QUOTES FROM THE BARD

PLAY: As You Like It
ACT/SCENE: 2.7
SPEAKER: Duke Senior
CONTEXT:
DUKE SENIOR
Fie on thee! I can tell what thou wouldst do.
JAQUES
What, for a counter, would I do but good?
DUKE SENIOR
Most mischievous foul sin in chiding sin,
For thou thyself hast been a libertine,
As sensual as the brutish sting itself,
And all th’ embossèd sores and headed evils
That thou with license of free foot hast caught
Wouldst thou disgorge into the general world.
JAQUES
Why, who cries out on pride
That can therein tax any private party?
Doth it not flow as hugely as the sea
Till that the weary very means do ebb?
What woman in the city do I name,
When that I say the city-woman bears
The cost of princes on unworthy shoulders?
Who can come in and say that I mean her,
When such a one as she such is her neighbour?
Or what is he of basest function
That says his bravery is not of my cost,
Thinking that I mean him, but therein suits
His folly to the mettle of my speech?
There then. How then, what then? Let me see wherein
My tongue hath wronged him. If it do him right,
Then he hath wronged himself. If he be free,
Why then my taxing like a wild goose flies
Unclaimed of any man. But who comes here?

DUTCH:
Recht booze zonde, als gij op zonde raast;
Want gij zijt zelf een woesteling geweest,
Een slaaf, niet min dan ‘t vee, der zinn’lijkheid;

MORE:
Counter=Coin or counter having no value
Sting=Carnal appetite
Embossed=Swollen
Evils=Boils
Licence=Licentiousness (and permission)
Free foot=Freedom of movement
Tax=Accuse
Means=Source
City-woman=Extravagantly dressed city wife
Mettle=Spirit
Do him=Describe him
Right=Correctly
Free=Innocent
Compleat:
Sting=Prikkel, steekel
Licence=Verlof, oorlof, vergunning, toelaating, vrygeeving, goedkeuring; vryheyd
To tax=Beschuldigen
Full of mettle=Vol vuurs, moedig
Right=Recht, behoorlyk

Topics: advantage/benefit, pride, language, insult