QUOTES FROM THE BARD

PLAY: Cymbeline
ACT/SCENE: 1.5
SPEAKER: Frenchman
CONTEXT:
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
By your pardon, sir, I was then a young traveller;
rather shunned to go even with what I heard than in
my every action to be guided by others’ experiences:
but upon my mended judgment—if I offend not to say
it is mended—my quarrel was not altogether slight.
FRENCHMAN
‘Faith, yes, to be put to the arbitrement of swords,
and by such two that would by all likelihood have
confounded one the other, or have fallen both.
IACHIMO
Can we, with manners, ask what was the difference?
FRENCHMAN
Safely, I think: ’twas a contention in public,
which may, without contradiction, suffer the report.
It was much like an argument that fell out last
night, where each of us fell in praise of our
country mistresses; this gentleman at that time
vouching—and upon warrant of bloody
affirmation—his to be more fair, virtuous, wise,
chaste, constant-qualified and less attemptable
than any the rarest of our ladies in France.

DUTCH:
Volstrekt niet, naar ik meen; ‘t was een openlijke
woordentwist, die dus buiten tegenspraak ook verder
verteld mag worden

MORE:
Shunned=Refused
To go even=To accord
Mended=Improved
Arbitrement=Settlement
Confounded=Broken
Difference=Dispute
Contention in public=Public argument
Suffer=Allow
Attemptable=Easy
Compleat:
To shun=Vermyden, ontwyken, ontvlieden
To mend=Verbeteren, beteren’ verstellen, lappen
Arbitrable=Beslechtbaar, bemiddelbaar
Confound=Verwarren, verstooren, te schande maaken, verbysteren
Difference=Verschil, onderscheyd
Contention=Twist, krakkeel, geharrewar
Suffer=Toelaten

Topics: age/experience, wisdom, conflict