A side-by-side translation of Act 1, Scene 1 of Much Ado About Nothing from the original Shakespeare into modern English.
Original Text |
Translated Text |
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Source: Folger Shakespeare Library | |
Enter Leonato, Governor of Messina, Hero his daughter, LEONATO, with a letter I learn in this letter that Don MESSENGER He is very near by this. He was not three LEONATO How many gentlemen have you lost in this 5 MESSENGER But few of any sort, and none of name. LEONATO A victory is twice itself when the achiever MESSENGER Much deserved on his part, and equally LEONATO He hath an uncle here in Messina will be MESSENGER I have already delivered him letters, and 20 LEONATO Did he break out into tears? MESSENGER In great measure. 25 LEONATO A kind overflow of kindness. There are no | Leonato is chatting with a messenger about a recent battle. Don Pedro, the Prince of Arragon (and Leonato's friend), has been on the war front and is on his way home. He plans to stay at Leonato’s house this very evening. The Messenger says that the battle wasn’t terribly bloody, and very few lives were lost. But the fighting did give one young man a chance to distinguish himself as valiant beyond his years: a guy named Claudio. The Messenger tells Leonato he’s already delivered letters of honor to Claudio's uncle, who lives in Messina. The uncle was so proud he burst into tears. Leonato is pleased. He says it’s better to cry because you're happy than to be happy because you're crying. Um...okay. We guess he's saying people that enjoy being miserable are, well...miserable. |
BEATRICE I pray you, is Signior Mountanto returned 30 MESSENGER I know none of that name, lady. There LEONATO What is he that you ask for, niece? HERO My cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua. 35 MESSENGER O, he’s returned, and as pleasant as ever BEATRICE He set up his bills here in Messina and LEONATO Faith, niece, you tax Signior Benedick too 45 MESSENGER He hath done good service, lady, in these BEATRICE You had musty victual, and he hath holp to MESSENGER And a good soldier too, lady. BEATRICE And a good soldier to a lady, but what is he MESSENGER A lord to a lord, a man to a man, stuffed 55 BEATRICE It is so indeed. He is no less than a stuffed LEONATO You must not, sir, mistake my niece. There is | Beatrice asks if Signior Mountanto is back from the battle. Hero has to explain to her dad that Beatrice means Benedick since that's not his real name. A "mountanto" is an upward thrust in fencing, so Beatrice is basically calling Benedick something like "Captain Uppercut" or "General Piledriver." In short: it's clear right away that she has a playful, if antagonistic, relationship with this guy. And probably a crush on him. Beatrice goes on to say that Benedick came to Messina and challenged Cupid to an archery contest, but that her uncle’s jester took on Benedick’s challenge in place of Cupid and used toy arrows. Translation: no one fell in love with Benedick that day. There’s some more bantering at Benedick’s expense, and Leonato explains to the Messenger Beatrice and Benedick have an ongoing war of wits whenever they're together. Sounds like some serious sexual tension to us. |
BEATRICE Alas, he gets nothing by that. In our last MESSENGER Is ’t possible? BEATRICE Very easily possible. He wears his faith but MESSENGER I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your BEATRICE No. An he were, I would burn my study. But MESSENGER He is most in the company of the right BEATRICE O Lord, he will hang upon him like a MESSENGER I will hold friends with you, lady. BEATRICE Do, good friend. 90 LEONATO You will never run mad, niece. BEATRICE No, not till a hot January. MESSENGER Don Pedro is approached. | Beatrice disses Benedick some more, saying that he doesn't have wits, plural, he just has one wit left after their last encounter, and it's barely enough to make him more clever than his horse. She then starts in on the fact that Benedick tends to have a new best friend in every one of his endeavors. She wonders who the poor dude is that’s been taken into Benedick’s confidence this time. It turns out to be Claudio, the young man who recently distinguished himself in battle. Beatrice jokes that catching Benedick is like catching a disease—and it's something that will never happen to her. |
Enter Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, with Claudio, PRINCE Good Signior Leonato, are you come to meet LEONATO Never came trouble to my house in the PRINCE You embrace your charge too willingly. Turning LEONATO Her mother hath many times told me so. BENEDICK Were you in doubt, sir, that you asked her? LEONATO Signior Benedick, no, for then were you a 105 PRINCE You have it full, Benedick. We may guess by Leonato and the Prince move aside. BENEDICK If Signior Leonato be her father, she would BEATRICE I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior BENEDICK What, my dear Lady Disdain! Are you yet BEATRICE Is it possible disdain should die while she BENEDICK Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain BEATRICE A dear happiness to women. They would BENEDICK God keep your Ladyship still in that mind, BEATRICE Scratching could not make it worse an BENEDICK Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher. BEATRICE A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of BENEDICK I would my horse had the speed of your BEATRICE You always end with a jade’s trick. I know | The fun really starts when the Prince (Don Pedro) enters with Claudio, Benedick, an attendant named Balthasar, and the Prince's illegitimate brother, Don John. Prince Don Pedro and Leonato banter and are generally happy to see each other. Benedick makes a joke about Leonato not being sure he's Hero's father, but Leonato says he's certain he is, because Benedick is far too young to have seduced his wife. Benedick clearly enjoys a little verbal sparring, and that's what he and Beatrice dive into, STAT. Benedick declares all ladies love him (except Beatrice) but sadly, he loves no ladies. Beatrice thinks his lack of love is God’s gift to women, and she declares that, like Benedick, she has no intention of ever falling in love. Benedick says that's a good thing, because any man who tangled with Beatrice would come away with a scratched up face. Beatrice says Benedick's face couldn't be made any uglier, whether it was all scratched up or not. Benedick calls Beatrice a parrot, Beatrice calls Benedick an animal, and Benedick basically bows out. For now. Beatrice accused him of dropping out of the race before it's finished (a jade's trick), but that she’s not surprised. He's kind of a quitter. Did we mention the sexual tension between these two yet? |
Leonato and the Prince come forward. PRINCE That is the sum of all, Leonato.—Signior LEONATO If you swear, my lord, you shall not be 150 DON JOHN I thank you. I am not of many words, but I LEONATO Please it your Grace lead on? PRINCE Your hand, Leonato. We will go together. | The Prince (Don Pedro) announces that Leonato has invited him, Claudio, and Benedick to stay with Leonato for at least a month, which will be ample time for drama to develop. Leonato also personally welcomes Don John, who seems to have recently reconciled with his brother the Prince. |
All exit except Benedick and Claudio. CLAUDIO Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of BENEDICK I noted her not, but I looked on her. 160 CLAUDIO Is she not a modest young lady? BENEDICK Do you question me as an honest man CLAUDIO No, I pray thee, speak in sober judgment. BENEDICK Why, i’ faith, methinks she’s too low for a CLAUDIO Thou thinkest I am in sport. I pray thee tell BENEDICK Would you buy her that you enquire after 175 CLAUDIO Can the world buy such a jewel? BENEDICK Yea, and a case to put it into. But speak you CLAUDIO In mine eye she is the sweetest lady that ever BENEDICK I can see yet without spectacles, and I see 185 CLAUDIO I would scarce trust myself, though I had BENEDICK Is ’t come to this? In faith, hath not the | Benedick is left alone with Claudio as the others wander off, led by Leonato and Don Pedro. The young Claudio reveals that he’s been smitten by Leonato’s daughter, Hero. Benedick, ever full of taunts, wonders that Claudio could be so bent on marriage, and with Hero, to boot. His eyes are fine, he says, and he doesn't find her attractive. In fact, Benedick thinks Hero’s cousin, Beatrice, is wading around in the more attractive end of the gene pool. |
Enter Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon. PRINCE What secret hath held you here that you followed 200 BENEDICK I would your Grace would constrain me to PRINCE I charge thee on thy allegiance. BENEDICK You hear, Count Claudio, I can be secret as 205 CLAUDIO If this were so, so were it uttered. BENEDICK Like the old tale, my lord: “It is not so, nor CLAUDIO If my passion change not shortly, God forbid 215 PRINCE Amen, if you love her, for the lady is very well CLAUDIO You speak this to fetch me in, my lord. PRINCE By my troth, I speak my thought. 220 CLAUDIO And in faith, my lord, I spoke mine. BENEDICK And by my two faiths and troths, my lord, I CLAUDIO That I love her, I feel. PRINCE That she is worthy, I know. 225 BENEDICK That I neither feel how she should be loved PRINCE Thou wast ever an obstinate heretic in the 230 CLAUDIO And never could maintain his part but in the BENEDICK That a woman conceived me, I thank her; | The Prince (Don Pedro) then returns, wondering what secret Claudio and Benedick have been sharing. Benedick, entrusted with the knowledge of Claudio’s secret crush, immediately reveals to the Prince that Claudio has fallen for the Hero. Benedick thinks Hero is short. The Prince thinks Claudio's interest in Hero is wonderful news, but Benedick takes the love-declaration as another chance to rail on women. Benedick says he’s grateful to his mother for giving birth to him and raising him. Since he’s not a complete woman-hater, he’d never want to hurt a woman by distrusting her. Therefore he’ll never get into a relationship with a women where trust is required (i.e., marriage...or pretty much any other relationship apart from nemesis). |
PRINCE I shall see thee, ere I die, look pale with love. BENEDICK With anger, with sickness, or with hunger, PRINCE Well, if ever thou dost fall from this faith, thou 250 BENEDICK If I do, hang me in a bottle like a cat and PRINCE Well, as time shall try. 255 BENEDICK The savage bull may, but if ever the sensible CLAUDIO If this should ever happen, thou wouldst be PRINCE Nay, if Cupid have not spent all his quiver in 265 BENEDICK I look for an earthquake too, then. PRINCE Well, you will temporize with the hours. In the BENEDICK I have almost matter enough in me for such CLAUDIO To the tuition of God. From my house, if I had 275 PRINCE The sixth of July. Your loving friend, BENEDICK Nay, mock not, mock not. The body of your He exits. | The Prince is certain that before he dies, Benedick will be pale with love, but Benedick quibbles. He says he’ll be made pale by anger, sickness, or hunger, but never by love. In Shakespeare’s day, people thought that sighs of love made a person lose blood, while alcohol increased the blood supply. Benedick says if he should ever lose more blood from love than he could get again by drinking, then the Prince can poke out his eyes with a lovesick poet’s pen and hang him up as a blind Cupid sign outside of a brothel (these often used the symbol of a blind Cupid as advertisement). Benedick goes on some more about how he’ll never wear cuckold’s horns. (Cuckolds are men whose wives cheated on them. They were symbolized by wearing horns, and while this doesn’t make a lot of sense in the modern day, it was the closest thing those guys had to the idea of someone "being whipped".) The Prince promises Benedick will eat his words and fall in love after all, unless Cupid is too busy in Venice. (Venetians were known to love visiting brothels.) Then he dismisses the prattling Benedick. |
CLAUDIO PRINCE CLAUDIO PRINCE CLAUDIO O, my lord, PRINCE CLAUDIO PRINCE They exit. | With Benedick gone, Claudio can speak earnestly with Prince Don Pedro, who, unlike Benedick, doesn’t use Claudio’s crush to mock and belittle him. Claudio seems nervous about revealing his love of Hero, but the Prince can help him out here, so he comes clean. Claudio admits he noticed Hero before he went off to war, but at the time, the upcoming battle was a higher priority than love. Now that he’s back, thoughts of love have replaced his bloodlust. Still, Claudio worries that if he begins to woo her, it will seem like he fell in love too quickly and she might not take him seriously. The Prince tells Claudio not to worry. He (the Prince, Don Pedro) will talk to both Hero and Leonato for him. In fact, there’s a masquerade ball planned for that very night, and the Prince says he'll dress up as Claudio and woo Hero for him. Great idea. Nothing could go wrong with that. |