Original Text |
Modern Text |
|
BEATRICE Speak, cousin, or if you cannot, stop his mouth with a kiss
and let not him speak neither.
|
BEATRICE Say something, cousin. Or, if you can’t say anything,
stop his mouth with a kiss and don’t let him speak,
either.
|
|
DON PEDRO In faith, lady, you have a merry heart.
|
DON PEDRO Truly, lady, you have a merry heart.
|
|
BEATRICE
265Yea, my lord. I thank it, poor fool, it keeps on the windy side
of care. My cousin tells him in his ear that he is in her
heart.
|
BEATRICE Yes, my lord. I thank my heart—the poor
fool—for it keeps away from seriousness. Look, my cousin
is whispering to Claudio that she loves him.
|
|
CLAUDIO And so she doth, cousin.
|
CLAUDIO Why, you’re absolutely right, cousin.
|
|
BEATRICE Good Lord for alliance! Thus goes everyone to the world
but I, and I am sunburnt. I may sit in a corner and cry,
270“Heigh-ho for a husband!”
|
BEATRICE Thank the lord for alliances! So everyone goes off into the world
except me, who stays in because I’m sunburned. I should
sit in the corner and sing that song, “Heigh-Ho for a
Husband!”
|
|
DON PEDRO Lady Beatrice, I will get you one.
|
DON PEDRO Lady Beatrice, I’ll get you a husband.
|
|
BEATRICE I would rather have one of your father’s getting. Hath
your
grace ne'er a brother like you? Your father got
excellent
husbands, if a maid could come by them.
|
BEATRICE I’d rather get a husband from your father.
Don’t you have any brothers like you? Your
father’s sons would make excellent husbands, if only a
girl could catch one for herself.
|
|
DON PEDRO
275Will you have me, lady?
|
DON PEDRO Will you take me, my lady?
|
|
BEATRICE No, my lord, unless I might have another for working days.
Your Grace is too costly to wear every day. But I beseech
your Grace pardon me. I was born to speak all mirth and no
matter.
|
BEATRICE No, my lord, unless I could have another husband for the work
week. You are too expensive to wear every day. But please, forgive
me, your highness. I was born to speak cleverly, not
seriously.
|
|
DON PEDRO
280Your silence most offends me, and to be merry best
becomes you, for out o' question you were born in a
merry
hour.
|
DON PEDRO I’d be more offended if you were silent, for being
lively and cheerful suits you best. Surely, you must have been born
at a happy time.
|
