The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (718 page)

whose credulous ignorance stops them

from saying the truth. So I thought it best

that she should be locked away from me,

in case the treachery planned by the two who have fled

should be committed by her. Come, follow me;

I shall speak to the public; for this business

will provoke everybody.

ANTIGONUS

[Aside]

To laughter, as I take it,

If the good truth were known.

Exeunt

To laughter, I should think,

if the real truth were known.

SCENE II. A prison.

Enter PAULINA, a Gentleman, and Attendants

PAULINA

The keeper of the prison, call to him;

let him have knowledge who I am.

Exit Gentleman

Good lady,

No court in Europe is too good for thee;

What dost thou then in prison?

Re-enter Gentleman, with the Gaoler

Now, good sir,

You know me, do you not?

Call the jailer,

Tell him who I am.

Good lady,

there is no court in Europe that is too good for you;

so what are you doing in prison?

Now, good sir,

you know who I am, don't you?

Gaoler

For a worthy lady

And one whom much I honour.

I know you are a good lady

and one whom I very much respect.

PAULINA

Pray you then,

Conduct me to the queen.

Please, then,

take me to the queen.

Gaoler

I may not, madam:

To the contrary I have express commandment.

I cannot, madam:

I have specific orders not to.

PAULINA

Here's ado,

To lock up honesty and honour from

The access of gentle visitors!

Is't lawful, pray you,

To see her women? any of them? Emilia?

Here's a nice thing,

to lock honesty and honour away from

the access of gentle visitors!

Am I allowed, may I ask,

to see her women? Any of them? Emilia?

Gaoler

So please you, madam,

To put apart these your attendants, I

Shall bring Emilia forth.

If you wouldn't mind, madam,

sending away your attendants, I

will bring Emilia here.

PAULINA

I pray now, call her.

Withdraw yourselves.

Exeunt Gentleman and Attendants

Please, call her.

You go outside.

Gaoler

And, madam,

I must be present at your conference.

And, madam,

I must stay while you talk.

PAULINA

Well, be't so, prithee.

Exit Gaoler

Here's such ado to make no stain a stain

As passes colouring.

Re-enter Gaoler, with EMILIA

Dear gentlewoman,

How fares our gracious lady?

Well, if that's how you want it.

Here is such a business that it turns spotlessness into a stain

that could never be covered up.

Dear gentlewoman,

how are things with our gracious lady?

EMILIA

As well as one so great and so forlorn

May hold together: on her frights and griefs,

Which never tender lady hath born greater,

She is something before her time deliver'd.

They are as well as can be expected when one

so great is brought so low: due to her frights and sorrow,

the like of which no gentle lady has ever had to suffer more,

she has given birth somewhat ahead of her time.

PAULINA

A boy?

A boy?

EMILIA

A daughter, and a goodly babe,

Lusty and like to live: the queen receives

Much comfort in't; says 'My poor prisoner,

I am innocent as you.'

A daughter, and a good baby,

healthy and likely to survive: the queen takes

much comfort from it; she says, ‘my poor prisoner,

I am as innocent as you.’

PAULINA

I dare be sworn

These dangerous unsafe lunes i' the king,

beshrew them!

He must be told on't, and he shall: the office

Becomes a woman best; I'll take't upon me:

If I prove honey-mouth'd let my tongue blister

And never to my red-look'd anger be

The trumpet any more. Pray you, Emilia,

Commend my best obedience to the queen:

If she dares trust me with her little babe,

I'll show't the king and undertake to be

Her advocate to the loud'st. We do not know

How he may soften at the sight o' the child:

The silence often of pure innocence

Persuades when speaking fails.

Curse these dangerous insane notions of the king!

He must be told of it, and he shall be: the job

is best done by woman; I'll take it on:

if I talk sweetly to him may my tongue blister

and never be the agent of broadcasting

my anger again. Please, Emilia,

give the Queen my best regards:

if she dares to trust me with her little baby,

I'll show it to the king and promise to be

her loudest supporter. We do not know

that he may soften when he sees the child:

often the silence of pure innocence

can be persuasive when speech has failed.

EMILIA

Most worthy madam,

Your honour and your goodness is so evident

That your free undertaking cannot miss

A thriving issue: there is no lady living

So meet for this great errand. Please your ladyship

To visit the next room, I'll presently

Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer;

Who but to-day hammer'd of this design,

But durst not tempt a minister of honour,

Lest she should be denied.

Most worthy madam,

your honour and your goodness is so obvious

that this task you undertake cannot help but

achieve success: there is no lady alive

so suitable for this great mission. If your ladyship

would please go into the next room, I'll shortly

tell the queen about your most noble offer;

just today she was talking of something like this,

but didn't dare to put it to the test,

in case she should fail.

PAULINA

Tell her, Emilia.

I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from't

As boldness from my bosom, let 't not be doubted

I shall do good.

Tell her, Emilia.

I'll use my skill in speaking: if the  wisdom of my tongue

matches the courage in my heart, do not doubt

that I will do good.

EMILIA

Now be you blest for it!

I'll to the queen: please you,

come something nearer.

May God bless you for it!

I'll go to the queen: please,

come a little closer.

Gaoler

Madam, if't please the queen to send the babe,

I know not what I shall incur to pass it,

Having no warrant.

Madam, if the queen wants to send the baby,

I don't know what will happen to me for letting it go,

as I have no permission to do so.

PAULINA

You need not fear it, sir:

This child was prisoner to the womb and is

By law and process of great nature thence

Freed and enfranchised, not a party to

The anger of the king nor guilty of,

If any be, the trespass of the queen.

You need not worry, sir:

this child was a prisoner in the womb and has been

by law and the great processes of nature freed

from there; she was not the subject of

the king's anger, nor guilty of,

if there is any guilt, any wrongdoing by the queen.  

Gaoler

I do believe it.

I believe that.

PAULINA

Do not you fear: upon mine honour,

I will stand betwixt you and danger.

Exeunt

Don't be afraid: I promise you,

I will intervene between you and danger.

SCENE III. A room in LEONTES' palace.

Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, Lords, and Servants

LEONTES

Nor night nor day no rest: it is but weakness

To bear the matter thus; mere weakness. If

The cause were not in being,--part o' the cause,

She the adulteress; for the harlot king

Is quite beyond mine arm, out of the blank

And level of my brain, plot-proof; but she

I can hook to me: say that she were gone,

Given to the fire, a moiety of my rest

Might come to me again. Who's there?

I can't sleep, night or day: it's just weakness

to let it affect me like this; just weakness. If