Original
Modern English
Nay, we will slink away in supper-time, Disguise us at my lodging and return, All in an hour.
No, we’ll sneak away at dinner-time, Disguise ourselves at my place and come back, All within an hour.
We have not made good preparation.
We haven’t prepared properly.
We have not spoke us yet of torchbearers.
We haven’t even talked about who will carry the torches.
’Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order’d, And better in my mind not undertook.
It’s disgusting, unless it can be arranged in a clever way, And in my opinion, it’s better not to do it at all.
’Tis now but four o’clock: we have two hours To furnish us.
It’s only four o’clock: we have two hours To get ready.
Friend Launcelot, what’s the news?
Hey, Launcelot, what’s the news?
An it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem to signify.
If you would be so kind as to open this, it will seem to mean something.
I know the hand: in faith, ’tis a fair hand; And whiter than the paper it writ on Is the fair hand that writ.
I recognize the handwriting: honestly, it’s beautiful handwriting; And the hand that wrote it is even fairer than the paper it’s written on.
Love-news, in faith.
Love letters, really.
By your leave, sir.
Excuse me, sir.
Whither goest thou?
Where are you going?
Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew to sup to-night with my new master the Christian.
Well, sir, I’m going to ask my old master, the Jew, to have dinner with my new master, the Christian, tonight.
Hold here, take this: tell gentle Jessica I will not fail her; speak it privately. Go, gentlemen,
Here, take this: tell sweet Jessica I won’t let her down; say it privately. Go, gentlemen,
Will you prepare you for this masque tonight? I am provided of a torch-bearer.
Will you get ready for the masque tonight? I have already arranged for a torchbearer.
Ay, marry, I’ll be gone about it straight.
Yes, I’ll get right on it.
And so will I.
And I will too.
Meet me and Gratiano At Gratiano’s lodging some hour hence.
Meet me and Gratiano At Gratiano’s place in about an hour.
’Tis good we do so.
It’s good we’re doing this.
Was not that letter from fair Jessica?
Was that letter from beautiful Jessica?
I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed How I shall take her from her father’s house, What gold and jewels she is furnish’d with, What page’s suit she hath in readiness. If e’er the Jew her father come to heaven, It will be for his gentle daughter’s sake: And never dare misfortune cross her foot, Unless she do it under this excuse, That she is issue to a faithless Jew. Come, go with me; peruse this as thou goest: Fair Jessica shall be my torch-beare r.
I must tell you everything. She has told me How I should take her from her father’s house, What gold and jewels she has with her, What servant’s clothes she’s got ready. If the Jew, her father, ever goes to heaven, It will be for his kind daughter’s sake: And may misfortune never touch her, Unless she can blame it on the fact That she’s the child of a faithless Jew. Come, come with me; read this as you go: Beautiful Jessica will be my torchbearer.