ARKCODEX
Act IV, Scene 1
1Without the Florentine camp.
2Enter Second French Lord, with five or six other Soldiers in ambush.
3Second LordHe can come no other way but by this hedge-corner. When you sally upon him, speak what terrible language you will: though you understand it not yourselves, no matter; for we must not seem to understand him, unless some one among us whom we must produce for an interpreter.
4First SoldierGood captain, let me be the interpreter.
5Second LordArt not acquainted with him? knows he not thy voice?
6First SoldierNo, sir, I warrant you.
7Second LordBut what linsey-woolsey hast thou to speak to us again?
8First SoldierE’en such as you speak to me.
9Second LordHe must think us some band of strangers i’ the adversary’s entertainment. Now he hath a smack of all neighbouring languages; therefore we must every one be a man of his own fancy, not to know what we speak one to another; so we seem to know, is to know straight our purpose: choughs’ language, gabble enough, and good enough. As for you, interpreter, you must seem very politic. But couch, ho! here he comes, to beguile two hours in a sleep, and then to return and swear the lies he forges.
10Enter Parolles.
11ParollesTen o’clock: within these three hours ’twill be time enough to go home. What shall I say I have done? It must be a very plausive invention that carries it: they begin to smoke me; and disgraces have of late knocked too often at my door. I find my tongue is too foolhardy; but my heart hath the fear of Mars before it and of his creatures, not daring the reports of my tongue.
12Second LordThis is the first truth that e’er thine own tongue was guilty of.
13ParollesWhat the devil should move me to undertake the recovery of this drum, being not ignorant of the impossibility, and knowing I had no such purpose? I must give myself some hurts, and say I got them in exploit: yet slight ones will not carry it; they will say, “Came you off with so little?” and great ones I dare not give. Wherefore, what’s the instance? Tongue, I must put you into a butter-woman’s mouth and buy myself another of Bajazet’s mule, if you prattle me into these perils.
14Second LordIs it possible he should know what he is, and be that he is?
15ParollesI would the cutting of my garments would serve the turn, or the breaking of my Spanish sword.
16Second LordWe cannot afford you so.
17ParollesOr the baring of my beard; and to say it was in stratagem.
18Second Lord’Twould not do.
19ParollesOr to drown my clothes, and say I was stripped.
20Second LordHardly serve.
21ParollesThough I swore I leaped from the window of the citadel—
22Second LordHow deep?
23ParollesThirty fathom.
24Second LordThree great oaths would scarce make that be believed.
25ParollesI would I had any drum of the enemy’s: I would swear I recovered it.
26Second LordYou shall hear one anon.
27ParollesA drum now of the enemy’s—Alarum within.
28Second LordThroca movousus, cargo, cargo, cargo.
29AllCargo, cargo, cargo, villiando par corbo, cargo.
30ParollesO, ransom, ransom! do not hide mine eyes. They seize and blindfold him.
31First SoldierBoskos thromuldo boskos.
32ParollesI know you are the Muskos’ regiment:
And I shall lose my life for want of language:
If there be here German, or Dane, low Dutch,
Italian, or French, let him speak to me; I’ll
Discover that which shall undo the Florentine.
33First SoldierBoskos vauvado: I understand thee, and can speak thy tongue. Kerelybonto, sir, betake thee to thy faith, for seventeen poniards are at thy bosom.
34ParollesO!
35First SoldierO, pray, pray, pray! Manka revania dulche.
36Second LordOscorbidulchos volivorco.
37First SoldierThe general is content to spare thee yet;
And, hoodwink’d as thou art, will lead thee on
To gather from thee: haply thou mayst inform
Something to save thy life.
38ParollesO, let me live!
And all the secrets of our camp I’ll show,
Their force, their purposes; nay, I’ll speak that
Which you will wonder at.
39First SoldierBut wilt thou faithfully?
40ParollesIf I do not, damn me.
41First Soldier
Acordo linta.
Come on; thou art granted space. Exit, with Parolles guarded. A short alarum within.
42Second LordGo, tell the Count Rousillon, and my brother,
We have caught the woodcock, and will keep him muffled
Till we do hear from them.
43Second SoldierCaptain, I will.
44Second LordA’ will betray us all unto ourselves:
Inform on that.
45Second SoldierSo I will, sir.
46Second LordTill then I’ll keep him dark and safely lock’d. Exeunt.