The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (395 page)

That is the chain, sir, which you had of me.

ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE I think it be, sir; I deny it not.

I think it is, sir; I don’t deny it.

ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS And you, sir, for this chain arrested me.

And you, sir, arrested me for this chain.

ANGELO I think I did, sir; I deny it not.

I think I did, sir; I don’t deny it.

ADRIANA I sent you money, sir, to be your bail,By Dromio; but I think he brought it not.

I sent you money, sir, to be your bail,By Dromio; but I don’t think he ever brought it.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS No, none by me.

No, not by me

ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE This purse of ducats I received from you,And Dromio, my man, did bring them me.I see we still did meet each other's man,And I was ta'en for him, and he for me,And thereupon these errors are arose.

This purse of ducats I received from you,And Dromio, my servant, brought them to me.I see met each other’s servants,And I was taken for him, and he for me,And that’s how all these errors happened.

ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS These ducats pawn I for my father here.

These ducats I use to pay for my father here.

DUKE SOLINUS It shall not need; thy father hath his life.

There’s no need; I give your father his life.

Courtezan Sir, I must have that diamond from you.

Sir, I must have that diamond from you.

ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS There, take it; and much thanks for my good cheer.

There, take it; and much thanks for putting me in such a good mood.

AEMELIA Renowned duke, vouchsafe to take the pains
Renowned duke, if you would take the trouble

To go with us into the abbey hereAnd hear at large discoursed all our fortunes:And all that are assembled in this place,That by this sympathized one day's errorHave suffer'd wrong, go keep us company,And we shall make full satisfaction.Thirty-three years have I but gone in travailOf you, my sons; and till this present hourMy heavy burden ne'er delivered.The duke, my husband and my children both,And you the calendars of their nativity,Go to a gossips' feast and go with me;After so long grief, such festivity!

To go with us into the abbey hereAnd discuss at length our stories:And anyone else assembles here,Who in one day of confusion and errorHave suffered a wrong, come with us,And we shall make sure everything is settled.Thirty-three years have I been in laborWaiting to hear of you, my sons; and have only just now been delivered of my burden.The duke, my husband and my children both,And you the twins of the same birth date,Come let me christen you again in the abbey;After so much grief, we will celebrate!

DUKE SOLINUS With all my heart, I'll gossip at this feast.

With all my heart, I'll join this feast.

Exeunt all but Antipholus of Syracuse, Antipholus of Ephesus, Dromio of Syracuse and Dromio of Ephesus

DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Master, shall I fetch your stuff from shipboard?

Master, shall I fetch your stuff from the ship?

ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Dromio, what stuff of mine hast thou embark'd?

Dromio, what stuff of mine have you embarked?

DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Your goods that lay at host, sir, in the Centaur.

Your belongings that were at the Centaur, sir.

ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE He speaks to me. I am your master, Dromio:Come, go with us; we'll look to that anon:Embrace thy brother there; rejoice with him.

He means me. I am your master, Dromio:Come with us; we'll take care of that later:Embrace your brother there; rejoice with him.

Exeunt Antipholus of Syracuse and Antipholus of Ephesus

DROMIO OF SYRACUSE There is a fat friend at your master's house,That kitchen'd me for you to-day at dinner:She now shall be my sister, not my wife.

There is a fat friend at your master's house,That took me for you today at dinner:Looks like she’ll be my sister, not my wife.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS Methinks you are my glass, and not my brother:I see by you I am a sweet-faced youth.Will you walk in to see their gossiping?

I think you’re a mirror, and not my brother:I see by you I’m a good-looking guy.Will go with me to see their gossiping?

DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Not I, sir; you are my elder.

No, you first, sir; you are my elder.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS That's a question: how shall we try it?

Good question: how do we know who’s older?

DROMIO OF SYRACUSE We'll draw cuts for the senior: till then lead thou first.

We'll draw straws for who’s older: till then you go first.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS Nay, then, thus:We came into the world like brother and brother;And now let's go hand in hand, not one before another.

No, you know what, let’s do this:We came into the world like brother and brother;And now let's go hand in hand, not one before another.

Exeunt

FERDINAND, King of Navarre

BEROWNE, Lord attending on the King

LONGAVILLE, Lord attending on the King

DUMAINE, Lord attending on the King

BOYET, Lord attending on the Princess of France

MARCADE, Lord attending on the Princess of France

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO, a fantastical Spaniard

SIR NATHANIEL, a Curate

HOLOFERNES, a Schoolmaster

DULL, a Constable

COSTARD, a Clown

MOTH, Page to Armado

A FORESTER

THE PRINCESS OF FRANCE

ROSALINE, Lady attending on the Princess

MARIA, Lady attending on the Princess

KATHARINE, Lady attending on the Princess

JAQUENETTA, a country wench

Officers and Others, Attendants on the King and Princess.

Enter FERDINAND king of Navarre, BIRON, LONGAVILLE and DUMAIN

FERDINAND Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives,

Let fame, which everyone seeks in their lives,
Live register'd upon our brazen tombs

Live carved upon our brass tombs
And then grace us in the disgrace of death;

And then honor us in the dishonor of death;
When, spite of cormorant devouring Time,

When, in spite of ravenous devouring Time,
The endeavor of this present breath may buy

The hard work of our lives may buy
That honour which shall bate his scythe's keen edge

That honor which blunts death’s sharp blade
And make us heirs of all eternity.

And make us all live forever.
Therefore, brave conquerors,--for so you are,

And so, brave conquerors, --for that’s what you are,
That war against your own affections

That war against your own feelings
And the huge army of the world's desires,--

And the huge army that is the world’s desires
Our late edict shall strongly stand in force:

Our most recent law will strongly uphold:
Navarre shall be the wonder of the world;

Navarre will be the wonder of the world;
Our court shall be a little Academe,

Our court will be like an academy,
Still and contemplative in living art.

Constant and thoughtful in living art.
You three, Biron, Dumain, and Longaville,