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Act 1, Scene 6
Cymbeline Translation Act 2, Scene 1
Enter CLOTEN and two Lords
CLOTEN
Was there ever man had such luck! when I kissed the jack, upon an up-cast to be hit away! I had a hundred pound on't: and then a whoreson jackanapes must take me up for swearing; as if I borrowed mine oaths of him and might not spend them at my pleasure.
CLOTEN
Was any man ever this unlucky? I even had the jack and kissed it, but then I suddenly lost! I bet a hundred pounds on the card game. And then a rude son of a prostitute criticized me for swearing. As if I borrowed my swear words from him and couldn't spend them however I wanted.
FIRST LORD
What got he by that? You have broke his pate withyour bowl.
FIRST LORD
But what did he get for that? You cracked his head with your bowl.
SECOND LORD
[Aside] If his wit had been like him that broke it,it would have run all out.
SECOND LORD
[To himself] If his brains had been like the man who cracked them open, they would all have run away.
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CLOTEN
When a gentleman is disposed to swear, it is not forany standers-by to curtail his oaths, ha?
CLOTEN
When a man feels like swearing, it's not right for a bystander to cut short his oaths, right?
SECOND LORD
No my lord;
SECOND LORD
No.
Aside
nor crop the ears of them.
Or cut off the oaths' ears.
CLOTEN
Whoreson dog! I give him satisfaction?Would he had been one of my rank!
CLOTEN
That dog, son of a prostitute! How dare he ask me to fight him? I wish he were in the same class as me so I could!
SECOND LORD
[Aside] To have smelt like a fool.
SECOND LORD
[To himself] He would have been a stinky fool too then.
CLOTEN
I am not vexed more at any thing in the earth: a pox on't! I had rather not be so noble as I am; they dare not fight with me, because of the queen my mother: every Jack-slave hath his bellyful of fighting, and I must go up and down like a cock that nobody can match.
CLOTEN
This annoys me more than anything on earth, darn it! I wish I weren't as noble as I am. They don't dare to fight me, because of my mother the queen. Any lower-class person can fight as much as he wants, and I have to walk around like a rooster that no other rooster can beat in a fight.
SECOND LORD
[Aside] You are cock and capon too; and you crow,cock, with your comb on.
SECOND LORD
[To himself] You're a rooster and a chicken. And you're crowing like a foolish rooster.
CLOTEN
Sayest thou?
CLOTEN
What did you say?
SECOND LORD
It is not fit your lordship should undertake everycompanion that you give offence to.
SECOND LORD
It's not right for you to fight every single one of your companions who offends you.
CLOTEN
No, I know that: but it is fit I should commitoffence to my inferiors.
CLOTEN
No, I know that. But it's right for me to be offensive to my social inferiors.
SECOND LORD
Ay, it is fit for your lordship only.
SECOND LORD
Yes, you're the only one who does that.
CLOTEN
Why, so I say.
CLOTEN
That's what I'm saying.
FIRST LORD
Did you hear of a stranger that's come to court to-night?
FIRST LORD
Did you hear about a stranger who's come to court tonight?
CLOTEN
A stranger, and I not know on't!
CLOTEN
What? A stranger, and I don't know about him!
SECOND LORD
[Aside] He's a strange fellow himself, and knows itnot.
SECOND LORD
[To himself] He's a strange man himself, and doesn't know it.
FIRST LORD
There's an Italian come; and, 'tis thought, one ofLeonatus' friends.
FIRST LORD
An Italian man has come. It's thought that he's one of Leonatus's friends.
CLOTEN
Leonatus! a banished rascal; and he's another,whatsoever he be. Who told you of this stranger?
CLOTEN
Leonatus! A banished good-for-nothing. This man's the same thing, whoever he is. Who told you about him?
FIRST LORD
One of your lordship's pages.
FIRST LORD
One of your servants.
CLOTEN
Is it fit I went to look upon him? is there noderogation in't?
CLOTEN
Would it be proper for me to go look at him? Would it lower people's opinions of me?
SECOND LORD
You cannot derogate, my lord.
SECOND LORD
You couldn't possibly lower people's opinions of you, my lord.
CLOTEN
Not easily, I think.
CLOTEN
Not easily, I think.
SECOND LORD
[Aside] You are a fool granted; therefore yourissues, being foolish, do not derogate.
SECOND LORD
[To himself] Everyone already knows you're a fool. So, since anything you do will be foolish, it won't lower people's opinions any further.
CLOTEN
Come, I'll go see this Italian: what I have lostto-day at bowls I'll win to-night of him. Come, go.
CLOTEN
All right, I'll go see this Italian man. I'll win back from him tonight the same amount of money I lost betting on lawn bowling today. Come on, let's go.
SECOND LORD
I'll attend your lordship.
SECOND LORD
I'll meet you there.
Exeunt CLOTEN and First Lord
SECOND LORD
That such a crafty devil as is his mother Should yield the world this ass! a woman that Bears all down with her brain; and this her son Cannot take two from twenty, for his heart, And leave eighteen. Alas, poor princess, Thou divine Imogen, what thou endurest, Betwixt a father by thy step-dame govern'd, A mother hourly coining plots, a wooer More hateful than the foul expulsion is Of thy dear husband, than that horrid act Of the divorce he'ld make! The heavens hold firm The walls of thy dear honour, keep unshaked That temple, thy fair mind, that thou mayst stand, To enjoy thy banish'd lord and this great land!
SECOND LORD
How strange that a clever devil like his mother gave birth to such a fool! She's a woman who crushes everyone with her brain, and her son can't subtract two from twenty and get eighteen no matter how hard he tries. Poor princess, holy Imogen, you're suffering so much! You have a father ruled by your stepmother, a stepmother making up new plots every hour, a suitor who's worse than the horrible banishment of your dear husband, I mean who's worse than the separation he wants to cause between you and your husband! May the gods keep your honor firm and keep you sane so that you can stay strong until you get your banished husband back and inherit this great country!
Exit
