The Winter’s Tale: Act 2, Scene 2 Translation

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
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Paulina, a Gentleman, and Paulina’s Attendants. PAULINA, to Gentleman The keeper of the prison, call to him. Let him have knowledge who I am. Gentleman exits. Good lady, No court in Europe is too good for thee. What dost thou then in prison? 5 Enter Jailer, with the Gentleman. Now, good sir, You know me, do you not? JAILER For a worthy lady And one who much I honor. PAULINA Pray you then, 10 Conduct me to the Queen. JAILER I may not, madam. To the contrary I have express commandment.	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 Here’s ado, to lock up honesty and honor from Th’ access of gentle visitors. Is ’t lawful, pray you, 15 To see her women? Any of them? Emilia? JAILER So please you, madam, To put apart these your attendants, I Shall bring Emilia forth. PAULINA I pray now, call her.— 20 Withdraw yourselves. Attendants and Gentleman exit. JAILER And, madam, I must be present at your conference.	Fine, says Paulina, who asks to see Emilia, one of Hermione’s ladies, instead.
PAULINA Well, be ’t so, prithee. Jailer exits. Here’s such ado to make no stain a stain As passes coloring. 25 Enter Emilia with Jailer. Dear gentlewoman, How fares our gracious lady? EMILIA As well as one so great and so forlorn May hold together. On her frights and griefs, Which never tender lady hath borne greater, 30 She is something before her time delivered. PAULINA A boy? EMILIA A daughter, and a goodly babe, Lusty and like to live. The Queen receives Much comfort in ’t, says “My poor prisoner, 35 I am innocent as you.”	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. These dangerous unsafe lunes i’ th’ King, beshrew them! He must be told on ’t, and he shall. The office 40 Becomes a woman best. I’ll take ’t upon me. If I prove honey-mouthed, let my tongue blister And never to my red-looked anger be The trumpet anymore. Pray you, Emilia, Commend my best obedience to the Queen. 45 If she dares trust me with her little babe, I’ll show ’t the King and undertake to be Her advocate to th’ loud’st We do not know How he may soften at the sight o’ th’ child. The silence often of pure innocence 50 Persuades when speaking fails.	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, Your honor and your goodness is so evident That your free undertaking cannot miss A thriving issue. There is no lady living 55 So meet for this great errand. Please your Ladyship To visit the next room, I’ll presently Acquaint the Queen of your most noble offer, Who but today hammered of this design, But durst not tempt a minister of honor 60 Lest she should be denied. PAULINA Tell her, Emilia, I’ll use that tongue I have. If wit flow from ’t As boldness from my bosom, let ’t not be doubted I shall do good. 65 EMILIA Now be you blest for it! I’ll to the Queen. Please you come something nearer.	Emilia says that if anyone can convince Leontes, it’s Paulina who, apparently, has a way with words.
JAILER, to Paulina Madam, if ’t please the Queen to send the babe, I know not what I shall incur to pass it, 70 Having no warrant. PAULINA You need not fear it, sir. This child was prisoner to the womb, and is By law and process of great nature thence Freed and enfranchised, not a party to 75 The anger of the King, nor guilty of, If any be, the trespass of the Queen. JAILER I do believe it. PAULINA Do not you fear. Upon mine honor, I Will stand betwixt you and danger. 80 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.