To my heart's hope! - gold, silver, and base lead.
- gold, silver and rubbish lead.
"Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath."
"Who chooses me must give up and risk everything he has"
You shall look fairer ere I give or hazard.
You will look more beautiful before I give or risk anything.
What says the golden chest? Ha ! let me see,
What says the golden chest? Ha! Let me see,
"Who chooseth me, shall gain what many men desire,"
"Who chooses me shall get what many men want"
What many men desire, - that "many" may be meant
What many men want - that word "many" may mean
By the fool multitude that choose by show,
The stupid majority of people that choose or judge by appearances,
Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach,
They do not learn more than the eye can see
Which pries not to th'interior, but like the martlet
Which does not look inside, but like the bird, the house martin
Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
Builds his nest on the outside wall
Even in the force and road of casualty.
Even where accidents are most likely to happen, and with most force.
I will not choose what many men desire,
I will not choose what many men desire,
Because I will not jump with common spirits,
Because I will not follow the crowd
And rank me with the barbarous multitudes.
And be at the same level as many uncivilized people.
Why then to thee (thou silver treasure house),
Why then to you (you silver treasure house),
Tell me once more what title thou dost bear;
Tell me once more that you say:
"Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves,"
"Who chooses me will get as much as he deserves."
And well said too; for who shall go about
And well said too; because who goes around
To cozen Fortune, and be honourable
Cheating Fortune and claiming to be honourable
Without the stamp of merit? - let none presume
Without any evidence of the fact? Let none assume
To wear an undeserved dignity:
To wear an unworthy dignity:
O that estates, degrees, and offices,
O that property, rank and positions
Were not deriv'd corruptly, and that clear honour
Were not gained illegally, and that great honour
Were purchas'd by the merit of the wearer!-
Is earned only by people who deserve it!-
How many then should cover that stand bare!
A lot of people who now have to remove their hats in the presence of their betters would keep them on!
How many be commanded that command!
A lot of people should follow orders that give them!
How much low peasantry would then be gleaned
Among the people who are currently born nobles, there are many who ought to be picked out
From the true seed of honour! And how much honour
and rejected as peasants;And many people
Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times,
ruined by these hard times who ought to be
To be new-varnish'd! - well, but to my choice.
newly decorated with honours - well now to my choice.
"Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves,"-
"Who chooses me will get as much as he deserves."
I will assume desert; give me a key for this,
I will assume I deserve; give me the key for this,
And instantly unlock my fortunes here.
And unlock my fortunes instantly here.
Instructions
Match the original lines with the modern version.
What does this speech tell you about the lottery?
What do we learn about appearances and reality?
What do we learn about human nature?
| And so I have address'd me, -fortune now |
| To my heart's hope! - gold, silver, and base lead. |
| "Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath." |
| You shall look fairer ere I give or hazard. |
| What says the golden chest? Ha ! let me see, |
| "Who chooseth me, shall gain what many men desire," |
| What many men desire, - that "many" may be meant |
| By the fool multitude that choose by show, |
| Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach, |
| Which pries not to th'interior, but like the martlet |
| Builds in the weather on the outward wall, |
| Even in the force and road of casualty. |
| I will not choose what many men desire, |
| Because I will not follow the crowd. |
| And be at the same level as many uncivilized people |
| Why then to you (you silver treasure house), |
| Tell me once more that you say: |
| "Who chooses me will get as much as he deserves." |
| And well said too; because who goes around |
| Cheating Fortune and claiming to be honourable |
| Without any evidence of the fact? Let none assume |
| To wear an unworthy dignity: |
| O that estates, degrees, and offices, |
| Were not deriv'd corruptly, and that clear honour |
| Were purchas'd by the merit of the wearer!- |
| How many then should cover that stand bare! |
| How many be commanded that command! |
| How much low peasantry would then be gleaned |
| From the true seed of honour! And how much honour |
| Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times, |
| To be new-varnish'd! - well, but to my choice. |
| "Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves,"- |
| I will assume desert; give me a key for this, |
| And instantly unlock my fortunes here. |
| And so I have prepared myself- let's hope I'll get a fortune |
| - gold, silver and rubbish lead. |
| "Who chooses me must give up and risk everything he has" |
| You will look more beautiful before I give or risk anything. |
| What says the golden chest? Ha! Let me see, |
| "Who chooses me shall get what many men want" |
| What many men want - that word "many" may mean |
| The stupid majority of people that choose or judge by appearances, |
| They do not learn more than the eye can see |
| Which does not look inside, but like the bird, the house martin |
| Builds his nest on the outside wall |
| Even where accidents are most likely to happen, and with most force. |
| I will not choose what many men desire, |
| Because I will not follow the crowd |
| And be at the same level as many uncivilized people. |
| Why then to you (you silver treasure house), |
| Tell me once more that you say: |
| "Who chooses me will get as much as he deserves." |
| And well said too; because who goes around |
| Cheating Fortune and claiming to be honourable |
| Without any evidence of the fact? Let none assume |
| To wear an unworthy dignity: |
| O that property, rank and positions |
| Were not gained illegally, and that great honour |
| Is earned only by people who deserve it!- |
| A lot of people who now have to remove their hats in the presence of their betters would keep them on! |
| A lot of people should follow orders that give them! |
| Among the people who are currently born nobles, there are many who ought to be picked out |
| and rejected as peasants; And many people |
| ruined by these hard times who ought to be |
| newly decorated with honours - well now to my choice. |
| "Who chooses me will get as much as he deserves." |
| I will assume I deserve; give me the key for this, |
| And unlock my fortunes instantly here. |
Instructions
Match the original lines with the modern version.
What does this speech tell you about the lottery?
What do we learn about appearances and reality?
What do we learn about human nature?
Published on: 10 Dec 2010
