Love’s Labour’s Lost - The Multilingual Shakespeare Project

Enter FERDINAND king of Navarre, BEROWNE, LONGAVILLE and DUMAINE

FERDINAND (French)
	Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives,	Que la gloire, que tous traquent dans leur vie,
	Live register’d upon our brazen tombs	Vive gravée sur nos tombeaux de bronze
	And then grace us in the disgrace of death;	Et nous donne la grâce dans la disgrâce de la mort ;
	When, spite of cormorant devouring Time,	Contre le Temps, vorace cormoran,
	The endeavor of this present breath may buy	Puisse aujourd’hui l’effort de notre souffle acheter
	That honour which shall bate his scythe’s keen edge	Cet honneur qui mordra le tranchant acéré de sa faux
	And make us heirs of all eternity.	Et nous faire héritiers de l’immortalité.
	Therefore, brave conquerors,–for so you are,	Ainsi donc, valeureux conquérants – car êtes des
	That war against your own affections	conquérants, vous qui êtes en guerre contre vos passions
10¹	And the huge army of the world’s desires,–	et l’immense armée des désirs du monde –,
	Our late edict shall strongly stand in force:	Notre récent décret aura force de loi :
	Navarre shall be the wonder of the world;	Navarre sera la merveille du monde ;
	Our court shall be a little Academe,	Notre cour une petite Académie
	Still and contemplative in living art.	De paix, de contemplation, et de vie dans l’étude.
	You three, Berowne, Dumaine, and Longaville,	Vous trois, Berowne, Dumaine et Longueville,
	Have sworn for three years’ term to live with me	Avez juré de vivre ici trois ans,
	My fellow-scholars, and to keep those statutes	D’étudier avec moi, d’observer les statuts
	That are recorded in this schedule here:	Enregistrés sur ce parchemin :
	Your oaths are pass’d; and now subscribe your names,	Votre parole est donnée, signez maintenant.
20	That his own hand may strike his honour down.	Que sa propre main frappe l’honneur de qui viole le
	That violates the smallest branch herein.	moindre article :
	If you are arm’d to do as sworn to do,	Si vous êtes armés pour ce que vous aver juré,
	Subscribe to your deep oaths, and keep it too.	signez vos graves serments, et tenez-les aussi.
LONGAVILLE (High German)
	I am resolved; ’tis but a three years’ fast:	Ich will’s. Drei Jahre alle Freuden meiden
25	The mind shall banquet, though the body pine.	ist wenig. Schwelge, Geist, lass Körper leiden!
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	My loving lord, DUMAINE is mortified:	Mes appreziabel rai, Dumaine sa mortifitgescha;
	To love, to wealth, to pomp, I pine and die;	evit splendur, amur, ritgezza per murir,
	With all these living in philosophy.	ed en filosofi’ unì ma resentir.
BEROWNE (English)
	I can but say their protestation over;	I can but say their protestation over;
	So much, dear liege, I have already sworn,	So much, dear liege, I have already sworn,
	That is, to live and study here three years.	That is, to live and study here three years.
	In Holofernia’s school – her dome of tears.	In Holofernia’s school – her dome of tears.
	(German) But there are other strict observances;	(German) Doch spricht man noch von andern strengen Regeln
	As, [but for our learned lady scholar²,	Wie – ausser der gestrengen Professorin –
	never] to see a woman in that term,	Drei Jahre lang nicht eine Frau zu sehen,
	Which I hope well is not enrolled there;	Was, hoffe ich, hier nicht verordnet steht;
	And one day in a week to touch no food	Und einmal in der Woche nichts zu essen
40	And but one meal on every day beside,	Und sonst an jedem Tag nur ein Gericht
	The which I hope is not enrolled there;	Was, hoffe ich, auch nicht verordnet steht;
	And then, to sleep but three hours in the night,	Und jede Nacht drei Stunden nur zu schlafen,
	And not be seen to wink of all the day–	Und dann bei Tag kein Auge zuzumachen
	[jealously watchful of our lord and schedule -]	Um ja auch keine Sitzung zu verpassen –
	Which I hope well is not enrolled there:	Ich hoffe, dass dies nicht verordnet steht,
	O, these are barren tasks, too hard to keep,	Das wären wirklich allzu schwere Lasten,
	Not to see ladies, study, fast, not sleep!	Studieren, keine Frau sehn, wachen, fasten!
55	(French) What is the end of study? let me know.	(French) Quel est le but de l’étude ? Veuillez me l’apprendre.
FERDINAND (French)
	Why, that to know, which else	Parbleu ! de connaître ce qu’autrement
	we should not know.	nous ne connaîtrions pas.
BEROWNE (French)
	Things hid and barr’d, you mean,	Vous voulez dire, ce qui est caché et soustrait
	from common sense?	au simple sens commun ?
FERDINAND (French)
	Ay, that is study’s godlike recompense.	Oui, telle est la divine récompense de l’étude.
BEROWNE (French)
	Come on, then; I will swear to study so,	Eh bien, soit. Je veux bien jurer d’étudier
60	To know the thing I am forbid to know:	Pour connaître ce qu’il m’est interdit de connaître ;
	As thus,–to study where I well may dine,	Comme, par exemple, étudier où je pourrais bien dîner,
	When I to feast expressly am forbid;	Lorsqu’il m’est expressément interdit de faire banquet ;
	Or study where to meet some mistress fine,	Ou d’étudier où rencontrer une maîtresse bien tournée
	When mistresses from common sense are hid;	Quand les maîtresses au sens commun sont cachées ;
	Or, having sworn too hard a keeping oath,	Ou si j’ai prêté un serment trop difficile à tenir,
	Study to break it and not break my troth.	de m’étudier à le briser sans manquer à ma parole.
	If study’s gain be thus and this be so,	Si tel est le gain de l’étude et si telle est notre étude,
	Study knows that which yet it doth not know:	L’étude connaît ce qu’elle ne connaissait pas.
	Swear me to this, and I will ne’er say no.	Faites-moi jurer cela : je ne dirai pas non.
FERDINAND (French)
70	These be the stops that hinder study quite	Voilà bien les obstacles qui entravent l’étude
	And train our intellects to vain delight.	Et dressent nos intelligences au goût des plaisirs vains.
BEROWNE (English)
	Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain,	Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain,
	Which with pain purchased doth inherit pain:	Which with pain purchased doth inherit pain:
	As, painfully to pore upon a book	As, painfully to pore upon a book
	To seek the light of truth; while truth the while	To seek the light of truth; while truth the while
	Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look:	Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look:
	Light seeking light doth light of light beguile:	Light seeking light doth light of light beguile:
	So, ere you find where light in darkness lies,	So, ere you find where light in darkness lies,
	Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes.	Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes.
80	Study me how to please the eye indeed	Study me how to please the eye indeed
	By fixing it upon a fairer eye,	By fixing it upon a fairer eye,
	Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed	Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed
	And give him light that it was blinded by.	And give him light that it was blinded by.
	Study is like the heaven’s glorious sun	Study is like the heaven’s glorious sun
	That will not be deep-search’d with saucy looks:	That will not be deep-search’d with saucy looks:
	Small have continual plodders ever won	Small have continual plodders ever won
	Save base authority from others’ books	Save base authority from others’ books
	These earthly godfathers of heaven’s lights	These earthly godfathers of heaven’s lights
	That give a name to every fixèd star	That give a name to every fixèd star
90	Have no more profit of their shining nights	Have no more profit of their shining nights
	Than those that walk and wot not what they are.	Than those that walk and wot not what they are.
DUMAINE (Romansh)³
	How well he’s read, to reason against reading!	Quand fundadamain ch’el s’exprima cunter la scienzia!
FERDINAND (French)
110	Well, sit you out: go home, Berowne: Adieu!	Eh bien, quitte la partie : retourne chez toi, Berowne, adieu !
BEROWNE (French)
	No, my good lord; I have sworn to stay with you:	Non, mon bon seigneur, j’ai juré de rester avec vous :
	Give me the paper; let me read the same;	Donnez-moi ce papier, permettez-moi de le lire ;
	And to the strict’st decrees I’ll write my name.	Je signerai de ma main les décrets les plus stricts.
FERDINAND (French)
	How well this yielding rescues thee from shame!	Cette soumission te sauve honorablement de la honte !
BEROWNE (French)
	[Reads] Item: That no woman shall come within a	[Reads] Item : Aucune femme ne doit s’approcher à
	mile of my court.	moins d’une lieue de ma cour.
120	(German,to Longaville) Hath this been proclaimed?	(German,to Longaville)Ist dies bekannt gemacht?
LONGAVILLE (High German)
	Four days ago.	Schon vor vier Tagen.
BEROWNE (High German)
	Let’s see the penalty.	Und was wäre die Strafe?
	‘On pain of losing her tongue.’	Sous peine de perdre la langue.
	Who devised this penalty?	Wer hat die Strafe ausgedacht?
LONGAVILLE (High German)
	Marry, that did I.	Ich hab es heut geschrieben.
BEROWNE (High German)
	Sweet lord, and why?	Was hat dich angetrieben?
LONGAVILLE (High German)
	To fright them hence with that dread penalty.	Zu Schrecken durch der Strafe Furchtbarkeit.
BEROWNE (High German)
	A dangerous law against gentility!	Welch arge Vorschrift gegen Höflichkeit!
	(Reads,French) Item: If any man be seen to talk	(Reads, French) Item: Si un homme est vu en train
	with a woman within the term of three years, he shall	de parler à une femme au cours de cette période de
	endure suchpublic shame as the rest of the court can	trois ans, ilsubira telle humiliation publique que le
	Possiblydevise.	reste de laCour jugera bon de lui imposer.
	(French, to King) This article, my liege, yourself must break;	(French, to King) Cet article, seigneur, vous-même devez l’enfreindre ;
	For well you know here comes in embassy	Car vous savez qu’ici arrive en ambassade
	The French king’s daughter with yourself to speak–	La fille du roi de France pour s’entretenir avec vous—
	A maid of grace and complete majesty–	C’est une vierge gracieuse et d’une majesté parfaite—
	About surrender up of Aquitaine	Elle vient vous demander de céder l’Aquitaine
135	To her decrepit, sick and bedrid father:	A son père décrépit, malade, cloué au lit.
	Therefore this article is made in vain,	Ainsi, cet article a été rédigé en vain
	Or vainly comes the admired princess hither.	Ou c’est en vain que vient ici l’admirable princesse.
FERDINAND (French)
	What say you, lords?	Qu’en dites-vous, mes seigneurs ?
	Why, this was quite forgot.	Parbleu, cela avait été tout à fait oublié !
BEROWNE (French)
140	So study evermore is overshot.	L’étude outrepasse toujours son but.
FERDINAND (French)
	We must of force dispense with this decree;	De faire exception pour cet article, nous sommes obligés ;
	She must lie here on mere necessity.	La princesse doit loger ici de toute nécessité.
BEROWNE (English)
	Necessity will make us all forsworn	Necessity will make us all forsworn
	Three thousand times within this three years’ space;	Three thousand times within this three years’ space;
	For every man with his affects is born,	For every man with his affects is born,
150	Not by might master’d but by special grace:	Not by might master’d but by special grace:
	If I break faith, this word shall speak for me;	If I break faith, this word shall speak for me;
	I am forsworn on ‘mere necessity.’	I am forsworn on ‘mere necessity.’
	But I believe, although I seem so loath,	But I believe, although I seem so loath,
	I am the last that will last keep his oath. [He signs]	I am the last that will last keep his oath. [He signs]
	But is there no quick recreation granted?	But is there no quick recreation granted?
FERDINAND (French)
160	Ay, that there is. Our court, you know, is haunted	Si, nous en avons une toute prête. Notre cour, vous le savez, est hantée
	With a refined traveller of Spain;	Par un voyageur d’Espagne, un homme raffiné,
	A man in all the world’s new fashion planted,	Entiché de toutes les nouvelles modes,
	That hath a mint of phrases in his brain;	Dont le cerveau bat monnaie de tournures,
	One whom the music of his own vain tongue	Que la musique de sa propre langue vaniteuse,
	Doth ravish like enchanting harmony;	Ravit comme une magique harmonie ;
	A man of complements, whom right and wrong	Un homme rempli de perfection, que la raison et le tort
	Have chose as umpire of their mutiny:	ont choisi comme arbitre de leur duel :
	This child of fancy, that Armado hight,	Cet enfant de fantaisie, qui répond au nom d’Armado,
	For interim to our studies shall relate	Dans l’intervalle de nos études nous contera
	In high-born words the worth of many a knight	En phrases sublimes les prouesses de maints chevaliers
170	From tawny Spain lost in the world’s debate.	De la fauve Espagne, morts dans les guerres de ce monde.
BEROWNE (English)
	Armado is a most illustrious wight,	Armado is a most illustrious wight,
	A man of fire-new words, fashion’s own knight.	A man of fire-new words, fashion’s own knight.
LONGAVILLE (High German)
	Costard the swain and he shall be our sport;	Soll er mit Costard uns die Stunden würzen
	And so to study, three years is but short.	Und der drei Jahre strenge Zeit verkürzen.

Enter DUMM with a letter, and COSTARD

DUMM (Swiss German, Bernese dialect)
	Which is the duke’s own person?	Welle isch hie “la personne du duc”?
BEROWNE (High German)
180	This, fellow: what wouldst?	Dieser da, was willst du?
DUMM (Swiss German)
	I myself reprehend his own person,	I repressierä sini Person aube o säuber,
	for I am his grace’s farborough.	wüu i bi drum siner Gwautigkäit Wachmäischter.
	Signior Arme–Arme–commends you.	Dä Señor Armee – Armada lat grüessä.
	There’s villany abroad:	Es isch äs Gschleik am loufe.
	this letter will tell you more.	De Brief säit de aues.
COSTARD (French)
	Sir, the contempts thereof are as touching me.	Monsieur, le compte tenu de la présente me touche.
FERDINAND (French)
	A letter from the magnificent Armado.	Une lettre du magnifique Armado.
COSTARD (French)
	The matter is to me, sir, as concerning Jaquenetta.	La chose me regarde, monsieur, en rapport avec
	The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner.	Jacqueline. Le fait est que j’ai été pris sur le fait.
BEROWNE (French)
	In what manner?	Sur quel fait ?
COSTARD (French)
200	In manner and form following, sir; all those three: I	Sur le fait et la façon suivante, monsieur ; les trois à la
	was seen with her in the manor-house, sitting with her	fois : on m’a vu avec elle sur le faîte de l’arbre, assis
	upon the form, and taken following her into the park;	avec elle sans façon, et on m’a pris la suivant dans le
	which, put together, is in manner and form following.	parc ; ce qui, mis bout à bout, donne « sur le fait et de
	Now, sir, for the manner,–it is the manner of a man to	façon suivante ». Quant au fait, monsieur, c’est le fait
	speak to a woman: for the form,– in some form.	de l’homme de parler à la femme. Quant à la façon… il y a façon et façon.
FERDINAND (French)
	Will you hear this letter with attention?	Voulez-vous écouter cette lettre attentivement ?
BEROWNE (French)
210	As we would hear an oracle.	Comme nous écouterions un oracle.
COSTARD (French)
	Such is the simplicity of man to hearken after the flesh.	Telle est la simplicité de l’homme, de désirer la chair !
FERDINAND (French)
	[Reads] Great deputy, the welkin’s vicegerent and sole	[Reads] Grand député, vice-roi du firmament et unique
	dominator of Navarre, my soul’s earth’s god, and	souverain de Navarre, Dieu terrestre de mon âme et
	body’s fostering patron.	protecteur nourricier de mon corps…
COSTARD (French)
	Not a word of Costard yet.	Pas un mot de Costard jusqu’ici.
FERDINAND (French)
	No words!	Silence !
COSTARD (French)
	Of other men’s secrets, I beseech you.	Sur les secrets d’autrui, s’il vous plait.
FERDINAND (French)
	[Reads] So it is, besieged with sable-coloured	[Reads] Voici ce qui en est: assiégé par une mélancolie
	melancholy, I did commend the black-oppressing	noire, je confiais cette sombre et oppressante humeur
	humour to the most wholesome physic of thy health-	à la médecine salutaire de ton air vivifiant ; et, parole
	giving air;and, as I am a gentleman, betook myself to	de gentilhomme, je m’adonnai à la marche. A quelle
	walk. The time when.About the sixth hour; when	heure ?vers la sixième heure, l’heure où les bêtes
	beasts most graze, birds best peck,and men sit down to	broutent le plus,quand les oiseaux picorent le mieux et
	that nourishment which is called supper.Now for the	quand les humains s’attablent pour cette collation
230	ground which; which, I mean, I walked upon:it is y-	qu’on appelle souper. En quel lieu à présent ?
	cleped thy park.	J’entends, en quel lieux je me promenais : il estdénommé ton parc.
	Then for the place where; where, I mean, I did	En quel point à présent ?J’entends en quel point j’ai
	encounter that obscene and preposterous event	été témoin de l’événement obscène et tout à fait
	that draweth from my snow-white pen the ebon-	irrégulier qui tire de ma plume de neige cette
	coloured ink, which here thou viewest, beholdest,	encre d’ébène que tu regardes, contemples, examines,
	surveyest, or seest;but to the place where; it standeth	ou vois.Quant à l’endroit du délit, dis-je : il est situé
	north-north-east and by east from the west corner of	au nord-nord-est et à l’estdu coin ouest de ton
	thy curious- knotted garden: there did I see that low-	labyrinthe jardin : c’est là que j’ai vu ce rustre sans
	spirited swain, that base minnow of thy mirth,–	esprit, ce vil mignon qui te met en gaieté,–
COSTARD (French)
	Me?	Moi ?
FERDINAND (French)
240	[Reads] that unlettered small-knowing soul,–	[Reads] Cette âme illettrée et de peu de savoir, —
COSTARD (French)
	Me?	Moi?
FERDINAND (French)
	[Reads] that shallow vassal,–	[Reads] Ce vulgaire vassal, —
COSTARD (French)
	Still me?	Toujours moi?
FERDINAND (French)
	[Reads] which, as I remember, hight Costard,–	[Reads] Qui, si j’ai bonne mémoire, s’appelle Costard-
COSTARD (French)
	O, me!	Oh ! C’est moi !
FERDINAND (French)
	[Reads] sorted and consorted, contrary to thy	[Reads] Délacé et enlacé, contre les prescriptions de
	established proclaimed edict and continent canon,	ton édit proclamé et à tes canons d’abstinence,
	which with,–O, with–but with this I passion to say wherewith,–	avec qui… oh ! avec… je souffre de dire avec qui…
COSTARD (French)
	With a wench.	Avec une fille.
FERDINAND (French)
250	[Reads] with a child of our grandmother Eve, a	[Reads] Avec une enfant de notre grand-mère Eve,
	female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a	une femelle, ou pour mieux parler à ton exquis
	woman. Him I, as my ever-esteemed duty pricks me on,	entendement,une femme. Cet homme, moi, comme mon
	have sent to thee, to receive the meed of	sens dudevoir toujours en éveil me chatouille à le
	punishment, by thy sweet grace’s officer, Anthony Dull;	faire,je te l’envoie pour qu’il reçoive le châtimentqu’il mérite par cet officier de Ta Suave Majesté,
	a man of good repute, carriage, bearing, andestimation.	Alois Dumm, homme d’excellente renommée, de bonne conduite, de bonne tenue et de bon crédit.
DUMM (Swiss German)
	Me, an’t shall please you; I am Anthony Dull.	Dä bin i, minni Herre. I bi dr Alois Dumm!
FERDINAND (French)
	[Reads] For Jaquenetta,–so is the weaker vessel	Pour Jacuqeline – c’est le nom du vase fragile
	called which I apprehended with the aforesaid	que j’ai arraisonnée en compagnie du rustre sus–
	swain,–I keep her as a vessel of the law’s fury;	mentionné,je la retiens ici comme le vase destine à la
	and shall, at the least of thy sweet notice, bring	colère de ta loi,et à la moindre de tes suaves requêtes,
	her to trial. Thine, in all compliments of devoted	je l’enverrai comparaitre devant toi. Tout à toi, avec
260	and heart-burning heat of duty.	toute la plénitude d’un cœur dévoué et brèulant de l’ardeur du devoir,
	Don Adriano de Armado.	Don Adriano de Armado.
COSTARD (French)
	Sir, I confess the wench.	Monsieur, j’avoue la fille.
FERDINAND (French)
270	It was proclaimed a year’s imprisonment, to be taken with a wench.	Il a été proclamé qu’être surpris avec une fille serait puni d’un an de prison.
COSTARD (French)
	I was taken with none, sir: I was taken with a maid.	Je n’ai été pris avec une fille Sire; j’ai été pris avec une pucelle.
FERDINAND (French)
	This maid will not serve your turn, sir.	Cette pucelle ne me satisfait pas, monsieur.
COSTARD (French)
	This maid will serve my turn, sir.	Cette pucelle me satisfait, moi, monsieur.
FERDINAND (French)
	Sir, I will pronounce your sentence: you shall fast a	Monsieur, voici votre sentence: une semaine
280	Week with bran and water.	de jeûne au pain sec à et à l’eau.
COSTARD (French)
	I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge.	J’aimerais mieux un mois de prière au bouillon de poule.
FERDINAND (French)
	And Don Armado shall be your keeper.	Et Don Armado sera votre gardien.
	My Lord Berowne, see him deliver’d o’er:	Seigneur Berowne, veuillez à ce qu’on lui remette le prisonnier.
	And go we, lords, to put in practise that	Et nous, Messieurs, allons mettre à exécution
	Which each to other hath so strongly sworn.	Les serments solennels échangés entre nous.

Exeunt FERDINAND, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAINE

BEROWNE (English)
	I’ll lay my head to any good man’s hat,	I’ll lay my head to any good man’s hat,
	These oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn.	These oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn.
	Sirrah, come on.	Sirrah, come on.
COSTARD (French)
	I suffer for the truth, sir; for true it is,	Je souffre pour la vérité, Monseigneur ! Car il est vrai
290	I was taken with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta is a	que j’ai été pris avec Jacquinette, et que Jacquinette est
	true girl.	une vraie fille.

Exeunt

ACT I

SCENE II

Enter DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO and MOTH

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	Boy, what sign is it when a man of great spirit	Boy, what sign is it when a man of great spirit
	grows melancholy?	grows melancholy?
MOTH (English)
	A great sign, sir, that he will look sad.	A great sign, sir, that he will look sad.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	Why, sadness is one and the self-same thing, dear imp.	Why, sadness is one and the self-same thing, dear imp.
MOTH (English)
	No, no; O Lord, sir, no.	No, no; O Lord, sir, no.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	How canst thou part sadness and melancholy, my	How canst thou part sadness and melancholy, my
	tender juvenal?	tender juvenal?
MOTH (English)
	By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough señior.	By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough señior.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (Spanish)
10	Why tough señior? (English) Why tough señior?	¿Por qué resistente señior? (English) Why tough señior?
MOTH (English)
	Why tender juvenal? (Fribourg German) Wieso “zarta Jǜnglìng”?	Why tender juvenal? (Fribourg German) Wieso “zarta Jǜnglìng”?
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	I spoke it, tender juvenal, as a congruent epitheton	I spoke it, tender juvenal, as a congruent epitheton
	appertaining to thy young days, which we may	appertaining to thy young days, which we may
	nominate tender.	nominate tender.
MOTH (English)
	And I, tough señior, as an appertinent title to your	And I, tough señior, as an appertinent title to your
	old time, which we may name tough.	old time, which we may name tough.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	Pretty and apt.	Pretty and apt.
MOTH (English)
	How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my saying apt? or	How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my saying apt? or
	I apt, and my saying pretty?	I apt, and my saying pretty?
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
20	Thou pretty, because little.	Thou pretty, because little.
MOTH (English)
	Little pretty, because little. Wherefore apt?	Little pretty, because little. Wherefore apt?
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	And therefore apt, because quick.	And therefore apt, because quick.
	I have promised to study three years with the duke.	I have promised to study three years with the duke.
MOTH (English)
35	You may do it in an hour, sir.	You may do it in an hour, sir.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (Spanish)
	Impossible.	Imposible.
MOTH (English)
	How many is one thrice told?	How many is one thrice told?
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	It doth amount to one more than two.	It doth amount to one more than two.
MOTH (English)
45	Which the base vulgar do call three.	Which the base vulgar do call three.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (Spanish)
	True.	Verdadero.
MOTH (English)
	Why, sir, is this such a piece of study? Now here	Why, sir, is this such a piece of study? Now here
	is three studied, ere ye’ll thrice wink: and how	is three studied, ere ye’ll thrice wink: and how
	easy it is to put ‘years’ to the word ‘three,’ and	easy it is to put ‘years’ to the word ‘three,’ and
50	study three years in two words, the dancing horse	study three years in two words, the dancing horse
	will tell you.	will tell you.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	A most fine figure!	A most fine figure!
MOTH (Aside, in Fribourg German)
	To prove you a cipher	„schönì Figur … nìt wi dinì!“
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	I will hereupon confess I am in love: and as it is	I will hereupon confess I am in love: and as it is
	base for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a	base for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a
	base wench.	base wench.
	(High German) Comfort, me, boy: what great	(High German) Tröste mich, Junge! Welche grossen
60	Men have been in love?	Männer sind schon verliebt gewesen?
MOTH (Fribourg German)
	Hercules, master.	De Herkules, Señor.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (High German)
	Most sweet Hercules!	Holdseliger Herkules!
	(English) More authority, dear boy, name	(English) More authority, dear boy, name
	more; and, sweet my child, let them be men of good	more; and, sweet my child, let them be men of good
	repute and carriage.	repute and carriage.
MOTH (English)
	Samson, master: he was a man of good carriage, great	Samson, master: he was a man of good carriage, great
	carriage, for he carried the town-gates on his back	carriage, for he carried the town-gates on his back
	like a porter: and he was in love.	like a porter: and he was in love.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	O well-knit Samson! strong-jointed Samson! I do	O well-knit Samson! strong-jointed Samson! I do
	excel thee in my rapier as much as thou didst me in	excel thee in my rapier as much as thou didst me in
	carrying gates.	carrying gates.
70	(Spanish, English, High German) I am in love too.	(Spanish) Estoy enamorado también. (English) I am in love too! (High German) Ich bin auch verliebt!
105	Boy, I do love that country girl that I took in the park with the rational	Junge, ich liebe das Landmädchen, das ich im Park mit diesem vernunftbegabten
	hind Costard: she deserves well.	Vieh Costard ergriffen habe: Ihr steht alles zu.
MOTH (Aside, Fribourg German)
	To be whipped; and yet a	Ja, a tätsch a Grinn zum Bischpǜü…
	better love than my master.	oder emù a bessera Liebhaber aus mi Chef.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in love.	Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in love.
MOTH (English)
110	And that’s great marvel, loving a light wench.	And that’s great marvel, loving a light wench.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	I say, sing.	I say, sing.
MOTH (English)
	Forbear till this company be past.	Forbear till this company be past.

Enter DUMM, COSTARD, and JAQUENETTA

DUMM (Swiss German)
	Sir, the duke’s pleasure is, that you keep Costard	Grüess ech wohl, dr Fürscht het beschlosse, dass ihr dr
	safe: and you must suffer him to take no delight	Kchostar söuet i eue Gwahrsam nä, und ihr müesset
		ufpasse, dass er kei Unterhaltig u au kei Pläsant… Pläsi… Plagiar… Plagereie überchunt;
	nor no penance; but a’ must fast three days a week.	sondern er söu drü Tag ir Wuche faschte.
	For this maid, I must keep her at the park: she	Das Modi hie, die muess I ir nöchi bhaute: Ihre
	is allowed for the day-woman. Fare you well.	hät me ir Chäserei a Beschäftigung gä. Häbets guet.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	I do betray myself with blushing.	I do betray myself with blushing.
	(Swiss German) Maid!	(Swiss German) Du, Fraueli!
JACQUELINE (Swiss German, Bernese)
	Man?	Ja, du Mandli?
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (bad Swiss German)
120	I will visit thee at the lodge.	Ich chum dich gogä besuche is Fromagerie.
JACQUELINE (Swiss German)
	That’s hereby.	Isch ja nid wiit vo hiä.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (bad Swiss German)
	I know where it is situate.	Ich weiss, wo si isch glege.
JACQUELINE (Swiss German)
	Lord, how wise you are!	Du bisch sonä Lüüchtä.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (bad Swiss German)
	I will tell thee wonders.	Ich kchann dir verzählen von Wundergeschichte.
JACQUELINE (Swiss German)
	With that face?	Mit dem Gring?
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (Tries it in Swiss German, fails, then High German)
	I love thee.	Ich lib… liääb… Ich liebe Dich.
JACQUELINE (Swiss German)
	So I heard you say.	Äuä!
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (High German, Spanish)
	And so, farewell.	Und so: Leb wohl, Adios!
JACQUELINE (Swiss German)
	Fair weather after you!	Mirawou, no ä schöns tägli.
DUMM (Swiss German)
130	Come, Jaquenetta, away!	Chum Schaggeli, mir göi.

Exeunt DUMM and JAQUENETTA

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (French)
	Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences ere thou	Manant, tu vas jeûner pour tes crimes avant
	be pardoned.	d’être pardonné.
COSTARD (French)
	Well, sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a	Monsieur, j’espère que quand je jeûnerai, j’aurai
	full stomach.	quelque chose dans le ventre.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (French)
135	Thou shalt be heavily punished.	Tu vas être lourdement puni.
COSTARD (French)
	I am more bound to you than your fellows, for	Je vous suis plus oblige que vos gens, car
	they are but lightly rewarded.	ils sont bien légèrement payés.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (French)
	Take away this villain; shut him up.	Emmène le manant et enferme-le.
MOTH (French)
	Come, you transgressing slave; away!	Allez, servile transgresseur ; avance !

Exeunt MOTH and COSTARD

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	I do affect the very ground, which is base, where	I do affect the very ground, which is base, where
150	her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, which	her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, which
	is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn, which	is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn, which
	is a great argument of falsehood, if I love.	is a great argument of falsehood, if I love.
160	Adieu, valour! rust rapier! be still, drum! for your	Adieu, valour! rust rapier! be still, drum! for your
	manager is in love; yea, he loveth. Assist me, some	manager is in love; yea, he loveth. Assist me, some
	extemporal god of rhyme, for I am sure I shall turn	extemporal god of rhyme, for I am sure I shall turn
	sonnet. Devise, wit; write, pen; for I am for whole	sonnet. Devise, wit; write, pen; for I am for whole
	volumes in folio.	volumes in folio.

Exit

ACT II

SCENE I

Enter the PRINCESS of France, ROSALINE, MARIA, KATHERINE, and BOYET

BOYET (High German)
	Now, madam, summon up your dearest spirits:	Nun, Hoheit, weckt die feinsten Geister auf
	Consider who the king your father sends,	Denkt, wen der König, Euer Vater, sendet,
	To whom he sends, and what’s his embassy:	Zu wem er sendet, was die Botschaft ist:
	Yourself, held precious in the world’s esteem,	Ihr selbst, deren Lob niemand übertrifft,
5	To parley with the sole inheritor	Sollt hier verhandeln mit dem ersten Erben
	Of all perfections that a man may owe,	Jeglichen Vorzugs, den ein Mann je hatte,
	Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight	Navarras Stolz; und das Gesuch nichts minder
	Than Aquitaine, a dowry for a queen.	Als Aquitanien, königliche Mitgift.
PRINCESS (High German)
	Good Boyet,	Edler Boyet, ist es Euch denn entfallen
	You are not ignorant, all-telling fame	Welches Gerücht in jedem kleinen Dorf
	Doth noise abroad, Navarre hath made a vow,	Die Runde macht? Navarra hat geschworen,
	Till painful study shall outwear three years,	Dass, während er drei Jahre lang studiert,
	No woman may approach his silent court:	Nicht eine Frau dem Hof sich nähern darf;
25	Therefore to’s seemeth it a needful course,	Und unter solchem Umstand scheint es richtig,
	Before we enter his forbidden gates,	Keine versperrten Tore zu durchschreiten
	To know his pleasure; and in that behalf,	Sondern zu wissen, was er will; dafür,
	Bold of your worthiness, we single you	Verlassen wir uns nun auf Euren Wert
	As our best-moving fair solicitor.	Als besten Anwalt unseres Gesuchs.
30	Tell him, the daughter of the King of France,	Sagt ihm, dass die französische Prinzessin
	On serious business, craving quick dispatch,	In einer dringlichen und ernsten Sache,
	Importunes personal conference with his grace:	Um eine Audienz ihn bitten muss:
	Haste, signify so much; while we attend,	Geht nun, sagt ihm dies schnell, und wir erwarten
	Like humble-visaged suitors, his high will.	Wie seine Untergebenen die Antwort.
BOYET (High German)
	Proud of employment, willingly I go.	Willig und stolz folg ich, wo man mich weist.
PRINCESS (High German)
	All pride is willing pride, and yours is so.	Willig ist aller Stolz, wie Ihr beweist.

Exit BOYET

(Swiss German)
	Who are the votaries, my loving ladies,	So, miner Liebe, wer si d’Eidgenosse
	That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke?	Wo mit em Tugendfürscht dä Schwur hei g’schlosse?
MARIA (Italian)
	Lord Longaville is one.	Uno è Lord Longaville.
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	Know you the man?	U kennsch du ihn?
MARIA (Italian)
40	I know him, madam: at a marriage-feast,	Io, signora. Ho conosciuto questo Longaville
	In Normandy, saw I this Longaville:	Ad un matrimonio in Normandia
	A man of sovereign parts he is esteem’d;	È una persona di doti eccellenti, circondato da stima senza pari,
	Well fitted in arts, glorious in arms:	Ben versato nelle arti, magnifico nell’arte della guerra:
	Nothing becomes him ill that he would well.	Uno cui nulla mai esce male, s’egli vuole che gli riesca bene.
	The only soil of his fair virtue’s gloss,	Un’ unica macchia, in tanto suo splendore –
	If virtue’s gloss will stain with any soil,	Se splendor di virtù può avere macchie –
	Is a sharp wit matched with too blunt a will;	È un ingengo affliato abbinato ad una volontà troppo smussata;
50	Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still wills	Sicché al potere di tagliar sottile, fa contrasto il suo volere
	It should none spare that come within his power.	Che non sia risparmiato mai nessuno che cada sotto la sua potestà.
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	Some merry mocking lord, belike; is’t so?	Äuä so äine, wo gern Lüüt azünnt?
MARIA (Italian)
	They say so most that most his humours know.	Così dicono, infatti, tutti quelli che meglio lo conoscono.
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	Such short-lived wits do wither as they grow.	Na, so‘ne Eitagswitz brönnt gäng wi Stroh.
	Who are the rest?	Wer si di Übrige?
KATHERINE (English)
	The young DUMAINE, a well-accomplished youth,	The young DUMAINE, a well-accomplished youth,
	Of all that virtue love for virtue loved:	Of all that virtue love for virtue loved:
	Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill;	Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill;
	For he hath wit to make an ill shape good,	For he hath wit to make an ill shape good,
60	And shape to win grace though he had no wit.	And shape to win grace though he had no wit.
	I saw him at the Duke Alencon’s once;	I saw him at the Duke Alencon’s once;
	And much too little of that good I saw	And much too little of that good I saw
	Is my report to his great worthiness	Is my report to his great worthiness
ROSALINE (French)
	Another of these students at that time	A cette même époque, un autre étudiant accompagnait
	Was there with him, if I have heard a truth.	Dumaine, si l’on m’a dit vrai.
	Berowne they call him; but a merrier man,	Il se nomme Berowne ; je n’ai jamais passé une heure de
	Within the limit of becoming mirth,	causerie avec un homme plus gai et sachant mieux
	I never spent an hour’s talk withal:	maintenir la gaieté dans les limites de la décence.
	His eye begets occasion for his wit;	Son œil crée des occasions pour son esprit:
70	For every object that the one doth catch	Chaque objet que l’un saisit,
	The other turns to a mirth-moving jest,	L’autre le tourne en amusante plaisanterie,
	Which his fair tongue, conceit’s expositor,	Que sa langue déliée, interprète de sa pensée,
	Delivers in such apt and gracious words	Exprime en termes si justes et si gracieux
	That aged ears play truant at his tales	Qu’à entendre ses contes, l’oreille des vieux fait l’école
	And younger hearings are quite ravished;	buissonnière, et la jeunesse écoute avec ravissement,
	So sweet and voluble is his discourse.	Tant il y a dans ses paroles de vivacité et de charme.
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	God bless my ladies! are they all in love,	Lueget sie aa! Si all drü scho vernarrt
	That every one her own hath garnished	Dass jedi grad bi ihrem eigne Giel
	With such bedecking ornaments of praise?	Afaat mit grosse öigli z’tröimere?
MARIA (Italian)
	Here comes Boyet.	Ecco Boyet.

Re-enter BOYET

PRINCESS (High German)
80	Now, what admittance, lord?	Nun, wie empfängt man uns?
BOYET (High German)
	Navarre had notice of your fair approach;	Navarra weiss schon, welche Schönheit wartet
	And he and his competitors in oath	Und jeder, der sich um die Wette martert
	Were all address’d to meet you, gentle lady,	War mit ihm, schon bevor ich kam, bereit
	Before I came. Marry, thus much I have learnt:	Euch zu empfangen. Doch, ich hörte auch
	He rather means to lodge you in the field,	Dass er es vorzieht, wenn ihr draussen bleibt,
	Like one that comes here to besiege his court,	Als ob ihr kämt, den Hof ihm zu belagern,
	Than seek a dispensation for his oath,	Als dass er sich vom Eid befreien würde
	To let you enter his unpeopled house.	Um euch sein menschenleeres Haus zu öffnen.
	Here comes Navarre.	Hier kommt Navarra.

Enter FERDINAND, LONGAVILLE, DUMAINE, BEROWNE, and Attendants

FERDINAND (tries to speak German to welcome Princess)
90	Fair princess, welcome to the court of Navarre.	Schöne princesse, ‘abt das Willkommen in die Cour de Navarre.
PRINCESS (High German)
	‘Fair’ I give you back again; and ‘welcome’ I have not	‘Schön’ gebe ich euch zurück, und ‘Willkommen’ habe
	yet: the roof of this court is too high to be yours; and	ich noch nicht. Das Dach dieses Hofes ist zu hoch, um
	welcome to the wide fields too base to be mine.	das Eure zu sein und ein Willkommen im freien Feld zu gering für mich.
FERDINAND (Broken German)
	You shall be welcome, madam, to my court.	Madame werden willkommen sein, in meinem ‘Of.
PRINCESS (High German)
	I will be welcome, then: conduct me thither.	Das will ich hoffen: führen sie mich hin.
FERDINAND (Broken German)
	Hear me, dear lady; I have sworn an oath.	Mais chère Madame, isch bin durch Eid gebunden.
PRINCESS (High German)
	Our Lady help my lord! he’ll be forsworn.	Na dann, viel Glück, der wird wohl bald gebrochen.
FERDINAND (Broken German)
	Not for the world, fair madam, by my will.	Jamais!, Madame, solang’ isch wollen kann.
PRINCESS (High German)
	Why, will shall break it; will and nothing else.	Dann braucht es nur Begierde, nicht zu wollen.
FERDINAND (Broken German)
100	Your ladyship is ignorant what it is.	Aber Madame weiss nischt, von was es ‘andelt.
PRINCESS (High German)
	Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise,	Ihr wäret weiser, wenn ihr’s auch nicht wüsstest,
	Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance.	Da der, der’s weiss, “gar nischt mehr ‘andeln“ kann.
	Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming,	Gewährt mir, dass ihr lest, warum ich komme,
	And suddenly resolve me in my suit.	So dass mein Fall bald abgefertigt ist.
FERDINAND (French)
110	Madam, I will, if suddenly I may.	Madame, je le ferai aussitôt, si je le puis.
BEROWNE (French)
	Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?	N’ai-je pas dansé avec vous en Brabant une fois ?
ROSALINE (English)
	Did I not dance with you in Brabant once?	Did I not dance with you in Brabant once?
BEROWNE (English)
	I know you did.	I know you did.
ROSALINE (English)
	How needless was it then	How needless was it then
	To ask the question!	To ask the question!
BEROWNE (English)
	You must not be so quick.	You must not be so quick.
ROSALINE (English)
	‘Tis ‘long of you that spur me with such questions.	‘Tis ‘long of you that spur me with such questions.
BEROWNE (English)
	Your wit’s too hot, it speeds too fast, ’twill tire.	Your wit’s too hot, it speeds too fast, ’twill tire.
ROSALINE (English)
	Not till it leave the rider in the mire.	Not till it leave the rider in the mire.
BEROWNE (English)
120	What time o’ day?	What time o’ day?
ROSALINE (English)
	The hour that fools should ask.	The hour that fools should ask.
BEROWNE (English)
	Now fair befall your mask!	Now fair befall your mask!
ROSALINE (English)
	Fair fall the face it covers!	Fair fall the face it covers!
BEROWNE (English)
	And send you many lovers!	And send you many lovers!
ROSALINE (English)
	Amen, so you be none.	Amen, so you be none.
BEROWNE (English)
	Nay, then will I be gone.	Nay, then will I be gone.
FERDINAND (French)
	Madam, your father here doth intimate	Madame, votre père mentionne ici
	The payment of a hundred thousand crowns;	Le paiement de cent mille écus ;
	Being but the one half of an entire sum	C’est la moitié seulement de la somme totale
130	Disbursed by my father in his wars.	Que mon père a déboursée pour lui dans ses guerres.
	But say that he or we, as neither have,	Cependant supposons que mon père ou moi ayons reçu
	Received that sum, yet there remains unpaid	Cette somme, – ce qui n’est pas le cas – il reste encore à payer
	A hundred thousand more; in surety of the which,	Cent mille écus; en gage de cette dette,
	One part of Aquitaine is bound to us,	Une partie de l’Aquitaine est sous notre tutelle,
	Although not valued to the money’s worth	Bien qu’elle ne vaille pas le montant de cette somme.
	If then the king your father will restore	Si le roi votre père veut bien nous rembourser
	But that one half which is unsatisfied,	La moitié de la dette non encore réglée,
	We will give up our right in Aquitaine,	Nous lui cèderons nos droits sur l’Aquitaine
	And hold fair friendship with his majesty.	Et entretiendront loyale amitié avec sa Majesté.
140	But that, it seems, he little purposeth,	Mais il semble qu’il n’en a guère l’intention,
	For here he doth demand to have repaid	Puisqu’il nous demande ici de rendre
	A hundred thousand crowns; and not demands,	Cent mille couronnes ; et ne s’offre pas
	On payment of a hundred thousand crowns,	A payer les cent mille couronnes restantes
	To have his title live in Aquitaine;	Pour faire revivre ses titres sur l’Aquitaine ;
	Which we much rather had depart withal	Quant à nous, nous aurions mieux aimé nous retirer
	And have the money by our father lent	Et recouvrer l’argent prêté par notre père
	Than Aquitaine so gelded as it is.	Que de garder l’Aquitaine, tronquée comme elle est.
	Dear Princess, were not his requests so far	Chère Princesse, si les requêtes de votre père n’étaient
	From reason’s yielding, your fair self should	Pas si déraisonnables, votre beauté aurait fait
150	Make a yielding ‘gainst some reason in my breast	Contre toute raison céder mon cœur,
	And go well satisfied to France again.	Et vous rentreriez en France satisfaite.
PRINCESS (French)
	You do the king my father too much wrong	Vous faites grand tort au roi mon père,
	And wrong the reputation of your name,	Et portez tort aussi à votre renommée,
	In so unseeming to confess receipt	En refusant de reconnaître pour acquit
	Of that which hath so faithfully been paid.	Ce qui a été loyalement payé.
FERDINAND (French)
	I do protest I never heard of it;	Je jure que je n’ai jamais entendu parler de ce payement ;
	And if you prove it, I’ll repay it back	Si vous pouvez le prouver, je le rembourse
	Or yield up Aquitaine.	Ou vous cède l’Aquitaine.
PRINCESS (French)
	We arrest your word.	Nous vous prenons au mot.
	Boyet, you can produce acquittances	Boyet, vous pouvez produire des quittances
160	For such a sum from special officers	De cette somme, remises par des envoyés spéciaux
	Of Charles his father.	De son père Charles.
FERDINAND (French)
	Satisfy me so.	Donnez-moi satisfaction.
BOYET (High German)
	So please your grace, the packet is not come	Verzeihung, Hoheit, noch fehlt das Paket
	Where that and other specialties are bound:	In welchem dies und andre Texte liegen:
	To-morrow you shall have a sight of them.	Doch morgen wird euch alles vorgelegt.
FERDINAND (French)
	It shall suffice me: at which interview	Cela me suffira : au cours de cette entrevue
	All liberal reason I will yield unto.	Je cèderai devant toute raison digne de mon rang.
	Meantime receive such welcome at my hand	D’ici là, recevez de ma main toutes les marques de bienvenue
	As honour without breach of honour may	Que l’honneur, sans manquer à l’honneur,
	Make tender of to thy true worthiness:	Peut offrir à votre réel mérite.
170	You may not come, fair princess, in my gates;	Vous ne pouvez, belle princesse, franchir mes portes;
	But here without you shall be so received	Mais ici, au-dehors, vous serez si bien accueillie
	As you shall deem yourself lodged in my heart,	Que vous penserez être logée dans mon cœur,
	Though so denied fair harbour in my house.	Même si l’on vous refuse le havre courtois de mon palais.
	Your own good thoughts excuse me, and farewell:	Que votre générosité m’excuse, au revoir ;
	To-morrow shall we visit you again.	Demain, nous vous rendrons une autre visite.
PRINCESS (French)
	Sweet health and fair desires consort your grace!	Douce santé et heureux désirs accompagnent Votre Grâce !
FERDINAND (French)
	Thy own wish wish I thee in every place!	Je vous rends les mêmes vœux, puissent-ils être exaucés partout où vous serez !

Exeunt Ferdinand, Longaville and Dumaine

BEROWNE (French)
	Lady, I will commend you to mine own heart.	Madame, je veux que mon cœur soit votre ami.
ROSALINE (French)
180	Pray you, do my commendations,	Présentez-lui mes amitiés, je vous prie ;
	I would be glad to see it.	j’aimerais beaucoup le voir.
BEROWNE (French)
	I would you heard it groan.	Je voudrais que vous l’entendissiez gémir.
ROSALINE (French)
	Is the fool sick?	Le fou est-il malade ?
BEROWNE (French)
	Sick at the heart.	Malade du cœur.
ROSALINE (French)
	Alack, let it blood.	Hélas! Saignez-le.
BEROWNE (French)
	Would that do it good?	Cela lui ferait-il du bien ?
ROSALINE (French)
	My physic says ‘ay.’	Mon médecin dit que oui.
BEROWNE (French)
190	Now, God save thy life!	Dieu te garde en vie !
ROSALINE (French)
	And yours from long living!	Dieu te garde de vivre longtemps !
BEROWNE (French)
	I cannot stay thanksgiving.	De te remercier, je n’ai pas le temps.

Retiring

DUMAINE (Romansh)
	Sir, I pray you, a word: what lady is that same?	Signur, in unic pled dumond: tgi è l’undraivla dunna?
BOYET (Romansh)
	The heir of Alençon, KATHERINE her name.	La successura al tron d’Alençon. Catrin’ella senumna.
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	A gallant lady. Monsieur, fare you well.	Ina dama fitg galanta. Signur, stai bain.

Exit

LONGAVILLE (High German)
	I beseech you a word: what is she in the white?	Gestatten sie: Wer ist die weisse Dame?
BOYET (High German)
	A woman sometimes, an you saw her in the light.	Sagen wir ‘eine Frau’, als Grundannahme.
LONGAVILLE (High German)
	Perchance light in the light. I desire her name.	Du nimmst es leicht. Kann man den Namen geben?
BOYET (High German)
	She hath but one for herself; to desire that were a shame.	Das wär nicht nett, dann müsst sie ohne leben.
LONGAVILLE (High German)
200	Pray you, sir, whose daughter?	Nein, bitte, wessen Tochter?
BOYET (High German)
	Her mother’s, I have heard.	Ich glaube, ihrer Mutter.
LONGAVILLE (High German)
	God’s blessing on your beard!	Ich mach dich gleich zu Hundefutter!
BOYET (High German)
	Good sir, be not offended.	Mein Herr, seid nicht beleidigt.
	She is an heir of Falconbridge.	Erbin von Falconbridge.
LONGAVILLE (Hight German)
	Nay, my choler is ended.	Dann ist mein Zorn vorüber,
	She is a most sweet lady	Sie ist wirklich ein schönes Fräulein.
BOYET (High German)
	Not unlike, sir, that may be.	Sehr wahrscheinlich, mein Herr, das kann gut sein.

Exit LONGAVILLE

BEROWNE (English)
	What’s her name in the cap?	What’s her name in the cap?
BOYET (English)
	Rosaline, by good hap.	Rosaline, by good hap.
BEROWNE (English)
210	Is she wedded or no?	Is she wedded or no?
BOYET (English)
	To her will, sir, or so.	To her will, sir, or so.
BEROWNE (English)
	You are welcome, sir: adieu.	You are welcome, sir: adieu.
BOYET (English)
	Farewell to me, sir, and welcome to you.	Farewell to me, sir, and welcome to you.

Exit BEROWNE

MARIA (Italian)
	That last is Berowne, the merry madcap lord:	Qest’ultimo è Berowne, il baron testamatta.
	Not a word with him but a jest.	Non dice una parola che non diventi subito uno scherzo.
BOYET (Italian)
	And every jest but a word.	E non c’è scherzo che, detto da lui, non si riduca ad una parola vuota.
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	It was well done of you to take him at his word.	Das het er guet g’macht, nimmt ihn gäng bim Wort.
BOYET (Swiss German)
	I was as willing to grapple as he was to board.	Ich gsehn ihn und er enteret sofort.
MARIA (Italian)
	Two hot sheeps, marry.	Due focosi montoni che si accozzano.
BOYET (Italian)
	And wherefore not ships?	O anche due vascelli che si scontrano.
	No sheep, sweet lamb, unless we feed on your lips.	Montone, io? Mio dolce agnellino, solo se mi farete brucar quelle vostre labbra.
MARIA (Italian)
220	You sheep, and I pasture: shall that finish the jest?	Allora voi montone, ed io pastura… Finisce qui l’invenzione?
BOYET (Italian)
	So you grant pasture for me.	Purché mi diate pascolo.

Offering to kiss her

MARIA (Italian)
	Not so, gentle beast:	Ah no, gentil bestione.
	My lips are no common, though several they be.	Le mie labbra non sono pascoli pubblici, sebbene diverse possano esserlo.
BOYET (Italian)
	Belonging to whom?	E a chi appartengono allora?
MARIA (Italian)
	To my fortunes and me.	A me e alle mie fortune.
PRINCESS (High German)
	Good wits will be jangling; but, gentles, agree:	Ich weiss ihr schäkert gern, aber genug. Beendet
	This civil war of wits were much better used	den Bürgerkrieg der Witze, spart ihn und verwendet
	On Navarre and his book-men; for here ’tis abused.	Ihn auf die Bücherwürmer, hier ist er verschwendet.
BOYET (High German)
	If my observation, which very seldom lies,	Wenn die Beobachtung, die mich sehr selten trügt
	By the heart’s still rhetoric disclosed with eyes,	und die der Herzen Klang direkt vor Augen führt,
	Deceive me not now, Navarre is infected.	Mir treu bleibt, ist Navarra angesteckt.
PRINCESS (High German)
230	With what?	Wovon?
BOYET (High German)
	With that which we lovers entitle affected.	Unter uns Liebeskennern heisst es “Schockaffekt”.
	I’ll give you Aquitaine and all that is his,	Er gibt euch Aquitanien, und gibt es mit Genuss
	An you give him for my sake but one loving kiss.	Erhält er nur von euch einen ersehnten Kuss
ROSALINE (French)
	Thou art an old love-monger and speakest skilfully.	Tu es un vieux trafiquant d’amour, et tu en parles habilement.
MARIA (Italian)
	He is Cupid’s grandfather and learns news of him.	Egli è il nonno di Cupido, è da lui che sa tutto quanto.
ROSALINE (French)
255	Then was Venus like her mother, for her father is but grim.	Vénus devait ressembler à sa mère, car son père est bien laid.
BOYET (High German)
	Do you hear, my mad wenches?	Jetzt hört aber, ihr Mädchen.
MARIA (Italian)
	No.	No.
BOYET (High German)
	What then, do you see?	Was seht ihr denn?
ROSALINE (French)
	Ay, our way to be gone.	Le chemin du départ
BOYET (High German)
	You are too hard for me.	Ihr werdet ja noch sehen!

Exeunt

ACT III

SCENE I

Enter DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO and MOTH

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
41	Fetch hither the swain: he must carry me a letter.	Fetch hither the swain: he must carry me a letter.
MOTH (English)
	A message well sympathized; a horse to be	A message well sympathized; a horse to be
	ambassador for an ass.	ambassador for an ass.

Exit

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	A most acute juvenal; voluble and free of grace!	A most acute juvenal; voluble and free of grace!
	By thy favour, sweet welkin, I must sigh in thy face:	By thy favour, sweet welkin, I must sigh in thy face:
	Most rude melancholy, valour gives thee place.	Most rude melancholy, valour gives thee place.
60	My herald is return’d.	My herald is return’d.

Re-enter MOTH with COSTARD

MOTH (English)
	A wonder, master! here’s a costard broken in a shin.	A wonder, master! here’s a costard broken in a shin.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	Some enigma, some riddle: come, thy l’envoy; begin.	Some enigma, some riddle: come, thy l’envoy; begin.
COSTARD (French)
	No enigma, no riddle, no l’envoy; no salve in the mail,	Pas d’énigme, pas de charade, pas d’envoi : pas de
	sir: O, sir, plantain, a plain plantain! No l’envoy, no	pomade dans la bourse, monsieur. Oh, monsieur, du
65	l’envoy; no salve, sir, but a plantain!	plantain ! Du simple plantain ! Pas d’envoi, pas
		d’envoi, pas de pommade, monsieur, mais du plantain !
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (French to Costard)
	By virtue, thou enforcest laughter; thy silly thought	Ma foi, tu me forces à rire ; ta bêtise me dilate la rate ;
	my spleen; the heaving of my lungs provokes me to	le gonflement de mes poumons m’entraîne à une
	ridiculous smiling.	ridicule hilarité.
	I give thee thy liberty, set thee from durance; and, in	Je te donne ta liberté, je t’extrais de prison ; en
	lieu thereof, impose on thee nothing but this: bear this	échange, je ne t’impose que ceci : porte cette
	Significant to the country maid Jaquenetta.	Signification à la paysanne Jacquinette.

[Giving him a letter]

120	There is remuneration;	Voici ta rémunération ;

[Giving him money]

	for the best ward of mine honour is rewarding my	car le meilleur tribut de mon honneur et de rétribuer
	dependents. Moth, follow.	mes serviteurs. Moth, suis-moi.

Exit

MOTH (French)
	Like the sequel, I. Signior Costard, adieu.	Comme une conséquence. Signor Costard, au revoir.

Exit MOTH

COSTARD (French)
	My sweet ounce of man’s flesh! my incony Jew!	Ma petite once de chair humaine ! Délicieux jeunot !
	Now will I look to his remuneration. Remuneration! O,	Je vais regarder sa rémunération. Rémunération! Ah!
	that’s the Latin word for three farthings: three	C’est le mot latin pour dire trois liards. Trois liards :
	farthings–remuneration.–What’s the price of this	rémunération. « Combien coûte ce ruban ? – Un sou. –
	inkle?’–‘One penny.’–‘No, I’ll give you a	Attendez, je vais vous donner une rémunération. –
	remuneration:’ why, it carries it. Remuneration!	marché conclu. » Rémunération !
	why, it is a fairer name than French crown. I will never	C’est un plus joli nom qu’écu français. Je ne veux plus
130	buy and sell out of this word.	Acheter ou vendre qu’avec ce mot-là.

Enter BEROWNE

BEROWNE (English)
	O, my good knave Costard! exceedingly well met.	O, my good knave Costard! exceedingly well met.
COSTARD (French)
	Pray you, sir, how much carnation ribbon may a man	Pardon, monsieur, combien de ruban rouge peut-on
	buy for a remuneration?	acheter avec une rémuneration ?
BEROWNE (English)
	What is a remuneration?	What is a remuneration?
COSTARD (French)
	Marry, sir, halfpenny farthing.	Pardi, monsieur, trois liards.
BEROWNE (English)
	Why, then, three-farthing worth of silk.	Why, then, three-farthing worth of silk.
COSTARD (French)
	I thank your worship: God be wi’ you!	Merci, Votre Honneur ! Dieu soit avec vous !
BEROWNE (English)
	Stay, slave; I must employ thee:	Stay, slave; I must employ thee:
	As thou wilt win my favour, good my knave,	As thou wilt win my favour, good my knave,
140	Do one thing for me that I shall entreat.	Do one thing for me that I shall entreat.
COSTARD (French)
	When would you have it done, sir?	Quand voulez-vous que ce soit fait, monsieur ?
BEROWNE (English)
	This afternoon.	This afternoon.
COSTARD (French)
	Well, I will do it, sir: fare you well.	D’accord, ce sera fait, monsieur. Au revoir.
BEROWNE (English)
	Thou knowest not what it is.	Thou knowest not what it is.
COSTARD (French)
	I shall know, sir, when I have done it.	Je saurai, monsieur, quand je l’aurai fait.
BEROWNE (English)
	Why, villain, thou must know first.	Why, villain, thou must know first.
COSTARD (French)
	I will come to your worship to-morrow morning.	Je viendrai trouver Votre Honneur demain matin.
BEROWNE (English)
	It must be done this afternoon.	It must be done this afternoon.
	Hark, slave, it is but this:	Hark, slave, it is but this:
150	The princess comes to hunt here in the park,	The princess comes to hunt here in the park,
	And in her train there is a gentle lady;	And in her train there is a gentle lady;
	When tongues speak sweetly, then they name her name,	When tongues speak sweetly, then they name her name,
	And Rosaline they call her: ask for her;	And Rosaline they call her: ask for her;
	And to her white hand see thou do commend	And to her white hand see thou do commend
	This seal’d-up counsel. There’s thy gratification; go.	This seal’d-up counsel. There’s thy gratification; go.

[Gives him a letter and money]

COSTARD (French)
	Gratification, O sweet gratification! better than	Gratification, Ô exquise gratification ! C’est mieux que
	remuneration, a’leven-pence farthing better: most sweet	rémunération. Onze liards de plus. Très exquise
	gratification! I will do it sir, in print.	gratification ! Je vous ferai ça, monsieur, à la lettre.
	Gratification! Remuneration!	Gratification ! Rémunération !

Exit

BEROWNE (English)
	And I, forsooth, in love! I, that have been love’s whip;	And I, forsooth, in love! I, that have been love’s whip;
	A domineering pedant o’er the boy;	A domineering pedant o’er the boy;
	This wimpled, whining, purblind, wayward boy;	This wimpled, whining, purblind, wayward boy;
165	This senior-junior, giant-dwarf, Dan Cupid;	This senior-junior, giant-dwarf, Dan Cupid;
	Regent of love-rhymes.	Regent of love-rhymes.
	O my little heart:–	O my little heart:–
	And I to be a corporal of his field,	And I to be a corporal of his field,
	And wear his colours like a tumbler’s hoop!	And wear his colours like a tumbler’s hoop!
	What, I! I love! I sue! I seek a wife!	What, I! I love! I sue! I seek a wife!
175	A woman, that is like a German clock,	A woman, that is like a German clock,
	Still a-repairing, ever out of frame,	Still a-repairing, ever out of frame,
	And never going aright, being a watch,	And never going aright, being a watch,
	But being watch’d that it may still go right!	But being watch’d that it may still go right!
	Nay, to be perjured, which is worst of all;	Nay, to be perjured, which is worst of all;
180	And, among three, to love the worst of all;	And, among three, to love the worst of all;
	A whitely wanton with a velvet brow,	A whitely wanton with a velvet brow,
	And I to sigh for her! to watch for her!	And I to sigh for her! to watch for her!
	To pray for her! Go to; it is a plague	To pray for her! Go to; it is a plague
	That Cupid will impose for my neglect	That Cupid will impose for my neglect
	Of his almighty dreadful little might.	Of his almighty dreadful little might.
	Well, I will love, write, sigh, pray, sue and groan:	Well, I will love, write, sigh, pray, sue and groan:
190	Some men must love my lady and some Joan.	Some men must love my lady and some Joan.

Exit

ACT IV

SCENE I

Enter the PRINCESS, and her train, BOYET, ROSALINE, MARIA, and KATHERINE

PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	Was that the king, that spurred his horse so hard	Isch das dä Chönig, vo sis Ross so häiss
	Against the steep uprising of the hill?	De steili Hang vom Hügu ufe spornt?
BOYET (Swiss German)
	I know not; but I think it was not he.	Ich weiss nöd, aber glaub, er isch’s nöd gsi.
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	Whoe’er a’ was, a’ show’d a mounting mind.	Na wer‘s ou isch git ämu zünftig a.
	(German) Well, lords, to-day we shall have our dispatch:	(German) Nun, Damen, heut erhalten wir Bescheid,
	On Saturday we will return to France.	Und Samstag wollen wir zurück nach Frankreich.
	(Swiss German) Then, Boyet, my friend, where is the bush	(Swiss German) U jetz, min Fründ, wo isch dr Hinterhalt,
	That we must stand and play the murderer in?	Wo üs als Jäger s’Morde ringer macht?
BOYET (Swiss German)
	Hereby, upon the edge of yonder coppice;	Grad da am Waldrand häts en Schützestand
10	A stand where you may make the fairest shoot.	Vo döt us hät mä dänn dä schönsti Schuss.
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	But come, the bow. Now mercy goes to kill,	Gib mir dä Boge. Ich gse i, ich muss
	As I for praise alone now seek to spill	Chli Idruck schinde u verschütt drum s‘Bluet
35	The poor deer’s blood, that my heart means no ill.	Vom arme Tier, ich hoff, es schmöckt de guät.
BOYET (Swiss German)
	Do not curst wives hold that self-sovereignty	Isch es nöd s’gliich, wo d’Frau als motiviert
	Only for praise sake, when they strive to be	Wänn sie als Herrscherrin dähei regiert
	Lords o’er their lords?	Nur zum sich inszeniere?
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	Only for praise: and praise we may afford	Genau, es g’hört ebe au inszeniert,
40	To any lady that subdues a lord.	We mau ä Frou dr Mösieu kontrolliert.
BOYET (High German)
	Here comes a member of the commonwealth.	Hier kommt ein Bürger der Gelehrtenrepublik.

Enter COSTARD

COSTARD (French)
	God dig-you-den all! Pray you, which is the head lady?	Bon Dieu vous donne bien le bonsoir ! Pardon, quelle est la femme de tête ?
PRINCESS (French)
	Thou shalt know her, fellow, by the rest that have no heads.	Tu la reconnaîtras, ami, à celles qui n’ont pas de tête.
COSTARD (French)
	Which is the greatest lady, the highest?	Quelle est la plus grande dame, la plus haute ?
PRINCESS (French)
	The thickest and the tallest.	La plus forte et la plus longue.
COSTARD (French)
	The thickest and the tallest.	La plus forte et la plus longue.
	Are not you the chief woman?	N’est-ce pas vous la femme-chef ?
	you are the thickest here.	Vous êtes ici la plus forte.
PRINCESS (French)
	What’s your will, sir? what’s your will?	Que voulez-vous, monsieur ? Que voulez-vous ?
COSTARD (French)
	I have a letter from Monsieur Berowne to one Lady Rosaline.	J’ai une lettre de monsieur Berowne à une dame Rosaline.
PRINCESS (French)
	O, thy letter, thy letter! he’s a good friend of mine:	Oh ! Ta lettre, ta lettre ! C’est un de mes bons amis :
55	Stand aside, good bearer. (Swiss German) Boyet, you can carve;	Un instant, bon messager. (Swiss German) Boyet, nimm en Schnider,
	Break up this capon.	Tranchier dä Brate mal.
BOYET (Swiss German)
	I am bound to serve.	Wird grad serviert.
	This letter is mistook, it importeth none here;	Dä Briäf händ mir nöd bstellt, er gat da niemer a,
	It is writ to Jaquenetta.	Er isch a’d Jacqueline adressiert.
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	We will read it, I swear.	Was me vo dere Dame ächt het wöue?
	Break the neck of the wax, and every one give ear.	Loset guet zue, u du chasch mal verzäue.
BOYET (Bad Swiss German with Spanish accent)
60	[Reads] By heaven, that thou art fair, is most infallible;	[Reads] ‘Bim Himmu, dass du hübsch bisch, isch ganz
	true, that thou art beauteous; truth itself, that thou art	unfehlbar;wahr, dass du bisch schön; Wahrheit selber,
	lovely.More fairer than fair, beautiful than beauteous,	dass du liäblich bisch.Meh hübsch als hübsch, schön
	truer than truth itself, have commiseration on thy	als schön, wahrhaftiger als Wahrheitselber, heb doch
	heroical vassal! The magnanimousand most illustrate	conmiseración mit dine heldehafte Vassal! De gross–
	king Cophetua set eye upon thepernicious and	herzig und hochillustrierte König Cophetua hät es
	indubitate beggar Zenelophon; and he it wasthat	Aug uf die miserabli und unzwiefelhafti Bettlerin
		Zenolophon gworfe; und drum hät er chöne säge:,
	might rightly say, Veni, vidi, vici; which to annothanize	Venividi, vici: das häisst, zersetzt in die Sprache des
	in the vulgar,–O base and obscure vulgar!–videlicet,	Volkes– vulgäri und düsteri Sprach! – Videlicet, er
	He came, saw, and overcame: he came, one; saw two;	isch cho, er hät gseh, u er hät überwunde: Er isch cho:
	overcame,three. Who came? the king: why did he	uno; hät gseh: dos; hät überwunde:tres. Wer isch cho?
		Der Chönig: warum isch er cho? Zum gseh: warum
70	come? to see: why did he see? to overcome: to whom	hät er gseh? zum überwinde: Zu wem isch er cho? Zur
	came he? to the beggar:what saw he? The beggar:	Bettlerin:was hät er gseh? D‘Bettlerin: wer hät er
	who overcame he? the beggar.The conclusion is	übercho: D’Bettlerin.D‘conclusión isch Sieg: für welli
	victory: on whose side? the king’s. The captive is	Siite? Vom Chönig. DieG‘fangeni isch bericheret: für
	enriched: on whose side? The beggar’s. The	wer? Für d‘Bettlerin. D’Katastrophe isch ehelich: für
	catastropheis a nuptial: on whose side? the king’s: no,	welli Siite? Vom Chönig: nei, für beidi ineinem, oder
	on both inone, or one in both. I am the king; for so	Einii beidem. Ich bi dr Chönig, will das isch
	stands the comparison:thou the beggar; for so	d’Comparación: Du d’Bettlerin; so seit’s dini
	witnesseth thy lowliness. Shall Icommand thy love? I	Provinzialität. Söll ichdini Liäbi befehle? Ich darf:
	may: shall I enforce thy love? I could:shall I entreat	Söll ich dini Liäbi erzwinge? Ich chönt:Söll ich dini
	thy love? I will. What shalt thou exchange for	Liäbi erbitte? Das mach ich. Was wirsch du für dini
	rags? robes; for tittles? titles; for thyself? me.,	Lumpe becho? Una vestida de noche: Für dini Chittel?
		Titel: Für dich? Mich.
80	Thusexpecting thy reply, I profane my lips on thy foot,	So ernidrige ich für dini Antwort mini Lippe uf dim
	my eyes onthy picture. and my heart on thy every part.	Fuess, mini Augeuf dim Bild, und mis corazón uf jedes
		Stück vo dir.
	Thine, in the dearest design of industry,	Din, voller Plän und Diligenz,
	DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO.	DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO.
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
90	What plume of feathers is he that indited this letter?	Welle Latino-Pfau het de dä Sudu g’schribe?
	What vane? what weathercock?	Welle Plagööri het so übertribe?
	(French) Thou fellow, a word:	(French)Toi l’ami, dis-moi,
	Who gave thee this letter?	Qui t’a donné cettre lettre ?
COSTARD (French)
	I told you; my lord.	Je vous l’ai dit, mon maître.
PRINCESS (French)
	To whom shouldst thou give it?	A qui devais-tu la remettre ?
COSTARD (French)
	From my lord to my lady.	A ma maîtresse, de la part de mon maître.
PRINCESS (French)
	From which lord to which lady?	De la part de quel maître à quelle maîtresse ?
COSTARD (French)
100	From my lord Berowne, a good master of mine,	De la part du seigneur Berowne, un de mes bons maîtres,
	To a lady of France that he call’d Rosaline.	à une dame de France qu’il a appelée Rosaline.
PRINCESS (French)
	Thou hast mistaken his letter. Come, ladies, away.	Tu t’es trompé de lettre. Venez, mesdames, partons.
	(Swiss German to Rosaline) Here, sweet, put up this: ’twill be thine another day.	(Swiss German to Rosaline) Din Brief chunt de scho bald, nimm erscht mal deda hie.

Exeunt all but Boyet, Rosaline, Maria and Costard

BOYET (High German)
	Who is the suitor? who is the suitor?	Na wer ist unser Meisterschütze?
ROSALINE (French)
	Shall I teach you to know?	Faut-il vous l’apprendre ?
BOYET (French)
	Ay, my continent of beauty.	Oui, mon continent de beauté.
ROSALINE (French)
	Why, she that bears the bow.	Eh bien, celle qui porte l’arc.
	Finely put off!	Bien paré !
BOYET (French)
	My lady goes to kill horns; but, if thou marry,	Ma maîtresse va tuer les bêtes à cornes; mais quand tu te marieras,
	Hang me by the neck, if horns that year miscarry.	je veux être pendu si les cornes manquent ce jour-là.
	Finely put on!	Bien riposté !
ROSALINE (French)
	Well, then, I am the shooter.	Alors, c’est moi la chasseresse.
BOYET (French)
110	And who is your deer?	Et qui est le cerf ?
ROSALINE (French)
	If we choose by the horns, yourself come not near.	Si on le choisit à ses cornes, c’est vous, n’approchez pas.
	Finely put on, indeed!	Très bien riposté, n’est-ce pas ?
MARIA (Italian)
	You still wrangle with her, Boyet,	E sempre a baruffar con lei, Boyet,
	and she strikes at the brow.	e lei che sempre vi colpisce di fronte.
BOYET (French)
	But she herself is hit lower: have I hit her now?	Moi, je touche plus bas. Cette-fois, ai-je fait touche ?

Exeunt ROSALINE and KATHERINE

MARIA (Italian)
	Wide o’ the bow hand! i’ faith, your hand is out.	Braccio sinitro troppo largo: è fiacca! In verità siete fuori forma…
COSTARD (French)
130	Indeed, a’ must shoot nearer, or he’ll ne’er hit the clout.	Vrai, il faut viser plus près, il ne fera jamais mouche.
BOYET (French)
	An if my hand be out, then belike your hand is in.	Si j’ai perdu la main, mettez-y la vôtre.
COSTARD (French)
	Then will she get the upshoot by cleaving the pin.	Elle va tirer le meilleur clou en lui fendant le clou.
MARIA (Italian)
	Come, come, you talk greasily; your lips grow foul.	Andiamo, andiamo, basta questo parlare sconveniente. Le vostre labbra son davvero sconce.
COSTARD (French)
	She’s too hard for you at pricks, sir: challenge her to bowl.	Elle est trop forte pour vous au tir, défiez-la aux boules.
BOYET (French)
135	I fear too much rubbing. Good night, my good owl.	J’ai peur qu’elle touche trop le cochonnet. Bonne nuit, mon cher hibou.

Exeunt BOYET and MARIA

COSTARD (French)
	By my soul, a swain! a most simple clown!	Sur mon âme, quel rustre ! Quel paltoquet !
	Lord, Lord, how the ladies and I have put him down!	Seigneur, seigneur, comme ces dames et moi lui avons rabattu le caquet !
	O’ my troth, most sweet jests!	Ma parole, que de bons mots !

Shout within
Exit COSTARD

ACT IV

SCENE II

Enter HOLOFERNIA, SIR NATHANIEL, and DUMM

SIR NATHANIEL (English)
	Very reverend sport, truly; and done in the testimony	Very reverend sport, truly; and done in the testimony
	of a good conscience.	of a good conscience.
HOLOFERNIA (English with multilingual translations)
	The deer was, as you know, sanguis, in blood;	The deer was, as you know, sanguis, in blood, en sang;
	ripe and hanging like a jewel in the ear of caelo, the	ripe and hanging like a jewel in the ear of caelo, le ciel,
	sky, the welkin, the heaven; and anon falleth like a crab	the sky, heaven, der Himmel; and anon falleth like a
	on the face of terra, the soil, the land, the earth.	crab on the face of terra, the soil, la terre, the land, the earth, die Erde.
SIR NATHANIEL (English)
	Truly, Master HOLOFERNIA, the epithets are sweetly	Truly, Master HOLOFERNIA, the epithets are sweetly
	varied, like a scholar at the least: but, lady, I assure ye,	varied, like a scholar at the least: but, lady, I assure ye,
	it was a buck of the first head.	it was a buck of the first head.
HOLOFERNIA (French)
10	Sir Nathaniel, haud credo.	Sir Nathaniel, un grand coup.
DUMM (Swiss German)
	‘Twas not a haud credo; ’twas a pricket.	Das isch de käi chranki Chue gsi, sondern äs Rehchaub.
HOLOFERNIA (High German, with multilingual translations)
	Most barbarous intimation! yet a kind of	O tempora! Barbarische Interjektion!, However, quand-
		meme, eine Art von quodlibetärer Insinuatio
		vulgaritatis, on pourrait dire, doing things with words,
		nicht wahr? (but this is in a bracket), so zeigt diese
	insinuation, as it were, to show, as it were, his	façon de parler, sie ostendiert, indicates, es bewiist halt
	inclination, after his undressed, unpolished,	äfach wider mal, son inclination, after his undressèd,
	uneducated, unpruned, untrained, or rather,	unpolishèd, (mais oui ! Mal polie !), oder, maxime
	unlettered, or ratherest, unconfirmed fashion, to insert	accurate, unflätigi Constitution, malentendre mon
	again my haud credo for a deer.	‚grand coup‘ pour „äs Rehchaub”.
DUMM (Helvetic High German)
	I said the deer was not a haud credo; twas a pricket.	Ich habe gesagt, der Hirsch ist eben keine krankche Kchuh gewesen sondern ein Rechaub!
HOLOFERNIA (Swiss German)
20	O thou monster Ignorance, how deformed dost thou look!	Oh monströsi Ignoranz, wie deformiert du bisch!
SIR NATHANIEL (English)
	My lady, he hath never fed of the dainties that are bred	My lady, he hath never fed of the dainties that are bred
	in a book; he hath not eat paper, as it were; he	in a book; he hath not eat paper, as it were; he
	hath not drunk ink: his intellect is not	hath not drunk ink: his intellect is not
	replenished; he is only an animal, only sensible in	replenished; he is only an animal, only sensible in
	the duller parts.	the duller parts.
DUMM (Swiss German)
	You two are book-men: can you tell me by your wit	Ihr zwöi si doch studierti: chöit ihr mir mit euem
	What was a month old at Cain’s birth, that’s not five	Büechergring säge was bim Kain sinere Geburt scho ä
	weeks old as yet?	Monät alt isch gsi, aber bis itze no keni füf Wuche alt isch?
HOLOFERNIA (English)
	Dictynna, goodman Dumm; Dictynna, goodman Dumm.	Dictynna, goodman Dumm; Dictynna, goodman Dumm.
DUMM (Swiss German)
	What is Dictynna?	Wer isch dick und dünn?
SIR NATHANIEL (English)
	A title to Phoebe, to Luna, to the moon, der Mond.	A title to Phoebe, to Luna, to the moon, der Mond.
HOLOFERNIA (Swiss German)
	The moon was a month old when Adam was no more,	De Adam und de Mond, sind beid monätig gse,
	And raught not to five weeks when he came to five-	Dä Mond keis bitzli älter, nach feufhundert jahr
	score.(English) The allusion holds in the exchange.	me. (English) The allusion holds in the exchange.
DUMM (Swiss German)
40	Tis true indeed (English) the collusion holds in the exchange.	Äuä so meh oder weniger (English) the collusion holds in the exchange.
HOLOFERNIA (Swiss German)
	God comfort thy capacity! I say,	Gott heb erbarme mit dine Fehigkeite, eg ha gseit:
	(English) the allusion holds in the exchange.	(English) the allusion holds in the exchange.
DUMM (Swiss German)
	And I say,	Und i ha gsäit
	(English) the pollution holds in the exchange;	(English) the pollution holds in the exchange;
	(Swiss German) for the moon is never but a month	(Swiss German) wüu ebe dr mond geng nie äuter isch
	old: and I say beside that, twas a pricket that the princess killed.	aus ä monät. U usserdäm sägeni, das isch äs Rehchaub gsi wo’d Prinzässin umgla hät.
HOLOFERNIA (English)
	Sir Nathaniel, will you hear an extemporal epitaph	Sir Nathaniel, will you hear an extemporal epitaph
	on the death of the deer, to humour the ignorant?	on the death of the deer, to humour the ignorant?
SIR NATHANIEL (English)
	Perge, good Master HOLOFERNIA, perge; so it shall	Perge, good Master HOLOFERNIA, perge; so it shall
50	please you to abrogate scurrility.	please you to abrogate scurrility.
HOLOFERNIA (English)
	I will something affect the letter, for it argues facility.	I will something affect the letter, for it argues facility.
	[(Swiss German,to Dumm)Listen closely!]	(Swiss German,to Dumm)Muesch eifach guet zuelose!
	(English) The preyful princess pierced and prick’d a pretty pleasing pricket;	(English) The preyful princess pierced and prick’d a pretty pleasing pricket;
	Some say a sore: put L to sore, then sorel jumps from thicket;	Some say a sore: put L to sore, then sorel jumps from thicket;
	If sore be sore, then L to sore makes fifty sores one sorel.	If sore be sore, then L to sore makes fifty sores one sorel.
	Of one sore I an hundred make by adding but one more L.	Of one sore I an hundred make by adding but one more L.
SIR NATHANIEL (English)
	A rare talent!	A rare talent!
DUMM (Swiss German,aside)
60	If a talent be a claw, look how he claws him	Denn, wo die zwöi ds’Talent mit dr Gable gfrässe hei,
	with a talent.	hei si sich derbi ou grad no ds‘mu verchratzet.
HOLOFERNIA (Multilingual)
	This is a gift; a foolish extravagant spirit, full of forms,	Es ist eine Gabe; a foolish extravagant esprit, full of
	figures, ideas, apprehensions, motions,revolutions:	forms, figures, Ideen, Ahnungen, de mouvements, de révolutions:
	But the gift is good in those in whom it is acute.	But the gift is good in those in whom it is acute.
SIR NATHANIEL (English)
	Lady, I praise the Lord for you; and so may my	Lady, I praise the Lord for you; and so may my
	parishioners; for their sons are well tutored by	parishioners; for their sons are well tutored by
	you, and their daughters profit very greatly under	you, and their daughters profit very greatly under
70	you: you are a good member of the commonwealth.	you: you are a good member of the commonwealth.
HOLOFERNIA (Latin and English)
	But vir sapit qui pauca loquitur; a soul feminine saluteth us.	But vir sapit qui pauca loquitur; a soul feminine saluteth us.

Enter JAQUENETTA and COSTARD

JACQUELINE (Swiss German)
	God give you good morrow, good master Parson.	Grüessäch wou Herr Pfarrer, u ä guätä morgä allersits.
	Be so good as read me this letter: it was given me by	Chönt ihr mich ächt ä g’Falle mache u mir de Briäf da
85	Costard, and sent me from Don Armado: I beseech you, read it.	vorläsä: Dä Costard hät mer dä gäh, vom Don Armado: Sit so guet, läsets.
HOLOFERNIA (Multilingual)
	[To herself] Fauste, precor gelida quando pecus omne	[To herself] Datta, Dayadhvam, Damyata – le prince
	sub umbra Ruminat,–and so forth. Ah, good old	d’Aquitaine à la tour abolie – and so forth. Ah, good
	Mantuan! I may speak of thee as the traveller doth of Venice;	old Mantuan! I may speak of thee as the traveller doth of Venice;
	Venetia, Venetia,	Venetia, Venetia,
90	Chi non ti vede non ti pretia.	Chi non ti vede non ti pretia.
	Old Mantuan, old Mantuan! who understandeth thee	Old Mantuan, old mantuan [lecturing to the audience]
	not, loves thee not. Ut, re, sol, la, mi, fa.	Mantuanus était un poët de la fin du XVème siècle, si
		célèbre alors que les pédants préféraient ses églogues à
		l’Énéide. [humming to herself] That Shakesperian Rag…
	Under pardon, sir, what are the contents?–What, my soul, verses?	[to Nathaniel] Under pardon, sir, what are the contents? – What, my soul, verses?
SIR NATHANIEL (English)
	Ay, sir, and very learned.	Ay, sir, and very learned.
HOLOFERNIA (English)
	Let me hear a staff, a stanze, a verse; lege, domine.	Let me hear a staff, a stanze, a verse; lege, domine.
SIR NATHANIEL (French)
	If love make me forsworn, how shall I swear to love?	Parjure par amour, comment jurer que j’aime ?
	Ah, never faith could hold, if not to beauty vow’d!	Vouée à la beauté, éternelle est la foi !
100	Though to myself forsworn, to thee I’ll faithful prove:	Fidèle je te suis, me parjurant moi-même :
	Those thoughts to me were oaks, to thee like osiers bow’d.	Mon cœur que je crus chêne est roseau devant toi.
	Study his bias leaves and makes his book thine eyes,	Le livre de tes yeux suffit à la science,
	Where all those pleasures live that art would comprehend:	Car y sont tous plaisirs que l’art puisse embrasser ;
	If knowledge be the mark, to know thee shall suffice;	Si connaître est le but, te voir est connaissance ;
	Well learned is that tongue that well can thee commend,	Et savante est la voix qui sait bien te louer.
	All ignorant that soul that sees thee without wonder;	Te voir sans s’étonner est d’une âme grossière ;
	Which is to me some praise that I thy parts admire:	Je mérite l’honneur quand tes dons je proclame.
	Thy eye Jove’s lightning bears, thy voice his dreadful thunder,	Ta voix, ton œil, sont foudre et feu de Jupiter,
	Which not to anger bent, is music and sweet fire.	Mais sans colère, ils sont musique et douce flamme.
110	Celestial as thou art, O, pardon, love, this wrong,	Céleste créature, ah ! ne sois point fâchée,
	That sings heaven’s praise with such an earthly tongue.	Si par terrestre voix ta louange est chantée.
HOLOFERNIA (French to Nathaniel)
	You find not the apostraphas, and so miss the	Vous omettez les élisions, l’accentuation est fausse :
	accent: let me supervise the canzonet. Here are	laissez-moi examiner la canzonette. Il y a
	only numbers ratified; but, for the elegancy,	bien le nombre de pieds voulu, mais pour l’élégance,
	facility, and golden cadence of poesy, caret.	la fluidité, la cadence d’or de la poésie, caret, il
	Imitari is nothing: so doth the hound his master.	manque. Imitari n’est rien : c’est ce que fait le lévrier
	(Swiss German) But, damosella virgin, was this	avec son maître. (Swiss German) Aber, Mademoiselle
	directed to you?	Jungfrau, Het me das an euch gschickt?
JACQUELINE (Swiss German)
120	Ay, sir.	Jawou, mini Dame.
HOLOFERNIA (English)
	I will overglance the superscript:	I will overglance the superscript:
	(French) To the snow-white hand of the most beauteous Lady Rosaline.	(French) A la main blanche comme neige de la très belle Rosaline.
	(English) I will look again on the intellect of the letter,	(English) I will look again on the intellect of the letter,
	for the nomination of the party writing to the person written unto:	for the nomination of the party writing to the person written unto:
	(French) ‘Your ladyship’s in all desired employment, Berowne.’	(French) A Votre Grâce, votre dévoué serviteur, Berowne.
	(Swiss German) Trip and go, my sweet; deliver this	(Swiss German) Los jetzt mini Liebi, mach schnell
130	paper into the royal hand of the king: it may concern	und bring das Blatt zum König persönlich. Es chönti
	much. Stay not thy compliment;	sehr wichtig si. Kei langi Verabschiedig,
	I forgive thy duty; adieu.	isch scho in ornig, machs guet.
JACQUELINE (Swiss German)
	Good Costard, go with me. Sir, God save your life!	Costard, viens, chum mit. B’hüetet nech, mini Dame!
COSTARD (High German with French accent)
	Have with thee, my girl.	Isch komm‘ schon, mein Mädschen.

Exeunt COSTARD and JAQUENETTA

SIR NATHANIEL (English)
	My lady, you have done this in the fear of God, very Religiously.	My lady, you have done this in the fear of God, very Religiously.
HOLOFERNIA (English)
	The verses: did they please you, Sir Nathaniel?	The verses: did they please you, Sir Nathaniel?
SIR NATHANIEL (English)
140	Marvellous well for the pen.	Marvellous well for the pen.
HOLOFERNIA (English)
	Where I will prove those verses to be very unlearned,	Where I will prove those verses to be very unlearned,
	neither savouring of poetry, wit, nor invention: I	neither savouring of poetry, wit, nor invention: I
	beseech your society.	beseech your society.
SIR NATHANIEL (English)
	And thank you too; for society, saith the text, is the	And thank you too; for society, saith the text, is the
	happiness of life.	happiness of life.
HOLOFERNIA (English)
	And, certes, the text most infallibly concludes it.	And, certes, the text most infallibly concludes it.
150	(Swiss German to Dumm) Sir, I do invite you too;	(Swiss German to Dumm) Und euch, min Herr, lad i
	you shall not say me nay: pauca verba. Away!	au ii. Kei Widerspruch. Pauce Verba! Los!

Exeunt

ACT IV

SCENE III

Enter BEROWNE, with a paper

BEROWNE (English)
	The king he is hunting the deer; I am coursing Myself.	The king he is hunting the deer; I am coursing Myself.
	By the Lord, this love is as mad as Ajax: it kills	By the Lord, this love is as mad as Ajax: it kills
	sheep; it kills me, I a sheep: I will not love:	sheep; it kills me, I a sheep: I will not love:
	if I do, hang me; i’ faith, I will not.	if I do, hang me; i’ faith, I will not.
	O, but her eye,–by this light, but for her eye, I would	O, but her eye,–by this light, but for her eye, I would
	not love her; yes, for her two eyes.	Not love her; yes, for her two eyes.
10	By heaven, I do love: and it hath taught me to rhyme	By heaven, I do love: and it hath taught me to rhyme
	and to be melancholy.	and to be melancholy.
	Well, she hath one o’ my sonnets already: the clown	Well, she hath one o’ my sonnets already: the clown
	bore it, the fool sent it, and the lady hath it: sweet	bore it, the fool sent it, and the lady hath it: sweet
	clown, sweeter fool, sweetest lady! By the world, I	clown, sweeter fool, sweetest lady! By the world, I
	would not care a pin, if the other three were in.	would not care a pin, if the other three were in.
	Here comes one with a paper: God give him grace	Here comes one with a paper: God give him grace
	to groan! [Stands aside]	to groan! [Stands aside]

Enter FERDINAND, with a paper

FERDINAND (French)
	Ay me!	Pauvre de moi !
BEROWNE (English)
	[Aside] Shot, by heaven! Proceed, sweet Cupid!	[Aside] Shot, by heaven! Proceed, sweet Cupid!
FERDINAND (French)
	[Reads] So sweet a kiss the golden sun gives not	[Reads] Moins doux est le baiser du soleil d’or qui joue
	To those fresh morning drops upon the rose,	Avec les premiers pleurs du matin sur la rose
	As thy eye-beams, when their fresh rays have smote,	Que les premiers rayons de tes yeux qui se posent
25	The night of dew that on my cheeks down flows:	Sur la nuit de rosée qui coule sur mes joues.
	Nor shines the silver moon one half so bright,	Et la lune d’argent ne bille pas autant
	Through the transparent bosom of the deep,	Dans le sein transparent des profondeurs marines
	As doth thy face through tears of mine give light;	Que ton front n’irradie mes larmes cristallines.
	Thou shinest in every tear that I do weep.	Tu brilles dans chacun des pleurs que je répands.
	O queen of queens! how far dost thou excel,	Reine des reines, trop grand est ton empire
	No thought can think, nor tongue of mortal tell.	Pour que pensée le pense, ou voix le puisse dire.
	How shall she know my griefs? I’ll drop the paper:	Comme saura-t-elle ma peine ? Je vais laisser tomber ce papier.
	Sweet leaves, shade folly. Who is he comes here? [Steps aside]	Douces feuilles, ombragez ma folie. Qui vient ici ? [Steps aside]
40	What, Longaville! and reading! listen, ear.	Quoi ! Longeville ! En train de lire !
BEROWNE (English)
	[Aside] Now, in thy likeness, one more fool appear!	[Aside] Now, in thy likeness, one more fool appear!

Enter LONGAVILLE, with a paper

LONGAVILLE (High German)
	Ay me, I am forsworn!	Weh mir! Ich hab den Schwur gebrochen!
BEROWNE (High German)
	[Aside] Why, he comes in like a perjure, wearing papers.	[Aside] Er kommt ja wie ein Sünder mit einem Beichtzettel.
FERDINAND (French)
	[Aside] In love, I hope: sweet fellowship in shame!	[Aside] Amoureux, j’espère ? Ecoute ! Fais halte !
BEROWNE (High German)
45	[Aside] One drunkard loves another of the name.	[Aside] Ein Säufer findet an dem andern Halt.
LONGAVILLE (High German)
	Am I the first that have been perjured so?	Bin ich der erste, der den Eid abschwört?
BEROWNE (English)
	[Aside] I could put thee in comfort. Not by two that I know.	[Aside] Bei weitem nicht, sei da ganz unbeschwert.
LONGAVILLE (High German)
	I fear these stubborn lines lack power to move:	Ach mein Gedicht ist schwach, bleibt ungehört.
	[Reads] Did not the heavenly rhetoric of thine eye,	[Reads] ‘s ist Redekraft in deinen Götteraugen,
	‘Gainst whom the world cannot hold argument,	die alles, was die Welt sagt, übertönt.
	Persuade my heart to this false perjury?	Die Gründe, meinen Eid zu halten, taugen
	Vows for thee broke deserve not punishment.	nicht mehr seit du den Meineid so verschönt.
	A woman I forswore; but I will prove,	Niemals schwor ich, dass ich auch dir fernbliebe
60	Thou being a goddess, I forswore not thee:	Denn du bist göttlich, nie entsagt ich dir!
	My vow was earthly, thou a heavenly love;	Ich schwor der Welt, himmlisch ist deine Liebe
	Thy grace being gain’d cures all disgrace in me.	Und deine Huld löst alle Schuld von mir.
	Vows are but breath, and breath a vapour is:	Ein Schwur ist nur ein Hauch, ein Hauch ist Dunst.
	Then thou, fair sun, which on my earth dost shine,	Du, schöne Sonne, scheinst auf meine Erde
	Exhalest this vapour-vow; in thee it is:	Und ziehst den Dunst des Schwurs in deine Brunst
	If broken then, it is no fault of mine:	Ich bin nicht schuld, wenn ich meineidig werde,
	If by me broke, what fool is not so wise	Denn jeder Narr wär klug genug für dies:
	To lose an oath to win a paradise?	Verlier den Eid, gewinn ein Paradies!
BEROWNE (High German)
70	[Aside] Pure, pure idolatry. God amend us, God	[Aside] Das ist ja schon die reinste Blasphemie,
	amend! we are much out o’ the way.	Die Flucht vor Weisheit in die Poesie.
LONGAVILLE (High German)
	By whom shall I send this?–Company! stay. [Steps aside]	Durch wen soll ich es ihr senden? – Es kommt jemand! Schnell weg. [Steps aside]
BEROWNE (English)
	[Aside] Like a demigod here sit I in the sky.	[Aside] Like a demigod here sit I in the sky.
	And wretched fools’ secrets heedfully o’ereye.	And wretched fools’ secrets heedfully o’ereye.
	More sacks to the mill! O heavens, I have my wish!	More sacks to the mill! O heavens, I have my wish!

Enter DUMAINE, with a paper

	Dumaine transform’d! four woodcocks in a dish!	Dumaine transform’d! four woodcocks in a dish!
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	O most divine Kate!	O Catrina, flur divina.
BEROWNE (English)
	[Aside] O most profane coxcomb!	[Aside] O most profane coxcomb!
DUMAINE (Romansh)
80	By heaven, the wonder in a mortal eye!	O Dieu, miracla e’ls egls mortals che vesan quai
BEROWNE (English)
	[Aside] By earth, she is not, corporal, there you lie.	[Aside] By earth, she is not, corporal, there you lie.
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	As upright as the cedar.	Parita gracila sco in giuven laresch.
BEROWNE (English)
	[Aside] Stoop, I say;	[Aside] Stoop, I say;
	Her shoulder is with child.	Her shoulder is with child.
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	As fair as day.	Brigliant’en il tschiel blau.
BEROWNE (English)
	[Aside] Ay, as some days; but then no sun must shine.	[Aside] Ay, as some days; but then no sun must shine.
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	O that I had my wish!	Oh, mes desideris…!
LONGAVILLE (High German)
	[Aside] And I had mine!	[Aside] Oh hätt ich meinen Wunsch!
FERDINAND (French)
	[Aside] And I mine too, good Lord!	[Aside] Et le mien aussi, mon Dieu !
BEROWNE (English)
90	[Aside] Amen, so I had mine: is not that a good word?	[Aside] Amen, so I had mine: is not that a good word?
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	Once more I’ll read the ode that I have writ.	Anc inagada vi jau leger l’oda ch’jau hai scrit.
BEROWNE (English)
	[Aside] Once more I’ll mark how love can vary wit.	[Aside] Once more I’ll mark how love can vary wit.
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	[Reads] On a day–alack the day!–	[Reads] Insacura – tge dolur –
	Love, whose month is ever May,	en il matg, il mais d’amur,
	Spied a blossom passing fair	observa ina flur charina
100	Playing in the wanton air:	ballantschond en l’aria fina
	Through the velvet leaves the wind,	tras la feglia da vali
	All unseen, can passage find;	pass’in vent nunpercurschì.
	That the lover, sick to death,	Toc d’amur l’amant giavischa
	Wish himself the heaven’s breath.	d’esser sezs dal tschiel la brisa,
	Air, quoth he, thy cheeks may blow;	aria, sur tias vestas vi
	Air, would I might triumph so!	pudess jau triumfar sco ti.
	But, alack, my hand is sworn	Na, nus essan stads perina
	Ne’er to pluck thee from thy thorn;	da na t’ cleger da la spina;
	Vow, alack, for youth unmeet,	els giuvens onns tge engirar
110	Youth so apt to pluck a sweet!	vulain sagiar e profitar;
	Do not call it sin in me,	ma trueschas dal putgà perquai
	That I am forsworn for thee;	che jau rump mes pled per tai?
	Thou for whom Jove would swear	Per tai Jupiter schess pelvaira
	Juno but an Ethiope were;	Juno saja dall’Etiopia, la naira,
	And deny himself for Jove,	snegass sasez al tribunal
	Turning mortal for thy love.	vegniss per ti’amur mortal.
	This will I send, and something else more plain,	Quest ta tramet sco mussament
	That shall express my true love’s fasting pain.	da mia amur bram’e turment,
	O, would the king, Berowne, and Longaville,	sche mo Berowne, Longaville e’l rai
120	Were lovers too! Ill, to example ill,	fissan sco jau da mala fai;
	Would from my forehead wipe a perjured note;	lavass dal frunt la mia menda,
	For none offend where all alike do dote.	sche narradad fa senda.
LONGAVILLE (High German)
	[Advancing] Dumaine, thy love is far from charity.	[Advancing] Dumain, dein Streben ist weit weg von Gnade.
	You may look pale, but I should blush, I know,	Jetzt wirst du blass, doch ich würde erröten,
	To be o’erheard and taken napping so.	Würde ich so ertappt beim Übertreten.
FERDINAND (French)
	Come, sir, you blush; as his your case is such;	Rougissez donc, monsieur, semblable est votre sort ;
	You chide at him, offending twice as much;	En le blâmant, vous redoublez vos torts ;
	You do not love Maria; Longaville	Vous n’aimez pas Maria ? Longueville
130	Did never sonnet for her sake compile,	Jamais n’a pour elle composé de sonnet,
	His loving bosom to keep down his heart.	Jamais croisé les bras sur son sein amoureux
		Pour comprimer son cœur ?
	I have been closely shrouded in this bush	J’étais secrètement caché dans ce taillis,
	And mark’d you both and for you both did blush:	Et je vous observais, et pour vous, j’ai rougi.
	I heard your guilty rhymes, observed your fashion,	J’entendais vos rimes coupables, j’épiais vos façons,
	Saw sighs reek from you, noted well your passion:	Vous voyais exhaler des soupirs et remarquais votre passion.
	(To Longaville, High German with French accent) You would for paradise break faith, and troth;	(To Longaville, High German with French accent) Du würdest gern im Garten Eden schäkern;
140	(To Dumaine, bad Romansh) And Jupiter, for your love, would infringe an oath	(To Dumaine, bad Romansh) I Jupiter, per ti’amur, gniss a violar ün güramaint.
	(French) What will Berowne say when that he shall hear	(French) Que va dire Berowne quand il apprendra cela :
	Faith so infringed, which such zeal did swear	Une promesse violée, que vous aviez jurée avec tant d’ardeur !
	For all the wealth that ever I did see,	Pour moi, je ne voudrais pour tous les trésors du monde
	would not have him know so much by me.	Que cela soit ainsi appris par lui.
BEROWNE (English)
	[Advancing] Now step I forth to whip hypocrisy.	[Advancing] Now step I forth to whip hypocrisy.
	Ah, good my liege, I pray thee, pardon me!	Ah, good my liege, I pray thee, pardon me!
	Good heart, what grace hast thou, thus to reprove	Good heart, what grace hast thou, thus to reprove
150	These worms for loving, that art most in love?	These worms for loving, that art most in love?
	Your eyes do make no coaches; in your tears	Your eyes do make no coaches; in your tears
	There is no certain princess that appears;	There is no certain princess that appears;
	But are you not ashamed? nay, are you not,	But are you not ashamed? nay, are you not,
	All three of you, to be thus much o’ershot?	All three of you, to be thus much o’ershot?
	O, what a scene of foolery have I seen,	O, what a scene of foolery have I seen,
160	Of sighs, of groans, of sorrow and of teen!	Of sighs, of groans, of sorrow and of teen!
	O me, with what strict patience have I sat,	O me, with what strict patience have I sat,
	To see a king transformèd to a gnat!	To see a king transformèd to a gnat!
FERDINAND (French)
170	Too bitter is thy jest.	La plaisanterie est trop dure.
	Are we betray’d thus to thy over-view?	Ainsi, nous nous sommes trahis sous tes yeux ?
BEROWNE (English)
	I am betray’d, by keeping company	I am betray’d, by keeping company
	With men like you, men of inconstancy.	With men like you, men of inconstancy.
	When shall you see me write a thing in rhyme?	When shall you see me write a thing in rhyme?
	Or groan for love? or spend a minute’s time	Or groan for love? or spend a minute’s time
	In pruning me? When shall you hear that I	In pruning me? When shall you hear that I
180	Will praise a hand, a foot, a face, an eye,	Will praise a hand, a foot, a face, an eye,
	A gait, a state, a brow, a breast, a waist,	A gait, a state, a brow, a breast, a waist,
	A leg, a limb?	A leg, a limb?
FERDINAND (French)
	Soft! whither away so fast?	Doucement, où courez-vous aussi vite ?
	A true man or a thief that gallops so?	Est-ce un honnête homme ou un voleur qui galope ainsi ?
BEROWNE (English)
	I post from love: good lover, let me go.	I post from love: good lover, let me go.

Enter JAQUENETTA and COSTARD

JACQUELINE (Swiss German)
	God bless the king!	Grüess Gott, u dr Chönig!
FERDINAND (High German with French accent)
	What present hast thou there?	Was bringst du mir für eine Présent ?
COSTARD (French)
	Some certain treason.	Une trahison certaine.
JACQUELINE (Swiss German)
	I beseech your grace, let this letter be read:	Bitte löht dä Brief da la läse.
FERDINAND (French)
	BEROWNE, read it over. [Giving him the paper]	Berowne, lisez-la. [Giving him the paper]
	(Bad mix German/Swiss German) Where hadst thou it?	(Bad mix German/Swiss German) Wo hast du ihn überchoo?
JACQUELINE (Swiss German)
	Of Costard.	Vom Kchostard.
FERDINAND (French)
	Where hadst thou it?	De qui la tiens-tu ?
COSTARD (French)
	Of Dun Adramadio, Dun Adramadio.	De Dun Adramadio, Dun Adramadio

BEROWNE tears the letter

FERDINAND (French)
	How now! what is in you? why dost thou tear it?	Eh bien, qu’avez-vous ? Pourquoi la déchires-tu ?
BEROWNE (English)
	A toy, my liege, a toy: your grace needs not fear it.	A toy, my liege, a toy: your grace needs not fear it.
LONGAVILLE (High German)
	It did move him to passion, and therefore let’s hear it.	Es hat ihn sehr erregt, deshalb wollen wir’s hören.
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	It is BEROWNE’s writing, and here is his name. [Gathering up the pieces]	Igl è la scrittira da Berowne, e qua giudim ses num. [Gathering up the pieces]
BEROWNE (French)
	[To COSTARD] Ah, you whoreson loggerhead!	[To COSTARD] Ah ! Tête de bois ! Bûche que vous êtes,
200	you were born to do me shame.	vous êtes né pour faire ma honte…
	Guilty, my lord, guilty! I confess, I confess.	Coupable, mon seigneur, coupable ! J’avoue, j’avoue.
FERDINAND (French)
	What?	Quoi ?
BEROWNE (French)
	That you three fools lack’d me fool to make up the mess:	Qu’aux trois fous que vous êtes, il manquait un fou, moi, pour faire la partie carrée.
	He, he, and you, and you, my liege, and I,	Lui, lui et vous, oui, vous, mon suzerain, et moi,
	Are pick-purses in love, and we deserve to die.	Sommes des chapardeurs d’amour, et méritons la mort.
	O, dismiss this audience, and I shall tell you more.	Oh! Congédiez ce public, et je vous en dirai plus.
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	Now the number is even.	Las differenzas èn evasas.
BEROWNE (French)
	True, true; we are four.	Oui, nous sommes quatre.
	Will these turtles be gone?	Ces tourtereaux s’en iront-ils ?
FERDINAND (French)
	Hence, sirs; away!	Dehors, vous autres, partez !
COSTARD (French)
	Walk aside the true folk, and let the traitors stay.	Sort le peuple honnête, et restent là les traîtres.

Exeunt COSTARD and JAQUENETTA

BEROWNE (High German)
210	Sweet lords, sweet lovers, O, let us embrace!	Oh Brüder, lasst Verliebte sich umarmen!
FERDINAND (French)
	What, did these rent lines show some love of thine?	Quoi, cette lettre déchirée te dénonçait coupable d’aimer ?
BEROWNE (English)
	Did they, quoth you? Who sees the heavenly Rosaline,	Did they, quoth you? Who sees the heavenly Rosaline,
	That, like a rude and savage man of Inde,	That, like a rude and savage man of Inde,
	At the first opening of the gorgeous east,	At the first opening of the gorgeous east,
220	Bows not his vassal head and strucken blind	Bows not his vassal head and strucken blind
	Kisses the base ground with obedient breast?	Kisses the base ground with obedient breast?
FERDINAND (French)
	What zeal, what fury hath inspired thee now?	Quel feu, quelle furie t’inspire à présent ?
	My love, her mistress, is a gracious moon;	Mon amour, sa maîtresse, est une gracieuse lune ;
	She an attending star, scarce seen a light.	L’autre est une étoile satellite, lueur à peine visible.
BEROWNE (English)
	My eyes are then no eyes, nor I BEROWNE:	My eyes are then no eyes, nor I BEROWNE:
	O, but for my love, day would turn to night!	O, but for my love, day would turn to night!
	No eye is fair that is not full so black.	No eye is fair that is not full so black.
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	For Katherine’s sake are chimney-sweepers black.	Per amur da Catrina èn ils spazzatgamins daventads nairs.
LONGAVILLE (High German)
	And since her time are colliers counted bright.	Seit sie erschien gilt Köhlersein als Schmuck.
DUMAINE (Romansh)
265	Dark needs no candles now, for dark is light.	Stgiraglia dovra betg chandailas pli,
		la notg è clera sco il di.
BEROWNE (English)
	Your mistresses dare never come in rain,	Your mistresses dare never come in rain,
	For fear their colours should be wash’d away.	For fear their colours should be wash’d away.
FERDINAND (French)
	But what of this? are we not all in love?	A quoi bon tout cela ? Ne sommes-nous pas tous amoureux ?
BEROWNE (English)
	Nothing so sure; and thereby all forsworn.	Nothing so sure; and thereby all forsworn.
FERDINAND (French)
280	Then leave this chat; and, good BEROWNE, now prove	Laissons là ces bavardages ; et toi, cher Berowne, prouve
	Our loving lawful, and our faith not torn.	maintenant que notre amour est loyal, que notre foi n’est pas violée.
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	Ay, marry, there; some flattery for this evil.	Oh gea, vi là, empau flattim per nossa flaivlezza.
LONGAVILLE (High German)
	O, some authority how to proceed;	Wüssten wir nur, wie wir jetzt weiter sollen;
	Some tricks, some quillets, how to cheat the devil.	Mit welchen Tricks und Sprüchen wir uns retten.
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	Some salve for perjury.	Sco itg per la spergiur.

BEROWNE (English)
	‘Tis more than need.	‘Tis more than need.
	Have at you, then, affection’s men at arms.	Have at you, then, affection’s men at arms.
	Consider what you first did swear unto,	Consider what you first did swear unto,
	To fast, to study, and to see no woman;	To fast, to study, and to see no woman;
	Flat treason ‘gainst the kingly state of youth.	Flat treason ‘gainst the kingly state of youth.
290	Say, can you fast? your stomachs are too young;	Say, can you fast? your stomachs are too young;
	And abstinence engenders maladies.	And abstinence engenders maladies.
	O, we have made a vow to study, lords,	O, we have made a vow to study, lords,
	And in that vow we have forsworn our books.	And in that vow we have forsworn our books.
	For when would you, my liege, or you, or you,	For when would you, my liege, or you, or you,
295	In leaden contemplation have found out	In leaden contemplation have found out
	Such fiery numbers as the prompting eyes	Such fiery numbers as the prompting eyes
	Of beauty’s tutors have enrich’d you with?	Of beauty’s tutors have enrich’d you with?
	For love, first learnèd in a lady’s eyes,	For love, first learnèd in a lady’s eyes,
	Lives not alone immurèd in the brain;	Lives not alone immurèd in the brain;
	But, with the motion of all elements,	But, with the motion of all elements,
	Courses as swift as thought in every power,	Courses as swift as thought in every power,
305	And gives to every power a double power,	And gives to every power a double power,
	Above their functions and their offices.	Above their functions and their offices.
	It adds a precious seeing to the eye;	It adds a precious seeing to the eye;
	A lover’s eyes will gaze an eagle blind;	A lover’s eyes will gaze an eagle blind;
	A lover’s ear will hear the lowest sound,	A lover’s ear will hear the lowest sound,
310	When the suspicious head of theft is stopp’d:	When the suspicious head of theft is stopp’d:
	Love’s feeling is more soft and sensible	Love’s feeling is more soft and sensible
	Than are the tender horns of cockl’d snails;	Than are the tender horns of cockl’d snails;
	Love’s tongue proves dainty Bacchus gross in taste:	Love’s tongue proves dainty Bacchus gross in taste:
	For valour, is not Love a Hercules,	For valour, is not Love a Hercules,
	Still climbing trees in the Hesperides?	Still climbing trees in the Hesperides?
	Subtle as Sphinx; as sweet and musical	Subtle as Sphinx; as sweet and musical
	As bright Apollo’s lute, strung with his hair:	As bright Apollo’s lute, strung with his hair:
	And when Love speaks, the voice of all the gods	And when Love speaks, the voice of all the gods
	Makes heaven drowsy with the harmony.	Makes heaven drowsy with the harmony.
320	Never durst poet touch a pen to write	Never durst poet touch a pen to write
	Until his ink were temper’d with Love’s sighs;	Until his ink were temper’d with Love’s sighs;
	O, then his lines would ravish savage ears	O, then his lines would ravish savage ears
	And plant in tyrants mild humility.	And plant in tyrants mild humility.
	From women’s eyes this doctrine I derive:	From women’s eyes this doctrine I derive:
325	They sparkle still the right Promethean fire;	They sparkle still the right Promethean fire;
	They are the books, the arts, the academes,	They are the books, the arts, the academes,
	That show, contain and nourish all the world:	That show, contain and nourish all the world:
335	Let us once lose our oaths to find ourselves,	Let us once lose our oaths to find ourselves,
	It is religion to be thus forsworn,	It is religion to be thus forsworn,
	For charity itself fulfils the law,	For charity itself fulfils the law,
	And who can sever love from charity?	And who can sever love from charity?
FERDINAND (French)
340	Saint Cupid, then! and, soldiers, to the field!	Saint Cupidon ! Soldats, au combat !
BEROWNE (English)
	Advance your standards, and upon them, lords;	Advance your standards, and upon them, lords;
LONGAVILLE (High German)
	Now to plain-dealing; lay these glozes by:	Doch ganz im Ernst nun, ohne das Posieren:
	Shall we resolve to woo these girls of France?	Wollen wir die Französinnen hofieren?
FERDINAND (French)
	And win them too: therefore let us devise	Pas seulement leur faire la cour, mais aussi les
		conquérir; il nous faut donc inventer un
	Some entertainment for them in their tents.	divertissement à leur donner dans leurs pavillons.
BEROWNE (English)
	For revels, dances, masks and merry hours	For revels, dances, masks and merry hours
	Forerun fair Love, strewing her way with flowers.	Forerun fair Love, strewing her way with flowers.

Exeunt

ACT V

SCENE I

Enter HOLOFERNIA, SIR NATHANIEL, and DUMM

SIR NATHANIEL (English)
	I did converse this quondam day with	I did converse this quondam day with
	a companion of the king’s, who is intituled, nomi-	a companion of the king’s, who is intituled, nomi-
	nated, or called, DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO.	nated, or called, DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO.
HOLOFERNIA (Latin and English with Indian accent)
	Novi hominem tanquam te: He is too picked, too	Novi hominem tanquam te: He is too picked, too
	spruce, too affected, too odd, as it were, too	spruce, too affected, too odd, as it were, too
	peregrinate, as I may call it.	peregrinate, as I may call it.
SIR NATHANIEL (English)
	A most singular and choice epithet. [Draws out his table-book]	A most singular and choice epithet. [Draws out his table-book]
HOLOFERNIA (English with multilingual translations)
15	He draweth out the thread of his verbosity finer	Don Armado überspannt den Faden seiner
	than the staple of his argument. I abhor such	Loquazität länger aus. I abhor such fanatical
	fanatical phantasimes; such rackers of	phantasimes, qui mettent l’orthographe à la torture,
	orthography, as to speak dout, fine, when he should	as to speak det, when he should pronounce debt – d,
	say doubt; det, when he should pronounce debt,–d,	e, b, t, not d, e, t: he clepeth des Königs wegen,
20	e, b, t, not d, e, t: he clepeth a calf, cauf; neighbour	wegen dem König; crescendo vocatur creschendo.
	vocatur nebor. This is abhominable,–which he	This is abhominable – which he would call
	would call abbominable:	abbominable.
SIR NATHANIEL (Latin)
	Videsne quis venit?	Videsne quis venit?
HOLOFERNIA (Latin)
	Video, et gaudeo.	Video, et gaudeo.

Enter DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO, MOTH, and COSTARD

DONADRIANO DE ARMADO (English with Spanish accent)
30	Chirrah!	Chirrah!
HOLOFERNIA (Latin)
	Quare chirrah, not sirrah?	Quare chirrah, not sirrah?
DONADRIANO DE ARMADO (English with Spanish accent)
	Men of peace, well encounterèd.	Men of peace, well encounterèd.
HOLOFERNIA (English)
	Most military sir, salutation.	Most military sir, salutation.
MOTH (French)
35	[Aside to COSTARD] They have been at a great feast of languages, and stolen the scraps.	[Aside to COSTARD] Il sont allés à un grand festin de langues et ils ont vole les restes.
COSTARD (French)
	[Aside to Moth] O, they have lived long on the alms-basket of words.	[Aside to Moth] Oh! Depuis longtemps ils vont chercher leurs mots dans les poubelles.
	I marvel thy master hath not eaten thee for a word;	Je m’étonne que, ton maître te prenant pour un mot,
	for thou art not so long by the head as	il ne t’ait pas encore mangé ; car on pourrait t’avaler
	honorificabilitudinitatibus.	plus aisément que honorificabilitudinitatibus.
MOTH (French)
40	[Aside to Costard] Peace! the peal begins.	[Aside to Costard] Silence! Les cloches vont sonner.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English with Spanish accent)
	[To HOLOFERNIA] Madame, are you not letterèd?	[To HOLOFERNIA] Madame, are you not letterèd?
MOTH (English to Don Armado)
	Yes, yes; she teaches boys the hornbook.	Yes, yes; she teaches boys the hornbook.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	Arts-woman, preambulate, we will be singled from	Arts-woman, preambulate, we will be singled from
	the barbarous. Do you not educate youth at the	the barbarous. Do you not educate youth at the
70	charge-house on the top of the mountain?	charge-house on the top of the mountain?
HOLOFERNIA (multilingual)
	Or mons, the hill.	Or mons, der Hügel, la colina.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	At your sweet pleasure, for the mountain.	At your sweet pleasure, for the mountain.
HOLOFERNIA (English)
	I do, sans question.	I do, sans question.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	Madame, it is the king’s most sweet pleasure and	Madame, it is the king’s most sweet pleasure and
	affection to congratulate the princess at her	affection to congratulate the princess at her
	pavilion in the posteriors of this day, which the	pavilion in the posteriors of this day, which the
	rude multitude call the afternoon.	rude multitude call the afternoon.
HOLOFERNIA (English)
	The posterior of the day, most generous sir, is	The posterior of the day, most generous sir, is
	congruent for the afternoon, I do assure you, sir.	congruent for the afternoon, I do assure you, sir.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English, adding translations, to imitate Holofernia)
	Madame, the king is a noble gentleman, and my	Madame, the king is a noble gentleman, and my
	familiar, I do assure ye, very good friend, mi amigo.	familiar, I do assure ye, very good friend, mi amigo.
	For I must tell thee, it will please his grace, sa	For I must tell thee, it will please his grace, sa
	Grâce, par le monde, sometime to lean upon my	Grâce, par le monde, sometime to lean upon my
	poor shoulder, meine arme Schulter, and with his	poor shoulder, meine arme Schulter, and with his
	royal finger, thus, dally with my excrement, with my	royal finger, thus, dally with my excrement, with my
	mustachio; but, let that pass. Some certain special	mustachio; but, let that pass. Some certain special
90	honours it pleaseth his greatness to impart to	honours it pleaseth his greatness to impart to
	Armado, a soldier, a man of travel, that hath seen	Armado, a soldier, a man of travel, that hath seen
	the world; The king would have me present the	the world; The king would have me present the
	princess, sweet chuck, with some delightful	princess, sweet chuck, with some delightful
	ostentation, or show, or pageant, or antique, or	ostentation, or show, or pageant, or antique, or
	firework. Now, understanding that the curate and	firework. Now, understanding that the curate and
	your sweet self are good at such eruptions and	your sweet self are good at such eruptions and
	sudden breaking out of mirth, as it were, I have	sudden breaking out of mirth, as it were, I have
	acquainted you withal, to the end to crave your	acquainted you withal, to the end to crave your
	assistance.	assistance.
HOLOFERNIA (English)
100	Sir, you shall present before her the Nine Worthies,	Sir, you shall present before her the Nine Worthies,
		(French) Les neuf Preux, (German) Die neun Wunder der Tapferkeit.
SIR NATHANIEL (English)
	Where will you find men worthy enough to present them?	Where will you find men worthy enough to present them?
HOLOFERNIA (English)
	Alexander, yourself; myself Judas Maccabeaus; and	Alexander, yourself; myself Judas Maccabeaus; and
	this gallant gentleman, Hector. This swain, because	this gallant gentleman, Hector. This swain, because
	of his great limb or joint, shall pass Pompey the	of his great limb or joint, shall pass Pompey the
	Great; the page, Hercules,–	Great; the page, Hercules,–
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
110	Pardon, sir; error: he is not quantity enough for	Pardon, sir; error: he is not quantity enough for
	that Worthy’s thumb: he is not so big as	that Worthy’s thumb: he is not so big as
	the end of his club.	the end of his club.
HOLOFERNIA (English)
	Shall I have audience? he shall present Hercules in	Shall I have audience? he shall present Hercules in
	minority: his enter and exit shall be strangling a	minority: his enter and exit shall be strangling a
	snake.	snake.
MOTH (French)
	An excellent device! so, if any of the audience	Excellente idée! Comme ça, si dans le public
	hiss, you may cry ‘Well done, Hercules! now thou	quelqu’un siffle, tu pourras crier « Bravo, Hercule !
	crushest the snake!’ that is the way to make an	Voilà que tu étouffes le serpent ! » C’est la bonne
	offence gracious, though few have the	manière de rendre une sottise gracieuse, quoique
	grace to do it.	peu de gens aient la grâce de faire cela.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (French)
	For the rest of the Worthies?–	Et pour les autres Preux ?
HOLOFERNIA (French)
120	I will play three myself.	J’en jouerai trois moi-même.
MOTH (French)
	Thrice-worthy gentleman!	Trois fois preux gentilhomme !
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	Shall I tell you a thing?	Shall I tell you a thing?
HOLOFERNIA (English)
	We attend.	We attend.
DONADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	We will have, if this fadge not, an antique. I	We will have, if this fadge not, an antique. I
	beseech you, follow.	beseech you, follow.
HOLOFERNIA (Swiss German)
	Via, goodman Dull! thou hast spoken no word all this while.	Und du, liebe Dumm! Du häsch ja di ganz Ziit keis Wort gseit.
DUMM (Swiss German)
	Nor understood none neither, sir.	U verschtande hani ou kcheis.
HOLOFERNIA (Swiss German)
	Allons! we will employ thee.	Andiamo! Mir bruchet dich.
DUMM (Swiss German)
130	I’ll make one in a dance, or so; or I will play	Bi’m nä chlinä tänzli chani aube gäng mittue, oder
	On the tabour to the Worthies, and let them	ou für’d Houptdarsteller chli uf em trummeli
	dance the hay.	chlopfe, für dass si chöi ihri Komedi abla.
HOLOFERNIA (Swiss German)
	Most dull, honest Dull! To our sport, away!	Du bisch ehrlich, Dumm, sehr guet, Dumm. Los jetzt, das wird super!

Exeunt

ACT V

SCENE II

Enter the PRINCESS, KATHERINE, ROSALINE, and MARIA

PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	Look you what I have from the loving king.	Lueget, was dr verliebt Chönig mir schickt.
ROSALINE (French)
5	Madame, came nothing else along with that?	N’y avait-il rien d’autre avec, madame ?
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	Nothing but this! yes, as much love in rhyme	Rien que cela! U so vil Liäbesvers
	As would be cramm’d up in a sheet of paper,	Wiä mä uf äs Papier chan ynemürde
	Writ o’ both sides the leaf, margent and all.	Uf beidne Siitä voll u ou am Rand.
KATHERINE (English)
	But Rosaline, you have a favour too:	But Rosaline, you have a favour too:
	Who sent it? and what is it?	Who sent it? and what is it?
ROSALINE (French)
	Oh, I have verses too, I thank BEROWNE:	Moi aussi, j’ai reçu des vers, j’en remercie Berowne :
	The numbers true; and, were the numbering too,	Le compte des pieds est juste, et, si mes charmes étaient bien comptés,
	I were the fairest goddess on the ground:	J’en serais la plus belle déesse de la terre :
	I am compared to twenty thousand fairs.	Il me compare à vingt mille beautés.
	O, he hath drawn my picture in his letter!	Oh! Dans sa lettre, il a fait mon portrait !
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	Any thing like?	U isch s’Bild guet troffe?
ROSALINE (French)
40	Much in the letters; nothing in the praise.	L’écriture est jolie, mais la louange est fade.
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	And, Katherine, what was sent to you from fair DUMAINE?	U du, Katherine, was hesch du vom Dumaine becho?
KATHERINE (English)
	Madam, this glove.	Madam, this glove.
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	Did he not send you twain?	Dr zwöit b’hautet er no?
KATHERINE (English)
	No, madam, and moreover	No, madam, and moreover
50	Some thousand verses of a faithful lover,	Some thousand verses of a faithful lover,
	A huge translation of hypocrisy,	A huge translation of hypocrisy,
	Vilely compiled, profound simplicity.	Vilely compiled, profound simplicity.
MARIA (Italian)
	This and these pearls to me sent Longaville:	E Longaville a me ha mandato questa
		(mostra un foglio contenente dei versi)
		con queste perle;
	The letter is too long by half a mile.	Ma la poesia è troppo lunga di almeno mezzo miglio.
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	I think no less. Dost thou not wish in heart	Ou ja, ich gloub, I freuti mi ou ehner
	The chain were longer and the letter short?	Wär z’gedicht chürzer, däfür d’chetti länger.
MARIA (Italian)
	Ay, or I would these hands might never part.	Certo; potessero queste mie mani restar congiunte e non più separarsi!
PRINCESS (High German)
	We are wise girls to mock our lovers so.	Es ist wohl klug, die Männer zu verspotten.
ROSALINE (French)
	They are worse fools to purchase mocking so.	Et eux sont encore bien plus fous d’acheter la moquerie à ce prix.

Enter BOYET

KATHERINE (English)
	Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face.	Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face.
PRINCESS (High German)
	Thy news Boyet?	Was gibt’s, Boyet?
BOYET (High German)
	Prepare, madam, prepare!	Madame, ein Hinterhalt!
	Arm, wenches, arm! encounters mounted are	Rüstet euch Mädchen! denn der Feind kommt bald
	Against your peace: Love doth approach disguised,	Und stört den Frieden: Amor kommt maskiert,
	Armed in arguments; you’ll be surprised:	zu siegen, eh ihr es realisiert.
PRINCESS (High German)
	But what, but what, come they to visit us?	Im Ernst, im Ernst? So kommen sie heran?
BOYET (High German)
120	They do, they do: and are apparell’d thus.	Jawohl, verkleidet, und mit einem Plan,
	Like Muscovites or Russians, as I guess.	Zu tun, als kämen sie aus fernem Land.
	Their purpose is to parle, to court and dance;	Sie wollen tanzen, schöntun und parlieren
	And every one his love-feat will advance	Und jeder will eine von euch hofieren.
	Unto his several mistress, which they’ll know	Sie denken nämlich, ihr seid leicht erkannt
	By favours several which they did bestow.	An den Geschenken, die sie euch gesandt.
PRINCESS (German)
	And will they so? the gallants shall be task’d;	Ach wirklich? Ganz so leicht machen wir’s nicht;
	For, ladies, we shall every one be mask’d;	Denn, Mädchen, wir verhüllen das Gesicht;
	And not a man of them shall have the grace,	Keiner der vier soll ein Gesicht erkennen,
130	Despite of suit, to see a lady’s face.	So sehr sie uns auch bitten und bedrängen.
	(Swiss German) Hold, Rosaline, this favour thou shalt wear,	(Swiss German) Chum, Rosaline, nimm du mis G’schänkli hie,
	And then the king will court thee for his dear;	Will de hofiert dr Chönig nämli dier.
ROSALINE (French)
	Hold, take thou this, my sweet, and give me thine,	Viens, prends ceci, ma douce, et donne-moi le tien.
PRINCESS (French)
	So shall BEROWNE take me for Rosaline.	Ainsi Berowne me prendra pour Rosaline.
MARIA (Italian)
	And change your favours too; so shall your loves	Ed anche voi scambiatevi i regali, cossiché, ingannati da codesti scambi,
	Woo contrary, deceived by these removes.	I rispettivi vostri spasimanti abbiano a corteggiar l’una per l’altra.
ROSALINE (French)
	Come on, then; wear the favours most in sight.	Allons ; mettons nos cadeaux bien en vue.
KATHERINE (English)
	But in this changing what is your intent?	But in this changing what is your intent?
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	The effect of my intent is to cross theirs:	S’sich mini Absicht, ihre Plan z’vermurxe:
	They do it but in mocking merriment;	Si dänke, sie chöi mache was si wöi,
	And mock for mock is only my intent.	Drum zeig i haut, dass si das doch nit chöi.
140	Their several counsels they unbosom shall	Si söue ihri liäbesschwür nur bringe
	To loves mistook, and so be mock’d withal	Nur halt em falsche Vögeli vorsinge.
	Upon the next occasion that we meet,	We mir si z’nächst mau träffe g’se si i
	With visages displayed, to talk and greet.	Dass si bi ihrem Spass blamiert si gsi.
ROSALINE (French)
	But shall we dance, if they desire to’t?	Mais dans’rons-nous, pour faire bon accueil ?
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
145	No, to the death, we will not move a foot;	U gar kei Fall, mir luege nur u stöi.

Trumpets sound within

BOYET (High German)
	The trumpet sounds: be mask’d; the maskers come.	Ihre Fanfare! Rasch, staffiert euch aus.

The Ladies mask. Enter Blackamoors with music; FERDINAND, BEROWNE, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAINE, in Russian habits, and masked

ROSALINE (French)
	What would these strangers? know their minds, Boyet:	Que veulent ces étrangers ? Informez-vous de leurs intentions, Boyet.
175	If they do speak our language, ’tis our will:	S’ils parlent notre langue, c’est notre volonté
	That some plain man recount their purposes	Que l’un d’eux exprime clairement leur dessein :
	Know what they would.	Sachez ce qu’ils veulent.
BOYET (High German)
	What would you with the princess?	Was wollt ihr von der Dame?

BEROWNE (English with Russian accent)
180	Nothing but peace and gentle visitation.	Nothing but peace and gentle visitation.
ROSALINE (High German because pretending to be Princess)
	What would they, say they?	Was wünschen sie?
BOYET (High German)
	Nothing but peace and gentle visitation.	Nur eure Gunst, und friedlichen Empfang.
ROSALINE (High German)
	Why, that they have; and bid them so be gone.	Das haben sie, sag, dass sie gehen können.
BOYET (High German)
	She says, you have it, and you may be gone.	Sie sagt, ihr habt es, und könnt wieder gehen.
FERDINAND (French, trying to speak High German)
	Say to her, we have measured many miles	Dites-lui que nous avons mesuré bien des lieux, (bad High German)wir ‘aben viel gereist,
	To tread a measure with her on this grass.	Für zu Tansen avec vous sur cette pelouse.
BOYET (High German)
	They say, that they have measured many a mile	Er sagt, sie reisten manche lange Meile
	To tread a measure with you on this grass.	Um hier im Gras mit euch im Tanz zu schreiten.
ROSALINE (High German)
	It is not so. Ask them how many inches	Das stimmt nicht. Frag, wie viele Zoll die Meile
	Is in one mile: if they have measured many,	Bei ihnen hat: Wenn sie so viele kennen
	The measure then of one is easily told.	So fällt es sicher leicht, ihr Mass zu nennen.
BOYET (High German)
190	If to come hither you have measured miles,	Da ihr, um herzukommen, viele Meilen
	And many miles, the princess bids you tell	Durchmessen habt, will die Prinzessin wissen
	How many inches doth fill up one mile.	Wie viele Zoll denn eine Meile hat.
BEROWNE (High German)
	Tell her, we measure them by weary steps.	Sag Ihr, dass Mass sind unsre müden Schritte.
BOYET (High German)
	She hears herself.	Sie hört es selbst.
ROSALINE (High German)
	How many weary steps,	Wie viele müde Schritte
	Of many weary miles you have o’ergone,	Zählt ihr in einer dieser vielen Meilen
	Are number’d in the travel of one mile?	Die ihr für uns so tapfer überschreitet?
BEROWNE (High German)
	We number nothing that we spend for you.	Zu messen eure Gunst steht uns nicht zu.
FERDINAND (Bad High German, but keeping the rhyme)
	Then, in our measure do but vouchsafe one change.	Doch zählen wir auf une danse avec vous.
ROSALINE (High German)
210	Play, music, then! Nay, you must do it soon.	Na dann, Musik! Los, etwas mehr Beeilung.

Music plays

	Not yet! no dance! Thus change I like the moon.	Nein halt, kein Tanz! Ich ändere die Meinung.
FERDINAND (bad High German)
	Will you not dance? How come you thus estranged?	Ihr wollt nischt tanzen? Wie, so wandelbar?
ROSALINE (High German)
	You took the moon at full, but now she’s changed.	Der Mond ist nicht mehr, wie er grad noch war.
FERDINAND (High German)
	Yet still she is the moon, and I the man.	Doch bleibt er Mond, und isch bin drin der Mann.
	The music plays; vouchsafe some motion to it.	Die Musik spielt schon, lasst euch von ihr rühren.
ROSALINE (High German)
	Our ears vouchsafe it.	Sie rührt an mein Gehör.
FERDINAND (High German)
	But your legs should do it.	Aber die Beine müssten mehr.
ROSALINE (High German)
	Since you are strangers and come here by chance,	Weil ihr uns fremd seid und durch Zufall hier:
	We’ll not be nice: take hands. We will not dance.	Gebt uns die Hand: mehr nicht, kein Tanz mit dir.
FERDINAND (High German)
	Why take we hands, then?	Warum dann Hände geben?
ROSALINE (High German)
220	Only to part friends:	Nur so zum Abschied eine Gunstbezeugung:
	Curtsy, sweet hearts; and so the measure ends.	Der Tanz ist aus, und nun die Schlussverbeugung.

Music stops

FERDINAND (High German)
	If you deny to dance, let’s hold more chat.	Wenn ihr tanzt nicht, so sprecht mit mich noch mehr.
ROSALINE (High German)
	In private, then.	Unter vier Augen, ja.
FERDINAND (High German)
	I am best pleased with that.	Das freut mich sehr.

They converse apart

BEROWNE (French to fake Rosaline)
230	White-handed mistress, one sweet word with thee.	Maîtresse aux blanches mains, un seul mot doux de toi.
PRINCESS (French)
	Honey, and milk, and sugar; there is three.	Miel, lait, sucre : en voici déjà trois.
BEROWNE (French to fake Rosaline)
	One word in secret.	Un mot en secret.
PRINCESS (French)
	Let it not be sweet.	Pourvu qu’il ne soit pas doux.
BEROWNE (English)
	Thou grievest my gall.	Tu m’irrites la bile.
PRINCESS (French)
	Gall! bitter.	Bile ! Voilà qui est amer.
BEROWNE (French)
	Therefore meet.	Et par conséquent, à propos.

They converse apart

DUMAINE (English to fake Katherine)
	Will you vouchsafe with me to change a word?	Will you vouchsafe with me to change a word?
MARIA (English, because pretending to be Katherine)
	Name it.	Name it.
DUMAINE (English)
	Fair lady,–	Fair lady,–
MARIA (English)
	Say you so? Fair lord,–	Say you so? Fair lord,–
	Take that for your fair lady.	Take that for your fair lady.
DUMAINE (English)
240	Please it you,	Please it you,
	As much in private, and I’ll bid adieu.	As much in private, and I’ll bid adieu.

They converse apart

KATHERINE (English)
	What, was your vizard made without a tongue?	What, was your vizard made without a tongue?
LONGAVILLE (Italian, because talking to fake Maria)
	I know the reason, lady, why you ask.	Io so perché mi domandate questo, signora.
KATHERINE (Italian, because pretending to be Maria)
	O for your reason! quickly, sir; I long.	Ah, sì? Fuori questo perché, allora. Ché mi strugge di conoscerlo.
LONGAVILLE (Italian)
	You have a double tongue within your mask,	Eccolo: il fatto è che voi, sotto la vostra maschera, siete fornita di una doppia lingua,
	And would afford my speechless vizard half.	e vorreste offrirne la metà alla mia, che ne è del tutto priva.
KATHERINE (Italian)
	Veal, quoth the Dutchman. Is not ‘veal’ a calf?	“Veal” disse l’olandese, per “vitello”, non è così?
LONGAVILLE (Italian)
	A calf, fair lady!	Vitello, bella dama!
KATHERINE (Italian)
	No, a fair lord calf.	No, bel vitello voi, mio bel signore!
LONGAVILLE (Italian)
	Let’s part the word.	Ebbene, dividiamocelo a metà.
KATHERINE (Italian)
	No, I’ll not be your half	No, no, vostra metà non sarò mai.
250	Take all, and wean it; it may prove an ox.	Prendetevelo tutto, e svezzatelo voi, che diventi un bel bue, con belle corna.
LONGAVILLE (Italian)
	Look, how you butt yourself in these sharp mocks!	Non v’accorgete che con queste battute, corna qua e corna là, non fate che incornarvi da sola!
	Will you give horns, chaste lady? do not so.	Vorreste proprio darmi delle corna, mia pudica signora? No, astenetevi.
KATHERINE (Italian)
	Then die a calf, before your horns do grow.	Cercate allora di morir vitello, prima che le vostre corna crescano.
LONGAVILLE (Italian)
	One word in private with you, ere I die.	Una parola a tu per tu con voi, prima ch’io muoia.
KATHERINE (Italian)
	Bleat softly then; the butcher hears you cry.	Sì, muggite piano però, che può sentirvi il macellaio.

They converse apart

BOYET (High German)
	The tongues of mocking wenches are as keen	Im Spott werden der Frauen Zungen feiner
	As is the razor’s edge invisible,	Als scharfer Messer unsichtbare Klingen,
	Cutting a smaller hair than may be seen,	Sie schneiden jedes feinste Haar, noch kleiner
	Above the sense of sense; so sensible	Als alles was wir sehn mit unsren Sinnen.
260	Seemeth their conference; their conceits have wings	So fliegen ihre Worte über alle Schranken
	Fleeter than arrows, bullets, wind, thought, swifter things.	Flinker als Pfeile, Kugeln, Wind oder Gedanken.
ROSALINE (Swiss German, because pretending to be the Princess)
	Not one word more, my maids; break off, break off.	So fertig itze, Mäitschi, sit itz stiu.
BEROWNE (English)
	By heaven, all dry-beaten with pure scoff!	By heaven, all dry-beaten with pure scoff!
FERDINAND (French)
	Farewell, mad wenches; you have simple wits.	Au revoir, folles filles, vos esprits sont petits.
PRINCESS (French)
	Twenty adieus, my frozen Muscovits.	Vingt fois adieu, Moscovites glacés !

Exeunt FERDINAND, Lords, and Blackamoors

	(High German) Are these the breed of wits so wonder’d at?	(High German) Sind das die Leuchten, die man so verehrt?
BOYET (High German)
	Tapers they are, with your sweet breaths puff’d out.	Flackernde Kerzchen, die ein Lüftchen ausbläst.
ROSALINE (French)
	O, they were all in lamentable cases!	Oh ! Ils étaient tous en pitoyables états !
	The king was weeping-ripe for a good word.	Le roi au bord des larmes, en quête d’un mot tendre.
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
275	BEROWNE did swear himself out of all suit.	Dä schnurri Biron’sch fascht vor schwöre umcho.
MARIA (Italian)
	DUMAINE was at my service, and his sword:	Dumaine diceva d’esser ai miei piedi con la sua spada.
KATHERINE (English)
	Lord Longaville said, I came o’er his heart;	Lord Longaville said, I came o’er his heart;
ROSALINE (French)
	But will you hear? The king is my love sworn.	Ecoutez cela, le roi est mon amant juré.
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	And quick BEROWNE hath plighted faith to me.	Ich ha ewigi Liäbi – vom Biron.
KATHERINE (English)
	And Longaville was for my service born.	And Longaville was for my service born.
MARIA (Italian)
285	DUMAINE is mine, as sure as bark on tree.	Dumain a me s’è attaccato com’è attaccata la corteccia all’albero.
BOYET (High German)
	Madam, and pretty mistresses, give ear:	Prinzessin, Damen, hört mir zu, sehr bald
	Immediately they will again be here	Sind sie zurück – in eigener Gestalt,
	In their own shapes; for it can never be	Ohne Verkleidung, ihr könnt mir vertrauen
	They will digest this harsh indignity.	Denn diesen Spott können sie nicht verdauen.
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	Avaunt, perplexity! What shall we do,	Was itz? Wie mäinsch, söuemer reagiere
	If they return in their own shapes to woo?	We si grad wider da si zum scharmiere?
ROSALINE (French)
300	Good madam, if by me you’ll be advised,	Bonne dame, si vous voulez vous laisser conseiller,
	Let’s, mock them still, as well known as disguised:	Continuons à nous moquer d’eux, découverts comme déguisés.
	Let us complain to them what fools were here,	Plaignons-nous à eux des fous qui étaient ici,
	Disguised like Muscovites, in shapeless gear;	Déguisés en Moscovites, sous de grossiers habits.
BOYET (High German)
	Ladies, withdraw: the gallants are at hand.	Fort, Damen, fort, sie sind schon in der Nähe.

Exeunt PRINCESS, ROSALINE, KATHERINE, and MARIA. Re-enter FERDINAND, BEROWNE, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAINE, in their proper habits

FERDINAND (French)
310	Fair sir, God save you! Where’s the princess?	Beau sire, Dieu vous garde ! Où est la princesse ?
BOYET (French)
	Gone to her tent. Please it your majesty	Retirée sous sa tente. Plaît-il à sa Majesté
	Command me any service to her thither?	De me donner un message pour elle ?
FERDINAND (French)
	That she vouchsafe me audience for one word.	Qu’elle m’accorde l’audience d’un simple mot.
BOYET (French)
	I will; and so will she, I know, my lord.	J’y consens ; et je sais qu’elle y consentira, mon seigneur.

Exit

BEROWNE (English)
315	This fellow pecks up wit as pigeons pease,	This fellow pecks up wit as pigeons pease,
	And utters it again when God doth please:	And utters it again when God doth please:
	This gallant pins the wenches on his sleeve;	This gallant pins the wenches on his sleeve;
	Had he been Adam, he had tempted Eve;	Had he been Adam, he had tempted Eve;
	This is the flower that smiles on every one,	This is the flower that smiles on every one,
	To show his teeth as white as whale’s bone;	To show his teeth as white as whale’s bone;
	And consciences, that will not die in debt,	And consciences, that will not die in debt,
	Pay him the due of honey-tongued Boyet.	Pay him the due of honey-tongued Boyet.

Re-enter the PRINCESS, ushered by BOYET, ROSALINE, MARIA, and KATHERINE

	See where it comes! Behavior, what wert thou	See where it comes! Behavior, what wert thou
	Till this madman show’d thee? and what art thou now?	Till this madman show’d thee? and what art thou now?

FERDINAND (French)
	All hail, sweet madam, and fair time of day!	Bonjour, gracieuse dame, que le Ciel fasse pleuvoir sur
		vous ses bénédictions, et vous donne un beau jour.
PRINCESS (High German)
340	‘Fair’ in ‘all hail’ is foul, as I conceive.	“Bonjour” schon wieder? Wie die Zeit vergeht!
FERDINAND (French)
	Construe my speeches better, if you may.	Comprenez mieux mes paroles, s’il vous plaît.
PRINCESS (High German)
	Then wish me better; I will give you leave.	Dann sprecht geschickter, dass man euch versteht.
FERDINAND (French)
	We came to visit you, and purpose now	Nous sommes venus chez vous, daignez-y consentir,
	To lead you to our court; vouchsafe it then.	Dans l’intention de vous mener à notre cour.
PRINCESS (High German)
345	This field shall hold me; and so hold your vow:	Haltet den Eid, ich bleib im Felde hier:
	Nor God, nor I, delights in perjured men.	Nicht Gott noch ich trauen solch kurzem Schwur.
FERDINAND (French)
	O, you have lived in desolation here,	Vous avez vécu ici comm’ dans un désert,
	Unseen, unvisited, much to our shame.	Seule et inaperçue, à notre grande honte.
PRINCESS (High German)
	Not so, my lord; it is not so, I swear;	Gar nicht, mein Herr, gerade umgekehrt;
360	We have had pastimes here and pleasant game:	Mit viel Besuch haben wir hier gewohnt:
	A mess of Russians left us but of late.	Vier fremde Herren waren eben hier.
FERDINAND (French)
	How, madam! Russians!	Comment, madame ! Des Russes !

PRINCESS (High German)
	Ay, in truth, my lord;	Ja, wirklich wahr, Monsieur;
	Trim gallants, full of courtship and of state.	Schmuck und galant, voll Anstand und Manier.
ROSALINE (French)
	Madam, speak true. It is not so, my lord:	Madame, disons la vérité. Il n’en est rien, mon seigneur.
	We four indeed confronted were with four	Nous quatre, en effet, avons été abordés par quatre
	In Russian habit: here they stay’d an hour,	personnages en costumes russes. ils sont restés ici
	And talk’d apace; and in that hour, my lord,	une heure sans cesser de causer; mais en une heure,
370	They did not bless us with one happy word.	mon seigneur, ils ne nous ont pas gratifiées d’un seul mot heureux.
	I dare not call them fools; but this I think,	Je n’ose pas les qualifier de fous ; mais je crois
	When they are thirsty, fools would fain have drink.	Que quand ils ont soif, il y a des fous qui ont envie de boire.
BEROWNE (French)
380	I am a fool, and full of poverty.	Je suis un fou, riche de pauvreté.
ROSALINE (French)
	But that you take what doth to you belong,	Si vous ne repreniez ce qui vous appartient,
	It were a fault to snatch words from my tongue.	Vous auriez tort de m’arracher ainsi les mots de la bouche.
BEROWNE (French)
	O, I am yours, and all that I possess!	Je suis à vous, avec tout ce que je possède !
ROSALINE (French)
	All the fool mine?	J’ai donc à moi le fou tout entier ?
BEROWNE (French)
	I cannot give you less.	Je ne puis vous offrir moins.
ROSALINE (French)
	Which of the vizards was it that you wore?	Quel masque portiez-vous ?
BEROWNE (French)
	Where? when? what vizard? why demand you this?	Où ? Quand ? Quel masque ? Pourquoi cette question ?
ROSALINE (French)
	There, then, that vizard; that superfluous case	Ici, tout à l’heure, ce masque ; cet étui superflu
	That hid the worse and show’d the better face.	Qui cachait le pire et montrait le meilleur.
FERDINAND (French)
	We are descried; they’ll mock us now downright.	Elles nous ont reconnus ; elles vont se moquer de nous jusqu’à la garde.
DUMAINE (Romansh)
390	Let us confess and turn it to a jest.	Lain confessar e far ordlonder ina sgnocca.
PRINCESS (French)
	Amazed, my lord? why looks your highness sad?	Quel embarras, mon seigneur ? Pourquoi cet air défait ?
ROSALINE (English)
	Help, hold his brows! he’ll swoon! Why look you pale?	Help, hold his brows! he’ll swoon! Why look you pale?
	Seasick, I think, coming from Muscovy.	Seasick, I think, coming from Muscovy.
BEROWNE (English)
	Thus pour the stars down plagues for perjury.	Thus pour the stars down plagues for perjury.
	Can any face of brass hold longer out?	Can any face of brass hold longer out?
	Here stand I, lady, dart thy skill at me;	Here stand I, lady, dart thy skill at me;
	Bruise me with scorn, confound me with a flout;	Bruise me with scorn, confound me with a flout;
	Thrust thy sharp wit quite through my ignorance;	Thrust thy sharp wit quite through my ignorance;
	Cut me to pieces with thy keen conceit;	Cut me to pieces with thy keen conceit;
400	And I will wish thee never more to dance,	And I will wish thee never more to dance,
	Nor never more in Russian habit wait.	Nor never more in Russian habit wait.
	O, never will I trust to speeches penn’d,	O, never will I trust to speeches penn’d,
	Nor to the motion of a schoolboy’s tongue,	Nor to the motion of a schoolboy’s tongue,
	Nor never come in vizard to my friend,	Nor never come in vizard to my friend,
	Nor woo in rhyme, like a blind harper’s song!	Nor woo in rhyme, like a blind harper’s song!
	Taffeta phrases, silken terms precise,	Taffeta phrases, silken terms precise,
	Three-piled hyperboles, spruce affectation,	Three-piled hyperboles, spruce affectation,
	Figures pedantical; these summer-flies	Figures pedantical; these summer-flies
	Have blown me full of maggot ostentation:	Have blown me full of maggot ostentation:
410	I do forswear them; and I here protest,	I do forswear them; and I here protest,
	By this white glove;–how white the hand, God knows!–	By this white glove;–how white the hand, God knows!–
	Henceforth my wooing mind shall be express’d	Henceforth my wooing mind shall be express’d
	In russet yeas and honest kersey noes:	In russet yeas and honest kersey noes:
	(French) And, to begin, wench,–so God help me, la!–	(French) Et pour commencer, fille – que Dieu m’assiste !
	My love to thee is sound, sans crack or flaw.	Mon amour pour toi est un acier, sans faille ni fêlure.
ROSALINE (English)
	Sans sans, I pray you.	Sans sans, I pray you.
BEROWNE (French)
	Speak for yourselves; my wit is at an end.	Parlez pour vous-mêmes, mon esprit est à bout.
FERDINAND (French)
	Teach us, sweet madam, for our rude transgression	Douce dame, pour notre grossière offense :
	Some fair excuse.	Une belle excuse.
PRINCESS (High German)
	The fairest is confession.	Am besten, ihr gesteht.
	Were not you here but even now disguised?	Wart ihr nicht eben hier als Maskenzug?
FERDINAND (High German)
	Madam, I was.	Madame, so war es.
PRINCESS (High German)
	And were you well advised?	Und dachtet, das sei klug?
FERDINAND (High German)
	I was, fair madam.	Ich dachte es, mein schöne Mademoiselle.
PRINCESS (French)
	Rosaline, what did the Russian whisper in your ear?	Rosaline, que vous a murmuré le Russe à l’oreille ?
ROSALINE (French)
	Madam, he swore that he did hold me dear	Madame, il m’a juré qu’il me chérissait
445	As precious eyesight, and did value me	Autant que la prunelle de ses yeux, et qu’il m’estimait
	Above this world; adding thereto moreover	Plus que tout l’univers ; il a même ajouté
	That he would wed me, or else die my lover.	Qu’il m’épouserait, ou m’aimerait jusqu’à la mort.
PRINCESS (French)
	God give thee joy of him! the noble lord	Dieu t’accorde beaucoup de joie avec lui !
	Most honourably doth uphold his word.	Ce noble seigneur met un point d’honneur à tenir sa parole.
FERDINAND (French)
450	What mean you, madam? by my life, my troth,	Que voulez-vous dire madame ? Sur ma vie, sur ma foi,
	I never swore this lady such an oath.	Je n’ai jamais fait à cette dame pareil serment.
ROSALINE (French)
	By heaven, you did; and to confirm it plain,	Si, le Ciel m’en est témoin ; et pour le confirmer,
	You gave me this: but take it, sir, again.	Vous m’avez donné ceci : reprenez-le, monsieur.
FERDINAND (French)
	My faith and this the princess I did give:	J’ai donné ma foi et ce gage à la princesse :
	I knew her by this jewel on her sleeve.	Je l’ai reconnue à ce bijou qu’elle portait à sa manche.
PRINCESS (French)
	Pardon me, sir, this jewel did she wear;	Pardon, monsieur, ce bijou, c’est elle qui le portait ;
	And Lord BEROWNE, I thank him, is my dear.	Et le seigneur Berowne, je lui rends grâce, est mon bien-aimé.
	What, will you have me, or your pearl again?	Eh bien, que voulez-vous ? Moi ou votre perle ?
BEROWNE (English)
	Neither of either; I remit both twain.	Neither of either; I remit both twain.
460	I see the trick on’t: here was a consent,	I see the trick on’t: here was a consent,
	Knowing aforehand of our merriment,	Knowing aforehand of our merriment,
	To dash it like a Christmas comedy:	To dash it like a Christmas comedy:
	Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight zany,	Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight zany,
	Told our intents before; which once disclosed,	Told our intents before; which once disclosed,
	The ladies did change favours: and then we,	The ladies did change favours: and then we,
	Following the signs, woo’d but the sign of she.	Following the signs, woo’d but the sign of she.
	[But who’s to blame?] [To BOYET] (German) And might not you	But who’s to blame? [To BOYET] (German) Ihr habt es wohl erdacht
	Forestall our sport, to make us thus untrue?	Wie man uns spottet und zu Lügnern macht?!
BOYET (High German)
	Full merrily	Natürlich, ich beobachte mit Freuden
	Hath this brave manage, this career, been run.	Wie noble Kämpfer ihre Müh vergeuden.

Enter COSTARD

FERDINAND (French)
	Welcome, pure wit! thou partest a fair fray.	Bienvenue, pur esprit ! Tu mets un terme à notre échafourrée.
COSTARD (French)
485	O Lord, sir, they would know	Ô seigneur, monsieur, ils voudraient savoir
	Whether the three Worthies shall come in or no.	Si les trois Preux peuvent entrer ou pas.
BEROWNE (French)
	What, are there but three?	Comment, ils ne sont que trois ?
COSTARD (French)
	No, sir; but it is vara fine,	Non Monsieur, mais ça sera tra beau,
	For every one pursents three.	Parce que chacun en jouira trois.
BEROWNE (French)
	And three times thrice is nine.	Et trois fois trois font neuf.
COSTARD (French)
495	O Lord, sir, it were pity you should get your living	Ô seigneur, monsieur ! Ce serait terrible, si vous deviez gagner votre vie à compter.
	by reckoning, sir.
BEROWNE (French)
	How much is it?	Combien cela fait-il ?
COSTARD (French)
	O Lord, sir, the parties themselves, the actors,	Ô Seigneur, monsieur ! Les parties, les acteurs,
	sir, will show whereuntil it doth amount: for mine	monsieur, vont vous montrer combien ça fait : pour
500	own part, I am, as they say, but to parfect one man	ma part, je ne dois, comme ils disent, que jouir un
	in one poor man, Pompion the Great, sir.	homme, et un pauvre homme encore, le Pompette le Grand, monsieur.
BEROWNE (French)
	Art thou one of the Worthies?	Es-tu un des Preux ?
COSTARD (French)
	It pleased them to think me worthy of Pompion the	Ils m’ont jugé digne de Pompion le Grand ; pour ma
	Great: for mine own part, I know not the degree of	part, je ne connais pas le rang dudit Preux, mais je
	the Worthy, but I am to stand for him.	dois tenir son rôle.
BEROWNE (French)
	Go, bid them prepare.	Va, dis-leur de se préparer.
COSTARD (French)
	We will turn it finely off, sir; we will take	On va tourner ça joliment, monsieur, on va faire
	some care.	très attention.

Exit

FERDINAND (French)
	BEROWNE, they will shame us: let them not approach.	Berowne, ils vont nous faire honte, dis-leur de ne pas venir.
BEROWNE (English)
	We are shame-proof, my lord: and tis some policy	We are shame-proof, my lord: and tis some policy
510	To have one show worse than the king’s and his company.	To have one show worse than the king’s and his company.
FERDINAND (French)
	I say they shall not come.	J’ai dit : ils ne viendront pas !
PRINCESS (High German)
	Nay, my good lord, let me o’errule you now:	Nicht doch, mein Herr, ich sage, ruft sie her
	That sport best pleases that doth least know how:	Spass ohne Absicht unterhält noch mehr.
BEROWNE (French to the King)
	A right description of our sport, my lord.	Exacte description de notre jeu, mon seigneur.
FERDINAND (French)
	The ship is under sail, and here she comes amain.	Le bateau s’élance à toutes voiles. Il bondit sur les flots.

Enter COSTARD, for Pompey

COSTARD (French)
	I Pompey am,–	Pompée je suis. —
BOYET (Swiss German)
540	You lie, you are not he.	Du lügsch, du bisch dä Costard
COSTARD (French)
	I Pompey am,–	Pompée, je suis, —
BOYET (Swiss German)
	With libbard’s head on knee.	Verchleidet as sin Hofnarr.
BEROWNE (English)
	Well said, old mocker: I must needs be friends	Well said, old mocker: I must needs be friends
	with thee.	with thee.
COSTARD (French)
	I Pompey am, Pompey surnamed the Big–	Pompée je suis, Pompée surnommé le Gros, —
DUMAINE (French)
	The Great.	Le grand.
COSTARD (French)
	It is, ‘Great,’ sir:–	Le « Grand », c’est ça, monsieur,
	Pompey surnamed the Great;	Pompée surnommé le Grand.
	That oft in field, with targe and shield, did make my foe to sweat:	Qui souvent sur le champ de bataille, avec écu et bouclier, ai fait suer mon ennemi.
	And travelling along this coast, I here am come by chance,	Je débarque sur ce rivage, le hasard m’amène ici.
	And lay my arms before the legs of this sweet lass of France,	Je rends les armes aux pieds de cette douce dame de France.
550	If your ladyship would say, ‘Thanks, Pompey,’ I had done.	Si Votre Grâce voulait bien dire « Merci Pompée », j’aurais fini.
PRINCESS (High German)
	Great thanks, great Pompey.	Grossen Dank, grosser Pompejus.
COSTARD (French)
	‘Tis not so much worth; but I hope I was perfect: I	Je n’en mérite pas tant ; mais j’espère que j’étais
	made a little fault in ‘Great.’	parfait. J’ai fait une petite faut sur le « Grand ».
BEROWNE (English)
	My hat to a halfpenny, Pompey proves the best Worthy.	My hat to a halfpenny, Pompey proves the best Worthy.

Enter SIR NATHANIEL, for Alexander

SIR NATHANIEL (English)
550	When in the world I lived, I was the world’s commander;	When in the world I lived, I was the world’s commander;
	By east, west, north, and south, I spread conquering might:	By east, west, north, and south, I spread my conquering might:
	My scutcheon plain declares that I am Alisander,–	My scutcheon plain declares that I am Alisander,–
BOYET (English)
	Your nose says, no, you are not for it stands too right.	Your nose says, no, you are not for it stands too right.
BEROWNE (English)
	Your nose smells ‘no’ in this, most tender-smelling knight.	Your nose smells ‘no’ in this, most tender-smelling knight.
PRINCESS (High German)
560	The conqueror is dismay’d.	Der Weltregent erbleicht.
	(English) Proceed, good Alexander.	(English) Proceed, good Alexander.
SIR NATHANIEL (English)
	When in the world I lived, I was the world’s commander,–	When in the world I lived, I was the world’s commander,–
BOYET (English)
	Most true, ’tis right; you were so, Alisander.	Most true, ’tis right; you were so, Alisander.
BEROWNE (French)
	[to COSTARD] Pompey the Great,–	[to COSTARD] Pompée le Grand…
COSTARD (French)
	Your servant, and Costard.	Costard, pour vous servir.
BEROWNE (French)
565	Take away the conqueror, take away Alisander.	Emmenez le conquérant, enlevez-nous cet Alisandre.
COSTARD (French)
	[To SIR NATHANIEL] O, sir, you have overthrown Alisander the conqueror!	[To SIR NATHANIEL] Monsieur, vous avez renversé Alisandre le conquérant !

SIR NATHANIEL retires

PRINCESS (High German)
	Stand aside, good Pompey.	Allez-y, mein Lieber Pompejus.

Enter HOLOFERNIA, for Judas; and MOTH, for Hercules

HOLOFERNIA (English with multilingual translations)
	Great Hercules is presented by this imp,	Den grossen Herkules stellt dieser kleine dar
	Whose club kill’d Cerberus, that three-headed canis;	Er köpfte Zerberus, den dreiköpfigen Canus
	And when he was a babe, a child, a shrimp,	Und der, als er nicht mehr als nur ein Säugling war
580	Thus did he strangle serpents in his manus.	Schon tapfer Schlangen würgte – mit der blossen Manus
	Quoniam he seemeth in minority,	Donatur er erscheint noch in Adoleszenz
	(Latin) Ergo I come with this apology.	(Latin) Id nunc demonstrabo, quod fuerit latens.
	[To Moth] Keep some state in thy exit, and vanish. [MOTH retires]	[To Moth] Keep some state in thy exit, and vanish. [MOTH retires]
	Judas I am,–	Judas I am, —
DUMAINE (English)
	A Judas!	A Judas!
HOLOFERNIA (English)
	Not Iscariot, sir.	Not Iscariot, sir.
	Judas I am, ycleped Maccabaeus.	Judas I am, ycleped Maccabaeus.
DUMAINE (English)
	Judas Maccabaeus clipped is plain Judas.	Judas Maccabaeus clipped is plain Judas.
BEROWNE (English)
	A kissing traitor. How art thou proved Judas?	A kissing traitor. How art thou proved Judas?
HOLOFERNIA (English)
590	Judas I am,–	Judas I am,–
DUMAINE (English)
	The more shame for you, Judas.	The more shame for you, Judas.
HOLOFERNIA (High German)
	What mean you, sir?	Was intendiert der Herr?
BOYET (High German)
	To make Judas hang himself.	Dass Judas sich erhänge!
HOLOFERNIA (English)
	This is not generous, not gentle, not humble.	This is not generous, not gentle, not humble.
BOYET (English)
	A light for Monsieur Judas! it grows dark, he may stumble.	A light for Monsieur Judas! it grows dark, he may stumble.

HOLOFERNIA retires

PRINCESS (High German)
	Alas, poor Maccabaeus, how hath he been baited!	Ach, armer Makkabäus, wie wirst du nur gehetzt!

Enter DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO, for Hector

BEROWNE (English)
620	Hide thy head, Achilles: here comes Hector in arms.	Hide thy head, Achilles: here comes Hector in arms.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English with Spanish accent)
	The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty,	The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty,
	Gave Hector a gift,–	Gave Hector a gift,–
DUMAINE (English)
	A gilt nutmeg.	A gilt nutmeg.
BEROWNE (English)
	A lemon.⁴	A lemon.
LONGAVILLE (English)
635	Stuck with cloves.	Stuck with cloves.
DUMAINE (English)
	No, cloven.	No, cloven.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	Peace!–	Peace!–
	The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty	The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty
	Gave Hector a gift, the heir of Ilion;	Gave Hector a gift, the heir of Ilion;
640	A man so breathed, that certain he would fight; yea	A man so breathed, that certain he would fight; yea
	From morn till night, out of his pavilion.	From morn till night, out of his pavilion.
	I am that flower,–	I am that flower,–
DUMAINE (English)
	That mint.	That mint.
LONGAVILLE (English)
	That columbine.	That columbine.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	Sweet Lord Longaville, rein thy tongue.	Sweet Lord Longaville, rein thy tongue.
LONGAVILLE (English)
	I must rather give it the rein, for it runs against Hector.	I must rather give it the rein, for it runs against Hector.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (bad High German)
650	[To the PRINCESS] Sweet royalty, bestow on me the sense of hearing.	[To the PRINCESS] Süsse Königlichkeit, überschüttet mich mit der Gnade eurer audicion und attencion.
PRINCESS (High German)
	Speak, brave Hector: we are much delighted.	Sprich, Hektor, los: wir sind sehr amüsiert.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	I do adore thy sweet grace’s slipper.	I do adore thy sweet grace’s slipper.
	This Hector far surmounted Hannibal;	This Hector far surmounted Hannibal;
	The party is gone —	The party is gone —
COSTARD (French)
	The party is gone, fellow Hector, she is gone; she	Oui, votre partenaire est en travail, camarade
	is two months on her way.	Hector, elle est en travail. Elle est à ses deux mois de gestation.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (French)
660	What meanest thou?	Que veux-tu dire ?
COSTARD (French)
	Faith, unless you play the honest Troyan, the poor	Que si vous n’êtes pas honnête comme un Troyen,
	wench is cast away: she’s quick; the child brags in	la pauvre fille sera renvoyée ; elle est enceinte ;
	her belly already: tis yours.	l’enfant fanfaronne déjà dans son ventre : il est bien de vous.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	Dost thou infamonize me among potentates?	Dost thou infamonize me among potentates?
	(French) thou shalt die.	(French) Tu vas mourir !
COSTARD (French)
	Then shall Hector be whipped for Jaquenetta that is	Alors Hector sera fouetté pour Jacqueline qui est
	quick by him and hanged for Pompey that is dead by him.	enceinte de lui, et pendu pour Pompée qui est tué par lui.
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	Most rare Pompey!	Extraordinari, Pompey!
BOYET (High German)
	Renowned Pompey!	Hochangesehener Pompejus!
BEROWNE (English)
670	Greater than great, great, great, great Pompey!	Greater than great, great, great, great Pompey!
	Pompey the Huge!	Pompey the Huge!
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	Hector trembles.	Hector trembla.
BEROWNE (English)
	Pompey is moved.	Pompey is moved.
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	Hector will challenge him.	Hector vegn a’l provocar.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	By the north pole, I do challenge thee.	By the north pole, I do challenge thee.
COSTARD (French)
	I will not fight with a pole, like a northern man:	Je ne me battrai pas avec l’épaule, moi ! Je veux de
680	I’ll slash; I’ll do it by the sword. I bepray you,	l’estocade, je vais me battre avec l’épée. S’il vous
	let me borrow my arms again.	plaît, laissez-moi reprendre mes armes.
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	Room for the incensed Worthies!	Faschai lieu per ils erox furius.
COSTARD (French)
	I’ll do it in my shirt.	Je vais me battre en chemise.
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	Most resolute Pompey!	Pompey, il pli resolut!
MOTH (English)
	Master, let me take you a buttonhole lower. Do you	Master, let me take you a buttonhole lower. Do you
	not see Pompey is uncasing for the combat? What	not see Pompey is uncasing for the combat? What
	mean you? You will lose your reputation.	mean you? You will lose your reputation.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	Gentlemen and soldiers, pardon me; I will not combat in my shirt.	Gentlemen and soldiers, pardon me; I will not combat in my shirt.
BEROWNE (English)
	What reason have you for’t?	What reason have you for’t?
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	The naked truth of it is, I have no shirt; I go woolward for penance.	The naked truth of it is, I have no shirt; I go woolward for penance.
MOTH (Fribourg German)
	True, and it was enjoined him in Rome for want of	Das stǜmt, är het scho z’Rom kìs Liiblì ghäbe,
	linen: since when, I’ll be sworn, he wore none but	wanner usagfordereta cho ìsch. I schwöres öch, är
	a dishclout of Jaquenetta’s, and that a’ wears next	het denn nùme de Jaqueline’s Chùchìlùmpe
	his heart for a favour.	aanghäbe, wanner ùf ùm Härz trììt het ùs Glǜcksbringer.

Enter MERCADE

MERCADE (Patois Gruyèrien)⁵
	God save you, madam!	Dyu vo vouardichè, Madama !
PRINCESS (High German)
	Welcome, Mercade;	Willkommen, Mercade;
700	But that thou interrupt’st our merriment.	Nur unterbrichst du hier unser Vergnügen.
MERCADE (Patois Gruyèrien)
	I am sorry, madam; for the news I bring	I chu dèchodâ, Madama, permô ke la novala ke vo j’aponârto
	Is heavy in my tongue. The king your father–	l’è pèjanta chu ma linvoua. Le rê vouthron chènya—
BOYET (High German)
	Father?	Vater?
KATHERINE (English)
	Father?	Father?
ROSALINE (French)
	Father?	Père ?
DUMAINE (Romansh)
	Father?	Bab?
MARIA (Italian)
	Father?	Padre?
PRINCESS (multilingual)
	Dead? Dead? Dead? Dead? Dead? Dead?	Gschtorbe? Tot? Dead? Mort ? Morts? Morto?⁶
MERCADE (Patois Gruyérien)
	Even so; my tale is told.	Djustamin; chin ke l’avé a dre, l’è de.
BEROWNE (English)
	Worthies, away! the scene begins to cloud.	Worthies, away! the scene begins to cloud.

Exeunt Worthies

FERDINAND (High German)
	How fares your majesty?	Wie fühlt ihr euch, Hoheit?
PRINCESS (High German)
	Boyet, prepare; I will away tonight.	Boyet, lass packen; heute Abend reis ich.
FERDINAND (High German)
710	Madam, not so; I do beseech you, stay.	Nicht doch, Prinzessin, ich ersuch’ euch, bleibt.
PRINCESS
	(High German) Prepare, I say. (French) I thank you, gracious lords,	(High German)Lass packen, sag ich.
	For all your fair endeavors; and entreat,	(French) Merci, gracieux seigneurs, de toutes vos prévenances ;
	Out of a new-sad soul, that you vouchsafe	Je vous supplie, du fond de ma soudaine tristesse,
	In your rich wisdom to excuse or hide	de daigner, en votre profonde sagesse,
	The liberal opposition of our spirits,	excuser ou oublier la prodigue opposition de nos esprits ;
	If over-boldly we have borne ourselves	Si nous avons passé les bornes dans notre
	In the converse of breath: your gentleness	conversation, la faute en est à votre courtoisie.
	Was guilty of it. Farewell worthy lord!	Au revoir, digne seigneur !
	A heavy heart bears not a nimble tongue:	Un cœur lourd ne rend pas la langue agile.
720	Excuse me so, coming too short of thanks	Pardonnez-moi d’être à court de mercis
	For my great suit so easily obtain’d.	Pour ma grave requête si aisément satisfaite.
FERDINAND (French)
	The extreme parts of time extremely forms	Au dernier instant, le temps parfois modèle
	All causes to the purpose of his speed,	Toutes choses selon le but de sa course,
	And often at his very loose decides	Et souvent, quand on le croit perdu, il décide
	That which long process could not arbitrate:	Ce qu’un long procès n’a pu trancher.
	And though the mourning brow of progeny	Et bien que le visage endeuillé d’une fille
	Forbid the smiling courtesy of love	Interdise à la souriante courtoisie de l’amour
	The holy suit which fain it would convince,	De plaider la sainte cause qu’il voudra gagner,
	Yet, since love’s argument was first on foot,	Puisque l’argument de l’amour était déjà avancé,
730	Let not the cloud of sorrow justle it	Que le nuage du chagrin ne le détourne pas
	From what it purposed; since, to wail friends lost	De son projet : pleurer des amis perdus
	Is not by much so wholesome-profitable	N’est pas aussi salutaire et profitable que de se
	As to rejoice at friends but newly found.	réjouir d’amis nouvellement trouvés.
PRINCESS (Swiss German)
	I understand you not: my griefs are double.	Ich chum nöd druus, ich wird nur dopplet trurig.
BEROWNE (High German)
	Honest plain words best pierce the ear of grief;	Die Ehrlichkeit findet des Trauers Ohr
	And by these badges understand the king.	Drum lasst mich sagen, was der König meint.
	For your fair sakes have we neglected time,	Für eure Huld versäumten wir die Zeit
	Play’d foul play with our oaths: your beauty, ladies,	Und brachen unsren Eid: Denn eure Schönheit
	Hath much deform’d us, fashioning our humours	Beherrschte uns und trieb unseren Geist
740	Even to the opposed end of our intents:	Zu wünschen, was wir nicht zu sehn gedachten:
	And what in us hath seem’d ridiculous,–	Und dies, was von uns lächerlich erschien
745	Full of strange shapes, of habits and of forms,–	Die sonderbaren Bilder und Gebärden –
	Those heavenly eyes, that look into these faults,	Die Himmelsaugen, die darüber lachen,
	Suggested us to [show the faults they saw;	Sie trieben uns zum Unfug, den sie sahen;
	Commanded us to break our honest oaths	Geboten uns, vom Schwur uns abzuwenden
	And put our loyalty into your hands.]⁷	Denn unsre Treue liegt in euern Händen.
PRINCESS (High German)
	We have received your letters full of love;	Wir lasen eure Briefe voller Liebe
760	Your favours, the ambassadors of love;	Schöne Geschenke, edle Zeitvertriebe;
	And, in our maiden council, rated them	Und nahmen’s in der Art von jungen Mädchen
	At courtship, pleasant jest and courtesy.	Als Komplimente, Scherz und leichte Spiele.
DUMAINE (High German)
	Our letters, madam, show’d much more than jest.	Madame, wir schrieben euch weit mehr als Scherze.
LONGAVILLE (High German)
	So did our looks.	Und sahn euch anders an.
ROSALINE (French)
	We did not quote them so.	Nous ne les avons pas jugés ainsi.
FERDINAND (French)
	Now, at the latest minute of the hour,	Eh bien, puisque l’heure touché à sa dernière minute,
	Grant us your loves.	Accordez-nous votre amour.
PRINCESS (High German)
770	A time, methinks, too short	Zu kurz,
	To make a world-without-end bargain in.	Sich eins zu werden über alle Welt.
	If for my love, as there is no such cause,	Wenn ohne Ursache als meiner Liebe
	You will do aught, this shall you do for me:	Ihr etwas tun wollt, so tut dies für mich:
	Your oath I will not trust; but go with speed	Ich trau nicht Eurem Schwur, doch geht sofort
	To some forlorn and naked hermitage,	In eine Siedlung, still und abgelegen,
	Remote from all the pleasures of the world;	Entfernt von allen Freuden dieser Welt;
	There stay until the twelve celestial signs	Dort weilt, bis durch der zwölf Gestirne Kreis
780	Have brought about the annual reckoning.	Die Sonnenbahn den Jahreslauf vollendet.
	If this austere insociable life	Wenn dieses karge, einsam-strenge Leben
	Change not your offer made in heat of blood;	Nicht ändert, was das heisse Blut verspricht,
	Then, at the expiration of the year,	Dann kommt nach Ablauf dieses einen Jahres
	Come challenge me, challenge me by these deserts,	Und sprecht mich an, gestärkt durch den Verdienst.
	And, by this virgin palm now kissing thine	Und dann, bei dieser jungfräulichen Hand
	I will be thine.	Die Dich berührt, will ich die Deine sein.
FERDINAND (French)
	If this, or more than this, I would deny,	Si je refuse cela, et plus que cela,
	To flatter up these powers of mine with rest,	Pour choyer mes forces dans le repos,
	The sudden hand of death close up mine eye!	Que la brutale main de la mort me ferme les yeux !
	Hence ever then my heart is in thy breast. [They converse apart]	Ermite désormais, mon cœur est dans ton sein. [They converse apart]
DUMAINE (English)
	But what to me, my love? but what to me?	But what to me, my love? but what to me?
800	A wife?	A wife?
KATHERINE (English)
	A beard, fair health, and honesty;	A beard, fair health, and honesty;
	With three-fold love I wish you all these three.	With three-fold love I wish you all these three.
DUMAINE (English)
	O, shall I say, I thank you, gentle wife?	O, shall I say, I thank you, gentle wife?
KATHERINE (English)
	Not so, my lord; a twelvemonth and a day	Not so, my lord; a twelvemonth and a day
	I’ll mark no words that smooth-faced wooers say:	I’ll mark no words that smooth-faced wooers say:
	Come when the king doth to my lady come;	Come when the king doth to my lady come;
	Then, if I have much love, I’ll give you some.	Then, if I have much love, I’ll give you some.
DUMAINE (English)
	I’ll serve thee true and faithfully till then.	I’ll serve thee true and faithfully till then.
KATHERINE (English)
	Yet swear not, lest ye be forsworn again.	Yet swear not, lest ye be forsworn again.
LONGAVILLE (Italian)
	What says Maria?	Cosa dice Maria?
MARIA (Italian)
810	At the twelvemonth’s end	Che allo scadere dei dodici mesi
	I’ll change my black gown for a faithful friend.	baratterò la mia nera sottana per acquistarmi un amico fedele.
LONGAVILLE (Italian)
	I’ll stay with patience; but the time is long.	Dodici mesi è un tempo troppo lungo, ma io attenderò pazientamente.
MARIA (Italian)
	The liker you; few taller are so young.	Quanto a lunghezza vi rassomigliate, perché di
		spilungoni come voi giovani ce n’è davvero pochi.
BEROWNE (French)
	Studies my lady? mistress, look on me;	Que médite ma dame ? Maîtresse, regarde-moi ;
	Behold the window of my heart, mine eye,	Vois dans mes yeux, la fenêtre de mon cœur,
	What humble suit attends thy answer there:	Quelle humble supplique y attend ta réponse ;
	Impose some service on me for thy love.	Impose-moi quelque service pour ton amour.
ROSALINE (French)
	Oft have I heard of you, my Lord BEROWNE,	J’ai bien souvent entendu parler de vous, mon seigneur Berowne,
	Before I saw you; and the world’s large tongue	Avant de vous voir, et la langue bavarde du monde
820	Proclaims you for a man replete with mocks,	Vous proclame un homme fécond en moqueries.
	Full of comparisons and wounding flouts⁸,
	To weed this wormwood from your fruitful brain,	Pour extirper cette absinthe de votre prolifique cervelle,
	And therewithal to win me, if you please,	Et me gagner à vous, si vous le désirez,
	Without the which I am not to be won,	Et seulement à ce prix vous me gagnerez,
	You shall this twelvemonth term from day to day	Vous irez durant ces douze mois, jour après jour,
	Visit the speechless sick and still converse	Visiter les sourds-muets, et converser
	With groaning wretches; and your task shall be,	Avec des grabataires ; votre tâche sera,
830	With all the fierce endeavor of your wit	Par le farouche effort de votre esprit,
	To enforce the pained impotent to smile.	De contraindre les incurables à sourire.
BEROWNE (French)
	To move wild laughter in the throat of death?	Faire naître le rire furieux dans la gorge de la mort ?
	It cannot be; it is impossible:	Cela ne se peut ; c’est impossible,
	Mirth cannot move a soul in agony.	La gaieté ne peut émouvoir une âme à l’agonie.
ROSALINE (French)
840	If sickly ears,	Si des oreilles malades,
	Deaf’d with the clamours of their own dear groans,	Assourdies par les clameurs de leurs propres plaintes douloureuses,
	Will hear your idle scorns, continue then,	Veulent bien écouter vos vaines railleries, continuez,
	And I will have you and that fault withal;	Je vous prendrai avec ce défaut-là ;
	But if they will not, throw away that spirit,	Mais si elles ne veulent pas, rejetez cet esprit,
	And I shall find you empty of that fault,	Et je vous retrouverai libéré de ce défaut,
	Right joyful of your reformation.	Toute joyeuse de vous avoir réformé.
BEROWNE (French)
	A twelvemonth! well; befall what will befall,	Douze mois ! Eh bien, advienne que pourra,
	I’ll jest a twelvemonth in an hospital.	Je rirai douze mois dans un hôpital.
PRINCESS (High German)
	[To FERDINAND] Ay, sweet my lord; and so I take my leave.	[To FERDINAND] Ja, liebster Fürst, und nun auf Wiedersehen.
FERDINAND (High German)
850	No, madam; we will bring you on your way.	Mais non, Madame, lasst uns noch mit euch gehen …
BEROWNE (French)
	Our wooing doth not end like an old play;	Nos amours ne finissent pas comme dans les vieilles
	Jack hath not Jill: these ladies’ courtesy	Pièces ; Jeannot n’épouse pas Jeannette : la
	Might well have made our sport a comedy.	courtoisie de ces dames aurait pu terminer notre jeu en comédie.
FERDINAND (French)
	Come, sir, it wants a twelvemonth and a day,	Allons, monsieur, encore douze mois,
	And then ’twill end.	Et le dénouement viendra.
BEROWNE (French)
	That’s too long for a play.	C’est trop long pour une pièce.

Re-enter DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (High German)
	Sweet majesty, vouchsafe me,–	Süsse Majestät, vergönne …
PRINCESS (High German)
	Was not that Hector?	War das nicht Hektor?
DUMAINE (High German)
	The worthy knight of Troy.	Der edle Ritter Trojas.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (High German)
	I will kiss thy royal finger, and take leave.	Ich werde Deinen königlichen Finger besar und
860	I am a votary; I have vowed to Jaquenetta	nehme Abschied. Ich bin ein Eidgenosse; Ich habe
	To hold the plough for her sweet love three years.	geschworen Jacquelinetta für ihre süsse Amor drei
	But, most esteemed greatness, will you hear the	Jahre lang im Feld mit dem Pflug zu arbeiten. Aber,
	dialogue that the two learned men have compiled in	höchst estimado Magnifizenz, wollt ihr den Dialog
	praise of the owl and the cuckoo?	hören den die zwei Gelehrten verfasst haben zum
		Lob der Eule und des Kuckucks?
	It should have followed in the end of our show.	Er hätte unser Schauspiel beenden sollen.⁹
FERDINAND (French)
	Call them forth quickly; we will do so.	Fais-les venir tout de suite, nous allons les écouter.
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (Spanish?)
	Holla! approach.	¡Holla! ¡Venga!

Enter all.

	(English) This side is Hiems, Winter,	(English) This side is Hiems, Winter,
	This Ver, the Spring; the one maintained by the owl,	This Ver, the Spring; the one maintained by the owl,
	The other by the cuckoo. Ver, begin.	The other by the cuckoo. Ver, begin.

THE SONGS: SPRING.

	When daisies pied and violets blue	When daisies pied and violets blue
870	And lady-smocks all silver-white	And lady-smocks all silver-white
	And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue	And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue
	Do paint the meadows with delight,	Do paint the meadows with delight,
	The cuckoo then, on every tree,	The cuckoo then, on every tree,
	Mocks married men; for thus sings he, Cuckoo;	Mocks married men; for thus sings he, Cuckoo;
	Cuckoo, cuckoo: O word of fear,	Cuckoo, cuckoo: O word of fear,
	Unpleasing to a married ear!	Unpleasing to a married ear!
	When shepherds pipe on oaten straws	When shepherds pipe on oaten straws
	And merry larks are ploughmen’s clocks,	And merry larks are ploughmen’s clocks,
880	When turtles tread, and rooks, and daws,	When turtles tread, and rooks, and daws,
	And maidens bleach their summer smocks	And maidens bleach their summer smocks
	The cuckoo then, on every tree,	The cuckoo then, on every tree,
	Mocks married men; for thus sings he, Cuckoo;	Mocks married men; for thus sings he, Cuckoo;
	Cuckoo, cuckoo: O word of fear,	Cuckoo, cuckoo: O word of fear,
	Unpleasing to a married ear!	Unpleasing to a married ear!

WINTER.

	When icicles hang by the wall	When icicles hang by the wall
	And Dick the shepherd blows his nail	And Dick the shepherd blows his nail
	And Tom bears logs into the hall	And Tom bears logs into the hall
890	And milk comes frozen home in pail,	And milk comes frozen home in pail,
	When blood is nipp’d and ways be foul,	When blood is nipp’d and ways be foul,
	Then nightly sings the staring owl, Tu-whit;	Then nightly sings the staring owl, Tu-whit;
	Tu-who, a merry note,	Tu-who, a merry note,
	While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.	While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.
	When all aloud the wind doth blow	When all aloud the wind doth blow
	And coughing drowns the parson’s saw	And coughing drowns the parson’s saw
	And birds sit brooding in the snow	And birds sit brooding in the snow
	And Marian’s nose looks red and raw,	And Marian’s nose looks red and raw,
	When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl,	When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl,
900	Then nightly sings the staring owl, Tu-whit;	Then nightly sings the staring owl, Tu-whit;
	Tu-who, a merry note,	Tu-who, a merry note,
	While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.	While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.
WHOEVER HAS ANY CREDIBILITY LEFT (Multilingual)
	Now all we need are some concluding lines	Jetzt sollte man zum Schluss mehrsprachig reimen
	Too bad I never think of clever rhymes	Doch wirklich klugen Einfall hab ich keinen
	This is the way the play ends, and so on.	Arrivederci, machets guet, alors,
	…	Be sure to look after your credit score.¹⁰
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO (English)
	The words of Mercury are harsh after the songs of	The words of Mercury are harsh after the songs of
	Apollo. You that way: we this way.	Apollo. You that way: we this way.

Exeunt omnes, ambiguously

FINIS

Or, in our case, kazoos. Or rather, one of them. ↩︎
This phrase is inserted here to complete the blank verse, which works with the rest of the line in German, to which Berowne switches after having identified Boyet as his addressee. ↩︎
We also have a High German version of this speech, which reads: “Wahr, und das wurde ihm in Rom auferlegt, weil er kein Leinen hatte. Seit damals, das schwör ich euch, hat er keins mehr getragen, ausser einem Küchenlappen Jaquenettas, und den trägt er als Geschenk auf dem Herzen.” ↩︎
Wha? Answers on a postcard.
ChatGPT informs me that calling someone a lemon means they are sour-tempered, a disappointment, worthless, or a dupe, and sometimes easily squeezed or taken advantage of. Also, this is a playful jab consistent with the tone of the scene’s elaborate teasing.
Ah, thanks for that. I see so much clearer now, world’s of meaning leap into view. ↩︎
Mercade’s lines are in Patois Gruyèrien, or Patois Fribourgeois, a francoprovençal dialect spoken (as a second language) in the Gruyère region of Fribourg. Given that this the Et in Arcadia ego-moment of the play, and Mercade in the production appeared separate from the rest of the cast (either on a balcony or apart from where everyone was having fun on stage), the unfamiliar language was perceived as an ominous yet melodious signal of transience and ephemerality. I did not ask the people of Charmey whether they agree with this perception of their local idiom the last time I went skiing there. ↩︎
On the page, this sequence, inserted here to repeat the summary of Mercade’s message which has been delivered in a language people are very unlikely to understand, works as a reduplicated analogue to Lear’s ‘never, never, never, never, never’. On the stage, the words were spoken by all characters simultaenously and over each other – audiences seemed to understand perfectly well. ↩︎
The passage in square brackets is the blank-versification of the German verse lines which don’t seem to have a precise analogue in the original text. I don’t know how they got here. ↩︎
This line seems to be missing in the French translation. ↩︎
There is a multilingual version of this speech, it reads: “(German)Ich werde Deinen königlichen Finger besar und nehme Abschied. Ich bin ein Eidgenosse! [Realises the King doesn’t really understand German and switches to English] I have vowed to Jaquenetta to hold the plough for her sweet love three years. [Finally remembers that he should be speaking (sort of) French to the King] Mais, stimata maiestad, vous plaît-il d’entender le dialogue que les savants ont compilé à la louange de la chouette et du coucou ? Il aurait dû suivre la fin de notre espetáculo.” ↩︎
Gratuitous lines, resulting from not having anything better in mind when finishing the first version of the script ca. 12 years ago by now. The current annotator (me) has asked the author of these lines (me) what on earth he had in mind, and was informed that the statute of limitations has expired and, in any case, to mind my own business – such as writing this note. ↩︎