QUOTES FROM THE BARD

PLAY: All’s Well that Ends Well
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Countess
CONTEXT:
COUNTESS
Will your answer serve fit to all questions?
CLOWN
As fit as ten groats is for the hand of an attorney,
as your French crown for your taffeta punk, as Tib’s
rush for Tom’s forefinger, as a pancake for Shrove
Tuesday, a morris for May-day, as the nail to his
hole, the cuckold to his horn, as a scolding quean
to a wrangling knave, as the nun’s lip to the
friar’s mouth, nay, as the pudding to his skin.
COUNTESS
Have you, I say, an answer of such fitness for all
questions?
CLOWN
From below your duke to beneath your constable, it
will fit any question.
COUNTESS
It must be an answer of most monstrous size that
must fit all demands.
CLOWN
But a trifle neither, in good faith, if the learned
should speak truth of it: here it is, and all that
belongs to’t. Ask me if I am a courtier: it shall
do you no harm to learn.
COUNTESS
To be young again, if we could: I will be a fool in
question, hoping to be the wiser by your answer. I
pray you, sir, are you a courtier?

DUTCH:
Hebt gij, zeg ik, een antwoord, dat zoo voor alle vragen
dienst kan doen

MORE:
Groat=Four pennies
French crown=Coin
Punk=Prostitute
Rush=Ring twitsted from rushes for a mock marriage
Morris=Morris dance
Quean=Whore
But a trifle neither=Just a trifle
Compleat:
Groat=Vier-stuyvers stukje
Punk=Een oolyke hoer of hoere-waardin
Quean=Hoer, slons, sloery
Trifle=Beuzeling, kleynigheyd

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