A side-by-side translation of Act 2, Scene 2 of The Winter’s Tale from the original Shakespeare into modern English.
Original Text |
Translated Text |
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Source: Folger Shakespeare Library | |
Enter Paulina, a Gentleman, and Paulina’s Attendants. PAULINA, to Gentleman Gentleman exits. Good lady, Enter Jailer, with the Gentleman. Now, good sir, JAILER For a worthy lady PAULINA Pray you then, 10 JAILER I may not, madam. | Paulina (Antigonus’s wife and a good friend of Hermione) shows up at the prison where Hermione is being held and demands to see the queen. The Jailer says gee, he feels really bad and all, but he’s got strict orders that Hermione is to have no visitors. |
PAULINA JAILER So please you, madam, PAULINA I pray now, call her.— 20 Attendants and Gentleman exit. JAILER | Fine, says Paulina, who asks to see Emilia, one of Hermione’s ladies, instead. |
PAULINA Well, be ’t so, prithee. Jailer exits. Enter Emilia with Jailer. Dear gentlewoman, EMILIA PAULINA EMILIA A daughter, and a goodly babe, | Emilia and Paulina talk while the Jailer stands guard. Emilia informs Paulina that Hermione is doing the best she can, under the lousy circumstances, but she went into labor before her due date and delivered a daughter in prison. |
PAULINA I dare be sworn. | Paulina is outraged – she proclaims Leontes a lunatic and says she’s going to try to talk some sense into him. Maybe if she shows Leontes his newborn baby, the evidence of Hermione’s innocence will convince him that Hermione is a faithful wife. |
EMILIA Most worthy madam, PAULINA Tell her, Emilia, EMILIA Now be you blest for it! | Emilia says that if anyone can convince Leontes, it’s Paulina who, apparently, has a way with words. |
JAILER, to Paulina PAULINA You need not fear it, sir. JAILER I do believe it. PAULINA They exit. | The Jailer seems on board with this scheme, but since he’s not allowed to let the baby leave the prison, he wants to know how the heck Paulina is going to smuggle the infant out of Hermione’s cell. Paulina convinces the Jailer that Hermione’s baby should be allowed to leave the prison with her, since, being a newborn baby and all, it’s completely innocent of any wrong-doing. |