The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (399 page)

I will confess, I am in love: and as it is
base for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a

Lowly for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a
base wench. If drawing my sword against the humour

Lowly girl. If drawing my sword against this moodof affection would deliver me from the reprobate

Of affection would deliver from the immoral
thought of it, I would take Desire prisoner, and

Thought of it, I would make Desire my prisoner, and
ransom him to any French courtier for a new-devised

Ransom him to any French flatterer for some new
courtesy. I think scorn to sigh: methinks I should

Compliments. I despise sighing: I think I could
outswear Cupid. Comfort, me, boy: what great men

Outswear Cupid. Comfort me, boy: tell me what great men
have been in love?

Have been in love?

MOTH Hercules, master.

Hercules, master.

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Most sweet Hercules! More authority, dear boy, name

Yes, good Hercules! More powerful, dear boy, name
more; and, sweet my child, let them be men of good

More; and please, my child, make sure they are men with good
repute and carriage.

Reputations and behavior.
MOTH Samson, master: he was a man of good carriage, great

Samson, master: he was a man of good deeds, great
carriage, for he carried the town-gates on his back

Deeds, he carried the town gates on his back
like a porter: and he was in love.

Like a doorman: and he was in love

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO O well-knit Samson! strong-jointed Samson! I do

Oh, well-made Samson! Strong and mighty Samson! I would
excel thee in my rapier as much as thou didst me in

Beat you by sword as much as you would beat me in
carrying gates. I am in love too. Who was Samson's

Carrying gates. I am in love too. Who was Samson’s
love, my dear Moth?

Love, my dear Moth?
MOTH A woman, master.

A woman, master.

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Of what complexion?

What kind of character was she?
MOTH Of all the four, or the three, or the two, or one of the four.

She was all four, or three, or two, or one of the four.

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Tell me precisely of what complexion.

Tell me precisely what her character was like.
MOTH Of the sea-water green, sir.

Of sea-water green, sir.

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Is that one of the four complexions?

Is that one of the four characteristics of people?
MOTH As I have read, sir; and the best of them too.

That’s what I have read, sir; and the best of them too.

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO 

Green indeed is the colour of lovers; but to have a

Green is indeed the color of lovers; but to have a
love of that colour, methinks Samson had small reason

Love of with that kind of color, I don’t think Samson had much reason
for it. He surely affected her for her wit.

To love her for it. He surely was affectionate to her for her cleverness.
MOTH It was so, sir; for she had a green wit.

That’s right, sir; she had a green wit.

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO My love is most immaculate white and red.

My love is the most flawless white and red.
MOTH Most maculate thoughts, master, are masked under

Most unclean thoughts, master are masked and hidden
such colours.

By those colors.

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Define, define, well-educated infant.

Tell me what you mean by that, you well-educated infant.
MOTH My father's wit and my mother's tongue, assist me!

My father’s wit and my mother’s words help me!

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty and

The sweet supplication of a child; very pretty and

pathetical!

Pathetic!
MOTH If she be made of white and red,

If she is made of white and red,
Her faults will ne'er be known,

Her faults will never be known,
For blushing cheeks by faults are bred

For blushing cheeks are made by guilt,
And fears by pale white shown:

And fear shows by turning pale white:
Then if she fear, or be to blame,

So if she is afraid or guilty,
By this you shall not know,

You wouldn’t be able to tell,
For still her cheeks possess the same

Since her cheeks will appear the same
Which native she doth owe.

As her normal look.
A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of

A dangerous rhyme, master, that argues against
white and red.

White and red.

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the Beggar?

Isn’t there a ballad, boy, of the King and the Beggar?
MOTH The world was very guilty of such a ballad some

The world was very guilty for making a ballad like that
three ages since: but I think now 'tis not to be

About three ages ago: but I think now it can’t be
found; or, if it were, it would neither serve for

Found; or, if it were, it wouldn’t do for
the writing nor the tune.

The writing or the tune.

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO I will have that subject newly writ o'er, that I may

I will have that ballad written anew, so that I can
example my digression by some mighty precedent.

See my deviation in a forceful example from the past.

Boy, I do love that country girl that I took in the

Boy, I have fallen in love with that country girl that I arrested in the
park with the rational hind Costard: she deserves well.

Park with the lowly Costard: she deserves better.
MOTH [Aside] To be whipped; and yet a better love than

[Aside] Deserves to be whipped; and yet deserves a better love than
my master.

My master.

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO 

Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in love.

Sing, boy; my mood grows heavy with love.
MOTH And that's great marvel, loving a light wench.

And that’s a great wonder, since you love a light wench.

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO I say, sing.

I’m telling you to sing.
MOTH Forbear till this company be past.

Wait until after these people leave.
Enter DULL, COSTARD, and JAQUENETTA

DULL Sir, the duke's pleasure is, that you keep Costard

Sir, what the duke wants is for you to keep Costard
safe: and you must suffer him to take no delight

Safe: and you must make sure he has no enjoyment
nor no penance; but a' must fast three days a week.

Or any punishment; but he must fast for three days a week.
For this damsel, I must keep her at the park: she

For this damsel, I must keep her at the park: she
is allowed for the day-woman. Fare you well.

Has been accepted to be the day-woman. Goodbye.

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO I do betray myself with blushing. Maid!

I’m betraying myself by blushing. Maid!
JAQUENETTA Man?

Man?

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO I will visit thee at the lodge.

I will visit you at the lodge.
JAQUENETTA That's hereby.

That’s around here.

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO I know where it is situate.

I know where it is.
JAQUENETTA Lord, how wise you are!

Lord, you are so wise!

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO I will tell thee wonders.

I will tell you wonders.
JAQUENETTA With that face?

With that face?

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO I love thee.

I love you.
JAQUENETTA So I heard you say.

So I heard you say.

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO And so, farewell.

And so, farewell.
JAQUENETTA Fair weather after you!

May you have fair weather!

DULL Come, Jaquenetta, away!

Come, Jaquenetta, let’s go!
Exeunt DULL and JAQUENETTADON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences ere thou

Scoundrel, you will fast for your offences before you
be pardoned.

Will be pardoned.
COSTARD Well, sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a

Well, sir, I hope that when I do it, I will do it on a
full stomach.

Full stomach.

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO  Thou shalt be heavily punished.

You will be punished heavily.
COSTARD I am more bound to you than your fellows, for they

I am more bound to you than your men, since they
are but lightly rewarded.

Are only lightly rewarded.

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Take away this villain; shut him up.

Take this miscreant away; shut him up.
MOTH Come, you transgressing slave; away!

Come on, you misbehaving slave, let’s go!
COSTARD Let me not be pent up, sir: I will fast, being loose.

Please don’t lock me up, sir: I will fast even if I’m let loose.
MOTH No, sir; that were fast and loose: thou shalt to prison.

No, sir; that would be too easy: you’re going to prison.

COSTARD Well, if ever I do see the merry days of desolation

Well, if I ever see the happy days of misery and lonliness
that I have seen, some shall see.

That I have seen, they’ll see.
MOTH What shall some see?

What do you mean they’ll see? What will they see?
COSTARD Nay, nothing, Master Moth, but what they look upon.

Oh, nothing, Master Moth, except what they look at.
It is not for prisoners to be too silent in their

Prisoners can never be too silent in their
words; and therefore I will say nothing: I thank

Words; and so I will say nothing: I thank
God I have as little patience as another man; and

God that I have as little patience as another man; and
therefore I can be quiet.

So I can be quiet.
Exeunt MOTH and COSTARD

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO  I do affect the very ground, which is base, where

I do love the very ground, which is lowly, where
her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, which

Her shoe, which is even lower, guided by her foot, which
is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn, which

Is the lowest, has tread. I shall be breaking my oaths, which
is a great argument of falsehood, if I love. And

Is a great proof of being untrue, if I love her. And
how can that be true love which is falsely

How can a love be true that is falsely
attempted? Love is a familiar; Love is a devil:

Attempted? Love is a demon animal; Love is a devil:
there is no evil angel but Love. Yet was Samson so

There is no evil angel except Love. Yet even Samson
tempted, and he had an excellent strength; yet was

Was tempted, and he had enormous strength; and even
Solomon so seduced, and he had a very good wit.

Solomon was seduced, and he was very smart.

Cupid's butt-shaft is too hard for Hercules' club;

Cupid’s arrow is too hard even for Hercules’ club;
and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard's rapier.

And therefore much too strong for a Spaniard’s sword.
The first and second cause will not serve my turn;

The first and the second reason will do me no good;
the passado he respects not, the duello he regards

He doesn’t respect the cutting lunge, he doesn’t respect the one-on-one duel:
not: his disgrace is to be called boy; but his

He is disgraced to be called a boy; but his
glory is to subdue men. Adieu, valour! rust rapier!