Original
Modern English
But I hope your lordship thinks not him a soldier.
But I hope you don’t think he’s actually a soldier.
Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof.
Yes, my lord, and a truly brave one.
You have it from his own deliverance.
You got that from his own words.
And by other warranted testimony.
And from other reliable sources.
Then my dial goes not true: I took this lark for a bunting.
Then my judgment must be off: I mistook this sparrow for a finch.
I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in knowledge and accordingly valiant.
I assure you, my lord, he’s very knowledgeable and just as brave.
I have then sinned against his experience and transgressed against his valour; and my state that way is dangerous, since I cannot yet find in my heart to repent. Here he comes: I pray you, make us friends; I will pursue the amity.
In that case, I’ve wronged him with my doubts, and I’ve questioned his courage; and my position here is risky, since I still can’t bring myself to apologize. Here he comes: Please, let’s make peace; I will try to be friends.
[To BERTRAM] These things shall be done, sir.
[To BERTRAM] These things will be done, sir.
Pray you, sir, who’s his tailor?
Please, sir, who’s his tailor?
Sir?
What?
O, I know him well, I, sir; he, sir, ’s a good workman, a very good tailor.
Oh, I know him well, I do; he’s a good worker, a very good tailor.
[Aside to PAROLLES] Is she gone to the king?
[Aside to PAROLLES] Has she gone to the king?
She is.
Yes, she has.
Will she away to-night?
Will she leave tonight?
As you’ll have her.
As you want her to.
I have writ my letters, casketed my treasure, Given order for our horses; and to-night, When I should take possession of the bride, End ere I do begin.
I’ve written my letters, packed up my treasure, Given orders for our horses; and tonight, When I should take the bride, It will be over before I even begin.
A good traveller is something at the latter end of a dinner; but one that lies three thirds and uses a known truth to pass a thousand nothings with, should be once heard and thrice beaten. God save you, captain.
A good traveler is worth something at the end of a meal; but someone who lies and uses obvious truths to say a thousand things that mean nothing should be heard once and beaten three times. Goodbye, captain.
Is there any unkindness between my lord and you, monsieur?
Is there some trouble between you and my lord, sir?
I know not how I have deserved to run into my lord’s displeasure.
I don’t know how I’ve earned my lord’s displeasure.
You have made shift to run into ’t, boots and spurs and all, like him that leaped into the custard; and out of it you’ll run again, rather than suffer question for your residence.
You’ve managed to get into it, boots and all, like the man who jumped into the custard; and you’ll jump out of it again, rather than face questions about why you’re here.
It may be you have mistaken him, my lord.
Maybe you’ve mistaken him, my lord.
And shall do so ever, though I took him at ’s prayers. Fare you well, my lord; and believe this of me, there can be no kernel in this light nut; the soul of this man is his clothes. Trust him not in matter of heavy consequence; I have kept of them tame, and know their natures. Farewell, monsieur: I have spoken better of you than you have or will to deserve at my hand; but we must do good against evil.
And I’ll keep making that mistake, even if I caught him in the act. Goodbye, my lord; and believe this from me, there’s nothing valuable in this shallow man; the true nature of this man is in his clothes. Don’t trust him with anything important; I’ve dealt with people like him, and I know their types. Goodbye, sir: I’ve said more good things about you than you deserve or will ever deserve from me; but we must do good even to those who don’t deserve it.
An idle lord. I swear.
An idle lord. I swear.
I think so.
I think so.
Why, do you not know him?
Why, don’t you know him?
Yes, I do know him well, and common speech Gives him a worthy pass. Here comes my clog.
Yes, I know him well, and people generally Speak highly of him. Here comes my trouble.
I have, sir, as I was commanded from you, Spoke with the king and have procured his leave For present parting; only he desires Some private speech with you.
I have, sir, as you asked me, Spoken with the king and got his permission To leave right away; he just wants A private word with you.
I shall obey his will. You must not marvel, Helen, at my course, Which holds not colour with the time, nor does The ministration and required office On my particular. Prepared I was not For such a business; therefore am I found So much unsettled: this drives me to entreat you That presently you take our way for home; And rather muse than ask why I entreat you, For my respects are better than they seem And my appointments have in them a need Greater than shows itself at the first view To you that know them not. This to my mother:
I’ll follow his wishes. You shouldn’t wonder, Helen, at what I’m doing, Which doesn’t fit the moment, nor does The task I’m assigned suit my needs. I wasn’t prepared for this; that’s why I seem So unsettled. This is why I ask you To head home immediately; And please just think, rather than ask why I ask, Because my reasons are better than they appear And the situation requires more Than it seems at first glance To someone who doesn’t know them. This is for my mother:
’Twill be two days ere I shall see you, so I leave you to your wisdom.
It’ll be two days before I’ll see you, so I leave you to make your own decisions.
Sir, I can nothing say, But that I am your most obedient servant.
Sir, I can’t say anything Except that I am your most obedient servant.
Come, come, no more of that.
Come on, enough of that.
And ever shall With true observance seek to eke out that Wherein toward me my homely stars have fail’d To equal my great fortune.
And I always will With true respect try to make up for what My lowly fate has failed to give me To match my good fortune.
Let that go: My haste is very great: farewell; hie home.
Forget that. I’m in a huge rush: goodbye; hurry home.
Pray, sir, your pardon.
Please, sir, forgive me.
Well, what would you say?
Well, what do you want to say?
I am not worthy of the wealth I owe, Nor dare I say ’tis mine, and yet it is; But, like a timorous thief, most fain would steal What law does vouch mine own.
I’m not worthy of the wealth I have, Nor do I dare say it’s mine, but it is; But, like a frightened thief, I’d really like to take What the law says is rightfully mine.
What would you have?
What do you want?
Something; and scarce so much: nothing, indeed. I would not tell you what I would, my lord: Faith yes; Strangers and foes do sunder, and not kiss.
Some, but not much: nothing, really. I wouldn’t tell you what I want to, my lord: Actually, yes; Strangers and enemies separate, they don’t kiss.
I pray you, stay not, but in haste to horse.
Please, don’t stay, hurry and get on your horse.
I shall not break your bidding, good my lord.
I won’t go against your command, my lord.
Where are my other men, monsieur? Farewell.
Where are my other men, sir? Goodbye.
Go thou toward home; where I will never come Whilst I can shake my sword or hear the drum. Away, and for our flight.
Go home; I’ll never return there As long as I can still swing my sword or hear the drum. Go, and get ready for our escape.
Bravely, coragio!
Well done, courage!