Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Measure for Measure In Plain and Simple English (A Modern Translation and the Original Version)
    Measure for Measure In Plain and Simple English (A Modern Translation and the Original Version)
    Measure for Measure In Plain and Simple English (A Modern Translation and the Original Version)
    Ebook515 pages7 hours

    Measure for Measure In Plain and Simple English (A Modern Translation and the Original Version)

    By BookCaps

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Mercy, justice and truth and their relationship to pride and humility--sound like the themes of a John Grisham novel? Not exactly. But wouldn't it be nice if Shakespeare could be as easy to read as a Grisham novel? Now it can with this modern retelling.

    If you have struggled in the past reading Shakespeare, then BookCaps can help you out. This book is a modern translation of Measure for Measure.

    The original text is also presented in the book, along with a comparable version of both text.

    We all need refreshers every now and then. Whether you are a student trying to cram for that big final, or someone just trying to understand a book more, BookCaps can help. We are a small, but growing company, and are adding titles every month.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBookCaps
    Release dateMar 15, 2012
    ISBN9781476259444
    Measure for Measure In Plain and Simple English (A Modern Translation and the Original Version)
    Author

    BookCaps

    We all need refreshers every now and then. Whether you are a student trying to cram for that big final, or someone just trying to understand a book more, BookCaps can help. We are a small, but growing company, and are adding titles every month.Visit www.bookcaps.com to see more of our books, or contact us with any questions.

    Read more from Book Caps

    Related authors

    Related to Measure for Measure In Plain and Simple English (A Modern Translation and the Original Version)

    Titles in the series (71)

    View More
    View More

    Related ebooks

    Study Guides For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    Related categories

    Reviews for Measure for Measure In Plain and Simple English (A Modern Translation and the Original Version)

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Measure for Measure In Plain and Simple English (A Modern Translation and the Original Version) - BookCaps

      About This Series

      The Classic Retold series started as a way of telling classics for the modern reader—being careful to preserve the themes and integrity of the original. Whether you want to understand Shakespeare a little more or are trying to get a better grasp of the Greek classics, there is a book waiting for you!

      The series is expanding every month. Visit BookCaps.com to see all the books in the series, and while you are there join the Facebook page, so you are first to know when a new book comes out.

      Characters

      VICENTIO, Duke of Vienna

      ANGELO, Lord Deputy in the Duke's absence

      ESCALUS, an ancient Lord, joined with Angelo in the deputation

      CLAUDIO, a young Gentleman

      LUCIO, a Fantastic. Two other like Gentlemen

      VARRIUS, a Gentleman, Servant to the Duke

      PROVOST.

      THOMAS, friar

      PETER, friar

      A JUSTICE. ELBOW, a simple Constable

      FROTH, a foolish Gentleman

      CLOWN, Servant to Mistress Overdone

      ABHORSON, an Executioner

      BARNARDINE, a dissolute Prisoner.

      ISABELLA, Sister to Claudio

      MARIANA, betrothed to Angelo

      JULIET, beloved by Claudio

      FRANCISCA, a nun

      MISTRESS OVERDONE, a Bawd.

      Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, Officers, and other Attendants.

      Comparative Version

      SCENE I. An apartment in the DUKE'S palace.

      Enter DUKE VINCENTIO, ESCALUS, Lords and Attendants

      DUKE VINCENTIO

      Escalus.

      ESCALUS

      My lord.

      DUKE VINCENTIO

      Of government the properties to unfold,

      To explain the qualities needed in governing well,

      Would seem in me to affect speech and discourse;

      Would make me seem enamored with the sound of my own voice;

      Since I am put to know that your own science

      Since I am obliged to admit that your own knowledge

      Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice

      Of this exceeds the limits of all advice

      My strength can give you: then no more remains,

      That my strength can give you: then no more remains,

      But that to your sufficiency as your Worth is able,

      But that you put your adequacy and worth,

      And let them work. The nature of our people,

      To work. The nature of our people,

      Our city's institutions, and the terms

      Our city’s institutions, and the methods of the courts procedures

      For common justice, you're as pregnant in

      For common justice, you’re as full of

      As art and practise hath enriched any

      Art and practice as anyone

      That we remember. There is our commission,

      That we can remember. Here is our commission,

      From which we would not have you warp. Call hither,

      Which we don’t want you to alter. Call forth

      I say, bid come before us Angelo.

      I say, and call Angelo here.

      Exit an Attendant

      What figure of us think you he will bear?

      What you think he will think of us?

      For you must know, we have with special soul

      For you must know, we have with all the power of our hearts and minds

      Elected him our absence to supply,

      Chosen him to supply our absence,

      Lent him our terror, dress'd him with our love,

      Lent him our terror, dressed him with our love,

      And given his deputation all the organs

      And given him as deputy all the instruments

      Of our own power: what think you of it?

      Of our own power: what do you think of it?

      ESCALUS

      If any in Vienna be of worth

      If any in Vienna are worthy

      To undergo such ample grace and honour,

      To bear the weight of such ample grace and honor,

      It is Lord Angelo.

      It is Lord Angelo.

      DUKE VINCENTIO

      Look where he comes.

      Here he comes.

      Enter ANGELO

      ANGELO

      Always obedient to your grace's will,

      Always obedient to your will,

      I come to know your pleasure.

      I come here to know what you need from me.

      DUKE VINCENTIO

      Angelo,

      There is a kind of character in thy life,

      There is a kind of written sign in your life,

      That to the observer doth thy history

      That tells the observer your history

      Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongings

      Completely. Yourself and your attributes

      Are not thine own so proper as to waste

      Are not your own so exclusively as to waste

      Thyself upon thy virtues, they on thee.

      Yourself on your virtues, they on you.

      Heaven doth with us as we with torches do,

      Heaven does with us as we do with torches,

      Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues

      Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues

      Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike

      Did not go before us, it would be

      As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd

      As if we didn’t have them. Spirits are not finely endowed

      But to fine issues, nor Nature never lends

      Except for fine purposes, nor does Nature ever lend

      The smallest scruple of her excellence

      The smallest scruple of her excellence

      But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines

      Except when she, like a thrifty goddess, she assumes

      Herself the glory of a creditor,

      For herself the privileges of a creditor,

      Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech

      Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech

      To one that can my part in him advertise;

      To one that already knows more than I know;

      Hold therefore, Angelo:--

      Hold therefore, Angelo:--

      In our remove be thou at full ourself;

      In our absence be in every respect myself;

      Mortality and mercy in Vienna

      Mortality and mercy in Vienna

      Live in thy tongue and heart: old Escalus,

      Live in your tongue and heart: old Escalus,

      Though first in question, is thy secondary.

      Thought senior and first appointed, is your right hand.

      Take thy commission.

      Take your commission.

      ANGELO

      Now, good my lord,

      Now, my good lord,

      Let there be some more test made of my metal,

      There should be some more test of my temper and quality,

      Before so noble and so great a figure

      Before such a noble and great figure

      Be stamp'd upon it.

      Is stamped upon it.

      DUKE VINCENTIO

      No more evasion:

      No more evasion:

      We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice

      We have with a carefully considered and prepared choice

      Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.

      Proceeded to you; therefore take your honors.

      Our haste from hence is of so quick condition

      The cause for my hasty departure is so urgent

      That it prefers itself and leaves unquestion'd

      That it takes precedence over all other matters, and leaves unconsidered

      Matters of needful value. We shall write to you,

      Matters of needful value. We shall write to you,

      As time and our concernings shall importune,

      As much as time and our business allows,

      How it goes with us, and do look to know

      And let you know how it goes with us, and will want to know

      What doth befall you here. So, fare you well;

      What happens to you here. So, may you fare well;

      To the hopeful execution do I leave you

      I leave you to the hopeful execution

      Of your commissions.

      Of your commissions.

      ANGELO

      Yet give leave, my lord,

      But give me permission, my lord,

      That we may bring you something on the way.

      So that we can bring you something on the way.

      DUKE VINCENTIO

      My haste may not admit it;

      I may be in too much of a hurry for that;

      Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do

      Nor do you, I promise, have to do

      With any scruple; your scope is as mine own

      With any scruple; you have my same powers

      So to enforce or qualify the laws

      To enforce or qualify the laws

      As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand:

      As you yourself deem right.

      I'll privily away. I love the people,

      I’ll leave secretly. I love the people,

      But do not like to stage me to their eyes:

      But I do not like to make a show of myself to them:

      Through it do well, I do not relish well

      Through it do well, I don’t exactly relish

      Their loud applause and Aves vehement;

      Their loud applause and hails of acclamation;

      Nor do I think the man of safe discretion

      Nor do I think that a man of safe discretion

      That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.

      Would want it. Once again, goodbye.

      ANGELO

      The heavens give safety to your purposes!

      May the heavens see you safely to your purposes!

      ESCALUS

      Lead forth and bring you back in happiness!

      Lead ahead, and bring back happiness!

      DUKE

      I thank you. Fare you well.

      I thank you. Goodbye.

      Exit

      ESCALUS

      I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave

      I will want you, sir, to give me permission

      To have free speech with you; and it concerns me

      To speak freely to you; it concerns me

      To look into the bottom of my place:

      To look into the extent of my commission and authority:

      A power I have, but of what strength and nature

      A power that I possess, but how strong and for what purpose

      I am not yet instructed.

      I am not yet instructed.

      ANGELO

      'Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together,

      Same with me. Let us withdraw together,

      And we may soon our satisfaction have

      And we may soon have the satisfaction

      Touching that point.

      Of talking about it.

      ESCALUS

      I'll wait upon your honour.

      I’ll go with you.

      Exeunt

      SCENE II. A Street.

      Enter LUCIO and two Gentlemen

      LUCIO

      If the duke with the other dukes come not to

      If the duke does not come with the other dukes don’t come to

      composition with the King of Hungary, why then all

      An agreement with the King of Hungary, well then all

      the dukes fall upon the king.

      The dukes will attack the king.

      FIRST GENTLEMAN

      Heaven grant us its peace, but not the King of

      May heaven grant us peace, but not the King of

      Hungary's!

      Hungary’s!

      SECOND GENTLEMAN

      Amen.

      Amen.

      LUCIO

      Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that

      You talk like the self-righteous pirate, that

      went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped

      Went out to sea with ther Ten Commandments, but scraped

      one out of the table.

      One of them out of the tablet.

      SECOND GENTLEMAN

      'Thou shalt not steal'?

      Was it Thou shalt not steal?

      LUCIO

      Ay, that he razed.

      Yes, that’s the one he did away with.

      FIRST GENTLEMAN

      Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and

      Well, it was a commandment that was commanding the captain and

      all the rest from their functions: they put forth

      All of his crew from performing their functions: they set out

      to steal. There's not a soldier of us all, that, in

      To steal. There’s not a soldier out of all of us soldiers, that, while

      the thanksgiving before meat, do relish the petition

      Blessing the food before we eat, love for people

      well that prays for peace.

      To pray for peace.

      SECOND GENTLEMAN

      I never heard any soldier dislike it.

      I’ve never actually heard a soldier say they didn’t like that.

      LUCIO

      I believe thee; for I think thou never wast where

      I believe you; since I don’t think you’ve ever been present

      grace was said.

      When people say grace before they eat.

      SECOND GENTLEMAN

      No? a dozen times at least.

      You don’t think so? I have, at least a dozen times.

      FIRST GENTLEMAN

      What, in metre?

      What, in meter?

      LUCIO

      In any proportion or in any language.

      In any form or in any language.

      FIRST GENTLEMAN

      I think, or in any religion.

      I think, or in any religion.

      LUCIO

      Ay, why not? Grace is grace, despite of all

      Yes, and why not? Grace is grace, despite all

      controversy: as, for example, thou thyself art a

      Controversies: like, for example, you yourself are an

      wicked villain, despite of all grace.

      Evil swine, despite all of grace.

      FIRST GENTLEMAN

      Well, there went but a pair of shears between us.

      Well, we’re cut from the same cloth.

      LUCIO

      I grant; as there may between the lists and the

      I grant you; as there may be between the edges of the fabric

      velvet. Thou art the list.

      and the velvet. You are the edge.

      FIRST GENTLEMAN

      And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou'rt

      And you’re the velvet: you are good velvet; you’re

      a three-piled piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief

      A piece that is piled three high, I bet: I would rather

      be a list of an English kersey as be piled, as thou

      Be an edge of a coarse and wooly fabric, than be like you with your venereal

      art piled, for a French velvet. Do I speak

      disease, for being a French velvet. Are my words

      feelingly now?

      Hurting your feelings now?

      LUCIO

      I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful

      I think you did; indeed your words were

      feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own

      Very painful: And since you’ve confessed

      confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I

      That you have a venereal disease, I will begin drinking to your health; but

      live, forget to drink after thee.

      So long as I live, never drink after you for fear of catching it.

      FIRST GENTLEMAN

      I think I have done myself wrong, have I not?

      I think I have wronged myself, haven’t I?

      SECOND GENTLEMAN

      Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted or free.

      Yes you have, whether you are contaminated or not.

      LUCIO

      Behold, behold. where Madam Mitigation comes! I

      Look, look. Here comes Madam Mitigation! I

      have purchased as many diseases under her roof as come to—

      Have bought myself so many diseases under her roof that the total come to—

      SECOND GENTLEMAN

      To what, I pray?

      To how much?

      LUCIO

      Judge.

      Guess.

      SECOND GENTLEMAN

      To three thousand dolours a year.

      To three thousand dollars a year.

      FIRST GENTLEMAN

      Ay, and more.

      Yes, and more than that probably.

      LUCIO

      A French crown more.

      A French crown more.

      FIRST GENTLEMAN

      Thou art always figuring diseases in me; but thou

      You always joke that I have French diseases; but you

      art full of error; I am sound.

      Are totally wrong; I’m perfectly sound and healthy.

      LUCIO

      Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound as

      No, I wouldn’t say healthy; I would say you are sound as

      things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow;

      Things that are hollow: your bones are hollow from syphilis;

      impiety has made a feast of thee.

      Being so sinful has made a feast out of you.

      Enter MISTRESS OVERDONE

      FIRST GENTLEMAN

      How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?

      Hello there! Which of your hips has the worst sciatica?

      MISTRESS OVERDONE

      Well, well; there's one yonder arrested and carried

      Well, well; there’s a man that has been arrested and carried

      to prison was worth five thousand of you all.

      To prison that is worth five thousand of you all.

      SECOND GENTLEMAN

      Who's that, I pray thee?

      And who is that, may I ask?

      MISTRESS OVERDONE

      Marry, sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio.

      Well, sir, that would be Claudio, Mister Claudio.

      FIRST GENTLEMAN

      Claudio to prison? 'tis not so.

      Claudio was sent to prison? It can’t be.

      MISTRESS OVERDONE

      Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested, saw

      No, but I know it’s true: I saw him get arrested, saw

      him carried away; and, which is more, within these

      Him carried away; and what’s more, within the next

      three days his head to be chopped off.

      Three days his head is going to be chopped off.

      LUCIO

      But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so.

      But, after all of this joking, I don’t want that to happen..

      Art thou sure of this?

      Are you sure of this?

      MISTRESS OVERDONE

      I am too sure of it: and it is for getting Madam

      I am too sure of it: and it is all because he got Madam

      Julietta with child.

      Julietta pregnant.

      LUCIO

      Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two

      Believe me, it could be true: he promised to meet me two

      hours since, and he was ever precise in

      Hours ago, and he never breaks

      promise-keeping.

      A promise.

      SECOND GENTLEMAN

      Besides, you know, it draws something near to the

      Besides, you know, it sounds a bit like

      speech we had to such a purpose.

      What we were talking about earlier.

      FIRST GENTLEMAN

      But, most of all, agreeing with the proclamation.

      But most of all, it’s consistent with the proclamation.

      LUCIO

      Away! let's go learn the truth of it.

      Come on! Let’s go learn the truth.

      Exeunt LUCIO and Gentlemen

      MISTRESS OVERDONE

      Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what

      So, with the war, with the plague,

      with the gallows and what with poverty, I am

      With the executions, and with poverty, I am

      custom-shrunk.

      Out of customers.

      Enter POMPEY

      How now! what's the news with you?

      Hey there! What’s the news?

      POMPEY

      Yonder man is carried to prison.

      That man has been carried to prison.

      MISTRESS OVERDONE

      Well; what has he done?

      Well; what has he done?

      POMPEY

      A woman.

      A woman.

      MISTRESS OVERDONE

      But what's his offence?

      But what has he done wrong?

      POMPEY

      Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.

      Groping for trouts in a private river.

      MISTRESS OVERDONE

      What, is there a maid with child by him?

      So what, is there a maid is with child by his doing?

      POMPEY

      No, but there's a woman with maid by him. You have

      No but there is a woman who has a maid that are standing by him. You have

      not heard of the proclamation, have you?

      Not heard of the proclamation, have you?

      MISTRESS OVERDONE

      What proclamation, man?

      What proclamation?

      POMPEY

      All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down.

      All brothels in the suburbs of Vienna must be taken down.

      MISTRESS OVERDONE

      And what shall become of those in the city?

      And what will happen to the ones that are in the city?

      POMPEY

      They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too,

      They will remain: they were about to be torn down too,

      but that a wise burgher put in for them.

      But a wise man interceded on their behalf.

      MISTRESS OVERDONE

      But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be

      But will all of our houses of pleasure in the suburbs be

      pulled down?

      Torn down?

      POMPEY

      To the ground, mistress.

      Yes, to the ground, mistress.

      MISTRESS OVERDONE

      Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth!

      Well that’s a huge change in the commonwealth!

      What shall become of me?

      What will I do?

      POMPEY

      Come; fear you not: good counsellors lack no

      Come now; don’t be afraid: good counselors lack no

      clients: though you change your place, you need not

      Clients: though you change your place, you don’t need to

      change your trade; I'll be your tapster still.

      Change your trade; I’ll still be your tapster.

      Courage! there will be pity taken on you: you that

      Have courage! People will take pity on you: you who

      have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you

      Have worked so very hard for this, you

      will be considered.

      Will be considered.

      MISTRESS OVERDONE

      What's to do here, Thomas tapster? let's withdraw.

      What are we doing here, Mister tapster? Let’s leave.

      POMPEY

      Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the provost to

      Here comes Mister Claudio, led by the provost to

      prison; and there's Madam Juliet.

      Prison: and there’s Madam Juliet.

      Exeunt

      Enter Provost, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Officers

      CLAUDIO

      Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world?

      Please, why do you shame me like this in front of the world?

      Bear me to prison, where I am committed.

      Just take me to prison, where I am committed.

      Provost

      I do it not in evil disposition,

      I’m not doing it to be evil,

      But from Lord Angelo by special charge.

      It’s a special order from Lord Angelo.

      CLAUDIO

      Thus can the demigod Authority

      And so the demigod Authority

      Make us pay down for our offence by weight

      Makes us pay the exact amount of our offence

      The words of heaven; on whom it will, it will;

      The words of heaven; whoever it happens to, it happens,

      On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just.

      The same for whoever it doesn’t happen to. Either way, it is justice.

      Re-enter LUCIO and two Gentlemen

      LUCIO

      Why, how now, Claudio! whence comes this restraint?

      Why, what’s happened, Claudio! Where do these chains come from?

      CLAUDIO

      From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty:

      From too much livery, my Lucio, liberty:

      As surfeit is the father of much fast,

      Just like someone who fasts then overindulges,

      So every scope by the immoderate use

      So does every freedom from excessive use

      Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue,

      Turn into restrain. Our natures do chase,

      Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,

      Like rats that greedily devour what is poisonous to them,

      A thirsty evil; and when we drink we die.

      A thirsty evil; and when we drink, we die.

      LUCIO

      If could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would

      If I could speak with such wisdom while under arrest, I would

      send for certain of my creditors: and yet, to say

      Send for certain of the ones who would imprison me for debt: and yet, to say

      the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom

      The truth, I would rather have the foolishness of freedom

      as the morality of imprisonment. What's thy

      Instead of the morality of imprisonment. What is your

      offence, Claudio?

      Offence, Claudio?

      CLAUDIO

      What but to speak of would offend again.

      If I speak it, it would be another offence.

      LUCIO

      What, is't murder?

      What, is it murder?

      CLAUDIO

      No.

      LUCIO

      Lechery?

      CLAUDIO

      Call it so.

      You could call it that.

      Provost

      Away, sir! you must go.

      Leave, sir! You must go.

      CLAUDIO

      One word, good friend. Lucio, a word with you.

      One word, good friend. Lucio, I want a word with you.

      LUCIO

      A hundred, if they'll do you any good.

      You can have a hundred if they’ll do you any good.

      Is lechery so look'd after?

      Is lechery such a punishable crime?

      CLAUDIO

      Thus stands it with me: upon a true contract

      As you see me now: in the presence of witnesses

      I got possession of Julietta's bed:

      I took to Julietta’s bed:

      You know the lady; she is fast my wife,

      You know her; she is wife bound by pre-contract,

      Save that we do the denunciation lack

      Missing only the formal declaration

      Of outward order: this we came not to,

      To the public: we didn’t make it to that,

      Only for propagation of a dower

      We were waiting for her dowry

      Remaining in the coffer of her friends,

      That remained in a strongbox with her relatives,

      From whom we thought it meet to hide our love

      From whom we thought it would be best to hide our love

      Till time had made them for us. But it chances

      Until time had disposed them in our favor. But as our luck would have it

      The stealth of our most mutual entertainment

      The stealth of our mutual love

      With character too gross is writ on Juliet.

      Was undeniably revealed on Juliet’s body.

      LUCIO

      With child, perhaps?

      You mean she’s with child?

      CLAUDIO

      Unhappily, even so.

      Unfortunately so.

      And the new deputy now for the duke—

      And the new deputy now that has taken place of the duke---

      Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness,

      Whether it’s a fault from being so new at this

      Or whether that the body public be

      Or whether the public body is

      A horse whereon the governor doth ride,

      Merely a horse for him to ride,

      Who, newly in the seat, that it may know

      Who, since he is a new rider, in order to

      He can command, lets it straight feel the spur;

      Discipline it and let it know who is in command, at once digs in his spur,

      Whether the tyranny be in his place,

      Whether the tyranny be inherent in the office,

      Or in his emmence that fills it up,

      Or in the eminence of him that fills it up,

      I stagger in:--but this new governor

      I stagger in:-- but this new governor

      Awakes me all the enrolled penalties

      Awakes all the old penalties

      Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by the wall

      Which have, like rusty armor, hung by the wall

      So long that nineteen zodiacs have gone round

      For so long that nineteen years have gone by

      And none of them been worn; and, for a name,

      And none of them have been worn; and, for the sake of his reputation,

      Now puts the drowsy and neglected act

      Now puts all of the old punishments

      Freshly on me: 'tis surely for a name.

      Freshly on me: surely it is only for a reputation.

      LUCIO

      I warrant it is: and thy head stands so tickle on

      I bet it is: and your head stands so unstable on

      thy shoulders that a milkmaid, if she be in love,

      You shoulders that a milkmaid, if she is in love,

      may sigh it off. Send after the duke and appeal to

      could sigh it off. Send a message to the duke and appeal to

      him.

      him.

      CLAUDIO

      I have done so, but he's not to be found.

      I’ve done that, but he can’t be found.

      I prithee, Lucio, do me this kind service:

      I ask you, Lucio, do this for me:

      This day my sister should the cloister enter

      Today my sister should enter the monastery

      And there receive her approbation:

      To receive her approbation there:

      Acquaint her with the danger of my state:

      Tell her about the trouble I’m in:

      Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends

      Ask her, for me, to make friends

      To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him:

      With the strict deputy; ask her to attempt to sway him:

      I have great hope in that; for in her youth

      I have great hope in that: since she is so young

      There is a prone and speechless dialect,

      There is an eager and speechless language,

      Such as move men; beside, she hath prosperous art

      That moves men; besides that, she has a skill for gaining favorable results

      When she will play with reason and discourse,

      When she will use reason and rationality,

      And well she can persuade.

      And she can be very persuasive.

      LUCIO

      I pray she may; as well for the encouragement of the

      I hope she will; for your sake and for all others in the same

      like, which else would stand under grievous

      Situation, which otherwise would suffer serious

      imposition, as for the enjoying of thy life, who I

      Accusation penalties, and would miss out on the enjoyments of life

      would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a

      Which would be a shame to lose for something as silly

      game of tick-tack. I'll to her.

      As a bed-romp. I’ll go tell her.

      CLAUDIO

      I thank you, good friend Lucio.

      LUCIO

      Within two hours.

      I’ll be back in two hours.

      CLAUDIO

      Come, officer, away!

      Come on, officer, let’s go!

      Exeunt

      SCENE III. A monastery.

      Enter DUKE VINCENTIO and FRIAR THOMAS

      DUKE VINCENTIO

      No, holy father; throw away that thought;

      No, holy father, get that thought out of your mind;

      Believe not that the dribbling dart of love

      Don’t believe that Cupid’s arrow

      Can pierce a complete bosom. Why I desire thee

      Can pierce a perfect heart. The reason I want you

      To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose

      To give me refuge here in secret, has a purpose behind it

      More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends

      More serious and mature that the goals and desires

      Of burning youth.

      Of burning youth.

      FRIAR THOMAS

      May your grace speak of it?

      Will you tell me what it is?

      DUKE VINCENTIO

      My holy sir, none better knows than you

      My holy sir, no one knows better than you

      How I have ever loved the life removed

      How I have always loved a secluded life

      And held in idle price to haunt assemblies

      And have not thought there was very much worth in going to assemblies

      Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps.

      Where young and foolish bravado is to be found.

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1