A side-by-side translation of Act 5, 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 and his brother. LEONATO’S BROTHER LEONATO I pray thee, cease thy counsel, LEONATO’S BROTHER LEONATO | Leonato's Brother, Antonio, confronts the grieving Leonato and pleads with him not to be so suicidal. Leonato claims his brother can say nothing to make him happy again—he can only be consoled by someone who's gone through exactly what he's going through right now. He also says it's easy for people who have it good to give advice, which is more of him telling his brother, "You have no idea how I feel, so stop trying to tell me what to do." Leonato's main point here is that he feels perfectly justified in crying. After all, even philosophers, for all their philosophizing, whine when they have a toothache. |
LEONATO’S BROTHER LEONATO | Antonio points out that Leonato is justified in his suffering, but he shouldn't suffer alone. He should share his suffering with the people who are responsible for it. (Basically, go beat Hero's accusers to a pulp.) Leonato agrees. |
Enter Prince and Claudio. LEONATO’S BROTHER PRINCE CLAUDIO Good day to both of you. LEONATO PRINCE We have some haste, LEONATO PRINCE LEONATO’S BROTHER CLAUDIO Who wrongs him? LEONATO CLAUDIO Marry, beshrew my hand LEONATO | When Claudio and Don Pedro wander on to the scene, Leonato tries to pick a fight with them, but they claim to be in a hurry to go somewhere. Leonato thinks he sees Claudio put his hand on his sword and declares, "I'm not scared of you!" Claudio explains that Leonato is mistaken. He wasn't reaching for his sword, and he’s not really interested in beating up senior citizens. Leonato says that he may be old, but he’s still a mean swordsman and he's ready to fight. He says that Claudio has no choice but to lay aside the gentle reverence of elderly people. Claudio has wrongly framed his child, and sent her to the family tomb, borne by false scandal, and Leonato is ready to fight him on her behalf. |
CLAUDIO LEONATO Thine, Claudio, thine, I say. PRINCE LEONATO My lord, my lord, CLAUDIO LEONATO LEONATO’S BROTHER LEONATO Brother— LEONATO’S BROTHER LEONATO Brother Anthony— | Claudio is surprised that he's being accused of doing anything wrong. He swears didn’t lie about Hero, and only charged her with things he had proof of. But Leonato and Antonio—especially Antonio—are really itching for a fight on behalf of Hero’s honor. (You know someone's pretty angry when they go all the way to "milksop.") |
LEONATO’S BROTHER LEONATO But brother Anthony— LEONATO’S BROTHER Come, ’tis no matter. PRINCE LEONATO My lord, my lord— PRINCE I will not hear you. 120 LEONATO LEONATO’S BROTHER Leonato and his brother exit. | Antonio declares he knows these young boys. They’re the types who go around threatening others, and generally trying to seem really tough, but they’re just full of hot air. Prince Don Pedro attempts to diffuse the situation; he says he’s sorry for Hero’s death, but the men need to realize that the accusation against Hero was proven true. Don Pedro refuses to hear Leonato’s appeals. Leonato and Antonio leave, spitting out a whirlwind of threats. |
Enter Benedick. PRINCE CLAUDIO Now, signior, what news? BENEDICK, to Prince Good day, my lord. 125 PRINCE Welcome, signior. You are almost come to CLAUDIO We had like to have had our two noses PRINCE Leonato and his brother. What think’st thou? 130 BENEDICK In a false quarrel there is no true valor. I CLAUDIO We have been up and down to seek thee, for 135 BENEDICK It is in my scabbard. Shall I draw it? PRINCE Dost thou wear thy wit by thy side? CLAUDIO Never any did so, though very many have 140 PRINCE As I am an honest man, he looks pale.—Art CLAUDIO, to Benedick What, courage, man! What 145 BENEDICK Sir, I shall meet your wit in the career, an CLAUDIO, to Prince Nay, then, give him another staff. PRINCE By this light, he changes more and more. I CLAUDIO If he be, he knows how to turn his girdle. 155 BENEDICK Shall I speak a word in your ear? CLAUDIO God bless me from a challenge! BENEDICK, aside to Claudio You are a villain. I jest | Don Pedro and Claudio seem unfazed by the encounter. They tell Benedick they narrowly avoided a fight with two old, toothless men. Then they say they came to find Benedick to lighten their spirits. Benedick, however, is all business. They tease that Benedick looks rather angry, but they don’t get just how angry until Benedick pulls Claudio aside and tells him what’s what in a rather threatening way. Benedick calmly asserts that Claudio is a villain and is responsible for the wrongful death of Hero. He challenges Claudio to a duel and says that if Claudio backs down, Benedick will declare him a coward. |
CLAUDIO Well, I will meet you, so I may have good PRINCE What, a feast, a feast? CLAUDIO I’ faith, I thank him. He hath bid me to a BENEDICK Sir, your wit ambles well; it goes easily. CLAUDIO For the which she wept heartily and said she PRINCE Yea, that she did. But yet for all that, an if she CLAUDIO All, all. And, moreover, God saw him when PRINCE But when shall we set the savage bull’s horns CLAUDIO Yea, and text underneath: “Here dwells Benedick, 195 | Claudio doesn’t seem to take Benedick’s threat very seriously. Claudio makes light of the situation, vaguely saying to Don Pedro that Benedick has accused him of being all kinds of stupid. Don Pedro and Claudio then launch into a series of silly taunts about Beatrice’s love for Benedick, which they claim they heard from Hero (who is to their knowledge, dead, so they’re being pretty insensitive). Finally, they ridicule Benedick, saying that when he marries Beatrice, he’ll be hung with cuckold’s horns, though he claimed to once be an untameable bull. |
BENEDICK Fare you well, boy. You know my mind. I Benedick exits. | Benedick isn't amused. He says the men may be full of jokes now, but they’re like braggarts who talk big, but don’t know how to use a sword. He then thanks the Prince for his many courtesies, but he says he’ll have to part ways with him from here on out, adding, "Oh, by the way, your brother has fled the city, and all three of you are responsible for Hero's death. Ta ta." |
PRINCE He is in earnest. CLAUDIO In most profound earnest, and, I’ll warrant PRINCE And hath challenged thee? CLAUDIO Most sincerely. 210 PRINCE What a pretty thing man is when he goes in his CLAUDIO He is then a giant to an ape; but then is an ape PRINCE But soft you, let me be. Pluck up, my heart, 215 Enter Constables Dogberry and Verges, and the Watch, | Prince Don Pedro and Claudio are left alone to wonder at all this very serious business from Benedick. He seems to be earnest in his love for Beatrice and his challenge on Claudio’s life, which is way more seriousness than they're used to from him. As Don Pedro wonders about why his brother suddenly skipped town, Dogberry and company enter to clear up the matter...maybe. |
DOGBERRY Come you, sir. If justice cannot tame you, PRINCE How now, two of my brother’s men bound? CLAUDIO Hearken after their offense, my lord. PRINCE Officers, what offense have these men done? DOGBERRY Marry, sir, they have committed false 225 PRINCE First, I ask thee what they have done; thirdly, I 230 CLAUDIO Rightly reasoned, and in his own division; PRINCE, to Borachio and Conrade Who have you offended, | Prince Don Pedro recognizes Conrade and Borachio as the henchmen of his brother, Don John. He wonders at what offense the men committed in order to be brought forth in chains. Dogberry, as usual, muddles his explanation. After playing with Dogberry for a bit, Don Pedro finally asks Borachio and Conrade what they've done. |
BORACHIO Sweet prince, let me go no farther to mine 240 PRINCE, to Claudio CLAUDIO PRINCE, to Borachio BORACHIO Yea, and paid me richly for the practice of PRINCE | Borachio breaks the mood of merriment, and reveals the truth, even though he’s scared Claudio will kill him. Borachio says he would have gotten away with the scheme if it hadn't been for the Scooby gang. The watchmen heard him brag to Conrade about the counterfeit scene where Borachio courted Margaret, who posed as Hero. Borachio admits this very scene was at the root of many evils: Hero’s undoing, Claudio’s denouncement of Hero, and Hero’s subsequent death. He's actually really sorry and says he deserves to be punished. Prince Don Pedro and Claudio are shocked, and Don Pedro asks again for confirmation that this was all Don John’s doing. Borachio admits he was paid handsomely by Don John for his wrongdoing. Now Don Pedro understands why Don John was so quick to skip town. |
CLAUDIO DOGBERRY Come, bring away the plaintiffs. By this VERGES Here, here comes Master Signior Leonato, | Needless to say, Claudio feels pretty horrible after realizing Hero was innocent all along. Dogberry orders the accused away (though he wrongly calls them the plaintiffs), and says sexton has gone to tell Leonato everything. He also reminds everyone that Borachio and Conrade called him an ass, which he wants listed among their crimes. |
Enter Leonato, his brother, and the Sexton. LEONATO BORACHIO LEONATO BORACHIO Yea, even I alone. LEONATO CLAUDIO PRINCE By my soul, nor I, LEONATO | Leonato enters with the sexton and demands to know if Borachio is responsible for Hero’s death. When Borachio claims the fault is his alone, Leonato jumps to his defense. He says Claudio, Prince Don Pedro, and Don John are equally to blame. Then he thanks Don Pedro and Claudio for their roles in all this villainy, which probably makes them feel pretty bad. Claudio feels horrible. He says Leonato can have any revenge desired, though he’s quick to point out that his only actual sin was mistaking what he saw. Don Pedro says, "Yeah. Me, too." In terms of punishment, Leonato says they can't bring Hero back, but they can earn his forgiveness by explaining to the people of Messina that Hero was actually innocent. Also, they need to hang an epitaph on Hero's tomb, and tomorrow, Claudio must go to Leonato's and marry his niece, who looks almost just like Hero. Hmm... |
CLAUDIO O, noble sir! LEONATO BORACHIO No, by my soul, she was not, 315 | Claudio agrees to marry this other random niece, and thanks Leonato copiously for his kindness. Leonato will expect them all in the morning for Wedding 2.0. In the meantime, he’s off to question Hero’s maid, Margaret, who was likely involved in this whole conspiracy. Borachio speaks up again, saying Margaret had no idea what she was doing, she wasn’t involved in the plot, and is a just and virtuous girl. |
DOGBERRY, to Leonato Moreover, sir, which indeed is LEONATO I thank thee for thy care and honest pains. DOGBERRY Your Worship speaks like a most thankful 330 LEONATO, giving him money There’s for thy pains. DOGBERRY God save the foundation. LEONATO Go, I discharge thee of thy prisoner, and I DOGBERRY I leave an arrant knave with your Worship, Dogberry and Verges exit. LEONATO LEONATO’S BROTHER PRINCE CLAUDIO Tonight I’ll mourn with Hero. LEONATO, to Watch They exit. | Dogberry addresses everyone, and reminds them he’s been called an ass, which he’d like to have added to the list of Borachio and Conrade’s crimes. Also, this guy named "Deformed" is still on the loose. (This goes back to the conversation between Borachio and Conrade that Dogberry misheard in Act 3, Scene 3.) Dogberry putzes around some more like a tiresome fool, and finally leaves Leonato alone to punish the prisoners as he sees fit. Don Pedro and Claudio promise they’ll see Antonio and Leonato at the wedding tomorrow morning; tonight they’ll be busy mourning at Hero’s tomb. In the meantime, Leonato will busy himself finding out the details of Margaret’s relationship with Borachio. |