Page 863 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

ACT IV IT

Scene I IT

Enter the First French Lord, with five or six other Soldiers in ambush.

FIRST LORD
He can come no other way but by this hedge-corner. When you sally upon
him speak what terrible language you will; though you understand it not
yourselves, no matter; for we must not seem to understand him, unless some

one among us, whom we must produce [5] for an interpreter.

FIRST SOLDIER

Good captain, let me be th’interpreter.

FIRST LORD
Art not acquainted with him? Knows he not thy voice?

FIRST SOLDIER
No, sir, I warrant you. [10]

FIRST LORD
But what linsey-woolsey hast thou to speak to us again?

FIRST SOLDIER
E’en such as you speak to me.

FIRST LORD
He must think us some band of strangers i’th’adversary’s entertainment. Now
he hath a smack of [15] all neighbouring languages, therefore we must every

one be a man of his own fancy, not to know what we speak one to another;
so we seem to know is to know straight our purpose − choughs’ language,
gabble enough and good enough. As for you, interpreter, you must [20] seem