Original
Modern English
Whiles yet the dew’s on ground, gather those flowers; Make haste: who has the note of them?
While the dew is still on the ground, gather those flowers; Hurry up: who has the list of them?
I, madam.
I, madam.
Dispatch.
Hurry.
Now, master doctor, have you brought those drugs?
Now, doctor, have you brought those medicines?
Pleaseth your highness, ay: here they are, madam:
Yes, your highness, here they are, madam:
But I beseech your grace, without offence,-- My conscience bids me ask--wherefore you have Commanded of me those most poisonous compounds, Which are the movers of a languishing death; But though slow, deadly?
But I beg you, Your Grace, without causing any offense,-- My conscience tells me to ask--why have you Ordered me to make those deadly mixtures, Which cause a slow and painful death; But though slow, deadly?
I wonder, doctor, Thou ask’st me such a question. Have I not been Thy pupil long? Hast thou not learn’d 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 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 vigour of them and apply Allayments to their act, and by them gather Their several virtues and effects.
I’m surprised, doctor, That you ask me such a question. Haven’t I been Your pupil for a long time? Haven’t you taught me how To make perfumes, distill, preserve? Yes, so well That even the great king himself often woos me For my sweets? Having come this far,-- Unless you think me wicked--is it not reasonable That I would extend my judgment to Other uses? I will test the effects Of these mixtures on creatures that We don’t value enough to hang, but none human, To see how well they work and learn Their qualities and effects.
Your highness Shall from this practise but make hard your heart: Besides, the seeing these effects will be Both noisome and infectious.
Your Highness Will only harden your heart by doing this: Besides, seeing these effects will be Both unpleasant and dangerous.
O, content thee.
Oh, calm yourself.
Here comes a flattering rascal; upon him Will I first work: he’s for his master, An enemy to my son. How now, Pisanio! Doctor, your service for this time is ended; Take your own way.
Here comes a deceitful fool; I’ll use him first: He’s an enemy to my son and loyal to his master. What’s this, Pisanio? Doctor, your job here is done; Go on your way.
[Aside] I do suspect you, madam; But you shall do no harm.
[Aside] I suspect you, madam; But you won’t cause any harm.
[To PISANIO] Hark thee, a word.
[To PISANIO] Listen, I have something to say.
[Aside] I do not like her. She doth think she has Strange lingering poisons: I do know her spirit, And will not trust one of her malice with A drug of such damn’d nature. Those she has Will stupefy and dull the sense awhile; 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 fool’d With a most false effect; and I the truer, So to be false with her.
[Aside] I don’t trust her. She thinks she has Strange slow-acting poisons: I know her nature, And I won’t trust her with A drug of such a dangerous kind. The ones she has Will dull the senses for a while; She may first test it on cats and dogs, And then move to something higher: but there’s No real danger in the death it appears to cause, More than just locking the spirit away for a while, To refresh and revive it. She’s fooled By a very false result; and I am the wiser, So I will deceive her in return.
No further service, doctor, Until I send for thee.
No more service, doctor, Until I call for you.
I humbly take my leave.
I humbly take my leave.
Weeps she still, say’st 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 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, 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?
Is she still crying, you say? Do you think that in time She won’t stop and let reason enter Where foolishness now reigns? You do your part: When you tell me she loves my son, I’ll tell you instantly that you’ll be as great as your master, greater, For his fortunes are all gone and his name Is at death’s door: he can’t return, nor Continue where he is: to change his life Is just to trade one misery for another, And each day that comes brings decay To a day’s worth of his life. What can you expect, To depend on a man who is weak, Who can’t be rebuilt, and has no friends, Not even someone to support him?
Thou takest up Thou know’st not what; but take it for thy labour: It is a thing I made, which hath the king Five times redeem’d from death: I do not know What is more cordial. Nay, I prethee, take it; It is an earnest of a further 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, 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: Think on my words.
You pick it up, Not knowing what it is; but take it for your trouble: It’s something I made, which the king Has saved five times from death: I don’t know What could be more beneficial. No, please, take it; It’s a sign of a future good I plan for you. Tell your mistress how Things stand with her; do it as if from yourself. Think about the chance you’re changing, but know You still have your mistress, and my son, Who will notice you: I’ll persuade the king To promote you in whatever way you desire; And then I, who set you on this path, Will reward you richly. Call my women: Remember my words.
A sly and constant knave, Not to be shaked; the agent for his master And the remembrancer of her to hold The hand-fast to her lord. I have given him that Which, if he take, shall quite unpeople her Of liegers for her sweet, and which she after, Except she bend her humour, shall be assured To taste of too.
A sneaky and loyal villain, Not easily shaken; the agent for his master And the reminder to her to keep Her promise to her husband. I’ve given him that Which, if he accepts, will completely ruin her Of suitors who seek her love, and which she, later, Unless she changes her mind, will be certain To suffer from too.
So, so: well done, well done: The violets, cowslips, and the primroses, Bear to my closet. Fare thee well, Pisanio; Think on my words.
So, so: well done, well done: The violets, cowslips, and primroses, Take them to my room. Farewell, Pisanio; Remember what I’ve said.
And shall do: But when to my good lord I prove untrue, I’ll choke myself: there’s all I’ll do for you.
And I will: But if I prove untrue to my good lord, I’ll kill myself: that’s all I’ll do for you.