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Langley. The Duke of York’s garden.
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The village of Langley, in the Duke of York’s garden.
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Enter the QUEEN and two Ladies
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The QUEEN enters, with two Ladies.
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QUEEN What sport shall we devise here in this garden,
To drive away the heavy thought of care?
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QUEEN What game should we play here in the garden to distract us from our worries?
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LADY Madam, we’ll play at bowls.
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LADY |
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QUEEN ’Twill make me think the world is full of rubs,
5And that my fortune rubs against the bias.
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QUEEN It will make me think the world is full of obstacles, and that my fortune sends me the wrong way.
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LADY Madam, we’ll dance.
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LADY Madam, we’ll dance.
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QUEEN My legs can keep no measure in delight,
When my poor heart no measure keeps in grief:
Therefore, no dancing, girl; some other sport.
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QUEEN My legs can’t move with delight when my heart is so full of grief. Therefore, no dancing, girl. Let’s find some other sport.
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LADY
10Madam, we’ll tell tales.
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LADY Madam, we’ll tell stories.
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QUEEN Of sorrow or of joy?
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QUEEN Sad ones or happy ones?
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LADY Of either, madam.
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LADY Either, madam.
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QUEEN Of neither, girl:
For of joy, being altogether wanting,
15It doth remember me the more of sorrow;
Or if of grief, being altogether had,
It adds more sorrow to my want of joy:
For what I have I need not to repeat;
And what I want it boots not to complain.
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QUEEN Neither, girl. Since I have no happiness, happy stories only remind me of sorrow. Since I am full of grief, sad stories only add more sorrow to my lack of happiness. I don’t need to add on to what I already have, and it does no good to complain about what I want.
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LADY
20Madam, I’ll sing.
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LADY Madam, I’ll sing.
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QUEEN ’Tis well that thou hast cause
But thou shouldst please me better, wouldst thou weep.
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QUEEN It’s wonderful that you are happy enough to sing, but it would make me happier if you wept.
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