The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (544 page)

I would like to know what you have to say.

VERGES

Marry, sir, our watch to-night, excepting your worship's presence, ha' ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Messina.

Indeed, sir, our watch tonight, excepting your worship’s presence, has caught a pair of scoundrels at large, villainous as any in Messina.

DOGBERRY

A good old man, sir; he will be talking; as they say, 'when the age is in, the wit is out.' God help us! it is a world to see! Well said, i' faith, neighbour Verges: well, God's a good man; an two men ride of a horse, one must ride behind. An honest soul, i' faith, sir; by my troth he is, as ever broke bread; but God is to be worshipped: all men are not alike; alas! good neighbour.

A good old man, sir; he will be talking; as they say, ‘when the age is in, the wit is out.’ God help us! It is a world to see! Well said, by my faith, neighbor Verges: well, God’s a good man; and when two men ride on a horse, one must ride behind. An honest soul, by my faith sir; by my truth he is, as ever broke bread; but God is to be worshipped: all men are different; alas, good neighbor!

LEONATO

Indeed, neighbour, he comes too short of you.

Indeed, neighbor, he is far behind you.

DOGBERRY

Gifts that God gives.

LEONATO

I must leave you.

DOGBERRY

One word, sir: our watch, sir, hath indeed comprehended two aspicious persons, and we would have them this morning examined before your worship.

One word, sir: our watch, sir, has indeed [he means to say they ‘apprehended’ two ‘suspicious’ persons, what he has actually said is that they understood two lucky persons], and we would like to examine them this morning in front of your worship.

LEONATO

Take their examination yourself, and bring it me: I am now in great haste, as may appear unto you.

Take their examination yourself, and bring it to me: I am not in a huge hurry, as you may notice.

DOGBERRY

It shall be suffigance.

It shall be [he means to say ‘sufficient’].

LEONATO

Drink some wine ere you go: fare you well.

Drink some wine before you go: farewell.

[Enter a Messenger.]

MESSENGER

My lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to her husband.

My lord, they wait for you to give your daughter to her husband.

LEONATO

I'll wait upon them: I am ready.

I’ll go assist them: I am ready.

[Exeunt LEONATO and Messenger.]

DOGBERRY

Go, good partner, go, get you to Francis Seacoal; bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the gaol: we are now to examination these men.

Go, good partner, go, get yourself to Francis Seacoal; tell him to bring his pen and inkhorn to the jail: we are now to examine these men.

VERGES

And we must do it wisely.

DOGBERRY

We will spare for no wit, I warrant you; here's that shall drive some of them to a non-come: only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication, and meet me at the gaol.

We will spare nothing, I promise; here’s what shall drive some of them to a [he means ‘outcome]: only get the learned writer to set down our [he means ‘communication’; ‘excommunication’ means kicking someone out of a religion], and meet me at the jail.

[Exeunt.]

The Inside of a Church.

[Enter DON PEDRO, DON JOHN, LEONATO, FRIAR FRANCIS, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, HERO, BEATRICE, &c.]

LEONATO

Come, Friar Francis, be brief: only to the plain form of marriage, and you shall recount their particular duties afterwards.

Come, Friar Francis, be brief: only give the basic version of the marriage vow, and you can discuss their particular duties afterwards.

FRIAR

You come hither, my lord, to marry this lady?

You come here, my lord, to marry this lady?

CLAUDIO

No.

LEONATO

To be married to her, friar; you come to marry her.

FRIAR

Lady, you come hither to be married to this count?

Lady, you come here to be married to this count?

HERO

I do.

FRIAR

If either of you know any inward impediment, why you should not be conjoined, I charge you, on your souls, to utter it.

If either of you knows any hidden obstacle, why you should not be wedded, I command you, by your souls, to say it.

CLAUDIO

Know you any, Hero?

Do you know any, Hero?

HERO

None, my lord.

FRIAR

Know you any, count?

Do you know any, count?

LEONATO

I dare make his answer; none.

I dare answer for him; none.

CLAUDIO

O! what men dare do! what men may do! what men daily do, not knowing what they do!

Oh! What men dare do! What men may do! What men do daily, not knowing what they do!

BENEDICK

How now! Interjections? Why then, some be of laughing, as ah! ha! he!

What’s going on? Interjections? Why then, some are of laughter, as in ah! Hah! He!

CLAUDIO

Stand thee by, friar. Father, by your leave:

Stand by, friar. Father, by your leave:

Will you with free and unconstrained soul

Will you with your free and honest soul

Give me this maid, your daughter?

Give me this maiden, your daughter?

LEONATO

As freely, son, as God did give her me.

CLAUDIO

And what have I to give you back whose worth

And what do I have to give you back whose worth

May counterpoise this rich and precious gift?

May repay this rich and precious gift?

DON PEDRO

Nothing, unless you render her again.

Nothing, unless you give her back.

CLAUDIO

Sweet prince, you learn me noble thankfulness.

Sweet prince, you teach me noble tankfulness.

There, Leonato, take her back again:

Give not this rotten orange to your friend;

Do not give this rotten orange to your friend;

She's but the sign and semblance of her honour.

She only looks like she is honorable.

Behold! how like a maid she blushes here.

Look! See how she blushes like a virgin here.

O! what authority and show of truth

Oh, with what authority and show of truth

Can cunning sin cover itself withal.

Can cunning sin hide itself!

Comes not that blood as modest evidence

Does that blood not come as humble evidence

To witness simple virtue? Would you not swear,

To prove simple virtue? Would you not swear,

All you that see her, that she were a maid,

All you that see her, that she were a virgin,

By these exterior shows? But she is none:

By these outward signs? But she is not one:

She knows the heat of a luxurious bed;

Her blush is guiltiness, not modesty.

LEONATO

What do you mean, my lord?

CLAUDIO

Not to be married,

Not to knit my soul to an approved wanton.

Not to join my soul to a loose woman.

LEONATO

Dear my lord, if you, in your own proof,

My dear lord, if you, of your own will,

Have vanquish'd the resistance of her youth,

Have overcome the resistance of her youth,

And made defeat of her virginity,--

And took her virginity, --

CLAUDIO

I know what you would say: if I have known her,

I know what you would say: if I had slept with her,

You'll say she did embrace me as a husband,

You’ll say she did accept me as a husband,

And so extenuate theforehand sin:

And in that way excuse the sin:

No, Leonato, I never tempted her with word too large;

No, Leonato, I never tempted her with cunning words,

But, as a brother to his sister, show'd

But, as a brother to his sister, showed

Bashful sincerity and comely love.

Bashful sincerity and appropriate love.

HERO

And seem'd I ever otherwise to you?

And did I ever seem otherwise to you?

CLAUDIO

Out on thee! Seeming! I will write against it:

Out with you! Seeming! I will argue against it:

You seem to me as Dian in her orb,

You seem to me as Diana in her moon,

As chaste as is the bud ere it be blown;

As chaste as the flower bud before it blooms;

But you are more intemperate in your blood

But you are more hot-blooded

Than Venus, or those pamper'd animals

Than Venus, or those pampered animals

That rage in savage sensuality.

That rage with savage lust.

HERO

Is my lord well, that he doth speak so wide?

Are you talking like this out of sickness?

LEONATO

Sweet prince, why speak not you?

Sweet prince, why do you not speak?

DON PEDRO

What should I speak?

What should I say?

I stand dishonour'd, that have gone about

I stand dishonored, that have gone around

To link my dear friend to a common stale.

To match my dear friend to a common slut.

LEONATO

Are these things spoken, or do I but dream?

Is this really happening, or am I dreaming?

DON JOHN

Sir, they are spoken, and these things are true.

BENEDICK

This looks not like a nuptial.

This does not look like a wedding.

HERO

True! O God!

CLAUDIO

Leonato, stand I here? Is this the prince? Is this the prince's brother? Is this face Hero's? Are our eyes our own?

Leonato, do I stand here? Is this the prince? Is this the prince’s brother? Is this face Hero’s? Are our eyes our own?

LEONATO