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PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Malvolio
CONTEXT:
MARIA
How do you, Malvolio?
MALVOLIO
At your request! Yes, nightingales answer daws!
MARIA
Why appear you with this ridiculous boldness before my lady?
MALVOLIO
“Be not afraid of greatness.” ‘Twas well writ.

DUTCH:
“Wees niet schroomhartig voor grootheid.” Dat was
mooi gezegd.


MORE:
Proverb: I am no wiser than a daw

Daw=Jackdaw (thought to be a foolish bird)
Answer=Answer to
Boldness=Impudence
Compleat:
Jack daw=Een Bontekraay, met roode bek en pooten
Answer=Beantwoorden; antwoord geven
Boldness=Stoutheyd, koenheyd, vrymoedigheyd, onvertsaagheyd

Topics: proverbs and idioms, wisdom, order/society, civility

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.3
SPEAKER: Sir Toby
CONTEXT:
SIR TOBY BELCH
Approach, Sir Andrew. Not to be abed after midnight is to be up betimes, and diluculo surgere, thou know’st,—
SIR ANDREW
Nay, my troth, I know not. But I know to be up late is to be up late.
SIR TOBY BELCH
A false conclusion. I hate it as an unfilled can. To be up after midnight and to go to bed then, is early, so that to go to bed after midnight is to go to bed betimes. Does not our life consist of the four elements?
SIR ANDREW
Faith, so they say, but I think it rather consists of eating and drinking.
SIR TOBY BELCH
Thou’rt a scholar. Let us therefore eat and drink. Marian,
I say! A stoup of wine!

DUTCH:
Een verkeerde redeneering; ik haat die als een leêge
wijnkan. Op te zijn na middernacht en dan naar bed
te gaan, is vroeg; dus na middernacht naar bed te gaan
is tijdig naar bed te gaan. Bestaat ons leven niet uit
de vier elementen?

MORE:
Diluculo surgere=Part of a Latin proverb (‘diluculo surgere saluberrimum est’), meaning to get up at dawn is most healthy
Can=Mug, tankard
Four elements=Water, air, fire, earth
Stoup=Tankard
Compleat:
Cann=Kan
Element=Hoofdstoffe

Burgersdijk notes:
Diluculo surgere. De spreuk: „Diluculo surgere est saluberrimum”, ,Met het morgenkrieken opstaan is allergezondst”, komt in de spraakkunst van Lilly voor, en hieruit was zij Sh. wellicht bekend.

Topics: proverbs and idioms, life, order/society

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.1
SPEAKER: Fool
CONTEXT:
VIOLA
Save thee, friend, and thy music. Dost thou live by thy
tabor?
FOOL
No, sir, I live by the church.
VIOLA
Art thou a churchman?
FOOL
No such matter, sir. I do live by the church; for I do
live at my house, and my house doth stand by the church.
VIOLA
So thou mayst say the king lies by a beggar if a beggar
dwell near him, or the church stands by thy tabor, if
thy tabor stand by the church.
FOOL
You have said, sir. To see this age! A sentence is but
a cheveril glove to a good wit. How quickly the wrong
side may be turned outward!
VIOLA
Nay, that’s certain. They that dally nicely with words
may quickly make them wanton.

DUTCH:
Kijk dezen tijd toch eens! Een gezegde is voor een vluggen geest niets dan een zeemlederen handschoen: hoe snel is de verkeerde kant buiten te keeren!

MORE:
Live by=(1) Live from (2) Live near
Tabor=Drum
Cheveril (chev’ril)=Kid leather glove (which can be worn inside out)
Dally=Play
Nicely=Subtly, with the detail of
Wanton=Equivocal
Compleat:
Tabor=Tabret, zeker slach van een trommeltje
Cheveril=Een wilde Geit
Cheveril leather=Geiteleder, zeemleer
Dally=Dartelen, stoeijen; gekscheeren; beuzelen, tydverkwisten
To be nice in something=Keurig
To grow wanton with too much prosperity=In voorspoed weeldrig worden

Burgersdijk notes:
Met uw musiek. Men denke, dat de nar op zijn tamboerijn slaat. Een trommel of tamboerijn was het muziekinstrument der narren. — Viola vraagt den nar nu in het oorspronkelijke, of hij van de trommel leeft: dost thou live by thy tabor? Dit kan ook beteekenen: woont gij bij uw trommel ?” en
zoo verkiest de nar de vraag op te vatten.

Topics: fashion/trends, order/society, remedy, emotion and mood

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Sir Toby
CONTEXT:
SIR TOBY BELCH
[reads] “Fare thee well, and God have mercy upon one
of our souls. He may have mercy upon mine, but my hope
is better, and so look to thyself. Thy friend, as thou
usest him, and thy sworn enemy,
Andrew Aguecheek”
If this letter move him not, his legs cannot. I’ll give
’t him.
MARIA
You may have very fit occasion for ’t. He is now in
some commerce with my lady and will by and by depart.
SIR TOBY BELCH
Go, Sir Andrew. Scout me for him at the corner the
orchard like a bum-baily. So soon as ever thou seest
him, draw, and as thou drawest, swear horrible, for it
comes to pass oft that a terrible oath, with a
swaggering accent sharply twanged off, gives manhood
more approbation than ever proof itself would have
earned him. Away!

DUTCH:
Zoodra gij hem ontwaart, trek dan; en als gij trekt, vloek dan ontzettend; want het komt dikwijls voor, dat een verschrikkelijke vloek, op een snoevenden toon snijdend uitgekrijscht, aan de manhaftigheid meer bijval bezorgt, dan het beste proefstuk zou hebben ingeoogst.

MORE:
Hope=Hope of surviving
Usest=Treats
Commerce=Transaction, conversation
Scout=Look out for
Bum-bailie=Derogratory term for a bailiff who collected debts or arrested debtors, often from behind (also bum-baily, bum-bailiff)
Horrible=Horribly
Swaggering accent=Arrogant tone
Twanged=Uttered shrilly
Approbation=Credit
Proof=Trial
Compleat:
He was out of hope of life=Hy hoopte iniet langer te leeven
To use (treat)=Behandelen
Commerce=Gemeenschap, onderhandeling, ommegang
To scout up and down=Gins en weer gaan spieden
A bum-baiily=Een diender, luizevanger
Horribly=Op een schrikkelyke wyze, schroomelyk
To swagger=Snoeven, pochgen, snorken
Twang=Een schor geluid
Approbation=Goedkeuring
Proof=Beproeving

Topics: hope/optimism, fate/destiny, reputation, courage, appearance

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 4.2
SPEAKER: Malvolio
CONTEXT:
FOOL
Master Malvolio?
MALVOLIO
Ay, good fool.
FOOL
Alas, sir, how fell you besides your five wits?
MALVOLIO
Fool, there was never a man so notoriously abused: I
am as well in my wits, Fool, as thou art.
FOOL
But as well? Then you are mad indeed, if you be no
better in your wits than a fool.
MALVOLIO
They have here propertied me, keep me in darkness, send
ministers to me —asses!—and do all they can to face me
out of my wits.
FOOL
Advise you what you say. The minister is here.
Malvolio, Malvolio, thy wits the
heavens restore! Endeavor thyself to sleep, and leave
thy vain bibble-babble.

DUTCH:
Helaas, heerschap, hoe zijt ge toch uw verstand zoo
kwijt geraakt?

MORE:
Fall besides=Out of (lose your wits)
Five wits=Shakespeare distinguishes between the five senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch) and the five wits (see Sonnet 141). The five wits are said to be common wit (or common sense), imagination, fancy, estimation and memory.
Propertied=Treated, owned, ordered
Face (out of)=Bully
Out of my wits=Witless
Advise you=Take care
Compleat:
He is beside himself=Hy is buiten verstand
Property=Werktuig
The nature of his employment makes him a property to all the measures of the court=Den aart van zyne bediening maakt hem tot een werktuig in alle de maatregelen van ‘t Hof
To face out or down=(or to outface)=Iemand iets in het gezigt staande houden, of zo lang aanzien dat hy zyn oogen moet neerslaan
He makes me out of my wits=Hy maakt my dol

Topics: madness, punishment, abuse, innocence

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.3
SPEAKER: Sebastian
CONTEXT:
ANTONIO
I could not stay behind you. My desire,
More sharp than filèd steel, did spur me forth.
And not all love to see you, though so much
As might have drawn one to a longer voyage,
But jealousy what might befall your travel,
Being skilless in these parts, which to a stranger,
Unguided and unfriended, often prove
Rough and unhospitable. My willing love,
The rather by these arguments of fear,
Set forth in your pursuit.
SEBASTIAN
My kind Antonio,
I can no other answer make but thanks,
And thanks, and ever thanks. And oft good turns
Are shuffled off with such uncurrent pay.
But were my worth as is my conscience, firm,
You should find better dealing. What’s to do?
Shall we go see the relics of this town?

DUTCH:
Ik kan voor al uw zorg slechts dank u zeggen,
En dank, en altijd dank; vaak wordt een dienst,
Hoe groot, met die ongangb’re munt betaald;
Doch waar’ mijn kas zoo rijk, als ‘t hart in dank,
Dan vondt gij beter loon

MORE:
Proverb: One good turn asks (demands, requires) another

Unfriend as a noun dates back to the 12th or 13th century, its original meaning being ‘non-friend’ (though not necessarily enemy). Shakespeare first used unfriend as an adjective to mean loss of friendship in Twelfth Night (3.3) and King Lear (1.1).
Jealousy=Fear, concern
Skilless=Unfamiliar with
Rather=Sooner
Shuffled=Shrugged
Uncurrent=Worthless, not legal tender
Worth=Wealth
Conscience=Indebtedness
Firm=Substantial
Dealing=Treatment
Compleat:
Jealousy=Belgzucht, naayver, argwaan, volgyver, minnenyd, achterdocht
Skill=Eervaarenheyd, verstand, kennis
I have no skill in those things=Ik heb geen verstand van die dingen; in ben in die zaaken oneervaaren
The rather=The more quickly
To shuffle off a business=Een zaak afschuyven
Current=Loopende, gangbaar
Worth=Waarde, waardy
Conscience=Het geweeten, de conscientie
Firm=Vast, hecht
Dealing=Handeling

Topics: skill/talent, age/experience, loyalty, friendship, debt/obligation

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.2
SPEAKER: Viola
CONTEXT:
VIOLA
What country, friends, is this?
CAPTAIN
This is Illyria, lady.
VIOLA
And what should I do in Illyria?
My brother he is in Elysium.
Perchance he is not drown’d.—
What think you, sailors?
CAPTAIN
It is perchance that you yourself were saved.
VIOLA
O, my poor brother! And so perchance may he be.
CAPTAIN
True, madam. And, to comfort you with chance,
Assure yourself, after our ship did split,
When you and those poor number saved with you
Hung on our driving boat, I saw your brother,
Most provident in peril, bind himself,
Courage and hope both teaching him the practice,
To a strong mast that lived upon the sea,
Where, like Arion on the dolphin’s back,
I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves
So long as I could see.

DUTCH:
En wat kan ik nu in Illyrië doen?
Mijn broeder, ach! is in Elysium.
Maar toch, ‘t is moog’lijk, dat hij niet verdronk; —
Wat denkt ge er van, gij mannen van de zee?

MORE:
Illyria=Eastern Adriatic coast (probably not a real country)
Perchance=(1) Perhaps; (2) By chance
Arion=Greek poet and musician who was saved by dolphins
Chance=Possibility
Driving=Wind-driven
Provident=Prescient, prudent
Hold acquaintance with the waves=Stay afloat
Compleat:
Per chance=By geval
Chance=Voorval, geval, kans
Driving=Dryving, voortdryving, menning; dryvende
Provident=Voorzienig, voorzigtig

Topics: courage, risk

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 5.1
SPEAKER: Fool
CONTEXT:
OLIVIA
He shall enlarge him. Fetch Malvolio hither:
And yet, alas, now I remember me,
They say, poor gentleman, he’s much distract.
A most extracting frenzy of mine own
From my remembrance clearly banished his.
How does he, sirrah?
FOOL
Truly, madam, he holds Beelzebub at the staves’ end as
well as a man in his case may do. Has here writ a letter
to you. I should have given ’t you today morning, but
as a madman’s epistles are no gospels, so it skills not
much when they are delivered.
OLIVIA
Open ’t, and read it.
FOOL
Look then to be well edified when the fool delivers the
madman.“By the Lord, madam,”—
OLIVIA
How now? Art thou mad?

DUTCH:
Hier heb ik een brief van hem aan u; eigenlijk
had ik u dien van ochtend al moeten geven; maar, daar
dollemansbrieven geen evangeliën zijn, komt het er niet
veel op aan, wanneer zij besteld worden.

MORE:
Proverb: All is not gospel that comes out of his mouth

Enlarge=Release
Much distract=Deranged
Skill=Matter
It skills not much=It doesn’t make much difference
Look then=Be prepared
Well edified=Learn a lot
Compleat:
Distracted=(troubled) Ontsteld; (mad) Dul, krankzinnig; (rend) Gescheurd
To edify=Stichten, opbouwen

Topics: madness, language, communication

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.3
SPEAKER: Sir Andrew
CONTEXT:
MARIA
What a caterwauling do you keep here! If my lady have
not called up her steward Malvolio and bid him turn you
out of doors, never trust me.
SIR TOBY BELCH
My lady’s a Cataian. We are politicians, Malvolio’s a
Peg-a-Ramsey, and Three merry men be we. —Am not
I consanguineous? Am I not of her blood? Tillyvally!
“Lady”!
There dwelt a man in Babylon, lady, lady!
FOOL
Beshrew me, the knight’s in admirable fooling.
SIR ANDREW
Ay, he does well enough if he be disposed, and so do I too.
He does it with a better grace, but I do it more natural.

DUTCH:
Wat is dat hier voor een kattenconcert? Als de jonkvrouw
haren hofmeester Malvolio niet geroepen heeft om
u het huis uit te jagen, behoeft gij mij nooit meer te
gelooven.

MORE:
Politicians=Plotters
Peg-a-Ramsey=Song
Consanguineous=Blood relations
Tillyvally=Nonsense (interjection, like fiddlesticks)
Beshrew=Curse
Natural=Effortlessly
Compleat:
Consanguinity=Bloedvrindschap
Tilly-fally=Wisjewasje
Beshrew=Bekyven, vervloeken

Burgersdijk notes:
De jonkvrouw is een bagijntjen enz.
Er staat: My’lady ‘s a Cataian; we are politicians; Malvolio’s a Peg-a-Ramsey, , and „Three merry men are we” enz. Cataian is
Chinees, iemand uit Catai, zooals China in de middeleeuwen genoemd werd. Peg-a-Ramsey (Grietjen van Ramsey) is een volkslied, waarvan alleen de titel en de melodie bewaard zijn gebleven. Three merry men enz. komt meermalen als refrein in volksliederen voor. Het woord lady Jonkvrouw”, brengt aan jonker Tobias een volksliedjen in de gedachten: Of the godly constant wife Susanna, dat met de woorden: There dwelt a man in Babylon begint en in ieder couplet het refrein: Lady, Lady ! heeft, — Ook het volgende: “O! the twelfth day of December” is zeker uit een oud volkslied. — Evenzoo zijn de regels, die jonker Tobias en de Nar, bij afwisseling zingen, met de noodige wijziging ontleend aan een volkslied: Corydon’s Farewell to Phillis, dat in Percy’s Reliques of Ancient Poetry te vinden is, en dat een alleenspraak bevat van een verliefd jongeling, die bij zichzelven overlegt, of hij zijne weerbarstige geliefde zal laten loopen en bij andere meisjens troost zoeken, al of niet.

Topics: friendship, plans/intentions, skill/talent

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.4
SPEAKER: Orsino
CONTEXT:
ORSINO
Who saw Cesario, ho?
VIOLA
On your attendance, my lord, here.
ORSINO
Stand you a while aloof. Cesario,
Thou know’st no less but all. I have unclasped
To thee the book even of my secret soul.
Therefore, good youth, address thy gait unto her;
Be not denied access, stand at her doors,
And tell them there thy fixed foot shall grow
Till thou have audience.
VIOLA
Sure, my noble lord,
If she be so abandoned to her sorrow
As it is spoke , she never will admit me.
ORSINO
Be clamorous, and leap all civil bounds,
Rather than make unprofited return.

DUTCH:
Geen weig’ring schrikke u af, neem aan haar deur
Een plaats in en verklaar u daar geworteld,
Tot gij gehoor erlangt.

MORE:
Stand aloof=Keep your distance
Unclasped=Opened
On your attendance=At your service
Address=Direct
Gait=Steps
Grow=Take root (Fixed foot shall grow=Fig., plant yourself, do not move)
Civil bounds=Decency, civility
Unprofited=Unsuccessful, not having achieved the objective
Compleat:
Aloof=In de ruimte, van verre
To unclasp a boek=De slooten van een boek opdoen
Attendance=Opwachting, oppassing, behartiging; Een stoet van oppasssers, hofgezin, dienstbooden
Gait (gate)=Tred, gang. A majestic gate=Een deftige tred. Mincing gates=Een trippelende gang
Bounds=Landpaalen, grenzen, paalen
To surpass the bounds of modesty=De paalen der zeedigheid te buyten gaan

Topics: secrecy, respect, communication, persuasion

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 5.1
SPEAKER: Antonio
CONTEXT:
ORSINO
Notable pirate! Thou saltwater thief,
What foolish boldness brought thee to their mercies,
Whom thou, in terms so bloody and so dear,
Hast made thine enemies?
ANTONIO
Orsino, noble sir,
Be pleased that I shake off these names you give me.
Antonio never yet was thief or pirate,
Though, I confess, on base and ground enough,
Orsino’s enemy. A witchcraft drew me hither.
That most ingrateful boy there by your side
From the rude sea’s enraged and foamy mouth
Did I redeem. A wreck past hope he was.
His life I gave him and did thereto add
My love, without retention or restraint,
All his in dedication. For his sake
Did I expose myself, pure for his love,
Into the danger of this adverse town,
Drew to defend him when he was beset,
Where being apprehended, his false cunning,
Not meaning to partake with me in danger,
Taught him to face me out of his acquaintance,
And grew a twenty-years-removed thing
While one would wink, denied me mine own purse,
Which I had recommended to his use
Not half an hour before.

DUTCH:
Vergun mij, heer,
Die namen, mij gegeven, af te schudden;
Nooit was Antonio dief of roover;

MORE:
Notable=Notorious
Shake off=Refuse to accept
Base=Foundation, synonymous with ground
Hither=Here
Retention=Reservation
Pure=Purely
Meaning=Intending
Partake=Share
Face me out of his acquaintance=Deny knowing me
Recommended=Consigned
Compleat:
Notable=Merkelyk, uitneemend, zonderling, merkwaardig, berucht, vermaard
To shake off=Afschudden
Base (basis)=De grond, grondvest
Hither=Herwaards. Hither and thither=Herwaards en derwaards
You’ll find it at the hither end of the shelf=Gy zult het op dit end van de plank vinden
Retention=Ophouding, verstopping
Meaning=Meening; opzet
To partake=Deelachtig zyn, mede deelen, deel hebben
To face out or down=(or to outface)=Iemand iets in het gezigt staande houden, of zo lang aanzien dat hy zyn oogen moet neerslaan

Topics: reputation, defence, risk, betrayal, loyalty, offence

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 5.1
SPEAKER: Olivia
CONTEXT:
OLIVIA
Alas, it is the baseness of thy fear
That makes thee strangle thy propriety.
Fear not, Cesario. Take thy fortunes up.
Be that thou know’st thou art, and then thou art
As great as that thou fear’st.
O, welcome, father!
Father, I charge thee, by thy reverence,
Here to unfold (though lately we intended
To keep in darkness what occasion now
Reveals before ’tis ripe) what thou dost know
Hath newly passed between this youth and me.
PRIEST
A contract of eternal bond of love,
Confirmed by mutual joinder of your hands,
Attested by the holy close of lips,
Strengthened by interchangement of your rings,
And all the ceremony of this compact
Sealed in my function, by my testimony,
Since when, my watch hath told me, toward my grave
I have travelled but two hours.

DUTCH:
Helaas, het is de lafheid van uw angst,
Die u uw eigen ik verlooch’nen doet;
Vrees niets, Cesario; grijp slechts uw geluk;
Wees wat gij weet te zijn, dan zijt gij ook
Zoo groot als wat gij ducht.

MORE:
Strangle=Disguise
Propriety=Identity
Unfold=Explain
Occasion=Events
Joinder=Joining
Compact=Contract
Compleat:
Strangle=Verwurgen
Propriety=Eigenschap, eigendom
Unfold=Ontvouwen, open leggen
Occasion=Gelegenheyd, voorval, oorzaak
Compact=Verdrag, verding, verbond

Topics: deceit, identity, fate/destiny, promise

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.3
SPEAKER: Antonio
CONTEXT:
SEBASTIAN
I would not by my will have troubled you,
But, since you make your pleasure of your pains,
I will no further chide you.
ANTONIO
I could not stay behind you. My desire,
More sharp than filèd steel, did spur me forth.
And not all love to see you, though so much
As might have drawn one to a longer voyage,
But jealousy what might befall your travel,
Being skilless in these parts, which to a stranger,
Unguided and unfriended, often prove
Rough and unhospitable. My willing love,
The rather by these arguments of fear,
Set forth in your pursuit.

DUTCH:
Die zonder gids en vriend is, vaak zich ruw
En onherbergzaam toont. Mijn vuur’ge vriendschap,
Door zulk een grond tot vrees nog aangedreven,
Moest voort en ijlde u na.

MORE:

Unfriend as a noun dates back to the 12th or 13th century, its original meaning being ‘non-friend’ (though not necessarily enemy). Shakespeare first used unfriend as an adjective to mean loss of friendship in Twelfth Night (3.3) and King Lear (1.1).

Jealousy=Fear, concern
Skilless=Unfamiliar with
Rather=Sooner
Compleat:
Jealousy=Belgzucht, naayver, argwaan, volgyver, minnenyd, achterdocht
Skill=Eervaarenheyd, verstand, kennis
I have no skill in those things=Ik heb geen verstand van die dingen; in ben in die zaaken oneervaaren
The rather=The more quickly

Topics: skill/talent, age/experience, loyalty, friendship

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.3
SPEAKER: Maria
CONTEXT:
SIR TOBY BELCH
Fie, that you’ll say so! He plays o’ the
viol-de-gamboys, and speaks three or four languages word
for word without book, and hath all the good gifts of
nature.
MARIA
He hath indeed, almost natural, for besides that he’s a
fool, he’s a great quarreler, and but that he hath the
gift of a coward to allay the gust he hath in
quarreling, ’tis thought among the prudent he would
quickly have the gift of a grave.
SIR TOBY BELCH
By this hand, they are scoundrels and substractors that
say so of him. Who are they?
MARIA
They that add, moreover, he’s drunk nightly in your
company.

DUTCH:
Ja, hij was bij zijne geboorte al even begaafd als nu.
En bij al zijn onnoozelheid is hij een groot twistzoeker;
en had hij niet de gaaf van lafheid om tegen zijn twistzucht
op te wegen, dan zou hij, zooals verstandige lui
zeggen, wel spoedig de gaaf van een graf ontvangen.

MORE:
Viol-de-gambous=Corruption of viola da gamba, played like a cello.
Without book=From memory (implying perhaps that he cannot speak these languages properly)
Natural=Name for fools and clowns
Gust=Relish
Gift=Talent
Substractor=Detractor
Compleat:
Viol=Vedel, fiool
Gust=Smaak
A natural fool=Een geboren gek
Gift=Gaave, gift, begaafdheyd; geschenk
Substract=Aftrekken
Detractor=Een benaadeeler, verkorter, lasteraar

Burgersdijk notes:
Hij speelt basviool. He plays o’ the viol-de-gamboys. De viol-da-gamba was een soort van violoncello, met zes snaren, die tusschen de knieën geplaatst werd en vandaar den naam droeg; men denke aan het Nederlandsche knievedel.
Even begaafd. In ‘t Engelsch: almost natural: schier van nature; of ook: nagenoeg onnoozel.

Topics: language, communication, excess

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.5
SPEAKER: Fool
CONTEXT:
MARIA
You are resolute, then?
FOOL
Not so, neither, but I am resolved on two points.
MARIA
That if one break, the other will hold. Or, if both
break, your gaskins fall.
FOOL
Apt, in good faith, very apt. Well, go thy way. If Sir
Toby would leave drinking, thou wert as witty a piece of
Eve’s flesh as any in Illyria.
MARIA
Peace, you rogue, no more o’ that. Here comes my lady.
Make your excuse wisely, you were best.
FOOL
Wit, an ’t be thy will, put me into good
fooling! Those wits, that think they have thee, do very
oft prove fools. And I, that am sure I lack thee, may
pass for a wise man. For what says Quinapalus? “Better a
witty fool, than a foolish wit.”

DUTCH:
Beter een wijze nar, dan een dwaze wijze.

MORE:

Proverb: He that is wise in his own conceit is a fool
Proverb: The first chapter of fools is to hold themselves wise
Proverb: There is more hope of a fool than of him that is wise in his own eyes
Proverb: Every man is wise in his own conceit
Proverb: The wise man knows himself to be a fool, the fool thinks he is wise

Resolute=Firm
Resolved=Decided
Points=Issues
Gaskins=Breaches
Witty=Clever
You were best=You’d better
Wit=Intelligence
Quinapalus=Fool invents an apocryphal philosopher as an authority
Compleat:
Resolute=Onbeschroomd, onbeteuterd, onversaagd
Resolve (deliberation, decision)=Beraad, beslissing, uitsluitsel
Point=Punt, zaak (a material point=een punt/zaak van belang)
Witty=Verstandig, vernuftig, schrander
Wit (understanding)=Vinding, schranderheid, verstand

Burgersdijk notes:
Als jonker Tobias het drinken maar wilde laten. De nar heeft gemerkt, dat Maria het er op toelegt, met jonker Tobias te trouwen.
Quinapalus. Een door den nar uitgedachte oude wijsgeer.

Topics: proverbs and idoms, still in use, wisdom, intellect

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.3
SPEAKER: Sir Andrew
CONTEXT:
SIR TOBY BELCH
O knight, thou lackest a cup of canary. When did I see
thee so put down?
SIR ANDREW
Never in your life, I think, unless you see canary put
me down. Methinks sometimes I have no more wit than a
Christian or an ordinary man has. But I am a great eater
of beef, and I believe that does harm to my wit.
SIR TOBY BELCH
No question.
SIR ANDREW
An I thought that, I’d forswear it. I’ll ride home
tomorrow,
Sir Toby.
SIR TOBY BELCH
Pourquoi, my dear knight?
SIR ANDREW
What is “pourquoi”? Do, or not do? I would I had
bestowed that time in the tongues that I have in
fencing, dancing, and bear-baiting. O, had I but
followed the arts!

DUTCH:
Ik ben een groot liefhebber van rundvleesch, en
ik denk wel eens, of dit ook kwaad kan doen aan mijn
geest.

MORE:
Canary=Sweet wine originally from the Canary Islands
Put down=Defeated in argument
Christian=Ordinary man
Eater of beef=It was held at the time that beef dulled the wits
Tongues=Languages
Compleat:
Canary=Kanarische sek
The gift of tongues=De gaave der taale
To speak several tongues=Verscheiden taalen spreeken

Burgersdijk notes:
Liefhebber van rundvleesch. Jonker Andries heeft misschien wel eens gehoord, dat beefwitted „dom”
beteekent.

Topics: excess, learning/education, language, understanding

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.4
SPEAKER: Viola
CONTEXT:
ORSINO
And what’s her history?
VIOLA
A blank, my lord. She never told her love,
But let concealment, like a worm i’ the bud,
Feed on her damask cheek. She pined in thought,
And with a green and yellow melancholy
She sat like patience on a monument,
Smiling at grief. Was not this love indeed?
We men may say more, swear more, but indeed
Our shows are more than will, for still we prove
Much in our vows, but little in our love.

DUTCH:
Is wit papier. Nooit sprak zij van haar liefde; —
‘t Verbergen mocht, gelijk een worm de knop,
Haar wangen knagen, haar verdriet was stom.

MORE:
CITED IN LAW: In a direct quotation or ‘borrowed eloquence’ in Porter v Magill, Weeks v Magill [2001] UKHL 67, Lord Scott’s opening remarks (at [132]) noted that political corruption like “Like Viola’s ‘worm i’th bud” feeds upon democratic institutions from within” (Twelfth Night).
https://www.counselmagazine.co.uk/articles/quote-or-not-quote-…

Proverb: Grief pent up will break the heart
Proverb: Grief is lessened when imparted to others
Proverb: When shared, joy is doubled and sorrow halved

Damask=Pink and white (damask rose)
Patience on a monument=A statue depicting patience
Will=Passion
Still=Always
Compleat:
Damask=Damast. A Damask rose=Roos van Damast
Patience=Geduld, lydzaamheid, verduldigheid
Still=Steeds, gestadig, altyd

Topics: cited in law, proverbs and idioms, patience, appearance, promise, debt/obligation

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.1
SPEAKER: Olivia
CONTEXT:
OLIVIA
Oh, what a deal of scorn looks beautiful
In the contempt and anger of his lip!
A murderous guilt shows not itself more soon
Than love that would seem hid. Love’s night is noon.

Cesario, by the roses of the spring,
By maidhood, honor, truth, and everything,
I love thee so, that, maugre all thy pride,
Nor wit nor reason can my passion hide.
Do not extort thy reasons from this clause,
For that I woo, thou therefore hast no cause,
But rather reason thus with reason fetter.
Love sought is good, but given unsought better.

DUTCH:
O zij aan dezen grond geen stem gegund,
Dat gij, nu ik u aanzoek, zwijgen kunt.
Neen, zeg veeleer: wie zoekend liefde erlangt,
Smaakt heil, doch meer, wie ze ongevraagd ontvangt.

MORE:
Proverb: Love cannot be hid
Proverb: Murder will out

Maugre=Despite
Extort=Be forced to draw (a conclusion)
Reason with reason fetter=Win one argument with another
Compleat:
Maugre=In spyt van, tegen dank, ondanks
Extort=Afpersen, afdwingen, afknevelen, ontwringen
To fetter=Boeijen, in boeijen slaan, kluisteren

Topics: proverbs and idioms, love, reason

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.3
SPEAKER: Sir Toby
CONTEXT:
SIR TOBY BELCH
Out o’ tune, sir. You lie. Art any more than a steward?
Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall
be no more cakes and ale?
FOOL
Yes, by Saint Anne, and ginger shall be hot i’ the
mouth too.
SIR TOBY BELCH
Thou’rt i’ the right. Go, sir, rub your chain with
crumbs. A stoup of wine, Maria!.
Go rub your steward’s chain in some crumbs, sir. Maria, bring us more wine!
MALVOLIO
Mistress Mary, if you prized my lady’s favour at
anything more than contempt, you would not give means
for this uncivil rule. She shall know of it, by this
hand.

DUTCH:
Uit de maat, kerel? Gelogen. Zijt gij hier iets meer
dan hofmeester? Denkt gij, dat er, omdat gij zoo vroom
zijt, geen koeken en geen bier meer zullen zijn?

MORE:
CITED IN LAW: by UK Lord Justice Keene reflecting on a smoking ban, noting the reduction in patient enjoyment: “Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?”…

Proverb: Without ceres and bacchus Venus grows cold
Proverb: He may go shake his ears

Out o’ tune=False (words, not singing voice)
Cakes and ale=Used in church festivals, not liked by Puritans
Ginger=Used to spice ale
Rub crumbs=Metalware was cleaned by rubbing with crumbs
Means=Alcohol
Rule=Behaviour
Compleat:
To be out of tune=Van de wys zyn
Ginger=Gember, gengher
Crum or crumb=Kruym of kruym van brood
Crums=Kruymels

Burgersdijk notes:
Denkt gij, omdat gij zoo vroom zijt, enz. Er staat eigenlijk: „omdat gij deugdzaam zijt”, maar de plaats bevat duidelijk een aanval tegen de vromen, de puriteinen, die tegen de volksfeesten op oude heiligendagen, waarbij steeds koek en bier genuttigd werd, ijverden en ze als papistischeinstellingen wilden afschaffen. — De „gember”, die de Nar daarop, trots de puriteinen, in gebruik wil zien blijven, werd in de hoogere kringen veel gebezigd om wijn of bier, alsook taarten en pastijen te kruiden.
Schuur uw keten. De gouden keten, die Malvolio als hofmeester droeg.

Topics: cited in law, excess, proverbs and idioms

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 4.2
SPEAKER: Fool
CONTEXT:
FOOL
Master Malvolio?
MALVOLIO
Ay, good fool.
FOOL
Alas, sir, how fell you besides your five wits?
MALVOLIO
Fool, there was never a man so notoriously abused: I
am as well in my wits, Fool, as thou art.
FOOL
But as well? Then you are mad indeed, if you be no
better in your wits than a fool.
MALVOLIO
They have here propertied me, keep me in darkness, send
ministers to me —asses!—and do all they can to face me
out of my wits.
FOOL
Advise you what you say. The minister is here. [in the
voice of Sir Topas] Malvolio, Malvolio, thy wits the
heavens restore! Endeavor thyself to sleep, and leave
thy vain bibble-babble.

DUTCH:
Tracht eens te slapen en staak uw ijdel geklap!

MORE:
Fall besides=Out of (lose your wits)
Five wits=Shakespeare distinguishes between the five senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch) and the five wits (see Sonnet 141). The five wits are said to be common wit (or common sense), imagination, fancy, estimation and memory.
Propertied=Treated, owned, ordered
Face (out of)=Bully
Out of my wits=Witless
Advise you=Take care
Compleat:
He is beside himself=Hy is buiten verstand
Property=Werktuig
The nature of his employment makes him a property to all the measures of the court=Den aart van zyne bediening maakt hem tot een werktuig in alle de maatregelen van ‘t Hof
To face out or down=(or to outface)=Iemand iets in het gezigt staande houden, of zo lang aanzien dat hy zyn oogen moet neerslaan
He makes me out of my wits=Hy maakt my dol

Topics: madness, punishment, abuse, innocence

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.3
SPEAKER: Sir Toby
CONTEXT:
SIR TOBY BELCH
Excellent! I smell a device.
SIR ANDREW
I have ’t in my nose too.
SIR TOBY BELCH
He shall think, by the letters that thou wilt drop, that they come from my niece, and that she’s in love with him.
MARIA
My purpose is, indeed, a horse of that colour.

DUTCH:
Uitmuntend! ik krijg het in den neus.

MORE:
Proverb: A horse of another (that) colour
Proverb: A good horse cannot be of a bad colour (is never of an ill colour)

Smell=Sense
Device=Plot
Compleat:
To smell=Ruiken
I smell a rat (distrust)=Ik zie een slang in ‘t gras schuilen
To smell out=Uitvorschen, gewaar worden
Device=List; uytvindsel, gedichtsel

Topics: proverbs and idioms, plans/intentions, purpose

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.1
SPEAKER: Fool
CONTEXT:
FOOL
Foolery, sir, does walk about the orb like the sun. It
shines everywhere. I would be sorry, sir, but the fool
should be as oft with your master as with my mistress: I
think I saw your wisdom there.
VIOLA
Nay, an thou pass upon me, I’ll no more with thee.
Hold, there’s expenses for thee.

DUTCH:
Narrerij, heerschap, reist de wereld rond, evenals de
zon: zij schijnt overal. Het zou mij spijten, als de nar
niet even zoo dikwijls bij uwen meester was, als bij
mijne meesteres. Het komt mij voor, dat ik uwe wijsheid
daar heb gezien.

MORE:
Proverb: The sun shines upon all alike

Orb=Globe, earth (the Ptolemaic view of the universe where the sun orbited the Earth, was still loosely accepted at the time, although there was mounting evidence to the contrary)
An=If
Pass upon=Give an opinion of
Compleat:
Orb=Een kloot, rond, hemelkring
To pass judgment upon=Veroordeelen
To pass approbation=Goedkeuren

Topics: proverbs and idioms, equality, nature

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.5
SPEAKER: Olivia
CONTEXT:
OLIVIA
Make your proof.
FOOL
I must catechise you for it, madonna. Good my mouse of
virtue, answer me.
OLIVIA
Well, sir, for want of other idleness, I’ll bide your
proof.
FOOL
Good madonna, why mournest thou?
OLIVIA
Good fool, for my brother’s death.
FOOL
I think his soul is in hell, madonna.
OLIVIA
I know his soul is in heaven, fool.
FOOL
The more fool, madonna, to mourn for your brother’s
soul being in heaven. Take away the fool, gentlemen.

DUTCH:
Nu, sinjeur, ik heb op ‘t oogenblik niets beters te
doen, daarom wil ik mij uw bewijs getroosten.

MORE:
Proverb: He is well since he is in heaven

Catechise=Question (Catechism is a summary of doctrine, taught through question and answer)
Idleness=Pastime
Bide=Await
Compleat:
To catechize=In ‘t geloof onderwijzen
Idleness=Luyheyd, traagheyd, leediggang, ledigheyd

Topics: proverbs and idioms, evidence, wisdom

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.3
SPEAKER: Maria
CONTEXT:
MALVOLIO
Mistress Mary, if you prized my lady’s favour at
anything more than contempt, you would not give means
for this uncivil rule. She shall know of it, by this
hand.
MARIA
Go shake your ears!
SIR ANDREW
‘Twere as good a deed as to drink when a man’s
a-hungry, to challenge him the field and then to break
promise with him and make a fool of him.
SIR TOBY BELCH
Do ’t, knight. I’ll write thee a challenge. Or I’ll
deliver thy indignation to him by word of mouth.

DUTCH:
Ga en schud uw ooren, zooveel gij wilt.

MORE:

Proverb: Without ceres and bacchus Venus grows cold
Proverb: He may go shake his ears

Means=Alcohol
Rule=Behaviour
The field=A duel
Compleat:
Contempt=Verachting, versmaading, versmaadheyd
To take the field=Te velde trekken of gaan, ten stryde gaan

Topics: cited in law, excess, proverbs and idioms

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.2
SPEAKER: Sir Toby
CONTEXT:
SIR TOBY BELCH
Why, then, build me thy fortunes upon the basis of
valour. Challenge me the count’s youth to fight with him.
Hurt him in eleven places. My niece shall take note of
it, and assure thyself, there is no love-broker in the
world can more prevail in man’s commendation with woman
than report of valour.
FABIAN
There is no way but this, Sir Andrew.
SIR ANDREW
Will either of you bear me a challenge to him?
SIR TOBY BELCH
Go, write it in a martial hand. Be curst and brief. It
is no matter how witty, so it be eloquent and full of
invention. Taunt him with the licence of ink. If thou
“thou”-est him some thrice, it shall not be amiss; and
as many lies as will lie in thy sheet of paper, although
the sheet were big enough for the bed of Ware in
England, set ’em down. Go, about it. Let there be gall
enough in thy ink, though thou write with a goose-pen,
no matter. About it.

DUTCH:
Ga, schrijf ze met een martiale hand; wees vinnig en
kort; op geestigheid komt het niet aan, als zij maar welsprekend en vol vinding is; beleedig hem zooveel als
de inkt maar toelaat;

MORE:
Proverb: A curst cur must be tied short

Curst=Terse
Brief=Short, succinct
Invention=Originality, ideas
Licence of ink=Freedom afforded by writing
Gall=Oak-gall, used in ink
Goose-pen=Quill (the goose being regarded as cowardly)
Compleat:
Curst=Vervloekt
Brief=Kort
Invention=Vinding
Gall=Gal. (1) Bitter as gall=Zo bitter als gal (2) To gall=Benaauwen (Den vyand benaauwen…)

Burgersdijk notes:
Op uw stuk papier, al ware dit zoo groot als het laken van het familiebed te Ware in Engeland. In eene herberg te Ware, in het graafschap Hartfordshire, stond een bed, waarin tegelijk twaalf mannen en twaalf vrouwen konden liggen; liet wordt ook elders als een merkwaardigheid genoemd. In ‘t Engelsch beteekent sheet zoowel een vel papier als een beddelaken; deze woordspeling was natuur
niet over te brengen.
Gal in uw inkt. Ossegal was een hoofdbestanddeel van inkt, zie “Cymbeline” 1.1.

Topics: proverbs and idioms, clarity/precision, language, reputation

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.3
SPEAKER: Malvolio
CONTEXT:
MALVOLIO
My masters, are you mad? Or what are you? Have you no
wit, manners, nor honesty but to gabble like tinkers at
this time of night? Do you make an alehouse of my lady’s
house, that you squeak out your coziers’ catches
without any mitigation or remorse of voice? Is there no
respect of place, persons, nor time in you?
SIR TOBY BELCH
We did keep time, sir, in our catches. Sneck up!
MALVOLIO
Sir Toby, I must be round with you. My lady bade me
tell you, that, though she harbors you as her kinsman,
she’s nothing allied to your disorders. If you can
separate yourself and your misdemeanors, you are welcome
to the house. If not, an it would please you to take
leave of her, she is very willing to bid you farewell.

DUTCH:
Heeren, zijt gij gek? of wat zijt gij? Hebt gij geen
begrip meer, geen manieren of betamelijkheid, dat gij
schreeuwt als ketellappers op dit uur van de nacht?

MORE:
Wit=Intellect
Honesty=Decency
Cozier=Cobbler
Mitigation or remorse=Lowering
Sneck up=Hang yourself
Round=Straight, speak plainly
Compleat:
Wit (understanding)=Vinding, schranderheid, verstand
Honesty=Eerbaarheid, vroomheid
Remorse=Knaaging, wroeging, berouw
Mitigation=Verzachting, verzoeting
Roundly=(Honestly, sincerely): Oprechtelyk, voor de vuist

Topics: respect, honesty, civility, excess

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.2
SPEAKER: Maria
CONTEXT:
FABIAN
And his opposite, the youth, bears in his visage no
great presage of cruelty.
SIR TOBY BELCH
Look where the youngest wren of nine comes.
MARIA
If you desire the spleen, and will laugh yourself into
stitches, follow me. Yond gull Malvolio is turned
heathen, a very renegado. For there is no Christian that
means to be saved by believing rightly can ever believe
such impossible passages of grossness. He’s in yellow
stockings.
SIR TOBY BELCH
And cross-gartered?
MARIA
Most villanously, like a pedant that keeps a school i’
the church. I have dogged him, like his murderer. He
does obey every point of the letter that I dropped to
betray him. He does smile his face into more lines than
is in the new map with the augmentation of the Indies.
You have not seen such a thing as ’tis. I can hardly
forbear hurling things at him. I know my lady will
strike him. If she do, he’ll smile and take ’t for a
great favor.

DUTCH:
Hij volgt elk punt van den brief, dien ik neergeworpen
heb om hem te foppen: hij lacht meer lijnen in
zijn gezicht dan er op de nieuwe wereldkaart, waar de
Indiën op staan, te vinden zijn

MORE:

Gull=A person easily deceived, a dupe, a fool
The spleen=An uncontrollable fit (here of laughter)
Grossness=Exaggeration
Pedant=Teacher
More lines=Rhumb lines used to navigate that criss-cross the map
Augmentation=Probably with the addition of the East Indies
Compleat:
Gull=Bedrieger
To gull=Bedriegen, verschalken. You look as if you had a mind to gull me=Hete schynt of gy voorneemens waart om my te foppen
Grossness=Grofheid, plompheid
Een pedant=Een kindermeester, schoolmeester
Augmentation=Vermeerdering, toeneeming

Burgersdijk notes:
Hij lacht meer lijnen in zijn gezicht enz. Hoogstwaarschijnlijk een toespeling op de nieuwe wereldkaart, die bij de vertaling van Linschoten’s reizen in 1598 verschenen was en waarop voor het eerst de eilanden van den Oost-Indischen Archipel geteekend waren. De kaart is overal met lijnen doorsneden om de streken van het kompas aan te geven.

Topics: gullibility, appearance

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 5.1
SPEAKER: Olivia
CONTEXT:
FABIAN
Good madam, hear me speak,
And let no quarrel nor no brawl to come
Taint the condition of this present hour,
Which I have wonder’d at. In hope it shall not,
Most freely I confess, myself and Toby
Set this device against Malvolio here,
Upon some stubborn and uncourteous parts
We had conceived against him. Maria writ
The letter at Sir Toby’s great importance,
In recompense whereof he hath married her.
How with a sportful malice it was followed,
May rather pluck on laughter than revenge,
If that the injuries be justly weighed
That have on both sides passed.
OLIVIA
Alas, poor fool, how have they baffled thee!
FOOL
Why, “some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrown upon them.” I was one, sir, in this interlude, one Sir Topas, sir, but that’s all one.
“By the Lord, fool, I am not mad.”—But do you remember? “Madam, why laugh you at such a barren rascal; an you smile not, he’s gagged?” and thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges.
MALVOLIO
I’ll be revenged on the whole pack of you.
OLIVIA
He hath been most notoriously abused.

DUTCH:
Voorwaar, hij is verschrikk’lijk boos gefopt.

MORE:
Taint=Blemish
Uncourteous parts=Uncivil aspects
Condition=Situation
Conceived against=Discerned in
Importance=Importuning
Pluck on=Induce
Baffled=Humiliated
Interlude=Comedy
Whirligig=Spinning top, merry-go-round
Compleat:
To taint (attaint)=Overtuigen van misdaad, schuldig verklaaren, betichten; bevlekken, bederf aanzetten
Attainted=Overtuigd van misdaad, misdaadig verklaard
Uncourteous=Onbeleefd, onheusch
Condition=Staat, gesteltenis. gelegenheyd
Conceive=Bevatten, begrypen, beseffen, zich inbeelden; scheppen
To importune=Lastig vallen, zeer dringen, gestadig aanhouden, overdringen, aandringen
To pluck=Rukken, plukken
To baffle=Beschaamd maaken
Whirligig=Een kinder meulentje of draaitolletje

To taint (attaint)=Overtuigen van misdaad, schuldig verklaaren, betichten; bevlekken, bederf aanzetten

Topics: madness, reputation, leadership, status, honour, conspiracy

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.5
SPEAKER: Maria
CONTEXT:
MARIA
Get you all three into the boxtree. Malvolio’s coming down this walk. He has been yonder i’ the sun practising behavior to his own shadow this half hour. Observe him, for the love of mockery, for I know this letter will make a contemplative idiot of him. Close, in the name of jesting!
Lie thou there (throwing down a letter), for here comes the trout that must be caught with tickling.
MALVOLIO
‘Tis but fortune, all is fortune. Maria once told me she did affect me, and I have heard herself come thus near, that, should she fancy, it should be one of my complexion. Besides, she uses me with a more exalted respect than anyone else that follows her. What should I think on ’t?

DUTCH:
Doodstil, in den naam van alles wat potsig is! (De mannen verbergen zich.) Lig daar, gij! (Zij werpt een brief neer.) want hier komt de forel, die door kitteling gevangen moet worden.

MORE:
Proverb: To catch one like a trout with tickling

Boxtree=Box hedge (buxus sempervirens)
Behaviour=Gestures
Contemplative=Staring vacantly
Tickling=Flattering
Affect=Fond of
Complexion=Temperament
Follow=Serve
Compleat:
Box-tree=Box-boom, palm
Behaviour=Gedrag, handel en wandel, ommegang, aanstelling
Contemplative=Beschouwelyk
To tickle (please or flatter)=Streelen, vleijen
Affect=Liefde toedragen, ter harte gaan, beminnen
Complexion=Aardt, gesteltenis, gesteldheyd
To follow (wait upon)=Volgen, vergezellen, van ‘t gevolg zyn

Burgersdijk notes:
De forel, die door kitteling gevangen moet worden. Steevens haalt hierbij de volgende plaats aan uit Cogan’s Haven of Health (1595): This fish of nature loveth flatterie: for being in the water it will suffer it selfe to be rubbed and clawed , and so to be taken.

Topics: proverbs and idioms, patience, plans/intentions, vanity

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.2
SPEAKER: Sir Andrew
CONTEXT:
SIR TOBY BELCH
Come, we’ll have him in a dark room and bound. My niece
is already in the belief that he’s mad. We may carry it
thus, for our pleasure and his penance, till our very
pastime, tired out of breath, prompt us to have mercy on
him, at which time we will bring the device to the bar
and crown thee for a finder of madmen. But see, but see!
FABIAN
More matter for a May morning.
SIR ANDREW
Here’s the challenge, read it.
Warrant there’s vinegar and pepper in ’t.
FABIAN
Is ’t so saucy?
SIR ANDREW
Ay, is ’t, I warrant him. Do but read.

DUTCH:
Daar is de uitdaging; leest ze; ik verzeker u, er is
peper en azijn in.

MORE:
Dark room and bound=Treatment for madness
Carry it=Continue
To the bar=Into the open (bringing a case to court to be resolved)
Matter=Material
Saucy=Insolent
Compleat:
To carry=Draagen, voeren, brengen
The bar=Een rechtbank
Matter=Stoffe, zaak, oorzaak
Saucy=Stout, onbeschaamd, baldaadig

Topics: complaint, plans/intentions, madness

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Olivia
CONTEXT:
OLIVIA
I have sent after him. He says he’ll come.
How shall I feast him? What bestow of him?
For youth is bought more oft than begged or borrow’d.
I speak too loud.
Where’s Malvolio? He is sad and civil
And suits well for a servant with my fortunes.
Where is Malvolio?
MARIA
He’s coming, madam; but in very strange manner. He is
sure possessed, madam.
OLIVIA
Why, what’s the matter? Does he rave?
MARIA
No, madam, he does nothing but smile. Your ladyship
were best to have some guard about you if he come, for
sure the man is tainted in ’s wits.
OLIVIA
Go call him hither.
I am as mad as he,
If sad and merry madness equal be.

DUTCH:
Ik ben even dol als hij,
Zoo dolheid droef kan zijn, zoowel als blij.

MORE:
Bestow=Gifts
Sad=Serious
Civil=Respectful
Possessed=As in by the devil
Tainted=Infected, impaired
Compleat:
To bestow=Besteeden, te koste hangen
Sad=Droevig
Civil=Heusch, beleefd
Possessed=Bezeten zijn
To taint (attaint)=Overtuigen van misdaad, schuldig verklaaren, betichten; bevlekken, bederf aanzetten

Topics: emotion and mood, madness, civility

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.1
SPEAKER: Fool
CONTEXT:
FOOL
Why, sir, her name’s a word, and to dally with that
word might make my sister wanton. But, indeed, words are
very rascals since bonds disgraced them.
VIOLA
Thy reason, man?
FOOL
Troth, sir, I can yield you none without words, and
words are grown so false, I am loath to prove reason
with them.
VIOLA
I warrant thou art a merry fellow and carest for
nothing.
FOOL
Not so, sir, I do care for something. But in my
conscience, sir, I do not care for you. If that be to
care for nothing, sir, I would it would make you invisible.
VIOLA
Art not thou the Lady Olivia’s fool?
FOOL
No, indeed, sir; the Lady Olivia has no folly. She will
keep no fool, sir, till she be married, and fools are
as like husbands as pilchards are to herrings; the
husband’s the bigger: I am indeed not her fool, but her
corrupter of words.

DUTCH:
Ik ben eigenlijk niet haar nar,
maar haar woordverdraaier.

MORE:
Wanton=Equivocal
Bonds=Contracts
Disgraced=Replaced (and that being necessary, dishonoured)
Compleat:
To grow wanton with too much prosperity=In voorspoed weeldrig worden
Bond=Verbinding, obligatie
Disgrace (discredit, dishonour or reproach)=Smaadheid, schande, hoon

Burgersdijk notes:
Woorden zijn zoo valsch geworden enz. Het spelen met woorden, het spitsvondig verdraaien van hunne beteekenis in de gesprekken, in welk opzicht de een den ander zocht te overtreffen om het laatste woord te hebben, was in Sh.’s tijd zeer in zwang; niet minder het versmaden van de gewone en eenvoudige wijze van spreken, en het bezigen van gezochte, bloemrijke, vaak duistere uitdrukkingen, met andere woorden het Euphuisme, naar Lilly’s twee boeken, waarin Euphues de held is, zoo genoemd; het gesprek van Viola met jonker Tobias kan er een klein voorbeeld van geven.

Topics: reason, language, evidence, clarity/precision, understanding

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.3
SPEAKER: Sir Toby
CONTEXT:
SIR TOBY BELCH
What a plague means my niece, to take the death of her brother thus? I am sure care’s an enemy to life.
MARIA
By my troth, Sir Toby, you must come in earlier o’ nights. Your cousin, my lady, takes great exceptions to your ill hours.
SIR TOBY BELCH
Why, let her except, before excepted.
MARIA
Ay, but you must confine yourself within the modest limits of order.
SIR TOBY BELCH
Confine? I’ll confine myself no finer than I am. These clothes are good enough to drink in, and so be these boots too. An they be not, let them hang themselves in their own straps.

DUTCH:
Wat weêrgá, welk een inval toch van mijn nicht, zich
den dood van haren broeder zoo aan te trekken? Ik
ben overtuigd, dat kommer het leven verkort.

MORE:
Proverb: Care will kill a cat
Proverb: Care brings grey hair
Proverb: Some complain to prevent complaint

Except before excepted=With the stated exceptions (Exceptis excipiendis)
Modest=Moderate, reasonable
Limits of order=Bounds of behaviour
Confine=Limit
Finer=More refined
Compleat:
Except=Uytzonderen, uytsluyten
Modest=Zeedig, eerbaar
Quite out of order=Geheel uyt zyn schik
Confined=Bepaald, bedwongen; gevangen
Fine=Mooi, fraai, fyn, schoon

Burgersdijk notes:
Het hindert niet. Natuurlijk moesten de woordspelingen met eenige vrijheid overgebracht worden. Hier staat in ‘t Engelsen, in antwoord op het door Maria gebezigde woord exception: ,Let her except, before excepted.” Except is de rechtsuitdrukking voor het wraken van getuigen. Verkiest men het woord afkeuren, dat alsdan ook door Maria gebruikt moet zijn, dan wordt dit: ,Laat haar afkeuren, voor zijzelf afgekeurd wordt “; dan is de vertaler iets nader gebleven aan het oorspronkelijke, maar daarentegen had jonker Tobias dan de woorden niet in een anderen zin gebruikt dan Maria, en dus ware de vertaling uit dit oogpunt weer minder getrouw. Nihil ex omni parte beatum.

Topics: proverbs and idioms, concern , order/societyvirtue

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Viola
CONTEXT:
ANTONIO
I must entreat of you some of that money.
VIOLA
What money, sir?
For the fair kindness you have showed me here,
And part being prompted by your present trouble,
Out of my lean and low ability
I’ll lend you something. My having is not much.
I’ll make division of my present with you.
Hold, there’s half my coffer.
ANTONIO
Will you deny me now?
Is ’t possible that my deserts to you
Can lack persuasion? Do not tempt my misery,
Lest that it make me so unsound a man
As to upbraid you with those kindnesses
That I have done for you.
VIOLA
I know of none,
Nor know I you by voice or any feature.
I hate ingratitude more in a man
Than lying, vainness, babbling, drunkenness,
Or any taint of vice whose strong corruption
Inhabits our frail blood—

DUTCH:
Ik haat ondankbaarheid meer in een man,
Dan valschheid, trots, praatziekte, dronkenschap,
Of een’ge boosheid, die ons zwak gemoed
Vergiftigt en bederft.

MORE:
Proverb: Ingratitude comprehends all faults

Part=In part, partly
Present=Current (money) trouble
Coffer=Money chest
Persuasion=Persuasiveness
Unsound=Unprincipled
Upbraid=Reproach
Compleat:
Part=Een deel, gedeelte
Coffer=Een koffer, kist
Persuasion=Overreeding, overtuiging, overstemming, aanraading, wysmaaking
Unsound (corrupt, rotten)=Bedurve, verrot, ongaaf
To upbraid=Verwyten, smaadelyk toedryven

Topics: proverbs and idioms, money, debt/obligation, ingratitude

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Viola
CONTEXT:
SIR TOBY BELCH
He is knight, dubbed with unhatched rapier and on
carpet consideration, but he is a devil in private
brawl. Souls and bodies hath he divorced three, and his
incensement at this moment is so implacable that
satisfaction can be none but by pangs of death and
sepulchre. Hob, nob, is his word. “Give ’t or take ’t.”
VIOLA
I will return again into the house and desire some
conduct of the lady. I am no fighter. I have heard of
some kind of men that put quarrels purposely on others,
to taste their valour. Belike this is a man of that
quirk.
SIR TOBY BELCH
Sir, no. His indignation derives itself out of a very
competent injury. Therefore get you on and give him his
desire. Back you shall not to the house, unless you
undertake that with me which with as much safety you
might answer him. Therefore on, or strip your sword
stark naked, for meddle you must, that’s certain, or
forswear to wear iron about you.
VIOLA
This is as uncivil as strange. I beseech you, do me
this courteous office, as to know of the knight what my
offence to him is. It is something of my negligence,
nothing of my purpose.

DUTCH:
Ik heb wel gehoord van een soort van lieden, die opzettelijk met anderen twist zoeken om hun moed te toetsen; waarschijnlijk is hij een man van zulk een luim.

MORE:
Unhatched=Unscratched (unused)
Carpet consideration=Courtly reasons (rather than military)
Hob nob=Have or have not, all or nothing, klll or be killed
Word=Motto
Conduct=Escort
Taste=Test
Belike=Likely
Quirk=Humour, disposition
Competent=Real, sufficient (in law)
Meddle=Engage in duel
Compleat:
Hatched=Kruiswys bewerkt (as a sword hilt)
A carpet knight=Een wittebroods kind
Conduct=Bestieren, geleyden
Taste=Proeven
Quirk=Een duister loopje, doortrapte bewoording
Full of quirks and quiddities=Vol van dubbelzinnige loopjes en haairklooveryen
Competent=Bekwaam, bevoegd, behoorlyk
To meddle=Bemoeijen, moeijen

Topics: law/legal, lawyers, language, dispute

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.3
SPEAKER: Sir Toby
CONTEXT:
SIR TOBY BELCH
Possess us, possess us, tell us something of him.
MARIA
Marry, sir, sometimes he is a kind of puritan.
SIR ANDREW
O, if I thought that, I’d beat him like a dog!
SIR TOBY BELCH
What, for being a puritan? Thy exquisite reason, dear
knight?
SIR ANDREW
I have no exquisite reason for ’t, but I have reason
good enough.
MARIA
The devil a puritan that he is, or anything constantly,
but a time-pleaser; an affectioned ass that cons state
without book and utters it by great swaths; the best
persuaded of himself, so crammed, as he thinks, with
excellencies, that it is his grounds of faith that all
that look on him love him. And on that vice in him will
my revenge find notable cause to work.

DUTCH:
Ik heb er nu juist geen uitgelezen grond voor, maar
mijn grond is goed genoeg.

MORE:
Possess=Tell, impart information
Puritan=Member of the Protestant reforming party; claiming to have high moral ideals (including disapproval of the theatre and drinking)
Exquisite=Excellent
Time-pleaser=One who follows the fashion/opinion of the time
Affectioned=Affected
Cons=Memorizes
State=Dignity, deportment
Swaths (swathes, swarths)=Masses (from the hay cut by a scythe)
Best persuaded=High opinion
Compleat:
To possess one with an opinion=Iemand tot een gevoelen overbaalen, voorinnemen
Puritan (one who pretends to a purity of doctrine and worship beyond all other protestants and therefore declines a communion with the Church of England) De fynste Hervormdsgezinden onder de Protestanten van Groot-Brittanje
A puritan (or hypocrite)=Fymelaar, geveinsde
Exquisite=Uittgeleezxen, uitgezocht, keurlyk, raar
To conn=Zyne lesse kennen, of van buiten leeren
To take state upon one=Zich trots aanstellen, het zeil in top haalen
Swathe (of g rass)=Een zwaade (of regel) van afgemaaid gras
Swathed=Gezwachteld, gebakerd
Persuaded=Overreed, overstemd, overtuigd, aangeraaden, wysgemaakt

Topics: status, evidence, reason, flaw/fault

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.4
SPEAKER: Duke Orsino
CONTEXT:
ORSINO
Who saw Cesario, ho?
VIOLA
On your attendance, my lord, here.
ORSINO
Stand you a while aloof. Cesario,
Thou know’st no less but all. I have unclasped
To thee the book even of my secret soul.
Therefore, good youth, address thy gait unto her;
Be not denied access, stand at her doors,
And tell them there thy fixed foot shall grow
Till thou have audience.
VIOLA
Sure, my noble lord,
If she be so abandoned to her sorrow
As it is spoke she never will admit me.
ORSINO
Be clamorous, and leap all civil bounds,
Rather than make unprofited return.

DUTCH:
Cesario,
Gij weet reeds alles; ‘k heb u opgeslagen
De bladen van ‘t geheimboek mijner ziel

MORE:
Stand aloof=Keep your distance
Unclasped=Opened
On your attendance=At your service
Address=Direct
Gait=Steps
Grow=Take root (Fixed foot shall grow=Fig., plant yourself, do not move)
Civil bounds=Decency, civility
Unprofited=Unsuccessful, not having achieved the objective
Compleat:
Aloof=In de ruimte, van verre
To unclasp a boek=De slooten van een boek opdoen
Attendance=Opwachting, oppassing, behartiging; Een stoet van oppasssers, hofgezin, dienstbooden
Gait (gate)=Tred, gang. A majestic gate=Een deftige tred. Mincing gates=Een trippelende gang
Bounds=Landpaalen, grenzen, paalen
To surpass the bounds of modesty=De paalen der zeedigheid te buyten gaan

Topics: secrecy, respect, communication, persuasion

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.4
SPEAKER: Orsino
CONTEXT:
ORSINO
Dear lad, believe it.
For they shall yet belie thy happy years
That say thou art a man. Diana’s lip
Is not more smooth and rubious. Thy small pipe
Is as the maiden’s organ, shrill and sound,
And all is semblative a woman’s part.
I know thy constellation is right apt
For this affair.
Some four or five attend him.
All, if you will, for I myself am best
When least in company. Prosper well in this,
And thou shalt live as freely as thy lord,
To call his fortunes thine.

DUTCH:
Hoe min gewoel hoe liever; ‘t allerbest
Is de eenzaamheid. — Heb voorspoed op uw tocht,
En noem dan, vrij gelijk uw vorst, al ‘t zijne
Het uwe.

MORE:
Proverb: Never less alone than when alone
Proverb: He is never alone who is accompanied by noble thoughts

Belie=Misrepresent
Pipe=Voice
Semblative=Like
Constellation=Character, talent
Freely=Independently
Compleat:
Belie (bely)=Beliegen
Constellation=Gesternte, ‘t zamensterring, Hemelteken
Freely=Vryelyk

Topics: proverbs and idioms, imagination, independence, appearance, nature

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.1
SPEAKER: Sebastian
CONTEXT:
SEBASTIAN
By your patience, no. My stars shine darkly over me. The malignancy of my fate might perhaps distemper yours. Therefore I shall crave of you your leave that I may bear my evils alone. It were a bad recompense for your love to lay any of them on you.
ANTONIO
Let me yet know of you whither you are bound.
SEBASTIAN
No, sooth, sir. My determinate voyage is mere extravagancy. But I perceive in you so excellent a touch of modesty that you will not extort from me what I am willing to keep in. Therefore it charges me in manners the rather to express myself. You must know of me then, Antonio, my name is Sebastian, which I called Roderigo. My father was that Sebastian of Messaline, whom I know you have heard of. He left behind him myself and a sister, both born in an hour. If the heavens had been pleased, would we had so ended! But you, sir, altered that, for some hour before you took me from the breach of the sea was my sister drowned.

DUTCH:
Maar toch, — ik merk in u zulk een voorbeeldige bescheidenheid op, dat gij mij niet wilt ontwringen, wat ik
gaarne voor mij houd; en daarom gebiedt de beleefdheid
mij te meer, openhartig te zijn.

MORE:

Stars=Fortunes
Distemper=Infect
Sooth=Truly, in truth
Determinate=Planned
Extravagancy=Vagrancy
Modesty=Civility
Willing=Wanting
Charges me=Is incumbent upon me
Manners=Politeness
Express=Reveal
Breach=Breaking waves
Compleat:
To distemper=Ongesteld maaken, ontstellen
Sooth=Zéker, voorwaar
Determinate (determine)=Bepaalen, besluyten, vaststellen, vonnissen, beslissen
Extravagancy=Uytspoorigheyd, spooreloosheyd
Modesty=Zeedigheyd, eerbaarheyd
To will=Willen, begeeren, voorneemen, besluiten
To charge=Belasten, beveelen, opleggen, te laste leggen, beschuldigen, betichten, laaden, aanvallen
Manners=Zeden, manieren, manierlykheid
To express=Uytdrukken
Breach=Breuk, bres, scheur

Burgersdijk notes:
Sebastiaan van Metelin. In het oorspronkelijke staat Messaline, waarvoor men Mettaline of Metelin, — het oude Mytilene, — in plaats heeft gesteld.

Topics: fate/destiny, , civility, relationship

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.5
SPEAKER: Feste
CONTEXT:
OLIVIA
Sir, I bade them take away you.
FOOL
Misprision in the highest degree! Lady, Cucullus non
facit monachum— that’s as much to say as I wear not
motley in my brain. Good madonna, give me leave to prove
you a fool.
OLIVIA
Can you do it?
FOOL
Dexterously, good madonna.
OLIVIA
Make your proof.
FOOL
I must catechise you for it, madonna. Good my mouse of
virtue, answer me.

DUTCH:
Misvatting in den hoogsten graad! — Mejonkvrouw,
cucullus non facit monachum, wat zooveel zeggen wil als:
mijn hersenen zijn niet zoo bont als mijn pak.

MORE:
Misprision=1) Contempt; 2) Mistake, wrong or false imprisonment
Cucullus non facit monachum=The cowl does not make the monk
Motley=Brighty coloured outfit worn by the fool
Compleat:
Misprision=Verwaarloozing, verzuyming, verachteloozing
A monk’s cowl=Een monniks kap
A motly colour=Een grove gemengelde of donker gryze koleur
Dexterously=Behendiglyk

Burgersdijk notes:
Cucullus non facit monachum. “De kap maakt den monnik niet.”

Topics: appearance, gullibility

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.5
SPEAKER: Viola
CONTEXT:
VIOLA
Most radiant, exquisite and unmatchable beauty—I pray you, tell me if this be the lady of the house, for I never saw her. I would be loath to cast away my speech, for besides that it is excellently well penned, I have taken great pains to con it. Good beauties, let me sustain no scorn. I am very comptible, even to the least sinister usage.
OLIVIA
Whence came you, sir?
VIOLA
I can say little more than I have studied, and that question’s out of my part. Good gentle one, give me modest assurance if you be the lady of the house, that I may proceed in my speech.

DUTCH:
Ik zou niet gaarne mijne toespraak tot de verkeerde
richten, want, behalve dat zij meesterlijk gesteld is, heb
ik er veel werk aan besteed om ze van buiten te leeren.

MORE:
Penned=Written, composed
Con=Learn, memorize
Sustain=Suffer
Comptible=Sensitive (accurate in accounting)
Studied=Learned by heart
Sinister usage=Lack of civility
Modest=Adequate
Compleat:
Penned=In geschrifte gesteld, beschreeven
The letter was very ill penned=De brief was zeer qualyk ingesteld of bewoord
To penn well=Wel schryven, wel instellen
To conn=Zyne lesse kennen, of van buiten leeren
To sustain=Lyden, uytstaan, verdraagen
Sinister=Slinksch, averechts, valsch
Modest=Zeedig, eerbaar

Burgersdijk notes:
Ik ben zeer susceptibel. Ook in ‘t oorspronkelijke bezigt Viola eene gezochte uitdrukking: 1 am very
comptible, eigenlijk: precies in ‘t rekenen; van plan om iedere beleediging nauwkeurig terug te geven.

Topics: proverbs and idioms, civility, communication, intellect, learning/education

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.5
SPEAKER:
CONTEXT:
OLIVIA
Go to, you’re a dry fool. I’ll no more of you.
Besides, you grow dishonest.
FOOL
Two faults, madonna, that drink and good counsel will
amend. For give the dry fool drink, then is the fool not
dry. Bid the dishonest man mend himself. If he mend, he
is no longer dishonest. If he cannot, let the botcher
mend him. Anything that’s mended is but patched. Virtue
that transgresses is but patched with sin, and sin that
amends is but patched with virtue. If that this simple
syllogism will serve, so. If it will not, what remedy?
As there is no true cuckold but calamity, so beauty’s a
flower. The lady bade take away the fool. Therefore, I
say again, take her away.

DUTCH:
Alles wat verbeterd wordt, is maar gelapt:
de deugd, die uit het spoor raakt, wordt maar met zonde
gelapt, en de zonde, die zich verbetert, wordt maar met
deugd gelapt.

MORE:
Proverb: Beauty fades like a flower

Go to=Term of impatience
Dry=Dull
Mend=Reform
Botcher=Cobbler or mender of old clothes (See Coriolanus, 2.1)
Syllogism=Reasoning (from two different premises)
Compleat:
Dry=Droog
To mend=Verbeteren, beteren; verstellen, lappen
To mend a fault=Een fout verbeteren
Botcher=Een lapper, knoeijer, boetelaar, broddelaar
Syllogism=Een sluytreden, bewysreeden, zynde een besluit ‘t welk uyt twee voorgaande stellingen getrokken wordt, gelyk als:
Alle ondeugd is zonde
Bedrog is een ondeugd
Derhalven in bedrog zonde.

Burgersdijk notes:
Twee gebreken, madonna. Alleen in dit stuk komt bij Sh. de titel madonna voor.

Topics: proverbs and idioms, appearance, advice, remedy, flaw/fault

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.3
SPEAKER: Maria
CONTEXT:
SIR TOBY BELCH
Do ’t, knight. I’ll write thee a challenge. Or I’ll
deliver thy indignation to him by word of mouth.
MARIA
Sweet Sir Toby, be patient for tonight. Since the youth
of the count’s was today with thy lady, she is much out
of quiet. For Monsieur Malvolio, let me alone with him.
If I do not gull him into a nayword and make him a
common recreation, do not think I have wit enough to lie
straight in my bed. I know I can do it.

DUTCH:
Wat dien sinjeur
Malvolio betreft, laat mij maar met hem begaan;
als ik hem er niet zoo in laat loopen, dat hij tot
een spreekwoord wordt en tot een verlustiging voor het
volk, geloof dan van mij, dat ik geen verstand genoeg
heb om rechtuit in mijn bed te liggen; ik weet zeker,
dat ik het kan.

MORE:
Gull=Trick
Nayword=Watchword
Common recreation=Source of general amusement
Compleat:
Gull=Bedrieger
To gull=Bedriegen, verschalken. You look as if you had a mind to gull me=Hete schynt of gy voorneemens waart om my te foppen
Recreation=Vermaak, uytspanning, verlustiging

Topics: deceit, insults, conspiracy, skill/talent

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.1
SPEAKER: Duke Orsino
CONTEXT:
ORSINO
If music be the food of love, play on.
Give me excess of it that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.
That strain again, it had a dying fall.
O, it came o’er my ear like the sweet sound,
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
Stealing and giving odor. Enough, no more.
‘Tis not so sweet now as it was before.
O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou,
That, notwithstanding thy capacity
Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there,
Of what validity and pitch soe’er,
But falls into abatement and low price
Even in a minute. So full of shapes is fancy
That it alone is high fantastical.

DUTCH:
Indien muziek der liefde voedsel is,
Speelt voort dan, voort! en geeft mij overdaad,
Opdat mijn liefde er ziek van worde en sterv’. —
Die wijs nog eens! Zij stierf zoo lieflijk weg.

MORE:
Dying fall=Cadence
Quick=Keen
Fresh=Eager
Validity=Value
Pitch=Height, quality
Fall into abatement=Depreciate
Shapes=Hallucinations
Fantastical=Imaginative
Compleat:
Quick=Scherp
Fresh courage=Nieuwe moed scheppen
Validity=Krachtigheid, bondigheid
Pitch=Pik
Abatement=Vernedering
Shape=Gestalte, gedaante, vorm
Fantastical=Byzinnig, eigenzinnig, grilziek

Burgersdijk notes:
Rijk in phantasiën is liefde. Sh. Bezigt hier voor liefde het woord fancy, dat tegelijk ,,liefde” en
„phantasie” beteekent; fancy is eene meer oppervlakkige, een wufter liefde dan de veel inniger love.

Topics: emotion and mood, love

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.5
SPEAKER: Fool
CONTEXT:
OLIVIA
Go to, you’re a dry fool. I’ll no more of you.
Besides, you grow dishonest.
FOOL
Two faults, madonna, that drink and good counsel will
amend. For give the dry fool drink, then is the fool not
dry. Bid the dishonest man mend himself. If he mend, he
is no longer dishonest. If he cannot, let the botcher
mend him. Anything that’s mended is but patched. Virtue
that transgresses is but patched with sin, and sin that
amends is but patched with virtue. If that this simple
syllogism will serve, so. If it will not, what remedy?
As there is no true cuckold but calamity, so beauty’s a
flower. The lady bade take away the fool. Therefore, I
say again, take her away.

DUTCH:
Kan deze eenvoudige gevolgtrekking helpen,
goed! zoo niet, wat te doen? Zoo waar er geen
echte hoorndrager is behalve de ellende, zoo is de schoonheid een bloem. —
De jonkvrouw wilde den zotskap weg
hebben, daarom, zeg ik nog eens, brengt haar weg.

MORE:
Proverb: Beauty fades like a flower

Go to=Term of impatience
Dry=Dull
Mend=Reform
Botcher=Cobbler or mender of old clothes (See Coriolanus, 2.1)
Syllogism=Reasoning (from two different premises)
Compleat:
Dry=Droog
To mend=Verbeteren, beteren; verstellen, lappen
To mend a fault=Een fout verbeteren
Botcher=Een lapper, knoeijer, boetelaar, broddelaar
Syllogism=Een sluytreden, bewysreeden, zynde een besluit ‘t welk uyt twee voorgaande stellingen getrokken wordt, gelyk als:
Alle ondeugd is zonde
Bedrog is een ondeugd
Derhalven in bedrog zonde.

Burgersdijk notes:
Twee gebreken, madonna. Alleen in dit stuk komt bij Sh. de titel madonna voor.

Topics: proverbs and idioms, appearance, advice, remedy, flaw/fault

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Fabian
CONTEXT:
FABIAN
If this were played upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbable fiction.
SIR TOBY BELCH
His very genius hath taken the infection of the device, man.
MARIA
Nay, pursue him now, lest the device take air and taint.
FABIAN
Why, we shall make him mad indeed.
MARIA
The house will be the quieter.
SIR TOBY BELCH
Come, we’ll have him in a dark room and bound. My niece is already in the belief that he’s mad. We may carry it thus, for our pleasure and his penance, till our very pastime, tired out of breath, prompt us to have mercy on him, at which time we will bring the device to the bar and crown thee for a finder of madmen. But see, but see!

DUTCH:
Als dit op een tooneel vertoond werd, zou ik het als
een onwaarschijnlijke verdichting kunnen veroordeelen.

MORE:
Device=Plot, design
Take air=Be exposed to the air
Taint=Spoil
Dark room and bound=Treatment for madness
Carry it=Continue
To the bar=Into the open (bringing a case to court to be resolved)
Compleat:
To taint (attaint)=Overtuigen van misdaad, schuldig verklaaren, betichten; bevlekken, bederf aanzetten
Device (cunning trick)=Een listige streek
Device (invention or contrivance)=Uitvinding, vinding
To carry=Draagen, voeren, brengen
The bar=Een rechtbank

Burgersdijk notes:
Zijn geheele ziel enz. Het oorspronkelijke zegt: His very genius, „zijn geleigeest zelf”. Onder Genius
wordt de goede of kwade geest verstaan, die ondersteld werd de handelingen van een mensch te regelen.

Topics: complaint, plans/intentions, madness

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 5.1
SPEAKER: Fool
CONTEXT:
FOOL
Marry, sir, they praise me and make an ass of me, now
my foes tell me plainly I am an ass. So that by my foes,
sir I profit in the knowledge of myself, and by my
friends, I am abused. So that, conclusions to be as
kisses, if your four negatives make your two
affirmatives, why then the worse for my friends and the
better for my foes.
ORSINO
Why, this is excellent.
FOOL
By my troth, sir, no—though it please you to be one of
my friends.

DUTCH:
Wel, heer, zij prijzen mij en maken mij tot een ezel;
maar mijn vijanden zeggen mij ronduit, dat ik een ezel
ben; zoodat ik door mijn vijanden, heer, vooruitga in
zelfkennis en door mijn vrienden bedrogen word; zoodat,
wanneer het met gevolgtrekkingen is als met kusjes,
dat vier ontkenningen twee bevestigingen zijn, het mij
slecht gaat met mijn vrienden en goed met mijn vijanden.

MORE:
Proverb: God send me a friend that may tell me my faults; if not, an enemy, and to be sure he will
Proverb: Two negatives make an affirmative

The argument being that if, as in grammar, four negatives make two affirmatives, if someone says ‘No, no, no, no’, the first no negates the second and the third negates the fourth, turning it into ‘Yes, yes’.

Topics: truth, honesty, friendship, language, clarity/precision

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Antonio
CONTEXT:
ANTONIO
Let me speak a little. This youth that you see here
I snatched one half out of the jaws of death,
Relieved him with such sanctity of love,
And to his image, which methought did promise
Most venerable worth, did I devotion.
FIRST OFFICER
What’s that to us? The time goes by. Away!
ANTONIO
But oh, how vile an idol proves this god!
Thou hast, Sebastian, done good feature shame.
In nature there’s no blemish but the mind.
None can be called deformed but the unkind.
Virtue is beauty, but the beauteous evil
Are empty trunks o’erflourished by the devil.

DUTCH:
Natuur schept alles goed;
Doch wat misvormt, dat is een boos gemoed;
De deugd is schoon; ‘t schoonbooze een leêge kist,
Een vorm slechts, door den duivel gevernist!

MORE:
Proverb: He is handsome that handsome does

Sanctity=Devotion
The mind=Character, in the mind
O’erflourished=Decorated, varnished over
Compleat:
Sanctity=Heiligheid
The mind=Het gemoed, de zin, meening, gevoelen
To flourish=Bloeijen

Topics: proverbs and idioms, appearance, virtue, good and bad, manipulation

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.4
SPEAKER: Viola
CONTEXT:
SIR ANDREW
And I think I have the back-trick simply as strong as
any man in Illyria.
SIR TOBY BELCH
Wherefore are these things hid? Wherefore have these
gifts a curtain before ’em? Are they like to take dust,
like Mistress Mall’s picture? Why dost thou not go to
church in a galliard and come home in a coranto? My very
walk should be a jig. I would not so much as make water
but in a sink-a-pace. What dost thou mean? Is it a
world to hide virtues in? I did think, by the excellent
constitution of thy leg, it was formed under the star of
a galliard.
SIR ANDREW
Ay, ’tis strong, and it does indifferent well in a
dun-coloured stock. Shall we set about some revels?
SIR TOBY BELCH
What shall we do else? Were we not born under Taurus?

DUTCH:
Hoe komt gij hiertoe? is het tegenwoordig een tijd om zijn
talenten te verstoppen? Ik heb al wel eens gedacht, om den
prachtigen bouw van uw been, dat het onder het gesternte
van de Gaillarde moest gevormd zijn.

MORE:

Back-trick=Dance step
Curtain=Hanging to protect paintings
Mall=Mary
Coranto=Fast dance
Cinquepace=Dance, galliard
Indifferent=Moderate
Stock=Stocking
Taurus=The bull, thought to rule the neck and throat (appropriate to drinkers)
Compleat:
Indifferent=Onvercheelig, middelmaatig, koelzinnig, onzydig, passelyk, taamelyk, tussenbeyde
Stocking=Kous

Burgersdijk notes:
Hoe ver hebt gij het in de Gaillarde gebracht. De Gaillarde is een vroolijke dans, evenals de coranto of courante. De caper, „capriool” (hier flikker genoemd) en de back-trick, ,,terugsprong” (hier bokkesprong) zijn figuren uit de Gaillarde. In ‘t Engelsch is hier nog een woordspeling, die onvertaald moest blijven. Op de vraag van Tobias zegt Andries: I can cut a caper. Het woord caper, waarmee Andries „luchtsprong” bedoelt, vat Tobias op als caper, kapper, de bekende plant; en daar kappertjessaus bij schapenvleesch gebruikt wordt, antwoordt hij: And I can cut the mutton to ‘t.

De Stier? Dat is de borst en het hart. Volgens de astrologische begrippen der middeleeuwen beheerschten de gesternten bepaalde lichaamsdeelen van den mensch.
De begaafde jonker beeft ten minste zijn kalender, waaruit hij in dit opzicht wijsheid putten kon , bestudeerd, maar ook dezen niet goed, want volgens deze autoriteiten staan niet borst en hart, maar hals en keel onder den invloed van het hemelteeken des Stiers.

Topics: skill/talent, pride

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.3
SPEAKER: Malvolio
CONTEXT:
MALVOLIO
My masters, are you mad? Or what are you? Have you no
wit, manners, nor honesty but to gabble like tinkers at
this time of night? Do you make an alehouse of my lady’s
house, that you squeak out your coziers’ catches
without any mitigation or remorse of voice? Is there no
respect of place, persons, nor time in you?
SIR TOBY BELCH
We did keep time, sir, in our catches. Sneck up!
MALVOLIO
Sir Toby, I must be round with you. My lady bade me
tell you, that, though she harbors you as her kinsman,
she’s nothing allied to your disorders. If you can
separate yourself and your misdemeanors, you are welcome
to the house. If not, an it would please you to take
leave of her, she is very willing to bid you farewell.

DUTCH:
Hebt gij geen achting meer voor plaats of personen of tijd? Het gaat alle maat te buiten!

MORE:
Wit=Intellect
Honesty=Decency
Cozier=Cobbler
Mitigation or remorse=Lowering
Sneck up=Hang yourself
Round=Straight, speak plainly
Compleat:
Wit (understanding)=Vinding, schranderheid, verstand
Honesty=Eerbaarheid, vroomheid
Remorse=Knaaging, wroeging, berouw
Mitigation=Verzachting, verzoeting
Roundly=(Honestly, sincerely): Oprechtelyk, voor de vuist

Topics: respect, honesty, civility, excess

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Viola
CONTEXT:
SIR TOBY BELCH
He is knight, dubbed with unhatched rapier and on
carpet consideration, but he is a devil in private
brawl. Souls and bodies hath he divorced three, and his
incensement at this moment is so implacable that
satisfaction can be none but by pangs of death and
sepulchre. Hob, nob, is his word. “Give ’t or take ’t.”
VIOLA
I will return again into the house and desire some
conduct of the lady. I am no fighter. I have heard of
some kind of men that put quarrels purposely on others,
to taste their valor. Belike this is a man of that
quirk.
SIR TOBY BELCH
Sir, no. His indignation derives itself out of a very
competent injury. Therefore get you on and give him his
desire. Back you shall not to the house, unless you
undertake that with me which with as much safety you
might answer him. Therefore on, or strip your sword
stark naked, for meddle you must, that’s certain, or
forswear to wear iron about you.
VIOLA
This is as uncivil as strange. I beseech you, do me
this courteous office, as to know of the knight what my
offence to him is. It is something of my negligence,
nothing of my purpose.

DUTCH:
Ik verzoek u, mij den beleefden dienst te willen doen, van den ridder te vragen, waarmee ik hem beleedigd heb; het is uit onachtzaamheid, volstrekt niet met opzet geschied.

MORE:
Unhatched=Unscratched (unused)
Carpet consideration=Courtly reasons (rather than military)
Hob nob=Have or have not, all or nothing, klll or be killed
Word=Motto
Conduct=Escort
Taste=Test
Belike=Likely
Quirk=Humour, disposition
Competent=Real, sufficient (in law)
Meddle=Engage in duel
Compleat:
Hatched=Kruiswys bewerkt (as a sword hilt)
A carpet knight=Een wittebroods kind
Conduct=Bestieren, geleyden
Taste=Proeven
Quirk=Een duister loopje, doortrapte bewoording
Full of quirks and quiddities=Vol van dubbelzinnige loopjes en haairklooveryen
Competent=Bekwaam, bevoegd, behoorlyk
To meddle=Bemoeijen, moeijen

Topics: law/legal, lawyers, language, dispute

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 4.1
SPEAKER: Olivia
CONTEXT:
OLIVIA
Will it be ever thus? Ungracious wretch,
Fit for the mountains and the barbarous caves,
Where manners ne’er were preach’d! Out of my sight!—
Be not offended, dear Cesario.—
Rudesby, be gone!
I prithee, gentle friend,
Let thy fair wisdom, not thy passion, sway
In this uncivil and unjust extent
Against thy peace. Go with me to my house,
And hear thou there how many fruitless pranks
This ruffian hath botched up, that thou thereby
Mayst smile at this. Thou shalt not choose but go.
Do not deny. Beshrew his soul for me!
He started one poor heart of mine in thee.
SEBASTIAN
What relish is in this? How runs the stream?
Or I am mad, or else this is a dream.
Let fancy still my sense in Lethe steep.
If it be thus to dream, still let me sleep!

DUTCH:
Laat uw verstand hier spreken, niet uw toorn,
Bij dezen ruwen, zinneloozen aanval
Op uwe rust.

MORE:
Rudesby=Ruffian, rude person
Uncivil=Barbarous
Extent=Assault
Beshrew=Curse
Start=Startle
Compleat:
Rude=Boers
Uncivil=Onbeleefd, ongeschikt.
Incivil=Onbeleefd, ongeschikt, onmanierlyk, onheusch, onburgerlyk
Beshrew=Bekyven, vervloeken
To start=Schrikken

Topics: ingratitude, order/society, friendship, wisdom

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Malvolio
CONTEXT:
MALVOLIO
Oh, ho! Do you come near me now? No worse man than Sir
Toby to look to me. This concurs directly with the
letter. She sends him on purpose that I may appear
stubborn to him, for she incites me to that in the
letter. “Cast thy humble slough,” says she. “Be opposite
with a kinsman, surly with servants. Let thy tongue
tang with arguments of state. Put thyself into the trick
of singularity,” and consequently sets down the manner
how: as, a sad face, a reverend carriage, a slow tongue,
in the habit of some sir of note, and so forth. I have
limed her, but it is Jove’s doing, and Jove make me
thankful! And when she went away now, “Let this fellow
be looked to.” “Fellow!” Not “Malvolio,” nor after my
degree, but “fellow.” Why, everything adheres together,
that no dram of a scruple, no scruple of a scruple, no
obstacle, no incredulous or unsafe circumstance—what can
be said? Nothing that can be can come between me and
the full prospect of my hopes. Well, Jove, not I, is the
doer of this, and he is to be thanked.

DUTCH:
Zij zendt hem opzettelijk tot mij, opdat ik hem stug behandelen kan, want daartoe wekt zij mij in den brief op. „Werp uwe deemoedige huid af,” zegt zij, kant u tegen een bloedverwant, wees norsch jegens bedienden; Iaten er staatsaangelegenheden van uwe tong ruischen; zorg eigenaardig te zijn in uwe manieren,” en daarop beschrijft zij de manier hoe;

MORE:
Come near=Understand, value
Stubborn=Harsh
Consequently=Subsequently
Habit=Dress
Sir of note=Distinguished gentleman
Limed=Trapped (ref. to bird lime)
Adheres together=Conspires, converges
Dram=Small weight
Scruple=Tiny scrap
Unsafe=Dangerous, untrustworthy
Compleat:
Draw near=Naderen
Stubborn=Hardnekkig, halstarrig, wederspannig
Habit=Heblykheyd, gewoonte, gesteltenis
Of note=Van aanzien, aanzienlyk
Bird-lime=Vogellym
Dram=Vierendeel loods; een zoopje, een borrel
Scruple=Een gewigtje van xx greinen

Topics: language, communication, persuasion, skill/talent

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.5
SPEAKER: Fabian
CONTEXT:
FABIAN
O, peace! Now he’s deeply in. Look how
imagination blows him.
MALVOLIO
Having been three months married to her, sitting in my
state—
SIR TOBY BELCH
Oh, for a stone-bow, to hit him in the eye!
MALVOLIO
Calling my officers about me, in my branched velvet
gown, having come from a daybed, where I have left
Olivia sleeping—
SIR TOBY BELCH
Fire and brimstone!
FABIAN
O, peace, peace!
MALVOLIO
And then to have the humour of state, and after a demure
travel of regard, telling them I know my place as I
would they should do theirs, to ask for my kinsman Toby—

DUTCH:
O, stil! Die overpeinzing maakt een prachtigen kalkoenschen haan van hem; wat blaast hij zich op onder zijn uitgespreide veêren !

MORE:
Blows=Puffs up
State=Chair of state
Stone-bow=Catapult
Officers=Attendants
Branched=Embroidered
Gown=Indoor coat
Daybed=Couch
Fire and brimstone=Punishment in hell
Humour of state=Temperament of authority
Demure=Gravely
Travel of regard=Surveying the room
Compleat:
To blow up=Opblaazen
State=Staat, rang
Stone-bow=Key-boog, kluit-boog
Officer=Een amptman, amptenaar, bevelhebber, beampte, bediende, officier
Branched velvet=Gebloemd fluweel
Gown=Een tabbaard, tabberd, samaar
Brimstone=Zwavel, sulfer
Demure=Stemmig, staatig, bedaard, ernstig, deftig

Topics: imagination, authority, status

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.4
SPEAKER: Orsino
CONTEXT:
ORSINO
Give me some music.
Now, good morrow, friends.—
Now, good Cesario, but that piece of song,
That old and antique song we heard last night.
Methought it did relieve my passion much,
More than light airs and recollected terms
Of these most brisk and giddy-paced times:
Come, but one verse.
CURIO
He is not here, so please your lordship, that should
sing it.
ORSINO
Who was it?
CURIO
Feste, the jester, my lord, a fool that the lady
Olivia’s father took much delight in. He is about the
house.

DUTCH:
t Was artsenij voor mijn bewogen ziel,
Meer dan die airs met uitgezochte woorden
Van dezen wuften, trippelzieken tijd:
Kom, waar’ ‘t ook éen couplet!

MORE:
Antic or antique=Quaint
Passion=Suffering
Recollected=Studied, memorized
Compleat:
Antick=Ouderwets, antyks
Passion=Lyding, hartstogt, drift, ingenomenheyd, zydigheyd, zucht
To recollect himself=Zich errinneren, zich bedenken, zich te binnen brengen

Topics: emotion and mood, remedy

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.5
SPEAKER: Fabian
CONTEXT:
MALVOLIO
Saying, “Cousin Toby, my fortunes having cast me on
your niece give me this prerogative of speech—”
SIR TOBY BELCH
What, what?
MALVOLIO
“You must amend your drunkenness.”
SIR TOBY BELCH
Out, scab!
FABIAN
Nay, patience, or we break the sinews of our plot.

DUTCH:
Bedaard toch, of wij breken aan ons plan den hals.

MORE:
Amend=Reform
Scab=Scurvy fellow
Sinew=Tendon, fig. strength
Compleat:
Amend=Verbeteren
Scab=Schurft; een roof
Sinew=Zenuw, zeen

Topics: plans/intentions, excess, appearance

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.5
SPEAKER: Sir Toby
CONTEXT:
OLIVIA
Fetch him off, I pray you. He speaks nothing but
madman. Fie on him!
Go you, Malvolio. If it be a suit from the count, I am
sick, or not at home. What you will, to dismiss it.
Now you see, sir, how your fooling grows old, and
people dislike it.
FOOL
Thou hast spoke for us, madonna, as if thy eldest son should be a fool, whose skull Jove cram with brains, for— here he comes—one of thy kin has a most weak pia mater.

DUTCH:
Gij hebt nu eens gezien, nar, hoe uw grappen
uit den tijd raken en bij de menschen niet meer
opgaan.

MORE:
Madman=The language of a madman
Suit=Petition, request
Old=Stale
Pia mater=Brain (now used for just a small part)
Compleat:
Suit=Een verzoek, rechtsgeding
Pia master=Het hersenvlies

Burgersdijk notes:
Pia mater. Het dunne vlies, dat de hersenen omgeeft, hier ook genomen voor de hersenen zelf

Topics: intellect, claim

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.2
SPEAKER: Viola
CONTEXT:
VIOLA
I left no ring with her. What means this lady?
Fortune forbid my outside have not charmed her!
She made good view of me, indeed so much
That sure methought her eyes had lost her tongue,
For she did speak in starts distractedly.
She loves me, sure! The cunning of her passion
Invites me in this churlish messenger.
None of my lord’s ring? Why, he sent her none.
I am the man. If it be so, as ’tis,
Poor lady, she were better love a dream.
Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness,
Wherein the pregnant enemy does much.
How easy is it for the proper false
In women’s waxen hearts to set their forms!
Alas, our frailty is the cause, not we,
For such as we are made of, such we be.
How will this fadge? My master loves her dearly,
And I, poor monster, fond as much on him,
And she, mistaken, seems to dote on me.
What will become of this? As I am man,
My state is desperate for my master’s love.
As I am woman, now, alas the day,
What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe!
O time, thou must untangle this, not I.
It is too hard a knot for me to untie!

DUTCH:
Hoe vruchtloos moet gij dan om liefde zuchten!
O, Tijd! war gij deez’ draden uit elkaar ;
‘t Ontbinden van deez’ knoop is mij te zwaar.

MORE:
Proverb: You are ipse (he, the man)
Proverb: Time reveals (discloses) all things

Outside=Appearance
Made good view=Inspected closely
Lost=Made her lose
Cunning=Craftiness
Invites me in=Invites me by way of
Pregnant=Ready to move, prepared
Proper false=Attractive (but) deceitful
Set forms=Impress (as a seal in wax)
Fadge=Turn out
Fond=Dote
Thriftless=Wasted
Compleat:
Outside=De buytenkant, het buytenste
It has a fair outside=Het toont mooi van buyten
Cunning=Listigheid
Pregnant=Klaar, krachtig
Proper=Bequaam, van een bequaame lengte
To be fond of=Zeer met iets ingenomen zyn
Thrift=Zuynigheyd

Burgersdijk notes:
Arm onding. Poor monster; noch man, noch vrouw.

Topics: proverbs and idioms, appearance, suspicion

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.5
SPEAKER: Malvolio
CONTEXT:
OLIVIA
What kind o’ man is he?
MALVOLIO
Why, of mankind.
OLIVIA
What manner of man?
MALVOLIO
Of very ill manner. He’ll speak with you, will you or
no.

DUTCH:
Hij is recht ongemanierd; hij wil u spreken, of gij
wilt of niet.

MORE:
Proverb: He is (is not) a man of God’s making

Kind=Type, manner
Mankind=The man kind – like any other man
Compleat:
Kind=Soort, slach
Man-kind=Het menschelyk geslacht, de menschen, ‘t menschdom

Topics: proverbs and idioms, order/society, status

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.5
SPEAKER: Fool
CONTEXT:
OLIVIA
What’s a drunken man like, fool?
FOOL
Like a drowned man, a fool and a madman. One draught above heat makes him a fool, the second mads him, and a third drowns him.
OLIVIA
Go thou and seek the crowner, and let him sit o’ my coz. For he’s in the third degree of drink, he’s drowned. Go look after him.
FOOL
He is but mad yet, madonna, and the fool shall look to
the madman.
MALVOLIO
Madam, yond young fellow swears he will speak with you.
I told him you were sick. He takes on him to understand
so much, and therefore comes to speak with you. I told
him you were asleep. He seems to have a foreknowledge of
that too, and therefore comes to speak with you. What
is to be said to him, lady? He’s fortified against any
denial.
OLIVIA
Tell him he shall not speak with me.
MALVOLIO
He’s been told so, and he says he’ll stand at your
door like a sheriff’s post, and be the supporter to a
bench, but he’ll speak with you.

DUTCH:
Met een drenkeling, een nar en een dolle. Eén teug
meer dan goed is voor den dorst maakt hem een nar,
de tweede een dolleman, bij de derde is hij verdronken.

MORE:
Drowns=Renders him senseless
Crowner=Coroner
Above heat=More than is enough to warm one
Coz=Cousin (used for any kinsman)
Sit=Hold the coroner’s inquest
Sheriff’s post=Post outside the office of a sheriff or mayor
Compleat:
To drown=Verdrinken, verzuypen, uytwisschen, dempen
Coroner=Een amptenaar die gesteld is om de lighamen der gener die vermoord of verdronken zyn, of die men onverwacht dood vindt, te beschouwen, een Schout

Burgersdijk notes:
Het gerecht voor de lijkschouwing. In ‘t Engelsch: the crowner (coroner), een koninklijk beambte, in
gevallen van verdrinken of een anderen niet natuurlijken dood met het onderzoek belast.

Topics: excess, madness

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Viola
CONTEXT:
ANTONIO
I must entreat of you some of that money.
VIOLA
What money, sir?
For the fair kindness you have showed me here,
And part being prompted by your present trouble,
Out of my lean and low ability
I’ll lend you something. My having is not much.
I’ll make division of my present with you.
Hold, there’s half my coffer.
ANTONIO
Will you deny me now?
Is ’t possible that my deserts to you
Can lack persuasion? Do not tempt my misery,
Lest that it make me so unsound a man
As to upbraid you with those kindnesses
That I have done for you.
VIOLA
I know of none,
Nor know I you by voice or any feature.
I hate ingratitude more in a man
Than lying, vainness, babbling, drunkenness,
Or any taint of vice whose strong corruption
Inhabits our frail blood—

DUTCH:
En ook omdat uw ongeval mij treft,
Wil ik, hoe schraal mijn midd’len mogen zijn,
U graag wat leenen

MORE:
Proverb: Ingratitude comprehends all faults

Part=In part, partly
Present=Current (money) trouble
Coffer=Money chest
Persuasion=Persuasiveness
Unsound=Unprincipled
Upbraid=Reproach
Compleat:
Part=Een deel, gedeelte
Coffer=Een koffer, kist
Persuasion=Overreeding, overtuiging, overstemming, aanraading, wysmaaking
Unsound (corrupt, rotten)=Bedurve, verrot, ongaaf
To upbraid=Verwyten, smaadelyk toedryven

Topics: proverbs and idioms, money, debt/obligation, ingratitude

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Antonio
CONTEXT:
ANTONIO
Let me speak a little. This youth that you see here
I snatched one half out of the jaws of death,
Relieved him with such sanctity of love,
And to his image, which methought did promise
Most venerable worth, did I devotion.
FIRST OFFICER
What’s that to us? The time goes by. Away!
ANTONIO
But oh, how vile an idol proves this god!
Thou hast, Sebastian, done good feature shame.
In nature there’s no blemish but the mind.
None can be called deformed but the unkind.
Virtue is beauty, but the beauteous evil
Are empty trunks o’erflourished by the devil.

DUTCH:
Een enkel woord nog! ‘k Heb dien jongling daar
Aan de open kaken van den dood ontrukt,
Heb hem verpleegd met heil’ge broedermin,
En dat gelaat, dat ik een spiegel dacht
Der eng’lenziel, geëerd en aangebeden!

MORE:
Proverb: He is handsome that handsome does

Sanctity=Devotion
The mind=Character, in the mind
O’erflourished=Decorated, varnished over
Compleat:
Sanctity=Heiligheid
The mind=Het gemoed, de zin, meening, gevoelen
To flourish=Bloeijen

Topics: appearance, virtue, good and bad, manipulation

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 4.2
SPEAKER: Fool
CONTEXT:
FOOL
Out, hyperbolical fiend! How vexest thou this man!
Talkest thou nothing but of ladies?
SIR TOBY BELCH
Well said, Master Parson.
MALVOLIO
Sir Topas, never was man thus wronged. Good Sir Topas,
do not think I am mad. They have laid me here in
hideous darkness.
FOOL
Fie, thou dishonest Satan! I call thee by the most
modest terms, for I am one of those gentle ones that
will use the devil himself with courtesy. Sayest thou that house is dark?

DUTCH:

MORE:
Hyperbolical=Exaggerated, diabolical
Wronged=Mistreated
Modest=Mild (referring to dishonest)
Compleat:
Hyperbolical=Grootspreekend, byster uitspoorig
Wronged=Verongelykt, verkort
Modest=Zedig, eerbaar

Topics: good and bad, abuse, civility, language

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Viola
CONTEXT:
VIOLA
Methinks his words do from such passion fly,
That he believes himself. So do not I.
Prove true, imagination, oh, prove true,
That I, dear brother, be now ta’en for you!
SIR TOBY BELCH
Come hither, knight. Come hither, Fabian. We’ll whisper
o’er a couplet or two of most sage saws.
VIOLA
He named Sebastian. I my brother know
Yet living in my glass. Even such and so
In favour was my brother, and he went
Still in this fashion, colour, ornament,
For him I imitate. Oh, if it prove,
Tempests are kind and salt waves fresh in love!

DUTCH:
Hoe toont zijn woord, de gloed, waarmee hij spreekt,
Een vast geloof, dat mij, helaas! ontbreekt.
Toch hoop ik, — o verbeelding, niet te stout! —
Dat, dierb’re broeder, hij voor u mij houdt!

MORE:
So do not I=I do no
Saws=Sayings
Glass=Mirror
Favour=Appearance
Prove=Proves true
Compleat:
An old saw=Een oud zeggen
Glass=Spiegel
Well-favoured=Aangenaam, bevallig
To prove (become, come to pass)=Uitvallen, bevinden, worden

Topics: language, persuasion, deceit, truth, appearance, imagination

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 5.1
SPEAKER: Fool
CONTEXT:
ORSINO
Thou shalt not be the worse for me: there’s gold.
FOOL
But that it would be double-dealing, sir, I would you
could make it another.
ORSINO
O, you give me ill counsel.
FOOL
Put your grace in your pocket, sir, for this once, and
let your flesh and blood obey it.
ORSINO
Well, I will be so much a sinner, to be a double-dealer.
There’s another.
FOOL
Primo, secundo, tertio is a good play, and the old
saying is, the third pays for all. The triplex, sir, is
a good tripping measure, or the bells of Saint Bennet,
sir, may put you in mind—one, two, three.

DUTCH:
Steek uwe genade voor dezen keer eens in uw zak,
en laat uw vleesch en bloed er gehoor aan geven.

MORE:
Proverb: Put your grace in your pocket
Proverb: Flesh is frail
Proverb: The third time pays for all

But that=Except for the fact that
Double-dealing=Duplicity
Pocket=Conceal
Triplex=Triple time in music
Tripping=Dancing
Measure=Rhythm, beat
Compleat:
But=Maar, of, dan, behalven, maar alleen
A false or double dealer=Een dobbelhertig man
False or treacherous dealing=Een bedriegelyken handel
To pocket=Zakken, in de zak steeken
To trip=Trippelen
Measure (music)=Zang-maat. To beat the measure=De maat slaan

Topics: advice, deceit, money, risk

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.5
SPEAKER: Malvolio
CONTEXT:
MALVOLIO
“M.O.A.I.” This simulation is not as the former, and
yet to crush this a little, it would bow to me, for
every one of these letters are in my name. Soft, here
follows prose.
[reads]“If this fall into thy hand, revolve. In my stars I am
above thee, but be not afraid of greatness. Some are
born great, some achieve greatness, and some have
greatness thrust upon ’em. Thy Fates open their hands.
Let thy blood and spirit embrace them. And, to inure
thyself to what thou art like to be, cast thy humble
slough and appear fresh. Be opposite with a kinsman,
surly with servants. Let thy tongue tang arguments of
state. Put thyself into the trick of singularity. She
thus advises thee that sighs for thee. Remember who
commended thy yellow stockings and wished to see thee
ever cross-gartered. I say, remember. Go to, thou art
made, if thou desir’st to be so; if not, let me see thee
a steward still, the fellow of servants, and not worthy
to touch Fortune’s fingers. Farewell. She that would
alter services with thee,
The Fortunate Unhappy”
Daylight and champaign discovers not more. This is
open. I will be proud, I will read politic authors, I
will baffle Sir Toby, I will wash off gross
acquaintance, I will be point- devise the very man. I do
not now fool myself, to let imagination jade me, for
every reason excites to this, that my lady loves me. She
did commend my yellow stockings of late, she did praise
my leg being cross-gartered, and in this she manifests
herself to my love, and with a kind of injunction,
drives me to these habits of her liking. I thank my
stars I am happy. I will be strange, stout, in yellow
stockings, and cross-gartered, even with the swiftness
of putting on. Jove and my stars be praised! Here is yet
a postscript.
[reads]“Thou canst not choose but know who I am. If thou
entertainest my love, let it appear in thy smiling. Thy
smiles become thee well. Therefore in my presence still
smile, dear my sweet, I prithee.”
Jove, I thank thee! I will smile. I will do everything
that thou wilt have me.

DUTCH:
Mijn gesternte heeft mij boven u verheven, maar wees niet schroomhartig voor grootheid; sommigen worden groot geboren, anderen worden groot door inspanning, aan enkelen wordt de grootheid in den schoot geworpen.

MORE:
Proverb: To wear yellow stockings and cross garters

Simulation=Disguise, puzzle
Crush=Force
Bow=Yield
Revolve=Consider, reflect
Stars=Fortunes
Inure=Accustom
Like=Likely
Slough=Cast off, like a snake’s skin
Opposite=Openly hostile
Tang=Announce loudly
Arguments of state=Important political topics
Into the trick of=Make a habit of
Singularity=Originality, uniqueness
Cross-gartered=Laces tied up the leg
Fellow=Companion
Alter services=Change places
Compleat:
Simulation=Veinzing, bewimpeling
Crush=Pletteren, kneuzen, verbryzelen, pla duurwen, neerdrukken; verderven, ‘t onderbrengen
Bow=Buigen, bukken
Revolve=Overleggen, overdenken, omwentelen, ontuimelen
To inure=Gewennen, verharden, hard worden, vereelten
Like=Waarschynelyk, verkoedelyk
Slough (cast skin of a sname)=De oude huid die een slang afgeworpen heeft
Opposite=Tegen over, tegenstrydig
Tang=Kwaade smaak
Singularity=(uncommonness, excellence) Zeldzaamheid, uitmuntendheid; (affected way of being particular) Eigenzinnigheid, vreemdheid
Gartered=Gekouseband
Fellow=Medegezel

Topics: proverbs and idioms, custom, leadership, fate/destiny/achievement

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Fabian
CONTEXT:
SIR TOBY BELCH
Give me. [reads] “Youth, whatsoever thou art, thou art
but a scurvy fellow.”
FABIAN
Good, and valiant.
SIR TOBY BELCH
[reads] “Wonder not, nor admire not in thy mind, why I
do call thee so, for I will show thee no reason for ’t.”
FABIAN
A good note, that keeps you from the blow of the law.
SIR TOBY BELCH
(reads) “Thou comest to the lady Olivia, and in my
sight she uses thee kindly. But thou liest in thy
throat. That is not the matter I challenge thee for.”
FABIAN
Very brief, and to exceeding good sense—less.
SIR TOBY BELCH
[reads] “I will waylay thee going home, where if it be
thy chance to kill me—”
FABIAN
Good.
SIR TOBY BELCH
[reads] “Thou killest me like a rogue and a villain.”
FABIAN
Still you keep o’ the windy side of the law. Good.

DUTCH:
Gij houdt u altijd beneden ‘s winds van de wet, goed.

MORE:
Admire=Marvel
Note=Observation
Keeps=Protects, preserves
Blow of the law=Charges
In thy throat=Deeply
On the windy side (see also Much Ado about Nothing, 2.1, “on the windy side of care”) =
according to the OED, to be situated downwind and not ‘scented’.
On the windy side of the law=(Just) upwind
Compleat:
To admire=Zich verwonderen, met verwondering ingenomen zyn, zich vergaapen, groot achten
Keep=Houden, bewaaren, behouden
Windward=Tegenwindsch

Topics: language, law/legal, clarity/precision

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 4.3
SPEAKER: Sebastian
CONTEXT:
SEBASTIAN
This is the air, that is the glorious sun.
This pearl she gave me, I do feel ’t and see ’t,
And though ’tis wonder that enwraps me thus,
Yet ’tis not madness. Where’s Antonio, then?
I could not find him at the Elephant.
Yet there he was, and there I found this credit,
That he did range the town to seek me out.
His counsel now might do me golden service.
For though my soul disputes well with my sense
That this may be some error, but no madness,
Yet doth this accident and flood of fortune
So far exceed all instance, all discourse,
That I am ready to distrust mine eyes
And wrangle with my reason that persuades me
To any other trust but that I am mad—
Or else the lady’s mad. Yet if ’twere so,
She could not sway her house, command her followers,
Take and give back affairs and their dispatch
With such a smooth, discreet, and stable bearing
As I perceive she does. There’s something in ’t
That is deceivable. But here the lady comes.

DUTCH:
Of dat de jonkvrouw ‘t is; en toch, dan kon
Zij niet haar huis en dienaars zoo regeeren,
Haar zaken nagaan en met vaste hand
Besturen, kalm en zacht in al haar doen,
Zooals ik opmerk, dat zij is. Hoe ‘t zij,
Begooch’lend is het. Maar daar komt de jonkvrouw.

MORE:
Proverb: Seeing is believing
Proverb: As true as touch
Proverb: To catch one like a trout with tickling

Credit=Report
Range=Roam, wander
Disputes=Reasons (disputes well=concurs with)
Instance=Precedent
Discourse=Reasoning, argument
Trust=Belief
Sway=Manage, run, rule
Dispatch=Disposal, winding up
Deceivable=Deceptive
Compleat:
Range (ramble or jaunt)=Reize
To dispute=Twistredenen, betwisten, zintwisten, disputeeren
To dispute=(Agitate, or maintain a question) Een verschil verdedigen, handhaven
Instance=Een voorval, voorbeeld, exempel; aandringing, aanhouding; blyk
Discourse=Redeneering, reedenvoering, gesprek, vertoog
Trust=Vertrouwen, betrouwen, toeverlaat, belang
To sway=(govern) Regeeren. To sway the scepter=Den schepter zwaaijen
Dispatch=Afvaardiging, verrichting, beschikking, vervaardiging
Deceivable=Bedriegbaar, ligt om te bedriegen, verleidelyk

Topics: proverbs and idioms, still in use, truth, evidence, perception

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Sir Toby
CONTEXT:
SIR TOBY BELCH
Gentleman, God save thee.
VIOLA
And you, sir.
SIR TOBY BELCH
That defence thou hast, betake thee to ’t. Of what
nature the wrongs are thou hast done him, I know not,
but thy intercepter, full of despite, bloody as the
hunter, attends thee at the orchard end. Dismount thy
tuck, be yare in thy preparation, for thy assailant is
quick, skillful and deadly.
VIOLA
You mistake, sir. I am sure no man hath any quarrel to
me. My remembrance is very free and clear from any image
of offence done to any man.
SIR TOBY BELCH
You’ll find it otherwise, I assure you. Therefore, if
you hold your life at any price, betake you to your
guard, for your opposite hath in him what youth,
strength, skill, and wrath can furnish man withal.

DUTCH:
Wat gij van wapens bij u hebt, houd die gereed; van welken aard de beleedigingen zijn, die gij hem hebt aangedaan, weet ik niet; maar uw belager, vol grimmigheid, bloeddorstig als een jager, wacht u op aan den uitgang van den tuin.

MORE:
Betake=Prepare, think of, enter on
Intercepter=One who blocks another’s path
Despite=Defiance
Attend=Await
Dismount=Unsheath
Tuck=Rapier
Yare=Prompt
Remembrance=Recollection
Opposite=Opponent
Compleat:
Betake=Begeeven tot iets
To intercept=Onderscheppen
Despite=Spyt, versmaading
Attend=Verzellen, opwachten
To dismount=Afstygen, afzitten, van het paerd stappen; iemand uit den zadel ligten
To dismount a canon=Een kanon vernagelen, onbruikbaar maaken
To dismount one’s prejudices=Iemands vooroordeel beneemen

Topics: preparation, defence, dispute

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.2
SPEAKER: Captain
CONTEXT:
CAPTAIN
And so is now, or was so very late.
For but a month ago I went from hence,
And then ’twas fresh in murmur —as, you know,
What great ones do the less will prattle of—
That he did seek the love of fair Olivia.
VIOLA
What’s she?
CAPTAIN
A virtuous maid, the daughter of a count
That died some twelvemonth since, then leaving her
In the protection of his son, her brother,
Who shortly also died, for whose dear love,
They say, she hath abjured the company
And sight of men.
VIOLA
Oh, that I served that lady
And might not be delivered to the world,
Till I had made mine own occasion mellow,
What my estate is.
CAPTAIN
That were hard to compass,
Because she will admit no kind of suit,
No, not the duke’s.

DUTCH:
t Zal niet gaan;
Aan geen verzoeken geeft zij ooit gehoor,
Zelfs niet aan die des hertogs.

MORE:
Proverb: The face is the index of the heart (mind)

Prattle=Discuss
Fresh in murmur=New rumours
Delivered=Revealed
Shortly=Soon after
Abjure=Renounce
Occasion=Opportunity
Mellow=Ripe
Estate=Social status
Compass=Bring about
Suit=Petition
Compleat:
Prate and prattle=Keffen en snappen
To murmur=Morren, murmureeren
To murmur against=Tegen morren
Shortly=Kortelyk, in ‘t kort, binnen korten
To abjure=Afzweeren
Occasion=Gelegenheyd, voorval, oorzaak
Mellow=Murw, rijp
To mellow=Rypen, ryp of murw worden
Estate=Bezit, middelen
Suit=Een verzoek, rechtsgeding

Burgersdijk notes:
Ik wil dien vorst als jonkman dienen. In het oorspronkelijke staat, dat Viola ,””als eunuuk”” aan den hertog wenscht voorgesteld te worden. — Daarom zegt dan ook de kapitein, aan de eunuken en stommen van het serail en aan de daar gebruikelijke straf van verblinden denkende, in zijn antwoord: Wees gij zijn eunuuk, en ik zal uw stomme zijn; zoo mijn tong klapt, laat dan mijne oogen niet meer zien””. Geheel juist en volledig waren deze twee regels, die op de woorden “”als eunuuk”” slaan, niet terug te geven. Daarom zijn deze twee woorden weggelaten, wat te eerder veroorloofd scheen, daar Sh. later op deze uitdrukking niet meer gelet heeft en Viola aan het hof des hertogs geenszins de voorgenomen rol speelt, maar door allen als een jonkman behandeld wordt, zoodat men zich verwonderen kan, dat Shakespeare in dit met zooveel zorg bewerkte stuk de woorden niet gewijzigd heeft.”

Topics: proverbs and idioms, appearance, relationship, loyalty, death

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

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 4.2
SPEAKER: Fool
CONTEXT:
FOOL
Madman, thou errest. I say, there is no darkness but ignorance, in which thou art more puzzled than the Egyptians in their fog.
MALVOLIO
I say, this house is as dark as ignorance, though ignorance were as dark as hell. And I say, there was never man thus abused. I am no more mad than you are. Make the trial of it in any constant question.
FOOL
What is the opinion of Pythagoras concerning wildfowl?
MALVOLIO
That the soul of our grandam might haply inhabit a bird.

DUTCH:
Waanzinnige, gij dwaalt. Ik zeg, er is geen donkerheid
dan de onwetendheid; waarin gij meer bevangen
zijt, dan de Egyptenaars in hun nevel.

MORE:
Proverb: The hood (habit, cowl) makes not the monk
Puzzled=Bewildered
Fog=One plague in Egypt was the ‘black darkness’ (Exodus)
Haply=Perhaps
Constant=Logical, common sense
Question=Consideration, discussion
Compleat:
Puzzled=In ‘t naauw gebragt, verbysterd
Foggy=Mistig, mistachtig; log, loom
Haply=Misschien
Constant=Standvastig, bestending, gestadig
Question=Verschil, twyfel

Topics: proverbs and idioms, still in use, learning/education, madness

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.1
SPEAKER: Viola
CONTEXT:
FOOL
The matter, I hope, is not great, sir, begging but a
beggar. Cressida was a beggar. My lady is within, sir. I
will construe to them whence you come. Who you are and
what you would are out of my welkin, I might say
“element,” but the word is overworn.
VIOLA
This fellow is wise enough to play the fool;
And to do that well craves a kind of wit:
He must observe their mood on whom he jests,
The quality of persons, and the time,
And, like the haggard, check at every feather
That comes before his eye. This is a practice
As full of labour as a wise man’s art
For folly that he wisely shows is fit;
But wise men, folly-fall’n, quite taint their wit.

DUTCH:
Die knaap is wijs genoeg om nar te spelen;
En ja, dit goed te zijn, eischt schranderheid,
Hij moet de luim van hen, met wie hij schertst,
Persoon en tijd met scherpen blik bespién,
En als de valk op ied’re veder stooten,
Die voor zijn oogen kom

MORE:
Proverb: He is out of his element
Proverb: To be in one’e element
Proverb: No man can play the fool as well as the wise man

Overworn=Spoiled by too much use
Welkin=Sky
Construe=Explain (also ‘conster’)
Wit=Intelligence
Haggard=Hawk
Check=Start, be startled
Feather=Fig., birds in general
Practice=Skill
Wisely=Deliberately
Fit=Appropriate
Taint=Discredit
Compleat:
Overworn=Gantsch afgesleeten, uitgesleeten, afgeleefd
Construe (conster)=Woordenschikken; t’Zamenschikken, t’zamenstellen
Wit (understanding)=Vinding, schranderheid, verstand
Hagard=Wild. A hagard hawk=Een wilde valk
To take check a a thing=Zich aan iets stooten, of ergeren
Practize=Oeffening, bewerking, praktyk
Well practised in the Law=Wel in de Rechten geoeffend
Wisely=Wyslyk
Fit=Bequaam, dienstig, betaaamelyk, raadzaam
To taint (attaint)=Overtuigen van misdaad, schuldig verklaaren, betichten; bevlekken, bederf aanzetten

Topics: proverbs and idioms, still in use, skill/talent, language, intellect, appearance

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Olivia
CONTEXT:
OLIVIA
Why, this is very midsummer madness.
SERVANT
Madam, the young gentleman of the Count Orsino’s is returned. I could hardly entreat him back. He attends your ladyship’s pleasure.

DUTCH:
Nu, dit is echte midzomer-dolheid!

MORE:
Proverb: It is midsummer moon with you

Madness was said to be prevalent at the time of the Midsummer moon.
Midsummer madness=Height of insanity

Topics: proverbs and idioms, madness

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 5.1
SPEAKER: Fabian
CONTEXT:
FABIAN
Now, as thou lovest me, let me see his letter.
FOOL
Good Master Fabian, grant me another request.
FABIAN
Anything.
FOOL
Do not desire to see this letter.
FABIAN
This is, to give a dog and in recompense desire my dog
again.

DUTCH:
Dat is, mij een hond ten geschenke geven en tot beboning
mijn hond terugvragen.

MORE:
Proverb: Give a thing and take again and you shall ride in hell’s wain

Also a reference to an anecdote that Queen Elizabeth requested a dog and the donor asked for its return as his reward

Topics: proverbs and idioms, claim

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.5
SPEAKER: Fool
CONTEXT:
FOOL
Apt, in good faith, very apt. Well, go thy way. If Sir
Toby would leave drinking, thou wert as witty a piece of
Eve’s flesh as any in Illyria.
MARIA
Peace, you rogue, no more o’ that. Here comes my lady.
Make your excuse wisely, you were best.
FOOL
Wit, an ’t be thy will, put me into good
fooling! Those wits, that think they have thee, do very
oft prove fools. And I, that am sure I lack thee, may
pass for a wise man. For what says Quinapalus? “Better a
witty fool, than a foolish wit.”

DUTCH:
Die geesten, die meenen u in pacht te hebben,
blijken maar al te dikwijls narren te zijn; maar
ik, die maar al te goed weet, dat ik u niet heb, kan
wel voor een wijs man doorgaan

MORE:
Proverb: He that is wise in his own conceit is a fool
Proverb: The first chapter of fools is to hold themselves wise
Proverb: There is more hope of a fool than of him that is wise in his own eyes
Proverb: Every man is wise in his own conceit
Proverb: The wise man knows himself to be a fool, the fool thinks he is wise

You were best=You’d better
Wit=Intelligence
Quinapalus=Fool invents an apocryphal philosopher as an authority
Compleat:
+G31

Burgersdijk notes:
Als jonker Tobias het drinken maar wilde laten. De nar heeft gemerkt, dat Maria het er op toelegt, met jonker Tobias te trouwen.
Quinapalus. Een door den nar uitgedachte oude wijsgeer.

Topics: proverbs and idoms, still in use, wisdom, intellect

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.5
SPEAKER: Sir Toby
CONTEXT:
MARIA
If you will then see the fruits of the sport, mark his
first approach before my lady. He will come to her in
yellow stockings, and ’tis a colour she abhors, and
cross-gartered, a fashion she detests. And he will smile
upon her, which will now be so unsuitable to her
disposition, being addicted to a melancholy as she is,
that it cannot but turn him into a notable contempt. If
you will see it, follow me.
SIR TOBY BELCH
To the gates of Tartar, thou most excellent devil of
wit!
SIR ANDREW
I’ll make one too.

DUTCH:
Tot aan de poorten der hel, onvergelijkelijk duiveltjen
van geest!

MORE:
Cross-gartered=Laces tied up the leg
Notable=Notorious
Contempt=Object of contempt
Tartar=Hell
Compleat:
Gartered=Gekouseband
Notable=Merkelyk, uitneemend, zonderling, merkwaardig, berucht, vermaard
Contempt=Verachting, versmaading, versmaadheyd
Tartarean (of hell, from the Latin ‘tartarus’)=Helsch

Topics: fashion/trends, civility, order/society, emotion and mood

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 5.1
SPEAKER: Olivia
CONTEXT:
MALVOLIO
Lady, you have. Pray you, peruse that letter.
You must not now deny it is your hand.
Write from it if you can, in hand or phrase;
Or say ’tis not your seal, not your invention:
You can say none of this. Well, grant it then
And tell me, in the modesty of honour,
Why you have given me such clear lights of favour,
Bade me come smiling and cross-gartered to you,
To put on yellow stockings, and to frown
Upon Sir Toby and the lighter people?
And, acting this in an obedient hope,
Why have you suffered me to be imprisoned,
Kept in a dark house, visited by the priest,
And made the most notorious geck and gull
That e’er invention played on? Tell me why.
OLIVIA
Alas, Malvolio, this is not my writing,
Though, I confess, much like the character.
But out of question, ’tis Maria’s hand.
And now I do bethink me, it was she
First told me thou wast mad, then camest in smiling,
And in such forms which here were presupposed
Upon thee in the letter. Prithee, be content.
This practice hath most shrewdly passed upon thee;
But when we know the grounds and authors of it,
Thou shalt be both the plaintiff and the judge
Of thine own cause.

DUTCH:
Doch wees getroost;
Met boos beleid is u die streek gespeeld;
Maar kennen we eens de reed’nen en de daders,
Dan zult gij, beide, klager zijn en rechter,
In eigen zaak.

MORE:
Cited in Shakespeare’s Legal Maxims (William Lowes Rushton):
Proverb: No man ought to be judge in his own cause

Invention=Composition
Light=Sign
Lighter=Lesser
Suffer=Allow
Geck=Fool
Gull=Dupe, easily deceived
Invention=Trick
Character=Handwriting
Practice=Trick
Passed=Imposed
Shrewdly=Grievously
Compleat:
Invention=Uitvindzel
Suffer=Toelaten
Practice=(underhand dealing, intrigue, plot) Praktyk, bedekten handel, list
Gull=Bedrieger
To gull=Bedriegen, verschalken. You look as if you had a mind to gull me=Hete schynt of gy voorneemens waart om my te foppen
Character=Een merk, merkteken, letter, afbeeldsel, uitdruksel, print, stempel, uitgedruktbeeld, uitbeelding
Shrewdly (very much)=Sterk

Topics: learning/education, language, communication, madness, punishment, deceit

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.5
SPEAKER: Fabian
CONTEXT:
MALVOLIO
Seven of my people, with an obedient start, make out
for him. I frown the while, and perchance wind up watch,
or play with my—some rich jewel. Toby approaches,
curtsies there to me—
SIR TOBY BELCH
Shall this fellow live?
FABIAN
Though our silence be drawn from us with cars,
yet peace.
MALVOLIO
I extend my hand to him thus, quenching my familiar
smile with an austere regard of control—

DUTCH:
Al werden ons de woorden met paarden uit den mond
getrokken, toch stil!

MORE:
Obedient=Obsequious
Perchance=Perhaps
Cars=Carts (Johnson) or alernatively cares (Hammer)
Quenching=Suppressing
Familiar=Friendly
Regard=Look
Control=Authority
Compleat:
Obedient=Gehoorzaam, onderdaanig
Perchance=By geval
Quench=Blusschen, uitblusschen, lesschen, dempen
Familiar=Gemeenzaam

Topics: authority, appearance

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 2.4
SPEAKER: Fool
CONTEXT:
FOOL
No pains, sir. I take pleasure in singing, sir.
ORSINO
I’ll pay thy pleasure then.
FOOL
Truly, sir, and pleasure will be paid, one time or
another.
ORSINO
Give me now leave to leave thee.
FOOL
Now, the melancholy god protect thee, and the tailor
make thy doublet of changeable taffeta, for thy mind is
a very opal. I would have men of such constancy put to
sea, that their business might be everything and their
intent everywhere, for that’s it that always makes a
good voyage of nothing. Farewell.

DUTCH:
Nu, de god der zwaarmoedigheid bescherme u, en de
kleermaker make u een kleed van kameleonzijde, want
uw gemoed is een echte opaal

MORE:
Proverb: There is no pleasure without pain
Proverb: Every dram of delight has a pound of pain
Proverb: No joy without annoy

Melancholy god=Saturn, god of melancholy
Changeable=Colours that change in a different light
Opal=Iridiscent
Nothing=Lack of activity
Compleat:
Melancholy=Zwaarmoedigheyd, zwartgalligheyd, droefgeestigheyd, zwarte gal
Opal=Opaalsteen, een edel gesteente

Topics: proverbs and idioms, achievement, work, fate/destiny

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.1
SPEAKER: Olivia
CONTEXT:
VIOLA
Cesario is your servant’s name, fair princess.
OLIVIA
My servant, sir! ‘Twas never merry world
Since lowly feigning was call’d compliment.
You’re servant to the Count Orsino, youth.
VIOLA
And he is yours, and his must needs be yours:
Your servant’s servant is your servant, madam.
OLIVIA
For him, I think not on him. For his thoughts,
Would they were blanks, rather than fill’d with me.
VIOLA
Madam, I’ve come on his behalf to improve your feelings
towards him.

DUTCH:
Mijn dienaar? Ach, het ziet er treurig uit,
Sinds laffe vleierij beleefdheid heet.

MORE:
Proverb: He is out of his element
Proverb: To be in one’e element
Proverb: No man can play the fool as well as the wise man

Overworn=Spoiled by too much use
Welkin=Sky
Construe=Explain (also ‘conster’)
Wit=Intelligence
Haggard=Hawk
Check=Start, be startled
Feather=Fig., birds in general
Practice=Skill
Wisely=Deliberately
Fit=Appropriate
Taint=Discredit
Compleat:
Overworn=Gantsch afgesleeten, uitgesleeten, afgeleefd
Construe (conster)=Woordenschikken; t’Zamenschikken, t’zamenstellen
Wit (understanding)=Vinding, schranderheid, verstand
Hagard=Wild. A hagard hawk=Een wilde valk
To take check a a thing=Zich aan iets stooten, of ergeren
Practize=Oeffening, bewerking, praktyk
Well practised in the Law=Wel in de Rechten geoeffend
Wisely=Wyslyk
Fit=Bequaam, dienstig, betaaamelyk, raadzaam
To taint (attaint)=Overtuigen van misdaad, schuldig verklaaren, betichten; bevlekken, bederf aanzetten

Topics: proverbs and idioms, still in use, skill/talent, language, intellect, appearance, flattery

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.5
SPEAKER: Malvolio
CONTEXT:
MALVOLIO
I marvel your ladyship takes delight in such a barren rascal.
I saw him put down the other day with an ordinary fool that
has no more brain than a stone. Look you now, he’s out of his guard already. Unless you laugh and minister occasion to him, he is gagged. I protest I take these wise men that crow so at these set kind of fools no better than the fools’ zanies.
OLIVIA
Oh, you are sick of self-love, Malvolio, and taste with a distempered appetite. To be generous, guiltless, and of free disposition is to take those things for bird-bolts that you deem cannon-bullets. There is no slander in an allowed fool, though he do nothing but rail. Nor no railing in a known discreet man, though he do nothing but reprove.

DUTCH:
Zie maar eens,
hij is nu al van zijn stuk: zoo gij niet lacht en hem aan
den gang helpt, staat hij met den mond vol tanden.
Dit verzeker ik u, ik houd die wijze lieden, die het uitkraaien om deze aangestelde soort van narren, voor niet beter dan de hansworsten der narren.

MORE:
Marvel=Wonder
Put down=Defeated in argument
Ordinary fool=Clowns performing in a hostelry were known as ‘ordinaries’
Out of guard=Not in defensive position (fencing)
Minister=Provide
Occasion=Opportunity
Set=Planned
Zanies=Clowns’ partners
Distempered=Out of sorts, sick
Free=Liberal
Allowed=Licensed
Compleat:
To marvel=Verwonderen, zich verwonderen, verwonderd zyn
Ordinary=Een gaarkeuken, drooggastery, ordinaris
To be upon the gard=Op schildwacht staan. To stand upon gard=Op zyn hoede staan
To come from the gard=Van de wacht komen
To minister=Bedienen, toebedienen
Occasion=Gelegenheyd, voorval, oorzaak
To set=Zetten, stellen
Zany=Een bootsemaaker, gek
Distemper=Een quaal, ongesteldeyd, ongemak
Distempered=Niet wel te pas, quaalyk gesteld, uyt zyn schik
Free=Vry, openhartig
Allowed=Toegestaan, goedgekeurd, geoorloofd

Burgersdijk notes:
Een zeer gewone nar. An ordinary fool. Volgens Staunton’s vermoeden een grappenmaker, die in een
herberg aan de gelagtafel (ordinary) de gasten aangenaam moest bezighouden.

Topics: intellect, gullibility, wisdom, respect

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Fabian
CONTEXT:
SIR TOBY BELCH
Give me. [reads] “Youth, whatsoever thou art, thou art
but a scurvy fellow.”
FABIAN
Good, and valiant.
SIR TOBY BELCH
[reads] “Wonder not, nor admire not in thy mind, why I
do call thee so, for I will show thee no reason for ’t.”
FABIAN
A good note, that keeps you from the blow of the law.
SIR TOBY BELCH
(reads) “Thou comest to the lady Olivia, and in my
sight she uses thee kindly. But thou liest in thy
throat. That is not the matter I challenge thee for.”
FABIAN
Very brief, and to exceeding good sense—less.
SIR TOBY BELCH
[reads] “I will waylay thee going home, where if it be
thy chance to kill me—”
FABIAN
Good.
SIR TOBY BELCH
[reads] “Thou killest me like a rogue and a villain.”
FABIAN
Still you keep o’ the windy side of the law. Good.

DUTCH:
Zeer kort, en bovenmatig goed van zin—neloosheid.

MORE:
Admire=Marvel
Note=Observation
Keeps=Protects, preserves
Blow of the law=Charges
In thy throat=Deeply
On the windy side (see also Much Ado about Nothing, 2.1, “on the windy side of care”) =
according to the OED, to be situated downwind and not ‘scented’.
On the windy side of the law=(Just) upwind
Compleat:
To admire=Zich verwonderen, met verwondering ingenomen zyn, zich vergaapen, groot achten
Keep=Houden, bewaaren, behouden
Windward=Tegenwindsch

Topics: language, law/legal, clarity/precision

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.5
SPEAKER: Fool
CONTEXT:
FOOL
Well, God give them wisdom that have it. And those that
are fools, let them use their talents.
MARIA
Yet you will be hanged for being so long absent. Or to
be turned away, is not that as good as a hanging to
you?
FOOL
Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage, and, for
turning away, let summer bear it out.

DUTCH:
Nu, God verleene wijsheid aan die wijs zijn; en zij,
die narren zijn, mogen hunne talenten gebruiken.

MORE:
Proverb: Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage

Turned away=Dismissed
Hanging=Execution
Bear it out=Endure it
Compleat:
To bear out=Uythouden, uytsteeken, uytschieten

Topics: proverbs and idioms, marriage

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.2
SPEAKER: Viola
CONTEXT:
VIOLA
There is a fair behavior in thee, captain,
And though that nature with a beauteous wall
Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee
I will believe thou hast a mind that suits
With this thy fair and outward character.
I prithee—and I’ll pay thee bounteously—
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
For such disguise as haply shall become
The form of my intent. I’ll serve this duke.
Thou shall present me as an eunuch to him.
It may be worth thy pains, for I can sing
And speak to him in many sorts of music
That will allow me very worth his service.
What else may hap to time I will commit.
Only shape thou thy silence to my wit.

DUTCH:
De tijd moog’ leeren, wat gebeuren kan,
Steun gij door uw stilzwijgendheid mijn plan.

MORE:
Proverb: The face is the index of the heart (mind)

Prattle=Discuss
Fresh in murmur=New rumours
Delivered=Revealed
Shortly=Soon after
Abjure=Renounce
Occasion=Opportunity
Mellow=Ripe
Estate=Social status
Compass=Bring about
Suit=Petition
Compleat:
Prate and prattle=Keffen en snappen
To murmur=Morren, murmureeren
To murmur against=Tegen morren
Shortly=Kortelyk, in ‘t kort, binnen korten
To abjure=Afzweeren
Occasion=Gelegenheyd, voorval, oorzaak
Mellow=Murw, rijp
To mellow=Rypen, ryp of murw worden
Estate=Bezit, middelen
Suit=Een verzoek, rechtsgeding

Burgersdijk notes:
Ik wil dien vorst als jonkman dienen. In het oorspronkelijke staat, dat Viola ,””als eunuuk”” aan den hertog wenscht voorgesteld te worden. — Daarom zegt dan ook de kapitein, aan de eunuken en stommen van het serail en aan de daar gebruikelijke straf van verblinden denkende, in zijn antwoord: Wees gij zijn eunuuk, en ik zal uw stomme zijn; zoo mijn tong klapt, laat dan mijne oogen niet meer zien””. Geheel juist en volledig waren deze twee regels, die op de woorden “”als eunuuk”” slaan, niet terug te geven. Daarom zijn deze twee woorden weggelaten, wat te eerder veroorloofd scheen, daar Sh. later op deze uitdrukking niet meer gelet heeft en Viola aan het hof des hertogs geenszins de voorgenomen rol speelt, maar door allen als een jonkman behandeld wordt, zoodat men zich verwonderen kan, dat Shakespeare in dit met zooveel zorg bewerkte stuk de woorden niet gewijzigd heeft.”

Topics: proverbs and idioms, good and bad, appearance, plans/intentions

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 4.2
SPEAKER: Fool
CONTEXT:
FOOL
Madman, thou errest. I say, there is no darkness but ignorance, in which thou art more puzzled than the Egyptians in their fog.
MALVOLIO
I say, this house is as dark as ignorance, though ignorance were as dark as hell. And I say, there was never man thus abused. I am no more mad than you are. Make the trial of it in any constant question.
FOOL
What is the opinion of Pythagoras concerning wildfowl?
MALVOLIO
That the soul of our grandam might haply inhabit a bird.

DUTCH:
Wat is de leer van Pythagoras ten opzichte van het
wild gevogelte ?

MORE:
Proverb: The hood (habit, cowl) makes not the monk

Puzzled=Bewildered
Fog=One plague in Egypt was the ‘black darkness’ (Exodus)
Haply=Perhaps
Constant=Logical, common sense
Question=Consideration, discussion
Compleat:
Puzzled=In ‘t naauw gebragt, verbysterd
Foggy=Mistig, mistachtig; log, loom
Haply=Misschien
Constant=Standvastig, bestending, gestadig
Question=Verschil, twyfel

Topics: proverbs and idioms, still in use, learning/education, madness

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.5
SPEAKER: Viola
CONTEXT:
VIOLA
Most certain, if you are she, you do usurp yourself,
for what is yours to bestow is not yours to reserve. But
this is from my commission. I will on with my speech in
your praise and then show you the heart of my message.
OLIVIA
Come to what is important in ’t. I forgive you the
praise.
VIOLA
Alas, I took great pains to study it, and ’tis
poetical.
OLIVIA
It is the more like to be feigned. I pray you, keep it
in. I heard you were saucy at my gates and allowed your
approach rather to wonder at you than to hear you. If
you be not mad, be gone. If you have reason, be brief.
‘Tis not that time of moon with me to make one in so
skipping a dialogue.
MARIA
Will you hoist sail, sir? Here lies your way.
VIOLA
No, good swabber, I am to hull here a little longer.
Some mollification for your giant, sweet lady.

DUTCH:
Zeker, als gij het zijt, matigt gij u uw eigen ik aan;
want wat gij het recht hebt weg te schenken, hebt gij
daarom nog het recht niet voor u te houden.

MORE:
Proverb: Here is the door and there is the way

Usurp=Counterfeit, steal from (supplant)
My commission=Errand
Forgive=Pardon
Saucy=Impertinent
Be not mad=Have any sense
Skipping=Insignificant
Compleat:
To usurp=’t Onrecht aanmaatigen, met geweld in ‘t bezit dringen, overweldigen
Usurpation=Een onrechtmaatige bezitneeming, of indrang, dwinggebruik, overweldiging
Usurping=Een onrechtmaatige bezitting; ‘t onrecht aanmaatigende
Commission=Last, volmagt, lastbrief, provisie
To forgive=Vergeeven, quytshelden
Saucy=Stout, onbeschaamd, baldaadig
Skipping=Springende

Burgersdijk notes:
Uw reus. De kleine Maria gedraagt zich als een grimmige reus, die, zooals in de sprookjes, een schoone princes te bewaken heeft. De twee volgende gezegden worden in de Folio-, en ook in de Globe- editie, aan Viola in den mond gelegd. Zeker onjuist. Op de vraag van Olivia antwoordt Viola,
dat zij geen eigen verlangen te melden heeft, maar slechts een bode is.

Topics: proverbs and idioms, civility, value

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 4.1
SPEAKER: Sebastian
CONTEXT:
OLIVIA
Will it be ever thus? Ungracious wretch,
Fit for the mountains and the barbarous caves,
Where manners ne’er were preach’d! Out of my sight!—
Be not offended, dear Cesario.—
Rudesby, be gone!
I prithee, gentle friend,
Let thy fair wisdom, not thy passion, sway
In this uncivil and unjust extent
Against thy peace. Go with me to my house,
And hear thou there how many fruitless pranks
This ruffian hath botched up, that thou thereby
Mayst smile at this. Thou shalt not choose but go.
Do not deny. Beshrew his soul for me!
He started one poor heart of mine in thee.
SEBASTIAN
What relish is in this? How runs the stream?
Or I am mad, or else this is a dream.
Let fancy still my sense in Lethe steep.
If it be thus to dream, still let me sleep!

DUTCH:
Wat wind is dit? Waarheen voert mij de stroom?
Of ‘k ben waanzinnig, Of dit is een droom.

MORE:
Rudesby=Ruffian, rude person
Uncivil=Barbarous
Extent=Assault
Beshrew=Curse
Start=Startle
Compleat:
Rude=Boers
Uncivil=Onbeleefd, ongeschikt.
Incivil=Onbeleefd, ongeschikt, onmanierlyk, onheusch, onburgerlyk
Beshrew=Bekyven, vervloeken
To start=Schrikken

Topics: ingratitude, order/society, friendship, wisdom

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.4
SPEAKER: Olivia
CONTEXT:
OLIVIA
I have said too much unto a heart of stone
And laid mine honor too unchary on ’t.
There’s something in me that reproves my fault,
But such a headstrong potent fault it is
That it but mocks reproof.
VIOLA
With the same ‘havior that your passion bears
Goes on my master’s grief.
OLIVIA
Here, wear this jewel for me. ‘Tis my picture.
Refuse it not. It hath no tongue to vex you.
And I beseech you come again tomorrow.
What shall you ask of me that I’ll deny,
That honour, saved, may upon asking give?

DUTCH:
Wat kunt gij vragen, dat ik weig’ren zou,
Als ik het u in eere geven kan?

MORE:
Unchary=Heedlessy, carelessly
Reprove=Condemn
Vex=Taunt, torment
Compleat:
Chary=Bezorgd, voorzigtig, bekommerd
To reprove=Bestraffen, berispen
To vex=Quellen, plaagen

Topics: hope/optimism, honour, love, debt/obligation

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.1
SPEAKER: Fool
CONTEXT:
FOOL
The matter, I hope, is not great, sir, begging but a
beggar. Cressida was a beggar. My lady is within, sir. I
will construe to them whence you come. Who you are and
what you would are out of my welkin, I might say
“element,” but the word is overworn.
VIOLA
This fellow is wise enough to play the fool,
And to do that well craves a kind of wit.
He must observe their mood on whom he jests,
The quality of persons, and the time,
And, like the haggard, check at every feather
That comes before his eye. This is a practise
As full of labor as a wise man’s art,
For folly that he wisely shows is fit.
But wise men, folly-fall’n, quite taint their wit.

DUTCH:
Ik wil haar beduiden, van waar gij komt; wie gij zijt en wat gij wilt, ligt buiten mijn uitspansel; ik kon zeggen „sfeer”, maar dit woord is versleten.

MORE:

Overworn=Spoiled by too much use
Welkin=Sky
Construe=Explain (also ‘conster’)
Compleat:
Construe (conster)=Woordenschikken; t’Zamenschikken, t’zamenstellen
Overworn=Gantsch afgesleeten, uitgesleeten, afgeleefd

Topics: proverbs and idioms, skill/talent, language, intellect, appearance

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 1.3
SPEAKER: Sir Toby
CONTEXT:
SIR TOBY BELCH
What a plague means my niece, to take the death of her brother thus? I am sure care’s an enemy to life.
MARIA
By my troth, Sir Toby, you must come in earlier o’ nights. Your cousin, my lady, takes great exceptions to your ill hours.
SIR TOBY BELCH
Why, let her except, before excepted.
MARIA
Ay, but you must confine yourself within the modest limits of order.
SIR TOBY BELCH
Confine? I’ll confine myself no finer than I am. These clothes are good enough to drink in, and so be these boots too. An they be not, let them hang themselves in their own straps.

DUTCH:
Wel, het hindert haar niet; zij kan zelf op haar eigen
tijd gaan liggen.

MORE:
Proverb: Care will kill a cat
Proverb: Care brings grey hair
Proverb: Some complain to prevent complaint

Except before excepted=With the stated exceptions (Exceptis excipiendis)
Modest=Moderate, reasonable
Limits of order=Bounds of behaviour
Confine=Limit
Finer=More refined
Compleat:
Except=Uytzonderen, uytsluyten
Modest=Zeedig, eerbaar
Quite out of order=Geheel uyt zyn schik
Confined=Bepaald, bedwongen; gevangen
Fine=Mooi, fraai, fyn, schoon

Burgersdijk notes:
Het hindert niet. Natuurlijk moesten de woordspelingen met eenige vrijheid overgebracht worden. Hier staat in ‘t Engelsen, in antwoord op het door Maria gebezigde woord exception: ,Let her except, before excepted.” Except is de rechtsuitdrukking voor het wraken van getuigen. Verkiest men het woord afkeuren, dat alsdan ook door Maria gebruikt moet zijn, dan wordt dit: ,Laat haar afkeuren, voor zijzelf afgekeurd wordt “; dan is de vertaler iets nader gebleven aan het oorspronkelijke, maar daarentegen had jonker Tobias dan de woorden niet in een anderen zin gebruikt dan Maria, en dus ware de vertaling uit dit oogpunt weer minder getrouw. Nihil ex omni parte beatum.

Topics: proverbs and idioms, concern , order/society, excess, virtue

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.2
SPEAKER: Fabian
CONTEXT:
FABIAN
She did show favour to the youth in your sight only to
exasperate you, to awake your dormouse valor, to put
fire in your heart and brimstone in your liver. You
should then have accosted her, and with some excellent
jests, fire-new from the mint, you should have banged
the youth into dumbness. This was looked for at your
hand, and this was balked. The double gilt of this
opportunity you let time wash off, and you are now
sailed into the north of my lady’s opinion, where you
will hang like an icicle on a Dutchman’s beard, unless
you do redeem it by some laudable attempt either of
valour or policy.
SIR ANDREW
An ’t be any way, it must be with valour, for policy I
hate. I had as lief be a Brownist as a politician.

DUTCH:
Gij hadt haar toen moeten aanklampen, en door eenige schitterende kwinkslagen, fonkelnieuw van de munt, den jongen mensch met stomheid moeten slaan.

MORE:
Proverb: New out of the mint

Dormouse=Sleeping, timid
Brimstone=Sulphur (association with hell)
Fire-new=Brand new
Balked=Neglected
North of the opinion=Out of favour, cold disfavour
Dutchman=Sailor, supposedly reference to Arctic explorer Willem Barentsz
Brownist=Member of Puritan sect
Politician=Strategist
Compleat:
Dormouse=Hazelmuis (Hy slaapt als een hazelmuis)
Brimstone=Zwavel, sulfer
Fire-new (brand new)=Vlinder nieuw
To balk=Voorby gaan, daar over heen stappen, zyn woord niet houden, verongelyken, te leur stellen
He balked him not a whit=Hy zweeg niet voor hem, hy bleef hem niet schuldig

Topics: proverbs and idioms, still in use, clarity/precision, language

PLAY: Twelfth Night
ACT/SCENE: 3.2
SPEAKER: Fabian
CONTEXT:
FABIAN
She did show favor to the youth in your sight only to
exasperate you, to awake your dormouse valor, to put
fire in your heart and brimstone in your liver. You
should then have accosted her, and with some excellent
jests, fire-new from the mint, you should have banged
the youth into dumbness. This was looked for at your
hand, and this was balked. The double gilt of this
opportunity you let time wash off, and you are now
sailed into the north of my lady’s opinion, where you
will hang like an icicle on a Dutchman’s beard, unless
you do redeem it by some laudable attempt either of
valor or policy.
SIR ANDREW
An ’t be any way, it must be with valor, for policy I
hate. I had as lief be a Brownist as a politician.

DUTCH:
(…) gij liet het dubbel verguldsel dezer gelegenheid door den tijd afwasschen; en thans zijt gij in de goede meening van de jonkvrouw geheel naar het noorden verzeild, waar gij zult blijven hangen als een ijskegel in den baard van een Hollander, tenzij gij het weer goed maakt door de een of andere lofwaardige onderneming, of van uw dapperheid, of van uw staatkunde.

MORE:
Proverb: New out of the mint

Dormouse=Sleeping, timid
Brimstone=Sulphur (association with hell)
Fire-new=Brand new
Balked=Neglected
North of the opinion=Out of favour, cold disfavour
Dutchman=Sailor, supposedly reference to Arctic explorer Willem Barentsz
Brownist=Member of Puritan sect
Politician=Strategist
Compleat:
Dormouse=Hazelmuis (Hy slaapt als een hazelmuis)
Brimstone=Zwavel, sulfer
Fire-new (brand new)=Vlinder nieuw
To balk=Voorby gaan, daar over heen stappen, zyn woord niet houden, verongelyken, te leur stellen
He balked him not a whit=Hy zweeg niet voor hem, hy bleef hem niet schuldig

Topics: proverbs and idioms, still in use, clarity/precision, language

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