Original
Modern English
Come here about me, you my Myrmidons; Mark what I say. Attend me where I wheel: Strike not a stroke, but keep yourselves in breath: And when I have the bloody Hector found, Empale him with your weapons round about; In fellest manner execute your aims. Follow me, sirs, and my proceedings eye: It is decreed Hector the great must die.
Gather around me, you Myrmidons; Listen to what I say. Stay with me while I turn: Don’t strike yet, just stay ready: And when I find that bloody Hector, Surround him with your weapons; Kill him in the most brutal way you can. Follow me, sirs, and watch what I do: It’s decided, Hector the great must die.
The cuckold and the cuckold-maker are at it. Now, bull! now, dog! ’Loo, Paris, ’loo! now my double- henned sparrow! ’loo, Paris, ’loo! The bull has the game: ware horns, ho!
The husband and the man who cheated with his wife are at it. Now, bull! now, dog! Look, Paris, look! now my two-faced sparrow! Look, Paris, look! The bull is winning: watch out for the horns, hey!
Turn, slave, and fight.
Turn, slave, and fight.
What art thou?
Who are you?
A bastard son of Priam’s.
A bastard son of Priam’s.
I am a bastard too; I love bastards: I am a bastard begot, bastard instructed, bastard in mind, bastard in valour, in every thing illegitimate. One bear will not bite another, and wherefore should one bastard? Take heed, the quarrel’s most ominous to us: if the son of a whore fight for a whore, he tempts judgment: farewell, bastard.
I’m a bastard too; I love bastards: I was born a bastard, raised a bastard, a bastard in my thoughts, a bastard in courage, in everything that’s not legitimate. One bear won’t attack another bear, so why should one bastard fight? Be careful, this fight is very unlucky for us: if the son of a prostitute fights for a prostitute, he’s tempting fate: goodbye, bastard.
The devil take thee, coward!
The devil take you, coward!