Original
Modern English
My mother greets me kindly; is she well?
My mother greeted me warmly; is she okay?
She is not well; but yet she has her health: she’s very merry; but yet she is not well: but thanks be given, she’s very well and wants nothing i’, the world; but yet she is not well.
She’s not great; but she’s in good health: she’s very happy; but still, she’s not well: but thank God she’s fine and wants for nothing in the world; but still she’s not well.
If she be very well, what does she ail, that she’s not very well?
If she’s perfectly fine, why isn’t she well then?
Truly, she’s very well indeed, but for two things.
Honestly, she’s fine, except for two things.
What two things?
What are the two things?
One, that she’s not in heaven, whither God send her quickly! the other that she’s in earth, from whence God send her quickly!
One, she’s not in heaven, where I hope she’ll go soon! The other, she’s here on earth, where I hope she’ll leave soon!
Bless you, my fortunate lady!
Bless you, my lucky lady!
I hope, sir, I have your good will to have mine own good fortunes.
I hope, sir, that I have your good wishes to help me with my own good fortune.
You had my prayers to lead them on; and to keep them on, have them still. O, my knave, how does my old lady?
You had my prayers to guide you; and to keep them with you, I hope you always have them. Oh, my friend, how is my old lady?
So that you had her wrinkles and I her money, I would she did as you say.
If only I had her wrinkles and you had her money, I’d wish she did as you say.
Why, I say nothing.
Well, I’ll say nothing.
Marry, you are the wiser man; for many a man’s tongue shakes out his master’s undoing: to say nothing, to do nothing, to know nothing, and to have nothing, is to be a great part of your title; which is within a very little of nothing.
Well, you’re the wiser man; many a man’s words lead to his own ruin: to say nothing, to do nothing, to know nothing, and to have nothing, that’s a big part of your title; which is pretty close to nothing.
Away! thou’rt a knave.
Get away! you’re a scoundrel.
You should have said, sir, before a knave thou’rt a knave; that’s, before me thou’rt a knave: this had been truth, sir.
You should have said, sir, that before being a scoundrel, you are a scoundrel; that’s, before me, you’re a scoundrel: this would have been the truth, sir.
Go to, thou art a witty fool; I have found thee.
Go on, you’re a clever fool; I’ve figured you out.
Did you find me in yourself, sir? or were you taught to find me? The search, sir, was profitable; and much fool may you find in you, even to the world’s pleasure and the increase of laughter.
Did you find me in yourself, sir? Or did someone teach you how to find me? The search, sir, was worth it; and you’ll find a lot of foolishness in you, which will surely please the world and make people laugh more.
A good knave, i’ faith, and well fed. Madam, my lord will go away to-night; A very serious business calls on him. The great prerogative and rite of love, Which, as your due, time claims, he does acknowledge; But puts it off to a compell’d restraint; Whose want, and whose delay, is strew’d with sweets, Which they distil now in the curbed time, To make the coming hour o’erflow with joy And pleasure drown the brim.
A good scoundrel, really, and well-fed. Madam, my lord will leave tonight; A very serious matter is calling him. The great privilege and duty of love, which, as you deserve, time demands, he does acknowledge; But he’s delaying it to a forced break; whose lack, and whose delay, are filled with sweetness, which they now create in this restricted time, To make the coming hour overflow with joy And pleasure will flood over.
What’s his will else?
What else does he want?
That you will take your instant leave o’ the king And make this haste as your own good proceeding, Strengthen’d with what apology you think May make it probable need.
That you should immediately leave the king, And make this hurry seem like your own decision, Supported by any apology you think Will make it look like a necessary thing.
What more commands he?
What other orders does he have?
That, having this obtain’d, you presently Attend his further pleasure.
That once this is done, you should immediately Wait for his further instructions.
In every thing I wait upon his will.
I will follow his will in everything.
I shall report it so.
I’ll report it like that.
I pray you.
Please, do.
Come, sirrah.
Come on, servant.