The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (342 page)

Against your vain assault.

My honor is a ring like that:

my chastity is the jewel of our house,

handed down through many generations;

it would be the greatest disgrace in the world

for me to lose it: so your own true words

have summoned up honor to come and defend me

against your vain attack.

BERTRAM

Here, take my ring:

My house, mine honour, yea, my life, be thine,

And I'll be bid by thee.

Here, take my ring:

my family, my honor, yes and my life, are all yours,

and I'm at your orders.

DIANA

When midnight comes, knock at my chamber-window:

I'll order take my mother shall not hear.

Now will I charge you in the band of truth,

When you have conquer'd my yet maiden bed,

Remain there but an hour, nor speak to me:

My reasons are most strong; and you shall know them

When back again this ring shall be deliver'd:

And on your finger in the night I'll put

Another ring, that what in time proceeds

May token to the future our past deeds.

Adieu, till then; then, fail not. You have won

A wife of me, though there my hope be done.

Come and knock on my bedroom window at midnight:

I'll take precautions to make sure my mother cannot hear.

Now you must promise me you will do this:

when you have triumphed in my virgin's bed,

you must only stay there an hour, and you must not speak to me:

I have the strongest reasons for this; and you will know them

when this ring is given back to you:

I'll put another ring on your finger

in the night, that in the fullness of time

might show our past deeds in the future.

Goodbye, until then; do not fail then. You have persuaded me

to act like a wife, even though doing so means I will never be one.

BERTRAM

A heaven on earth I have won by wooing thee.

Persuading you has given me a heaven on earth.

Exit

DIANA

For which live long to thank both heaven and me!

You may so in the end.

My mother told me just how he would woo,

As if she sat in 's heart; she says all men

Have the like oaths: he had sworn to marry me

When his wife's dead; therefore I'll lie with him

When I am buried. Since Frenchmen are so braid,

Marry that will, I live and die a maid:

Only in this disguise I think't no sin

To cozen him that would unjustly win.

Exit

And may you live long to thank both heaven and me!

You may do so in the end.

My mother told me exactly what he would say,

as if she could see into his heart; she says all men

say the same things: he swore that he would marry me

when his wife's dead; the only place I'll sleep with him

will be the grave. Since Frenchmen are so deceitful,

let those who want to get married, I will live and die a virgin:

but I don't think it's wrong to use these tricks

to deceive the one who is trying to win something he shouldn't.

Enter the two French Lords and some two or three Soldiers

First Lord

You have not given him his mother's letter?

Haven't you given him his mother's letter?

Second Lord

I have delivered it an hour since: there is

something in't that stings his nature; for on the

reading it he changed almost into another man.

I delivered it an hour ago: there is

something in it that really hurt him; when he

read it he became almost a different person.

First Lord

He has much worthy blame laid upon him for shaking

off so good a wife and so sweet a lady.

He is much criticised, and rightly so, for rejecting

such a good wife and such a sweet lady.

Second Lord

Especially he hath incurred the everlasting

displeasure of the king, who had even tuned his

bounty to sing happiness to him. I will tell you a

thing, but you shall let it dwell darkly with you.

Especially as he has incurred the everlasting

annoyance of the King, who was ready to

provide for his happiness. I will tell you

something, but keep it under your hat.

First Lord

When you have spoken it, 'tis dead, and I am the

grave of it.

Whatever you say will go no further.

Second Lord

He hath perverted a young gentlewoman here in

Florence, of a most chaste renown; and this night he

fleshes his will in the spoil of her honour: he hath

given her his monumental ring, and thinks himself

made in the unchaste composition.

He has twisted a young gentlewoman here in

Florence, who has a very chaste reputation; and tonight

his wishes will become flesh when he takes her virginity: he has

given her his family ring, and thinks that he has

got a good deal in exchange.

First Lord

Now, God delay our rebellion! as we are ourselves,

what things are we!

May God stop us from rebelling! What creatures

human beings are!

Second Lord

Merely our own traitors. And as in the common course

of all treasons, we still see them reveal

themselves, till they attain to their abhorred ends,

so he that in this action contrives against his own

nobility, in his proper stream o'erflows himself.

We are traitors to ourselves. And as is the case with all

treason, we still see them showing

themselves, until they achieve their vile purpose,

so that in his action he goes against his own

nobility, and swamps his good character.

First Lord

Is it not meant damnable in us, to be trumpeters of

our unlawful intents? We shall not then have his

company to-night?

Isn't it designated a sin, to boast of

our unlawful plans? So he won't be with us

tonight?

Second Lord

Not till after midnight; for he is dieted to his hour.

Not until after midnight; he'll stick to his date.

First Lord

That approaches apace; I would gladly have him see

his company anatomized, that he might take a measure

of his own judgments, wherein so curiously he had

set this counterfeit.

That is coming on quickly; I would have liked him to see

his companion examined, so that he could think about

the validity of his judgment, which made him place such value

on this fake.

Second Lord

We will not meddle with him till he come; for his

presence must be the whip of the other.

We won't start the business until he comes; his

presence is needed for the punishment.

First Lord

In the mean time, what hear you of these wars?

In the meantime, what have you heard about the war?

Second Lord

I hear there is an overture of peace.

I hear moves have been made for peace.

First Lord

Nay, I assure you, a peace concluded.

No, I can assure you peace has been agreed.

Second Lord

What will Count Rousillon do then? will he travel

higher, or return again into France?

What will Count Rousillon do then? Will he

carry on with his travels, or go back to France?

First Lord

I perceive, by this demand, you are not altogether

of his council.

I see from your question that you are not quite

in his inner circle.

Second Lord

Let it be forbid, sir; so should I be a great deal

of his act.

God forbid it, sir; if I was I would be an accessory to his actions.

First Lord

Sir, his wife some two months since fled from his

house: her pretence is a pilgrimage to Saint Jaques

le Grand; which holy undertaking with most austere

sanctimony she accomplished; and, there residing, the

tenderness of her nature became as a prey to her

grief; in fine, made a groan of her last breath, and

now she sings in heaven.

Sir, his wife left his house some two months ago:

her reason is to make a pilgrimage to great St James;

she completed this holy task with strict devotion;

and, living there, her tender spirit fell victim to her grief;

to sum up, her last breath was a groan, and

now she sings in heaven.

Second Lord

How is this justified?

Have you had proof of this?

First Lord

The stronger part of it by her own letters, which

makes her story true, even to the point of her

death: her death itself, which could not be her

office to say is come, was faithfully confirmed by

the rector of the place.

Most of it through her own letters, which

prove her story, even up to her death:

obviously she could not report her own death,

but it was confirmed by the clergyman in charge.

Second Lord

Hath the count all this intelligence?

And does the count know all this?

First Lord

Ay, and the particular confirmations, point from

point, so to the full arming of the verity.

Yes, and all the details, in every

particular, guaranteeing the truth.

Second Lord

I am heartily sorry that he'll be glad of this.

I regret to say that he will be happy about this.

First Lord

How mightily sometimes we make us comforts of our losses!