Original
Modern English
Nay, you shall see my orchard, where, in an arbour, we will eat a last year’s pippin of my own graffing, with a dish of caraways, and so forth: come, cousin Silence: and then to bed.
Come, I’ll show you my orchard. We’ll sit in an arbor And eat apples I grew last year, Along with some spiced treats. Come along, Cousin Silence. Then we’ll head to bed.
’Fore God, you have here a goodly dwelling and a rich.
By God, this is a fine place you’ve got here—a rich estate.
Barren, barren, barren; beggars all, beggars all, Sir John: marry, good air. Spread, Davy; spread, Davy; well said, Davy.
Empty, empty, empty; all poor, all poor, Sir John: well, at least the air is good. Spread out, Davy; spread out, Davy; good job, Davy.
This Davy serves you for good uses; he is your serving-man and your husband.
This Davy is really useful to you; he’s both your servant and your helper.
A good varlet, a good varlet, a very good varlet, Sir John: by the mass, I have drunk too much sack at supper: a good varlet. Now sit down, now sit down: come, cousin.
A good rascal, a good rascal, a very good rascal, Sir John: honestly, I’ve had too much wine tonight: a good rascal. Now sit down, now sit down: come, cousin.
Ah, sirrah! quoth-a, we shall Do nothing but eat, and make good cheer,
Oh, friend! He said we’ll Do nothing but eat and enjoy ourselves,
And praise God for the merry year; When flesh is cheap and females dear, And lusty lads roam here and there So merrily, And ever among so merrily.
And thank God for a cheerful year; When meat is cheap and women kind, And lively lads roam all around So happily, And always so happily.
There’s a merry heart! Good Master Silence, I’ll give you a health for that anon.
That’s a cheerful thought! Good Master Silence, I’ll toast to you for that soon.
Give Master Bardolph some wine, Davy.
Give Master Bardolph some wine, Davy.
Sweet sir, sit; I’ll be with you anon. most sweet sir, sit. Master page, good master page, sit. Proface! What you want in meat, we’ll have in drink: but you must bear; the heart’s all.
Kind sir, sit; I’ll join you soon. Most kind sir, sit. Master Page, good Master Page, sit. Enjoy! If we lack food, we’ll make up for it with drink: but you’ll have to be patient; it’s all about the spirit.
Be merry, Master Bardolph; and, my little soldier there, be merry.
Cheer up, Master Bardolph; and you, my little soldier there, cheer up.
Be merry, be merry, my wife has all;
Cheer up, cheer up, my wife handles everything;
For women are shrews, both short and tall: ’Tis merry in hall when beards wag all, And welcome merry Shrove-tide. Be merry, be merry.
Because women are troublesome, short or tall: It’s lively in the hall when the beards all wag, And we welcome the fun of Shrove-tide. Cheer up, cheer up.
I did not think Master Silence had been a man of this mettle.
I never thought Master Silence had this much spirit.
Who, I? I have been merry twice and once ere now.
Who, me? I’ve been cheerful more than once before.
There’s a dish of leather-coats for you.
Here’s a dish of apples for you.
Davy!
Davy!
Your worship! I’ll be with you straight.
Sir! I’ll be there right away.
A cup of wine, sir?
Would you like a cup of wine, sir?
A cup of wine that’s brisk and fine,
A cup of wine, lively and fine,
And drink unto the leman mine; And a merry heart lives long-a.
And let’s drink to my sweetheart; A cheerful heart lives long.
Well said, Master Silence.
Well said, Master Silence.
An we shall be merry, now comes in the sweet o’ the night.
And now that we’re happy, the best time of the night begins.
Health and long life to you, Master Silence.
Cheers and long life to you, Master Silence.
Fill the cup, and let it come;
Fill the cup and pass it along;
I’ll pledge you a mile to the bottom.
I’ll drink it all the way to the bottom.
Honest Bardolph, welcome: if thou wantest any thing, and wilt not call, beshrew thy heart. Welcome, my little tiny thief.
Honest Bardolph, welcome. If you need anything and don’t ask, shame on you. Welcome, my little rascal.
And welcome indeed too. I’ll drink to Master Bardolph, and to all the cavaleros about London.
And a hearty welcome too. I’ll drink to Master Bardolph and to all the gentlemen in London.
I hove to see London once ere I die.
I want to see London at least once before I die.
An I might see you there, Davy,--
And I hope to see you there, Davy—
By the mass, you’ll crack a quart together, ha! Will you not, Master Bardolph?
By heaven, you’ll share a drink together, won’t you? Right, Master Bardolph?
Yea, sir, in a pottle-pot.
Yes, sir, in a big mug.
By God’s liggens, I thank thee: the knave will stick by thee, I can assure thee that. A’ will not out; he is true bred.
By God, I thank you. That guy will stick with you, I can promise that. He’s loyal.
And I’ll stick by him, sir.
And I’ll stick with him, sir.
Why, there spoke a king. Lack nothing: be merry.
That’s spoken like a king. Don’t go without: enjoy yourself.
Look who’s at door there, ho! who knocks?
Check who’s at the door! Who’s knocking?
Why, now you have done me right.
Now that’s what I call doing me justice.
[Singing] Do me right, And dub me knight: Samingo. Is’t not so?
[Singing] Treat me right, And make me a knight: Samingo. Isn’t that right?
’Tis so.
That’s right.
Is’t so? Why then, say an old man can do somewhat.
Is it? Well, then, let’s say an old man can still do something.
An’t please your worship, there’s one Pistol come from the court with news.
If it pleases you, sir, there’s a man named Pistol here with news from the court.
From the court! let him come in.
From the court? Let him come in.
How now, Pistol!
How are you, Pistol?
Sir John, God save you!
Sir John, may God bless you!
What wind blew you hither, Pistol?
What brought you here, Pistol?
Not the ill wind which blows no man to good. Sweet knight, thou art now one of the greatest men in this realm.
Not the bad luck that benefits no one. Dear knight, you’re now one of the most important men in the kingdom.
By’r lady, I think a’ be, but goodman Puff of Barson.
By my faith, I think he might be, but just goodman Puff from Barson.
Puff! Puff in thy teeth, most recreant coward base! Sir John, I am thy Pistol and thy friend, And helter-skelter have I rode to thee, And tidings do I bring and lucky joys And golden times and happy news of price.
Puff! Puff yourself, you lowly, cowardly traitor! Sir John, I’m your Pistol and your friend. I’ve ridden here in a mad rush for you, and I bring news of luck, happiness, prosperous times, and valuable good news.
I pray thee now, deliver them like a man of this world.
Please, just tell me plainly like a normal person.
A foutre for the world and worldlings base! I speak of Africa and golden joys.
To hell with the world and its worthless people! I’m talking about Africa and its golden riches.
O base Assyrian knight, what is thy news? Let King Cophetua know the truth thereof.
Oh, lowly Assyrian knight, what’s your news? Let King Cophetua hear it clearly.
And Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John.
And Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John.
Shall dunghill curs confront the Helicons? And shall good news be baffled? Then, Pistol, lay thy head in Furies’ lap.
Should worthless dogs challenge the great poets? Should good news be ignored? Then, Pistol, go rest in despair.
Honest gentleman, I know not your breeding.
Kind sir, I don’t know your background.
Why then, lament therefore.
Then, cry about it.
Give me pardon, sir: if, sir, you come with news from the court, I take it there’s but two ways, either to utter them, or to conceal them. I am, sir, under the king, in some authority.
Forgive me, sir: if you bring news from the court, I see two options: either share it or keep it quiet. I’m a man with some authority under the king.
Under which king, Besonian? speak, or die.
Which king, lowly one? Speak, or perish.
Under King Harry.
Under King Harry.
Harry the Fourth? or Fifth?
Harry the Fourth or the Fifth?
Harry the Fourth.
Harry the Fourth.
A foutre for thine office! Sir John, thy tender lambkin now is king; Harry the Fifth’s the man. I speak the truth: When Pistol lies, do this; and fig me, like The bragging Spaniard.
To hell with your position! Sir John, your sweet little lamb is now king; Harry the Fifth is in charge. I’m telling the truth: If I’m lying, call me a fool like a boastful Spaniard.
What, is the old king dead?
What, is the old king dead?
As nail in door: the things I speak are just.
Dead as a doornail: I’m telling the truth.
Away, Bardolph! saddle my horse. Master Robert Shallow, choose what office thou wilt in the land, ’tis thine. Pistol, I will double-charge thee with dignities.
Go, Bardolph! Saddle my horse. Master Robert Shallow, choose any position you want; it’s yours. Pistol, I’ll reward you greatly.
O joyful day! I would not take a knighthood for my fortune.
What a joyful day! I wouldn’t trade this for a knighthood.
What! I do bring good news.
See? I bring great news.
Carry Master Silence to bed. Master Shallow, my Lord Shallow,--be what thou wilt; I am fortune’s steward--get on thy boots: we’ll ride all night. O sweet Pistol! Away, Bardolph!
Take Master Silence to bed. Master Shallow, my Lord Shallow--be whatever you want; I’m fortune’s servant--put on your boots: we’ll ride through the night. Oh, dear Pistol! Go, Bardolph!
Come, Pistol, utter more to me; and withal devise something to do thyself good. Boot, boot, Master Shallow: I know the young king is sick for me. Let us take any man’s horses; the laws of England are at my commandment. Blessed are they that have been my friends; and woe to my lord chief-justice!
Come on, Pistol, say more to me; and also think of something to do for your own benefit. Come on, Master Shallow: I know the young king is eager for me. Let us take any man’s horses; the laws of England are at my disposal. Blessed are those who have been my friends; and curse my lord the chief-justice!
Let vultures vile seize on his lungs also! ’Where is the life that late I led?’ say they: Why, here it is; welcome these pleasant days!
Let vile vultures take his lungs too! "Where is the life I used to have?" they’ll ask: Well, here it is; welcome these good days!