The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)

by William Shakespeare

  The truth, I would rather have the foolishness of freedomas the morality of imprisonment. What's thy

  Instead of the morality of imprisonment. What is youroffence, Claudio?

  Offence, Claudio?

  CLAUDIO

  What but to speak of would offend again.

  If I speak it, it would be another offence.

  LUCIO

  What, is't murder?

  What, is it murder?

  CLAUDIO

  No.

  LUCIO

  Lechery?

  CLAUDIO

  Call it so.

  You could call it that.

  Provost

  Away, sir! you must go.

  Leave, sir! You must go.

  CLAUDIO

  One word, good friend. Lucio, a word with you.

  One word, good friend. Lucio, I want a word with you.

  LUCIO

  A hundred, if they'll do you any good.

  You can have a hundred if they’ll do you any good.Is lechery so look'd after?

  Is lechery such a punishable crime?

  CLAUDIO

  Thus stands it with me: upon a true contract

  As you see me now: in the presence of witnessesI got possession of Julietta's bed:

  I took to Julietta’s bed:You know the lady; she is fast my wife,

  You know her; she is wife bound by pre-contract,Save that we do the denunciation lack

  Missing only the formal declarationOf outward order: this we came not to,

  To the public: we didn’t make it to that,Only for propagation of a dower

  We were waiting for her dowryRemaining in the coffer of her friends,

  That remained in a strongbox with her relatives,From whom we thought it meet to hide our love

  From whom we thought it would be best to hide our loveTill time had made them for us. But it chances

  Until time had disposed them in our favor. But as our luck would have itThe stealth of our most mutual entertainment

  The stealth of our mutual loveWith character too gross is writ on Juliet.

  Was undeniably revealed on Juliet’s body.

  LUCIO

  With child, perhaps?

  You mean she’s with child?

  CLAUDIO

  Unhappily, even so.

  Unfortunately so.And the new deputy now for the duke—

  And the new deputy now that has taken place of the duke---Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness,

  Whether it’s a fault from being so new at thisOr whether that the body public be

  Or whether the public body isA horse whereon the governor doth ride,

  Merely a horse for him to ride,Who, newly in the seat, that it may know

  Who, since he is a new rider, in order toHe can command, lets it straight feel the spur;

  Discipline it and let it know who is in command, at once digs in his spur,Whether the tyranny be in his place,

  Whether the tyranny be inherent in the office, Or in his emmence that fills it up,

  Or in the eminence of him that fills it up,I stagger in:--but this new governor

  I stagger in:-- but this new governorAwakes me all the enrolled penalties

  Awakes all the old penaltiesWhich have, like unscour'd armour, hung by the wall

  Which have, like rusty armor, hung by the wallSo long that nineteen zodiacs have gone round

  For so long that nineteen years have gone byAnd none of them been worn; and, for a name,

  And none of them have been worn; and, for the sake of his reputation,Now puts the drowsy and neglected act

  Now puts all of the old punishmentsFreshly on me: 'tis surely for a name.

  Freshly on me: surely it is only for a reputation.

  LUCIO

  I warrant it is: and thy head stands so tickle on

  I bet it is: and your head stands so unstable onthy shoulders that a milkmaid, if she be in love,

  You shoulders that a milkmaid, if she is in love,may sigh it off. Send after the duke and appeal to

  could sigh it off. Send a message to the duke and appeal tohim.

  him.

  CLAUDIO

  I have done so, but he's not to be found.

  I’ve done that, but he can’t be found.I prithee, Lucio, do me this kind service:

  I ask you, Lucio, do this for me:This day my sister should the cloister enter

  Today my sister should enter the monasteryAnd there receive her approbation:

  To receive her approbation there:Acquaint her with the danger of my state:

  Tell her about the trouble I’m in:Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends

  Ask her, for me, to make friendsTo the strict deputy; bid herself assay him:

  With the strict deputy; ask her to attempt to sway him:I have great hope in that; for in her youth

  I have great hope in that: since she is so youngThere is a prone and speechless dialect,

  There is an eager and speechless language,Such as move men; beside, she hath prosperous art

  That moves men; besides that, she has a skill for gaining favorable resultsWhen she will play with reason and discourse,

  When she will use reason and rationality,And well she can persuade.

  And she can be very persuasive.

  LUCIO

  I pray she may; as well for the encouragement of the

  I hope she will; for your sake and for all others in the samelike, which else would stand under grievous

  Situation, which otherwise would suffer serious imposition, as for the enjoying of thy life, who I

  Accusation penalties, and would miss out on the enjoyments of lifewould be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a

  Which would be a shame to lose for something as sillygame of tick-tack. I'll to her.

  As a bed-romp. I’ll go tell her.

  CLAUDIO

  I thank you, good friend Lucio.

  LUCIO

  Within two hours.

  I’ll be back in two hours.

  CLAUDIO

  Come, officer, away!

  Come on, officer, let’s go!

  Exeunt

  Enter DUKE VINCENTIO and FRIAR THOMAS

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  No, holy father; throw away that thought;

  No, holy father, get that thought out of your mind;Believe not that the dribbling dart of love

  Don’t believe that Cupid’s arrowCan pierce a complete bosom. Why I desire thee

  Can pierce a perfect heart. The reason I want youTo give me secret harbour, hath a purpose

  To give me refuge here in secret, has a purpose behind itMore grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends

  More serious and mature that the goals and desires Of burning youth.

  Of burning youth.

  FRIAR THOMAS

  May your grace speak of it?

  Will you tell me what it is?

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  My holy sir, none better knows than you

  My holy sir, no one knows better than youHow I have ever loved the life removed

  How I have always loved a secluded lifeAnd held in idle price to haunt assemblies

  And have not thought there was very much worth in going to assembliesWhere youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps.

  Where young and foolish bravado is to be found.I have deliver'd to Lord Angelo,

  I have delivered to Lord Angelo,A man of stricture and firm abstinence,

  A very severe and self-restricting man,My absolute power and place here in Vienna,

  All of the power and station here in Vienna,And he supposes me travell'd to Poland;

  And he thinks that I am traveling to Poland;For so I have strew'd it in the common ear,

  Since that what I have been spreading to the common people,And so it is received. Now, pious sir,

  So that’s where they think I am. Now, pious sir,You will demand of me why I do this?

  You will ask of me why I’m going this?

  FRIAR THOMAS
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  Gladly, my lord.

  Gladly, my lord.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  We have strict statutes and most biting laws.

  We have strict rules and lawsThe needful bits and curbs to headstrong weeds,

  That are necessary for controlling headstrong miscreants,Which for this nineteen years we have let slip;

  Which we have let slide these last nineteen years;Even like an o'ergrown lion in a cave,

  Just like a lion grown fat and inactive in a cave,That goes not out to prey. Now, as fond fathers,

  That doesn’t go out to hunt. Now, as foolish fathers,Having bound up the threatening twigs of birch,

  Who bind up twigs for beating their childrenOnly to stick it in their children's sight

  Only to let them see it and threaten them withFor terror, not to use, in time the rod

  For terror, not to actually use it, in time will Becomes more mock'd than fear'd; so our decrees,

  Become more mocked than feared; that’s what has happenedDead to infliction, to themselves are dead;

  To our laws, not being enforced, have become redundant;And liberty plucks justice by the nose;

  And freedom contemptuously mocks the law;The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart

  The baby beats the nurse, and propriety and social orderGoes all decorum.

  Goes the wrong direction.

  FRIAR THOMAS

  It rested in your grace

  It was up to you, your grace,To unloose this tied-up justice when you pleased:

  To bring this justice down whenever you chose:And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd

  And by doing so, you would have seemed much more dreadfulThan in Lord Angelo.

  Than Lord Angelo.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  I do fear, too dreadful:

  I’m afraid that would have made me too dreadful:Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope,

  Since it was my fault that I let things run amuck,'Twould be my tyranny to strike and gall them

  I would seem a tyrant to punish and anger themFor what I bid them do: for we bid this be done,

  For what I myself let them get away with: we virtually order this to be done,When evil deeds have their permissive pass

  When evil deeds are allowed to passAnd not the punishment. Therefore indeed, my father,

  Without the punishment. And so, father,I have on Angelo imposed the office;

  I have imposed that duty onto Angelo;Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home,

  Who may, under cover of my name, strike home,And yet my nature never in the fight

  And yet my true nature will never have to be put in the fightTo do in slander. And to behold his sway,

  And put in disrepute. And so that I may behold his effect,I will, as 'twere a brother of your order,

  I will, disguised as a brother of your monastery,Visit both prince and people: therefore, I prithee,

  Visit both the governor and people: therefore, I as you,Supply me with the habit and instruct me

  Give me the garb of a priest and instruct meHow I may formally in person bear me

  How it is best to act in front of peopleLike a true friar. More reasons for this action

  As though I was a real friar. More reasons for this actionAt our more leisure shall I render you;

  I shall tell you when we have more time;Only, this one: Lord Angelo is precise;

  But I will tell you this: Lord Angelo is extremely strict;Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses

  He stands with a defensive posture with malice; Will scarcelyThat his blood flows, or that his appetite

  Confess that his blood flows, or that he has Is more to bread than stone: hence shall we see,

  And normal human appetites: so we shall see,If power change purpose, what our seemers be.

  If power changes purpose, what people really are.

  Exeunt

  Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA

  ISABELLA

  And have you nuns no farther privileges?

  Do you have any other rooms?

  FRANCISCA

  Are not these large enough?

  Are these not large enough?

  ISABELLA

  Yes, truly; I speak not as desiring more;

  They are; I don’t mean to speak as if it’s not enough;But rather wishing a more strict restraint

  But rather wanting a more strict restraintUpon the sisterhood, the votarists of Saint Clare.

  Upon the sisterhood, the ones who are bound by vows to St. Clare.

  LUCIO

  [Within] Ho! Peace be in this place!

  [Inside] Hello! Is anyone there!

  ISABELLA

  Who's that which calls?

  Who is that calling?

  FRANCISCA

  It is a man's voice. Gentle Isabella,

  It’s a man’s voice. Gentle Isabella,Turn you the key, and know his business of him;

  Turn the key and go see what he needs;You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn.

  You can, I am not allowed; you haven’t taken your vows yet,When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men

  When you have sworn, you cannot speak with menBut in the presence of the prioress:

  Except in the presence of the head of the nunnery:Then, if you speak, you must not show your face,

  Then, if you speak to a man, you can’t show your face,Or, if you show your face, you must not speak.

  Or, if you show your face, you cannot speak.He calls again; I pray you, answer him.

  He just shouted again; please answer him.

  Exit

  ISABELLA

  Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls

  Peace and good health to you! Who is it that is calling?

  Enter LUCIO

  LUCIO

  Hail, virgin, if you be, as those cheek-roses

  Hello, virgin, if you are one, as those rosy cheeksProclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me

  Proclaim that you must be! Can you help meAs bring me to the sight of Isabella,

  By bringing me to see a girl named Isabella,A novice of this place and the fair sister

  A student of this place and the lovely sisterTo her unhappy brother Claudio?

  To her unfortunate brother Claudio?

  ISABELLA

  Why 'her unhappy brother'? let me ask,

  Why ‘her unfortunate brother’? let me askThe rather for I now must make you know

  Sooner rather than later because, as I now will tell you,I am that Isabella and his sister.

  I am his sister Isabella who you are looking for.

  LUCIO

  Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you:

  Gentle and beautiful, your brother sends you kind greetings:Not to be weary with you, he's in prison.

  Not to distress you, but he’s in prison.

  ISABELLA

  Woe me! for what?

  Oh no! for what?

  LUCIO

  For that which, if myself might be his judge,

  The reason is one that if I were his judgeHe should receive his punishment in thanks:

  I would say his punishment should be gratitude: He hath got his friend with child.

  He has gotten his girl pregnant.

  ISABELLA

  Sir, make me not your story.

  Sir, don’t turn me into a joke.

  LUCIO

  It is true.

  It’s trueI would not--though 'tis my familiar sinI would not—though it’s often a misdeed a commit

  With maids to seem the lapwing and to jest,

  With young ladies so I seem like a clever man and to joke around,Tongue far from heart--play with all virgins so:

  Tongue in cheek—I wouldn’t do this to every maiden:I hold you as a thing ensky'd and sainted.

  I see you as someone exalted and saintly.By your renouncement an immortal spirit,

  Because of your choice to become a nun, you are like an immortal spiritAnd to be talk'd with in sincerity,<
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  And must be spoken to with sincereity,As with a saint.

  As one would speak to a saint.

  ISABELLA

  You do blaspheme the good in mocking me.

  You are speaking blasphemy in order to make fun of me.

  LUCIO

  Do not believe it. Fewness and truth, 'tis thus:

  Don’t think that. To be brief and truthful, it’s this:Your brother and his lover have embraced:

  Your brother and his lover embraced:As those that feed grow full, as blossoming time

  As those that grow food, at blossoming timeThat from the seedness the bare fallow brings

  From the seeds planted in the bare earth growTo teeming foison, even so her plenteous womb

  A bountiful harvest, like this her ample wombExpresseth his full tilth and husbandry.

  Shows his work in planting his seed.

  ISABELLA

  Some one with child by him? My cousin Juliet?

  Some one pregnant by him? My cousin Juliet?

  LUCIO

  Is she your cousin?

  Is she your cousin?

  ISABELLA

  Adoptedly; as school-maids change their names

  By adoption; as school girls may change their namesBy vain though apt affection.

  In silliness because of great fondness for each other.

  LUCIO

  She it is.

  It is her.

  ISABELLA

  O, let him marry her.

  Oh, he can marry her.

  LUCIO

  This is the point.

  That is the point.The duke is very strangely gone from hence;

  The duke is very strangely absent from here;Bore many gentlemen, myself being one,

  Misled many men, including myself,In hand and hope of action: but we do learn

  Waiting in hope for military action: but we did learnBy those that know the very nerves of state,