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- William Shakespeare: All’s Well That Ends Well, Act IV
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Act IVScene IWithout the Florentine campEnter Second French Lord, with five or six other soldiers in ambushSecond LordHe 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 some one among us whom we must produce for an interpreter.First SoldierGood captain, let me be the interpreter.Second LordArt not acquainted with him? knows he not thy voice?First SoldierNo, sir, I warrant you.Second LordBut what linsey-woolsey hast thou to speak to us again?First SoldierE’en such as you speak to me.Second LordHe 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.Enter ParollesParollesTen 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 knocked 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.Second LordThis is the first truth that e’er thine own tongue was guilty of.ParollesWhat 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.Second LordIs it possible he should know what he is, and be that he is?ParollesI would the cutting of my garments would serve the turn, or the breaking of my Spanish sword.Second LordWe cannot afford you so.ParollesOr the baring of my beard; and to say it was in stratagem.Second Lord’Twould not do.ParollesOr to drown my clothes, and say I was stripped.Second LordHardly serve.ParollesThough I swore I leaped from the window of the citadel.Second LordHow deep?ParollesThirty fathom.Second LordThree great oaths would scarce make that be believed.ParollesI would I had any drum of the enemy’s: I would swear I recovered it.Second LordYou shall hear one anon.ParollesA drum now of the enemy’s,—Alarum withinSecond LordThroca movousus, cargo, cargo, cargo.AllCargo, cargo, cargo, villiando par corbo, cargo.ParollesO, ransom, ransom! do not hide mine eyes.They seize and blindfold himFirst SoldierBoskos thromuldo boskos.ParollesI 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.First SoldierBoskos vauvado: I understand thee, and can speak thy tongue. Kerely bonto, sir, betake thee to thy faith, for seventeen poniards are at thy bosom.ParollesO!First SoldierO, pray, pray, pray! Manka revania dulche.Second LordOscorbidulchos volivorco.First SoldierThe 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.ParollesO, 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.First SoldierBut wilt thou faithfully?ParollesIf I do not, damn me.First SoldierAcordo linta.Come on; thou art granted space.Exit, with Parolles guarded. A short alarum withinSecond LordGo, tell the Count Rousillon, and my brother, We have caught the woodcock, and will keep him muffled Till we do hear from them.Second SoldierCaptain, I will.Second LordA’ will betray us all unto ourselves: Inform on that.Second SoldierSo I will, sir.Second LordTill then I’ll keep him dark and safely lock’d.Exeunt
William Shakespeare: All’s Well that Ends Well
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William Shakespeare: All’s Well That Ends Well, Act IV, Scene III
- William Shakespeare: All’s Well That Ends Well, Act IV, Scene III
TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.
Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Current Events This Week: January 2023
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Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.
Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Current Events This Week: January 2023
African Americans by the Numbers
Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
- Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
- The Twelve Dancing Princesses
- Current Events This Week: January 2023
- African Americans by the Numbers
- Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
- The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
