The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (552 page)

I think he is thinking about the savage bull.

Tush! fear not, man, we'll tip thy horns with gold,

Enough! Do not fear, man, we’ll tip your horns with gold,

And all Europa shall rejoice at thee,

And all Europe shall rejoice at you,

As once Europa did at lusty Jove,

As once Europa [a mythological woman] did at Jove

When he would play the noble beast in love.

When he carried her off in the form of a bull.

BENEDICK

Bull Jove, sir, had an amiable low:

Bull Jove, sir, had a pleasant moo,

And some such strange bull leap'd your father's cow,

And some such strange bull leaped at your father’s cow,

And got a calf in that same noble feat,

Much like to you, for you have just his bleat.

CLAUDIO

For this I owe you: here comes other reckonings.

[Re-enter ANTONIO, with the ladies masked.]

Which is the lady I must seize upon?

Which is the lady I must marry?

ANTONIO

This same is she, and I do give you her.

CLAUDIO

Why then, she's mine. Sweet, let me see your face.

LEONATO

No, that you shall not, till you take her hand

Before this friar, and swear to marry her.

In front of this friar, and swear to marry her.

CLAUDIO

Give me your hand: before this holy friar, I am your husband, if you like of me.

HERO

And when I liv'd, I was your other wife:

And when I lived, I was your other wife:

[Unmasking.] And when you lov'd, you were my other husband.

And when you loved, you were my other husband.

CLAUDIO

Another Hero!

HERO

Nothing certainer:

Nothing more certain:

One Hero died defil'd, but I do live,

One Hero died defiled, but I live,

And surely as I live, I am a maid.

And surely as I live, I am a virgin.

DON PEDRO

The former Hero! Hero that is dead!

LEONATO

She died, my lord, but whiles her slander liv'd.

She died, my lord, only while her false accusation lived.

FRIAR

All this amazement can I qualify:

I can explain all this:

When after that the holy rites are ended,

I'll tell you largely of fair Hero's death:

I will tell you the whole story of beautiful Hero’s death:

Meantime, let wonder seem familiar,

And to the chapel let us presently.

And let us go to the chapel.

BENEDICK

Soft and fair, friar. Which is Beatrice?

BEATRICE

[Unmasking.] I answer to that name. What is your will?

BENEDICK

Do not you love me?

BEATRICE

Why, no; no more than reason.

BENEDICK

Why, then, your uncle and the prince and Claudio

Have been deceived; for they swore you did.

BEATRICE

Do not you love me?

BENEDICK

Troth, no; no more than reason.

Truthfully, no; no more than reason.

BEATRICE

Why, then my cousin, Margaret, and Ursula,

Are much deceiv'd; for they did swear you did.

Have been much deceived; for they did swear you did.

BENEDICK

They swore that you were almost sick for me.

BEATRICE

They swore that you were well-nigh dead for me.

They swore that you were almost dead for me.

BENEDICK

Tis no such matter. Then you do not love me?

It is no such thing. Then you do not love me?

BEATRICE

No, truly, but in friendly recompense.

No, truly, except in a friendly manner.

LEONATO

Come, cousin, I am sure you love the gentleman.

CLAUDIO

And I'll be sworn upon't that he loves her;

And I’ll swear upon it that he loves her;

For here's a paper written in his hand,

For here’s a paper written in his handwriting,

A halting sonnet of his own pure brain,

An awkward sonnet of his own creation,

 Fashion'd to Beatrice.

Written to Beatrice.

HERO

And here's another,

Writ in my cousin's hand, stolen from her pocket,

In my cousin’s handwriting, stolen from her pocket,

Containing her affection unto Benedick.

Containing her affection for Benedick.

BENEDICK

A miracle! here's our own hands against our hearts. Come, I will have thee; but, by this light, I take thee for pity.

A miracle! Here’s our own hands against our hearts. Come, I will have you; but, by this light, I take you for pity.

BEATRICE

I would not deny you; but, by this good day, I yield upon great persuasion, and partly to save your life, for I was told you were in a consumption.

I would not deny you; but, by this good day, I yield to great persuasion, and partly to save your life, for I was told you were dying of tuberculosis.

BENEDICK

Peace! I will stop your mouth. [Kisses her.]

Enough! I will cover your mouth. [Kisses her.]

BENEDICK

I'll tell thee what, prince; a college of witcrackers cannout flout me out of my humour. Dost thou think I care for a satire or an epigram? No; if man will be beaten with brains, a' shall wear nothing handsome about him. In brief, since I do purpose to marry, I will think nothing to any purpose that the world can say against it; and therefore never flout at me for what I have said against it, for man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion. For thy part, Claudio, I did think to have beaten thee; but, in that thou art like to be my kinsman, live unbruised, and love my cousin.

I’ll tell you what, prince; a whole troop of people making fun of me cannot change my mind. Do you think I care for a satire or an epigram? No; if man will be beaten with brains, there shall be nothing handsome about him. Briefly, since I do intend to marry, I will think nothing meaningful that the world can say against it; and therefore never make fun of me for what I have said against it, for man is a silly thing, and this is my conclusion. For your part, Claudio, I did think to have beaten you; but, since you are going to be my relative, live unharmed, and love my cousin.

CLAUDIO

I had well hoped thou wouldst have denied Beatrice, that I might have cudgelled thee out of thy single life, to make thee a double-dealer; which, out of question, thou wilt be, if my cousin do not look exceeding narrowly to thee.

I had hoped you would deny Beatrice, that I might have beaten you out of your single life, to make you a double-dealer; which, out of the question, you will be, if my cousin does not respond well to you.

BENEDICK

Come, come, we are friends. Let's have a dance ere we are married, that we may lighten our own hearts and our wives' heels.

Come, come, we are friends. Let’s have a dance before we are married, so that we may lighten our own hearts and our wives’ heels.

LEONATO

We'll have dancing afterwards.

BENEDICK

First, of my word; therefore play, music! Prince, thou art sad; get thee a wife, get thee a wife: there is no staff more reverent than one tipped with horn.

First, by my word; therefore play, music! Prince, you are sad; get yourself a wife, get yourself a wife: there is no staff more respectable than one tipped with horn.

[Enter Messenger.]

MESSENGER

My lord, your brother John is ta'en in flight,

My lord, your brother John has been captured,

And brought with armed men back to Messina.

BENEDICK

Think not on him till to-morrow: I'll devise thee brave punishments for him. Strike up, pipers!

Do not think about him until tomorrow: I’ll come up with some good punishments for him. Strike up, pipers!

[Dance. Exeunt.]

ANTIOCHUS, king of Antioch

PERICLES, prince of Tyre

HELICANUS, ESCANES, two lords of Tyre

SIMONIDES, kIng of Pentapolis

CLEON, governor of Tarsus

LYSIMACHUS, governor of Mytilene

CERIMON, a lord of Ephesus

THALIARD, a lord of Antioch

PFIILEMON, servant to Cerimon

LEONINE, servant to Dionyza

Marshal

A Pandar

BOULT, his servant

The Daughter of Antiochus

DIONYZA, wife to Cleon

THAISA, daughter to Simonides

MARINA, daughter to Pericles and Thaisa

LYCHORIDA, nurse to Marina

A Bawd

Lords, Knights, Gentlemen, Sailors, Pirates, Fishermen, and Messengers

DIANA

GOWER, as Chorus.

SCENE: Dispersedly in various countries.