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Knights, To say you’re welcome were superfluous. To place upon the volume of your deeds, As in a title-page, your worth in arms, Were more than you expect, or more than’s fit, Since every worth in show commends itself. Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast: You are princes and my guests.
Knights, Saying you’re welcome is unnecessary. To write your deeds in a book, Like a title page, would be more than you deserve, or more than’s right, Since every act of worth praises itself. Get ready for fun, because fun suits a feast: You are princes and my guests.
But you, my knight and guest; To whom this wreath of victory I give, And crown you king of this day’s happiness.
But you, my knight and guest; To whom I give this crown of victory, And make you the king of today’s happiness.
’Tis more by fortune, lady, than by merit.
It’s more due to luck, lady, than to any real skill.
Call it by what you will, the day is yours; And here, I hope, is none that envies it. In framing an artist, art hath thus decreed, To make some good, but others to exceed; And you are her labour’d scholar. Come, queen o’ the feast,-- For, daughter, so you are,--here take your place: Marshal the rest, as they deserve their grace.
Call it whatever you like, the day is yours; And here, I hope, no one envies it. In creating an artist, art has decided, To make some good, but others even better; And you are her dedicated pupil. Come, queen of the feast,-- For, daughter, that’s what you are,--now take your place: Lead the others, as they deserve their honour.
We are honour’d much by good Simonides.
We are greatly honoured by good Simonides.
Your presence glads our days: honour we love; For who hates honour hates the gods above.
Your presence brightens our day: we love honour; For whoever hates honour also hates the gods above.
Sir, yonder is your place.
Sir, your place is over there.
Some other is more fit.
Someone else is more deserving.
Contend not, sir; for we are gentlemen That neither in our hearts nor outward eyes Envy the great nor do the low despise.
Do not argue, sir; for we are gentlemen Who neither envy the great nor look down on the low.
You are right courteous knights.
You are very polite, knights.
Sit, sir, sit.
Sit down, sir, sit down.
By Jove, I wonder, that is king of thoughts, These cates resist me, she but thought upon.
By Jove, I wonder, who is the king of all thoughts, Why these dishes seem unappealing to me, just thinking about them.
By Juno, that is queen of marriage, All viands that I eat do seem unsavoury. Wishing him my meat. Sure, he’s a gallant gentleman.
By Juno, queen of marriage, Everything I eat seems tasteless. I wish he were my meal. Surely, he’s a noble gentleman.
He’s but a country gentleman; Has done no more than other knights have done; Has broken a staff or so; so let it pass.
He’s just a country gentleman; He hasn’t done anything more than other knights have; He’s broken a staff or two; so let it go.
To me he seems like diamond to glass.
To me, he seems like a diamond compared to glass.
Yon king’s to me like to my father’s picture, Which tells me in that glory once he was; Had princes sit, like stars, about his throne, And he the sun, for them to reverence; None that beheld him, but, like lesser lights, Did vail their crowns to his supremacy: Where now his son’s like a glow-worm in the night, The which hath fire in darkness, none in light: Whereby I see that Time’s the king of men, He’s both their parent, and he is their grave, And gives them what he will, not what they crave.
That king reminds me of my father’s portrait, Which shows me that once he was glorious; Princes would sit around him, like stars around the sun, And he was the sun, to be respected by them; Anyone who saw him, like smaller lights, Would lower their crowns in awe of his power: But now his son is like a glow-worm in the dark, Which has light in the darkness, but none in the light: And so I see that Time is the king of men, Time is both their parent and their grave, And gives them what he wants, not what they desire.
What, are you merry, knights?
What, are you happy, knights?
Who can be other in this royal presence?
Who wouldn’t be, in this royal presence?
Here, with a cup that’s stored unto the brim,-- As you do love, fill to your mistress’ lips,-- We drink this health to you.
Here, with a cup filled to the brim,-- As you love, fill it to your mistress’ lips,-- We drink this toast to you.
We thank your grace.
We thank your grace.
Yet pause awhile: Yon knight doth sit too melancholy, As if the entertainment in our court Had not a show might countervail his worth. Note it not you, Thaisa?
Wait a moment: That knight is sitting too gloomily, As if the entertainment in our court Doesn’t measure up to his worth. Don’t you notice this, Thaisa?
What is it To me, my father?
What does it matter to me, Father?
O, attend, my daughter: Princes in this should live like gods above, Who freely give to every one that comes To honour them: And princes not doin g so are like to gnats, Which make a sound, but kill’d are wonder’d at. Therefore to make his entrance more sweet, Here, say we drink this standing-bowl of wine to him.
Oh, listen, my daughter: Princes should live like gods above, Who freely give to everyone who comes To honor them: Princes who don’t do this are like gnats, Making noise, but when killed, they’re just stared at. So, to make his entrance more pleasant, Here, let’s drink this standing-bowl of wine to him.
Alas, my father, it befits not me Unto a stranger knight to be so bold: He may my proffer take for an offence, Since men take women’s gifts for impudence.
Oh no, Father, it’s not appropriate for me To be so forward with a stranger knight: He might take my offer as an insult, Since men often see women’s gifts as immodest.
How! Do as I bid you, or you’ll move me else.
What? Do as I say, or you’ll make me angry.
[Aside] Now, by the gods, he could not please me better.
[Aside] By the gods, he couldn’t have pleased me more.
And furthermore tell him, we desire to know of him, Of whence he is, his name and parentage.
And also tell him, we want to know from him, Where he’s from, his name, and his family.
The king my father, sir, has drunk to you.
The king, my father, sir, has drunk to your health.
I thank him.
I thank him.
Wishing it so much blood unto your life.
Wishing that much more life for you.
I thank both him and you, and pledge him freely.
I thank both him and you, and I drink to him freely.
And further he desires to know of you, Of whence you are, your name and parentage.
And also, he wants to know from you, Where you’re from, your name, and your family.
A gentleman of Tyre; my name, Pericles; My education been in arts and arms; Who, looking for adventures in the world, Was by the rough seas reft of ships and men, And after shipwreck driven upon this shore.
I’m a gentleman from Tyre; my name is Pericles; I’ve been trained in both the arts and in battle; Who, looking for adventures in the world, Was lost at sea, with my ships and men gone, And after the shipwreck, I ended up on this shore.
He thanks your grace; names himself Pericles, A gentleman of Tyre, Who only by misfortune of the seas Bereft of ships and men, cast on this shore.
He thanks your grace; he calls himself Pericles, A gentleman from Tyre, Who, due to the misfortune of the seas, Lost his ships and men, and ended up on this shore.
Now, by the gods, I pity his misfortune, And will awake him from his melancholy. Come, gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles, And waste the time, which looks for other revels. Even in your armours, as you are address’d, Will very well become a soldier’s dance. I will not have excuse, with saying this Loud music is too harsh for ladies’ heads, Since they love men in arms as well as beds.
By the gods, I feel sorry for his misfortune, And I’ll lift him from his sadness. Come, gentlemen, we’ve been sitting here too long over small talk, Wasting time that should be spent on more entertaining things. Even in your armor, as you are now, You’ll look great in a soldier’s dance. I won’t accept any excuse, like saying Loud music is too harsh for ladies, Since they love men in armor just as much as they love them in bed.
So, this was well ask’d,’twas so well perform’d. Come, sir; Here is a lady that wants breathing too: And I have heard, you knights of Tyre Are excellent in making ladies trip; And that their measures are as excellent.
That was well done, it was performed very well. Come, sir; Here’s a lady who needs to catch her breath too: And I’ve heard that you knights of Tyre Are excellent at making ladies dance; And that their dancing is just as good.
In those that practise them they are, my lord.
In those who practice it, they are, my lord.
O, that’s as much as you would be denied Of your fair courtesy.
Oh, that’s just as much as you would refuse To show your graciousness.
Unclasp, unclasp: Thanks, gentlemen, to all; all have done well.
Unclasp, unclasp: Thank you, gentlemen, to everyone; you’ve all done well.
But you the best. Pages and lights, to conduct These knights unto their several lodgings!
But you are the best. Pages and attendants, to guide These knights to their separate rooms!
Yours, sir, We have given order to be next our own.
Yours, sir, We have made arrangements for it to be near ours.
I am at your grace’s pleasure.
I am at your grace’s service.
Princes, it is too late to talk of love; And that’s the mark I know you level at: Therefore each one betake him to his rest; To-morrow all for speeding do their best.
Princes, it’s too late to talk about love; And that’s the goal I know you’re aiming for: So, each one should go to bed; Tomorrow, we’ll all do our best to move things forward.