A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 4 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, Benedick, Beatrice, Margaret, Ursula, FRIAR LEONATO LEONATO’S BROTHER BENEDICK LEONATO The ladies exit. LEONATO’S BROTHER | The folks gathered at Leonato's for the wedding are happy with the way things have turned out. Hero, Prince Don Pedro, and Claudio have all been proven innocent of their "crimes," and Margaret's been cleared, too. Leonato’s glad everything got sorted, and Benedick is glad that he won’t have to kill or severely maim his friend Claudio. It’s about time for Don Pedro and Claudio to arrive, so Leonato tells the ladies to go away and not come back until they’re called. When they arrive, they should all have their faces masked. Leonato's Brother, Antonio, will pretend the masked girl he's presenting to Claudio for marriage is his daughter, when actually it’s Hero! |
BENEDICK FRIAR To do what, signior? BENEDICK LEONATO BENEDICK LEONATO BENEDICK LEONATO FRIAR And my help. | With the ladies out of the room, Benedick speaks with Leonato and Friar Francis. He says that Beatrice loves him (which Leonato says is thanks to Hero), and the he loves Beatrice (which Leonato then credits to himself, Don Pedro, and Claudio). Benedick doesn’t quite understand what Leonato means, but he does say he’d like to be married to Beatrice today if possible. Leonato gives his blessing, and the Friar says he's happy to perform the service. Double wedding, everybody! |
Enter Prince, and Claudio, and two or three other. PRINCE Good morrow to this fair assembly. 35 LEONATO CLAUDIO LEONATO Leonato’s brother exits. PRINCE CLAUDIO BENEDICK | When Claudio arrives, Leonato asks if he's still ready to marry Antonio’s daughter. Claudio graciously replies that he’ll marry her even if she’s an Ethiope (way to be racist, Shakespeare.) Leonato sends his brother off to get his "daughter." Prince Don Pedro and Claudio start heckling Benedick, who they think is looking out of sorts. Benedick is probably nervous about getting married, but he doesn’t tell his buddies that yet. Instead he compares Claudio’s mom to a cow. |
CLAUDIO Enter Leonato’s brother, Hero, Beatrice, Margaret, Which is the lady I must seize upon? LEONATO CLAUDIO LEONATO CLAUDIO, to Hero HERO She unmasks. CLAUDIO HERO Nothing certainer. PRINCE LEONATO FRIAR | Before Claudio can call Benedick’s mom a heifer, Antonio re-enters with all the masked ladies. Claudio wants to see his soon-to-be wife's face, but Leonato says he has to take her hand and accept her first. Claudio takes the mystery girl’s hand and swears that he’s her husband, if she’ll have him. Hero whips off her mask, and Claudio is psyched to see "another Hero." Hero says that the Hero who was slandered is dead, but this Hero—who is still an innocent maiden—lives. Prince Don Pedro then declares this is the former Hero, the one that's dead. Um...at least they're getting warmer. Leonato clarifies that Hero was "dead" only while her slander lived on. The Friar says he'll explain everything, but for now, they should just roll with it and get this marriage in the books. |
BENEDICK BEATRICE, unmasking BENEDICK BEATRICE Why no, no more than reason. BENEDICK BEATRICE BENEDICK Troth, no, no more than reason. BEATRICE BENEDICK BEATRICE BENEDICK BEATRICE LEONATO | There’s another hold up on the way to the chapel when Benedick stops the Friar and asks which masked lady is Beatrice. Beatrice steps forth and asks what he wants. Next, they play a game of chicken with their love: neither one of them wants to be the first to declare their love publicly, and at the same time they're realizing they were played by their friends. |
CLAUDIO He shows a paper. HERO And here’s another, She shows a paper. BENEDICK A miracle! Here’s our own hands against BEATRICE I would not deny you, but by this good day, I BENEDICK Peace! I will stop your mouth. They kiss. | They’re about to shake hands and relegate each other to a life of being in simply the friend zone, but thankfully Hero and Claudio pipe up. Claudio shows off a little note he’s stolen—it’s a really bad poem in Benedick’s handwriting, clearly meant for Beatrice. Hero is also a thief, as she’s taken from her cousin Beatrice’s pocket a similar note, declaring Beatrice’s love for Benedick. Benedick and Beatrice realize their hands have revealed their hearts. They tease that they’re only marrying each other out of pity, until Benedick says, "I know how to shut you up," and plants a big kiss on Beatrice. |
PRINCE BENEDICK I’ll tell thee what, prince: a college of CLAUDIO I had well hoped thou wouldst have denied BENEDICK Come, come, we are friends. Let’s have a LEONATO We’ll have dancing afterward. BENEDICK First, of my word! Therefore play, music.— 125 Enter Messenger. MESSENGER, to Prince BENEDICK, to Prince Think not on him till tomorrow. Music plays. They dance. | Prince Don Pedro again teases Benedick about getting married (in spite of how often he railed against it). Benedick says nobody can wreck his mood today, and he won't listen to any bad words about marriage—not even his own. Then he tells Claudio that he would have kicked his butt if they had ever dueled, but he'll let Claudio off the hook now that their related by marriage. Claudio jests that he hoped Benedick wouldn’t marry Beatrice, as Claudio wanted to see Benedick become a married man and also a cheater. Then again, Benedick might end up being a cheater anyway...if Beatrice doesn’t keep a close eye on him. (If this is his best man toast, it needs work.) Benedick calls for dancing, though Leonato thinks they really should have marriages before dancing. The old man is ignored, and Benedick calls for music. Then Benedick teases Don Pedro about needing to get a wife. Finally, randomly, a messenger comes in and announces that Don John was captured and brought back to Messina. Benedick counsels Don Pedro to not worry about this right now, and instead, to be merry, and everyone exits in a dance. |