Much Ado About Nothing: Act 3, Scene 5 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 3, Scene 5 of Much Ado About Nothing from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Leonato, and Dogberry, the Constable, and Verges, the Headborough. LEONATO What would you with me, honest neighbor? DOGBERRY Marry, sir, I would have some confidence with you that decerns you nearly. LEONATO Brief, I pray you, for you see it is a busy time with me. 5 DOGBERRY Marry, this it is, sir. VERGES Yes, in truth, it is, sir. LEONATO What is it, my good friends? DOGBERRY Goodman Verges, sir, speaks a little off the matter. An old man, sir, and his wits are not so blunt 10 as, God help, I would desire they were, but, in faith, honest as the skin between his brows. VERGES Yes, I thank God I am as honest as any man living that is an old man and no honester than I. DOGBERRY Comparisons are odorous. Palabras, neighbor 15 Verges. LEONATO Neighbors, you are tedious. DOGBERRY It pleases your Worship to say so, but we are the poor duke’s officers. But truly, for mine own part, if I were as tedious as a king, I could find 20 in my heart to bestow it all of your Worship. LEONATO All thy tediousness on me, ah? DOGBERRY Yea, an ’twere a thousand pound more than ’tis, for I hear as good exclamation on your Worship as of any man in the city, and though I be 25 but a poor man, I am glad to hear it. VERGES And so am I. LEONATO I would fain know what you have to say.	Dogberry and Verges arrive at Leonato’s house to tell him something very important. Leonato says he's busy, but asks them what's up. Dogberry and Verges spend some time talking about how honest they both are, and Leonato tells them they are tedious. Dogberry thanks him, thinking that was a compliment, and says that even if he were as tedious as a king (he must think tedious = wealth or wisdom), he'd be happy to give all of his tediousness to Leonato. "Gee, thanks," says Leonato. "Now what do you want?"
VERGES Marry, sir, our watch tonight, excepting your Worship’s presence, ha’ ta’en a couple of as arrant 30 knaves as any in Messina. DOGBERRY A good old man, sir. He will be talking. As they say, “When the age is in, the wit is out.” God help us, it is a world to see!—Well said, i’ faith, neighbor Verges.—Well, God’s a good man. An two 35 men ride of a horse, one must ride behind. An honest soul, i’ faith, sir, by my troth he is, as ever broke bread, but God is to be worshiped, all men are not alike, alas, good neighbor. LEONATO Indeed, neighbor, he comes too short of you. 40 DOGBERRY Gifts that God gives. LEONATO I must leave you. DOGBERRY One word, sir. Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two aspicious persons, and we would have them this morning examined before 45 your Worship. LEONATO Take their examination yourself and bring it me. I am now in great haste, as it may appear unto you. DOGBERRY It shall be suffigance. 50 LEONATO Drink some wine ere you go. Fare you well.	Dogberry and Verges finally get to the point. Sort of. They say they've captured two knaves, and they’d like to examine these men in Leonato’s presence. Unfortunately, this simple message is really poorly delivered, and Dogberry and Verges manage to totally obscure their meaning. Leonato is kind of occupied trying to get his daughter married, so he tells Dogberry and Verges to do the examination themselves and report back to him on the outcome.
Enter a Messenger. MESSENGER My lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to her husband. LEONATO I’ll wait upon them. I am ready. He exits, with the Messenger. DOGBERRY Go, good partner, go, get you to Francis 55 Seacoal. Bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the jail. We are now to examination these men. VERGES And we must do it wisely. DOGBERRY We will spare for no wit, I warrant you. Here’s that shall drive some of them to a noncome. 60 Only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication and meet me at the jail. They exit.	A messenger arrives to tell Leonato it's time for him to give his daughter away, and they leave together. Dogberry tells Verges to get Francis Seacoal (um...his name is George—not Francis) to meet them at the station. Seacoal is one of those fancypants guys who can read and write, so they'll have him transcribe the interrogation (which Dogberry calls an excommunication). This should be good.

Original Text

Translated Text

Source: Folger Shakespeare Library

Enter Leonato, and Dogberry, the Constable, and
Verges, the Headborough.

LEONATO What would you with me, honest neighbor?

DOGBERRY Marry, sir, I would have some confidence
with you that decerns you nearly.

LEONATO Brief, I pray you, for you see it is a busy time
with me. 5

DOGBERRY Marry, this it is, sir.

VERGES Yes, in truth, it is, sir.

LEONATO What is it, my good friends?

DOGBERRY Goodman Verges, sir, speaks a little off the
matter. An old man, sir, and his wits are not so blunt 10
as, God help, I would desire they were, but, in faith,
honest as the skin between his brows.

VERGES Yes, I thank God I am as honest as any man
living that is an old man and no honester than I.

DOGBERRY Comparisons are odorous. Palabras, neighbor 15
Verges.

LEONATO Neighbors, you are tedious.

DOGBERRY It pleases your Worship to say so, but we
are the poor duke’s officers. But truly, for mine
own part, if I were as tedious as a king, I could find 20
in my heart to bestow it all of your Worship.

LEONATO All thy tediousness on me, ah?

DOGBERRY Yea, an ’twere a thousand pound more
than ’tis, for I hear as good exclamation on your
Worship as of any man in the city, and though I be 25
but a poor man, I am glad to hear it.

VERGES And so am I.

LEONATO I would fain know what you have to say.

Dogberry and Verges arrive at Leonato’s house to tell him something very important.

Leonato says he's busy, but asks them what's up.

Dogberry and Verges spend some time talking about how honest they both are, and Leonato tells them they are tedious.

Dogberry thanks him, thinking that was a compliment, and says that even if he were as tedious as a king (he must think tedious = wealth or wisdom), he'd be happy to give all of his tediousness to Leonato.

"Gee, thanks," says Leonato. "Now what do you want?"

VERGES Marry, sir, our watch tonight, excepting your
Worship’s presence, ha’ ta’en a couple of as arrant 30
knaves as any in Messina.

DOGBERRY A good old man, sir. He will be talking. As
they say, “When the age is in, the wit is out.” God
help us, it is a world to see!—Well said, i’ faith,
neighbor Verges.—Well, God’s a good man. An two 35
men ride of a horse, one must ride behind. An
honest soul, i’ faith, sir, by my troth he is, as ever
broke bread, but God is to be worshiped, all men
are not alike, alas, good neighbor.

LEONATO Indeed, neighbor, he comes too short of you. 40

DOGBERRY Gifts that God gives.

LEONATO I must leave you.

DOGBERRY One word, sir. Our watch, sir, have indeed
comprehended two aspicious persons, and we
would have them this morning examined before 45
your Worship.

LEONATO Take their examination yourself and bring it
me. I am now in great haste, as it may appear unto
you.

DOGBERRY It shall be suffigance. 50

LEONATO Drink some wine ere you go. Fare you well.

Dogberry and Verges finally get to the point. Sort of.

They say they've captured two knaves, and they’d like to examine these men in Leonato’s presence. Unfortunately, this simple message is really poorly delivered, and Dogberry and Verges manage to totally obscure their meaning.

Leonato is kind of occupied trying to get his daughter married, so he tells Dogberry and Verges to do the examination themselves and report back to him on the outcome.

Enter a Messenger.

MESSENGER My lord, they stay for you to give your
daughter to her husband.

LEONATO I’ll wait upon them. I am ready.

He exits, with the Messenger.

DOGBERRY Go, good partner, go, get you to Francis 55
Seacoal. Bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the
jail. We are now to examination these men.

VERGES And we must do it wisely.

DOGBERRY We will spare for no wit, I warrant you.
Here’s that shall drive some of them to a noncome. 60
Only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication
and meet me at the jail.

They exit.

A messenger arrives to tell Leonato it's time for him to give his daughter away, and they leave together.

Dogberry tells Verges to get Francis Seacoal (um...his name is George—not Francis) to meet them at the station.

Seacoal is one of those fancypants guys who can read and write, so they'll have him transcribe the interrogation (which Dogberry calls an excommunication). This should be good.

Much Ado About Nothing: Act 3, Scene 5 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 3, Scene 5 of Much Ado About Nothing from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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