A side-by-side translation of Act 4, Scene 2 of As You Like It from the original Shakespeare into modern English.
Original Text |
Translated Text |
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Source: Folger Shakespeare Library | |
Enter Jaques and Lords, like foresters. JAQUES Which is he that killed the deer? FIRST LORD Sir, it was I. JAQUES, to the other Lords Let’s present him to the SECOND LORD Yes, sir. JAQUES Sing it. ’Tis no matter how it be in tune, so it Music. Song. SECOND LORD sings "(The rest shall bear this burden:) "Take thou no scorn to wear the horn. They exit. | Jaques and the lords are back at the forest and, because all the talking in the play needs to be broken up by something, there's a musical interlude. Jaques suggests that the guy who killed the deer during the recent hunt should put the deer antlers on his head and be presented to the Duke. (Yep, that's another "cuckold" reference. Check out "Symbolism" if you want to know more.) The guys sing a song that starts off being about deer-hunting but ends up being about how all men are cheated on by their wives. |