Original
Modern English
Go you before to Gloucester with these letters. Acquaint my daughter no further with any thing you know than comes from her demand out of the letter. If your diligence be not speedy, I shall be there afore you.
Go on ahead to Gloucester with these letters. Don’t tell my daughter anything beyond what she asks based on what’s in the letters. If you’re not quick, I’ll get there before you do.
I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your letter.
I won’t sleep, my lord, until I’ve delivered your letter.
If a man’s brains were in’s heels, were’t not in danger of kibes?
If a man’s brain were in his heels, wouldn’t it be at risk of getting infected?
Ay, boy.
Yes, boy.
Then, I prithee, be merry; thy wit shall ne’er go slip-shod.
Then, I beg you, be happy; your mind won’t ever go to waste.
Ha, ha, ha!
Ha, ha, ha!
Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly; for though she’s as like this as a crab’s like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell.
You’ll see your other daughter will treat you well; because even though she’s as different from this one as a crab is from an apple, I know what I know.
Why, what canst thou tell, my boy?
What do you know, my boy?
She will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab. Thou canst tell why one’s nose stands i’ the middle on’s face?
She’ll be just like this one as a crab is like a crab. Can you explain why a person’s nose is in the middle of their face?
No.
No.
Why, to keep one’s eyes of either side’s nose; that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into.
It’s so the eyes are on either side of the nose, so that what a man can’t smell, he can still see.
I did her wrong--
I was wrong to her--
Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell?
Can you explain how an oyster makes its shell?
No.
No.
Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house.
Neither can I; but I can tell you why a snail has a shell.
Why?
Why?
Why, to put his head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a case.
Why, to put his head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a case.
I will forget my nature. So kind a father! Be my horses ready?
I will forget who I am. Such a kind father! Are my horses ready?
Thy asses are gone about ’em. The reason why the seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason.
Your donkeys are already out and about. The reason why the seven stars are only seven is a simple reason.
Because they are not eight?
Because they’re not eight?
Yes, indeed: thou wouldst make a good fool.
Yes, exactly: you’d make a great fool.
To take ’t again perforce! Monster ingratitude!
To take it back by force! What horrible ingratitude!
If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I’ld have thee beaten for being old before thy time.
If you were my fool, uncle, I’d have you beaten for being old before your time.
How’s that?
How’s that?
Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise.
You shouldn’t have been old until you were wise.
O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven Keep me in temper: I would not be mad!
Oh, please don’t let me go mad, not mad, sweet heaven Keep me calm: I don’t want to be mad!
How now! are the horses ready?
How is it? Are the horses ready?
Ready, my lord.
Ready, my lord.
Come, boy.
Come, boy.
She that’s a maid now, and laughs at my departure, Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter.
She who is a maiden now, and laughs at my leaving, Won’t stay a maiden for long, unless things are cut short.