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The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale Translation Act 3, Scene 1
Enter CLEOMENES and DION
CLEOMENES
The climate's delicate, the air most sweet,Fertile the isle, the temple much surpassingThe common praise it bears.
CLEOMENES
The weather's fantastic, the air is fresh, the island is lush, and the temple is even more beautiful than everyone says it is.
DION
I shall report,5For most it caught me, the celestial habits,Methinks I so should term them, and the reverenceOf the grave wearers. O, the sacrifice!How ceremonious, solemn and unearthlyIt was i' the offering!
DION
I'll talk about the thing that impressed me the most: the super-spiritual lifestyle (that's how I'd describe it, anyway) and discipline of the priests.
CLEOMENES
10 But of all, the burstAnd the ear-deafening voice o' the oracle,Kin to Jove's thunder, so surprised my senseThat I was nothing.
CLEOMENES
The best part was the blast of the oracle's ear-defeaning voice; it was like thunder! I was scared senseless. I felt tiny and insignificant.
DION
If the event o' the journey15Prove as successful to the queen,—O be't so!—As it hath been to us rare, pleasant, speedy,The time is worth the use on't.
DION
Hopefully the reading of the prophecy is as successful as our journey (for the queen's sake). It was a great, enjoyable, quick trip, but we can only hope it was worth the time.
CLEOMENES
Great ApolloTurn all to the best! These proclamations,20So forcing faults upon Hermione,I little like.
CLEOMENES
Dear Apollo, help it all go well! I don't like these accusations against Hermione one bit.
DION
The violent carriage of it Will clear or end the business: when the oracle, Thus by Apollo's great divine seal'd up, 25 Shall the contents discover, something rare Even then will rush to knowledge. Go: fresh horses! And gracious be the issue!
DION
Leontes's violent way of going about it all is about to come to an end. When we read the oracle's prophecy, sealed and endorsed by Apollo, we'll find out the truth. Let's get fresh horses! Let's hope the oracle has something good to say!
Exeunt
About the Translator: Bailey Sincox
Bailey Sincox is a PhD student in English at Harvard University, where she researches the theatre of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. Her teaching experience includes accessible online courses with edX on Hamlet and The Merchant of Venice. She holds a Master's from the University of Oxford and a Bachelor's from Duke University.
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