Zoals het u bevalt: Bedrijf 1, scène 2

Celia

I pray thee, Rosalind, sweet my coz, be merry.

Please, Rosalind, my dear cousin, cheer up.

Rosalind

Dear Celia, I show more mirth than I am mistress of, and would you yet I were merrier? Unless you could teach me to forget a banished father, you must not learn me how to remember any extraordinary pleasure.

Dear Celia, I already act happier than I feel, and you want me to be happier still? Unless you can teach me to forget my banished father, you mustn’t try to teach me to think about any great pleasure.

Celia

Herein I see thou lov’st me not with the full weight that I love thee. If my uncle, thy banished father, had banished thy uncle, the Duke my father, so thou hadst been still with me, I could have taught my love to take thy father for mine. So wouldst thou, if the truth of thy love to me were so righteously tempered as mine is to thee.

That tells me you don’t love me as deeply as I love you. If my uncle, your banished father, had banished your uncle, the Duke my father, I could have taught myself to love your father as my own, as long as you were still with me. You would do the same if your love for me were as true and well-balanced as mine is for you.

Rosalind

Well, I will forget the condition of my estate to rejoice in yours.

Well, I’ll forget my own situation and be happy about yours.

Celia

You know my father hath no child but I, nor none is like to have; and truly, when he dies thou shalt be his heir, for what he hath taken away from thy father perforce, I will render thee again in affection. By mine honour I will! And when I break that oath, let me turn monster. Therefore, my sweet Rose, my dear Rose, be merry.

You know my father has no child but me and is unlikely to have another. Truly, when he dies, you will be his heir. What he took from your father by force, I will give back to you out of love. I promise on my honor! And if I break that promise, let me become a monster. So, my sweet Rose, my dear Rose, cheer up.

Rosalind

From henceforth I will, coz, and devise sports. Let me see—what think you of falling in love?

From now on I will, cousin, and I’ll think up ways to have fun. Let me see—what do you think of falling in love?

Celia

Marry, I prithee do, to make sport withal; but love no man in good earnest, nor no further in sport neither than with safety of a pure blush thou mayst in honour come off again.

Yes, please do, just for fun. But don’t love any man seriously, and don’t take even playful love so far that you can’t back out honorably with nothing worse than an innocent blush.

Rosalind

What shall be our sport, then?

What shall we do for fun, then?

Celia

Let us sit and mock the good housewife Fortune from her wheel, that her gifts may henceforth be bestowed equally.

Let’s sit and mock that good housewife Fortune off her wheel, so that from now on she’ll hand out her gifts equally.

Rosalind

I would we could do so, for her benefits are mightily misplaced, and the bountiful blind woman doth most mistake in her gifts to women.

I wish we could. Her blessings go to all the wrong people, and that generous blind woman makes her worst mistakes in her gifts to women.

Celia

’Tis true, for those that she makes fair she scarce makes honest, and those that she makes honest she makes very ill-favouredly.

That’s true. The women she makes beautiful she hardly ever makes virtuous, and the ones she makes virtuous she makes very ugly.

Rosalind

Nay, now thou goest from Fortune’s office to Nature’s. Fortune reigns in gifts of the world, not in the lineaments of Nature.

No, now you’re moving from Fortune’s job to Nature’s. Fortune controls worldly gifts, not the physical features Nature gives us.

Celia

No? When Nature hath made a fair creature, may she not by Fortune fall into the fire? Though Nature hath given us wit to flout at Fortune, hath not Fortune sent in this fool to cut off the argument?

Doesn’t she? When Nature has made a beautiful creature, can’t bad Fortune make her fall into a fire? Though Nature has given us the wit to make fun of Fortune, hasn’t Fortune sent this fool to cut our discussion short?

Rosalind

Indeed, there is Fortune too hard for Nature, when Fortune makes Nature’s natural the cutter-off of Nature’s wit.

Yes, Fortune gets the better of Nature there, when she uses a natural-born fool to cut short our natural wit.

Celia

Peradventure this is not Fortune’s work neither, but Nature’s, who perceiveth our natural wits too dull to reason of such goddesses, and hath sent this natural for our whetstone; for always the dullness of the fool is the whetstone of the wits.—How now, wit, whither wander you?

Perhaps this isn’t Fortune’s work either, but Nature’s. She sees that our natural wits are too dull to discuss such goddesses and has sent this fool to sharpen them. After all, a fool’s dullness always gives clever people something to sharpen their wits on.—Well, you clever fellow, where are you wandering?

Touchstone

Mistress, you must come away to your father.

Madam, you must come to your father.

Celia

Were you made the messenger?

Were you made a messenger?

Touchstone

No, by mine honour, but I was bid to come for you.

No, on my honor, but I was told to come and get you.

Rosalind

Where learned you that oath, fool?

Where did you learn that oath, fool?

Touchstone

Of a certain knight that swore by his honour they were good pancakes, and swore by his honour the mustard was naught. Now, I’ll stand to it, the pancakes were naught and the mustard was good, and yet was not the knight forsworn.

From a certain knight who swore on his honor that the pancakes were good and swore on his honor that the mustard was bad. Now, I insist the pancakes were bad and the mustard was good, and yet the knight didn’t swear falsely.

Celia

How prove you that in the great heap of your knowledge?

How do you prove that, with your vast store of knowledge?

Rosalind

Ay, marry, now unmuzzle your wisdom.

Yes, come on, let your wisdom off its leash.

Touchstone

Stand you both forth now: stroke your chins, and swear by your beards that I am a knave.

Both of you step forward now. Stroke your chins and swear by your beards that I’m a scoundrel.

Celia

By our beards, if we had them, thou art.

By our beards, if we had them, you are.

Touchstone

By my knavery, if I had it, then I were. But if you swear by that that is not, you are not forsworn. No more was this knight swearing by his honour, for he never had any; or if he had, he had sworn it away before ever he saw those pancackes or that mustard.

By my wickedness, if I had any, I would be. But if you swear by something that doesn’t exist, you aren’t swearing falsely. Neither was that knight when he swore on his honor, because he never had any. Or if he did, he had sworn it all away before he ever saw those pancakes or that mustard.

Celia

Prithee, who is’t that thou mean’st?

Please, who do you mean?

Touchstone

One that old Frederick, your father, loves.

Someone old Frederick, your father, loves.

Celia

My father’s love is enough to honour him. Enough! Speak no more of him. You’ll be whipped for taxation one of these days.

My father’s love is enough to give him honor. Enough! Don’t say anything more about him. You’ll get whipped for your cutting remarks one of these days.

Touchstone

The more pity that fools may not speak wisely what wise men do foolishly.

It’s all the more a pity that fools can’t speak wisely about what wise men do foolishly.

Celia

By my troth, thou sayest true. For since the little wit that fools have was silenced, the little foolery that wise men have makes a great show. Here comes Monsieur Le Beau.

Honestly, you’re right. Since the little wit fools possess was silenced, the little foolishness wise men possess has become quite a spectacle. Here comes Monsieur Le Beau.

Rosalind

With his mouth full of news.

With his mouth full of news.

Celia

Which he will put on us as pigeons feed their young.

Which he’ll force into our mouths the way pigeons feed their young.

Rosalind

Then shall we be news-crammed.

Then we’ll be stuffed with news.

Celia

All the better; we shall be the more marketable.Bonjour, Monsieur Le Beau. What’s the news?

All the better. We’ll fetch a higher price at market.
Good morning, Monsieur Le Beau. What’s the news?

Le Beau

Fair princess, you have lost much good sport.

Beautiful princess, you’ve missed some fine entertainment.

Celia

Sport! Of what colour?

Entertainment! What color was it?

Le Beau

What colour, madam? How shall I answer you?

What color, madam? How am I supposed to answer that?

Rosalind

As wit and fortune will.

However your wit and luck allow.

Touchstone

Or as the destinies decrees.

Or as fate decides.

Celia

Well said. That was laid on with a trowel.

Well said. You really piled that on thick.

Touchstone

Nay, if I keep not my rank—

Well, if I don't keep my place—

Rosalind

Thou losest thy old smell.

You'll lose your familiar stink.

Le Beau

You amaze me, ladies. I would have told you of good wrestling, which you have lost the sight of.

You bewilder me, ladies. I was going to tell you about some fine wrestling you've missed.

Rosalind

Yet tell us the manner of the wrestling.

Still, tell us how the wrestling went.

Le Beau

I will tell you the beginning and, if it please your ladyships, you may see the end, for the best is yet to do; and here, where you are, they are coming to perform it.

I'll tell you the beginning, and if your ladyships wish, you can see the end. The best is still to come, and they're coming here, where you are, to wrestle.

Celia

Well, the beginning that is dead and buried.

Well, tell us the beginning, then, since it's dead and buried.

Le Beau

There comes an old man and his three sons—

An old man comes along with his three sons—

Celia

I could match this beginning with an old tale.

I know an old fairy tale that starts just like that.

Le Beau

Three proper young men of excellent growth and presence.

Three handsome young men, tall and impressive.

Rosalind

With bills on their necks: “Be it known unto all men by these presents.”

With notices hanging around their necks: “Let everyone know by these documents.”

Le Beau

The eldest of the three wrestled with Charles, the Duke’s wrestler, which Charles in a moment threw him and broke three of his ribs, that there is little hope of life in him. So he served the second, and so the third. Yonder they lie, the poor old man their father making such pitiful dole over them that all the beholders take his part with weeping.

The eldest of the three wrestled with Charles, the Duke's wrestler. In a moment Charles threw him and broke three of his ribs, so there's little hope he'll survive. He did the same to the second, and then to the third. They lie over there, while their poor old father mourns over them so pitifully that everyone watching weeps along with him.

Rosalind

Alas!

How terrible!

Touchstone

But what is the sport, monsieur, that the ladies have lost?

But what entertainment have the ladies missed, sir?

Le Beau

Why, this that I speak of.

Why, what I've just described.

Touchstone

Thus men may grow wiser every day. It is the first time that ever I heard breaking of ribs was sport for ladies.

Well, you learn something new every day. I've never heard before that breaking ribs was entertainment for ladies.

Celia

Or I, I promise thee.

Neither have I, I assure you.

Rosalind

But is there any else longs to see this broken music in his sides? Is there yet another dotes upon rib-breaking? Shall we see this wrestling, cousin?

But is anyone else eager to hear his ribs crack like a broken instrument? Is there another man who's crazy about having his ribs broken? Shall we watch this wrestling, cousin?

Le Beau

You must if you stay here, for here is the place appointed for the wrestling, and they are ready to perform it.

You'll have to if you stay here, because this is the place chosen for the wrestling, and they're ready to begin.

Celia

Yonder, sure, they are coming. Let us now stay and see it.

Look, they're coming over there. Let's stay and watch.

Duke Frederick

Come on. Since the youth will not be entreated, his own peril on his forwardness.

Come along. Since the young man won't listen to reason, he must take the risk of his own stubbornness.

Rosalind

Is yonder the man?

Is that the man over there?

Le Beau

Even he, madam.

That's him, madam.

Celia

Alas, he is too young. Yet he looks successfully.

Oh, he's too young. Still, he looks as though he could win.

Duke Frederick

How now, daughter and cousin? Are you crept hither to see the wrestling?

What's this, daughter and niece? Have you sneaked over here to watch the wrestling?

Rosalind

Ay, my liege, so please you give us leave.

Yes, my lord, if you'll give us permission.

Duke Frederick

You will take little delight in it, I can tell you, there is such odds in the man. In pity of the challenger’s youth I would fain dissuade him, but he will not be entreated. Speak to him, ladies; see if you can move him.

You won't enjoy it much, I can tell you. The men are so unevenly matched. Out of pity for the challenger's youth, I'd like to talk him out of it, but he won't listen. Speak to him, ladies. See if you can persuade him.

Celia

Call him hither, good Monsieur Le Beau.

Please call him over, Monsieur Le Beau.

Duke Frederick

Do so; I’ll not be by.

Do that. I'll stand out of the way.

Le Beau

Monsieur the challenger, the Princess calls for you.

Sir challenger, the Princess wishes to speak to you.

Orlando

I attend them with all respect and duty.

I come to serve them with all respect and duty.

Rosalind

Young man, have you challenged Charles the wrestler?

Young man, have you challenged Charles the wrestler?

Orlando

No, fair princess. He is the general challenger. I come but in as others do, to try with him the strength of my youth.

No, beautiful princess. He challenges everyone. I've only come, like the others, to test my youthful strength against his.

Celia

Young gentleman, your spirits are too bold for your years. You have seen cruel proof of this man’s strength. If you saw yourself with your eyes or knew yourself with your judgement, the fear of your adventure would counsel you to a more equal enterprise. We pray you for your own sake to embrace your own safety and give over this attempt.

Young gentleman, you're too bold for someone your age. You've seen brutal proof of this man's strength. If you could see yourself clearly or judge your abilities accurately, the danger of this venture would persuade you to try something more within your powers. For your own sake, we beg you to protect yourself and give up this attempt.

Rosalind

Do, young sir. Your reputation shall not therefore be misprized. We will make it our suit to the Duke that the wrestling might not go forward.

Please do, young sir. No one will think less of you for it. We'll ask the Duke ourselves to call off the wrestling.

Orlando

I beseech you, punish me not with your hard thoughts, wherein I confess me much guilty to deny so fair and excellent ladies anything. But let your fair eyes and gentle wishes go with me to my trial, wherein if I be foiled there is but one shamed that was never gracious; if killed, but one dead that is willing to be so. I shall do my friends no wrong, for I have none to lament me; the world no injury, for in it I have nothing. Only in the world I fill up a place, which may be better supplied when I have made it empty.

I beg you, don't punish me by thinking badly of me, though I admit I feel very guilty refusing anything to such beautiful and excellent ladies. But let your lovely eyes and kind wishes support me in this test. If I'm beaten, the only one disgraced will be someone who has never enjoyed anyone's favor. If I'm killed, the only one dead will be someone willing to die. I'll do my friends no wrong, since I have none to mourn me, nor any harm to the world, since I have nothing in it. I merely occupy a place in the world that someone better may fill once I've left it empty.

Rosalind

The little strength that I have, I would it were with you.

I wish I could give you what little strength I have.

Celia

And mine to eke out hers.

And mine, to add to hers.

Rosalind

Fare you well. Pray heaven I be deceived in you.

Goodbye. I pray to heaven that I'm wrong about your chances.

Celia

Your heart’s desires be with you.

May you have everything your heart desires.

Charles

Come, where is this young gallant that is so desirous to lie with his mother earth?

Come on, where's this young hotshot who's so eager to lie down with Mother Earth?

Orlando

Ready, sir; but his will hath in it a more modest working.

Ready, sir, but his desires aren't quite that ambitious.

Duke Frederick

You shall try but one fall.

You'll wrestle for just one fall.

Charles

No, I warrant your grace you shall not entreat him to a second, that have so mightily persuaded him from a first.

Yes, your Grace. I promise you won't persuade him to try a second, after trying so hard to talk him out of the first.

Orlando

You mean to mock me after; you should not have mocked me before. But come your ways.

You mean to mock me afterward. You shouldn't have mocked me beforehand. But come on.

Rosalind

Now, Hercules be thy speed, young man!

Now may Hercules help you, young man!

Celia

I would I were invisible, to catch the strong fellow by the leg.

I wish I were invisible so I could grab that strong fellow by the leg.

Rosalind

O excellent young man!

Oh, what an excellent young man!

Celia

If I had a thunderbolt in mine eye, I can tell who should down.

If my eyes could shoot lightning, I know who would go down.

Duke Frederick

No more, no more.

No more, no more.

Orlando

Yes, I beseech your grace. I am not yet well breathed.

Please let us continue, Your Grace. I have barely warmed up.

Duke Frederick

How dost thou, Charles?

How are you, Charles?

Le Beau

He cannot speak, my lord.

He cannot speak, my lord.

Duke Frederick

Bear him away.

Carry him away.

Orlando

Orlando, my liege, the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys.

Orlando, my lord, the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys.

Duke Frederick

I would thou hadst been son to some man else.The world esteemed thy father honourable,But I did find him still mine enemy.Thou shouldst have better pleased me with this deedHadst thou descended from another house.But fare thee well, thou art a gallant youth.I would thou hadst told me of another father.

I wish you had been some other man's son. The world considered your father honorable, but I always found him to be my enemy. This victory would have pleased me more if you had come from another family. But goodbye. You are a brave young man. I wish you had named a different father.

Celia

Were I my father, coz, would I do this?

Cousin, if I were my father, would I behave like this?

Orlando

I am more proud to be Sir Rowland’s son,His youngest son, and would not change that callingTo be adopted heir to Frederick.

I am prouder to be Sir Rowland's son, his youngest son, and I would not give up that name to become Frederick's adopted heir.

Rosalind

My father loved Sir Rowland as his soul,And all the world was of my father’s mind.Had I before known this young man his son,I should have given him tears unto entreatiesEre he should thus have ventured.

My father loved Sir Rowland as much as his own soul, and the whole world shared my father's opinion. If I had known before that this young man was his son, I would have added tears to my pleas before letting him take such a risk.

Celia

Gentle cousin,Let us go thank him and encourage him.My father’s rough and envious dispositionSticks me at heart.—Sir, you have well deserved.If you do keep your promises in loveBut justly, as you have exceeded promise,Your mistress shall be happy.

Dear cousin, let's go thank him and encourage him. My father's harsh and jealous nature hurts me deeply.—Sir, you deserve great praise. If you simply keep your promises in love as faithfully as you have surpassed expectations here, the woman you love will be happy.

Rosalind

Gentleman,

Sir,

Celia

Ay.—Fare you well, fair gentleman.

Yes.—Goodbye, handsome gentleman.

Orlando

Can I not say, I thank you? My better partsAre all thrown down, and that which here stands upIs but a quintain, a mere lifeless block.

Can't I even say thank you? All my better qualities have been knocked down, and what stands here is just a wooden target, a lifeless block.

Rosalind

He calls us back. My pride fell with my fortunes.I’ll ask him what he would.—Did you call, sir?—Sir, you have wrestled well and overthrownMore than your enemies.

He's calling us back. My pride fell along with my fortunes. I'll ask him what he wants.—Did you call, sir?—Sir, you wrestled well and have conquered more than just your enemies.

Celia

Will you go, coz?

Are you coming, cousin?

Rosalind

Have with you.—Fare you well.

I'm coming.—Goodbye.

Orlando

What passion hangs these weights upon my tongue?I cannot speak to her, yet she urged conference.O poor Orlando, thou art overthrown.Or Charles or something weaker masters thee.

What feeling has put such weights on my tongue? I cannot speak to her, even though she invited me to talk. Oh, poor Orlando, you are defeated. Either Charles or someone weaker has overpowered you.

Le Beau

Good sir, I do in friendship counsel youTo leave this place. Albeit you have deservedHigh commendation, true applause, and love,Yet such is now the Duke’s conditionThat he misconsters all that you have done.The Duke is humorous; what he is indeedMore suits you to conceive than I to speak of.

Good sir, as a friend, I advise you to leave this place. Although you deserve high praise, genuine applause, and affection, the Duke is in such a mood that he takes everything you have done the wrong way. The Duke is unpredictable. What he really is, you had better work out for yourself rather than have me say it.

Orlando

I thank you, sir; and pray you tell me this:Which of the two was daughter of the DukeThat here was at the wrestling?

Thank you, sir, and please tell me this: which of the two women here at the wrestling was the Duke's daughter?

Le Beau

Neither his daughter, if we judge by manners,But yet indeed the smaller is his daughter.The other is daughter to the banished Duke,And here detained by her usurping uncleTo keep his daughter company, whose lovesAre dearer than the natural bond of sisters.But I can tell you that of late this DukeHath ta’en displeasure ’gainst his gentle niece,Grounded upon no other argumentBut that the people praise her for her virtuesAnd pity her for her good father’s sake;And, on my life, his malice ’gainst the ladyWill suddenly break forth. Sir, fare you well.Hereafter, in a better world than this,I shall desire more love and knowledge of you.

Judging by their manners, neither is his daughter. But in fact, the shorter one is his daughter. The other is the banished Duke's daughter. Her uncle, who seized her father's power, keeps her here to be his daughter's companion. Their love is closer than the natural bond between sisters. But I can tell you that lately this Duke has turned against his gentle niece, for no other reason than that people praise her goodness and pity her for her good father's sake. I swear his hatred of the lady will soon break out. Sir, goodbye. In the future, when times are better than these, I hope to know you better and become a closer friend.

Orlando

I rest much bounden to you; fare you well!

I owe you a great deal. Goodbye!