A side-by-side translation of Act 2, Scene 2 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 Don John and Borachio. DON JOHN It is so. The Count Claudio shall marry the BORACHIO Yea, my lord, but I can cross it. DON JOHN Any bar, any cross, any impediment will be BORACHIO Not honestly, my lord, but so covertly that DON JOHN Show me briefly how. BORACHIO I think I told your Lordship a year since, DON JOHN I remember. 15 BORACHIO I can, at any unseasonable instant of the DON JOHN What life is in that to be the death of this | Don John and Borachio are sulking over the news of Hero’s wedding to Claudio. Borachio says he’s figured out a simple and fool-proof way to ruin the marriage, which would make Don John really happy. Borachio reminds Don John of Hero’s attendant, Margaret, who he’s apparently been messing around with for some time. Borachio talks vaguely of a plan to have Margaret stand in Hero’s window. Don John, however, is slightly confused about how exactly this is a foolproof plan to ruin weddings and lives. |
BORACHIO The poison of that lies in you to temper. Go DON JOHN What proof shall I make of that? BORACHIO Proof enough to misuse the Prince, to vex DON JOHN Only to despite them I will endeavor BORACHIO Go then, find me a meet hour to draw Don DON JOHN Grow this to what adverse issue it can, I will 50 BORACHIO Be you constant in the accusation, and my DON JOHN I will presently go learn their day of 55 They exit. | Borachio’s got it all planned out: all Don John has to do is tell Don Pedro that he’s discovered Hero is actually in love with Borachio. He’ll need to pretend to be apologetic that Claudio’s future marriage is ruined, as is Don Pedro’s reputation as a matchmaker and an honorable man. Don John can insist he’s only telling Don Pedro out of love. Surely, Don Pedro will require proof of this slander, and that’s where big deception comes in. The night before the wedding, Don John will bring Don Pedro and Claudio to Hero’s window. Borachio will have Margaret standing in silhouette by the Hero’s window, so they'll think she's Hero. There, Borachio himself will be making love to Margaret (bow chicka bow bow) while calling her "Hero." The men will witness this, and it will seem like solid visual proof that Hero is cheating on Claudio. That should be enough to ruin the wedding. Don John promises Borachio a thousand ducats in payment for this scheming, and the two men part to set their plan in action. |