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

Page 334

by William Shakespeare


  And every lovely portion of her life

  Shall come apparell'd in more precious habit,

  Shall be dressed in more precious clothing,

  More moving-delicate, and full of life

  Into the eye and prospect of his soul,

  Into his mind’s eye,

  Than when she liv'd indeed: then shall he mourn,--

  Than when she was actually alive: then he shall mourn, --

  If ever love had interest in his liver,--

  If love ever filled his body, --

  And wish he had not so accused her,

  And he will wish he had not accused her like that,

  No, though be thought his accusation true.

  No, even if it is thought that his accusation was true.

  Let this be so, and doubt not but success

  Let this be what happens, and do not doubt that success

  Will fashion the event in better shape

  Will mold the event in a better shape

  Than I can lay it down in likelihood.

  Than I can predict.

  But if all aim but this be levell'd false,

  But if everything but this turns out to be untrue,

  The supposition of the lady's death

  The supposed lady’s death

  Will quench the wonder of her infamy:

  Will quiet the gossip about her:

  And if it sort not well, you may conceal her,

  And if it does not work out, you may hide her

  -- As best befits her wounded reputation,--

  -- As is most suitable to her wounded reputation, --

  In some reclusive and religious life,

  In some nunnery or similar religious life,

  Out of all eyes, tongues, minds, and injuries.

  Away from all eyes, tongues, minds, and injuries.

  BENEDICK

  Signior Leonato, let the friar advise you:

  Sir Leonato, let the friar advise you:

  And though you know my inwardness and love

  And though you know my affections

  Is very much unto the prince and Claudio,

  Mostly lie with the prince and Claudio,

  Yet, by mine honour, I will deal in this

  Yet, by my honor, I will deal with this

  As secretly and justly as your soul

  As secretly and fairly as your soul

  Should with your body.

  LEONATO

  Being that I flow in grief,

  Since I am drowning in grief,

  The smallest twine may lead me.

  I will grasp at the smallest rope.

  FRIAR

  'Tis well consented: presently away;

  It is agreed: now let us go away,

  For to strange sores strangely they strain the cure.

  For strange wounds must be strangely healed.

  Come, lady, die to live: this wedding day

  Perhaps is but prolong'd: have patience and endure.

  Is perhaps only delayed: have patience and endure.

  [Exeunt FRIAR, HERO, and LEONATO.]

  BENEDICK

  Lady Beatrice, have you wept all this while?

  Lady Beatrice, have you been crying all this time?

  BEATRICE

  Yea, and I will weep a while longer.

  Yes, and I will cry a little longer.

  BENEDICK

  I will not desire that.

  I don’t want that.

  BEATRICE

  You have no reason; I do it freely.

  BENEDICK

  Surely I do believe your fair cousin is wronged.

  Surely I do believe your beautiful cousin has been wronged.

  BEATRICE

  Ah! how much might the man deserve of me that would right her.

  Ah! How much the man would deserve of me that would right her.

  BENEDICK

  Is there any way to show such friendship?

  BEATRICE

  A very even way, but no such friend.

  A very good way, but I have no such friend.

  BENEDICK

  May a man do it?

  BEATRICE

  It is a man's office, but not yours.

  It is a man’s job, but not yours.

  BENEDICK

  I do love nothing in the world so well as you: is not that strange?

  I do love nothing in the world as much as I love you: isn’t that strange?

  BEATRICE

  As strange as the thing I know not. It were as possible for me to say I loved nothing so well as you; but believe me not, and yet I lie not; I confess nothing, nor I deny nothing. I am sorry for my cousin.

  As strange as the thing I do not know. It would be as possible for me to say I loved nothing as much as you; but do not believe me, and yet I do not lie; I confess nothing, and I deny nothing. I am sorry for my cousin.

  BENEDICK

  By my sword, Beatrice, thou lovest me.

  By my sword, Beatrice, you love me.

  BEATRICE

  Do not swear by it, and eat it.

  BENEDICK

  I will swear by it that you love me; and I will make him eat it that says I love not you.

  BEATRICE

  Will you not eat your word?

  BENEDICK

  With no sauce that can be devised to it. I protest I love thee.

  With no sauce that can be made for it. I protest that I love you.

  BEATRICE

  Why then, God forgive me!

  BENEDICK

  What offence, sweet Beatrice?

  BEATRICE

  You have stayed me in a happy hour: I was about to protest I loved you.

  You have stopped me in a happy time: I was about to protest I loved you.

  BENEDICK

  And do it with all thy heart.

  And do it with all your heart.

  BEATRICE

  I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest.

  BENEDICK

  Come, bid me do anything for thee.

  Come, tell me to do anything for you.

  BEATRICE

  Kill Claudio.

  BENEDICK

  Ha! not for the wide world.

  Ha! Not for the whole world.

  BEATRICE

  You kill me to deny it. Farewell.

  BENEDICK

  Tarry, sweet Beatrice.

  Stay, sweet Beatrice.

  BEATRICE

  I am gone, though I am here: there is no love in you: nay, I pray you, let me go.

  I am gone, though I am here: there is no love in you: no, please, let me go.

  BENEDICK

  Beatrice,--

  BEATRICE

  In faith, I will go.

  BENEDICK

  We'll be friends first.

  BEATRICE

  You dare easier be friends with me than fight with mine enemy.

  You dare be friends more easily with me than fight with my enemy.

  BENEDICK

  Is Claudio thine enemy?

  Is Claudio your enemy?

  BEATRICE

  Is he not approved in the height a villain, that hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman? O! that I were a man. What! bear her in hand until they come to take hands, and then, with public accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancour,--O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market-place.

  Has he not been proved a villain, that has slandered, scorned, and dishonored my relative? Oh, I wish I were a man. What! Take her hand until they come to take hands, and then, with public accusation, speak false words, pure harshness, -- Oh God, if I were a man! I would eat his heart in the marketplace.

  BENEDICK

  Hear me, Beatrice,--

  BEATRICE

  Talk with a man out at a window! a proper saying!

  BENEDICK

  Nay, but Beatrice,--

  BEATRICE

  Sweet Hero! she is wronged, she is slandered, she is undone.
r />   BENEDICK

  Beat---

  BEATRICE

  Princes and counties! Surely, a princely testimony, a goodly Count Comfect; a sweet gallant, surely! O! that I were a man for his sake, or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake! But manhood is melted into cursies, valour into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones too: he is now as valiant as Hercules, that only tells a lie and swears it. I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving.

  Princes and countries! Surely, a princely testimony, a goodly Count Virtuous; a sweet young man, surely! Oh, if I were a man for his sake, or that I had any friend who would be a man for my sake! But manhood is melted into curses, courage into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and thin ones too: he is now as brave as Hercules, that only tells a lie and swears it. I cannot be a man with wishing, so I will die a woman with grieving.

  BENEDICK

  Tarry, good Beatrice. By this hand, I love thee.

  Stay, good Beatrice. By this hand, I love you.

  BEATRICE

  Use it for my love some other way than swearing by it.

  BENEDICK

  Think you in your soul the Count Claudio hath wronged Hero?

  Are you certain that Count Claudio has wronged Hero?

  BEATRICE

  Yea, as sure is I have a thought or a soul.

  Yes, as sure as I have a thought or a soul.

  BENEDICK

  Enough! I am engaged, I will challenge him. I will kiss your hand, and so leave you. By this hand, Claudio shall render me a dear account. As you hear of me, so think of me. Go, comfort your cousin: I must say she is dead; and so, farewell.

  Enough! I will challenge him to a duel. I will kiss your hand, and leave you. By this hand, Claudio will give me satisfaction. As you hear of me, so think of me. Go, comfort your cousin: I must say she is dead; and so, farewell.

  [Exeunt.]

  A Prison.

  [Enter DOGBERRY, VERGES, and SEXTON, in gowns; and the Watch, with CONRADE and BORACHIO.]

  DOGBERRY

  Is our whole dissembly appeared?

  Has our whole [he means to say ‘assembly’] appeared?

  VERGES

  O! a stool and a cushion for the sexton.

  Oh! Bring a stool and a cushion for the sexton.

  SEXTON

  Which be the malefactors?

  Who are the criminals?

  DOGBERRY

  Marry, that am I and my partner.

  [He’s misunderstood.] Indeed, that’s me and my partner.

  VERGES

  Nay, that's certain: we have the exhibition to examine.

  Indeed, that’s certain: we have the exhibition to examine.

  SEXTON

  But which are the offenders that are to be examined? let them come before Master constable.

  DOGBERRY

  Yea, marry, let them come before me. What is your name, friend?

  Yes, indeed, let them come in front of me. What is your name, friend?

  BORACHIO

  Borachio.

  DOGBERRY

  Pray write down Borachio. Yours, sirrah?

  Please write down Borachio. Yours, sir?

  CONRADE

  I am a gentleman, sir, and my name is Conrade.

  I am a nobleman, sir, and my name is Conrade.

  DOGBERRY

  Write down Master gentleman Conrade. Masters, do you serve God?

  BOTH

  Yea, sir, we hope.

  Yes, sir, we hope.

  DOGBERRY

  Write down that they hope they serve God: and write God first; for God defend but God should go before such villains! Masters, it is proved already that you are little better than false knaves, and it will go near to be thought so shortly. How answer you for yourselves?

  CONRADE

  Marry, sir, we say we are none.

  By Mary, sir, we say we are not criminals.

  DOGBERRY

  A marvellous witty fellow, I assure you; but I will go about with him. Come you hither, sirrah; a word in your ear: sir, I say to you, it is thought you are false knaves.

  A marvelously witty fellow, I assure you; but I will go around with him. You come here, sir; a word in your ear: sir, I say to you, it is thought you are criminals.

  BORACHIO

  Sir, I say to you we are none.

  DOGBERRY

  Well, stand aside. Fore God, they are both in a tale. Have you writ down, that they are none?

  Well, stand aside. Before God, their stories match. Have you written down that they are not criminals?

  SEXTON

  Master constable, you go not the way to examine: you must call forth the watch that are their accusers.

  Master constable, that’s not how you examine them: you must call for the the guards that are their accusers.

  DOGBERRY

  Yea, marry, that's the eftest way. Let the watch come forth. Masters, I charge you, in the prince's name, accuse these men.

  Yes, by Mary, that’s the best way. Let the watch come forth. Gentlemen, I command you, in the prince’s name, accuse these men.

  FIRST WATCH

  This man said, sir, that Don John, the prince's brother, was a villain.

  DOGBERRY

  Write down Prince John a villain. Why, this is flat perjury, to call a prince's brother villain.

  BORACHIO

  Master Constable,--

  DOGBERRY

  Pray thee, fellow, peace: I do not like thy look, I promise thee.

  Quiet, fellow: I do not like your look, I promise you.

  SEXTON

  What heard you him say else?

  What else did you hear him say?

  SECOND WATCH

  Marry, that he had received a thousand ducats of Don John for accusing the Lady Hero wrongfully.

  By Mary, that he had received a thousand ducats from Don John for wrongfully accusing the Lady Hero.

  DOGBERRY

  Flat burglary as ever was committed.

  VERGES

  Yea, by the mass, that it is.

  SEXTON

  What else, fellow?

  FIRST WATCH

  And that Count Claudio did mean, upon his words, to disgrace Hero before the whole assembly, and not marry her.

  And that Count Claudio did mean, as he said, to disgrace Hero in front of the whole crowd, and not marry her.

  DOGBERRY

  O villain! thou wilt be condemned into everlasting redemption for this.

  Oh villain! You will be condemned into everlasting [he means ‘damnation’] for this.

  SEXTON

  What else?

  SECOND WATCH

  This is all.

  SEXTON

  And this is more, masters, than you can deny. Prince John is this morning secretly stolen away: Hero was in this manner accused, in this manner refused, and, upon the grief of this, suddenly died. Master Constable, let these men be bound, and brought to Leonato's: I will go before and show him their examination.

  And this is more, gentlemen, than you can deny. Prince John has secretly run away this morning: Hero was accused in this manner, refused in this manner, and, full of grief from this, suddenly died. Master Constable, let these men be tied, and brought to Leonato’s: I will go ahead and show him their examination.

  [Exit.]

  DOGBERRY

  Come, let them be opinioned.

  Come, let them be [he means ‘pinioned’, as in gripped]

  VERGES

  Let them be in the hands--

  CONRADE

  Off, coxcomb!

  Get off me!

  DOGBERRY

  God's my life! where's the sexton? let him write down the prince's officer coxcomb. Come, bind them. Thou naughty varlet!

  God’s my life! Where’s the sexton? Let him write down the insult. Come, tie them. You naughty scoundrel!

  CONRADE

  Away! you are an ass; you are an ass.

  D
OGBERRY

  Dost thou not suspect my place? Dost thou not suspect my years? O that he were here to write me down an ass! but, masters, remember that I am an ass; though it be not written down, yet forget not that I am an ass. No, thou villain, thou art full of piety, as shall be proved upon thee by good witness. I am a wise fellow; and, which is more, an officer; and, which is more, a householder; and, which is more, as pretty a piece of flesh as any in Messina; and one that knows the law, go to; and a rich fellow enough, go to; and a fellow that hath had losses; and one that hath two gowns, and everything handsome about him. Bring him away. O that I had been writ down an ass!

  Do you not suspect my position? Do you not suspect my years? Oh, if he was here to write me down as an ass! But, gentlemen, remember that I am an ass; though it is not written down, yet do not forget that I am an ass. No, you villain, you are full of religious feeling, as it shall be proved of you by good witness. I am a wise fellow, and an officer, and I own property, and am quite handsome, and I know the law, and rich enough to have two sets of clothes. Bring him away. Oh, that I had been written down as an ass!

  [Exeunt.]

  Before LEONATO'S House.

  [Enter LEONATO and ANTONIO.]

  ANTONIO

  If you go on thus, you will kill yourself

  If you go on like this, you will kill yourself

  And 'tis not wisdom thus to second grief

  And it is not wise to give yourself a second grief

  Against yourself.

  LEONATO

  I pray thee, cease thy counsel,

  Please, stop giving me advice,

  Which falls into mine ears as profitless

  Which I hear as pointless

  As water in a sieve: give not me counsel;

  As water in a sieve: do not give me advice;

  Nor let no comforter delight mine ear

  And do not attempt to comfort me

  But such a one whose wrongs do suit with mine:

  Unless you are someone whose wrongs are similar to mine”

  Bring me a father that so lov'd his child,

  Bring me a father that loved his child so much,

  Whose joy of her is overwhelm'd like mine,

  Whose joy in her is overwhelmed like mine,

  And bid him speak to me of patience;

  And tell him to speak to me of patience;

  Measure his woe the length and breadth of mine,

  Measure his sorrow against the dimensions of mine,

  And let it answer every strain for strain,

  As thus for thus and such a grief for such,

  As this way for this way and such a grief for such,

  In every lineament, branch, shape, and form:

  In every way, shape, and form:

  If such a one will smile, and stroke his beard;

 

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