The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (838 page)

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again. She hath despised me rejoicingly, and I'll be merry in

my

revenge.

Re-enter PISANIO, with the clothes

Be those the garments?

Meet you at Milford Haven! I forgot to ask him

one thing, I'll remember it soon. Right there, you

villain Posthumus, I will kill you. I wish those

clothes would come. She once said (I now

belch the bitterness of it out of my heart) that she

had more respect for the clothes of Posthumus

than for my noble living person, which is

made better through my accomplishments. With that suit on

my back, I shall rape her: first I'll kill him, within her

sight; that way she'll see my bravery, which will

make her contempt look stupid. With him on the ground,

when I have finished insulting his dead body,

and when I've satisfied my lust, which, as I say, to

upset her I will do wearing the clothes that she

praised, I'll throw her back to the court, send her home

again on foot. She enjoyed despising me,

so I'll enjoy my revenge.

Are those the clothes?

PISANIO.

Ay, my noble lord.

Yes, my noble lord.

CLOTEN.

How long is't since she went to Milford Haven?

How long ago did she go to Milford Haven?

PISANIO.

She can scarce be there yet.

She can hardly be there yet.

CLOTEN.

Bring this apparel to my chamber; that is the second

thing

that I have commanded thee. The third is that thou wilt be a

voluntary mute to my design. Be but duteous and true,

preferment

shall tender itself to thee. My revenge is now at Milford,

would

I had wings to follow it! Come, and be true.

Exit

Bring these clothes to my room; that is the second thing

I have ordered you to do. The third is that you

keep silent about my plans. Just work well and be loyal,

you will find you'll get ahead. My revenge is waiting at Milford,

I wish I had wings to follow it! Come on, and be true.

PISANIO.

Thou bid'st me to my loss; for true to thee

Were to prove false, which I will never be,

To him that is most true. To Milford go,

And find not her whom thou pursuits. Flow, flow,

You heavenly blessings, on her! This fool's speed

Be cross'd with slowness! Labour be his meed!

Exit

Your orders are lost on me; being true to you

would be to be false, which I will never be,

to the person who is really true. Go to Milford,

and don't find the one you're chasing. Pour down

all your blessings on her, heaven! Rein in

the speed of this fool;
may trouble be his reward!

Enter IMOGEN alone, in boy's clothes

IMOGEN.

I see a man's life is a tedious one.

 I have tir'd myself, and for two nights together

Have made the ground my bed. I should be sick

But that my resolution helps me. Milford,

When from the mountain-top Pisanio show'd thee,

Thou wast within a ken. O Jove! I think

Foundations fly the wretched; such, I mean,

Where they should be reliev'd. Two beggars told me

I could not miss my way. Will poor folks lie,

That have afflictions on them, knowing 'tis

A punishment or trial? Yes; no wonder,

When rich ones scarce tell true. To lapse in fulness

Is sorer than to lie for need; and falsehood

Is worse in kings than beggars. My dear lord!

Thou art one o' th' false ones. Now I think on thee

My hunger's gone; but even before, I was

At point to sink for food. But what is this?

Here is a path to't; 'tis some savage hold.

I were best not call; I dare not call. Yet famine,

Ere clean it o'erthrow nature, makes it valiant.

Plenty and peace breeds cowards; hardness ever

Of hardiness is mother. Ho! who's here?

If anything that's civil, speak; if savage,

Take or lend. Ho! No answer? Then I'll enter.

Best draw my sword; and if mine enemy

But fear the sword, like me, he'll scarcely look on't.

Such a foe, good heavens!

Exit into the cave

I see that a man's life is a hard one,

I have worn myself out:two nights in a row

I have slept on the ground. I should be ill,

but my determination helps me: Milford,

when Pisanio showed me you from a mountaintop,

you were within view. O Jove! I think safe havens

fly away from the wretched: I mean, places

where they can get help. Two beggars told me

I couldn't go wrong. Do poor folks lie,

when they are suffering, knowing it is

a punishment or test? Yes; no wonder,

when rich ones hardly tell the truth. To lie when prosperous

is worse than lying when needy: andfalsehood

is worse in Kings than in beggars. My dear lord,

you are one of the false ones! Now when I think of you

my hunger is gone; but even before that I was

on the point of collapse through hunger–but what's this?

There is a path here to it: it is some savage's hideout:

I shouldn't call out; I dare not call out: but hunger,

before it kills me, makes me bold.

Peace and plenty makes cowards: hardship

makes people hard. Hello! Who's this?

If you're civilised, speak: if you're savage

kill me or help me. Hello! No answer? Then I'll go in.

I'd better draw my sword; and if my enemy

is as scared of swords I am, he'll hardly dare look at it.

Good heavens, send me an enemy like this!

Enter BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS

BELARIUS.

You, Polydore, have prov'd best woodman and

Are master of the feast. Cadwal and I

Will play the cook and servant; 'tis our match.

The sweat and industry would dry and die

But for the end it works to. Come, our stomachs

Will make what's homely savoury; weariness

Can snore upon the flint, when resty sloth

Finds the down pillow hard. Now, peace be here,

Poor house, that keep'st thyself!

You, Polydore, have shown yourself the best hunter and

you are master of the feast. Cadwal and I

will be the cook and the servant; that was our agreement.

The sweat and labour would dry up and die

if it wasn't for the result it desires. Come, our hunger

will make simple food taste good; when you're properly tired

you can sleep on the rock, when unworking laziness

makes the feather pillow feel hard. Now, here is our resting place,

our lowly house, standing empty!

GUIDERIUS.

I am thoroughly weary.

I am thoroughly worn out.

ARVIRAGUS.

I am weak with toil, yet strong in appetite.

I'm weak with effort, but strong with hunger.

GUIDERIUS.

There is cold meat i' th' cave; we'll browse on that

Whilst what we have kill'd be cook'd.

There is cold meat in the cave; we'll nibble at that

while our prey is cooked.

BELARIUS.

[Looking into the cave] Stay, come not in.

But that it eats our victuals, I should think

Here were a fairy.

Wait, don't come in.

Except for the fact that it's eating our food, I would think

that this was a fairy.

GUIDERIUS.

What's the matter, sir?

What's the matter, sir?

BELARIUS.

By Jupiter, an angel! or, if not,

An earthly paragon! Behold divineness

No elder than a boy!

Re-enter IMOGEN

By Jupiter, an angel! Or, if not,

an earthly copy of one! See divinity,

no older than a boy!

IMOGEN.

Good masters, harm me not.

Before I enter'd here I call'd, and thought

To have begg'd or bought what I have took. Good troth,

I have stol'n nought; nor would not though I had found

Gold strew'd i' th' floor. Here's money for my meat.

I would have left it on the board, so soon

As I had made my meal, and parted

With pray'rs for the provider.

Good masters, don't hurt me.

Before I came in here I called, and wanted

to beg or buy the things I've taken. I promise,

I have stolen nothing; and I wouldn't have even if I had found

gold covering the floor. Here is money for my meat.

I would have left it on the table, as soon

as I had finished eating, and I would have left

saying prayers for the provider.

GUIDERIUS.

Money, youth?

Money, youth?

ARVIRAGUS.

All gold and silver rather turn to dirt,

As 'tis no better reckon'd but of those

Who worship dirty gods.

All gold and silver should turn to dirt,

as the only people who value it

are those who worship false gods.

IMOGEN.

I see you're angry.

Know, if you kill me for my fault, I should

Have died had I not made it.

I see you are angry.

You should know that if you kill me for what I've done,

I would have died if I hadn't done it.

BELARIUS.

Whither bound?

Where you going?

IMOGEN.

To Milford Haven.

To Milford Haven.

BELARIUS.

What's your name?

What's your name?

IMOGEN.

Fidele, sir. I have a kinsman who

Is bound for Italy; he embark'd at Milford;

To whom being going, almost spent with hunger,

I am fall'n in this offence.

Fidele, sir. I have a kinsman who