The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (695 page)

With this refreshing, able once again

To out-dure danger. To delay it longer

Would make the world think, when it comes to hearing,

That I lay fatting like a swine, to fight,

And not a soldier: therefore this blest morning

Shall be the last; and that sword he refuses,

If it but hold, I kill him with. ’Tis justice.

So, love and fortune for me!

Enter Arcite with armors and swords.

O, good morrow.

It was about this time my cousin promised

to visit me again, and bring with him

Two swords and two good suits of armour. If he doesn't,

he's neither man nor a soldier. When he left me,

I didn't think a week would have been enough

to get my strength back, I had been laid so low

by all my needs. I thank you, Arcite,

you are still a fair enemy; and now that

I am refreshed I feel that I can

survive any danger. Any further delay

would make people think, when they heard about it,

that I was a pig who preferred feasting to fighting

and was not a soldier: so this blessed morning

shall be his last; and if that sword he offers

doesn't break, I shall kill him with it. That is justice.

So, love and good fortune for me!

Oh, good morning.

ARCITE

Good morrow, noble kinsman.

Good morning, noble kinsman.

PALAMON

I have put you

To too much pains, sir.

I have given you

too much trouble, sir.

ARCITE

That too much, fair cousin,

Is but a debt to honor, and my duty.

That trouble, fair cousin,

is just doing my honourable duty.

PALAMON

Would you were so in all, sir! I could wish ye

As kind a kinsman as you force me find

A beneficial foe, that my embraces

Might thank ye, not my blows.

I wish you were like this in everything, sir! I wish you

were as good a kinsman as you are a good

enemy to me, so I could thank you with my embraces,

not my blows.

ARCITE

I shall think either,

Well done, a noble recompense.

I would think that either,

if they are given well, would be a great reward.

PALAMON

Then I shall quit you.

Then I shall pay you.

ARCITE

Defy me in these fair terms, and you show

More than a mistress to me; no more anger,

As you love any thing that’s honorable.

We were not bred to talk, man. When we are arm’d

And both upon our guards, then let our fury,

Like meeting of two tides, fly strongly from us,

And then to whom the birthright of this beauty

Truly pertains (without obbraidings, scorns,

Despisings of our persons, and such poutings,

Fitter for girls and schoolboys) will be seen,

And quickly, yours or mine. Will’t please you arm, sir?

Or if you feel yourself not fitting yet

And furnish’d with your old strength, I’ll stay, cousin,

And ev’ry day discourse you into health,

As I am spar’d. Your person I am friends with,

And I could wish I had not said I lov’d her,

Though I had died; but loving such a lady

And justifying my love, I must not fly from’t.

Defy me in these fair terms, and you'll be like

more than a mistress to me; no more anger,

for the sake of honour.

We were not made for talking, man. When we are armed

and both on guard, then let our anger,

like two tides meeting, be unleashed,

and then we will see who truly deserves

to have this beauty, without criticism, scorn,

name-calling and other such pouting,

more fit for girls and schoolboys,

the winner will be decided quickly. Would you like to arm yourself, sir?

Or if you don't feel you're yet ready,

and have regained your strength, I'll wait, cousin,

and every day I will do everything I can

to bring you back to health. I am your friend,

and I wish I hadn't said I loved her,

even if it had killed me; but loving such a lady

and having to prove my love, I can't ignore it.

PALAMON

Arcite, thou art so brave an enemy

That no man but thy cousin’s fit to kill thee.

I am well and lusty, choose your arms.

Arcite, you are such a brave enemy

 that no one but your cousin is suitable to kill you.

I am well and strong, choose your weapons.

ARCITE

Choose you, sir.

You choose, sir.

PALAMON

Wilt thou exceed in all, or dost thou do it

To make me spare thee?

Are you going to be so fine in everything, or are you doing it

to get me to spare you?

ARCITE

If you think so, cousin,

You are deceived, for as I am a soldier,

I will not spare you.

If you think that, cousin,

you are deceived, for I am a soldier

and I will not spare you.

PALAMON

That’s well said.

That's well said.

ARCITE

You’ll find it.

You'll see the truth of it.

PALAMON

Then as I am an honest man, and love

With all the justice of affection,

I’ll pay thee soundly. This I’ll take.

Then as I am an honest man,

and am justified in my love,

I'll give you what you deserve. I'll take this.

ARCITE

That’s mine then.

I’ll arm you first.

This is mine then.

I'll put your armour on first.

PALAMON

Do. Pray thee tell me, cousin,

Where got’st thou this good armor?

Do. Please tell me, cousin,

where did you get this good armour?

ARCITE

’Tis the Duke’s,

And to say true, I stole it. Do I pinch you?

It's the Duke's,

and to tell the truth, I stole it. Is that too tight?

PALAMON

No.

No.

ARCITE

Is’t not too heavy?

It's not too heavy?

PALAMON

I have worn a lighter,

But I shall make it serve.

I've worn lighter,

but it will do.

ARCITE

I’ll buckle’t close.

I'll fix it up tight.

PALAMON

By any means.

By all means.

ARCITE

You care not for a grand-guard?

You don't want a chest protector?

PALAMON

No, no, we’ll use no horses. I perceive

You would fain be at that fight.

No, no, we won't use horses. I see

you would rather fight like that.

ARCITE

I am indifferent.

I'm not bothered.

PALAMON

Faith, so am I. Good cousin, thrust the buckle

Through far enough.

Neither am I, I swear. Good cousin, push the buckle

through far enough.

ARCITE

I warrant you.

I certainly shall.

PALAMON

My casque now.

And now my helmet.

ARCITE

Will you fight bare-arm’d?

Will you fight bare armed?

PALAMON

We shall be the nimbler.

That will make us nimbler.

ARCITE

But use your gauntlets though. Those are o’ th’ least;

Prithee take mine, good cousin.

But wear your gloves though. Those are the worst pair;

please take mine, good cousin.

PALAMON

Thank you, Arcite.

How do I look? Am I fall’n much away?

Thank you, Arcite.

How do I look? Have I lost too much weight?

ARCITE

Faith, very little. Love has us’d you kindly.

I swear, very little. Love has treated you well.

PALAMON

I’ll warrant thee, I’ll strike home.

I promise you, I shall thrust home.

ARCITE

Do, and spare not.

I’ll give you cause, sweet cousin.

Do, and don't spare me.

I'll do the same for you, sweet cousin.

PALAMON

Now to you, sir.

Methinks this armor’s very like that, Arcite,

Thou wor’st that day the three kings fell, but lighter.

Now for you, sir.

This armour seems very similar to me, Arcite,

to the one you wore the day the three kings fell, but lighter.

ARCITE

That was a very good one, and that day,

I well remember, you outdid me, cousin;

I never saw such valor. When you charg’d

Upon the left wing of the enemy,

I spurr’d hard to come up, and under me

I had a right good horse.

That was a very good suit, and that day,

I remember it well, you beat me, cousin;

I never saw such bravery. When you charged

the enemy's left wing,

I had to gallop hard to keep up, and I had

a very good horse under me.

PALAMON

You had indeed,

A bright bay, I remember.

You had indeed,

a glossy bay, I remember.

ARCITE

Yes, but all

Was vainly labor’d in me; you outwent me,

Nor could my wishes reach you. Yet a little

I did by imitation.

Yes, but all

my labours were in vain; you outstripped me,

and try as I might I couldn't get to you. But I did

some good things by copying you.

PALAMON

More by virtue.

You are modest, cousin.

More through your own virtue.

You are modest, cousin.

ARCITE

When I saw you charge first,

Methought I heard a dreadful clap of thunder

Break from the troop.

When I first saw you charge,

I thought I heard a terrible clap of thunder

come from the ranks of your opponents.