King John
802
And if his name be George, I’ll call him Peter;
For new-made honour doth forget men’s names;
--- King John I, i, 186
Sweet, sweet, sweet poison for the age’s tooth.
--- King John I, i, 213
poison: i.e. flattery tooth: appetite
Saint George, that swinged the dragon, and e’er since
Sits on his horse back at mine hostess’ door.
--- King John II, i, 288
Saint George: the Patron Saint of England. The legend of Saint George and the Dragon tells of Saint George taming and slaying a dragon that demanded human sacrifices. e’er: ever
He is the half part of a blessed man,
Left to be finished by such a she;
And she a fair divided excellence,
Whose fullness of perfection lies in him.
--- King John II, i, 437
‘Zounds! I was never so bethumped with words
Since I first called my brother’s father dad.
--- King John II, i, 466
天曉得！自從我第一次稱我小弟的父親為爹
從來沒被人用言語痛打過。Zounds: by God’s (Christ’s) wounds; abbreviation of God’s wounds, with reference to the wounds from Christ’s crucifixion, used to express surprise or anger. bethump: to beat or thump soundly
Mad world! mad kings! mad composition!
--- King John II, i, 561
composition: agreement
, he that wins of all,
Of kings, of beggars, old men, young men, maids,
Who having no external thing to lose
But the word “maid,” cheats the poor maid of that,
--- King John II, i, 569
他占盡所有人的便宜，
國王、叫花子、老人、年輕人、處女，
處女除了「處女」的名聲之外
身無長物，他把這名聲也騙走了， win: gain the advantage of, get the better of who: i.e. the maids
That smooth-faced gentleman, tickling commodity,
Commodity, the bias of the world.
--- King John II, i, 573
那位笑面虎紳士，smooth-faced: having a bland, ingratiating expression, plausible in manner tickling: flattering commodity: self-interest, expediency
810
I will instruct my sorrows to be proud;
For grief is proud and makes his owner stoop.
--- King John III, i, 68
stoop: stooping, bent
Thou wear a lion’s hide! Doff it for shame,
And hang a calve’s-skin on those recreant limbs.
--- King John III, i, 128
Doff: put off. calve’s-skin: often worn by domestic fools and jesters. recreant: cowardly
Bell, book and candle shall not drive me back,
--- King John III, iii, 12
Bell, book and candle: used in the ritual of excommunication.
鈴鐸、聖經和蠟燭都無法把我趕回去。
Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale
Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man;
--- King John III, iv, 108
生命像乏味的 講了又講的故事，
煩擾一個愛睡的人 遲鈍的耳朵。Vex: disturb, agitate
(No, no;) when Fortune means to men most good,
She looks upon them with a threatening eye.
--- King John III, iv, 119
mean: to intend something
(And I will sit) as quiet as a lamb;
--- King John IV, i, 79
To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
To throw a perfume on the violet,
To smooth the ice, or add another hue
Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light
To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,
Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.
--- King John IV, ii, 11
taper: candle garnish: fit out, furnish
And oftentimes excusing of a fault
Doth make the fault the worse by the excuse:
--- King John IV, ii, 30
有時候替一件錯事 文過飾非
無異於給這件錯事 錯上加錯：
We cannot hold mortality’s strong hand.
--- King John IV, ii, 82
朕無法拉住死神強力的手腕。mortality: death
(Nay, but) make haste; the better foot before.
--- King John IV, ii, 170
要趕快；馬上去。make haste: act quickly. the better foot before: best foot forward; embark on a journey or task with purpose and gusto
820
The spirit of the time shall teach me speed.
--- King John IV, ii, 176
How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds
Makes deeds ill done!
--- King John IV, ii, 219
Heaven take my soul, and England keep my bones!
--- King John IV, iii, 10
上天接納我的靈魂，英國埋葬我的屍骨！
I am amazed, methinks, and lose my way
Among the thorns and dangers of this world.
--- King John IV, iii, 140
amazed: stunned
Be great in act, as you have been in thought.
--- King John V, i, 45
The day shall not be up so soon as I,
To try the fair adventure of to-morrow.
--- King John V, v, 21
adventure: hazard
I do not ask you much,
I beg cold comfort;
--- King John V, vii, 41
827
This England never did, nor never shall,
Lie at the proud foot of a conqueror,
--- King John V, vii, 112
