All’s Well That Ends Well 16

⁵Second LordArt not acquainted with him? knows he not thy voice?

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.

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.

¹⁷ParollesOr the baring of my beard; and to say it was in stratagem.

²¹ParollesThough I swore I leaped from the window of the citadel⁠—

²⁵ParollesI would I had any drum of the enemy’s: I would swear I recovered it.

²⁹AllCargo, cargo, cargo, villiando par corbo, cargo.

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.

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.