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Original Text |
Modern Text |
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Enter QUEEN, LADIES, and CORNELIUS.
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Enter QUEEN, LADIES, and CORNELIUS.
|
|
QUEEN
Whiles yet the dew’s on ground, gather those flowers.
Make haste. Who has the note of them?
|
QUEEN
Whiles yet the dew’s on ground, gather those flowers.
Make haste. Who has the note of them?
|
|
LADY
I, madam.
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LADY
I, madam.
|
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QUEEN
Dispatch.
LADIES exit.
5
Now, Master Doctor, have you brought those drugs?
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QUEEN
Dispatch.
LADIES exit.
|
|
CORNELIUS
Pleaseth your Highness, ay. Here they are, madam.
He hands her a small box.
But I beseech your Grace, without offense—
My conscience bids me ask—wherefore you have
Commanded of me these most poisonous
10
compounds,
Which are the movers of a languishing death,
But though slow, deadly.
|
CORNELIUS
Pleaseth your Highness, ay. Here they are, madam.
He hands her a small box.
But I beseech your Grace, without offense—
My conscience bids me ask—wherefore you have
Commanded of me these most poisonous
Which are the movers of a languishing death,
But though slow, deadly.
|
|
QUEEN
I wonder, doctor,
Thou ask’st me such a question. Have I not been
15
Thy pupil long? Hast thou not learned me how
To make perfumes, distil, preserve—yea, so
That our great king himself doth woo me oft
For my confections? Having thus far proceeded,
Unless thou think’st me devilish, is ’t not meet
20
That I did amplify my judgment in
Other conclusions? I will try the forces
Of these thy compounds on such creatures as
We count not worth the hanging—but none human—
To try the vigor of them and apply
25
Allayments to their act, and by them gather
Their several virtues and effects.
|
QUEEN
I wonder, doctor,
Thou ask’st me such a question. Have I not been
To make perfumes, distil, preserve—yea, so
That our great king himself doth woo me oft
For my confections? Having thus far proceeded,
Unless thou think’st me devilish, is ’t not meet
Other conclusions? I will try the forces
Of these thy compounds on such creatures as
We count not worth the hanging—but none human—
To try the vigor of them and apply
Their several virtues and effects.
|
|
CORNELIUS
Your Highness
Shall from this practice but make hard your heart.
Besides, the seeing these effects will be
30
Both noisome and infectious.
|
CORNELIUS
Your Highness
Shall from this practice but make hard your heart.
Besides, the seeing these effects will be
|
|
QUEEN
O, content thee.
Enter PISANIO.
Aside. Here comes a flattering rascal. Upon him
Will I first work. He’s for his master
And enemy to my son.—How now, Pisanio?—
35
Doctor, your service for this time is ended.
Take your own way.
|
QUEEN
O, content thee.
Enter PISANIO.
Aside. Here comes a flattering rascal. Upon him
Will I first work. He’s for his master
And enemy to my son.—How now, Pisanio?—
Take your own way.
|
|
CORNELIUS
(aside)
I do suspect you, madam,
But you shall do no harm.
|
CORNELIUS
(aside)
I do suspect you, madam,
But you shall do no harm.
|
|
QUEEN
(to PISANIO)
Hark thee, a word.
|
QUEEN
(to PISANIO)
Hark thee, a word.
|
|
CORNELIUS
aside
40
I do not like her. She doth think she has
Strange ling’ring poisons. I do know her spirit,
And will not trust one of her malice with
A drug of such damned nature. Those she has
Will stupefy and dull the sense awhile,
45
Which first perchance she’ll prove on cats and dogs,
Then afterward up higher. But there is
No danger in what show of death it makes,
More than the locking-up the spirits a time,
To be more fresh, reviving. She is fooled
50
With a most false effect, and I the truer
So to be false with her.
|
CORNELIUS
aside
Strange ling’ring poisons. I do know her spirit,
And will not trust one of her malice with
A drug of such damned nature. Those she has
Will stupefy and dull the sense awhile,
Then afterward up higher. But there is
No danger in what show of death it makes,
More than the locking-up the spirits a time,
To be more fresh, reviving. She is fooled
So to be false with her.
|
|
QUEEN
No further service, doctor,
Until I send for thee.
|
QUEEN
No further service, doctor,
Until I send for thee.
|
|
CORNELIUS
I humbly take my leave.
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CORNELIUS
I humbly take my leave.
|
|
He exits.
|
He exits.
|
|
QUEEN
55
Weeps she still, sayst thou? Dost thou think in time
She will not quench and let instructions enter
Where folly now possesses? Do thou work.
When thou shalt bring me word she loves my son,
I’ll tell thee on the instant thou art then
60
As great as is thy master; greater, for
His fortunes all lie speechless, and his name
Is at last gasp. Return he cannot, nor
Continue where he is. To shift his being
Is to exchange one misery with another,
65
And every day that comes comes to decay
A day’s work in him. What shalt thou expect,
To be depender on a thing that leans,
Who cannot be new built, nor has no friends
So much as but to prop him?
(She drops the box
70
and PISANIO picks it up.)
Thou know’st not what. But take it for thy labor.
It is a thing I made which hath the King
Five times redeemed from death. I do not know
What is more cordial. Nay, I prithee, take it.
75
It is an earnest of a farther good
That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how
The case stands with her. Do ’t as from thyself.
Think what a chance thou changest on, but think
Thou hast thy mistress still; to boot, my son,
80
Who shall take notice of thee. I’ll move the King
To any shape of thy preferment such
As thou ’lt desire; and then myself, I chiefly,
That set thee on to this desert, am bound
To load thy merit richly. Call my women.
85
Think on my words.
PISANIO exits.
A sly and constant knave,
Not to be shaked; the agent for his master
And the remembrancer of her to hold
The handfast to her lord. I have given him that
90
Which, if he take, shall quite unpeople her
Of liegers for her sweet, and which she after,
Except she bend her humor, shall be assured
To taste of too.
Enter PISANIO and LADIES carrying flowers.
To the LADIES. So, so. Well done, well done.
95
The violets, cowslips, and the primroses
Bear to my closet.—Fare thee well, Pisanio.
Think on my words.
|
QUEEN
She will not quench and let instructions enter
Where folly now possesses? Do thou work.
When thou shalt bring me word she loves my son,
I’ll tell thee on the instant thou art then
His fortunes all lie speechless, and his name
Is at last gasp. Return he cannot, nor
Continue where he is. To shift his being
Is to exchange one misery with another,
A day’s work in him. What shalt thou expect,
To be depender on a thing that leans,
Who cannot be new built, nor has no friends
So much as but to prop him?
(She drops the box
Thou know’st not what. But take it for thy labor.
It is a thing I made which hath the King
Five times redeemed from death. I do not know
What is more cordial. Nay, I prithee, take it.
That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how
The case stands with her. Do ’t as from thyself.
Think what a chance thou changest on, but think
Thou hast thy mistress still; to boot, my son,
To any shape of thy preferment such
As thou ’lt desire; and then myself, I chiefly,
That set thee on to this desert, am bound
To load thy merit richly. Call my women.
PISANIO exits.
A sly and constant knave,
Not to be shaked; the agent for his master
And the remembrancer of her to hold
The handfast to her lord. I have given him that
Of liegers for her sweet, and which she after,
Except she bend her humor, shall be assured
To taste of too.
Enter PISANIO and LADIES carrying flowers.
To the LADIES. So, so. Well done, well done.
Bear to my closet.—Fare thee well, Pisanio.
Think on my words.
|
|
QUEEN and LADIES exit.
|
QUEEN and LADIES exit.
|
|
PISANIO
And shall do.
But when to my good lord I prove untrue,
100
I’ll choke myself; there’s all I’ll do for you.
|
PISANIO
And shall do.
But when to my good lord I prove untrue,
|
|
He exits.
|
He exits.
|
Original Text |
Modern Text |
|
Enter QUEEN, LADIES, and CORNELIUS.
|
Enter QUEEN, LADIES, and CORNELIUS.
|
|
QUEEN
Whiles yet the dew’s on ground, gather those flowers.
Make haste. Who has the note of them?
|
QUEEN
Whiles yet the dew’s on ground, gather those flowers.
Make haste. Who has the note of them?
|
|
LADY
I, madam.
|
LADY
I, madam.
|
|
QUEEN
Dispatch.
LADIES exit.
5
Now, Master Doctor, have you brought those drugs?
|
QUEEN
Dispatch.
LADIES exit.
|
|
CORNELIUS
Pleaseth your Highness, ay. Here they are, madam.
He hands her a small box.
But I beseech your Grace, without offense—
My conscience bids me ask—wherefore you have
Commanded of me these most poisonous
10
compounds,
Which are the movers of a languishing death,
But though slow, deadly.
|
CORNELIUS
Pleaseth your Highness, ay. Here they are, madam.
He hands her a small box.
But I beseech your Grace, without offense—
My conscience bids me ask—wherefore you have
Commanded of me these most poisonous
Which are the movers of a languishing death,
But though slow, deadly.
|
|
QUEEN
I wonder, doctor,
Thou ask’st me such a question. Have I not been
15
Thy pupil long? Hast thou not learned me how
To make perfumes, distil, preserve—yea, so
That our great king himself doth woo me oft
For my confections? Having thus far proceeded,
Unless thou think’st me devilish, is ’t not meet
20
That I did amplify my judgment in
Other conclusions? I will try the forces
Of these thy compounds on such creatures as
We count not worth the hanging—but none human—
To try the vigor of them and apply
25
Allayments to their act, and by them gather
Their several virtues and effects.
|
QUEEN
I wonder, doctor,
Thou ask’st me such a question. Have I not been
To make perfumes, distil, preserve—yea, so
That our great king himself doth woo me oft
For my confections? Having thus far proceeded,
Unless thou think’st me devilish, is ’t not meet
Other conclusions? I will try the forces
Of these thy compounds on such creatures as
We count not worth the hanging—but none human—
To try the vigor of them and apply
Their several virtues and effects.
|
|
CORNELIUS
Your Highness
Shall from this practice but make hard your heart.
Besides, the seeing these effects will be
30
Both noisome and infectious.
|
CORNELIUS
Your Highness
Shall from this practice but make hard your heart.
Besides, the seeing these effects will be
|
|
QUEEN
O, content thee.
Enter PISANIO.
Aside. Here comes a flattering rascal. Upon him
Will I first work. He’s for his master
And enemy to my son.—How now, Pisanio?—
35
Doctor, your service for this time is ended.
Take your own way.
|
QUEEN
O, content thee.
Enter PISANIO.
Aside. Here comes a flattering rascal. Upon him
Will I first work. He’s for his master
And enemy to my son.—How now, Pisanio?—
Take your own way.
|
|
CORNELIUS
(aside)
I do suspect you, madam,
But you shall do no harm.
|
CORNELIUS
(aside)
I do suspect you, madam,
But you shall do no harm.
|
|
QUEEN
(to PISANIO)
Hark thee, a word.
|
QUEEN
(to PISANIO)
Hark thee, a word.
|
|
CORNELIUS
aside
40
I do not like her. She doth think she has
Strange ling’ring poisons. I do know her spirit,
And will not trust one of her malice with
A drug of such damned nature. Those she has
Will stupefy and dull the sense awhile,
45
Which first perchance she’ll prove on cats and dogs,
Then afterward up higher. But there is
No danger in what show of death it makes,
More than the locking-up the spirits a time,
To be more fresh, reviving. She is fooled
50
With a most false effect, and I the truer
So to be false with her.
|
CORNELIUS
aside
Strange ling’ring poisons. I do know her spirit,
And will not trust one of her malice with
A drug of such damned nature. Those she has
Will stupefy and dull the sense awhile,
Then afterward up higher. But there is
No danger in what show of death it makes,
More than the locking-up the spirits a time,
To be more fresh, reviving. She is fooled
So to be false with her.
|
|
QUEEN
No further service, doctor,
Until I send for thee.
|
QUEEN
No further service, doctor,
Until I send for thee.
|
|
CORNELIUS
I humbly take my leave.
|
CORNELIUS
I humbly take my leave.
|
|
He exits.
|
He exits.
|
|
QUEEN
55
Weeps she still, sayst thou? Dost thou think in time
She will not quench and let instructions enter
Where folly now possesses? Do thou work.
When thou shalt bring me word she loves my son,
I’ll tell thee on the instant thou art then
60
As great as is thy master; greater, for
His fortunes all lie speechless, and his name
Is at last gasp. Return he cannot, nor
Continue where he is. To shift his being
Is to exchange one misery with another,
65
And every day that comes comes to decay
A day’s work in him. What shalt thou expect,
To be depender on a thing that leans,
Who cannot be new built, nor has no friends
So much as but to prop him?
(She drops the box
70
and PISANIO picks it up.)
Thou know’st not what. But take it for thy labor.
It is a thing I made which hath the King
Five times redeemed from death. I do not know
What is more cordial. Nay, I prithee, take it.
75
It is an earnest of a farther good
That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how
The case stands with her. Do ’t as from thyself.
Think what a chance thou changest on, but think
Thou hast thy mistress still; to boot, my son,
80
Who shall take notice of thee. I’ll move the King
To any shape of thy preferment such
As thou ’lt desire; and then myself, I chiefly,
That set thee on to this desert, am bound
To load thy merit richly. Call my women.
85
Think on my words.
PISANIO exits.
A sly and constant knave,
Not to be shaked; the agent for his master
And the remembrancer of her to hold
The handfast to her lord. I have given him that
90
Which, if he take, shall quite unpeople her
Of liegers for her sweet, and which she after,
Except she bend her humor, shall be assured
To taste of too.
Enter PISANIO and LADIES carrying flowers.
To the LADIES. So, so. Well done, well done.
95
The violets, cowslips, and the primroses
Bear to my closet.—Fare thee well, Pisanio.
Think on my words.
|
QUEEN
She will not quench and let instructions enter
Where folly now possesses? Do thou work.
When thou shalt bring me word she loves my son,
I’ll tell thee on the instant thou art then
His fortunes all lie speechless, and his name
Is at last gasp. Return he cannot, nor
Continue where he is. To shift his being
Is to exchange one misery with another,
A day’s work in him. What shalt thou expect,
To be depender on a thing that leans,
Who cannot be new built, nor has no friends
So much as but to prop him?
(She drops the box
Thou know’st not what. But take it for thy labor.
It is a thing I made which hath the King
Five times redeemed from death. I do not know
What is more cordial. Nay, I prithee, take it.
That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how
The case stands with her. Do ’t as from thyself.
Think what a chance thou changest on, but think
Thou hast thy mistress still; to boot, my son,
To any shape of thy preferment such
As thou ’lt desire; and then myself, I chiefly,
That set thee on to this desert, am bound
To load thy merit richly. Call my women.
PISANIO exits.
A sly and constant knave,
Not to be shaked; the agent for his master
And the remembrancer of her to hold
The handfast to her lord. I have given him that
Of liegers for her sweet, and which she after,
Except she bend her humor, shall be assured
To taste of too.
Enter PISANIO and LADIES carrying flowers.
To the LADIES. So, so. Well done, well done.
Bear to my closet.—Fare thee well, Pisanio.
Think on my words.
|
|
QUEEN and LADIES exit.
|
QUEEN and LADIES exit.
|
|
PISANIO
And shall do.
But when to my good lord I prove untrue,
100
I’ll choke myself; there’s all I’ll do for you.
|
PISANIO
And shall do.
But when to my good lord I prove untrue,
|
|
He exits.
|
He exits.
|
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