Original
Modern English
Who’s there? speak, ho! speak quickly, or I shoot.
Who’s there? Speak up, hey! Speak quickly, or I’ll shoot.
A friend. What art thou?
A friend. Who are you?
Of the part of England.
From England.
Whither dost thou go?
Where are you going?
What’s that to thee? why may not I demand Of thine affairs, as well as thou of mine?
What’s it to you? Why can’t I ask About your business, just like you ask about mine?
Hubert, I think?
Hubert, I think?
Thou hast a perfect thought: I will upon all hazards well believe Thou art my friend, that know’st my tongue so well. Who art thou?
You’re right about that: I’ll take my chances and believe You’re my friend, since you know my language so well. Who are you?
Who thou wilt: and if thou please, Thou mayst befriend me so much as to think I come one way of the Plantagenets.
Whoever you want me to be: and if you like, You may help me by thinking I come from the Plantagenets.
Unkind remembrance! thou and eyeless night Have done me shame: brave soldier, pardon me, That any accent breaking from thy tongue Should ’scape the true acquaintance of mine ear.
Unkind reminder! You and blind night Have shamed me: brave soldier, forgive me, That any sound coming from your mouth Should escape my true recognition.
Come, come; sans compliment, what news abroad?
Come on, enough with the pleasantries, what’s the news?
Why, here walk I in the black brow of night, To find you out.
Why, here am I, walking in the dark of night, To find you.
Brief, then; and what’s the news?
Keep it short; what’s the news?
O, my sweet sir, news fitting to the night, Black, fearful, comfortless and horrible.
Oh, my dear sir, the news is fit for the night, Dark, frightening, hopeless, and terrible.
Show me the very wound of this ill news: I am no woman, I’ll not swoon at it.
Tell me the full story of this bad news: I’m not a woman, I won’t faint at it.
The king, I fear, is poison’d by a monk: I left him almost speechless; and broke out To acquaint you with this evil, that you might The better arm you to the sudden time, Than if you had at leisure known of this.
I fear the king’s been poisoned by a monk: I left him almost speechless; and broke out To tell you this bad news, so you could Prepare yourself better for what’s coming, Rather than if you had known about it later.
How did he take it? who did taste to him?
How did he take it? Who gave it to him?
A monk, I tell you; a resolved villain, Whose bowels suddenly burst out: the king Yet speaks and peradventure may recover.
A monk, I tell you; a determined villain, Whose insides suddenly exploded: the king Is still speaking and might possibly recover.
Who didst thou leave to tend his majesty?
Who did you leave to look after the king?
Why, know you not? the lords are all come back, And brought Prince Henry in their company; At whose request the king hath pardon’d them, And they are all about his majesty.
Don’t you know? The lords have all returned, And brought Prince Henry with them; At his request, the king has pardoned them, And they’re all around the king now.
Withhold thine indignation, mighty heaven, And tempt us not to bear above our power! I’ll tell tree, Hubert, half my power this night, Passing these flats, are taken by the tide; These Lincoln Washes have devoured them; Myself, well mounted, hardly have escaped. Away before: conduct me to the king; I doubt he will be dead or ere I come.
Hold back your anger, mighty heaven, And don’t make us go beyond our strength! I’ll tell you, Hubert, half my power tonight, Crossing these flats, was taken by the tide; These Lincoln Washes swallowed them whole; I, myself, well mounted, barely escaped. Go ahead: take me to the king; I fear he’ll be dead by the time I get there.