Original
Modern English
What, John Rugby! I pray thee, go to the casement, and see if you can see my master, Master Doctor Caius, coming. If he do, i’ faith, and find any body in the house, here will be an old abusing of God’s patience and the king’s English.
What, John Rugby! Please, go to the window, and see if you can spot my master, Doctor Caius, coming. If he does, I swear, and finds anyone in the house, it’ll be a huge offense to God’s patience and the king’s English.
I’ll go watch.
I’ll go and check.
Go; and we’ll have a posset for’t soon at night, in faith, at the latter end of a sea-coal fire.
Go; and we’ll make a hot drink for you later, I swear, at the end of a coal fire.
An honest, willing, kind fellow, as ever servant shall come in house withal, and, I warrant you, no tell-tale nor no breed-bate: his worst fault is, that he is given to prayer; he is something peevish that way: but nobody but has his fault; but let that pass. Peter Simple, you say your name is?
An honest, willing, kind man, as ever a servant will be, and, I promise you, not a gossip or a troublemaker: his worst fault is, that he prays too much; he’s a little annoying that way: but no one’s perfect; let’s forget about that. Peter Simple, you said your name is?
Ay, for fault of a better.
Yes, because I couldn’t think of a better one.
And Master Slender’s your master?
And Master Slender is your boss?
Ay, forsooth.
Yes, indeed.
Does he not wear a great round beard, like a glover’s paring-knife?
Doesn’t he have a big round beard, like a glove-maker’s knife?
No, forsooth: he hath but a little wee face, with a little yellow beard, a Cain-coloured beard.
No, indeed: he only has a tiny face, with a small yellow beard, a reddish-brown beard.
A softly-sprighted man, is he not?
He’s not a soft, quick-moving man, is he?
Ay, forsooth: but he is as tall a man of his hands as any is between this and his head; he hath fought with a warrener.
Yes, indeed: but he is as strong a man as any you’ll find between here and his head; he’s fought with a rabbit-catcher.
How say you? O, I should remember him: does he not hold up his head, as it were, and strut in his gait?
What did you say? Oh, I should recognize him: doesn’t he hold his head high and walk with a swagger?
Yes, indeed, does he.
Yes, indeed, he does.
Well, heaven send Anne Page no worse fortune! Tell Master Parson Evans I will do what I can for your master: Anne is a good girl, and I wish--
Well, I hope Anne Page has better luck! Tell Master Parson Evans I will do what I can for your master: Anne is a good girl, and I wish--
Out, alas! here comes my master.
Oh no! here comes my master.
We shall all be shent. Run in here, good young man; go into this closet: he will not stay long.
We’re all going to be in trouble. Quick, go in here, young man; hide in this closet: he won’t be here long.
What, John Rugby! John! what, John, I say! Go, John, go inquire for my master; I doubt he be not well, that he comes not home.
What, John Rugby! John! what, John, I say! Go, John, go ask about my master; I’m worried he’s not feeling well, since he hasn’t come home.
And down, down, adown-a, & c.
And down, down, down-a, & c.
Vat is you sing? I do not like des toys. Pray you, go and vetch me in my closet un boitier vert, a box, a green-a box: do intend vat I speak? a green-a box.
What are you singing? I don’t like these toys. Please, go and fetch me in my room a green box, a box, a green box: do you understand what I’m saying? A green box.
Ay, forsooth; I’ll fetch it you.
Yes, indeed; I’ll fetch it for you.
I am glad he went not in himself: if he had found the young man, he would have been horn-mad.
I’m glad he didn’t go himself: if he had found the young man, he would have gone completely crazy.
Fe, fe, fe, fe! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Je m’en vais a la cour--la grande affaire.
Ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh! By my faith, it’s very hot. I am going to the court—the big event.
Is it this, sir?
Is this it, sir?
Oui; mette le au mon pocket: depeche, quickly. Vere is dat knave Rugby?
Yes; put it in my pocket: hurry, quickly. Where is that rascal Rugby?
What, John Rugby! John!
What, John Rugby! John!
Here, sir!
Here, sir!
You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby. Come, take-a your rapier, and come after my heel to the court.
You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby. Come, take your sword, and follow me to the court.
’Tis ready, sir, here in the porch.
It’s ready, sir, here in the porch.
By my trot, I tarry too long. Od’s me! Qu’ai-j’oublie! dere is some simples in my closet, dat I vill not for the varld I shall leave behind.
By my troth, I’m taking too long. Good heavens! What did I forget! There are some herbs in my room, that I definitely cannot leave behind for the world.
Ay me, he’ll find the young man here, and be mad!
Oh dear, he’ll find the young man here, and he’ll be mad!
O diable, diable! vat is in my closet? Villain! larron!
Oh devil, devil! What’s in my room? Villain! Thief!
Rugby, my rapier!
Rugby, my sword!
Good master, be content.
Please, master, calm down.
Wherefore shall I be content-a?
Why should I calm down?
The young man is an honest man.
The young man is a good man.
What shall de honest man do in my closet? dere is no honest man dat shall come in my closet.
What’s a good man doing in my room? There’s no good man who should be in my room.
I beseech you, be not so phlegmatic. Hear the truth of it: he came of an errand to me from Parson Hugh.
Please, don’t be so stubborn. Let me tell you the truth: he came on an errand from Parson Hugh.
Vell.
Well.
Ay, forsooth; to desire her to--
Yes, indeed; to ask her to--
Peace, I pray you.
Please, be quiet.
Peace-a your tongue. Speak-a your tale.
Quiet your mouth. Speak your story.
To desire this honest gentlewoman, your maid, to speak a good word to Mistress Anne Page for my master in the way of marriage.
To ask this good lady, your servant, to say something nice about Mistress Anne Page for my master, in the matter of marriage.
This is all, indeed, la! but I’ll ne’er put my finger in the fire, and need not.
That’s all, really! But I’ll never stick my hand in the fire if I don’t need to.
Sir Hugh send-a you? Rugby, baille me some paper. Tarry you a little-a while.
Did Sir Hugh send you? Rugby, bring me some paper. Wait a little while.
[Aside to SIMPLE] I am glad he is so quiet: if he had been thoroughly moved, you should have heard him so loud and so melancholy. But notwithstanding, man, I’ll do you your master what good I can: and the very yea and the no is, the French doctor, my master,--I may call him my master, look you, for I keep his house; and I wash, wring, brew, bake, scour, dress meat and drink, make the beds and do all myself,--
[Aside to SIMPLE] I’m glad he’s so calm: if he’d been really upset, you would’ve heard him shouting and sounding all gloomy. But anyway, man, I’ll do what I can for your master: the bottom line is, the French doctor, my master—I can call him my master, you see, because I run his household; I wash, wring out, brew, bake, scrub, prepare food and drinks, make the beds, and do everything myself—
[Aside to MISTRESS QUICKLY] ’Tis a great charge to come under one body’s hand.
[Aside to MISTRESS QUICKLY] It’s a big responsibility to handle everything for one person.
[Aside to SIMPLE] Are you avised o’ that? you shall find it a great charge: and to be up early and down late; but notwithstanding,--to tell you in your ear; I would have no words of it,--my master himself is in love with Mistress Anne Page: but notwithstanding that, I know Anne’s mind,--that’s neither here nor there.
[Aside to SIMPLE] Have you thought about that? You will find it a big responsibility: to be up early and stay up late; but anyway,--to tell you secretly,-- my master himself is in love with Mistress Anne Page: but even so, I know Anne’s feelings,--but that doesn’t matter.
You jack’nape, give-a this letter to Sir Hugh; by gar, it is a shallenge: I will cut his troat in dee park; and I will teach a scurvy jack-a-nape priest to meddle or make. You may be gone; it is not good you tarry here. By gar, I will cut all his two stones; by gar, he shall not have a stone to throw at his dog:
You idiot, give this letter to Sir Hugh; by God, it’s a challenge: I will slit his throat in the park; and I will teach that miserable priest a lesson for interfering. You can leave now; it’s not good for you to stay here. By God, I will cut off his two stones; by God, he won’t have a stone left to throw at his dog:
Alas, he speaks but for his friend.
Alas, he’s only speaking on behalf of his friend.
It is no matter-a ver dat: do not you tell-a me dat I shall have Anne Page for myself? By gar, I vill kill de Jack priest; and I have appointed mine host of de Jarteer to measure our weapon. By gar, I will myself have Anne Page.
It doesn’t matter that: don’t you tell me that I will have Anne Page for myself? By God, I will kill the priest; and I’ve arranged with my host at the Jarter to measure our weapons. By God, I will have Anne Page myself.
Sir, the maid loves you, and all shall be well. We must give folks leave to prate: what, the good-jer!
Sir, the girl loves you, and everything will be fine. We must let people talk: what, the good people!
Rugby, come to the court with me. By gar, if I have not Anne Page, I shall turn your head out of my door. Follow my heels, Rugby.
Rugby, come to the court with me. By God, if I don’t have Anne Page, I will throw you out of my house. Follow me, Rugby.
You shall have An fool’s-head of your own. No, I know Anne’s mind for that: never a woman in Windsor knows more of Anne’s mind than I do; nor can do more than I do with her, I thank heaven.
You will have a fool’s head of your own. No, I know Anne’s feelings on that: no woman in Windsor knows more about Anne’s feelings than I do; nor can do more with her, I thank heaven.
[Within] Who’s within there? ho!
[Within] Who’s in there? Hey!
Who’s there, I trow! Come near the house, I pray you.
Who’s there, I wonder! Come closer to the house, please.
How now, good woman? how dost thou?
Hello, good woman! How are you?
The better that it pleases your good worship to ask.
I’m doing well, thanks for asking, your worship.
What news? how does pretty Mistress Anne?
What’s the news? How is pretty Mistress Anne?
In truth, sir, and she is pretty, and honest, and gentle; and one that is your friend, I can tell you that by the way; I praise heaven for it.
Truly, sir, she is pretty, and honest, and kind; and someone who is your friend, I can tell you that for sure; I thank heaven for it.
Shall I do any good, thinkest thou? shall I not lose my suit?
Do you think I’ll have any luck, or will I lose my case?
Troth, sir, all is in his hands above: but notwithstanding, Master Fenton, I’ll be sworn on a book, she loves you. Have not your worship a wart above your eye?
Honestly, sir, it’s all in God’s hands: but still, Master Fenton, I swear on a Bible, she loves you. Don’t you have a wart above your eye?
Yes, marry, have I; what of that?
Yes, indeed, I do; what’s the matter with that?
Well, thereby hangs a tale: good faith, it is such another Nan; but, I detest, an honest maid as ever broke bread: we had an hour’s talk of that wart. I shall never laugh but in that maid’s company! But indeed she is given too much to allicholy and musing: but for you--well, go to.
Well, there’s a story behind it: truly, it’s just like another girl named Nan; but, I swear, she’s as honest as any maid who ever ate bread: we talked about that wart for an hour. I’ll never laugh except when I’m with that maid! But really, she spends too much time being melancholy and lost in thought: but for you—well, never mind.
Well, I shall see her to-day. Hold, there’s money for thee; let me have thy voice in my behalf: if thou seest her before me, commend me.
Well, I’ll see her today. Here, take this money for you; give me your support: if you see her before I do, tell her I send my regards.
Will I? i’faith, that we will; and I will tell your worship more of the wart the next time we have confidence; and of other wooers.
Will I? I swear I will; and I’ll tell you more about the wart the next time we have a private chat; and about other suitors.
Well, farewell; I am in great haste now.
Well, goodbye; I’m in a big hurry now.
Farewell to your worship.
Goodbye, sir.
Truly, an honest gentleman: but Anne loves him not; for I know Anne’s mind as well as another does. Out upon’t! what have I forgot?
Truly, he’s a good man: but Anne doesn’t love him; I know Anne’s feelings just as well as anyone else. Oh, well! What did I forget?