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

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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) Page 274

by William Shakespeare


  In that he committed the crime for which he died:For Angelo,

  For Angelo,His act did not o'ertake his bad intent,

  The crime he intended was not carried out,And must be buried but as an intent

  And must be forgotten as only an intentionThat perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects;

  That went by the wayside: thoughts are not people;Intents but merely thoughts.

  Intentions are only thoughts.

  MARIANA

  Merely, my lord.

  Only, my lord.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say.

  Your case won’t work; stand up, I say.I have bethought me of another fault.

  I have thought of another crime.Provost, how came it Claudio was beheaded

  Provost, why was Claudio beheadedAt an unusual hour?

  At an unusual hour?

  PROVOST

  It was commanded so.

  I was ordered to be like that.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  Had you a special warrant for the deed?

  Did you have a special warrant to do that?

  PROVOST

  No, my good lord; it was by private message.

  No, my good lord; it was by private message.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  For which I do discharge you of your office:

  For that you are fired from your position:Give up your keys.

  Give me your keys.

  PROVOST

  Pardon me, noble lord:

  Excuse me, noble lord:I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;

  I thought it was wrong, but I didn’t know;Yet did repent me, after more advice;

  But I did regret it, after more consideration;For testimony whereof, one in the prison,

  To testify to this there is someone in the prison,That should by private order else have died,

  Who should have also died by private order,I have reserved alive.

  That I have kept alive.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  What's he?

  Who’s he?

  PROVOST

  His name is Barnardine.

  His name is Barnardine.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  I would thou hadst done so by Claudio.

  I wish you had done that for Claudio.Go fetch him hither; let me look upon him.

  Go bring him here; let me look at him.

  Exit PROVOST

  ESCALUS

  I am sorry, one so learned and so wise

  I am sorry that someone so educated and so wiseAs you, Lord Angelo, have still appear'd,

  As you, Lord Angelo, has still managedShould slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood.

  To slip up so badly, both from the heat of sexual desire,And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

  And from the lack of careful thought afterward.

  ANGELO

  I am sorry that such sorrow I procure:

  I am sorry that I have created such sorrow:And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart

  And so it runs deep in my remorseful heartThat I crave death more willingly than mercy;

  That I would go to death more willingly than receive mercy;'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

  It’s what I deserve, and I ask for it.

  Re-enter PROVOST, with BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO muffled, and JULIET

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  Which is that Barnardine?

  Which of you is Barnardine?

  PROVOST

  This, my lord.

  This one, my lord.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  There was a friar told me of this man.

  There was a friar who told me about this man.Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul.

  Man, you are said to have a stubborn soul.That apprehends no further than this world,

  That doesn’t understand anything past his world,And squarest thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd:

  And that you live your life accordingly. You are comdemned:But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all;

  But, for these mortal crimes, I forgive you;And pray thee take this mercy to provide

  And please take this mercy to provide for yourselfFor better times to come. Friar, advise him;

  In better times to come. Friar, give him guidance;I leave him to your hand. What muffled fellow's that?

  I leave him in your hands. Who’s that concealed fellow?

  PROVOST

  This is another prisoner that I saved.

  This is another prisoner that I saved.Who should have died when Claudio lost his head;

  Who was supposed to have died when Claudio lost his head;As like almost to Claudio as himself.

  As similar to Claudio as himself.

  Unmuffles CLAUDIO

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  [To ISABELLA] If he be like your brother, for his sake

  [To ISABELLA] If he is like your brother, for Claudio’s sakeIs he pardon'd; and, for your lovely sake,

  His crimes are forgiven; and, for you lovely sake,Give me your hand and say you will be mine.

  Give me your hand in marriage and say you will be my wife.He is my brother too: but fitter time for that.

  He is my brother too: but there’s a better time for that.By this Lord Angelo perceives he's safe;

  From all this Lord Angelo think he’s safe;Methinks I see a quickening in his eye.

  I think I see a new light in his eyes.Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:

  Well Angelo, your evil has left you well:Look that you love your wife; her worth worth yours.

  Make sure that you love your wife; she is worth as much as you.I find an apt remission in myself;

  I find myself ready to forgive;And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon.

  And yet there’s someone here I cannot forgive.

  To LUCIO

  You, sirrah, that knew me for a fool, a coward,

  You, man, that thought I was a fool, a coward,One all of luxury, an ass, a madman;

  A lustful man, an ass, and a madman;Wherein have I so deserved of you,

  What have I done to you that deservedThat you extol me thus?

  For you to speak of me this way?

  LUCIO

  'Faith, my lord. I spoke it but according to the

  By heaven, my lord. I spoke that way as atrick. If you will hang me for it, you may; but I

  Prank. If you want to hang me for it, you may; but Ihad rather it would please you I might be whipt.

  Would rather if you would like me to be whipped.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  Whipt first, sir, and hanged after.

  Whipped, first, sir, and executed after.Proclaim it, provost, round about the city.

  Declare it, provost, all over the city.Is any woman wrong'd by this lewd fellow,

  If there is any woman who has been wronged by this lustful fellow,As I have heard him swear himself there's one

  As I have heard him say himself that there was oneWhom he begot with child, let her appear,

  Whom he got pregnant, let her come forward,And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd,

  And he will marry her: the marriage ceremony complete,Let him be whipt and hang'd.

  He will be whipped and executed.

  LUCIO

  I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore.

  I beg your highness, do not make me marry a whore.Your highness said even now, I made you a duke:

  Your highness said it just now, I made you a duke:good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold.

  My good lord, do not pay me back by making me husband to an unfaithful life.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her.

  On my honor, you will marry her.Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal

  Your slander I will forgive; and along with them Remit thy other forfeits. Take him to prison;

  I forgive your other crimes. Take him to prison;And see our pleasure herein executed.


  And see that our wishes are carried out.

  LUCIO

  Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death,

  Marrying a whore, my lord, is the same as death,whipping, and hanging.

  Whipping, and hanging.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  Slandering a prince deserves it.

  Slandering a duke deserves such a punishment.

  Exit Officers with LUCIO

  She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.

  Claudio, the woman that you wronged, make sure you marry her.Joy to you, Mariana! Love her, Angelo:

  Joy to you, Mariana! Love her, Angelo:I have confess'd her and I know her virtue.

  I have received her confession and know her virtue.Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness:

  Thanks, my good friend Escalus, for your great honor:There's more behind that is more gratulate.

  There’s more to come that is more expressive of my thanks.Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy:

  Thanks, provost, for your care and secrecy:We shill employ thee in a worthier place.

  I will give you a position in a better place.Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home

  Forgive the man, Angelo, that brought to your houseThe head of Ragozine for Claudio's:

  The head of Ragozine instead of Claudio’s:The offence pardons itself. Dear Isabel,

  The offence forgives itself. Dear Isabel,I have a motion much imports your good;

  I have a proposal that would greatly benefit you;Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,

  Which, if you’ll listen willingly,What's mine is yours and what is yours is mine.

  Would make what’s mine yours, and what’s yours mine.So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show

  So, accompany me to my palace; where I’ll show youWhat's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.

  What’s still to come, that’s appropriate for all of you to know.

  Exeunt

  THE DUKE OF VENICE

  THE PRINCE OF MOROCCO, suitor to Portia

  THE PRINCE OF ARRAGON, suitor to Portia

  ANTONIO, a merchant of Venice

  BASSANIO, his friend

  SALANIO, friend to Antonio and Bassanio

  SALARINO, friend to Antonio and Bassanio

  GRATIANO, friend to Antonio and Bassanio

  LORENZO, in love with Jessica

  SHYLOCK, a rich Jew

  TUBAL, a Jew, his friend

  LAUNCELOT GOBBO, a clown, servant to Shylock

  OLD GOBBO, father to Launcelot

  LEONARDO, servant to Bassanio

  BALTHASAR, servant to Portia

  STEPHANO, servant to Portia

  PORTIA, a rich heiress

  NERISSA, her waiting-maid

  JESSICA, daughter to Shylock

  Magnificoes of Venice, Officers of the Court of Justice,

  Gaoler, Servants to Portia, and other Attendants

  Enter ANTONIO, SALARINO, and SALANIO

  ANTONIO

  In sooth, I know not why I am so sad:

  It wearies me; you say it wearies you;

  But how I caught it, found it, or came by it,

  What stuff 'tis made of, whereof it is born,

  I am to learn;

  And such a want-wit sadness makes of me,

  That I have much ado to know myself.

  I have no idea why I am so sad.

  It tires me and you say it tires you, too.

  And how I came about being so sad--

  Whatever it’s about and where it comes from—

  I do not know.

  It all makes me feel so stupid,

  And I have to make it my business to know myself.

  SALARINO

  Your mind is tossing on the ocean;

  There, where your argosies with portly sail,

  Like signiors and rich burghers on the flood,

  Or, as it were, the pageants of the sea,

  Do overpeer the petty traffickers,

  That curtsy to them, do them reverence,

  As they fly by them with their woven wings.

  You’re thinking about the ocean,

  And wondering how your ships are doing.

  They are fine, like citizens on the deep waves,

  Or like a play out on the sea—

  They are large and look down on the smaller ships

  That bow to them and pay them respects

  As they fly past with their elegant sails.

  SALANIO

  Believe me, sir, had I such venture forth,

  The better part of my affections would

  Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still

  Plucking the grass, to know where sits the wind,

  Peering in maps for ports and piers and roads;

  And every object that might make me fear

  Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt

  Would make me sad.

  Trust me, if I had dealings going on like you do

  Most all of my thoughts and attention would

  Be on the business overseas. I would be

  Plucking up blades of grass to figure out which way the wind blows,

  And peering at maps looking for ports and piers and roads.

  Any little thing that might make me afraid

  Of bad luck taking over my business would fill me with doubt

  And that would make me so sad.

  SALARINO

  My wind cooling my broth

  Would blow me to an ague, when I thought

  What harm a wind too great at sea might do.

  I should not see the sandy hour-glass run,

  But I should think of shallows and of flats,

  And see my wealthy Andrew dock'd in sand,

  Vailing her high-top lower than her ribs

  To kiss her burial. Should I go to church

  And see the holy edifice of stone,

  And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks,

  Which touching but my gentle vessel's side,

  Would scatter all her spices on the stream,

  Enrobe the roaring waters with my silks,

  And, in a word, but even now worth this,

  And now worth nothing? Shall I have the thought

  To think on this, and shall I lack the thought

  That such a thing bechanced would make me sad?

  But tell not me; I know, Antonio

  Is sad to think upon his merchandise.

  Blowing on my soup to cool it

  Would make me feel so upset because I’d think

  Of the harm a strong wind at sea might do to my ships.

  I wouldn’t be able to look at sand in an hourglass,

  Without worrying about shallow waters with sandbars.

  I’d see my majestic ship Andrew docked in the sand,

  Upside down with the sails in the water

  Sinking to her death. If I were to go to church

  I’d see the stones it is made of,

  And I couldn’t help but think of dangerous rocks

  Which could split the sides of my ship

  Scattering all the spices in the hold into the ocean,

  And tossing the silks inside upon the waves.

  In an instant I’d be worth nothing. How could I have these thoughts

  about all that could go wrong and not worry?

  The things I’d imagine that could happen would make me so sad.

  You don’t have to tell me—I know, Antonio

  Is sad to think of all that could happen to his merchandise.

  ANTONIO

  Believe me, no: I thank my fortune for it,

  My ventures are not in one bottom trusted,

  Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate

  Upon the fortune of this present year:

  Therefore my merchandise makes me not sad.

  No, trust me, that’s not it. I am financially stable

  And I don’t have everything invested in one ship,

&nbs
p; Or in one place. My finances are not dependent

  On how well I do this year.

  So, it’s not the merchandise in the ships making me sad.

  SALARINO

  Why, then you are in love.

  Well, then, you must be in love.

  ANTONIO

  Fie, fie!

  Get out of here!

  SALARINO

  Not in love neither? Then let us say you are sad,

  Because you are not merry: and 'twere as easy

  For you to laugh and leap and say you are merry,

  Because you are not sad. Now, by two-headed Janus,

  Nature hath framed strange fellows in her time:

  Some that will evermore peep through their eyes

  And laugh like parrots at a bag-piper,

  And other of such vinegar aspect

  That they'll not show their teeth in way of smile,

  Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable.

  Not in love, either? Well let’s just say you are sad

  Because you are not happy. It would be just as easy

  For you to laugh and dance and say you are happy

  Because you are not sad. Humans have two faces

  and many people have strange ways of expressing moods.

  Some will look out at the world

  and laugh at just about anything,

  While others are so sour and bitter

  They won’t ever crack a smile

  Even at the funniest jokes in the world.

  Enter BASSANIO, LORENZO, and GRATIANO

  SALANIO

  Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman,

  Gratiano and Lorenzo. Fare ye well:

  We leave you now with better company.

  Here comes your cousin Bassanio,

  and Gratiano and Lorenzo. We’ll see you later-

  They’ll be better company for you.

  SALARINO

  I would have stay'd till I had made you merry,

  If worthier friends had not prevented me.

  I would have stayed until I cheered you up,

 

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