Act 4, Scene 1

Original Text

SCENE I. Without the Florentine camp. Enter First Lord with five or six Soldiers in ambush.

Modern English

Outside the Florentine camp, at night. The First Lord enters with five or six soldiers, hiding in ambush.

Original Text

FIRST LORD. He can come no other way but by this hedge-corner. When you sally upon him, speak what terrible language you will; though you understand it not yourselves, no matter; for we must not seem to understand him, unless someone among us, whom we must produce for an interpreter.

Modern English

FIRST LORD. He can only come this way, around this hedge. When you jump him, speak whatever frightening nonsense you like -- it doesn't matter if you don't understand it yourselves; we can't let him think we understand him, except for whichever one of us we put forward as interpreter.

Original Text

FIRST SOLDIER. Good captain, let me be th' interpreter.

Modern English

FIRST SOLDIER. Good captain, let me play the interpreter.

Original Text

FIRST LORD. Art not acquainted with him? Knows he not thy voice?

Modern English

FIRST LORD. Do you know him? Does he know your voice?

Original Text

FIRST SOLDIER. No sir, I warrant you.

Modern English

FIRST SOLDIER. No, sir, I guarantee it.

Original Text

FIRST LORD. But what linsey-woolsey hast thou to speak to us again?

Modern English

FIRST LORD. But then what jumbled nonsense will you speak back to us?

Original Text

FIRST SOLDIER. E'en such as you speak to me.

Modern English

FIRST SOLDIER. The same kind you'll be speaking to me.

Original Text

FIRST LORD. He must think us some band of strangers i' the adversary's entertainment. Now he hath a smack of all neighbouring languages, therefore we must every one be a man of his own fancy; not to know what we speak one to another, so we seem to know, is to know straight our purpose: choughs' language, gabble enough, and good enough. As for you, interpreter, you must seem very politic. But couch, ho! Here he comes; to beguile two hours in a sleep, and then to return and swear the lies he forges.

Modern English

FIRST LORD. He has to believe we're some foreign regiment in the enemy's service. He knows bits of every language in the region, so each of us must just invent his own -- the trick is to look like we understand each other even when we don't. Jackdaw chatter will do just fine. And you, interpreter, play it very shrewd. Now get down -- here he comes, back from two hours spent sleeping up a story to swear by when he returns.

Original Text

Enter Parolles. PAROLLES. Ten o'clock. Within these three hours 'twill be time enough to go home. What shall I say I have done? It must be a very plausive invention that carries it. They begin to smoke me, and disgraces have of late knock'd too often at my door. I find my tongue is too foolhardy, but my heart hath the fear of Mars before it, and of his creatures, not daring the reports of my tongue.

Modern English

Parolles enters. PAROLLES. Ten o'clock. I have three hours yet before I need to go back. But what am I going to say I did? It'll take a very convincing story to pull this off. They're starting to see through me, and disgrace has been knocking at my door rather too often lately. My tongue is too reckless -- my heart is terrified of real soldiering, and my body refuses to do what my mouth boasts it can.

Original Text

FIRST LORD. [_Aside._] This is the first truth that e'er thine own tongue was guilty of.

Modern English

FIRST LORD. [Aside.] That's the first honest thing that tongue of his has ever said.

Original Text

PAROLLES. What the devil should move me to undertake the recovery of this drum, being not ignorant of the impossibility, and knowing I had no such purpose? I must give myself some hurts, and say I got them in exploit; yet slight ones will not carry it. They will say "Came you off with so little?" and great ones I dare not give. Wherefore, what's the instance? Tongue, I must put you into a butter-woman's mouth, and buy myself another of Bajazet's mule, if you prattle me into these perils.

Modern English

PAROLLES. What on earth possessed me to volunteer to recover that drum, knowing perfectly well it was impossible -- knowing I had no intention of doing it? I need to show some wounds and claim I got them in the fight; but small ones won't convince anyone. They'll ask, "That's all you have to show?" And I can't give myself serious injuries. So what's my proof? Tongue, if you keep talking us into disasters like this, I'll have you traded out for a donkey's silence.

Original Text

FIRST LORD. [_Aside._] Is it possible he should know what he is, and be that he is?

Modern English

FIRST LORD. [Aside.] Is it possible for a man to know exactly what he is, and still go right on being it?

Original Text

PAROLLES. I would the cutting of my garments would serve the turn, or the breaking of my Spanish sword.

Modern English

PAROLLES. Maybe I could slash up my clothes and say they were cut in the fight, or snap my Spanish sword.

Original Text

FIRST LORD. [_Aside._] We cannot afford you so.

Modern English

FIRST LORD. [Aside.] We can't let you off that easily.

Original Text

PAROLLES. Or the baring of my beard, and to say it was in stratagem.

Modern English

PAROLLES. Or shave off part of my beard and claim it was a clever ruse.

Original Text

FIRST LORD. [_Aside._] 'Twould not do.

Modern English

FIRST LORD. [Aside.] That wouldn't do it either.

Original Text

PAROLLES. Or to drown my clothes, and say I was stripped.

Modern English

PAROLLES. Or soak my clothes and say they stripped me.

Original Text

FIRST LORD. [_Aside._] Hardly serve.

Modern English

FIRST LORD. [Aside.] Barely.

Original Text

PAROLLES. Though I swore I leap'd from the window of the citadel,—

Modern English

PAROLLES. Or swear I jumped from a window of the citadel --

Original Text

FIRST LORD. [_Aside._] How deep?

Modern English

FIRST LORD. [Aside.] How far down?

Original Text

PAROLLES. Thirty fathom.

Modern English

PAROLLES. Thirty fathoms.

Original Text

FIRST LORD. [_Aside._] Three great oaths would scarce make that be believed.

Modern English

FIRST LORD. [Aside.] Three solemn oaths wouldn't be enough to make anyone believe that.

Original Text

PAROLLES. I would I had any drum of the enemy's; I would swear I recover'd it.

Modern English

PAROLLES. If only I had one of the enemy's drums -- I'd swear I recovered it.

Original Text

FIRST LORD. [_Aside._] You shall hear one anon.

Modern English

FIRST LORD. [Aside.] You're about to hear one.

Original Text

PAROLLES. A drum now of the enemy's! [_Alarum within._]

Modern English

PAROLLES. An enemy drum -- if only! [A drum sounds nearby.]

Original Text

FIRST LORD. _Throca movousus, cargo, cargo, cargo._ ALL. _Cargo, cargo, cargo, villianda par corbo, cargo._ [_They seize and blindfold him._]

Modern English

FIRST LORD. Throca movousus, cargo, cargo, cargo! ALL. Cargo, cargo, cargo, villianda par corbo, cargo! [They rush out, seize him, and tie a blindfold over his eyes.]

Original Text

PAROLLES. O, ransom, ransom! Do not hide mine eyes.

Modern English

PAROLLES. Oh -- ransom, ransom! Don't cover my eyes!

Original Text

FIRST SOLDIER. _Boskos thromuldo boskos._

Modern English

FIRST SOLDIER. Boskos thromuldo boskos!

Original Text

PAROLLES. I know you are the Muskos' regiment, And I shall lose my life for want of language. If there be here German, or Dane, Low Dutch, Italian, or French, let him speak to me, I'll discover that which shall undo the Florentine.

Modern English

PAROLLES. I know you must be the Muscovite regiment -- And I'll die here for lack of a shared language. If there's anyone among you who speaks German, Danish, Dutch, Italian, or French, let him talk to me. I'll tell you things that will bring down the Florentines.

Original Text

FIRST SOLDIER. _Boskos vauvado._ I understand thee, and can speak thy tongue. _Kerelybonto._ Sir, Betake thee to thy faith, for seventeen poniards are at thy bosom.

Modern English

FIRST SOLDIER. Boskos vauvado. I understand you, and I can speak your tongue. Kerelybonto. Sir, make your peace with God -- there are seventeen daggers pointed at your chest.

Original Text

PAROLLES. O!

Modern English

PAROLLES. Oh!

Original Text

FIRST SOLDIER. O, pray, pray, pray! _Manka revania dulche._ FIRST LORD. _Oscorbidulchos volivorco._

Modern English

FIRST SOLDIER. Oh, pray -- pray, pray! Manka revania dulche. FIRST LORD. Oscorbidulchos volivorco.

Original Text

FIRST SOLDIER. The General is content to spare thee yet; And, hoodwink'd as thou art, will lead thee on To gather from thee. Haply thou mayst inform Something to save thy life.

Modern English

FIRST SOLDIER. The General is willing to spare your life for now. Blindfolded as you are, you'll be led away And questioned. If you're able to give us Something useful, it may save your neck.

Original Text

PAROLLES. O, let me live, And all the secrets of our camp I'll show, Their force, their purposes; nay, I'll speak that Which you will wonder at.

Modern English

PAROLLES. Oh, let me live -- I'll tell you everything about our camp: Their strength, their plans -- I'll tell you things That will astonish you.

Original Text

FIRST SOLDIER. But wilt thou faithfully?

Modern English

FIRST SOLDIER. And you'll do it faithfully? No lies?

Original Text

PAROLLES. If I do not, damn me.

Modern English

PAROLLES. Damn me if I don't.

Original Text

FIRST SOLDIER. _Acordo linta._ Come on; thou art granted space. [_Exit, with Parolles guarded._] A short alarum within.

Modern English

FIRST SOLDIER. Acordo linta. Come along -- you've been given your chance. [They exit with Parolles under guard.] [A brief drumbeat sounds.]

Original Text

FIRST LORD. Go tell the Count Rossillon and my brother We have caught the woodcock, and will keep him muffled Till we do hear from them.

Modern English

FIRST LORD. Go tell Count Rossillon and my brother We've caught the woodcock, and we'll keep him blindfolded Until we hear back from them.

Original Text

SECOND SOLDIER. Captain, I will.

Modern English

SECOND SOLDIER. Captain, I will.

Original Text

FIRST LORD. 'A will betray us all unto ourselves; Inform on that.

Modern English

FIRST LORD. He'll end up betraying himself more than anyone -- Make sure to mention that.

Original Text

SECOND SOLDIER. So I will, sir.

Modern English

SECOND SOLDIER. So I will, sir.

Original Text

FIRST LORD. Till then I'll keep him dark, and safely lock'd. [_Exeunt._]

Modern English

FIRST LORD. Until then, I'll keep him in the dark -- blindfolded and locked up tight. [They exit.]

All's Well That Ends Well

Act 4, Scene 1

Act 4, Scene 1