The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (428 page)

You in front of me again for any complaint whatsoever;
no, not for dwelling where you do: if I do, Pompey,

Not, not for living where you do: if I do, Pompey,
I shall beat you to your tent, and prove a shrewd

I shall beat you to your home, and prove to be a mean
Caesar to you; in plain dealing, Pompey, I shall

Caesar to your Pompey, as Caesar defeated Pompey the Great in battle; to put it plainly, Pompey, I will
have you whipt: so, for this time, Pompey, fare you well.

Have you whipped: so, for now, Pompey, fare you well.

POMPEY

I thank your worship for your good counsel:

I thank your honor for you good advice:

Aside

but I shall follow it as the flesh and fortune shall

but I will follow it as my body and opportinuty will
better determine.

Dictate.
Whip me? No, no; let carman whip his jade:

Whip me? No, no let a cart driver whip his nag:
The valiant heart is not whipt out of his trade.

The courageous heart is not whipped out of his occupation.

Exit

ESCALUS

Come hither to me, Master Elbow; come hither, Master

Come to me, Master Elbow; come here, Master
constable. How long have you been in this place of constable?

Constable.  How long have you been in this position of constable?

ELBOW

Seven year and a half, sir.

Seven and a half years, sir.

ESCALUS

I thought, by your readiness in the office, you had

I thought, by your eagerness in your work, that you had
continued in it some time. You say, seven years together?

Held the position for some time.  You say, seven years all together?

ELBOW

And a half, sir.

And a half, sir.

ESCALUS

Alas, it hath been great pains to you. They do you

Sadly, it’s been great trouble for you.  They do you
wrong to put you so oft upon 't: are there not men

Wrong to put you to work for so long: are there not men
in your ward sufficient to serve it?

In your district competent enough to work?

ELBOW

Faith, sir, few of any wit in such matters: as they

By heaven, sir, few with any intelligence of these matters: as they
are chosen, they are glad to choose me for them; I

Are chosen, they are glad for me to take their place; I
do it for some piece of money, and go through with

Do it in exchange for a bit of money, and go through with
all.

Everything.

ESCALUS

Look you bring me in the names of some six or seven,

Well, bring me the names of about six or seven others,
the most sufficient of your parish.

The most competent in your district.

ELBOW

To your worship's house, sir?

To your honor’s house, sir?

ESCALUS

To my house. Fare you well.

To my house. Farewell.

Exit ELBOW

What's o'clock, think you?

What time do you think it is?

JUSTICE

Eleven, sir.

Eleven, sir.

ESCALUS

I pray you home to dinner with me.

I invite you home for dinner with me.

JUSTICE

I humbly thank you.

Humbly, I thank you.

ESCALUS

It grieves me for the death of Claudio;

It pains me that we will execute Claudio;
But there's no remedy.

But there’s nothing to be done.

JUSTICE

Lord Angelo is severe.

Lord Angelo is harsh.

ESCALUS

It is but needful:

It’s still necessary:
Mercy is not itself, that oft looks so;

What looks like mercy isn’t always;
Pardon is still the nurse of second woe:

Since pardoning may actually encourage a second offence:
But yet,--poor Claudio! There is no remedy.

But still,--poor Claudio!  There is nothing to be done
Come, sir.

Come on, sir.

Exeunt

Enter Provost and a Servant

SERVANT

He's hearing of a cause; he will come straight

He’s listening to a case; he will come right out
I'll tell him of you.

I’ll tell him you’re here.

PROVOST

Pray you, do.

Please do.

Exit SERVANT

I'll know

I’ll know
His pleasure; may be he will relent. Alas,
His intention; perhaps he will change his mind.  Sadly,

He hath but as offended in a dream!

Claudio has only done wrong like he was in a dream!
All sects, all ages smack of this vice; and he

All types of people, of all ages have committed this offence; and he
To die for't!

Is to die for it!

Enter ANGELO

ANGELO

Now, what's the matter. Provost?

Now, what’s the wrong, Provost?

PROVOST

Is it your will Claudio shall die tomorrow?

Do you want Claudio to die tomorrow?

ANGELO

Did not I tell thee yea? hadst thou not order?

Didn’t I already tell you yes? Don’y you have the order?
Why dost thou ask again?

Why do you ask again?

PROVOST

Lest I might be too rash:

In case I might be too hasty:
Under your good correction, I have seen,

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I have seen
When, after execution, judgment hath

When, after an execution, a judge has
Repented o'er his doom.

Regretted the sentence he gave.

ANGELO

Go to; let that be mine:

Go on; let that be my worry:
Do you your office, or give up your place,
Do your job, or give it up,

And you shall well be spared.

And we will manage just as well without you.

PROVOST

I crave your honour's pardon.

I’m very sorry, your honor.
What shall be done, sir, with the groaning Juliet?

What shall be done with Juliet, sir? She is labor
She's very near her hour.

And very near to giving birth.

ANGELO

Dispose of her

Make arrangments for her
To some more fitter place, and that with speed.

To go to a more fit place for giving birth, and so quickly.

Re-enter SERVANT

SERVANT

Here is the sister of the man condemn'd

Here is the sister of the condemned man
Desires access to you.

She wishes to speak to you.

ANGELO

Hath he a sister?

He has a sister?

PROVOST

Ay, my good lord; a very virtuous maid,
Yes, my good lord; a very virtuous young lady,

And to be shortly of a sisterhood,

And about to become a nun
If not already.

If she isn’t one already.

ANGELO

Well, let her be admitted.

Well, let her come in.

Exit SERVANT

See you the fornicatress be removed:
See you have the pregnant woman moved:

Let have needful, but not lavish, means;

Let her have what she needs, but nothing fancy;
There shall be order for't.

There will be authorization for it.

Enter ISABELLA and LUCIO

PROVOST

God save your honour!

Be well, your honor!

ANGELO

Stay a little while.

Stay a little while.

To ISABELLA

You're welcome: what's your will?

Welcome: what can I do for you?

ISABELLA

I am a woeful suitor to your honour,

I wish I was not a petitioner to you, your honor,
Please but your honour hear me.

But please listen to what I have to say, your honor.

ANGELO

Well; what's your suit?

Well: what are you here for?

ISABELLA

There is a vice that most I do abhor,

There is an offence that I do hate,
And most desire should meet the blow of justice;

And very much wish that it should be punished;
For which I would not plead, but that I must;

For which I would not ask otherwise, except that I have to;
For which I must not plead, but that I am

For which I cannot ask, but that I am
At war 'twixt will and will not.

Torn between wanting to and not wanting to.

ANGELO

Well; the matter?

Well; what’s the reason?

ISABELLA

I have a brother is condemn'd to die:

My brother is condemned to die:
I do beseech you, let it be his fault,

I implore you, let the offence be condemned,
And not my brother.

Instead of my brother.

PROVOST

[Aside] Heaven give thee moving graces!

[Aside] God grant you persuasiveness!

ANGELO

Condemn the fault and not the actor of it?

Condemn the offence and not the offender?
Why, every fault's condemn'd ere it be done:

Why, every offence is already condemned by it’s nature:
Mine were the very cipher of a function,

My role as judge is meaningless,
To fine the faults whose fine stands in record,

I punish the offences whose punishments are set down in the law
And let go by the actor.

And let the offender go unpunished.

ISABELLA

O just but severe law!

Oh law, you are right but harsh!
I had a brother, then. Heaven keep your honour!

I will no longer have a brother, then. May Heaven keep you, your honor!

LUCIO

[Aside to ISABELLA] Give't not o'er so: to him