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

by William Shakespeare

  Is what makes them delightful: some kinds of shameful activitiesAre nobly undergone and most poor matters

  Are undertaken honorably and most poor activistsPoint to rich ends. This my mean task

  Are directed to rich ends. My lowly task hereWould be as heavy to me as odious, but

  Would be as difficult to me as it is repulsive, exceptThe mistress which I serve quickens what's dead

  That the mistress whom I serve gives life to the deadAnd makes my labours pleasures: O, she is

  And makes my forced-work pleasurable: oh, she isTen times more gentle than her father's crabbed,

  Then times more gentle than her father is bad-tempered,And he's composed of harshness. I must remove

  And he’s made up of harshness. I must removeSome thousands of these logs and pile them up,

  Several thousands of these logs and pile them up,Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress

  Under a hard order: my sweet mistressWeeps when she sees me work, and says, such baseness

  Weeps when she sees me work, and says, such lowly workHad never like executor. I forget:

  Has never been done by someone like me. I forget my work:But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours,

  But even these sweet thoughts revitalize my tasks,Most busy lest, when I do it.

  So that when I am busy at work I am not really doing it but instead thinking of those thoughts.

  Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO at a distance, unseen

  MIRANDA

  Alas, now, pray you,

  Sadly, now, please,Work not so hard: I would the lightning had

  Don’t work so hard: I wish the lightning hadBurnt up those logs that you are enjoin'd to pile!

  Burnt up those logs that you are ordered to pile!Pray, set it down and rest you: when this burns,

  Please, set it down and rest a bit: when this wood burns,'Twill weep for having wearied you. My father

  It will weep for having tired you out. My fatherIs hard at study; pray now, rest yourself;

  Is studying hard; please, rest yourself a bit;He's safe for these three hours.

  He’s safely out of the way for three hours.

  FERDINAND

  O most dear mistress,

  Oh, dearest mistress,The sun will set before I shall discharge

  The sun will set before I will finishWhat I must strive to do.

  What I must try to do.

  MIRANDA

  If you'll sit down,

  If you’ll sit down,I'll bear your logs the while: pray, give me that;

  I’ll carry your logs for a while: please, give me that;I'll carry it to the pile.

  I’ll bring it to the pile.

  FERDINAND

  No, precious creature;

  No, precious lady;I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,

  I would rather tear my muscles, and break my back,Than you should such dishonour undergo,

  Than have you take up such shameful laborWhile I sit lazy by.

  While I sit here lazily.

  MIRANDA

  It would become me

  It would be as fitting for meAs well as it does you: and I should do it

  As it is for you: and I would do itWith much more ease; for my good will is to it,Much more easily; because my good will behind it,

  And yours it is against.

  And yours is against it.

  PROSPERO

  Poor worm, thou art infected!

  Little girl, you are infected with love!This visitation shows it.

  This visit shows it.

  MIRANDA

  You look wearily.

  You look tired.

  FERDINAND

  No, noble mistress;'tis fresh morning with me

  No, noble mistress; it’s still a fresh morning for meWhen you are by at night. I do beseech you—

  When you have been by all night. I do ask you—Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers—

  Mostly so that I can place it in my prayers—What is your name?

  What is your name?

  MIRANDA

  Miranda.--O my father,

  Miranda.—Oh, my father,I have broke your hest to say so!

  I have broken your command by saying that!

  FERDINAND

  Admired Miranda!

  Admired Miranda!Indeed the top of admiration! Worth

  Indeed the peak of amazement! WorthWhat's dearest to the world! Full many a lady

  Whatever is most valuable in all the world! A good many womenI have eyed with best regard and many a time

  I have looked at with a high regard and many timesThe harmony of their tongues hath into bondage

  The sound of their voices has capturedBrought my too diligent ear: for several virtues

  My overly attentive ear: for several virtuesHave I liked several women; never any

  Have I liked several women; never anyWith so fun soul, but some defect in her

  With such a good soul, but some defect in herDid quarrel with the noblest grace she owed

  Did argue with the most noble grace she possessedAnd put it to the foil: but you, O you,

  And defeated it: but you, oh you, So perfect and so peerless, are created

  So perfect and so peerless, are createdOf every creature's best!

  Better than everyone else!

  MIRANDA

  I do not know

  I don’t knowOne of my sex; no woman's face remember,

  Another woman; I remember no woman’s face,Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen

  Except, from the mirror, my own; nor have I seenMore that I may call men than you, good friend,

  More people that I can call men than you, good friend,And my dear father: how features are abroad,

  And my dear father: what people look like elsewhere in the world,I am skilless of; but, by my modesty,

  I am unaware of; but, by my virtue,The jewel in my dower, I would not wish

  And the jewels in my dowry, I wouldn’t wantAny companion in the world but you,

  Any companion in the world but you,Nor can imagination form a shape,

  Nor can I imagine any figureBesides yourself, to like of. But I prattle

  Besides yourself, to like. But I am babblingSomething too wildly and my father's precepts

  Somewhat too wildly and my father’s instructionsI therein do forget.

  I am forgetting.

  FERDINAND

  I am in my condition

  I am ranked as A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king;

  A prince, Miranda; and I do believe, as a king;I would, not so!--and would no more endure

  I wish it were not so!—and would no more endureThis wooden slavery than to suffer

  This inferior slavery than I would allowThe flesh-fly blow my mouth. Hear my soul speak:

  A fly lay eggs in my mouth. Listen to my soul speak:The very instant that I saw you, did

  The very moment that I saw you, My heart fly to your service; there resides,

  My heart flew to your service; there it stays,To make me slave to it; and for your sake

  Making me a slave to you; and for your sakeAm I this patient log--man.

  I am this patient log-carrier.

  MIRANDA

  Do you love me?

  Do you love me?

  FERDINAND

  O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound

  Oh heaven, oh earth, be the witness to what I will say,And crown what I profess with kind event

  And top off what I say with a happy outcome If I speak true! if hollowly, invert

  If what is say is true! If it is false, switchWhat best is boded me to mischief! Iwhat good is destined for me to misfortune! I

  Beyond all limit of what else i' the world

  Beyond the limit of everything else in the world,Do love, prize, honour you.

  Do love, prize and honor you.

  MIRANDA

  I am a fool

  I am a foolTo weep at what I am glad of.

  To wee
p at what I am glad to hear.

  PROSPERO

  Fair encounter

  What a wonderful meetingOf two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace

  Between two splendid loves! Heavens rain down virtueOn that which breeds between 'em!

  On that which develops between them!

  FERDINAND

  Wherefore weep you?

  Why do you weep?

  MIRANDA

  At mine unworthiness that dare not offer

  At my unworthiness that doesn’t dare to offerWhat I desire to give, and much less take

  What I want to give you, and dares much less to takeWhat I shall die to want. But this is trifling;

  What I will die from wanting so much. But this is foolish;And all the more it seeks to hide itself,

  And the more it tries to hide itself,The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning!

  The more it shows. So this reserved craftiness!And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!

  And help me, plain and holy innocence!I am your wife, if you will marry me;

  I am your wife, if you will marry me;If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow

  If not, I’ll die as your maid: to be your wifeYou may deny me; but I'll be your servant,

  You can deny me; but I’ll be your servant,Whether you will or no.

  Whether you like it or no.

  FERDINAND

  My mistress, dearest;

  My mistress, dearest;And I thus humble ever.

  And I will be that lowly as well for ever.

  MIRANDA

  My husband, then?

  You will be my husband then?

  FERDINAND

  Ay, with a heart as willing

  Yes, with as heart as willingAs bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand.

  As oppression is willing of freedom: here’s my hand.

  MIRANDA

  And mine, with my heart in't; and now farewell

  And mine, with my heart in it; and now good byeTill half an hour hence.

  Till half an hour from now.

  FERDINAND

  A thousand thousand!

  A million good byes!

  Exeunt FERDINAND and MIRANDA severally

  PROSPERO

  So glad of this as they I cannot be,

  I cannot be as happy about this as they are,Who are surprised withal; but my rejoicing

  Who are surprised by everything; but my rejoicingAt nothing can be more. I'll to my book,

  At nothing can be more. I’ll go to my cooksFor yet ere supper-time must I perform

  For still before supper-time I must performMuch business appertaining.

  Many related tasks.

  Exit

  Another part of the island.

  Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO

  STEPHANO

  Tell not me; when the butt is out, we will drink

  Don’t tell me; when the barrel is out, we’ll drinkwater; not a drop before: therefore bear up, and

  Water; not a drop before: so don’t fall over, and board 'em. Servant-monster, drink to me.

  Get on board. Servant-monster, drink to me

  TRINCULO

  Servant-monster! the folly of this island! They

  Servant-monster! The silliness of this island! They say there's but five upon this isle: we are three

  Say there’s only five people on this island: we are threeof them; if th' other two be brained like us, the

  Of them; if the other two are addle-brained like us, thestate totters.

  Government will fall.

  STEPHANO

  Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee: thy eyes

  Drink, servant-monster, when I tell you to: your eyesare almost set in thy head.

  Are almost fixed in your head.

  TRINCULO

  Where should they be set else? he were a brave

  Where else should they be? He would an excellentmonster indeed, if they were set in his tail.

  Monster indeed, if his eyes where fixed on his tail.

  STEPHANO

  My man-monster hath drown'd his tongue in sack:

  My man-monster has drowned his tongue in wine:for my part, the sea cannot drown me; I swam, ere I

  For me, even the sea cannot drown me; I swam, before I could recover the shore, five and thirty leagues off

  Could reach the shore, some thirty-five leagues off and on. By this light, thou shalt be my lieutenant,

  And on. By heaven, you shall be my lieutenant,monster, or my standard.

  Monster, or my flagbearer.

  TRINCULO

  Your lieutenant, if you list; he's no standard.

  Your lieutenant, if you want; he’s no flagbearer.

  STEPHANO

  We'll not run, Monsieur Monster.

  We won’t run from battle, Mister Monster.

  TRINCULO

  Nor go neither; but you'll lie like dogs and yet say

  Or go to battle either; but you’ll lie like dogs and still saynothing neither.

  Nothing at the same time.

  STEPHANO

  Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest a

  Monster, speak once in your life, if you are a good moon-calf.

  Good monster.

  CALIBAN

  How does thy honour? Let me lick thy shoe.

  How are you, my honor? Let me lick you shoe.I'll not serve him; he's not valiant.

  I won’t serve him; he’s not valiant.

  TRINCULO

  Thou liest, most ignorant monster: I am in case to

  You lie, you very dim-witted monster: I am in condition tojustle a constable. Why, thou deboshed fish thou,

  Fight a police officer. Why, you depraved fish you,was there ever man a coward that hath drunk so much

  Was there ever a cowardly man who has drunk as muchsack as I to-day? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie,

  Wine as I have today? Will you tell a monstrous lie,being but half a fish and half a monster?

  Since you are only half fish and half monster?

  CALIBAN

  Lo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord?

  Look, how me makes fun of me! Will you let him, my lord?

  TRINCULO

  'Lord' quoth he! That a monster should be such a natural!

  ‘Lord’, he calls you! How could a monster be such an idiot!

  CALIBAN

  Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I prithee.

  Look, again! Bite him to death, please.

  STEPHANO

  Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head: if you

  Trinculo, speak politely: if youprove a mutineer,--the next tree! The poor monster's

  Try and mutiny,--I’ll hang you from the next tree! The poor monster ismy subject and he shall not suffer indignity.

  My subject and he will not suffer humiliation.

  CALIBAN

  I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleased to

  Thank you my noble lord. Would you like tohearken once again to the suit I made to thee?

  Listen again to the request I made you?

  STEPHANO

  Marry, will I kneel and repeat it; I will stand,

  By the Holy Virgin, I will. Kneel down and repeat it; I will stand,and so shall Trinculo.

  And so will Trinculo.

  Enter ARIEL, invisible

  CALIBAN

  As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant, a

  As I told you before, I am the servant to a tyrant, asorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island.

  Sorcerer, that by his trickery has cheated me out of the island.

  ARIEL

  Thou liest.

  You lie.

  CALIBAN

  Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou: I would my

  You like, you joking monkey you: I would like for myvaliant master would destroy thee! I do not lie.

  Virtuous master to destroy you! I do not lie.

  STEPHANO

  Trinculo, if you tr
ouble him any more in's tale, by

  Trinculo, if you interrupt him again in his story, withthis hand, I will supplant some of your teeth.

  This hand, I will knock out your teeth.

  TRINCULO

  Why, I said nothing.

  But, I didn’t say anything.

  STEPHANO

  Mum, then, and no more. Proceed.

  Silent, then, and don’t speak again. Continue.

  CALIBAN

  I say, by sorcery he got this isle;

  I tell you, it was by sorcery that he got this island;From me he got it. if thy greatness will

  He got it from me. If your greatness willRevenge it on him,--for I know thou darest,

  Take revenge on him for it,--because I know you are brave enough,But this thing dare not,--

  But this other man is not,--

  STEPHANO

  That's most certain.

  That’s most certain.

  CALIBAN

  Thou shalt be lord of it and I'll serve thee.

  You will be lord of the island, and I’ll serve you.

  STEPHANO

  How now shall this be compassed?

  Now, how will this be accomplished?Canst thou bring me to the party?

  Con you bring me to this man?

  CALIBAN

  Yea, yea, my lord: I'll yield him thee asleep,

  Yes, yes, my lord: I’ll bring him to you asleep,Where thou mayst knock a nail into his bead.

  So you can knock a nail into his head.

  ARIEL

  Thou liest; thou canst not.

  You lie; you can’t do that.

  CALIBAN

  What a pied ninny's this! Thou scurvy patch!

  What a patched up fool he is! You wretched fool!I do beseech thy greatness, give him blows

  I beg your greatness, hit himAnd take his bottle from him: when that's gone