you in future. Tell your mistress what

her position is: say it as if it comes from you;

think what a chance you have now; but remember

 who you are working for, that is, my son,

who will reward your efforts. I'll make the King

give you any sort of promotion

that you wish: and then I myself,

who put you in this position, will certainly

give you rich rewards. Call my women:

think about what I've said. [Exit Pisanio]

A cunning and loyal rascal.

He can't be shaken: he's working for his master,

he's continually reminding her of his lord

and their marriage vows. I have given him something

which, if he takes it, will strip her

of ambassadors for her lover: and after that,

unless she changes her mind, I can promise

she'll taste it as well.

Re-enter Pisanio and ladies

Here you are: well done, well done:

take the violets, cowslips and the primroses

to my bedroom. Goodbye, Pisanio;

think about what I've said.

PISANIO.

And shall do.

But when to my good lord I prove untrue

I'll choke myself- there's all I'll do for you.

Exit

I shall do.

But if I ever become disloyal to my good lord

I'll hang myself–that's all I'll do for you.

Enter IMOGEN alone

IMOGEN.

A father cruel and a step-dame false;

A foolish suitor to a wedded lady

That hath her husband banish'd. O, that husband!

My supreme crown of grief! and those repeated

Vexations of it! Had I been thief-stol'n,

As my two brothers, happy! but most miserable

Is the desire that's glorious. Blessed be those,

How mean soe'er, that have their honest wills,

Which seasons comfort. Who may this be? Fie!

Enter PISANIO and IACHIMO

A cruel father and a deceitful stepmother;

a foolish wooer of a married lady

whose husband has been banished. Oh, that husband!

The worst of all my sorrows! It is eating

away at me! I wish I'd been kidnapped,

like my two lucky brothers! The greater the desire

the more miserable it is when it's thwarted. They are blessed,

however low they are, who can enjoy their honest desires,

that brings comfort. Who's this?Damn it!

PISANIO.

Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome

Comes from my lord with letters.

Madam, a noble gentleman from Rome

has brought letters from my lord.

IACHIMO.

Change you, madam:

The worthy Leonatus is in safety,

And greets your Highness dearly. [Presents a letter]

Take that frown off, madam:

good Leonatus is safe,

and sends your Highness his sweetest greetings.

IMOGEN.

Thanks, good sir.

You're kindly welcome.

Thank you, good sir.

You're very welcome.

IACHIMO.

[Aside] All of her that is out of door most rich!

If she be furnish'd with a mind so rare,

She is alone th' Arabian bird, and I

Have lost the wager. Boldness be my friend!

Arm me, audacity, from head to foot!

Or, like the Parthian, I shall flying fight;

Rather, directly fly.

Everything that can be seen of her is wonderful!

If she has a mind to match,

she is as unique as the Phoenix, and I

have lost my bet. Now I must be bold!

Audacity must be my armour, from head to foot,

or I'll fight as I run like a Parthian;

or even just give up completely.

IMOGEN.

[Reads] 'He is one of the noblest note, to whose

kindnesses I am most infinitely tied. Reflect upon him

accordingly, as you value your trust. LEONATUS.'

So far I read aloud;

But even the very middle of my heart

Is warm'd by th' rest and takes it thankfully.

You are as welcome, worthy sir, as I

Have words to bid you; and shall find it so

In all that I can do.