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Modern English
Madam, although I speak it in your presence, You have a noble and a true conceit Of godlike amity; which appears most strongly In bearing thus the absence of your lord. But if you knew to whom you show this honour, How true a gentleman you send relief, How dear a lover of my lord your husband, I know you would be prouder of the work Than customary bounty can enforce you.
Madam, even though I’m speaking in front of you, You have a noble and true understanding Of godlike friendship; which is most obvious In bearing the absence of your husband so well. But if you knew who you were showing this honor to, How true a gentleman you’re helping, How much your husband loves you, I know you’d be even prouder of the action Than ordinary generosity would expect.
I never did repent for doing good, Nor shall not now: for in companions That do converse and waste the time together, Whose souls do bear an equal yoke Of love, There must be needs a like proportion Of lineaments, of manners and of spirit; Which makes me think that this Antonio, Being the bosom lover of my lord, Must needs be like my lord. If it be so, How little is the cost I have bestow’d In purchasing the semblance of my soul From out the state of hellish misery! This comes too near the praising of myself; Therefore no more of it: hear other things. Lorenzo, I commit into your hands The husbandry and manage of my house Until my lord’s return: for mine own part, I have toward heaven breathed a secret vow To live in prayer and contemplation, Only attended by Nerissa here, Until her husband and my lord’s return: There is a monastery two miles off; And there will we abide. I do desire you Not to deny this imposition; The which my love and some necessity Now lays upon you.
I’ve never regretted doing good, And I won’t now: because among friends Who spend time together and share their lives, Whose souls are tied by love, There must naturally be a likeness In features, manners, and spirit; Which makes me think that this Antonio, Since he’s the close friend of my husband, Must be like my husband. If that’s true, How small a price I’ve paid To buy a glimpse of my soul From the depths of hellish pain! This comes too close to praising myself; So no more of that: let’s talk about something else. Lorenzo, I put in your hands The running of my house Until my husband returns: as for me, I’ve made a secret vow to God To live in prayer and contemplation, Only with Nerissa here, Until her husband and mine return: There’s a monastery two miles away; And that’s where we’ll stay. I ask you Not to refuse this request; Which my love and some necessity Now lay on you.
Madam, with all my heart; I shall obey you in all fair commands.
Madam, with all my heart; I’ll follow all your wishes.
My people do already know my mind, And will acknowledge you and Jessica In place of Lord Bassanio and myself. And so farewell, till we shall meet again.
My people already know my intentions, And will recognize you and Jessica As standing in for Lord Bassanio and myself. So, farewell, until we meet again.
Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you!
May good thoughts and happy hours be with you!
I wish your ladyship all heart’s content.
I wish you all the happiness in the world.
I thank you for your wish, and am well pleased To wish it back on you: fare you well Jessica.
I thank you for your kind wishes, and I’m happy To wish them back to you: goodbye, Jessica.
Now, Balthasar, As I have ever found thee honest-true, So let me find thee still. Take this same letter, And use thou all the endeavour of a man In speed to Padua: see thou render this Into my cousin’s hand, Doctor Bellario; And, look, what notes and garments he doth give thee, Bring them, I pray thee, with imagined speed Unto the tranect, to the common ferry Which trades to Venice. Waste no time in words, But get thee gone: I shall be there before thee.
Now, Balthasar, As I have always found you to be honest, So let me continue to find you so. Take this letter, And make every effort to go quickly to Padua: make sure you deliver this Into my cousin’s hands, Doctor Bellario; And, look, whatever notes and clothes he gives you, Bring them, I beg you, quickly To the ferry dock, the common ferry That goes to Venice. Don’t waste time talking, But go right away: I’ll be there before you.
Madam, I go with all convenient speed.
Madam, I will go with all possible speed.
Come on, Nerissa; I have work in hand That you yet know not of: we’ll see our husbands Before they think of us.
Come on, Nerissa; I have a plan That you don’t know about yet: we’ll see our husbands Before they even think of us.
Shall they see us?
Will they see us?
They shall, Nerissa; but in such a habit, That they shall think we are accomplished With that we lack. I’ll hold thee any wager, When we are both accoutred like young men, I’ll prove the prettier fellow of the two, And wear my dagger with the braver grace, And speak between the change of man and boy With a reed voice, and turn two mincing steps Into a manly stride, and speak of frays Like a fine bragging youth, and tell quaint lies, How honourable ladies sought my love, Which I denying, they fell sick and died; I could not do withal; then I’ll repent, And wish for all that, that I had not killed them; And twenty of these puny lies I’ll tell, That men shall swear I have discontinued school Above a twelvemonth. I have within my mind A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks, Which I will practise.
They will, Nerissa; but we’ll be dressed in such a way, That they’ll think we’re accomplished With what we don’t have. I’ll bet you anything, When we’re both dressed like young men, I’ll prove to be the more handsome of the two, And wear my dagger with more style, And speak in that awkward voice between man and boy, With a high-pitched voice, and turn a few dainty steps Into a manly stride, and talk about fights Like a proud, boastful youth, and tell ridiculous lies, About how noble ladies fell in love with me, And when I rejected them, they got sick and died; I couldn’t help it; then I’ll feel guilty, And wish I hadn’t killed them; And I’ll tell twenty more silly lies, Until men swear I’ve been out of school For over a year. I have a thousand tricks like these That I’ll practice on these boastful young men.
Why, shall we turn to men?
Why, shall we dress as men?
Fie, what a question’s that, If thou wert near a lewd interpreter! But come, I’ll tell thee all my whole device When I am in my coach, which stays for us At the park gate; and therefore haste away, For we must measure twenty miles to-day.
Ugh, what a question, If you were speaking to a foolish interpreter! But come, I’ll explain everything to you When we’re in my coach, which is waiting for us At the park gate; so hurry up, Because we have to travel twenty miles today.