Original
Modern English
Fear it not, sir: I would I were so sure To win the king as I am bold her honour Will remain hers.
Don’t worry, sir: I wish I was as sure Of winning the king over as I am that her honor Will stay intact.
What means do you make to him?
What plan are you making to approach him?
Not any, but abide the change of time, Quake in the present winter’s state and wish That warmer days would come: in these sear’d hopes, I barely gratify your love; they failing, I must die much your debtor.
Not at all, but wait for the change of time, Shiver in the present cold of winter and wish That warmer days would come: in these dried-up hopes, I barely repay your love; if they fail, I’ll owe you much more than I can ever repay.
Your very goodness and your company O’erpays all I can do. By this, your king Hath heard of great Augustus: Caius Lucius Will do’s commission throughly: and I think He’ll grant the tribute, send the arrearages, Or look upon our Romans, whose remembrance Is yet fresh in their grief.
Your kindness and your company More than make up for anything I’ve done. By this, your king Has heard of great Augustus: Caius Lucius Will carry out the mission thoroughly: and I believe He’ll pay the tribute, send the overdue payments, Or take a look at our Romans, whose memory Is still fresh in their sorrow.
I do believe, Statist though I am none, nor like to be, That this will prove a war; and you shall hear The legions now in Gallia sooner landed In our not-fearing Britain than have tidings Of any penny tribute paid. Our countrymen Are men more order’d than when Julius Caesar Smiled at their lack of skill, but found their courage Worthy his frowning at: their discipline, Now mingled with their courages, will make known To their approvers they are people such That mend upon the world.
I do believe, Even though I’m no politician, nor do I want to be, That this will lead to war; and you’ll soon hear That the legions in Gaul will land in our unafraid Britain Before they get news of any tribute paid. Our countrymen Are more organized now than when Julius Caesar Smiled at their lack of skill, but found Their courage Worthy of his frown: their discipline, Now mixed with their courage, will show Their supporters that they are a people who Improve the world around them.
See! Iachimo!
Look! It’s Iachimo!
The swiftest harts have posted you by land; And winds of all the comers kiss’d your sails, To make your vessel nimble.
The fastest deer must have passed you by land; And the winds from every direction have kissed your sails, To make your ship swift.
Welcome, sir.
Welcome, sir.
I hope the briefness of your answer made The speediness of your return.
I hope the shortness of your reply made The speed of your return.
Your lady Is one of the fairest that I have look’d upon.
Your lady Is one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen.
And therewithal the best; or let her beauty Look through a casement to allure false hearts And be false with them.
And also the best; or let her beauty Look through a window to tempt dishonest hearts And be dishonest with them.
Here are letters for you.
Here are letters for you.
Their tenor good, I trust.
I trust their contents are good.
’Tis very like.
They’re very likely to be.
Was Caius Lucius in the Britain court When you were there?
Was Caius Lucius at the British court When you were there?
He was expected then, But not approach’d.
He was expected then, But never arrived.
All is well yet. Sparkles this stone as it was wont? or is’t not Too dull for your good wearing?
All is well still. Does this stone sparkle as it used to? Or is it too dull For your good wear?
If I had lost it, I should have lost the worth of it in gold. I’ll make a journey twice as far, to enjoy A second night of such sweet shortness which Was mine in Britain, for the ring is won.
If I had lost it, I would have lost its value in gold. I’d go twice as far to have A second night of such sweet briefness that I had in Britain, because the ring is mine.
The stone’s too hard to come by.
The stone’s too hard to get.
Not a whit, Your lady being so easy.
Not at all, Your lady is so easy.
Make not, sir, Your loss your sport: I hope you know that we Must not continue friends.
Don’t, sir, Make a joke of your loss: I hope you understand that we Can’t stay friends.
Good sir, we must, If you keep covenant. Had I not brought The knowledge of your mistress home, I grant We were to question further: but I now Profess myself the winner of her honour, Together with your ring; and not the wronger Of her or you, having proceeded but By both your wills.
But, sir, we must, If you honor your word. If I hadn’t brought Back the knowledge of your mistress, I’d agree We could discuss it further: but now I declare myself the winner of her honor, Along with your ring; and not wronging Either her or you, since it was done with Both of your consent.
If you can make’t apparent That you have tasted her in bed, my hand And ring is yours; if not, the foul opinion You had of her pure honour gains or loses Your sword or mine, or masterless leaves both To who shall find them.
If you can prove That you’ve had her in bed, then my hand And ring are yours; if not, the dirty opinion You have of her pure honor will either gain or lose Your sword or mine, or leave them both unclaimed For whoever finds them.
Sir, my circumstances, Being so near the truth as I will make them, Must first induce you to believe: whose strength I will confirm with oath; which, I doubt not, You’ll give me leave to spare, when you shall find You need it not.
Sir, my circumstances, Being so close to the truth as I will show them, Must first make you believe: I’ll back it up With an oath; which, I’m sure, You’ll let me skip when you see You don’t need it.
Proceed.
Go ahead.
First, her bedchamber,-- Where, I confess, I slept not, but profess Had that was well worth watching--it was hang’d With tapesty of silk and silver; the story Proud Cleopatra, when she met her Roman, And Cydnus swell’d above the banks, or for The press of boats or pride: a piece of work So bravely done, so rich, that it did strive In workmanship and value; which I wonder’d Could be so rarely and exactly wrought, Since the true life on’t was--
First, her bedroom— Where, I admit, I didn’t sleep, but I swear It was well worth watching—it was decorated With silk and silver tapestries; the scene Of proud Cleopatra meeting her Roman lover, And Cydnus river rising over the banks, either from The flood of boats or her pride: a piece of art So wonderfully done, so rich, that it competed In both skill and value; I marveled How it could be so perfectly and precisely crafted, Since the true life of it was—
This is true; And this you might have heard of here, by me, Or by some other.
That’s true; And you could have heard about it from me, Or from someone else.
More particulars Must justify my knowledge.
More details Must back up my knowledge.
So they must, Or do your honour injury.
They must, Or you’ll be dishonoring her.
The chimney Is south the chamber, and the chimney-piece Chaste Dian bathing: never saw I figures So likely to report themselves: the cutter Was as another nature, dumb; outwent her, Motion and breath left out.
The chimney Is south of the room, and the mantelpiece Has a statue of the chaste Diana bathing: I’ve never seen figures So lifelike that they seemed to speak for themselves: the sculptor Was like another nature, silent; the work surpassed her, With motion and breath left out.
This is a thing Which you might from relation likewise reap, Being, as it is, much spoke of.
This is something You could also have heard about, as it was much talked about.
The roof o’ the chamber With golden cherubins is fretted: her andirons-- I had forgot them--were two winking Cupids Of silver, each on one foot standing, nicely Depending on their brands.
The ceiling of the room Was adorned with golden cherubs: her andirons—I almost forgot— Were two winking Cupids Made of silver, each standing on one foot, beautifully Balanced on their brands.
This is her honour! Let it be granted you have seen all this--and praise Be given to your remembrance--the description Of what is in her chamber nothing saves The wager you have laid.
This is her honor! Let’s assume you’ve seen all of this—and praise Be given to your memory—the description Of what’s in her room does nothing to prove The bet you’ve made.
Then, if you can,
Then, if you can,
Be pale: I beg but leave to air this jewel; see! And now ’tis up again: it must be married To that your diamond; I’ll keep them.
Be pale: I just want permission to show this jewel; look! And now it’s back again: it has to be joined To your diamond; I’ll keep them both.
Jove! Once more let me behold it: is it that Which I left with her?
Jove! Let me see it again: is it the same one That I left with her?
Sir--I thank her--that: She stripp’d it from her arm; I see her yet; Her pretty action did outsell her gift, And yet enrich’d it too: she gave it me, and said She prized it once.
Sir—I thank her—for that: She took it off her arm; I can still see her; Her sweet gesture made the gift look even better, And yet made it more valuable too: she gave it to me, and said She once valued it highly.
May be she pluck’d it off To send it me.
Maybe she took it off To send it back to me.
She writes so to you, doth she?
She writes to you like that, does she?
O, no, no, no! ’tis true. Here, take this too;
Oh, no, no, no! It’s true. Here, take this as well;
It is a basilisk unto mine eye, Kills me to look on’t. Let there be no honour Where there is beauty; truth, where semblance; love, Where there’s another man: the vows of women Of no more bondage be, to where they are made, Than they are to their virtues; which is nothing. O, above measure false!
It’s like a deadly serpent to my eyes, It kills me to look at it. Let there be no honor Where there’s beauty; truth, where there’s only appearance; love, Where there’s another man: women’s vows Are as little binding as their virtues; which are nothing. Oh, incredibly false!
Have patience, sir, And take your ring again; ’tis not yet won: It may be probable she lost it; or Who knows if one of her women, being corrupted, Hath stol’n it from her?
Be patient, sir, And take your ring back; it’s not lost yet: Maybe she misplaced it; or Who knows, one of her women, being corrupted, Might have stolen it from her?
Very true; And so, I hope, he came by’t. Back my ring: Render to me some corporal sign about her, More evident than this; for this was stolen.
That’s very possible; And I hope that’s how it happened. Give me my ring: Show me some physical proof about her, More clear than this; because this was stolen.
By Jupiter, I had it from her arm.
By Jupiter, I got it from her arm.
Hark you, he swears; by Jupiter he swears. ’Tis true:--nay, keep the ring--’tis true: I am sure She would not lose it: her attendants are All sworn and honourable:--they induced to steal it! And by a stranger!--No, he hath enjoyed her: The cognizance of her incontinency Is this: she hath bought the name of whore thus dearly. There, take thy hire; and all the fiends of hell Divide themselves between you!
Listen, he swears; by Jupiter, he swears. It’s true:—no, keep the ring—it’s true: I’m sure She wouldn’t lose it: her attendants are All sworn to be honorable:—they were persuaded to steal it? And by a stranger!—No, he’s had her: The proof of her dishonesty Is this: she’s paid dearly for the name of whore. There, take your payment; and may all the devils of hell Divide themselves between you!
Sir, be patient: This is not strong enough to be believed Of one persuaded well of--
Sir, please be patient: This is not strong enough to be believed By someone who truly trusts in—
Never talk on’t; She hath been colted by him.
Don’t talk about it; She’s been seduced by him.
If you seek For further satisfying, under her breast-- Worthy the pressing--lies a mole, right proud Of that most delicate lodging: by my life, I kiss’d it; and it gave me present hunger To feed again, though full. You do remember This stain upon her?
If you’re looking For something else to satisfy you, under her breast-- There’s a mole, really noticeable On that soft skin: I swear, I kissed it; and it made me instantly hungry To eat again, even though I was full. Do you remember This mark on her?
Ay, and it doth confirm Another stain, as big as hell can hold, Were there no more but it.
Yes, and it confirms Another mark, as big as hell can hold, If that was all there was.
Will you hear more?
Want to hear more?
Spare your arithmetic: never count the turns; Once, and a million!
Stop with the math: don’t count the details; Once, and a million times!
I’ll be sworn--
I swear--
No swearing. If you will swear you have not done’t, you lie; And I will kill thee, if thou dost deny Thou’st made me cuckold.
No swearing. If you swear you didn’t do it, you’re lying; And I’ll kill you if you deny That you made a fool of me.
I’ll deny nothing.
I’ll deny nothing.
O, that I had her here, to tear her limb-meal! I will go there and do’t, i’ the court, before Her father. I’ll do something--
Oh, if only I had her here, to tear her apart! I’ll go there and do it, right in the court, in front Of her father. I’ll do something--
Quite besides The government of patience! You have won: Let’s follow him, and pervert the present wrath He hath against himself.
Completely beyond The limits of patience! You’ve won: Let’s follow him, and change his current rage Before it turns against himself.
With an my heart.
With all my heart.