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Modern English
I see I cannot get thy father’s love; Therefore no more turn me to him, sweet Nan.
I see I can’t win your father’s love; So don’t ask me to go back to him, sweet Nan.
Alas, how then?
Oh no, what will we do then?
Why, thou must be thyself. He doth object I am too great of birth--, And that, my state being gall’d with my expense, I seek to heal it only by his wealth: Besides these, other bars he lays before me, My riots past, my wild societies; And tells me ’tis a thing impossible I should love thee but as a property.
Well, you must be true to yourself. He says I’m too highborn, And that, because I’m struggling with my spending, I’m trying to fix it by marrying into his wealth: On top of that, he brings up my past misdeeds, my wild ways; And he says it’s impossible That I could love you as anything other than property.
May be he tells you true.
Maybe he’s right about that.
No, heaven so speed me in my time to come! Albeit I will confess thy father’s wealth Was the first motive that I woo’d thee, Anne: Yet, wooing thee, I found thee of more value Than stamps in gold or sums in sealed bags; And ’tis the very riches of thyself That now I aim at.
No, may heaven help me in my future! Even though I’ll admit your father’s wealth Was the first reason I pursued you, Anne, Still, in courting you, I found you more valuable Than gold coins or bags of money; And it is the true wealth of who you are That I’m after now.
Gentle Master Fenton, Yet seek my father’s love; still seek it, sir: If opportunity and humblest suit Cannot attain it, why, then,--hark you hither!
Dear Master Fenton, Still try to win my father’s approval; keep trying, sir: If patience and a humble approach Can’t get it, well then,--listen here!
Break their talk, Mistress Quickly: my kinsman shall speak for himself.
Interrupt their conversation, Mistress Quickly: my cousin will speak for himself.
I’ll make a shaft or a bolt on’t: ’slid, ’tis but venturing.
I’ll try a trick or two: hell, it’s just a gamble.
Be not dismayed.
Don’t be afraid.
No, she shall not dismay me: I care not for that, but that I am afeard.
No, she won’t scare me: I don’t care about that, but I’m nervous.
Hark ye; Master Slender would speak a word with you.
Listen; Master Slender wants to speak with you.
I come to him.
I’m going to see him.
This is my father’s choice. O, what a world of vile ill-favor’d faults Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a-year!
This is my father’s choice. Oh, how many ugly, unpleasant flaws seem acceptable when someone has three hundred pounds a year!
And how does good Master Fenton? Pray you, a word with you.
And how is Master Fenton? Can I have a word with you?
She’s coming; to her, coz. O boy, thou hadst a father!
She’s coming; go to her, cousin. Oh boy, you had a father!
I had a father, Mistress Anne; my uncle can tell you good jests of him. Pray you, uncle, tell Mistress Anne the jest, how my father stole two geese out of a pen, good uncle.
I had a father, Mistress Anne; my uncle can tell you funny stories about him. Please, uncle, tell Mistress Anne the story about how my father stole two geese from a pen, good uncle.
Mistress Anne, my cousin loves you.
Mistress Anne, my cousin loves you.
Ay, that I do; as well as I love any woman in Gloucestershire.
Yes, I do; as much as I love any woman in Gloucestershire.
He will maintain you like a gentlewoman.
He’ll support you like a lady.
Ay, that I will, come cut and long-tail, under the degree of a squire.
Yes, I will, with a little effort and not quite as much as a knight.
He will make you a hundred and fifty pounds jointure.
He’ll give you a jointure of one hundred and fifty pounds.
Good Master Shallow, let him woo for himself.
Good Master Shallow, let him speak for himself.
Marry, I thank you for it; I thank you for that good comfort. She calls you, coz: I’ll leave you.
Well, thank you for that; I appreciate your support. She’s calling you, cousin: I’ll leave you.
Now, Master Slender,--
Now, Master Slender,--
Now, good Mistress Anne,--
Now, good Mistress Anne,--
What is your will?
What do you want?
My will! ’od’s heartlings, that’s a pretty jest indeed! I ne’er made my will yet, I thank heaven; I am not such a sickly creature, I give heaven praise.
My will! By God’s heart, that’s a funny joke indeed! I’ve never made my will yet, thank heaven; I am not such a sickly person, I give thanks to heaven.
I mean, Master Slender, what would you with me?
I mean, Master Slender, what do you want with me?
Truly, for mine own part, I would little or nothing with you. Your father and my uncle hath made motions: if it be my luck, so; if not, happy man be his dole! They can tell you how things go better than I can: you may ask your father; here he comes.
Honestly, as for me, I would want little or nothing from you. Your father and my uncle have made arrangements: if it’s my luck, so be it; if not, happy man be his fate! They can tell you how things are going better than I can: you may ask your father; here he comes.
Now, Master Slender: love him, daughter Anne. Why, how now! what does Master Fenton here? You wrong me, sir, thus still to haunt my house: I told you, sir, my daughter is disposed of.
Now, Master Slender: love her, daughter Anne. What’s this! What is Master Fenton doing here? You’re wrong, sir, to keep coming to my house: I told you, sir, my daughter is promised to someone.
Nay, Master Page, be not impatient.
No, Master Page, don’t be impatient.
Good Master Fenton, come not to my child.
Good Master Fenton, don’t come near my daughter.
She is no match for you.
She’s not a good match for you.
Sir, will you hear me?
Sir, will you listen to me?
No, good Master Fenton. Come, Master Shallow; come, son Slender, in. Knowing my mind, you wrong me, Master Fenton.
No, good Master Fenton. Come, Master Shallow; come, son Slender, inside. You’re wronging me, Master Fenton, knowing my mind.
Speak to Mistress Page.
Speak to Mistress Page.
Good Mistress Page, for that I love your daughter In such a righteous fashion as I do, Perforce, against all cheques, rebukes and manners, I must advance the colours of my love And not retire: let me have your good will.
Good Mistress Page, since I love your daughter In such a pure way as I do, I must, despite all obstacles, insults, and social rules, make my love known and not back down: please give me your blessing.
Good mother, do not marry me to yond fool.
Good mother, don’t marry me off to that fool.
I mean it not; I seek you a better husband.
I don’t mean that; I’m looking for a better husband for you.
That’s my master, master doctor.
That’s my master, the doctor.
Alas, I had rather be set quick i’ the earth And bowl’d to death with turnips!
Oh, I’d rather be buried alive in the ground And have turnips thrown at me until I die!
Come, trouble not yourself. Good Master Fenton, I will not be your friend nor enemy: My daughter will I question how she loves you, And as I find her, so am I affected. Till then farewell, sir: she must needs go in; Her father will be angry.
Come on, don’t upset yourself. Good Master Fenton, I won’t be your friend or your enemy: I’ll ask my daughter how she feels about you, And whatever she says, that’s how I’ll feel. Until then, goodbye, sir: she has to go inside; Her father will be angry.
Farewell, gentle mistress: farewell, Nan.
Goodbye, kind lady: goodbye, Nan.
This is my doing, now: ’Nay,’ said I, ’will you cast away your child on a fool, and a physician? Look on Master Fenton:’ this is my doing.
This is my work, now: I said, "No, will you throw your daughter away on a fool and a doctor? Look at Master Fenton:" this is my work.
I thank thee; and I pray thee, once to-night Give my sweet Nan this ring: there’s for thy pains.
Thank you; and please, tonight Give this ring to my sweet Nan: here’s something for your trouble.
Now heaven send thee good fortune!
May heaven give you good luck!
A kind heart he hath: a woman would run through fire and water for such a kind heart. But yet I would my master had Mistress Anne; or I would Master Slender had her; or, in sooth, I would Master Fenton had her; I will do what I can for them all three; for so I have promised, and I’ll be as good as my word; but speciously for Master Fenton. Well, I must of another errand to Sir John Falstaff from my two mistresses: what a beast am I to slack it!
He has a kind heart: a woman would go through fire and water for such a kind heart. But still I wish my master had Mistress Anne; or I wish Master Slender had her; or honestly, I wish Master Fenton had her; I’ll do what I can for all three of them, because I promised I would, and I’ll keep my word; but especially for Master Fenton. Well, I have another task to do for Sir John Falstaff from my two mistresses: what a fool am I to delay it!