by William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Translation by François-Victor Hugo (1828 - 1873)
Here's a knocking indeed! If a man were
Language: English
Porter Here's a knocking indeed! If a man were porter of Hell Gate, he should have old turning the key. (Knock.) Knock, knock, knock! Who's there, i' the name of Beelzebub? Here's a farmer, that hang'd himself on th' expectation of plenty. Come in time! Have napkins enow about you; here you'll sweat for't. (Knock.) Knock, knock! Who's there, in the other devil's name? Faith, here's an equivocator, that could swear in both the scales against either scale, who com- mitted treason enough for God's sake, yet could not equivocate to heaven. O, come in, equivocator. (Knock.) Knock, knock, knock! Who's there? Faith, here's an English tailor come hither, for stealing out of a French hose: come in, tailor; here you may roast your goose. (Knock.) Knock, knock! Never at quiet! What are you? But this place is too cold for hell. I'll devil-porter it no further: I had thought to have let in some of all professions that go the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire. (Knock.) Anon, anon! [Opens the gate.] I pray you, remember the porter.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), no title, appears in Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 3 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Friedrich von Schiller (1759 - 1805) , "Frühgesang" [an adaptation] FRE ITA ; composed by Wilhelm Reinhard Berger, Leopold Lenz, Wilhelm Taubert.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (François-Victor Hugo) , no title
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Carlo Rusconi) , no title, first published 1858
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-07-01
Line count: 22
Word count: 179
Voilà qui s’appelle frapper ! Un homme...
Language: French (Français) after the English
LE PORTIER Voilà qui s’appelle frapper ! Un homme qui serait portier de l’enfer serait habitué à tourner la clef ! (On frappe.) Frappe, frappe, frappe !… Qui est là, au nom de Belzébuth ?… C’est un fermier qui s’est pendu à force d’attendre une bonne récolte… Il fallait venir à l’heure ; mettez-vous force mouchoirs autour de vous ; car vous allez suer ici pour la peine. (On frappe.) Frappe, frappe : qui est là, au nom de l’autre diable ? Ma foi, ce doit être un casuiste qui pouvait jurer indifféremment par un des plateaux contre l’autre, et qui, après avoir commis suffisamment de trahisons pour l’amour de Dieu, n’a pas pu cependant équivoquer avec le ciel. Oh ! entrez, maître casuiste. (On frappe.) Frappe, frappe, frappe : qui est là ? Ma foi, c’est un tailleur anglais venu ici pour avoir volé sur un haut de chausses français. Entrez, tailleur, vous pourrez chauffer ici votre carreau. (On frappe.) Frappe, frappe. Jamais en repos ! Qui êtes-vous ?… Décidément, cette place est trop froide pour un enfer. Je ne veux plus faire le portier du diable. Je serais censé devoir ouvrir aux gens de toutes professions qui s’en vont par un chemin fleuri de primevères au feu de joie éternel. (On frappe.) Tout à l’heure, tout à l’heure. (Il ouvre la porte) N’oubliez pas le portier, je vous prie.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by François-Victor Hugo (1828 - 1873), no title [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), no title, appears in Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 3
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this text: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2016-01-09
Line count: 22
Word count: 231