CJTranslations

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A stirring dwarf we do allowance give before a sleeping giant

PLAY: Troilus and Cressida
ACT/SCENE: 2.3
SPEAKER: Agamemnon
CONTEXT:
AGAMEMNON
Hear you, Patroclus:
We are too well acquainted with these answers:
But his evasion, winged thus swift with scorn,
Cannot outfly our apprehensions.
Much attribute he hath, and much the reason
Why we ascribe it to him; yet all his virtues,
Not virtuously on his own part beheld,
Do in our eyes begin to lose their gloss,
Yea, like fair fruit in an unwholesome dish,
Are like to rot untasted. Go and tell him,
We come to speak with him; and you shall not sin,
If you do say we think him over-proud
And under-honest, in self-assumption greater
Than in the note of judgement; and worthier than himself
Here tend the savage strangeness he puts on,
Disguise the holy strength of their command,
And underwrite in an observing kind
His humorous predominance; yea, watch
His pettish lunes, his ebbs, his flows, as if
The passage and whole carriage of this action
Rode on his tide. Go tell him this, and add,
That if he overhold his price so much,
We’ll none of him; but let him, like an engine
Not portable, lie under this report:
‘Bring action hither, this cannot go to war:
A stirring dwarf we do allowance give
Before a sleeping giant.’ Tell him so.

DUTCH:
Een dwerg, die goed zich roert, is meer ons waard
Dan eenig reus, die slaapt; ga, meld hem dit.

MORE:
Apprehensions=Comprehension, grasp
Attribute=Reputation
Unwholesome=Unhealthy
Like=Likely
Self-assumption=Self-regard, arrogance
Note=Observation
Tend=Attend, wait on
Savage=Uncivilised
Strangeness=Aloofness
Underwrite=Subscribe to
Observing=Compliant
Predominance=Superior power, influence
Humorous=Capricious
Pettish=Petulant
Lunes=Fits of madness (relating to the changing moons)
Action=Military campaign
Overhold=Overestimate
Stirring=Active
Compleat:
Apprehension=Bevatting, begryping; jaloezy, achterdogt
Attribute=Eigenschap
Unwholesom=Ongezond
Assumption=Aanmaatiging, aanneeming
To note=Merken, aanteykenen, aanmerken
To attend=Opwachten, verzellen
Savage=Woest, wild, wreed, ruuw
Strangeness=Vreemdheid
To underwrite=Onderschryven
Observant=Gedienstig, opmerkend, waarneemend, eerbiedig
Predominancy=Overheersching
Humoursom (humerous)=Eigenzinnig, koppig, styfhoofdig, eenzinnig
Pettish=Kribbig, korzel
Action=Een daad, handeling, rechtzaak, gevecht
Stirring=Beweeging, verroering

Topics: reputation, merit, pride, honesty, vanity

I have a young conception in my brain; be you my time to bring it to some shape

PLAY: Troilus and Cressida
ACT/SCENE: 1.3
SPEAKER: Ulysses
CONTEXT:
ULYSSES
I have a young conception in my brain;
Be you my time to bring it to some shape.
NESTOR
What is’t?
ULYSSES
This ’tis:
Blunt wedges rive hard knots: the seeded pride
That hath to this maturity blown up
In rank Achilles must or now be cropped,
Or, shedding, breed a nursery of like evil,
To overbulk us all.
NESTOR
Well, and how?
ULYSSES
This challenge that the gallant Hector sends,
However it is spread in general name,
Relates in purpose only to Achilles.

DUTCH:
Een jong ontwerp is in mijn brein verwekt;
Wees gij de tijd, die het tot rijpheid brengt.

MORE:
Proverb: A knotty piece of timber must have sharp wedges
Proverb: Blunt edges rive hard knots

Young conception=Germ of an idea
Blown=Swelled
Rank=Overgrown
Shedding=Dispersing its seeds
Compleat:
Conception=Bevatting
Rank (that shoots too many leaves or branches)=Weelig, dat te veel takken of bladen schiet
To grow rank=Al te weelit groeien
Shedding=Storting, vergieting

Topics: proverbs and idioms, plans/intentions, pride

I will not do’t, lest I surcease to honour mine own truth

PLAY: Coriolanus
ACT/SCENE: 3.2
SPEAKER: Coriolanus
CONTEXT:
CORIOLANUS
Well, I must do’t:
Away, my disposition, and possess me
Some harlot’s spirit! my throat of war be turn’d,
Which quired with my drum, into a pipe
Small as an eunuch, or the virgin voice
That babies lulls asleep! the smiles of knaves
Tent in my cheeks, and schoolboys’ tears take up
The glasses of my sight! a beggar’s tongue
Make motion through my lips, and my arm’d knees,
Who bow’d but in my stirrup, bend like his
That hath received an alms! I will not do’t,
Lest I surcease to honour mine own truth
And by my body’s action teach my mind
A most inherent baseness.
VOLUMNIA
At thy choice, then:
To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour
Than thou of them. Come all to ruin; let
Thy mother rather feel thy pride than fear
Thy dangerous stoutness, for I mock at death
With as big heart as thou. Do as thou list
Thy valiantness was mine, thou suck’dst it from me,
But owe thy pride thyself.

DUTCH:
Neen, ‘k wil ‘t niet doen,
Ik zou mijns harten waarheid zelf onteeren,
En door mijns lichaams kromming ook mijn geest
Tot eeuw’ge laagheid doemen.

MORE:
Tent=Camp
Surcease=Cease
Stoutness=Stubbornness
Compleat:
Surcease=Ophouden, staaken
Stoutness=(stiffness or sturdiness) Styfheid, onverzettelykheid, steiloorigheid

Topics: communication, persuasion, truth, pride

My scars can witness, dumb although they are, that my report is just and full of truth

PLAY: Titus Andronicus
ACT/SCENE: 5.3
SPEAKER: Lucius
CONTEXT:
LUCIUS
Then, noble auditory, be it known to you,
That cursed Chiron and Demetrius
Were they that murdered our emperor’s brother;
And they it were that ravished our sister:
For their fell faults our brothers were beheaded;
Our father’s tears despised, and basely cozened
Of that true hand that fought Rome’s quarrel out,
And sent her enemies unto the grave.
Lastly, myself unkindly banished,
The gates shut on me, and turned weeping out,
To beg relief among Rome’s enemies:
Who drowned their enmity in my true tears.
And oped their arms to embrace me as a friend.
I am the turned forth, be it known to you,
That have preserved her welfare in my blood;
And from her bosom took the enemy’s point,
Sheathing the steel in my adventurous body.
Alas, you know I am no vaunter, I;
My scars can witness, dumb although they are,
That my report is just and full of truth.
But, soft! methinks I do digress too much,
Citing my worthless praise: O, pardon me;
For when no friends are by, men praise themselves.

DUTCH:
Litteekens mogen stom zijn, toch getuigen
De mijne, dat ik zuiv’re waarheid spreek.

MORE:
Auditory=Listeners
Fell=Cruel
Cozened=Cheated
Fought out=Fought and settled
Vaunter=Boastful person
Patience=Endurance
Ragged=Rugged
Closure=End
Compleat:
Auditory=Een hoorplaats, gehoorplaaats
To speak before a great auditory=Voor eene groote menigte van toehoorderen redenvoeren
Fell (cruel)=Wreede, fel
To cozen=Bedriegen
To close=Overeenstemmen; besluiten; eindigen
To vaunt=Pochen, snorken, opsnuiven
Patience=Geduld, lydzaamheid, verduldigheid
To fight it out=Een geschil vechtenderhand beslissen

Topics: order/society, revenge, honesty, pride

No, this thrice worthy and right valiant lord must not so stale his palm, nobly acquired

PLAY: Troilus and Cressida
ACT/SCENE: 2.3
SPEAKER: Ulysses
CONTEXT:
ULYSSES
O Agamemnon, let it not be so!
We’ll consecrate the steps that Ajax makes
When they go from Achilles: shall the proud lord
That bastes his arrogance with his own seam
And never suffers matter of the world
Enter his thoughts, save such as do revolve
And ruminate himself, shall he be worshipped
Of that we hold an idol more than he?
No, this thrice worthy and right valiant lord
Must not so stale his palm, nobly acquired;
Nor, by my will, assubjugate his merit,
As amply titled as Achilles is,
By going to Achilles:
That were to enlard his fat already pride
And add more coals to Cancer when he burns
With entertaining great Hyperion.
This lord go to him! Jupiter forbid,
And say in thunder ‘Achilles go to him.’

DUTCH:
Neen, deze driewerf eed’le, dapp’re vorst
Moet zoo zijn schoon verworven palm niet vlekken

MORE:
Seam=Grease
Save=Except
Revolve=Consider
Ruminate=To muse, to meditate, to ponder
Of that=By one who
Stale=Sully
Palm=Virtue, reputation
Assubjugate=Debase
Compleat:
Seam=Uitgesmolten reuzel
Revolve=Overleggen, overdenken, omwentelen, ontuimelen
To revolve a thing in one’s mind=Iets in zyn gemoed overleggen, beraamen
To ruminate upon (to consider of) a thing=Eene zaak overweegen

Burgersdijk notes:
Bij ‘t gloeiend kreeftsgesternte. Als dit Hyperion, de zon, bij zich ontvangt, komt de warmste tijd van het jaar aan voor het noordelijk halfrond.

Topics: vanity, madness, pride

Now I begin to relish thy advice; and I will give a taste of it forthwith

PLAY: Troilus and Cressida
ACT/SCENE: 1.3
SPEAKER: Ulysses
CONTEXT:
ULYSSES
What glory our Achilles shares from Hector,
Were he not proud, we all should share with him:
But he already is too insolent;
And we were better parch in Afric sun
Than in the pride and salt scorn of his eyes,
Should he ‘scape Hector fair: if he were foiled,
Why then, we did our main opinion crush
In taint of our best man. No, make a lottery;
And, by device, let blockish Ajax draw
The sort to fight with Hector: among ourselves
Give him allowance for the better man;
For that will physic the great Myrmidon
Who broils in loud applause, and make him fall
His crest that prouder than blue Iris bends.
If the dull brainless Ajax come safe off,
We’ll dress him up in voices: if he fail,
Yet go we under our opinion still
That we have better men. But, hit or miss,
Our project’s life this shape of sense assumes:
Ajax employed plucks down Achilles’ plumes.
NESTOR
Ulysses,
Now I begin to relish thy advice;
And I will give a taste of it forthwith
To Agamemnon: go we to him straight.
Two curs shall tame each other: pride alone
Must tarre the mastiffs on, as ’twere their bone.

DUTCH:
Uw raad begint, Ulysses, mij te smaken;
En onverwijld wil ik dien Agamemnon
Te proeven geven;

MORE:
Proverb: Two curs shall tame (bite) each other
Proverb: Hit or miss

Salt=Bitter
Opinion=Reputation
Allowance=Acknowledgment
Taint of=Discrediting
Broils in=Is excited by
Dress up in voices=Sing the praises of
Tarre on=Incite
Compleat:
Opinion=Goeddunken, meening, gevoelen, waan
Allowance=Inschikkelykheid, toegeeflykheid
To attaint=Overtuigen van misdaad, schuldig verlaaren, betichten’ bevlekken, bederf aanzetten
Broil=Oproer, beroerte, gewoel

Topics: proverbs and idioms, still in use, pride, manipulation, advantage/benefit, conspiracy

The clock upbraids me with the waste of time

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.1
SPEAKER: Olivia
CONTEXT:
VIOLA
I pity you.
OLIVIA
That’s a degree to love.
VIOLA
No, not a grize. For ’tis a vulgar proof
That very oft we pity enemies.
OLIVIA
Why then methinks ’tis time to smile again.
O world, how apt the poor are to be proud!
If one should be a prey, how much the better
To fall before the lion than the wolf!
The clock upbraids me with the waste of time.
Be not afraid, good youth, I will not have you.
And yet when wit and youth is come to harvest,
Your wife is like to reap a proper man.
There lies your way, due west.

DUTCH:
De klok verwijt mij reeds mijn tijdverkwisting. —
Gerust, mijn jonge vriend, ik wil u niet;
Maar toch, zijn eenmaal geest en jeugd gerijpt,
Dan oogst uw gade in u een besten man.

MORE:
Degree=Step
Grize=Step, degree
Vulgar proof=Common experience
Proud=Turn down an offer
Proper=Handsome
Compleat:
Degree=Een graad, trap
Vulgar=(common) Gemeen
Proof=Getuigenis
Proud=Hovaardig, trots
Proper=Net, beknopt

Topics: pity, rivalty, pride

The force of his own merit makes his way

PLAY: King Henry VIII
ACT/SCENE: 1.1
SPEAKER: Abergavenny
CONTEXT:
NORFOLK
Surely, sir,
There’s in him stuff that puts him to these ends;
For, being not propp’d by ancestry, whose grace
Chalks successors their way, nor call’d upon
For high feats done to the crown; neither allied
For eminent assistants; but, spider-like,
Out of his self-drawing web, he gives us note,
The force of his own merit makes his way
A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys
A place next to the king.
ABERGAVENNY
I cannot tell
What heaven hath given him,—let some graver eye
Pierce into that; but I can see his pride
Peep through each part of him: whence has he that,
If not from hell? the devil is a niggard,
Or has given all before, and he begins
A new hell in himself.

DUTCH:
Want, niet gestut op voorgeslacht, welks glans
Den weg voor ‘t nakroost teekent, niet geroepen
Om grootsche daden, voor de kroon volbracht,
Aan hooge helpers niet verwant, maar als
De spin in ‘t web, door haar geweven, toont
Hij ons, dat hem de kracht van zijn verdienste
Zijn weg baant

MORE:
Stuff=Characteristics, substance
Propped=Propped up, lean on
Grace=Rank, distinction
Chalk=Marks (the path of)
Compleat:
Stuff=Stof, stoffe
Prop=Een stut, steun. To prop=Ondersteunen, stutten
Grace=Gunst, bevalligheid
To chalk=Bekryten, met kryt schetsen. To chalk out=Uytmerken, afteykenen

Burgersdijk notes:
Toont hij ons. In het Engelsch: he gives us note, zooals in de meeste uitgaven, volgens de verbetering van Capell gelezen wordt; de folio heeft hiervoor den tusschenzin: O give us note, als het ware „mark what I say”, welke door Knight voor de juiste lezing gehouden wordt.

Topics: fate/destiny, order/society, wisdom, merit, pride

Things small as nothing, for request’s sake only, he makes important

PLAY: Troilus and Cressida
ACT/SCENE: 2.3
SPEAKER: Ulysses
CONTEXT:
ULYSSES
Things small as nothing, for request’s sake only,
He makes important: possessed he is with greatness,
And speaks not to himself but with a pride
That quarrels at self-breath: imagined worth
Holds in his blood such swoln and hot discourse
That ‘twixt his mental and his active parts
Kingdomed Achilles in commotion rages
And batters down himself: what should I say?
He is so plaguy proud that the death-tokens of it
Cry ‘No recovery.’

DUTCH:
Iets klein als niets, zoodra dit hem gevraagd wordt,
Maakt hij gewichtig. Grootheid is zijn duivel;

MORE:
For request’s sake only=Only because they were asked
Possessed=As in by the devil
Self-breath=Speaking to himself
Commotion=Rebellion
Plaguy=Insufferably, sickeningly
Tokens=Indications, symptoms
Compleat:
Sake=Wille. For brevity’s sake=Om kortheids wille
Possessed=Bezeten zijn
Breath=Speech, i.e. pleading
Commotion=Beweeging, beroerte, oproer, oploop
Plaguy=Plaagachtig
Token=Teken, getuigenis; een geschenkje dat men iemand tot een gedachtenis geeft

Topics: vanity, madness, pride

When no friends are by, men praise themselves

DUTCH:
Doch stil! mij dunkt, te verre dwaal ik af,
Mijn luttel doen zoo roemend; — o, vergeeft,
Elk prijst, is hem geen vriend nabij, zichzelf.

Topics: order/society, revenge, honesty, pride