Original
Modern English
Here is better than the open air; take it thankfully. I will piece out the comfort with what addition I can: I will not be long from you.
This is better than being out in the open; accept it gratefully. I will add whatever comfort I can: I won’t be away from you for long.
All the power of his wits have given way to his impatience: the gods reward your kindness!
His mind has completely given in to his impatience: may the gods reward your kindness!
Frateretto calls me; and tells me Nero is an angler in the lake of darkness. Pray, innocent, and beware the foul fiend.
Frateretto calls me and says Nero is fishing in the lake of darkness. Pray, innocent one, and watch out for the evil spirit.
Prithee, nuncle, tell me whether a madman be a gentleman or a yeoman?
Please, uncle, tell me if a madman is a gentleman or a commoner?
A king, a king!
A king, a king!
No, he’s a yeoman that has a gentleman to his son; for he’s a mad yeoman that sees his son a gentleman before him.
No, he’s a commoner who has a gentleman for a son; because he’s a mad commoner who sees his son become a gentleman before him.
To have a thousand with red burning spits Come hissing in upon ’em,--
To have a thousand with hot burning rods come hissing at them,--
The foul fiend bites my back.
The evil spirit is biting my back.
He’s mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a horse’s health, a boy’s love, or a whore’s oath.
He’s crazy who trusts in the gentleness of a wolf, a horse’s health, a boy’s love, or a prostitute’s promise.
It shall be done; I will arraign them straight.
It will be done; I will judge them right away.
Come, sit thou here, most learned justicer;
Come, sit here, you most wise judge;
Thou, sapient sir, sit here. Now, you she foxes!
You, wise sir, sit here. Now, you sly foxes!
Look, where he stands and glares! Wantest thou eyes at trial, madam? Come o’er the bourn, Bessy, to me,--
Look, see where he stands and stares! Do you need eyes for this trial, madam? Come over the brook, Bessy, to me--
Her boat hath a leak, And she must not speak Why she dares not come over to thee.
Her boat has a leak, And she must not speak Why she won’t come over to you.
The foul fiend haunts poor Tom in the voice of a nightingale. Hopdance cries in Tom’s belly for two white herring. Croak not, black angel; I have no food for thee.
The evil spirit haunts poor Tom, sounding like a nightingale. Hopdance grumbles in Tom’s stomach for two white fish. Don’t croak, black angel; I have no food for you.
How do you, sir? Stand you not so amazed: Will you lie down and rest upon the cushions?
How are you, sir? Don’t be so shocked: Will you lie down and rest on the cushions?
I’ll see their trial first. Bring in the evidence.
I’ll see their trial first. Bring in the evidence.
Thou robed man of justice, take thy place;
You, robed man of justice, take your place;
And thou, his yoke-fellow of equity, Bench by his side:
And you, his partner in fairness, Sit beside him:
you are o’ the commission, Sit you too.
You’re on the commission too, Sit down as well.
Let us deal justly. Sleepest or wakest thou, jolly shepherd? Thy sheep be in the corn; And for one blast of thy minikin mouth, Thy sheep shall take no harm. Pur! the cat is gray.
Let’s be fair. Are you asleep or awake, jolly shepherd? Your sheep are in the corn; And just one blast from your tiny mouth, And your sheep will be safe. Purr! The cat is gray.
Arraign her first; ’tis Goneril. I here take my oath before this honourable assembly, she kicked the poor king her father.
Put her on trial first; it’s Goneril. I swear before this honorable group, she kicked her poor father, the king.
Come hither, mistress. Is your name Goneril?
Come here, lady. Is your name Goneril?
She cannot deny it.
She can’t deny it.
Cry you mercy, I took you for a joint-stool.
Excuse me, I mistook you for a stool.
And here’s another, whose warp’d looks proclaim What store her heart is made on. Stop her there! Arms, arms, sword, fire! Corruption in the place! False justicer, why hast thou let her ’scape?
And here’s another one, whose twisted expression shows what kind of heart she has. Stop her there! Weapons, weapons, sword, fire! Corruption is here! Unjust judge, why did you let her get away?
Bless thy five wits!
Bless your mind and senses!
O pity! Sir, where is the patience now, That thou so oft have boasted to retain?
Oh, have mercy! Sir, where is your patience now, that you often claimed to keep?
[Aside] My tears begin to take his part so much, They’ll mar my counterfeiting.
[Aside] My tears are siding with him so much, they’ll ruin my act.
The little dogs and all, Tray, Blanch, and Sweet-heart, see, they bark at me.
Even the little dogs, Tray, Blanch, and Sweetheart, look, they’re barking at me.
Tom will throw his head at them. Avaunt, you curs! Be thy mouth or black or white, Tooth that poisons if it bite; Mastiff, grey-hound, mongrel grim, Hound or spaniel, brach or lym, Or bobtail tike or trundle-tail, Tom will make them weep and wail: For, with throwing thus my head, Dogs leap the hatch, and all are fled. Do de, de, de. Sessa! Come, march to wakes and fairs and market-towns. Poor Tom, thy horn is dry.
Tom will throw his head at them. Go away, you dogs! Whether your mouth is dark or light, with a tooth that poisons when it bites; Mastiff, greyhound, grim mongrel, Hound or spaniel, bitch or bloodhound, or shaggy cur or small wag-tail, Tom will make them cry and wail: for, by throwing my head like this, dogs jump the fence and all run away. Do de, de, de. Quiet! Let’s go march through parties and fairs and markets. Poor Tom, your flask is empty.
Then let them anatomize Regan; see what breeds about her heart. Is there any cause in nature that makes these hard hearts?
Then let them dissect Regan; see what’s in her heart. Is there anything in nature that makes hearts so cruel?
You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred; only I do not like the fashion of your garments: you will say they are Persian attire: but let them be changed.
You, sir, I’ll keep as one of my hundred men; only I don’t like the style of your clothes: you’ll say they’re Persian fashion, but they need to be changed.
Now, good my lord, lie here and rest awhile.
Now, good sir, lie down here and rest a while.
Make no noise, make no noise; draw the curtains: so, so, so. We’ll go to supper i’ he morning. So, so, so.
Be quiet, be quiet; close the curtains: there, there, there. We’ll have dinner in the morning. There, there, there.
And I’ll go to bed at noon.
And I’ll go to bed at noon.
Come hither, friend: where is the king my master?
Come here, friend: where is the king, my master?
Here, sir; but trouble him not, his wits are gone.
Here, sir; but don’t disturb him, his mind is lost.
Good friend, I prithee, take him in thy arms; I have o’erheard a plot of death upon him: There is a litter ready; lay him in ’t, And drive towards Dover, friend, where thou shalt meet Both welcome and protection. Take up thy master: If thou shouldst dally half an hour, his life, With thine, and all that offer to defend him, Stand in assured loss: take up, take up; And follow me, that will to some provision Give thee quick conduct.
Good friend, please, take him in your arms; I’ve overheard a plot to kill him: There’s a stretcher ready; put him on it, And drive toward Dover, where you’ll find Both safety and protection. Pick up your master: If you delay even half an hour, his life, And yours, and anyone who tries to protect him, Will certainly be lost: pick him up, pick him up; And follow me, I’ll guide you to some help That will get you there quickly.
Oppressed nature sleeps: This rest might yet have balm’d thy broken senses, Which, if convenience will not allow, Stand in hard cure.
Exhausted nature sleeps: This rest might have eased your troubled senses, Which, if it can’t be helped, will have to heal on its own.
Come, help to bear thy master; Thou must not stay behind.
Come, help carry your master; You must not stay behind.
Come, come, away.
Come on, come on, hurry.
When we our betters see bearing our woes, We scarcely think our miseries our foes. Who alone suffers suffers most i’ the mind, Leaving free things and happy shows behind: But then the mind much sufferance doth o’er skip, When grief hath mates, and bearing fellowship. How light and portable my pain seems now, When that which makes me bend makes the king bow, He childed as I father’d! Tom, away! Mark the high noises; and thyself bewray, When false opinion, whose wrong thought defiles thee, In thy just proof, repeals and reconciles thee. What will hap more to-night, safe ’scape the king! Lurk, lurk.
When we see our betters carrying our burdens, We hardly think of our miseries as enemies. The one who suffers alone suffers most in the mind, Leaving free things and happy appearances behind: But the mind can endure more suffering, When grief has companions, and sharing the pain. How light and bearable my pain feels now, When what makes me bend makes the king bow, He, like a child, just as I fathered! Tom, away! Listen to the loud sounds; and beware, When false opinion, whose wrong thoughts corrupt you, In your own proof, withdraws and forgives you. Whatever happens tonight, the king escapes safely! Hide, hide.