For this blog post, I chose to follow the thought in the conversation between Claudio and Benedick when they discussed the fact that Claudio was in love with Hero. To follow the thought, I shortened metaphors into short sentences carrying the main idea across. For example: "play the good flouting jack?" -> "do you mock me?". I also did away with most of the Victorian English to make the passage more understandable.
Actual text
Claudio: Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of Signor Leonato?
Benedick: I noted her not, but looked on her.
Claudio: Is she not a modest young lady?
Benedick: Do you question me as an honest man should do, for my simple true judgment? Or would you have me speak after my custom, as being a professed tyrant to their sex?
Claudio: No, I pray thee speak in sober judgment.
Benedick: Why, i' faith, methinks she's too low for a high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too little for a great praise. Only this commendation I can afford her, that were she other than she is, she were unhandsome, and being no other but as she is, I do not like her.
Claudio: Thou thinkest I am in sport. I pray thee tell me truly how thou lik'st her.
Benedick: Would you buy her, that you inquire after her?
Claudio: Can the world buy such a jewel?
Benedick: Yes, and a case to put it into. But speak you this with a sad brow? Or do you play the good flouting jack, to tell us Cupid is a good hare finder and Vulcan a rare carpenter? Come, in what key shall a man take you to go in the song?
Claudio: In mine eye, she is the sweetest lady that I ever looked on.
Benedick: I can see yet without spectacles, and I see no such matter. There's her cousin, an she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December. But I hope you have no intent to turn husband, have you?
Claudio: I would scarce trust myself, though I had sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife.
Benedick: Is't come to this? In faith, hath not the world one man but he will wear his cap with suspicion? Shall I never see a bachelor of threescore again? Go to, i' faith, an thou wilt needs thrust thy neck into a yoke, wear the print of it and sigh away Sundays. Look! Don Pedro is returned to seek you.
Follow the thought
Claudio: Benedick, did you observe Hero's beauty?
Benedick: I saw her, but beauty seemed absent.
Claudio: She is such a modest woman, isn't she?
Benedick: Do you want me to answer you honestly? Or do you want me to answer as others would expect of me, as a man who thinks lowly of the opposite sex?
Claudio: I would hope you answer me truthfully.
Benedick: She is not fit for praise, though I will offer her this: If she were not such an important figure, she would be unseemly. As she is now, I have no interest in her.
Claudio: You think this is all fun and games! Tell me what you really think.
Benedick: If she could be purchased, would you?
Claudio: A beauty like hers is priceless, not even the world equals its value.
Benedick: The world could easily buy it, and then much more. But is this how you truly feel, or do you mock me, saying blind Cupid can hunt rabbits and Vulcan, God of smithing, would make an excellent carpenter? What will it take for me to convince you to stop swooning over Hero?
Claudio: I think of her as the kindest woman I have had the good fortune of seeing.
Benedick: I do not need glasses to see, and I see nothing of the sort. Her cousin would be beautiful if not for her overwhelming anger that overshadows her good looks completely. I hope you will not become a husband.
Claudio: I am still wary of marriage, but I may change my mind if Hero would be my spouse.
Benedick: Will I ever see a good bachelor again? Would you really give yourself into marriage? To be willingly forced into a yoke and made to work with little chance of finding freedom again? To exhaust yourself during the holy day of rest? Anyway, Don Pedro is here to see you.
No comments:
Post a Comment