Original
Modern English
You know since Pentecost the sum is due, And since I have not much importuned you; Nor now I had not, but that I am bound To Persia, and want guilders for my voyage: Therefore make present satisfaction, Or I’ll attach you by this officer.
You know the money’s due since Pentecost, And I haven’t bothered you much until now; And now I wouldn’t, except that I have to go To Persia, and I need money for my trip: So please pay me now, Or I’ll have this officer arrest you.
Even just the sum that I do owe to you Is growing to me by Antipholus, And in the instant that I met with you He had of me a chain: at five o’clock I shall receive the money for the same. Pleaseth you walk with me down to his house, I will discharge my bond and thank you too.
The exact amount I owe you Is being given to me by Antipholus, And just when I ran into you He took a chain from me: I’ll have the money for it By five o’clock. Would you like to come with me to his house? I’ll pay my debt and thank you too.
That labour may you save: see where he comes.
That will save you some trouble: look, here he comes.
While I go to the goldsmith’s house, go thou And buy a rope’s end: that will I bestow Among my wife and her confederates, For locking me out of my doors by day. But, soft! I see the goldsmith. Get thee gone; Buy thou a rope and bring it home to me.
While I go to the goldsmith’s, you go And buy a rope: I’ll give it to My wife and her friends, For locking me out of my house during the day. But wait! I see the goldsmith. Get lost; Buy the rope and bring it to me.
I buy a thousand pound a year: I buy a rope.
I earn a thousand pounds a year: and now I’m supposed to buy a rope.
A man is well holp up that trusts to you: I promised your presence and the chain; But neither chain nor goldsmith came to me. Belike you thought our love would last too long, If it were chain’d together, and therefore came not.
A man is really stuck if he trusts you: I promised you the chain and your presence, But neither the chain nor the goldsmith showed up. I guess you thought our love would last too long, If it were bound together by the chain, and that’s why you didn’t come.
Saving your merry humour, here’s the note How much your chain weighs to the utmost carat, The fineness of the gold and chargeful fashion. Which doth amount to three odd ducats more Than I stand debted to this gentleman: I pray you, see him presently discharged, For he is bound to sea and stays but for it.
With all due respect, here’s the note Showing how much the chain weighs and its full value, The quality of the gold and the fancy design. It costs three extra ducats, Than I owe this gentleman: I ask you to pay him right away, Since he is leaving for sea and is just waiting on this.
I am not furnish’d with the present money; Besides, I have some business in the town. Good signior, take the stranger to my house And with you take the chain and bid my wife Disburse the sum on the receipt thereof: Perchance I will be there as soon as you.
I don’t have the money on me right now; Besides, I have some business to take care of in the town. Sir, take the stranger to my house, And take the chain with you, and tell my wife To pay the amount when she receives it: I might arrive there as soon as you do.
Then you will bring the chain to her yourself?
So you’ll bring the chain to her yourself?
No; bear it with you, lest I come not time enough.
No; take it with you, in case I don’t get there soon enough.
Well, sir, I will. Have you the chain about you?
Alright, sir, I will. Do you have the chain with you?
An if I have not, sir, I hope you have; Or else you may return without your money.
And if I don’t, sir, I hope you do; Or else you may go back without your money.
Nay, come, I pray you, sir, give me the chain: Both wind and tide stays for this gentleman, And I, to blame, have held him here too long.
Come on, please, sir, give me the chain: Both wind and tide are waiting for this gentleman, And I, for holding him here too long, am at fault.
Good Lord! you use this dalliance to excuse Your breach of promise to the Porpentine. I should have chid you for not bringing it, But, like a shrew, you first begin to brawl.
Good Lord! you’re using this delay to make excuses For breaking your promise to the Porpentine. I should have scolded you for not bringing it, But instead, like a scold, you start to argue.
The hour steals on; I pray you, sir, dispatch.
The hour is getting late; please, sir, hurry up.
You hear how he importunes me;--the chain!
You hear how he’s pushing me;--the chain!
Why, give it to my wife and fetch your money.
Well, give it to my wife and get your money.
Come, come, you know I gave it you even now. Either send the chain or send me by some token.
Come on, you know I gave it to you just now. Either send the chain or give me some proof.
Fie, now you run this humour out of breath, where’s the chain? I pray you, let me see it.
Oh, now you’re just going in circles, Where’s the chain? Please, let me see it.
My business cannot brook this dalliance. Good sir, say whether you’ll answer me or no: If not, I’ll leave him to the officer.
My business can’t wait for this delay. Please, sir, tell me whether you’ll answer me or not: If not, I’ll leave him to the officer.
I answer you! what should I answer you?
Answer you? What should I answer you?
The money that you owe me for the chain.
The money you owe me for the chain.
I owe you none till I receive the chain.
I don’t owe you anything until I get the chain.
You know I gave it you half an hour since.
You know I gave it to you half an hour ago.
You gave me none: you wrong me much to say so.
You didn’t give me anything: you’re wrong to say that.
You wrong me more, sir, in denying it: Consider how it stands upon my credit.
You’re wrong to deny it, sir: Think about how it affects my reputation.
Well, officer, arrest him at my suit.
Well, officer, arrest him on my request.
I do; and charge you in the duke’s name to obey me.
I will; and I order you, in the duke’s name, to obey me.
This touches me in reputation. Either consent to pay this sum for me Or I attach you by this officer.
This is damaging to my reputation. Either agree to pay this amount for me, Or I’ll have you arrested by this officer.
Consent to pay thee that I never had! Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou darest.
Agree to pay you for something I never received? Arrest me, you foolish man, if you dare.
Here is thy fee; arrest him, officer, I would not spare my brother in this case, If he should scorn me so apparently.
Here is your payment; arrest him, officer, I wouldn’t let my own brother off in this situation, If he treated me so openly with contempt.
I do arrest you, sir: you hear the suit.
I am arresting you, sir: you hear the charges.
I do obey thee till I give thee bail. But, sirrah, you shall buy this sport as dear As all the metal in your shop will answer.
I will obey you until I can post bail. But, fool, you’ll pay for this joke with more than you know, As much as the total value of your merchandise.
Sir, sir, I will have law in Ephesus, To your notorious shame; I doubt it not.
Sir, sir, I will get justice in Ephesus, To your great shame; I’m sure of it.
Master, there is a bark of Epidamnum That stays but till her owner comes aboard, And then, sir, she bears away. Our fraughtage, sir, I have convey’d aboard; and I have bought The oil, the balsamum and aqua-vitae. The ship is in her trim; the merry wind Blows fair from land: they stay for nought at all But for their owner, master, and yourself.
Master, there’s a ship from Epidamnum That’s waiting for her owner to come aboard, And then, sir, she’ll set sail. I’ve already loaded our cargo, And I’ve bought The oil, the balsam, and the brandy. The ship is ready; the cheerful wind Is blowing from the shore: they’re waiting for nothing But their owner, master, and yourself.
How now! a madman! Why, thou peevish sheep, What ship of Epidamnum stays for me?
What’s this? A madman! Why, you troublesome fool, What ship from Epidamnum is waiting for me?
A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage.
A ship you sent me to, to hire a ride.
Thou drunken slave, I sent thee for a rope; And told thee to what purpose and what end.
You drunken servant, I sent you to get a rope; And told you what it was for and why.
You sent me for a rope’s end as soon: You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark.
You sent me to get the end of a rope, just like you said: You sent me to the dock, sir, for a ship.
I will debate this matter at more leisure And teach your ears to list me with more heed. To Adriana, villain, hie thee straight: Give her this key, and tell her, in the desk That’s cover’d o’er with Turkish tapestry, There is a purse of ducats; let her send it: Tell her I am arrested in the street And that shall bail me; hie thee, slave, be gone! On, officer, to prison till it come.
I will talk about this later, And teach your ears to listen to me more carefully. Go straight to Adriana, you scoundrel: Give her this key, and tell her, in the drawer That’s covered with Turkish fabric, There’s a purse of ducats; have her send it to me: Tell her I’ve been arrested in the street And that it will bail me out; now go, slave, hurry up! Officer, take him to prison until the money comes.
To Adriana! that is where we dined, Where Dowsabel did claim me for her husband: She is too big, I hope, for me to compass. Thither I must, although against my will, For servants must their masters’ minds fulfil.
To Adriana! That’s where we had dinner, Where Dowsabel claimed me as her husband: She’s probably too big for me to handle, I hope. That’s where I have to go, even though I don’t want to, Because servants must obey their masters’ wishes.