Continue reading with a SparkNotes PLUS trial
Already have an account? Log in
Original Text |
Modern Text |
Enter COUNTESS, with a paper, and FOOL.
|
Enter COUNTESS, with a paper, and FOOL.
|
COUNTESS
It hath happened all as I would have had it,
save that he comes not along with her.
|
COUNTESS
It hath happened all as I would have had it,
save that he comes not along with her.
|
FOOL
By my troth, I take my young lord to be a very
melancholy man.
|
FOOL
By my troth, I take my young lord to be a very
melancholy man.
|
COUNTESS
5
By what observance, I pray you? |
COUNTESS
By what observance, I pray you?
|
FOOL
Why, he will look upon his boot and sing, mend
the ruff and sing, ask questions and sing, pick his
teeth and sing. I know a man that had this trick of
melancholy sold a goodly manor for a song.
|
FOOL
Why, he will look upon his boot and sing, mend
the ruff and sing, ask questions and sing, pick his
teeth and sing. I know a man that had this trick of
melancholy sold a goodly manor for a song.
|
COUNTESS
10
Let me see what he writes and when hemeans to come.
|
COUNTESS
Let me see what he writes and when he
means to come.
|
She opens the letter.
|
She opens the letter.
|
FOOL
I have no mind to Isbel since I was at court. Our
old lings and our Isbels o’ th’ country are nothing
like your old ling and your Isbels o’ th’ court. The
15
brains of my Cupid’s knocked out, and I begin to love as an old man loves money, with no stomach.
|
FOOL
I have no mind to Isbel since I was at court. Our
old lings and our Isbels o’ th’ country are nothing
like your old ling and your Isbels o’ th’ court. The
brains of my Cupid’s knocked out, and I begin to
love as an old man loves money, with no stomach.
|
COUNTESS
What have we here?
|
COUNTESS
What have we here?
|
FOOL
E’en that you have there.
|
FOOL
E’en that you have there.
|
COUNTESS reads.
I have sent you a daughter-in-law.
20
She hath recovered the King and undone me. I havewedded her, not bedded her, and sworn to make the
“not” eternal. You shall hear I am run away. Know it
before the report come. If there be breadth enough in
the world, I will hold a long distance. My duty to
25
you.Your unfortunate son,
Bertram
This is not well, rash and unbridled boy:
To fly the favors of so good a king,
30
To pluck his indignation on thy headBy the misprizing of a maid too virtuous
For the contempt of empire.
|
COUNTESS reads.
I have sent you a daughter-in-law.
She hath recovered the King and undone me. I have
wedded her, not bedded her, and sworn to make the
“not” eternal. You shall hear I am run away. Know it
before the report come. If there be breadth enough in
the world, I will hold a long distance. My duty to
you.
Your unfortunate son,
Bertram
This is not well, rash and unbridled boy:
To fly the favors of so good a king,
To pluck his indignation on thy head
By the misprizing of a maid too virtuous
For the contempt of empire.
|
Enter FOOL.
|
Enter FOOL.
|
FOOL
O madam, yonder is heavy news within, between
two soldiers and my young lady.
|
FOOL
O madam, yonder is heavy news within, between
two soldiers and my young lady.
|
COUNTESS
35
What is the matter? |
COUNTESS
What is the matter?
|
FOOL
Nay, there is some comfort in the news, some
comfort. Your son will not be killed so soon as I
thought he would.
|
FOOL
Nay, there is some comfort in the news, some
comfort. Your son will not be killed so soon as I
thought he would.
|
COUNTESS
Why should he be killed?
|
COUNTESS
Why should he be killed?
|
FOOL
40
So say I, madam, if he run away, as I hear hedoes. The danger is in standing to ’t; that’s the loss
of men, though it be the getting of children. Here
they come will tell you more. For my part, I only
hear your son was run away.
|
FOOL
So say I, madam, if he run away, as I hear he
does. The danger is in standing to ’t; that’s the loss
of men, though it be the getting of children. Here
they come will tell you more. For my part, I only
hear your son was run away.
|
He exits.
|
He exits.
|
Enter HELEN, with a paper, and two GENTLEMEN.
|
Enter HELEN, with a paper, and two GENTLEMEN.
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN, to COUNTESS
45
Save you, good madam.
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN, to COUNTESS
Save you, good
madam.
|
HELEN
Madam, my lord is gone, forever gone.
|
HELEN
Madam, my lord is gone, forever gone.
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Do not say so.
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Do not say so.
|
COUNTESS
Think upon patience, pray you.—Gentlemen,
50
I have felt so many quirks of joy and griefThat the first face of neither on the start
Can woman me unto ’t. Where is my son, I pray you?
|
COUNTESS
Think upon patience, pray you.—Gentlemen,
I have felt so many quirks of joy and grief
That the first face of neither on the start
Can woman me unto ’t. Where is my son, I pray you?
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Madam, he’s gone to serve the Duke of Florence.
We met him thitherward, for thence we came,
55
And, after some dispatch in hand at court,Thither we bend again.
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Madam, he’s gone to serve the Duke of Florence.
We met him thitherward, for thence we came,
And, after some dispatch in hand at court,
Thither we bend again.
|
HELEN
Look on his letter, madam; here’s my passport.
She reads. When thou canst get the ring upon
my finger, which never shall come off, and show me
60
a child begotten of thy body that I am father to, thencall me husband. But in such a “then” I write a
“never.”
This is a dreadful sentence.
|
HELEN
Look on his letter, madam; here’s my passport.
She reads. When thou canst get the ring upon
my finger, which never shall come off, and show me
a child begotten of thy body that I am father to, then
call me husband. But in such a “then” I write a
“never.”
This is a dreadful sentence.
|
COUNTESS
Brought you this letter, gentlemen?
|
COUNTESS
Brought you this letter, gentlemen?
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
65
Ay, madam,And for the contents’ sake are sorry for our pains.
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Ay, madam,
And for the contents’ sake are sorry for our pains.
|
COUNTESS
I prithee, lady, have a better cheer.
If thou engrossest all the griefs are thine,
Thou robb’st me of a moiety. He was my son,
70
But I do wash his name out of my blood,And thou art all my child.—Towards Florence is he?
|
COUNTESS
I prithee, lady, have a better cheer.
If thou engrossest all the griefs are thine,
Thou robb’st me of a moiety. He was my son,
But I do wash his name out of my blood,
And thou art all my child.—Towards Florence is he?
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Ay, madam.
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Ay, madam.
|
COUNTESS
And to be a soldier?
|
COUNTESS
And to be a soldier?
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Such is his noble purpose, and, believe ’t,
75
The Duke will lay upon him all the honorThat good convenience claims.
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Such is his noble purpose, and, believe ’t,
The Duke will lay upon him all the honor
That good convenience claims.
|
COUNTESS
Return you thither?
|
COUNTESS
Return you thither?
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Ay, madam, with the swiftest wing of speed.
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Ay, madam, with the swiftest wing of speed.
|
HELEN reads
Till I have no wife I have nothing in France.
80
’Tis bitter. |
HELEN reads
Till I have no wife I have nothing in France.
’Tis bitter.
|
COUNTESS
Find you that there?
|
COUNTESS
Find you that there?
|
HELEN
Ay, madam.
|
HELEN
Ay, madam.
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
’Tis but the boldness of his hand, haply,
Which his heart was not consenting to.
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
’Tis but the boldness of his hand, haply,
Which his heart was not consenting to.
|
COUNTESS
85
Nothing in France until he have no wife!There’s nothing here that is too good for him
But only she, and she deserves a lord
That twenty such rude boys might tend upon
And call her hourly mistress. Who was with him?
|
COUNTESS
Nothing in France until he have no wife!
There’s nothing here that is too good for him
But only she, and she deserves a lord
That twenty such rude boys might tend upon
And call her hourly mistress. Who was with him?
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
90
A servant only, and a gentlemanWhich I have sometime known.
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
A servant only, and a gentleman
Which I have sometime known.
|
COUNTESS
Parolles was it not?
|
COUNTESS
Parolles was it not?
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Ay, my good lady, he.
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Ay, my good lady, he.
|
COUNTESS
A very tainted fellow, and full of wickedness.
95
My son corrupts a well-derivèd natureWith his inducement.
|
COUNTESS
A very tainted fellow, and full of wickedness.
My son corrupts a well-derivèd nature
With his inducement.
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Indeed, good lady,
The fellow has a deal of that too much
Which holds him much to have.
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Indeed, good lady,
The fellow has a deal of that too much
Which holds him much to have.
|
COUNTESS
100
You’re welcome,gentlemen.
I will entreat you when you see my son
To tell him that his sword can never win
The honor that he loses. More I’ll entreat you
105
Written to bear along. |
COUNTESS
You’re welcome,
gentlemen.
I will entreat you when you see my son
To tell him that his sword can never win
The honor that he loses. More I’ll entreat you
Written to bear along.
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
We serve you, madam,
In that and all your worthiest affairs.
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
We serve you, madam,
In that and all your worthiest affairs.
|
COUNTESS
Not so, but as we change our courtesies.
Will you draw near?
|
COUNTESS
Not so, but as we change our courtesies.
Will you draw near?
|
She exits with the GENTLEMEN.
|
She exits with the GENTLEMEN.
|
HELEN
110
“Till I have no wife I have nothing in France.”Nothing in France until he has no wife.
Thou shalt have none, Rossillion, none in France.
Then hast thou all again. Poor lord, is ’t I
That chase thee from thy country and expose
115
Those tender limbs of thine to the eventOf the none-sparing war? And is it I
That drive thee from the sportive court, where thou
Wast shot at with fair eyes, to be the mark
Of smoky muskets? O you leaden messengers
120
That ride upon the violent speed of fire,Fly with false aim; move the still-’pearing air
That sings with piercing; do not touch my lord.
Whoever shoots at him, I set him there;
Whoever charges on his forward breast,
125
I am the caitiff that do hold him to ’t;And though I kill him not, I am the cause
His death was so effected. Better ’twere
I met the ravin lion when he roared
With sharp constraint of hunger; better ’twere
130
That all the miseries which nature owesWere mine at once. No, come thou home, Rossillion,
Whence honor but of danger wins a scar,
As oft it loses all. I will be gone.
My being here it is that holds thee hence.
135
Shall I stay here to do ’t? No, no, althoughThe air of paradise did fan the house
And angels officed all. I will be gone,
That pitiful rumor may report my flight
To consolate thine ear. Come, night; end, day;
140
For with the dark, poor thief, I’ll steal away. |
HELEN
“Till I have no wife I have nothing in France.”
Nothing in France until he has no wife.
Thou shalt have none, Rossillion, none in France.
Then hast thou all again. Poor lord, is ’t I
That chase thee from thy country and expose
Those tender limbs of thine to the event
Of the none-sparing war? And is it I
That drive thee from the sportive court, where thou
Wast shot at with fair eyes, to be the mark
Of smoky muskets? O you leaden messengers
That ride upon the violent speed of fire,
Fly with false aim; move the still-’pearing air
That sings with piercing; do not touch my lord.
Whoever shoots at him, I set him there;
Whoever charges on his forward breast,
I am the caitiff that do hold him to ’t;
And though I kill him not, I am the cause
His death was so effected. Better ’twere
I met the ravin lion when he roared
With sharp constraint of hunger; better ’twere
That all the miseries which nature owes
Were mine at once. No, come thou home, Rossillion,
Whence honor but of danger wins a scar,
As oft it loses all. I will be gone.
My being here it is that holds thee hence.
Shall I stay here to do ’t? No, no, although
The air of paradise did fan the house
And angels officed all. I will be gone,
That pitiful rumor may report my flight
To consolate thine ear. Come, night; end, day;
For with the dark, poor thief, I’ll steal away.
|
She exits.
|
She exits.
|
Original Text |
Modern Text |
Enter COUNTESS, with a paper, and FOOL.
|
Enter COUNTESS, with a paper, and FOOL.
|
COUNTESS
It hath happened all as I would have had it,
save that he comes not along with her.
|
COUNTESS
It hath happened all as I would have had it,
save that he comes not along with her.
|
FOOL
By my troth, I take my young lord to be a very
melancholy man.
|
FOOL
By my troth, I take my young lord to be a very
melancholy man.
|
COUNTESS
5
By what observance, I pray you? |
COUNTESS
By what observance, I pray you?
|
FOOL
Why, he will look upon his boot and sing, mend
the ruff and sing, ask questions and sing, pick his
teeth and sing. I know a man that had this trick of
melancholy sold a goodly manor for a song.
|
FOOL
Why, he will look upon his boot and sing, mend
the ruff and sing, ask questions and sing, pick his
teeth and sing. I know a man that had this trick of
melancholy sold a goodly manor for a song.
|
COUNTESS
10
Let me see what he writes and when hemeans to come.
|
COUNTESS
Let me see what he writes and when he
means to come.
|
She opens the letter.
|
She opens the letter.
|
FOOL
I have no mind to Isbel since I was at court. Our
old lings and our Isbels o’ th’ country are nothing
like your old ling and your Isbels o’ th’ court. The
15
brains of my Cupid’s knocked out, and I begin to love as an old man loves money, with no stomach.
|
FOOL
I have no mind to Isbel since I was at court. Our
old lings and our Isbels o’ th’ country are nothing
like your old ling and your Isbels o’ th’ court. The
brains of my Cupid’s knocked out, and I begin to
love as an old man loves money, with no stomach.
|
COUNTESS
What have we here?
|
COUNTESS
What have we here?
|
FOOL
E’en that you have there.
|
FOOL
E’en that you have there.
|
COUNTESS reads.
I have sent you a daughter-in-law.
20
She hath recovered the King and undone me. I havewedded her, not bedded her, and sworn to make the
“not” eternal. You shall hear I am run away. Know it
before the report come. If there be breadth enough in
the world, I will hold a long distance. My duty to
25
you.Your unfortunate son,
Bertram
This is not well, rash and unbridled boy:
To fly the favors of so good a king,
30
To pluck his indignation on thy headBy the misprizing of a maid too virtuous
For the contempt of empire.
|
COUNTESS reads.
I have sent you a daughter-in-law.
She hath recovered the King and undone me. I have
wedded her, not bedded her, and sworn to make the
“not” eternal. You shall hear I am run away. Know it
before the report come. If there be breadth enough in
the world, I will hold a long distance. My duty to
you.
Your unfortunate son,
Bertram
This is not well, rash and unbridled boy:
To fly the favors of so good a king,
To pluck his indignation on thy head
By the misprizing of a maid too virtuous
For the contempt of empire.
|
Enter FOOL.
|
Enter FOOL.
|
FOOL
O madam, yonder is heavy news within, between
two soldiers and my young lady.
|
FOOL
O madam, yonder is heavy news within, between
two soldiers and my young lady.
|
COUNTESS
35
What is the matter? |
COUNTESS
What is the matter?
|
FOOL
Nay, there is some comfort in the news, some
comfort. Your son will not be killed so soon as I
thought he would.
|
FOOL
Nay, there is some comfort in the news, some
comfort. Your son will not be killed so soon as I
thought he would.
|
COUNTESS
Why should he be killed?
|
COUNTESS
Why should he be killed?
|
FOOL
40
So say I, madam, if he run away, as I hear hedoes. The danger is in standing to ’t; that’s the loss
of men, though it be the getting of children. Here
they come will tell you more. For my part, I only
hear your son was run away.
|
FOOL
So say I, madam, if he run away, as I hear he
does. The danger is in standing to ’t; that’s the loss
of men, though it be the getting of children. Here
they come will tell you more. For my part, I only
hear your son was run away.
|
He exits.
|
He exits.
|
Enter HELEN, with a paper, and two GENTLEMEN.
|
Enter HELEN, with a paper, and two GENTLEMEN.
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN, to COUNTESS
45
Save you, good madam.
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN, to COUNTESS
Save you, good
madam.
|
HELEN
Madam, my lord is gone, forever gone.
|
HELEN
Madam, my lord is gone, forever gone.
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Do not say so.
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Do not say so.
|
COUNTESS
Think upon patience, pray you.—Gentlemen,
50
I have felt so many quirks of joy and griefThat the first face of neither on the start
Can woman me unto ’t. Where is my son, I pray you?
|
COUNTESS
Think upon patience, pray you.—Gentlemen,
I have felt so many quirks of joy and grief
That the first face of neither on the start
Can woman me unto ’t. Where is my son, I pray you?
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Madam, he’s gone to serve the Duke of Florence.
We met him thitherward, for thence we came,
55
And, after some dispatch in hand at court,Thither we bend again.
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Madam, he’s gone to serve the Duke of Florence.
We met him thitherward, for thence we came,
And, after some dispatch in hand at court,
Thither we bend again.
|
HELEN
Look on his letter, madam; here’s my passport.
She reads. When thou canst get the ring upon
my finger, which never shall come off, and show me
60
a child begotten of thy body that I am father to, thencall me husband. But in such a “then” I write a
“never.”
This is a dreadful sentence.
|
HELEN
Look on his letter, madam; here’s my passport.
She reads. When thou canst get the ring upon
my finger, which never shall come off, and show me
a child begotten of thy body that I am father to, then
call me husband. But in such a “then” I write a
“never.”
This is a dreadful sentence.
|
COUNTESS
Brought you this letter, gentlemen?
|
COUNTESS
Brought you this letter, gentlemen?
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
65
Ay, madam,And for the contents’ sake are sorry for our pains.
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Ay, madam,
And for the contents’ sake are sorry for our pains.
|
COUNTESS
I prithee, lady, have a better cheer.
If thou engrossest all the griefs are thine,
Thou robb’st me of a moiety. He was my son,
70
But I do wash his name out of my blood,And thou art all my child.—Towards Florence is he?
|
COUNTESS
I prithee, lady, have a better cheer.
If thou engrossest all the griefs are thine,
Thou robb’st me of a moiety. He was my son,
But I do wash his name out of my blood,
And thou art all my child.—Towards Florence is he?
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Ay, madam.
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Ay, madam.
|
COUNTESS
And to be a soldier?
|
COUNTESS
And to be a soldier?
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Such is his noble purpose, and, believe ’t,
75
The Duke will lay upon him all the honorThat good convenience claims.
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Such is his noble purpose, and, believe ’t,
The Duke will lay upon him all the honor
That good convenience claims.
|
COUNTESS
Return you thither?
|
COUNTESS
Return you thither?
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Ay, madam, with the swiftest wing of speed.
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Ay, madam, with the swiftest wing of speed.
|
HELEN reads
Till I have no wife I have nothing in France.
80
’Tis bitter. |
HELEN reads
Till I have no wife I have nothing in France.
’Tis bitter.
|
COUNTESS
Find you that there?
|
COUNTESS
Find you that there?
|
HELEN
Ay, madam.
|
HELEN
Ay, madam.
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
’Tis but the boldness of his hand, haply,
Which his heart was not consenting to.
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
’Tis but the boldness of his hand, haply,
Which his heart was not consenting to.
|
COUNTESS
85
Nothing in France until he have no wife!There’s nothing here that is too good for him
But only she, and she deserves a lord
That twenty such rude boys might tend upon
And call her hourly mistress. Who was with him?
|
COUNTESS
Nothing in France until he have no wife!
There’s nothing here that is too good for him
But only she, and she deserves a lord
That twenty such rude boys might tend upon
And call her hourly mistress. Who was with him?
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
90
A servant only, and a gentlemanWhich I have sometime known.
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
A servant only, and a gentleman
Which I have sometime known.
|
COUNTESS
Parolles was it not?
|
COUNTESS
Parolles was it not?
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Ay, my good lady, he.
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Ay, my good lady, he.
|
COUNTESS
A very tainted fellow, and full of wickedness.
95
My son corrupts a well-derivèd natureWith his inducement.
|
COUNTESS
A very tainted fellow, and full of wickedness.
My son corrupts a well-derivèd nature
With his inducement.
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Indeed, good lady,
The fellow has a deal of that too much
Which holds him much to have.
|
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Indeed, good lady,
The fellow has a deal of that too much
Which holds him much to have.
|
COUNTESS
100
You’re welcome,gentlemen.
I will entreat you when you see my son
To tell him that his sword can never win
The honor that he loses. More I’ll entreat you
105
Written to bear along. |
COUNTESS
You’re welcome,
gentlemen.
I will entreat you when you see my son
To tell him that his sword can never win
The honor that he loses. More I’ll entreat you
Written to bear along.
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
We serve you, madam,
In that and all your worthiest affairs.
|
SECOND GENTLEMAN
We serve you, madam,
In that and all your worthiest affairs.
|
COUNTESS
Not so, but as we change our courtesies.
Will you draw near?
|
COUNTESS
Not so, but as we change our courtesies.
Will you draw near?
|
She exits with the GENTLEMEN.
|
She exits with the GENTLEMEN.
|
HELEN
110
“Till I have no wife I have nothing in France.”Nothing in France until he has no wife.
Thou shalt have none, Rossillion, none in France.
Then hast thou all again. Poor lord, is ’t I
That chase thee from thy country and expose
115
Those tender limbs of thine to the eventOf the none-sparing war? And is it I
That drive thee from the sportive court, where thou
Wast shot at with fair eyes, to be the mark
Of smoky muskets? O you leaden messengers
120
That ride upon the violent speed of fire,Fly with false aim; move the still-’pearing air
That sings with piercing; do not touch my lord.
Whoever shoots at him, I set him there;
Whoever charges on his forward breast,
125
I am the caitiff that do hold him to ’t;And though I kill him not, I am the cause
His death was so effected. Better ’twere
I met the ravin lion when he roared
With sharp constraint of hunger; better ’twere
130
That all the miseries which nature owesWere mine at once. No, come thou home, Rossillion,
Whence honor but of danger wins a scar,
As oft it loses all. I will be gone.
My being here it is that holds thee hence.
135
Shall I stay here to do ’t? No, no, althoughThe air of paradise did fan the house
And angels officed all. I will be gone,
That pitiful rumor may report my flight
To consolate thine ear. Come, night; end, day;
140
For with the dark, poor thief, I’ll steal away. |
HELEN
“Till I have no wife I have nothing in France.”
Nothing in France until he has no wife.
Thou shalt have none, Rossillion, none in France.
Then hast thou all again. Poor lord, is ’t I
That chase thee from thy country and expose
Those tender limbs of thine to the event
Of the none-sparing war? And is it I
That drive thee from the sportive court, where thou
Wast shot at with fair eyes, to be the mark
Of smoky muskets? O you leaden messengers
That ride upon the violent speed of fire,
Fly with false aim; move the still-’pearing air
That sings with piercing; do not touch my lord.
Whoever shoots at him, I set him there;
Whoever charges on his forward breast,
I am the caitiff that do hold him to ’t;
And though I kill him not, I am the cause
His death was so effected. Better ’twere
I met the ravin lion when he roared
With sharp constraint of hunger; better ’twere
That all the miseries which nature owes
Were mine at once. No, come thou home, Rossillion,
Whence honor but of danger wins a scar,
As oft it loses all. I will be gone.
My being here it is that holds thee hence.
Shall I stay here to do ’t? No, no, although
The air of paradise did fan the house
And angels officed all. I will be gone,
That pitiful rumor may report my flight
To consolate thine ear. Come, night; end, day;
For with the dark, poor thief, I’ll steal away.
|
She exits.
|
She exits.
|