The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (674 page)

The DUKE's palace.

Enter THURIO, PROTEUS, and JULIA

THURIO

Sir Proteus, what says Silvia to my suit?

Sir Proteus, what did Silvia say to my romantic pursuit?

PROTEUS

O, sir, I find her milder than she was;

Oh, sir, I found her to be more gentle than she usually is;
And yet she takes exceptions at your person.

But still she dislikes your appearance.

THURIO

What, that my leg is too long?

What, does she think my legs are too long?

PROTEUS

No; that it is too little.

No; that they are too skinny.

THURIO

I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat rounder.

I’ll wear boots, to make them seem bigger.

JULIA

[Aside] But love will not be spurr'd to what
it loathes.

[Aside] But love will not be encouraged to love what it hates.

THURIO

What says she to my face?

What does she say about my face?

PROTEUS

She says it is a fair one.

She says it is pale.

THURIO

Nay then, the wanton lies; my face is black.

No then, the stubborn woman lies; my face is dark.

PROTEUS

But pearls are fair; and the old saying is,

But pearls are pale; and the old saying says,
Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes.

Dark men are pearls in beautiful ladies’ eyes.

JULIA

[Aside] 'Tis true; such pearls as put out
ladies' eyes;

[Aside] It’s true; the kind of pearls that block out ladies’ eyes like cataracts;
For I had rather wink than look on them.

Because I would rather close my eyes than look at them.

THURIO

How likes she my discourse?

How did she like my words?

PROTEUS

Ill, when you talk of war.

Not well, when you’re talking about war.

THURIO

But well, when I discourse of love and peace?

Well then, what about when I talk about love and peace?

JULIA

[Aside] But better, indeed, when you hold your peace.

[Aside] The best, indeed, is when you are silent.

THURIO

What says she to my valour?

What does she say about my honor?

PROTEUS

O, sir, she makes no doubt of that.

Oh, sir, she doesn’t question that.

JULIA

[Aside] She needs not, when she knows it cowardice.

[Aside] She doesn’t need to, since she knows it is fear.

THURIO

What says she to my birth?

What does she say about my lineage?

PROTEUS

That you are well derived.

That you have come from a good family.

JULIA

[Aside] True; from a gentleman to a fool.

[Aside] It’s true; you went from a gentlemen to a fool.

THURIO

Considers she my possessions?

Does she think about my belongings?

PROTEUS

O, ay; and pities them.

Oh, yes; and feels sorry for them.

THURIO

Wherefore?

Why?

JULIA

[Aside] That such an ass should owe them.

[Aside] Because such an ass owns them.

PROTEUS

That they are out by lease.

Because they are borrowed from others.

JULIA

Here comes the duke.

Here comes the duke.

Enter DUKE

DUKE

How now, Sir Proteus! how now, Thurio!

How are you, Sir Proteus! How are you, Thurio!
Which of you saw Sir Eglamour of late?

Have either of you send Sir Eglamour lately?

THURIO

Not I.

I haven’t.

PROTEUS

Nor I.

Neither have I.

DUKE

Saw you my daughter?

Have you seen my daughter?

PROTEUS

Neither.

I haven’t seen her either.

DUKE

Why then,

Well then,
She's fled unto that peasant Valentine;

She has run away to that scoundrel Valentine;
And Eglamour is in her company.

And Eglamour is with her.
'Tis true; for Friar Laurence met them both,

It’s true, because Friar Laurence saw them both,
As he in penance wander'd through the forest;

While he was wandering though the forest doing his ritual apologies.
Him he knew well, and guess'd that it was she,

He recognizes Eglamour, and guessed that it was Silvia,
But, being mask'd, he was not sure of it;

Though, since she had a mask on, he wasn’t sure;
Besides, she did intend confession

Besides, she was going to do her holy confession
At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not;

In Friar Patrick’s room this evening; and she wasn’t there;
These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence.

These circumstances prove that she has run away from here.
Therefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse,

So, please, don’t waste time talking,
But mount you presently and meet with me

But get your horses immediately and meet me
Upon the rising of the mountain-foot

At the beginning of the hills
That leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled:

That lead towards Mantua, where they are headed:
Dispatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me.

Hurry up, good gentlemen, and follow me.

Exit

THURIO

Why, this it is to be a peevish girl,

Why, this is what it means to be a stubborn girl,
That flies her fortune when it follows her.

Who runs away from her good fortune when it pursues her, as I have for her hand in marriage.
I'll after, more to be revenged on Eglamour

I’ll follow, more so that I can take revenge on Eglamour
Than for the love of reckless Silvia.

Than because I love the reckless Silvia.

Exit

PROTEUS

And I will follow, more for Silvia's love

And I will follow, more because I love Silvia
Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her.

Than because I hate Eglamour who is with her.

Exit

JULIA

And I will follow, more to cross that love

And I will follow, more so that I can prevent that love
Than hate for Silvia that is gone for love.

Than because of hatred towards Silvia who has run away for love.

Exit

The forest.

Enter Outlaws with SILVIA

First Outlaw

Come, come,

Come on, come on,
Be patient; we must bring you to our captain.

Be patient; we must bring you to our leader.

SILVIA

A thousand more mischances than this one

A thousand other misfortunes besides this one
Have learn'd me how to brook this patiently.

Have taught me how to tolerate this patiently.

Second Outlaw

Come, bring her away.

Come on, take her away.

First Outlaw

Where is the gentleman that was with her?

Where is the gentleman that was with her?

Third Outlaw

Being nimble-footed, he hath outrun us,

Since he was quick, he escaped us.
But Moyses and Valerius follow him.

But Moyses and Valerius are following him.
Go thou with her to the west end of the wood;

Take her with you to the west side of the forest;
There is our captain: we'll follow him that's fled;

Our leader is there: we’ll follow the man who ran away;
The thicket is beset; he cannot 'scape.

The forest is surrounded; he cannot escape.

First Outlaw

Come, I must bring you to our captain's cave:

Come one, I must take you to your leader’s cave:
Fear not; he bears an honourable mind,

Don’t be afraid; he is an honorable character,
And will not use a woman lawlessly.

And will not handle a woman against the law.

SILVIA

O Valentine, this I endure for thee!

Oh, Valentine, I suffer this for you!

Exeunt

Enter VALENTINE

VALENTINE

How use doth breed a habit in a man!

How habits become routine for a man!
This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods,

This shadowy wilderness, secluded woods,
I better brook than flourishing peopled towns:

I am tolerating better than prosperous towns full of people:
Here can I sit alone, unseen of any,

Here I can sit alone, without anyone seeing me,
And to the nightingale's complaining notes

And to the sound of the nightingale’s sad song
Tune my distresses and record my woes.

I can sing my misfortune and sound out my sadness.
O thou that dost inhabit in my breast,

Oh, Love, you who live in my heart,
Leave not the mansion so long tenantless,

Don’t leave that place uninhabited for so long,
Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall