Was there ever man had such luck! When I kiss’d the jack, upon an
upcast to be hit away! I had a hundred pound on’t; and then a whoreson
jackanapes must take me up for swearing, as if I borrowed mine oaths of
him, and might not spend them at my pleasure.
Did any man ever have such bad luck! When I kissed a jack—the small target bowl—and then got knocked away on the return! I had a hand as steady as a rock, yet I lost.
did any man ever have such bad luck! when i kissed a jack—the small target bowl—and then got knocked away on the return! i had a hand as steady as a rock, yet i lost.
did any man ever have such bad luck! whe
What got he by that? You have broke his pate with your bowl.
What good did that do you? You're the one who broke his head with a bowling ball.
what good did that do you? you're the one who broke his head with a bowling ball.
what good did that do you? you're the on
run all out.
[SECOND LORD in Act 2 Scene 1: Translation needed]
[needs modern voice]
[needs emotional core]
When a gentleman is dispos’d to swear, it is not for any standers-by to
curtail his oaths. Ha?
When a gentleman wants to swear, it's not for bystanders to cut short his oaths. Correct?
when a gentleman wants to swear, it's not for bystanders to cut short his oaths. correct?
when a gentleman wants to swear, it's no
No, my lord; [_Aside._] nor crop the ears of them.
(aside) No, my lord, or cut off their ears.
(aside) no, my lord, or cut off their ears.
(aside) no, my lord, or cut off their ea
Whoreson dog! I gave him satisfaction. Would he had been one of my
rank!
Whoreson dog! I gave him what he deserved. I wish he had been my rank, then I could fight him.
whoreson dog! i gave him what he deserved. i wish he had been my rank, then i could fight him.
whoreson dog! i gave him what he deserve
I am not vex’d more at anything in th’ earth. A pox on’t! I had rather
not be so noble as I am; they dare not fight with me, because of the
Queen my mother. Every jackslave hath his bellyful of fighting, and I
must go up and down like a cock that nobody can match.
I'm not angrier at anything else on earth. A curse on it! I'd rather not be noble—nobility means I can't fight commoners, so I have to take their insults.
i'm not angrier at anything else on earth. a curse on it! i'd rather not be noble—nobility means i can't fight commoners, so i have to take their insults.
i'm not angrier at anything else on eart
comb on.
[SECOND LORD in Act 2 Scene 1: Translation needed]
[needs modern voice]
[needs emotional core]
Sayest thou?
What?
what?
what?
It is not fit your lordship should undertake every companion that you
give offence to.
It's not appropriate for your lordship to challenge every commoner who offends you.
it's not appropriate for you to challenge every commoner who offends you.
it's not appropriate for your lordship t
No, I know that; but it is fit I should commit offence to my inferiors.
No, I understand that—but it is appropriate for me to insult my inferiors. That's what rank means.
no, i understand that—but it is appropriate for me to insult my inferiors. that's what rank means.
no, i understand that—but it is appropri
Ay, it is fit for your lordship only.
[SECOND LORD in Act 2 Scene 1: Translation needed]
[needs modern voice]
[needs emotional core]
Why, so I say.
[CLOTEN in Act 2 Scene 1: Translation needed]
[needs modern voice]
[needs emotional core]
Did you hear of a stranger that’s come to court tonight?
[FIRST LORD in Act 2 Scene 1: Translation needed]
[needs modern voice]
[needs emotional core]
A stranger, and I not known on’t?
[CLOTEN in Act 2 Scene 1: Translation needed]
[needs modern voice]
[needs emotional core]
There’s an Italian come, and, ’tis thought, one of Leonatus’ friends.
[FIRST LORD in Act 2 Scene 1: Translation needed]
[needs modern voice]
[needs emotional core]
Leonatus? A banish’d rascal; and he’s another, whatsoever he be. Who
told you of this stranger?
[CLOTEN in Act 2 Scene 1: Translation needed]
[needs modern voice]
[needs emotional core]
One of your lordship’s pages.
[FIRST LORD in Act 2 Scene 1: Translation needed]
[needs modern voice]
[needs emotional core]
The scene seems like pure comedy — Cloten's bowls rage, the lords' two-register mockery, the farcical logic of 'you cannot lower yourself.' But the Second Lord's soliloquy at the end suddenly opens into something else. 'Thou divine Imogen, what thou endur'st, / Betwixt a father by thy step-dame govern'd, / A mother hourly coining plots, a wooer / More hateful than the foul expulsion is / Of thy dear husband' — it's a full reckoning of Imogen's situation, spoken by someone who can do nothing about it. His prayer that 'the heavens hold firm the walls of thy dear honour' is genuine. And it lands with terrible irony: those walls are about to be violated. Shakespeare uses the comedy of the Cloten scenes to lower the audience's guard, then hits them with something completely real.
Is it fit I went to look upon him? Is there no derogation in’t?
[CLOTEN in Act 2 Scene 1: Translation needed]
[needs modern voice]
[needs emotional core]
You cannot derogate, my lord.
[SECOND LORD in Act 2 Scene 1: Translation needed]
[needs modern voice]
[needs emotional core]
Not easily, I think.
[CLOTEN in Act 2 Scene 1: Translation needed]
[needs modern voice]
[needs emotional core]
foolish, do not derogate.
[SECOND LORD in Act 2 Scene 1: Translation needed]
[needs modern voice]
[needs emotional core]
Come, I’ll go see this Italian. What I have lost today at bowls I’ll
win tonight of him. Come, go.
[CLOTEN in Act 2 Scene 1: Translation needed]
[needs modern voice]
[needs emotional core]
I’ll attend your lordship.
[SECOND LORD in Act 2 Scene 1: Translation needed]
[needs modern voice]
[needs emotional core]
The Reckoning
A palate-cleanser between two intense scenes that also shows us the court's daily texture: Cloten causing minor chaos, his lords managing him, nothing being accomplished. The Second Lord's closing soliloquy punctures the comedy with genuine tenderness — for all the broad jokes at Cloten's expense, he ends the scene wishing Imogen well and calling her 'divine.' The contrast is affecting.
If this happened today…
The boss's son is back from a company golf outing, furious he played badly. He's cursing at the office manager, demanding to know why someone is allowed to swear at him while he swears at everyone. He hears there's a visiting Italian consultant — a friend of the guy he just got fired — and decides to go size him up. His staffers are rolling their eyes. When he's gone, the one sensible assistant looks at the photo of the boss's daughter on the wall and thinks: 'God, what she must be going through.'