QUOTES FROM THE BARD

PLAY: Troilus and Cressida
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Troilus
CONTEXT:
TROILUS
What is aught, but as ’tis valued?
HECTOR
But value dwells not in particular will;
It holds his estimate and dignity
As well wherein ’tis precious of itself
As in the prizer: ’tis mad idolatry
To make the service greater than the god
And the will dotes that is inclinable
To what infectiously itself affects,
Without some image of the affected merit.

DUTCH:
HECTOR
Ze is, broeder, wat het kost haar hier te houden,
Niet waard.
TROILUS
Iets is dat waard, waar wij ‘t op schatten.

MORE:
Cited in Shakespeare’s Legal Maxims (William Lowes Rushton).

Proverb: The worth of a thing is as it is esteemed (valued)

Dwells=Lies in
Prizer=Valuer
Dotes=Is excessively devoted
Inclinable=Partial (some versions have attributive)
Itself affects=What it fancies
Image=Concept
Affected=Admired object’s
Merit=Worth
Compleat:
To dwell=Verblyven
Prizer=Een schatter, waardeerder
To dote upon=Op iets verzot zyn; zyne zinnen zeer op iets gezet hebben
Inclinable=Geneigd
Affect=Liefde toedragen, ter harte gaan, beminnen
Merit=Verdienste

Topics: law/legal, value, proverbs and idioms