Original
Modern English
Alack, ’tis he: why, he was met even now As mad as the vex’d sea; singing aloud; Crown’d with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds, With bur-docks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers, Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow In our sustaining corn. A century send forth; Search every acre in the high-grown field, And bring him to our eye.
Oh no, it’s him: he was just seen now As mad as the stormy sea; singing loudly; Crowned with rank weeds and wild plants, With burdocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers, Darnel, and all the useless weeds that grow In our crops. Send out a hundred men; Search every field, and bring him to me.
What can man’s wisdom In the restoring his bereaved sense? He that helps him take all my outward worth.
What can a man’s wisdom Do to restore his lost mind? He who helps him, take all my wealth.
There is means, madam: Our foster-nurse of nature is repose, The which he lacks; that to provoke in him, Are many simples operative, whose power Will close the eye of anguish.
There is a way, madam: Our natural nurse is rest, Which he lacks; to bring it back to him, There are many simple remedies, whose power Will ease his pain.
All blest secrets, All you unpublish’d virtues of the earth, Spring with my tears! be aidant and remediate In the good man’s distress! Seek, seek for him; Lest his ungovern’d rage dissolve the life That wants the means to lead it.
All blessed secrets, All you hidden virtues of the earth, Come with my tears! be a help and cure For the good man’s suffering! Search, search for him; Lest his uncontrolled rage destroy the life That doesn’t have the strength to fight it.
News, madam; The British powers are marching hitherward.
News, madam; The British forces are coming this way.
’Tis known before; our preparation stands In expectation of them. O dear father, It is thy business that I go about; Therefore great France My mourning and important tears hath pitied. No blown ambition doth our arms incite, But love, dear love, and our aged father’s right: Soon may I hear and see him!
We already know that; we’ve prepared In anticipation of them. Oh, my dear father, It is for you that I’m doing this; Therefore, great France Has pitied my mourning and important tears. No selfish ambition drives us to war, But love, dear love, and the rights of our old father: Soon may I hear from him and see him!