Original
Modern English
If the duke with the other dukes come not to composition with the King of Hungary, why then all the dukes fall upon the king.
If the duke doesn’t reach an agreement with the King of Hungary, Then all the dukes will attack the king.
Heaven grant us its peace, but not the King of Hungary’s!
Heaven grant us peace, but not the peace of the King of Hungary!
Amen.
Amen.
Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped one out of the table.
You end like the hypocritical pirate, who went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but crossed one out of the list.
’Thou shalt not steal’?
"You shall not steal"?
Ay, that he razed.
Yes, he removed that one.
Why, ’twas a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions: they put forth to steal. There’s not a soldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, do relish the petition well that prays for peace.
Well, that was a commandment meant to keep the captain and all the others from their duties: they set out to steal. There’s not a single soldier among us who, when saying grace before a meal, doesn’t secretly wish for peace.
I never heard any soldier dislike it.
I’ve never heard any soldier complain about it.
I believe thee; for I think thou never wast where grace was said.
I believe you; because I think you’ve never been where grace was said.
No? a dozen times at least.
No? At least a dozen times.
What, in metre?
What, in verse?
In any proportion or in any language.
In any form or language.
I think, or in any religion.
I think, or in any religion.
Ay, why not? Grace is grace, despite of all controversy: as, for example, thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace.
Yes, why not? Grace is grace, no matter what the arguments are: just like, for example, you yourself are a wicked villain, no matter what grace says.
Well, there went but a pair of shears between us.
Well, there wasn’t much between us after all.
I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet. Thou art the list.
True; just like there’s only a little difference between the cloth and the velvet. You’re the cloth.
And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou’rt a three-piled piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey as be piled, as thou art piled, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now?
And you’re the velvet: you’re fine velvet; you’re a high-quality piece, I bet: I’d rather be a cheap English cloth than be as fancy as you are, for a French velvet. Am I being honest now?
I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after thee.
I think you are; and, indeed, I feel the weight of your words: I will, from your own confession, learn how to improve your health; but, while I live, I’ll forget to drink after you.
I think I have done myself wrong, have I not?
I think I’ve wronged myself, haven’t I?
Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted or free.
Yes, you have, whether you’re guilty or innocent.
Behold, behold. where Madam Mitigation comes! I have purchased as many diseases under her roof as come to--
Look, look. Here comes Madam Mitigation! I’ve picked up as many diseases under her roof as could come to--
To what, I pray?
To what, I ask?
Judge.
Judge.
To three thousand dolours a year.
For three thousand dollars a year.
Ay, and more.
Yes, and more.
A French crown more.
A French crown more.
Thou art always figuring diseases in me; but thou art full of error; I am sound.
You’re always imagining diseases in me; but you’re completely wrong; I’m healthy.
Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound as things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow; impiety has made a feast of thee.
No, not exactly healthy; but as sound as things that are hollow: your bones are hollow; sin has feasted on you.
How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?
What’s this! Which of your hips has the worst sciatica?
Well, well; there’s one yonder arrested and carried to prison was worth five thousand of you all.
Well, well; there’s someone over there who was arrested and taken to prison, worth five thousand of all of you.
Who’s that, I pray thee?
Who’s that, if you please?
Marry, sir, that’s Claudio, Signior Claudio.
Well, sir, that’s Claudio, Signior Claudio.
Claudio to prison? ’tis not so.
Claudio in prison? That can’t be true.
Nay, but I know ’tis so: I saw him arrested, saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head to be chopped off.
No, but I know it’s true: I saw him get arrested, saw him taken away; and, what’s more, within these three days, his head will be chopped off.
But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so. Art thou sure of this?
But, after all this nonsense, I wouldn’t want it to happen. Are you sure about this?
I am too sure of it: and it is for getting Madam Julietta with child.
I’m absolutely sure: and it’s because he got Madam Julietta pregnant.
Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two hours since, and he was ever precise in promise-keeping.
Believe me, that might be true: he promised to meet me two hours ago, and he was always good at keeping his promises.
Besides, you know, it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose.
Besides, you know, it’s close to the conversation we had about something like this.
But, most of all, agreeing with the proclamation.
But, most of all, it matches the proclamation.
Away! let’s go learn the truth of it.
Let’s go! Let’s find out the truth of it.
Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk.
So, with the war, the sweat, the gallows, and poverty, I’ve gotten used to being worn down.
How now! what’s the news with you?
What’s going on? What’s the news with you?
Yonder man is carried to prison.
That man over there is being taken to prison.
Well; what has he done?
Well, what did he do?
A woman.
A woman.
But what’s his offence?
But what’s his crime?
Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.
He was feeling around for fish in a private river.
What, is there a maid with child by him?
What, is there a girl pregnant by him?
No, but there’s a woman with maid by him. You have not heard of the proclamation, have you?
No, but there’s a woman with a girl by him. You haven’t heard of the proclamation, have you?
What proclamation, man?
What proclamation, man?
All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down.
All the houses in the suburbs of Vienna have to be torn down.
And what shall become of those in the city?
And what will happen to the ones in the city?
They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them.
They’ll stay up: they would have been torn down too, but a wise citizen spoke up for them.
But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pulled down?
But will all our houses in the suburbs be torn down?
To the ground, mistress.
Right down to the ground, mistress.
Why, here’s a change indeed in the commonwealth! What shall become of me?
Well, this is a big change for the community! What will happen to me?
Come; fear you not: good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I’ll be your tapster still. Courage! there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered.
Come on, don’t worry: good advisors always have clients. Even if you change your location, you don’t have to change your profession; I’ll still be your bartender. Don’t worry! People will take pity on you: you who’ve nearly worn your eyes out working, you’ll be taken care of.
What’s to do here, Thomas tapster? let’s withdraw.
What’s going on here, Thomas bartender? Let’s leave.
Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison; and there’s Madam Juliet.
Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the jailer to prison; and there’s Madam Juliet.
Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world? Bear me to prison, where I am committed.
Fellow, why are you showing me off like this to the world? Take me to prison, where I belong.
I do it not in evil disposition, But from Lord Angelo by special charge.
I’m not doing this out of malice, but by special order from Lord Angelo.
Thus can the demigod Authority Make us pay down for our offence by weight The words of heaven; on whom it will, it will; On whom it will not, so; yet still ’tis just.
This is how Authority, like a demigod, Makes us pay for our sins with heavy punishment, The words of heaven; whoever it chooses, it chooses; Whoever it does not, well, so be it; yet it’s still fair.
Why, how now, Claudio! whence comes this restraint?
Hey, Claudio! What’s with this confinement?
From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: As surfeit is the father of much fast, So every scope by the immoderate use Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue, Like rats that ravin down their proper bane, A thirsty evil; and when we drink we die.
Too much freedom, my Lucio, too much freedom: Just like overeating leads to fasting, So does too much freedom eventually lead to restraint. We humans chase after dangerous things, Like rats that rush towards their own doom, A thirst for evil; and when we drink, we die.
If could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: and yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom as the morality of imprisonment. What’s thy offence, Claudio?
If I could speak so wisely while under arrest, I’d call in some of my creditors: but honestly, I’d rather have the foolishness of freedom than the morality of imprisonment. What did you do wrong, Claudio?
What but to speak of would offend again.
What? Just talking about it would make me guilty again.
What, is’t murder?
What, is it murder?
No.
No.
Lechery?
Lechery?
Call it so.
You could call it that.
Away, sir! you must go.
Move along, sir! You need to go.
One word, good friend. Lucio, a word with you.
One word, good friend. Lucio, I need to speak with you.
A hundred, if they’ll do you any good. Is lechery so look’d after?
A hundred words, if they’ll do you any good. Is lechery really so important?
Thus stands it with me: upon a true contract I got possession of Julietta’s bed: You know the lady; she is fast my wife, Save that we do the denunciation lack Of outward order: this we came not to, Only for propagation of a dower Remaining in the coffer of her friends, From whom we thought it meet to hide our love Till time had made them for us. But it chances The stealth of our most mutual entertainment With character too gross is writ on Juliet.
Here’s the situation: I had a legitimate relationship with Julietta, and we slept together: You know the lady; she’s practically my wife, Except we haven’t made it official yet, Due to a technicality: we didn’t go public, Because we thought it best to keep our love secret Until her family was ready to accept it. But it turns out Our secret relationship became too obvious, and now it’s written all over Juliet.
With child, perhaps?
Is she pregnant, maybe?
Unhappily, even so. And the new deputy now for the duke-- Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness, Or whether that the body public be A horse whereon the governor doth ride, Who, newly in the seat, that it may know He can command, lets it straight feel the spur; Whether the tyranny be in his place, Or in his emmence that fills it up, I stagger in:--but this new governor Awakes me all the enrolled penalties Which have, like unscour’d armour, hung by the wall So long that nineteen zodiacs have gone round And none of them been worn; and, for a name, Now puts the drowsy and neglected act Freshly on me: ’tis surely for a name.
Sadly, yes. And the new deputy for the Duke— Whether it’s the fault of being new to the position, Or whether the public body is Like a horse that the governor rides, Who, newly in power, just to prove he can lead, Makes sure the horse feels the whip; Whether the tyranny is in the position itself, Or in the man who fills it, I’m confused:—but this new governor Is forcing me to face all the old laws That have been lying dormant for years, Like old armor gathering dust on the wall, While time has passed, and now suddenly They’re being applied to me, just for the sake of a name.
I warrant it is: and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders that a milkmaid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke and appeal to him.
I’m sure it is: and your head is so unsteady that a milkmaid, if she’s in love, could just sigh it off. Send for the duke and ask him for help.
I have done so, but he’s not to be found. I prithee, Lucio, do me this kind service: This day my sister should the cloister enter And there receive her approbation: Acquaint her with the danger of my state: Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him: I have great hope in that; for in her youth There is a prone and speechless dialect, Such as move men; beside, she hath prosperous art When she will play with reason and discourse, And well she can persuade.
I’ve already done that, but he can’t be found. Please, Lucio, do me this favor: Today my sister is supposed to enter the convent and receive approval for it: Tell her about the danger I’m in: Beg her, in my voice, to make friends with the strict deputy; have her try to influence him: I have great hope in this; because, in her youth, she has a natural way with words, the kind that moves people; besides, she’s good at using reason and talking things through, and she can persuade people very well.
I pray she may; as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition, as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I’ll to her.
I hope she can; both to help others who might face serious punishment, and to save your life, which I’d be sad to see lost so foolishly over a game of chance. I’ll go to her.
I thank you, good friend Lucio.
Thank you, good friend Lucio.
Within two hours.
I’ll be back in two hours.
Come, officer, away!
Come, officer, let’s go!