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Modern English
Is’t possible that on so little acquaintance you should like her? that but seeing you should love her? and loving woo? and, wooing, she should grant? and will you persever to enjoy her?
Is it really possible that after such a short time you could like her? that just by seeing her you could love her? and by loving her, want to marry her? and by marrying, she would agree? and will you really go through with it and be with her?
Neither call the giddiness of it in question, the poverty of her, the small acquaintance, my sudden wooing, nor her sudden consenting; but say with me, I love Aliena; say with her that she loves me; consent with both that we may enjoy each other: it shall be to your good; for my father’s house and all the revenue that was old Sir Rowland’s will I estate upon you, and here live and die a shepherd.
Don’t question the rush of it, her poverty, how little I know her, my sudden courtship, or her quick agreement; just say with me, "I love Aliena"; say with her that she loves me; agree with both of us that we can be together: it will be good for you; because my father’s estate and all the wealth that belonged to old Sir Rowland, I’ll give to you, and we’ll live here and die as shepherds.
You have my consent. Let your wedding be to-morrow: thither will I invite the duke and all’s contented followers. Go you and prepare Aliena; for look you, here comes my Rosalind.
You have my approval. Let your wedding be tomorrow: I’ll invite the duke and all of his happy followers. You go and get Aliena ready; for look, here comes my Rosalind.
God save you, brother.
God bless you, brother.
And you, fair sister.
And you, fair sister.
O, my dear Orlando, how it grieves me to see thee wear thy heart in a scarf!
Oh, my dear Orlando, how it pains me to see you wearing your heart on your sleeve!
It is my arm.
It’s just my arm.
I thought thy heart had been wounded with the claws of a lion.
I thought your heart had been hurt by the claws of a lion.
Wounded it is, but with the eyes of a lady.
It’s wounded, but it’s because of the looks of a lady.
Did your brother tell you how I counterfeited to swoon when he showed me your handkerchief?
Did your brother tell you how I pretended to faint when he showed me your handkerchief?
Ay, and greater wonders than that.
Yes, and even more amazing things than that.
O, I know where you are: nay, ’tis true: there was never any thing so sudden but the fight of two rams and Caesar’s thrasonical brag of ’I came, saw, and overcame:’ for your brother and my sister no sooner met but they looked, no sooner looked but they loved, no sooner loved but they sighed, no sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason, no sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy; and in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs to marriage which they will climb incontinent, or else be incontinent before marriage: they are in the very wrath of love and they will together; clubs cannot part them.
Oh, I know where you are: yes, it’s true: there was never anything so sudden as the fight of two rams or Caesar’s boast, “I came, I saw, I conquered”: for your brother and my sister met, and as soon as they looked at each other, they loved; as soon as they loved, they sighed; as soon as they sighed, they asked why; as soon as they knew why, they looked for a solution; and in these steps, they’ve made a marriage ladder that they’ll climb without delay, or else be too eager before marriage: they’re in the heat of love and they’ll be together; nothing can stop them.
They shall be married to-morrow, and I will bid the duke to the nuptial. But, O, how bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man’s eyes! By so much the more shall I to-morrow be at the height of heart-heaviness, by how much I shall think my brother happy in having what he wishes for.
They’ll get married tomorrow, and I’ll invite the duke to the wedding. But, oh, how painful it is to see happiness through someone else’s eyes! The more I think my brother will be happy with what he wants, the more I’ll be heartbroken tomorrow.
Why then, to-morrow I cannot serve your turn for Rosalind?
So tomorrow, you won’t want me to be Rosalind?
I can live no longer by thinking.
I can’t go on living with these thoughts.
I will weary you then no longer with idle talking. Know of me then, for now I speak to some purpose, that I know you are a gentleman of good conceit: I speak not this that you should bear a good opinion of my knowledge, insomuch I say I know you are; neither do I labour for a greater esteem than may in some little measure draw a belief from you, to do yourself good and not to grace me. Believe then, if you please, that I can do strange things: I have, since I was three year old, conversed with a magician, most profound in his art and yet not damnable. If you do love Rosalind so near the heart as your gesture cries it out, when your brother marries Aliena, shall you marry her: I know into what straits of fortune she is driven; and it is not impossible to me, if it appear not inconvenient to you, to set her before your eyes tomorrow human as she is and without any danger.
I won’t waste your time with empty talk then. Listen carefully, because I’m speaking with a purpose: I know you’re a man of good sense. I’m not saying this to make you think highly of me, but because I know you are. And I’m not trying to gain your esteem, just enough of it for you to believe that I can do unusual things: I’ve, since I was three, been with a magician, very skilled in his art, and yet not evil. If you love Rosalind as much as your actions show, when your brother marries Aliena, you’ll marry her too: I know what tough circumstances she’s in, and it’s not impossible for me to make her appear before you tomorrow, as human as she is, without any danger, if it doesn’t bother you.
Speakest thou in sober meanings?
Are you speaking seriously?
By my life, I do; which I tender dearly, though I say I am a magician. Therefore, put you in your best array: bid your friends; for if you will be married to-morrow, you shall, and to Rosalind, if you will.
I swear, I am; and I value my life greatly, even if I say I’m a magician. So, get dressed in your best clothes: invite your friends; because if you want to marry tomorrow, you will, and to Rosalind, if that’s what you choose.
Look, here comes a lover of mine and a lover of hers.
Look, here come two lovers: one is mine, the other is hers.
Youth, you have done me much ungentleness, To show the letter that I writ to you.
Young man, you’ve been very unkind to me, Showing the letter I wrote to you.
I care not if I have: it is my study To seem despiteful and ungentle to you: You are there followed by a faithful shepherd; Look upon him, love him; he worships you.
I don’t care if I have: it’s my aim to seem rude and unkind to you: You’re followed by a loyal shepherd; Look at him, love him; he adores you.
Good shepherd, tell this youth what ’tis to love.
Good shepherd, tell this young man what it means to love.
It is to be all made of sighs and tears; And so am I for Phebe.
It’s all about sighs and tears; And that’s how I am for Phebe.
And I for Ganymede.
And I for Ganymede.
And I for Rosalind.
And I for Rosalind.
And I for no woman.
And I for no woman.
It is to be all made of faith and service; And so am I for Phebe.
It’s all about loyalty and service; And so I’m loyal to Phebe.
And I for Ganymede.
And I for Ganymede.
And I for Rosalind.
And I for Rosalind.
And I for no woman.
And I for no woman.
It is to be all made of fantasy, All made of passion and all made of wishes, All adoration, duty, and observance, All humbleness, all patience and impatience, All purity, all trial, all observance; And so am I for Phebe.
It’s all just fantasy, All passion and desire, All admiration, duty, and respect, All humility, all patience and impatience, All purity, all testing, all respect; And so I’m loyal to Phebe.
And so am I for Ganymede.
And so am I for Ganymede.
And so am I for Rosalind.
And so am I for Rosalind.
And so am I for no woman.
And so am I for no woman.
If this be so, why blame you me to love you?
If that’s the case, why blame me for loving you?
If this be so, why blame you me to love you?
If that’s the case, why blame me for loving you?
If this be so, why blame you me to love you?
If that’s the case, why blame me for loving you?
Who do you speak to, ’Why blame you me to love you?’
Who are you talking to, ‘Why blame me for loving you?’
To her that is not here, nor doth not hear.
To her who’s not here, and can’t hear.
Pray you, no more of this; ’tis like the howling of Irish wolves against the moon.
Please, no more of this; it’s like the howling of Irish wolves at the moon.
I will help you, if I can:
I’ll help you, if I can:
I would love you, if I could. To-morrow meet me all together.
I would love you, if I could. Tomorrow, let’s all meet together.
I will marry you, if ever I marry woman, and I’ll be married to-morrow:
I’ll marry you, if I ever marry a woman, and I’ll get married tomorrow:
I will satisfy you, if ever I satisfied man, and you shall be married to-morrow:
I’ll satisfy you, if I’ve ever satisfied a man, and you will be married tomorrow:
I will content you, if what pleases you contents you, and you shall be married to-morrow.
I’ll make you happy, if what pleases you makes you happy, and you’ll be married tomorrow.
As you love Rosalind, meet:
As you love Rosalind, meet:
as you love Phebe, meet: and as I love no woman, I’ll meet. So fare you well: I have left you commands.
As you love Phebe, meet: and since I don’t love any woman, I’ll meet you. So, goodbye: I’ve left you with orders.
I’ll not fail, if I live.
I won’t fail, if I live.
Nor I.
Not me either.
Nor I.
Not me either.