The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (530 page)

To the best bride-bed will we,

Titania and I will go to the bed of Hippolyta and Theseus

Which by us shall blessed be;

And bless it,

And the issue there create

And the children conceived there

Ever shall be fortunate.

Will always be fortunate and lucky.

So shall all the couples three

In fact, all three couples will be fortunate

Ever true in loving be;

And always faithful to each other.

And the blots of Nature's hand

The flaws that Nature sometimes produces

Shall not in their issue stand;

Will not exist in their children:

Never mole, hare lip, nor scar,

No moles, no cleft lips or scars,

Nor mark prodigious, such as are

No abnormal markings that are

Despised in nativity,

So ugly and hated at birth

Shall upon their children be.

Will ever appear on their children.

With this field-dew consecrate,

Take this dew from the fields,

Every fairy take his gait;

Each one of you,

And each several chamber bless,

And bless each room

Through this palace, with sweet peace;

Throughout the palace with peace.

And the owner of it blest

And the palace owner will be blessed

Ever shall in safety rest.

With safety.

Trip away; make no stay;

Go along and don’t take too long,

Meet me all by break of day.

And meet me again at dawn.

Exeunt OBERON, TITANIA, and train

PUCK

If we shadows have offended,

If we fairies have offended you,

Think but this, and all is mended,

Then it will help you to think

That you have but slumber'd here

That you have fallen asleep here

While these visions did appear.

When you saw these visions.

And this weak and idle theme,

Consider this weak story

No more yielding but a dream,

Only a dream,

Gentles, do not reprehend:

Gentlemen and ladies, and do not be upset with me.

if you pardon, we will mend:

Forgive us and we will fix everything,

And, as I am an honest Puck,

And, since I am an honest Puck,

If we have unearned luck

If we have the good fortune

Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,

Not to be hissed at,

We will make amends ere long;

We will make it up to you before long –

Else the Puck a liar call;

Or, you can call me a liar.

So, good night unto you all.

Goodnight to you all.

Give me your hands, if we be friends,

If you are friends, clap for me,

And Robin shall restore amends.

And I will make it all up to you.

DON PEDRO, Prince of Arragon.

DON JOHN, his bastard Brother.

CLAUDIO, a young Lord of Florence.

BENEDICK, a young Lord of Padua.

LEONATO, Governor of Messina.

ANTONIO, his Brother.

BALTHAZAR, Servant to Don Pedro.

BORACHIO, follower of Don John.

CONRADE, follower of Don John.

DOGBERRY, a Constable.

VERGES, a Headborough.

FRIAR FRANCIS.

A Sexton.

A Boy.

HERO, Daughter to Leonato

BEATRICE, Niece to Leonato

MARGARET, Waiting-gentlewoman attending on Hero.

URSULA, Waiting-gentlewoman attending on Hero.

Messengers, Watch, Attendants, &c.

SCENE. Messina.

Before LEONATO'S House.

[Enter LEONATO, HERO, BEATRICE and others, with a Messenger.]

LEONATO

I learn in this letter that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Messina.

This letter says that Don Pedro of Arragon is coming to Messina tonight.

MESSENGER

He is very near by this: he was not three leagues off when I left him.

He is very near this place: he was less than three leagues away when I left him.

LEONATO

How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?

How many noblemen have you lost in combat?

MESSENGER

But few of any sort, and none of name.

Only a few of any kind, and no famous ones.

LEONATO

A victory is twice itself when the achiever brings home full numbers. I find here that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine called Claudio.

A victory is twice as good when the person who achieves victory brings home all the soldiers. I read here that Don Pedro has given much honor to a young Florentine called Claudio.

MESSENGER

Much deserved on his part, and equally remembered by Don Pedro. He hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age, doing in the figure of a lamb the feats of a lion: he hath indeed better bettered expectation than you must expect of me to tell you how.

He deserves the honor, and this is well-remembered by Don Pedro. He has carried himself beyond what one would expect from someone his age, and though he seems like a lamb he has the accomplishments of a lion: he has indeed done a better job exceeding expectations than you can expect me to tell you how.

LEONATO

He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it.

He has an uncle here in Messina that will be very much glad of it.

MESSENGER

I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even so much that joy could not show itself modest enough without a badge of bitterness.

I have already delivered him letters, and he seems very pleased, so much so that he could not express it without what is usually a sign of sadness.

LEONATO

Did he break out into tears?

Did he burst into tears?

MESSENGER

In great measure.

A great deal.

LEONATO

A kind overflow of kindness. There are no faces truer than those that are so washed; how much better is it to weep at joy than to joy at weeping!

A kind overflowing of kindness. There are no faces more honest than ones washed with tears; it is much better to cry from joy than enjoy others’ crying!

BEATRICE

I pray you, is Signior Mountanto returned from the wars or no?

Please tell me, is Sir Mountanto returned from the wars or no?

MESSENGER

I know none of that name, lady: there was none such in the army of any sort.

I do not know anyone with that name, lady: there was no man of any kind named that in the army.

LEONATO

What is he that you ask for, niece?

Who is he you are asking after, my niece?

HERO

My cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua.

My cousin means Sir Benedick of Padua.

MESSENGER

O! he is returned, and as pleasant as ever he was.

Oh! He has returned, and he is as pleasant as he ever was.

BEATRICE

He set up his bills here in Messina and challenged Cupid at the flight; and my uncle's fool, reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged him at the bird-bolt. I pray you, how many hath he killed and eaten in these wars? But how many hath he killed? for, indeed, I promised to eat all of his killing.