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Modern English
Yet cease your ire, you angry stars of heaven! Wind, rain, and thunder, remember, earthly man Is but a substance that must yield to you; And I, as fits my nature, do obey you: Alas, the sea hath cast me on the rocks, Wash’d me from shore to shore, and left me breath Nothing to think on but ensuing death: Let it suffice the greatness of your powers To have bereft a prince of all his fortunes; And having thrown him from your watery grave, Here to have death in peace is all he’ll crave.
Yet stop your anger, you furious stars in the sky! Wind, rain, and thunder, remember, earthly man Is just a being who must bow to you; And I, as fits my nature, do obey you: Alas, the sea has thrown me onto the rocks, Washed me from shore to shore, and left me breathless With nothing to think about but approaching death: Let it be enough that the greatness of your power Has robbed a prince of all his wealth; And after throwing him into your watery grave, Here, to have death in peace, is all he’ll want.
What, ho, Pilch!
What, hey, Pilch!
Ha, come and bring away the nets!
Ha, come and take the nets away!
What, Patch-breech, I say!
What, Patch-breech, I say!
What say you, master?
What do you say, master?
Look how thou stirrest now! come away, or I’ll fetch thee with a wanion.
Look how you’re moving now! Come on, or I’ll grab you with a curse.
Faith, master, I am thinking of the poor men that were cast away before us even now.
Honestly, master, I’m thinking about the poor men that were just cast away before us.
Alas, poor souls, it grieved my heart to hear what pitiful cries they made to us to help them, when, well-a-day, we could scarce help ourselves.
Oh, poor souls, it broke my heart to hear how they cried for help when they were in need, but, unfortunately, we could barely help ourselves.
Nay, master, said not I as much when I saw the porpus how he bounced and tumbled? they say they’re half fish, half flesh: a plague on them, they ne’er come but I look to be washed. Master, I marvel how the fishes live in the sea.
No, master, didn’t I say the same when I saw the porpoise bouncing around? They say they’re half fish, half flesh: a curse on them, they always show up just when I expect to be drenched. Master, I wonder how fish manage to live in the sea.
Why, as men do a-land; the great ones eat up the little ones: I can compare our rich misers to nothing so fitly as to a whale; a’ plays and tumbles, driving the poor fry before him, and at last devours them all at a mouthful: such whales have I heard on o’ the land, who never leave gaping till they’ve swallowed the whole parish, church, steeple, bells, and all.
Well, like men do on land; the big ones eat up the little ones. I can compare our rich, greedy men to nothing better than a whale; it plays and tumbles, driving the poor little fish before it, and in the end swallows them all in one go: I’ve heard of such whales on land, who never stop eating until they’ve swallowed the whole town—church, steeple, bells, and all.
[Aside] A pretty moral.
[Aside] A nice little moral.
But, master, if I had been the sexton, I would have been that day in the belfry.
But, master, if I’d been the sexton, I would’ve been up in the bell tower that day.
Why, man?
Why’s that?
Because he should have swallowed me too: and when I had been in his belly, I would have kept such a jangling of the bells, that he should never have left, till he cast bells, steeple, church, and parish up again. But if the good King Simonides were of my mind,--
Because he should’ve swallowed me too: and when I was inside him, I’d have kept ringing the bells so loudly, that he wouldn’t have stopped until he’d thrown up the bells, steeple, church, and whole town again. But if King Simonides thought like me,--
[Aside] Simonides!
[Aside] Simonides!
We would purge the land of these drones, that rob the bee of her honey.
We would get rid of these lazy people who steal the bee’s honey.
[Aside] How from the finny subject of the sea These fishers tell the infirmities of men; And from their watery empire recollect All that may men approve or men detect! Peace be at your labour, honest fishermen.
[Aside] How these fishermen, from the sea’s fish, describe the weaknesses of men; And from their watery world, they remind us of all that can either make or break a person! Peace be with your work, honest fishermen.
Honest! good fellow, what’s that? If it be a day fits you, search out of the calendar, and nobody look after it.
Honest! What’s that supposed to mean, good fellow? If it’s a day that fits you, go look it up in the calendar, and don’t let anyone bother you about it.
May see the sea hath cast upon your coast.
You may see that the sea has thrown me onto your shore.
What a drunken knave was the sea to cast thee in our way!
What a drunk fool was the sea to throw you in our path!
A man whom both the waters and the wind, In that vast tennis-court, have made the ball For them to play upon, entreats you pity him: He asks of you, that never used to beg.
A man whom both the waters and the wind, In that vast tennis court, have tossed around as if I were the ball for them to play with, asks for your mercy: I’m asking from you, though I’ve never had to beg before.
No, friend, cannot you beg? Here’s them in our country Greece gets more with begging than we can do with working.
No, friend, can’t you beg? Here in our country Greece, beggars get more than we can earn by working.
Canst thou catch any fishes, then?
Can you catch any fish, then?
I never practised it.
I’ve never done that.
Nay, then thou wilt starve, sure; for here’s nothing to be got now-a-days, unless thou canst fish for’t.
Well, then you’ll starve for sure; there’s nothing to get these days unless you can fish for it.
What I have been I have forgot to know; But what I am, want teaches me to think on: A man throng’d up with cold: my veins are chill, And have no more of life than may suffice To give my tongue that heat to ask your help; Which if you shall refuse, when I am dead, For that I am a man, pray see me buried.
I’ve forgotten who I used to be; But what I am now, hunger teaches me to remember: A man freezing with cold: my veins are icy, And I have just enough life to ask for your help; Which, if you refuse, when I die, Then, because I’m a man, please see that I get buried.
Die quoth-a? Now gods forbid! I have a gown here; come, put it on; keep thee warm. Now, afore me, a handsome fellow! Come, thou shalt go home, and we’ll have flesh for holidays, fish for fasting-days, and moreo’er puddings and flap-jacks, and thou shalt be welcome.
Die, you say? Gods forbid! I’ve got a coat here; Come, put it on; stay warm. Well, you’re a fine-looking man! Come, you’ll come home with me, and we’ll have meat for the holidays, fish for fasting days, and also puddings and pancakes, and you’ll be welcome.
I thank you, sir.
I thank you, sir.
Hark you, my friend; you said you could not beg.
Listen, my friend; you said you couldn’t beg.
I did but crave.
I only asked.
But crave! Then I’ll turn craver too, and so I shall ’scape whipping.
Asked! Well, then I’ll ask too, and that way I won’t get whipped.
Why, are all your beggars whipped, then?
Why, are all beggars whipped then?
O, not all, my friend, not all; for if all your beggars were whipped, I would wish no better office than to be beadle. But, master, I’ll go draw up the net.
Oh, not all, my friend, not all; because if all your beggars were whipped, I’d want no better job than to be the one who whips them. But, master, I’ll go pull in the net.
[Aside] How well this honest mirth becomes their labour!
[Aside] How well this honest fun fits with their work!
Hark you, sir, do you know where ye are?
Listen, sir, do you know where you are?
Not well.
Not exactly.
Why, I’ll tell you: this is called Pentapolis, and our king the good Simonides.
Well, I’ll tell you: this place is called Pentapolis, and our king is the good Simonides.
The good King Simonides, do you call him.
The good King Simonides, you say.
Ay, sir; and he deserves so to be called for his peaceable reign and good government.
Yes, sir; and he deserves to be called that for his peaceful rule and good leadership.
He is a happy king, since he gains from his subjects the name of good by his government. How far is his court distant from this shore?
He is a lucky king, since he earns from his people the title of good because of his leadership. How far is his palace from this shore?
Marry, sir, half a day’s journey: and I’ll tell you, he hath a fair daughter, and to-morrow is her birth-day; and there are princes and knights come from all parts of the world to just and tourney for her love.
Well, sir, about half a day’s travel: and I’ll tell you, he has a beautiful daughter, and tomorrow is her birthday; and princes and knights from all over the world have come to compete in jousts and tournaments for her love.
Were my fortunes equal to my desires, I could wish to make one there.
If my fortunes were as good as my desires, I could wish to be one of them.
O, sir, things must be as they may; and what a man cannot get, he may lawfully deal for--his wife’s soul.
Oh, sir, things must be as they are; and what a man cannot get, he can lawfully ask for—like his wife’s soul.
Help, master, help! here’s a fish hangs in the net, like a poor man’s right in the law; ’twill hardly come out. Ha! bots on’t, ’tis come at last, and ’tis turned to a rusty armour.
Help, master, help! here’s a fish caught in the net, like a poor man’s claim in the law; it’s barely coming out. Ha! look, it’s come at last, and it’s turned into old armor.
An armour, friends! I pray you, let me see it. Thanks, fortune, yet, that, after all my crosses, Thou givest me somewhat to repair myself; And though it was mine own, part of my heritage, Which my dead father did bequeath to me. With this strict charge, even as he left his life, ’Keep it, my Pericles; it hath been a shield Twixt me and death;’--and pointed to this brace;-- ’For that it saved me, keep it; in like necessity-- The which the gods protect thee from!--may defend thee.’ It kept where I kept, I so dearly loved it; Till the rough seas, that spare not any man, Took it in rage, though calm’d have given’t again: I thank thee for’t: my shipwreck now’s no ill, Since I have here my father’s gift in’s will.
Armor, friends! Please, let me see it. Thanks, fortune, that after all my troubles, You’ve given me something to help me recover; And although it was mine, part of my inheritance, Which my dead father left to me. With this strict instruction, just as he left his life, ’Keep it, my Pericles; it has been a shield Between me and death;’—and pointed to this strap;— ’Since it saved me, keep it; in similar danger— Which the gods keep you from!—may protect you.’ I kept it where I kept it, because I loved it so much; Until the rough seas, which spare no man, Took it in their rage, though it might have been returned if calm: I thank you for it: my shipwreck is no disaster, Since I have my father’s gift with me now.
What mean you, sir?
What do you mean, sir?
To beg of you, kind friends, this coat of worth, For it was sometime target to a king; I know it by this mark. He loved me dearly, And for his sake I wish the having of it; And that you’ld guide me to your sovereign’s court, Where with it I may appear a gentleman; And if that ever my low fortune’s better, I’ll pay your bounties; till then rest your debtor.
I’m asking you, kind friends, for this valuable coat, For it was once a king’s armor; I recognize it by this mark. He loved me very much, And for his sake I wish to have it; And I hope you’ll guide me to your king’s court, So I can appear as a gentleman there; And if my poor fortunes improve, I’ll repay your kindness; until then, consider me in your debt.
Why, wilt thou tourney for the lady?
Why, are you going to compete for the lady’s hand?
I’ll show the virtue I have borne in arms.
I’ll show the skill I’ve had in battle.
Why, do ’e take it, and the gods give thee good on’t!
Well, take it, and may the gods grant you success!
Ay, but hark you, my friend; ’twas we that made up this garment through the rough seams of the waters: there are certain condolements, certain vails. I hope, sir, if you thrive, you’ll remember from whence you had it.
Yes, but listen, my friend; we’re the ones who made this garment through the rough seams of the waters: there are certain gifts, certain fees. I hope, sir, if you succeed, you’ll remember where you got it from.
Believe ’t, I will. By your furtherance I am clothed in steel; And, spite of all the rapture of the sea, This jewel holds his building on my arm: Unto thy value I will mount myself Upon a courser, whose delightful steps Shall make the gazer joy to see him tread. Only, my friend, I yet am unprovided Of a pair of bases.
Believe me, I will. With your help, I’m clothed in steel; And, despite all the dangers of the sea, This treasure stays secure on my arm: To your credit, I will lift myself On a horse, whose graceful steps Shall make those who see him admire his stride. Only, my friend, I’m still in need Of a pair of pants.
We’ll sure provide: thou shalt have my best gown to make thee a pair; and I’ll bring thee to the court myself.
We’ll make sure you have some: you’ll have my best gown to make them; and I’ll take you to the court myself.
Then honour be but a goal to my will, This day I’ll rise, or else add ill to ill.
Then let honor be just a goal for my determination, Today I’ll rise, or else make things even worse.