The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (449 page)

And must be forgotten as only an intention
That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects;

That went by the wayside: thoughts are not people;
Intents but merely thoughts.

Intentions are only thoughts.

MARIANA

Merely, my lord.

Only, my lord.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say.

Your case won’t work; stand up, I say.
I have bethought me of another fault.

I have thought of another crime.
Provost, how came it Claudio was beheaded

Provost, why was Claudio beheaded
At an unusual hour?

At an unusual hour?

PROVOST

It was commanded so.

I was ordered to be like that.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Had you a special warrant for the deed?

Did you have a special warrant to do that?

PROVOST

No, my good lord; it was by private message.

No, my good lord; it was by private message.

DUKE VINCENTIO

For which I do discharge you of your office:

For that you are fired from your position:
Give up your keys.

Give me your keys.

PROVOST

Pardon me, noble lord:

Excuse me, noble lord:
I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;

I thought it was wrong, but I didn’t know;
Yet did repent me, after more advice;

But I did regret it, after more consideration;
For testimony whereof, one in the prison,

To testify to this there is someone in the prison,
That should by private order else have died,

Who should have also died by private order,
I have reserved alive.

That I have kept alive.

DUKE VINCENTIO

What's he?

Who’s he?

PROVOST

His name is Barnardine.

His name is Barnardine.

DUKE VINCENTIO

I would thou hadst done so by Claudio.

I wish you had done that for Claudio.
Go fetch him hither; let me look upon him.

Go bring him here; let me look at him.

Exit PROVOST

ESCALUS

I am sorry, one so learned and so wise

I am sorry that someone so educated and so wise
As you, Lord Angelo, have still appear'd,

As you, Lord Angelo, has still managed
Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood.

To slip up so badly, both from the heat of sexual desire,
And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

And from the lack of careful thought afterward.

ANGELO

I am sorry that such sorrow I procure:

I am sorry that I have created such sorrow:
And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart

And so it runs deep in my remorseful heart
That I crave death more willingly than mercy;

That I would go to death more willingly than receive mercy;
'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

It’s what I deserve, and I ask for it.

Re-enter PROVOST, with BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO muffled, and JULIET

DUKE VINCENTIO

Which is that Barnardine?

Which of you is Barnardine?

PROVOST

This, my lord.

This one, my lord.

DUKE VINCENTIO

There was a friar told me of this man.

There was a friar who told me about this man.
Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul.

Man, you are said to have a stubborn soul.
That apprehends no further than this world,

That doesn’t understand anything past his world,
And squarest thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd:

And that you live your life accordingly. You are comdemned:
But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all;

But, for these mortal crimes, I forgive you;
And pray thee take this mercy to provide

And please take this mercy to provide for yourself
For better times to come. Friar, advise him;

In better times to come. Friar, give him guidance;
I leave him to your hand. What muffled fellow's that?

I leave him in your hands. Who’s that concealed fellow?

PROVOST

This is another prisoner that I saved.

This is another prisoner that I saved.
Who should have died when Claudio lost his head;

Who was supposed to have died when Claudio lost his head;
As like almost to Claudio as himself.

As similar to Claudio as himself.

Unmuffles CLAUDIO

DUKE VINCENTIO

[To ISABELLA] If he be like your brother, for his sake

[To ISABELLA] If he is like your brother, for Claudio’s sake
Is he pardon'd; and, for your lovely sake,

His crimes are forgiven; and, for you lovely sake,
Give me your hand and say you will be mine.

Give me your hand in marriage and say you will be my wife.
He is my brother too: but fitter time for that.

He is my brother too: but there’s a better time for that.
By this Lord Angelo perceives he's safe;

From all this Lord Angelo think he’s safe;
Methinks I see a quickening in his eye.

I think I see a new light in his eyes.
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:

Well Angelo, your evil has left you well:
Look that you love your wife; her worth worth yours.

Make sure that you love your wife; she is worth as much as you.
I find an apt remission in myself;

I find myself ready to forgive;
And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon.

And yet there’s someone here I cannot forgive.

To LUCIO

You, sirrah, that knew me for a fool, a coward,

You, man, that thought I was a fool, a coward,
One all of luxury, an ass, a madman;

A lustful man, an ass, and a madman;
Wherein have I so deserved of you,

What have I done to you that deserved
That you extol me thus?

For you to speak of me this way?

LUCIO

'Faith, my lord. I spoke it but according to the

By heaven, my lord. I spoke that way as a
trick. If you will hang me for it, you may; but I

Prank. If you want to hang me for it, you may; but I
had rather it would please you I might be whipt.

Would rather if you would like me to be whipped.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Whipt first, sir, and hanged after.

Whipped, first, sir, and executed after.
Proclaim it, provost, round about the city.

Declare it, provost, all over the city.
Is any woman wrong'd by this lewd fellow,

If there is any woman who has been wronged by this lustful fellow,
As I have heard him swear himself there's one

As I have heard him say himself that there was one
Whom he begot with child, let her appear,

Whom he got pregnant, let her come forward,
And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd,

And he will marry her: the marriage ceremony complete,
Let him be whipt and hang'd.

He will be whipped and executed.

LUCIO

I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore.

I beg your highness, do not make me marry a whore.
Your highness said even now, I made you a duke:

Your highness said it just now, I made you a duke:
good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold.

My good lord, do not pay me back by making me husband to an unfaithful life.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her.

On my honor, you will marry her.
Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal

Your slander I will forgive; and along with them
Remit thy other forfeits. Take him to prison;

I forgive your other crimes. Take him to prison;
And see our pleasure herein executed.

And see that our wishes are carried out.

LUCIO

Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death,

Marrying a whore, my lord, is the same as death,
whipping, and hanging.

Whipping, and hanging.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Slandering a prince deserves it.

Slandering a duke deserves such a punishment.

Exit Officers with LUCIO

She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.

Claudio, the woman that you wronged, make sure you marry her.
Joy to you, Mariana! Love her, Angelo:

Joy to you, Mariana! Love her, Angelo:
I have confess'd her and I know her virtue.

I have received her confession and know her virtue.
Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness:

Thanks, my good friend Escalus, for your great honor:
There's more behind that is more gratulate.

There’s more to come that is more expressive of my thanks.
Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy:

Thanks, provost, for your care and secrecy:
We shill employ thee in a worthier place.

I will give you a position in a better place.
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home

Forgive the man, Angelo, that brought to your house
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's:

The head of Ragozine instead of Claudio’s:
The offence pardons itself. Dear Isabel,

The offence forgives itself. Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good;

I have a proposal that would greatly benefit you;
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,

Which, if you’ll listen willingly,
What's mine is yours and what is yours is mine.

Would make what’s mine yours, and what’s yours mine.
So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show

So, accompany me to my palace; where I’ll show you
What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.

What’s still to come, that’s appropriate for all of you to know.

Exeunt