Original
Modern English
Ah, Luciana, did he tempt thee so? Mightst thou perceive austerely in his eye That he did plead in earnest? yea or no? Look’d he or red or pale, or sad or merrily? What observation madest thou in this case Of his heart’s meteors tilting in his face?
Ah, Luciana, did he try to charm you like that? Could you see in his eyes Whether he was really serious? Yes or no? Was he red, pale, sad, or happy? What did you notice about his expression, The emotions flickering across his face?
First he denied you had in him no right.
First, he denied that you had any claim on him.
He meant he did me none; the more my spite.
He meant that he had no claim on me; the more I hate him for it.
Then swore he that he was a stranger here.
Then he swore that he was a stranger here.
And true he swore, though yet forsworn he were.
And he swore truthfully, even though he had already lied.
Then pleaded I for you.
Then I begged him for you.
And what said he?
And what did he say?
That love I begg’d for you he begg’d of me.
The love I asked for you, he asked of me.
With what persuasion did he tempt thy love?
How did he try to win your love?
With words that in an honest suit might move. First he did praise my beauty, then my speech.
With words that could move someone in an honest request. First, he praised my beauty, then my speech.
Didst speak him fair?
Did you speak kindly to him?
Have patience, I beseech.
Please be patient, I beg you.
I cannot, nor I will not, hold me still; My tongue, though not my heart, shall have his will. He is deformed, crooked, old and sere, Ill-faced, worse bodied, shapeless everywhere; Vicious, ungentle, foolish, blunt, unkind; Stigmatical in making, worse in mind.
I can’t, and I won’t stay quiet; My tongue, though not my heart, will have its say. He’s ugly, bent, old, and worn out, Bad-looking, worse-built, shapeless all over; Mean, rude, foolish, blunt, unkind; Stained in appearance, worse in mind.
Who would be jealous then of such a one? No evil lost is wail’d when it is gone.
Who would be jealous of such a person? No one mourns when something bad is gone.
Ah, but I think him better than I say, And yet would herein others’ eyes were worse. Far from her nest the lapwing cries away: My heart prays for him, though my tongue do curse.
Ah, but I think he’s better than I say, And yet I wish others saw him as worse. Far from her nest, the lapwing cries out: My heart prays for him, though my tongue curses him.
Here! go; the desk, the purse! sweet, now, make haste.
Here! Go; the desk, the purse! Hurry, now, make haste.
How hast thou lost thy breath?
How did you lose your breath?
By running fast.
By running too fast.
Where is thy master, Dromio? is he well?
Where is your master, Dromio? Is he alright?
No, he’s in Tartar limbo, worse than hell. A devil in an everlasting garment hath him; One whose hard heart is button’d up with steel; A fiend, a fury, pitiless and rough; A wolf, nay, worse, a fellow all in buff; A back-friend, a shoulder-clapper, one that countermands The passages of alleys, creeks and narrow lands; A hound that runs counter and yet draws dryfoot well; One that before the judgement carries poor souls to hell.
No, he’s in a place worse than hell. A devil in an eternal garment holds him; One whose hard heart is locked up in steel; A fiend, a fury, cruel and harsh; A wolf, no, worse, a man all in armor; A back-stabber, a shoulder-hitter, someone who blocks The paths through alleys, creeks, and narrow lands; A hound that goes against the hunt and yet runs well; One who carries poor souls to hell before the judgment.
Why, man, what is the matter?
What’s wrong, man? What’s happening?
I do not know the matter: he is ’rested on the case.
I don’t know what’s going on: he’s been arrested over the case.
What, is he arrested? Tell me at whose suit.
What, he’s been arrested? Tell me who had him arrested.
I know not at whose suit he is arrested well; But he’s in a suit of buff which ’rested him, that can I tell. Will you send him, mistress, redemption, the money in his desk?
I don’t know who had him arrested, really; But he’s wearing a buff suit that got him arrested, that much I know. Will you send him, mistress, the money from his desk for his release?
Go fetch it, sister.
Go get it, sister.
This I wonder at, That he, unknown to me, should be in debt. Tell me, was he arrested on a band?
This confuses me, That he, someone I don’t even know, should be in debt. Tell me, was he arrested for a bond?
Not on a band, but on a stronger thing; A chain, a chain! Do you not hear it ring?
Not for a bond, but for something stronger; A chain, a chain! Don’t you hear it ringing?
What, the chain?
What, the chain?
No, no, the bell: ’tis time that I were gone: It was two ere I left him, and now the clock strikes one.
No, no, the bell: it’s time for me to go: It was two o’clock when I left him, and now the clock strikes one.
The hours come back! that did I never hear.
The hours go backwards! I’ve never heard of such a thing.
O, yes; if any hour meet a sergeant, a’ turns back for very fear.
Oh, yes; if an hour meets a sergeant, it turns back in fear.
As if Time were in debt! how fondly dost thou reason!
As if Time were in debt! How foolishly you think!
Time is a very bankrupt, and owes more than he’s worth, to season. Nay, he’s a thief too: have you not heard men say That Time comes stealing on by night and day? If Time be in debt and theft, and a sergeant in the way, Hath he not reason to turn back an hour in a day?
Time is a bankrupt, and owes more than he’s worth to survive. In fact, he’s a thief too: haven’t you heard people say That Time sneaks up on us, stealing night and day? If Time is in debt and stealing, and a sergeant’s in the way, Doesn’t he have every reason to turn back an hour in the day?
Go, Dromio; there’s the money, bear it straight; And bring thy master home immediately. Come, sister: I am press’d down with conceit-- Conceit, my comfort and my injury.
Go, Dromio; here’s the money, take it straight to him; And bring your master back right away. Come, sister: I’m overwhelmed with confusion-- Confusion, my comfort and my misfortune.