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A Hidden Gem in Shakespeare's Crown
Among Shakespeare's vast and diverse works, "Pericles" sparkles subtly, often overshadowed by the more famous tragedies and comedies. Yet, for those who delve deep, it unfolds as a riveting tale, if only one can decipher the Bard's intricate language.
Journey with Pericles, Prince of Tyre, through an adventure replete with storms, shipwrecks, romance, and redemption. A tapestry of themes awaits the discerning reader, waiting to be unraveled and appreciated.
For those who've previously felt tangled in the web of Shakespearean prose, fear not! BookCaps emerges as your guiding light. Dive into an accessible, modern-day rendition of "Pericles, Prince of Tyre", crafted to preserve the essence of the original while making it comprehensible to all. Accompanied by Shakespeare's authentic text, this modern translation offers both the seasoned aficionado and the budding reader a chance to relish this lesser-known, yet magnificent play.
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EXCERPT FROM PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE IN PLAIN AND SIMPLE ENGLISH
SCENE I. DUKE ORSINO's palace. Enter DUKE ORSINO, CURIO, and other Lords; Musicians attending
DUKE ORSINO
If music be the food of love, play on;
If music is what feeds love, keep playing;
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
Give me more than I need of it, which, without having enough,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.
The desire for love might starve, and then die.
That strain again! it had a dying fall:
That sound again! it got quieter and quieter;
O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound,
Oh, it came over my ear like the sweet sound,
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
That drifts over a field of violets,
Stealing and giving odour! Enough; no more:
Stealing and then giving away the scent! Enough; no more:
'Tis not so sweet now as it was before.
It is not as sweet now as it was before.
O spirit of love! how quick and fresh art thou,
Oh the spirit of love! You are so quick and fresh,
That, notwithstanding thy capacity
That, no matter your depth
Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there,
Takes in as much as the sea; nothing enters there,
Of what validity and pitch soe'er,
No matter how real and strong,
But falls into abatement and low price,
That doesn't become less and cheaper,
Even in a minute: so full of shapes is fancy
Even in a minute: affection is so full of imagination
That it alone is high fantastical.
That by itself it is fantasy.
CURIO
Will you go hunt, my lord?
Will you go hunt, my lord?
DUKE ORSINO
What, Curio?
What, Curio
CURIO
The hart.
The hart [a kind of deer, but sounding like "heart"].
DUKE ORSINO
Why, so I do, the noblest that I have:
Why, indeed I do, the most noble that I have:
O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first,
Oh, when I first saw Olivia,
Methought she purged the air of pestilence!
I thought she took all the poison from the world!
That instant was I turn'd into a hart;
In that moment I was turned into a heart;
And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds,
And my desires, like evil and cruel hunting dogs,
E'er since pursue me.
Have been chasing me ever since.
Enter VALENTINE
How now! what news from her?
So, what's going on? Any news from her?
VALENTINE
So please my lord, I might not be admitted;
My lord, I am afraid I was not allowed to see her;
But from her handmaid do return this answer:
But her maid gave me this answer:
The element itself, till seven years' heat,
The sun itself, unless after giving the heat of seven years all at once,
Shall not behold her face at ample view;
Would not be able to easily see her face;
But, like a cloistress, she will veiled walk
But, like a nun, she will walk with a veil over her face
And water once a day her chamber round
And spread salt water around her room
With eye-offending brine: all this to season
Once a day, in order to honor
A brother's dead love, which she would keep fresh
Her love for her dead brother, which she wants to keep fresh
And lasting in her sad remembrance.
And lasting in her sad memories.
DUKE ORSINO
O, she that hath a heart of that fine frame
Oh, she has a good heart,
To pay this debt of love but to a brother,
To pay so much love and sacrifice just to a brother,
How will she love, when the rich golden shaft
How will she love, when fate and time
Hath kill'd the flock of all affections else
Has killed her ability to love anything else
That live in her; when liver, brain and heart,
That might be found inside her; when her liver, brain, and heart,
These sovereign thrones, are all supplied, and fill'd
Those ruling thrones, are all occupied and filled
Her sweet perfections with one self king!
Her sweet virtues with one person as king!
Away before me to sweet beds of flowers:
Let me go now to sweet beds of flowers:
Love-thoughts lie rich when canopied with bowers.
Thoughts of love are richer when covered with garden plants.
Exeunt
SCENE II. The sea-coast. Enter VIOLA, a Captain, and Sailors
VIOLA
What country, friends, is this?
What country, friends, is this?
Captain
This is Illyria, lady.
This is Illyria, lady.
VIOLA
And what should I do in Illyria?
And what should I do now that I'm in Illyria?
My brother he is in Elysium.
My brother is in Heaven.
Perchance he is not drown'd: what think you, sailors?
Unless by some chance he is not drowned: what do you think, sailors?
Captain
It is perchance that you yourself were saved.
It was by chance that you yourself were saved.
VIOLA
O my poor brother! and so perchance may he be.
Oh my poor brother! And so maybe he will be saved by luck
Captain
True, madam: and, to comfort you with chance,
True, madam: and to comfort you with how likely it is,
Assure yourself, after our ship did split,
Be reassured, after our ship split,
When you and those poor number saved with you
When you and the too-small number saved with you
Hung on our driving boat, I saw your brother,
Hung onto our lifeboat, I saw your brother,
Most provident in peril, bind himself,
Very wise and practical in danger, tying himself,
Courage and hope both teaching him the practise,
Courage and hope both inspiring him to do so,
To a strong mast that lived upon the sea;
To a strong mast that floated on the sea;
Where, like Arion on the dolphin's back,
Where, like that mythical character riding the dolphin
I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves
I saw him fight against the waves
So long as I could see.
As long as I could see him.
VIOLA
For saying so, there's gold:
For saying so, here's some gold:
Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope,
My own escape encourages the hope,
Whereto thy speech serves for authority,
Which your speech gives authority to,
The like of him. Know'st thou this country?
The likelihood of him living. Do you know this country?
Captain
Ay, madam, well; for I was bred and born
Yes, madam, well; for I was born and raised
Not three hours' travel from this very place.
Less that three hours' travel from this very place.
VIOLA
Who governs here?
Who rules here?
Captain
A noble duke, in nature as in name.
A noble duke, who is also a good man.
VIOLA
What is the name?
What is the name?
Captain
Orsino.
Orsino.
VIOLA
Orsino! I have heard my father name him:
Orsino! I have heard my father speak of him:
He was a bachelor then.
He was a bachelor then.
Captain
And so is now, or was so very late;
And also is now, or was so very recently;
For but a month ago I went from hence,
For it was only a month ago when I left here,
And then 'twas fresh in murmur,--as, you know,
And then the rumor was - since, as you know,
What great ones do the less will prattle of,--
The poor love to gossip about the rich, -
That he did seek the love of fair Olivia.
That he wanted the love of beautiful Olivia.
VIOLA
What's she?
What is she?
Captain
A virtuous maid, the daughter of a count
A virtuous young woman, the daughter of a count
That died some twelvemonth since, then leaving her
That died about a year ago, then leaving her
In the protection of his son, her brother,
Under the guardianship of his son, her brother,
Who shortly also died: for whose dear love,
Who soon also died; and for whose sake,
They say, she hath abjured the company
They say, she has given up the company
And sight of men.
And presence of men.
VIOLA
O that I served that lady
Oh how I wish I served that lady
And might not be delivered to the world,
And would not have to face the world,
Till I had made mine own occasion mellow,
Until I had helped resolve this situation
What my estate is!
And found my fortune!
Captain
That were hard to compass;
The duke's situation is difficult;
Because she will admit no kind of suit,
Because she refuses any kind of courting,
No, not the duke's.
No, not the duke's.
VIOLA
There is a fair behavior in thee, captain;
You are both handsome and honest, captain;
And though that nature with a beauteous wall
And though nature often uses an attractive wall
Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee
To disguise trash, yet when it comes to you
I will believe thou hast a mind that suits
I will believe you have a mind that suits
With this thy fair and outward character.
Your attractive and kind appearance.
I prithee, and I'll pay thee bounteously,
I ask you, and I'll pay you well,
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
Hide what I am, and help me
For such disguise as haply shall become
With the kind of disguise that would be helpful
The form of my intent. I'll serve this duke:
For my purposes. I'll work for this duke:
Thou shall present me as an eunuch to him:
You can present me as a eunuch to him:
It may be worth thy pains; for I can sing
It may be worth your trouble; for I can sing
And speak to him in many sorts of music
And talk to him pleasantly and cleverly
That will allow me very worth his service.
That will make him hiring me very worthwhile.
What else may hap to time I will commit;
What else may happen I leave to time;
Only shape thou thy silence to my wit.
Only keep my secret.
Captain
Be you his eunuch, and your mute I'll be:
You be his eunuch, and I won't say a thing about it;
When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see.
If I blab, may I go blind.
VIOLA
I thank thee: lead me on.
Thank you: now show me the way.
Exeunt
SCENE III. OLIVIA'S house. Enter SIR TOBY BELCH and MARIA
SIR TOBY BELCH
What a plague means my niece, to take the death of
What in tarnation is my niece doing, to react to the death of
her brother thus? I am sure care's an enemy to life.
her brother in such a way? I am sure moping is bad for you.
MARIA
By my troth, Sir Toby, you must come in earlier o'
Truthfully, Sir Toby, you must come in earlier at
nights: your cousin, my lady, takes great
night: your relative, my lady, has a lot of
exceptions to your ill hours.
issues with your bad timing.
SIR TOBY BELCH
Why, let her except, before excepted.
Well, let her have issues before she is issued.
MARIA
Ay, but you must confine yourself within the modest
Yes, but you must keep yourself inside the bounds
limits of order.
of proper behavior.
SIR TOBY BELCH
Confine! I'll confine myself no finer than I am:
Keep myself! I'll keep myself no better than I am kept:
these clothes are good enough to drink in; and so be
these clothes are good enough to drink it; and so are
these boots too: an they be not, let them hang
these books too: and if they are not, let them hang
themselves in their own straps.
themselves in their own straps.
DUKE ORSINO
If music be the food of love, play on;
If music is what feeds love, keep playing;
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
Give me more than I need of it, which, without having enough,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.
The desire for love might starve, and then die.
That strain again! it had a dying fall:
That sound again! it got quieter and quieter;
O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound,
Oh, it came over my ear like the sweet sound,
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
That drifts over a field of violets,
Stealing and giving odour! Enough; no more:
Stealing and then giving away the scent! Enough; no more:
'Tis not so sweet now as it was before.
It is not as sweet now as it was before.
O spirit of love! how quick and fresh art thou,
Oh the spirit of love! You are so quick and fresh,
That, notwithstanding thy capacity
That, no matter your depth
Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there,
Takes in as much as the sea; nothing enters there,
Of what validity and pitch soe'er,
No matter how real and strong,
But falls into abatement and low price,
That doesn't become less and cheaper,
Even in a minute: so full of shapes is fancy
Even in a minute: affection is so full of imagination
That it alone is high fantastical.
That by itself it is fantasy.
CURIO
Will you go hunt, my lord?
Will you go hunt, my lord?
DUKE ORSINO
What, Curio?
What, Curio
CURIO
The hart.
The hart [a kind of deer, but sounding like "heart"].
DUKE ORSINO
Why, so I do, the noblest that I have:
Why, indeed I do, the most noble that I have:
O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first,
Oh, when I first saw Olivia,
Methought she purged the air of pestilence!
I thought she took all the poison from the world!
That instant was I turn'd into a hart;
In that moment I was turned into a heart;
And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds,
And my desires, like evil and cruel hunting dogs,
E'er since pursue me.
Have been chasing me ever since.
Enter VALENTINE
How now! what news from her?
So, what's going on? Any news from her?
VALENTINE
So please my lord, I might not be admitted;
My lord, I am afraid I was not allowed to see her;
But from her handmaid do return this answer:
But her maid gave me this answer:
The element itself, till seven years' heat,
The sun itself, unless after giving the heat of seven years all at once,
Shall not behold her face at ample view;
Would not be able to easily see her face;
But, like a cloistress, she will veiled walk
But, like a nun, she will walk with a veil over her face
And water once a day her chamber round
And spread salt water around her room
With eye-offending brine: all this to season
Once a day, in order to honor
A brother's dead love, which she would keep fresh
Her love for her dead brother, which she wants to keep fresh
And lasting in her sad remembrance.
And lasting in her sad memories.
DUKE ORSINO
O, she that hath a heart of that fine frame
Oh, she has a good heart,
To pay this debt of love but to a brother,
To pay so much love and sacrifice just to a brother,
How will she love, when the rich golden shaft
How will she love, when fate and time
Hath kill'd the flock of all affections else
Has killed her ability to love anything else
That live in her; when liver, brain and heart,
That might be found inside her; when her liver, brain, and heart,
These sovereign thrones, are all supplied, and fill'd
Those ruling thrones, are all occupied and filled
Her sweet perfections with one self king!
Her sweet virtues with one person as king!
Away before me to sweet beds of flowers:
Let me go now to sweet beds of flowers:
Love-thoughts lie rich when canopied with bowers.
Thoughts of love are richer when covered with garden plants.
Exeunt
SCENE II. The sea-coast. Enter VIOLA, a Captain, and Sailors
VIOLA
What country, friends, is this?
What country, friends, is this?
Captain
This is Illyria, lady.
This is Illyria, lady.
VIOLA
And what should I do in Illyria?
And what should I do now that I'm in Illyria?
My brother he is in Elysium.
My brother is in Heaven.
Perchance he is not drown'd: what think you, sailors?
Unless by some chance he is not drowned: what do you think, sailors?
Captain
It is perchance that you yourself were saved.
It was by chance that you yourself were saved.
VIOLA
O my poor brother! and so perchance may he be.
Oh my poor brother! And so maybe he will be saved by luck
Captain
True, madam: and, to comfort you with chance,
True, madam: and to comfort you with how likely it is,
Assure yourself, after our ship did split,
Be reassured, after our ship split,
When you and those poor number saved with you
When you and the too-small number saved with you
Hung on our driving boat, I saw your brother,
Hung onto our lifeboat, I saw your brother,
Most provident in peril, bind himself,
Very wise and practical in danger, tying himself,
Courage and hope both teaching him the practise,
Courage and hope both inspiring him to do so,
To a strong mast that lived upon the sea;
To a strong mast that floated on the sea;
Where, like Arion on the dolphin's back,
Where, like that mythical character riding the dolphin
I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves
I saw him fight against the waves
So long as I could see.
As long as I could see him.
VIOLA
For saying so, there's gold:
For saying so, here's some gold:
Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope,
My own escape encourages the hope,
Whereto thy speech serves for authority,
Which your speech gives authority to,
The like of him. Know'st thou this country?
The likelihood of him living. Do you know this country?
Captain
Ay, madam, well; for I was bred and born
Yes, madam, well; for I was born and raised
Not three hours' travel from this very place.
Less that three hours' travel from this very place.
VIOLA
Who governs here?
Who rules here?
Captain
A noble duke, in nature as in name.
A noble duke, who is also a good man.
VIOLA
What is the name?
What is the name?
Captain
Orsino.
Orsino.
VIOLA
Orsino! I have heard my father name him:
Orsino! I have heard my father speak of him:
He was a bachelor then.
He was a bachelor then.
Captain
And so is now, or was so very late;
And also is now, or was so very recently;
For but a month ago I went from hence,
For it was only a month ago when I left here,
And then 'twas fresh in murmur,--as, you know,
And then the rumor was - since, as you know,
What great ones do the less will prattle of,--
The poor love to gossip about the rich, -
That he did seek the love of fair Olivia.
That he wanted the love of beautiful Olivia.
VIOLA
What's she?
What is she?
Captain
A virtuous maid, the daughter of a count
A virtuous young woman, the daughter of a count
That died some twelvemonth since, then leaving her
That died about a year ago, then leaving her
In the protection of his son, her brother,
Under the guardianship of his son, her brother,
Who shortly also died: for whose dear love,
Who soon also died; and for whose sake,
They say, she hath abjured the company
They say, she has given up the company
And sight of men.
And presence of men.
VIOLA
O that I served that lady
Oh how I wish I served that lady
And might not be delivered to the world,
And would not have to face the world,
Till I had made mine own occasion mellow,
Until I had helped resolve this situation
What my estate is!
And found my fortune!
Captain
That were hard to compass;
The duke's situation is difficult;
Because she will admit no kind of suit,
Because she refuses any kind of courting,
No, not the duke's.
No, not the duke's.
VIOLA
There is a fair behavior in thee, captain;
You are both handsome and honest, captain;
And though that nature with a beauteous wall
And though nature often uses an attractive wall
Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee
To disguise trash, yet when it comes to you
I will believe thou hast a mind that suits
I will believe you have a mind that suits
With this thy fair and outward character.
Your attractive and kind appearance.
I prithee, and I'll pay thee bounteously,
I ask you, and I'll pay you well,
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
Hide what I am, and help me
For such disguise as haply shall become
With the kind of disguise that would be helpful
The form of my intent. I'll serve this duke:
For my purposes. I'll work for this duke:
Thou shall present me as an eunuch to him:
You can present me as a eunuch to him:
It may be worth thy pains; for I can sing
It may be worth your trouble; for I can sing
And speak to him in many sorts of music
And talk to him pleasantly and cleverly
That will allow me very worth his service.
That will make him hiring me very worthwhile.
What else may hap to time I will commit;
What else may happen I leave to time;
Only shape thou thy silence to my wit.
Only keep my secret.
Captain
Be you his eunuch, and your mute I'll be:
You be his eunuch, and I won't say a thing about it;
When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see.
If I blab, may I go blind.
VIOLA
I thank thee: lead me on.
Thank you: now show me the way.
Exeunt
SCENE III. OLIVIA'S house. Enter SIR TOBY BELCH and MARIA
SIR TOBY BELCH
What a plague means my niece, to take the death of
What in tarnation is my niece doing, to react to the death of
her brother thus? I am sure care's an enemy to life.
her brother in such a way? I am sure moping is bad for you.
MARIA
By my troth, Sir Toby, you must come in earlier o'
Truthfully, Sir Toby, you must come in earlier at
nights: your cousin, my lady, takes great
night: your relative, my lady, has a lot of
exceptions to your ill hours.
issues with your bad timing.
SIR TOBY BELCH
Why, let her except, before excepted.
Well, let her have issues before she is issued.
MARIA
Ay, but you must confine yourself within the modest
Yes, but you must keep yourself inside the bounds
limits of order.
of proper behavior.
SIR TOBY BELCH
Confine! I'll confine myself no finer than I am:
Keep myself! I'll keep myself no better than I am kept:
these clothes are good enough to drink in; and so be
these clothes are good enough to drink it; and so are
these boots too: an they be not, let them hang
these books too: and if they are not, let them hang
themselves in their own straps.
themselves in their own straps.
Translation missing: en.general.search.loading