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

by William Shakespeare

Sir Proteus, what says Silvia to my suit?

  Sir Proteus, what did Silvia say to my romantic pursuit?

  PROTEUS

  O, sir, I find her milder than she was;

  Oh, sir, I found her to be more gentle than she usually is;And yet she takes exceptions at your person.

  But still she dislikes your appearance.

  THURIO

  What, that my leg is too long?

  What, does she think my legs are too long?

  PROTEUS

  No; that it is too little.

  No; that they are too skinny.

  THURIO

  I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat rounder.

  I’ll wear boots, to make them seem bigger.

  JULIA

  [Aside] But love will not be spurr'd to what it loathes.

  [Aside] But love will not be encouraged to love what it hates.

  THURIO

  What says she to my face?

  What does she say about my face?

  PROTEUS

  She says it is a fair one.

  She says it is pale.

  THURIO

  Nay then, the wanton lies; my face is black.

  No then, the stubborn woman lies; my face is dark.

  PROTEUS

  But pearls are fair; and the old saying is,

  But pearls are pale; and the old saying says,Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes.

  Dark men are pearls in beautiful ladies’ eyes.

  JULIA

  [Aside] 'Tis true; such pearls as put out ladies' eyes;

  [Aside] It’s true; the kind of pearls that block out ladies’ eyes like cataracts;For I had rather wink than look on them.

  Because I would rather close my eyes than look at them.

  THURIO

  How likes she my discourse?

  How did she like my words?

  PROTEUS

  Ill, when you talk of war.

  Not well, when you’re talking about war.

  THURIO

  But well, when I discourse of love and peace?

  Well then, what about when I talk about love and peace?

  JULIA

  [Aside] But better, indeed, when you hold your peace.

  [Aside] The best, indeed, is when you are silent.

  THURIO

  What says she to my valour?

  What does she say about my honor?

  PROTEUS

  O, sir, she makes no doubt of that.

  Oh, sir, she doesn’t question that.

  JULIA

  [Aside] She needs not, when she knows it cowardice.

  [Aside] She doesn’t need to, since she knows it is fear.

  THURIO

  What says she to my birth?

  What does she say about my lineage?

  PROTEUS

  That you are well derived.

  That you have come from a good family.

  JULIA

  [Aside] True; from a gentleman to a fool.

  [Aside] It’s true; you went from a gentlemen to a fool.

  THURIO

  Considers she my possessions?

  Does she think about my belongings?

  PROTEUS

  O, ay; and pities them.

  Oh, yes; and feels sorry for them.

  THURIO

  Wherefore?

  Why?

  JULIA

  [Aside] That such an ass should owe them.

  [Aside] Because such an ass owns them.

  PROTEUS

  That they are out by lease.

  Because they are borrowed from others.

  JULIA

  Here comes the duke.

  Here comes the duke.

  Enter DUKE

  DUKE

  How now, Sir Proteus! how now, Thurio!

  How are you, Sir Proteus! How are you, Thurio!Which of you saw Sir Eglamour of late?

  Have either of you send Sir Eglamour lately?

  THURIO

  Not I.

  I haven’t.

  PROTEUS

  Nor I.

  Neither have I.

  DUKE

  Saw you my daughter?

  Have you seen my daughter?

  PROTEUS

  Neither.

  I haven’t seen her either.

  DUKE

  Why then,

  Well then, She's fled unto that peasant Valentine;

  She has run away to that scoundrel Valentine;And Eglamour is in her company.

  And Eglamour is with her.'Tis true; for Friar Laurence met them both,

  It’s true, because Friar Laurence saw them both,As he in penance wander'd through the forest;

  While he was wandering though the forest doing his ritual apologies.Him he knew well, and guess'd that it was she,

  He recognizes Eglamour, and guessed that it was Silvia,But, being mask'd, he was not sure of it;

  Though, since she had a mask on, he wasn’t sure;Besides, she did intend confession

  Besides, she was going to do her holy confessionAt Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not;

  In Friar Patrick’s room this evening; and she wasn’t there;These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence.

  These circumstances prove that she has run away from here.Therefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse,

  So, please, don’t waste time talking,But mount you presently and meet with me

  But get your horses immediately and meet meUpon the rising of the mountain-foot

  At the beginning of the hillsThat leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled:

  That lead towards Mantua, where they are headed:Dispatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me.

  Hurry up, good gentlemen, and follow me.

  Exit

  THURIO

  Why, this it is to be a peevish girl,

  Why, this is what it means to be a stubborn girl,That flies her fortune when it follows her.

  Who runs away from her good fortune when it pursues her, as I have for her hand in marriage.I'll after, more to be revenged on Eglamour

  I’ll follow, more so that I can take revenge on EglamourThan for the love of reckless Silvia.

  Than because I love the reckless Silvia.

  Exit

  PROTEUS

  And I will follow, more for Silvia's love

  And I will follow, more because I love SilviaThan hate of Eglamour that goes with her.

  Than because I hate Eglamour who is with her.

  Exit

  JULIA

  And I will follow, more to cross that love

  And I will follow, more so that I can prevent that loveThan hate for Silvia that is gone for love.

  Than because of hatred towards Silvia who has run away for love.

  Exit

  The forest.

  Enter Outlaws with SILVIA

  First Outlaw

  Come, come,

  Come on, come on,Be patient; we must bring you to our captain.

  Be patient; we must bring you to our leader.

  SILVIA

  A thousand more mischances than this one

  A thousand other misfortunes besides this oneHave learn'd me how to brook this patiently.

  Have taught me how to tolerate this patiently.

  Second Outlaw

  Come, bring her away.

  Come on, take her away.

  First Outlaw

  Where is the gentleman that was with her?

  Where is the gentleman that was with her?

  Third Outlaw

  Being nimble-footed, he hath outrun us,

  Since he was quick, he escaped us.But Moyses and Valerius follow him.

  But Moyses and Valerius are following him.Go thou with her to the west end of the wood;

  Take her with you to the west side of the forest;There is our captain: we'll follow him that's fled;

  Our leader is there: we’ll follow the man who ran away;The thicket is beset; he cannot 'scape.

  The forest is surrounded; he cannot escape.

&n
bsp; First Outlaw

  Come, I must bring you to our captain's cave:

  Come one, I must take you to your leader’s cave:Fear not; he bears an honourable mind,

  Don’t be afraid; he is an honorable character,And will not use a woman lawlessly.

  And will not handle a woman against the law.

  SILVIA

  O Valentine, this I endure for thee!

  Oh, Valentine, I suffer this for you!

  Exeunt

  Enter VALENTINE

  VALENTINE

  How use doth breed a habit in a man!

  How habits become routine for a man!This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods,

  This shadowy wilderness, secluded woods,I better brook than flourishing peopled towns:

  I am tolerating better than prosperous towns full of people:Here can I sit alone, unseen of any,

  Here I can sit alone, without anyone seeing me,And to the nightingale's complaining notes

  And to the sound of the nightingale’s sad songTune my distresses and record my woes.

  I can sing my misfortune and sound out my sadness.O thou that dost inhabit in my breast,

  Oh, Love, you who live in my heart,Leave not the mansion so long tenantless,

  Don’t leave that place uninhabited for so long,Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall

  In case the structure of my heart might fall as it decaysAnd leave no memory of what it was!

  And no one will remember it!Repair me with thy presence, Silvia;

  Revive me with your presence, Silvia;Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain!

  You gentle little goddess, cherish your abandoned lover!What halloing and what stir is this to-day?

  What’s this shouting and what’s this disruption right now?These are my mates, that make their wills their law,

  Those are my companions, who make their rules based on their own desires,Have some unhappy passenger in chase.

  And who are chasing some unlucky traveler.They love me well; yet I have much to do

  They love me well; but it takes a lot of workTo keep them from uncivil outrages.

  To keep them from committing barbarian like outrages.Withdraw thee, Valentine: who's this comes here?

  Step away, Valentine: who’s that coming here?

  Enter PROTEUS, SILVIA, and JULIA

  PROTEUS

  Madam, this service I have done for you,

  Madam, I have done this service for you,Though you respect not aught your servant doth,

  Although you don’t respect anything that I do for you,To hazard life and rescue you from him

  To rise my life and rescue you from the manThat would have forced your honour and your love;

  Who would have forced you to lose your honor and your virginity;Vouchsafe me, for my meed, but one fair look;

  Give me, as a reward, just one favorable glance;A smaller boon than this I cannot beg

  I cannot ask a smaller request than this,And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give.

  And, I’m sure, You couldn’t give anything less.

  VALENTINE

  [Aside] How like a dream is this I see and hear!

  [Aside] What I’m seeing and hearing is so much like a dream!Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile.

  Love, give me patience to control myself for a while.

  SILVIA

  O miserable, unhappy that I am!

  Oh I am miserable and unhappy!

  PROTEUS

  Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came;

  You were unhappy, madam, before I came;But by my coming I have made you happy.

  But I have made you happy by coming here.

  SILVIA

  By thy approach thou makest me most unhappy.

  Your romantic advances make me more unhappy than anything else.

  JULIA

  [Aside] And me, when he approacheth to your presence.

  [Aside] Me too, when the romantic advances are towards you.

  SILVIA

  Had I been seized by a hungry lion,

  I wish I had been grabbed by hungry lion,I would have been a breakfast to the beast,

  I wish I would have been breakfast for the beast,Rather than have false Proteus rescue me.

  Instead of having the faithless Proteus rescue me.O, Heaven be judge how I love Valentine,

  Oh, Heaven knows how I love Valentine,Whose life's as tender to me as my soul!

  Whose life is as previous to me as my own soul!And full as much, for more there cannot be,

  And just as much, for there cannot be more,I do detest false perjured Proteus.

  I hate the dishonest liar Proteus.Therefore be gone; solicit me no more.

  So go away; don’t pursue me any more.

  PROTEUS

  What dangerous action, stood it next to death,

  There’s no dangerous feat, even if it was close to death,Would I not undergo for one calm look!

  That I wouldn’t go through for just one serene look!O, 'tis the curse in love, and still approved,

  Oh, it’s the curse of love, and constantly proved,When women cannot love where they're beloved!

  That women cannot love the one who loves them.

  SILVIA

  When Proteus cannot love where he's beloved.

  And that Proteus cannot love the one who loves him.Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,

  Remember Julia’s love, your first and better love,For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith

  For whose dear sake you split your faithfulness apartInto a thousand oaths; and all those oaths

  Into a thousand promises; and all those promisesDescended into perjury, to love me.

  Became lives so that you could love me.Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou'dst two;

  You have no faithfulness left now, unless you had two;And that's far worse than none; better have none

  And that’s much worse than having none; it would be better to have no faithfulnessThan plural faith which is too much by one:

  Than to be able to be faithful to more than one woman:Thou counterfeit to thy true friend!

  You are a fake comrade to your true friend!

  PROTEUS

  In love

  When you’re in loveWho respects friend?

  Who think about their friends?

  SILVIA

  All men but Proteus.

  Every man except Proteus.

  PROTEUS

  Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words

  No, if the peaceful nature of emotional wordsCan no way change you to a milder form,

  Can’t change you at all to behave more gently,I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms' end,

  Then I’ll win you over like a soldier, at sword point,And love you 'gainst the nature of love,--force ye.

  And love you opposite to the way love is naturally—I’ll force you.

  SILVIA

  O heaven!

  Oh heaven!

  PROTEUS

  I'll force thee yield to my desire.

  I’ll force you to give in to my desire.

  VALENTINE

  Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch,

  Scoundrel, let go with that brutish, uncivilized hand,Thou friend of an ill fashion!

  You are an evil kind of friend!

  PROTEUS

  Valentine!

  Valentine!

  VALENTINE

  Thou common friend, that's without faith or love,

  You ordinary friend, who is without loyalty or love,For such is a friend now; treacherous man!

  Because that’s what a friend is now; you disloyal man!Thou hast beguiled my hopes; nought but mine eye

  You have cheated my hopes; nothing but my own eyesCould have persuaded me: now I dare not say

  Could have convinced me that it was you: but now I can’t say ifI have one friend alive; thou wouldst disprove me.

  I have even one friend alive; you would prove me wrong.Who should be trusted, when one's own right hand


  Who can be trusted, when one’s own best friendIs perjured to the bosom? Proteus,

  Is a liar to the core? ProteusI am sorry I must never trust thee more,

  I am sorry that I can never trust you again,But count the world a stranger for thy sake.

  But instead consider everyone a stranger because of you.The private wound is deepest: O time most accurst,

  The most personal injury is the most painful: Oh cursed time,'Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst!

  Out of all enemies, a friend is the worse one!

  PROTEUS

  My shame and guilt confounds me.

  I am overcome by my shame and guilt.Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty sorrow

  Forgive me, Valentine: if heartfelt remorseBe a sufficient ransom for offence,

  Is an adequate repayment for such a betray,I tender 't here; I do as truly suffer

  I am offering it to you now; I am suffering as honestlyAs e'er I did commit.

  As I ever did anything wrong.

  VALENTINE

  Then I am paid;

  Then I am repaid;And once again I do receive thee honest.

  And once again I consider you to be honest.Who by repentance is not satisfied

  Whoever is not satisfied by remorseIs nor of heaven nor earth, for these are pleased.

  Is not from heaven or earth, since men from these places can be please;By penitence the Eternal's wrath's appeased:

  God’s wrath is satisfied with atonement:And, that my love may appear plain and free,

  And, so that I can prove my friendship is given honestly and freely,All that was mine in Silvia I give thee.

  The hand that Silvia was going to give to me in marriage is now yours

  JULIA

  O me unhappy!