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Original Text |
Modern Text |
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A prison.
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A prison.
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Enter PAULINA , a Gentleman, and Attendants
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Enter PAULINA , a Gentleman, and Attendants
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PAULINA The keeper of the prison, call to him;
let him have knowledge who I am.
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PAULINA The keeper of the prison, call to him;
let him have knowledge who I am.
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Exit Gentleman
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Exit Gentleman
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Good lady,
No court in Europe is too good for thee;
5 What dost thou then in prison?
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Good lady,
No court in Europe is too good for thee;
What dost thou then in prison?
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Re-enter Gentleman, with the Gaoler
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Re-enter Gentleman, with the Gaoler
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Now, good sir,
You know me, do you not?
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Now, good sir,
You know me, do you not?
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GAOLER For a worthy lady
And one whom much I honour.
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GAOLER For a worthy lady
And one whom much I honour.
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PAULINA 10 Pray you then,
Conduct me to the queen.
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PAULINA Pray you then,
Conduct me to the queen.
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GAOLER I may not, madam:
To the contrary I have express commandment.
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GAOLER I may not, madam:
To the contrary I have express commandment.
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PAULINA Here’s ado,
15 To lock up honesty and honour from
The access of gentle visitors!
Is’t lawful, pray you,
To see her women? any of them? Emilia?
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PAULINA Here’s ado,
To lock up honesty and honour from
The access of gentle visitors!
Is’t lawful, pray you,
To see her women? any of them? Emilia?
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GAOLER So please you, madam,
20 To put apart these your attendants, I
Shall bring Emilia forth.
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GAOLER So please you, madam,
To put apart these your attendants, I
Shall bring Emilia forth.
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PAULINA I pray now, call her.
Withdraw yourselves.
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PAULINA I pray now, call her.
Withdraw yourselves.
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Exeunt Gentleman and Attendants
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Exeunt Gentleman and Attendants
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GAOLER And, madam,
25 I must be present at your conference.
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GAOLER And, madam,
I must be present at your conference.
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PAULINA Well, be’t so, prithee.
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PAULINA Well, be’t so, prithee.
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Exit Gaoler
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Exit Gaoler
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Here’s such ado to make no stain a stain
As passes colouring.
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Here’s such ado to make no stain a stain
As passes colouring.
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Re-enter Gaoler, with EMILIA
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Re-enter Gaoler, with EMILIA
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Dear gentlewoman,
30 How fares our gracious lady?
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Dear gentlewoman,
How fares our gracious lady?
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EMILIA As well as one so great and so forlorn
May hold together: on her frights and griefs,
Which never tender lady hath born greater,
She is something before her time deliver’d.
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EMILIA As well as one so great and so forlorn
May hold together: on her frights and griefs,
Which never tender lady hath born greater,
She is something before her time deliver’d.
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PAULINA 35 A boy?
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PAULINA A boy?
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EMILIA A daughter, and a goodly babe,
Lusty and like to live: the queen receives
Much comfort in’t; says ‘My poor prisoner,
I am innocent as you.’
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EMILIA A daughter, and a goodly babe,
Lusty and like to live: the queen receives
Much comfort in’t; says ‘My poor prisoner,
I am innocent as you.’
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PAULINA 40 I dare be sworn
These dangerous unsafe lunes i’ the king,
beshrew them!
He must be told on’t, and he shall: the office
Becomes a woman best; I’ll take’t upon me:
45 If I prove honey-mouth’d let my tongue blister
And never to my red-look’d anger be
The trumpet any more. Pray you, Emilia,
Commend my best obedience to the queen:
If she dares trust me with her little babe,
50 I’ll show’t the king and undertake to be
Her advocate to the loud’st. We do not know
How he may soften at the sight o’ the child:
The silence often of pure innocence
Persuades when speaking fails.
|
PAULINA I dare be sworn
These dangerous unsafe lunes i’ the king,
beshrew them!
He must be told on’t, and he shall: the office
Becomes a woman best; I’ll take’t upon me:
If I prove honey-mouth’d let my tongue blister
And never to my red-look’d anger be
The trumpet any more. Pray you, Emilia,
Commend my best obedience to the queen:
If she dares trust me with her little babe,
I’ll show’t the king and undertake to be
Her advocate to the loud’st. We do not know
How he may soften at the sight o’ the child:
The silence often of pure innocence
Persuades when speaking fails.
|
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EMILIA 55 Most worthy madam,
Your honour and your goodness is so evident
That your free undertaking cannot miss
A thriving issue: there is no lady living
So meet for this great errand. Please your ladyship
60 To visit the next room, I’ll presently
Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer;
Who but to-day hammer’d of this design,
But durst not tempt a minister of honour,
Lest she should be denied.
|
EMILIA Most worthy madam,
Your honour and your goodness is so evident
That your free undertaking cannot miss
A thriving issue: there is no lady living
So meet for this great errand. Please your ladyship
To visit the next room, I’ll presently
Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer;
Who but to-day hammer’d of this design,
But durst not tempt a minister of honour,
Lest she should be denied.
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PAULINA 65 Tell her, Emilia.
I’ll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from’t
As boldness from my bosom, let ’t not be doubted
I shall do good.
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PAULINA Tell her, Emilia.
I’ll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from’t
As boldness from my bosom, let ’t not be doubted
I shall do good.
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EMILIA Now be you blest for it!
70 I’ll to the queen: please you,
come something nearer.
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EMILIA Now be you blest for it!
I’ll to the queen: please you,
come something nearer.
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GAOLER Madam, if’t please the queen to send the babe,
I know not what I shall incur to pass it,
Having no warrant.
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GAOLER Madam, if’t please the queen to send the babe,
I know not what I shall incur to pass it,
Having no warrant.
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PAULINA 75 You need not fear it, sir:
This child was prisoner to the womb and is
By law and process of great nature thence
Freed and enfranchised, not a party to
The anger of the king nor guilty of,
80 If any be, the trespass of the queen.
|
PAULINA You need not fear it, sir:
This child was prisoner to the womb and is
By law and process of great nature thence
Freed and enfranchised, not a party to
The anger of the king nor guilty of,
If any be, the trespass of the queen.
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GAOLER I do believe it.
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GAOLER I do believe it.
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PAULINA Do not you fear: upon mine honour,
I will stand betwixt you and danger.
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PAULINA Do not you fear: upon mine honour,
I will stand betwixt you and danger.
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Exeunt
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Exeunt
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Original Text |
Modern Text |
|
A prison.
|
A prison.
|
|
Enter PAULINA , a Gentleman, and Attendants
|
Enter PAULINA , a Gentleman, and Attendants
|
|
PAULINA The keeper of the prison, call to him;
let him have knowledge who I am.
|
PAULINA The keeper of the prison, call to him;
let him have knowledge who I am.
|
|
Exit Gentleman
|
Exit Gentleman
|
|
Good lady,
No court in Europe is too good for thee;
5 What dost thou then in prison?
|
Good lady,
No court in Europe is too good for thee;
What dost thou then in prison?
|
|
Re-enter Gentleman, with the Gaoler
|
Re-enter Gentleman, with the Gaoler
|
|
Now, good sir,
You know me, do you not?
|
Now, good sir,
You know me, do you not?
|
|
GAOLER For a worthy lady
And one whom much I honour.
|
GAOLER For a worthy lady
And one whom much I honour.
|
|
PAULINA 10 Pray you then,
Conduct me to the queen.
|
PAULINA Pray you then,
Conduct me to the queen.
|
|
GAOLER I may not, madam:
To the contrary I have express commandment.
|
GAOLER I may not, madam:
To the contrary I have express commandment.
|
|
PAULINA Here’s ado,
15 To lock up honesty and honour from
The access of gentle visitors!
Is’t lawful, pray you,
To see her women? any of them? Emilia?
|
PAULINA Here’s ado,
To lock up honesty and honour from
The access of gentle visitors!
Is’t lawful, pray you,
To see her women? any of them? Emilia?
|
|
GAOLER So please you, madam,
20 To put apart these your attendants, I
Shall bring Emilia forth.
|
GAOLER So please you, madam,
To put apart these your attendants, I
Shall bring Emilia forth.
|
|
PAULINA I pray now, call her.
Withdraw yourselves.
|
PAULINA I pray now, call her.
Withdraw yourselves.
|
|
Exeunt Gentleman and Attendants
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Exeunt Gentleman and Attendants
|
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GAOLER And, madam,
25 I must be present at your conference.
|
GAOLER And, madam,
I must be present at your conference.
|
|
PAULINA Well, be’t so, prithee.
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PAULINA Well, be’t so, prithee.
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Exit Gaoler
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Exit Gaoler
|
|
Here’s such ado to make no stain a stain
As passes colouring.
|
Here’s such ado to make no stain a stain
As passes colouring.
|
|
Re-enter Gaoler, with EMILIA
|
Re-enter Gaoler, with EMILIA
|
|
Dear gentlewoman,
30 How fares our gracious lady?
|
Dear gentlewoman,
How fares our gracious lady?
|
|
EMILIA As well as one so great and so forlorn
May hold together: on her frights and griefs,
Which never tender lady hath born greater,
She is something before her time deliver’d.
|
EMILIA As well as one so great and so forlorn
May hold together: on her frights and griefs,
Which never tender lady hath born greater,
She is something before her time deliver’d.
|
|
PAULINA 35 A boy?
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PAULINA A boy?
|
|
EMILIA A daughter, and a goodly babe,
Lusty and like to live: the queen receives
Much comfort in’t; says ‘My poor prisoner,
I am innocent as you.’
|
EMILIA A daughter, and a goodly babe,
Lusty and like to live: the queen receives
Much comfort in’t; says ‘My poor prisoner,
I am innocent as you.’
|
|
PAULINA 40 I dare be sworn
These dangerous unsafe lunes i’ the king,
beshrew them!
He must be told on’t, and he shall: the office
Becomes a woman best; I’ll take’t upon me:
45 If I prove honey-mouth’d let my tongue blister
And never to my red-look’d anger be
The trumpet any more. Pray you, Emilia,
Commend my best obedience to the queen:
If she dares trust me with her little babe,
50 I’ll show’t the king and undertake to be
Her advocate to the loud’st. We do not know
How he may soften at the sight o’ the child:
The silence often of pure innocence
Persuades when speaking fails.
|
PAULINA I dare be sworn
These dangerous unsafe lunes i’ the king,
beshrew them!
He must be told on’t, and he shall: the office
Becomes a woman best; I’ll take’t upon me:
If I prove honey-mouth’d let my tongue blister
And never to my red-look’d anger be
The trumpet any more. Pray you, Emilia,
Commend my best obedience to the queen:
If she dares trust me with her little babe,
I’ll show’t the king and undertake to be
Her advocate to the loud’st. We do not know
How he may soften at the sight o’ the child:
The silence often of pure innocence
Persuades when speaking fails.
|
|
EMILIA 55 Most worthy madam,
Your honour and your goodness is so evident
That your free undertaking cannot miss
A thriving issue: there is no lady living
So meet for this great errand. Please your ladyship
60 To visit the next room, I’ll presently
Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer;
Who but to-day hammer’d of this design,
But durst not tempt a minister of honour,
Lest she should be denied.
|
EMILIA Most worthy madam,
Your honour and your goodness is so evident
That your free undertaking cannot miss
A thriving issue: there is no lady living
So meet for this great errand. Please your ladyship
To visit the next room, I’ll presently
Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer;
Who but to-day hammer’d of this design,
But durst not tempt a minister of honour,
Lest she should be denied.
|
|
PAULINA 65 Tell her, Emilia.
I’ll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from’t
As boldness from my bosom, let ’t not be doubted
I shall do good.
|
PAULINA Tell her, Emilia.
I’ll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from’t
As boldness from my bosom, let ’t not be doubted
I shall do good.
|
|
EMILIA Now be you blest for it!
70 I’ll to the queen: please you,
come something nearer.
|
EMILIA Now be you blest for it!
I’ll to the queen: please you,
come something nearer.
|
|
GAOLER Madam, if’t please the queen to send the babe,
I know not what I shall incur to pass it,
Having no warrant.
|
GAOLER Madam, if’t please the queen to send the babe,
I know not what I shall incur to pass it,
Having no warrant.
|
|
PAULINA 75 You need not fear it, sir:
This child was prisoner to the womb and is
By law and process of great nature thence
Freed and enfranchised, not a party to
The anger of the king nor guilty of,
80 If any be, the trespass of the queen.
|
PAULINA You need not fear it, sir:
This child was prisoner to the womb and is
By law and process of great nature thence
Freed and enfranchised, not a party to
The anger of the king nor guilty of,
If any be, the trespass of the queen.
|
|
GAOLER I do believe it.
|
GAOLER I do believe it.
|
|
PAULINA Do not you fear: upon mine honour,
I will stand betwixt you and danger.
|
PAULINA Do not you fear: upon mine honour,
I will stand betwixt you and danger.
|
|
Exeunt
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Exeunt
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