Good evening my lords, my ladies, gentlemen and gentlewomen. Tonight we play the history of Tom Jones, the foundling. I am your humble servant, Partridge. Our story takes place more than three hundred years ago, when the world was indeed wicked, bawdy, and licentious; in short, a time like any other. Tom Jones was born, or rather found, in Sommersetshire, in the home of Squire Allworthy. This is the Squire’s sister, Miss Bridget Allworthy. She is to be commended for her…good qualities, rather than her…beauty.
“I thank heavens I have not the beauty of the ladies of fashion. Beauty leads a woman to misfortune!”
Have no fear… This is the squire himself, returned home after a journey of some months.
“Welcome home, brother!” “Thank you, sister!”
The squire, exhausted…(“I’m exhausted”)…retired at once to his chamber, from which issued a great cry.
“Ahhh! Merciful heavens!” “What’s happened to the master?” “Brother, what’s happened?”
“In my room, a baby!” “La, Squire, wherever did it come from?” “From my pillow.” “Congratulations!” “Nonsense, the child is not mine.” “Of course not, but many honest people will delight in saying so all the same.”
“It was Jenny Jones.” “Jenny Jones?!” “She has been seen walking out with the schoolmaster, Mr. Partridge.”
That’s a lie!
“The whole village knows. You’ve been seen.”
I was merely teaching her Greek and Latin.
“What need does a scullery maid have of Greek and Latin?” “Bring Jenny Jones to me.”
It’s true that Jenny is a scullery maid, but she has a good inquiring mind.
“I’m afraid she has inquired a bit too far.” “Jenny Jones, are you the mother of this child.” “Yes, master, I brought him to you hoping you could give him a good home.” “But who is the father?” “I am under the most solemn oath not to reveal his name, at this time.” “Brother, I beseech you to help this unfortunate girl.”
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And I can go on (though I’m sure I missed a bit). This is from a one-act play that I was crew on (not even cast on that one) five years ago. Time was I could recite all 35 minutes’ worth (would do it to try to fall asleep).
And one from German that same year (much phonetically, so probably a few spelling mistakes, if not worse):
Ich weiss nicht, was soll es bedeuten
Das ich so traurig bin
Ein Märchen aus alten Zeiten
Das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn
Die Luft ist kühl, und es dunkelt
Und ruhig fliest der Rhein
Die Gipfel des Berges funkelt
Im Abendsonnenschein
Die schönste Jungfrau sitzet dort oben wunderbar
Ihr goldnes Geschmeide bliztet
Sie kämmt ihr goldnes Haar
Sie kämmt es mit goldenem Kaame
Und singt ein Lied dabei
Das hat eine wundersame gewaltige Melodei
Der Schiffer im kleinen Schiffe
Ergreift es mit wildem Weh
Er sieht nicht die Felsenriffe
Er shauft nur hinauf in die Höh
Ich glaube die Wellen verschlingen
Am Ende Schiffer und Kahn
Und das hat mit ihrem Singen
Die Lorelei getan.