Measure for Measure Act 2, Scene 3 Translation

Measure for Measure Translation Act 2, Scene 3

Also check out our detailed summary & analysis of this scene

Check out our summary & analysis of this scene

Original

Translation

Enter, severally, DUKE VINCENTIO disguised as a friar, and Provost

DUKE VINCENTIO (disguised as a friar) and the PROVOST enter, one at a time.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Hail to you, provost! so I think you are.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Greetings to you, Provost! At least I think that's who you are.

PROVOST

I am the provost. What's your will, good friar?

PROVOST

I am the provost. How can I help you, good friar?

DUKE VINCENTIO

Bound by my charity and my blest order, I come to visit the afflicted spirits Here in the prison. Do me the common right To let me see them and to make me know The nature of their crimes, that I may minister To them accordingly.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Owing to my charity and the duties of my order, I've come to visit the troubled people here in the prison. Do me a favor: let me see them, and tell me what their crimes were so that I can minister to them accordingly.

PROVOST

I would do more than that, if more were needful.

PROVOST

I would do more than that if it were necessary.

Enter JULIET

JULIET enters.

Look, here comes one: a gentlewoman of mine, Who, falling in the flaws of her own youth, Hath blister'd her report: she is with child; And he that got it, sentenced; a young man More fit to do another such offence Than die for this.

Look, her comes one: a gentlewoman who is one of my prisoners. She caved in to her own youthful desires and has ruined her reputation. She's pregnant, and the man who knocked her up is sentenced to die—a young man who ought to be committing another "offense" of that kind rather than dying for it.

DUKE VINCENTIO

When must he die?

DUKE VINCENTIO

When is he scheduled to die?

PROVOST

As I do think, to-morrow.I have provided for you: stay awhile, [To JULIET] And you shall be conducted.

PROVOST

Tomorrow, I think. I've prepared everything for you, so stay a while.

[To JULIET] And you'll be taken care of.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Repent you, fair one, of the sin you carry?

DUKE VINCENTIO

Pretty girl: do you repent of the sin that got you pregnant?

JULIET

I do; and bear the shame most patiently.

JULIET

I do, and I'm bearing the shame most patiently.

DUKE VINCENTIO

I'll teach you how you shall arraign your conscience, And try your penitence, if it be sound, Or hollowly put on.

DUKE VINCENTIO

I'll show you how to put your conscience on trial so that you can see if your repentance is real, or only hollow and fake.

JULIET

I'll gladly learn.

JULIET

I'm happy to learn.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Love you the man that wrong'd you?

DUKE VINCENTIO

Do you love the man that wronged you?

JULIET

Yes, as I love the woman that wrong'd him.

JULIET

Yes, as much as I love the woman that wronged him.

DUKE VINCENTIO

So then it seems your most offenceful actWas mutually committed?

DUKE VINCENTIO

So then, it seems your offensive act was mutually committed?

JULIET

Mutually.

JULIET

Mutually.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Then was your sin of heavier kind than his.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Then your sin was more serious than his was.

JULIET

I do confess it, and repent it, father.

JULIET

I confess it and repent it, father.

DUKE VINCENTIO

'Tis meet so, daughter: but lest you do repent, As that the sin hath brought you to this shame, Which sorrow is always towards ourselves, not heaven, Showing we would not spare heaven as we love it, But as we stand in fear,—

DUKE VINCENTIO

That's good, daughter. But don't only repent because the sin has caused you to be ashamed. Shame is always self-centered, not God-centered. It shows we don't obey God because we love him, but only because we're afraid—

JULIET

I do repent me, as it is an evil,And take the shame with joy.

JULIET

I repent it because it's evil, and I accept the shame joyfully.

DUKE VINCENTIO

There rest. Your partner, as I hear, must die to-morrow, And I am going with instruction to him. Grace go with you, Benedicite!

DUKE VINCENTIO

Rest, then. I hear your partner has to die tomorrow, and I'm going to give him his last rites. Grace be with you, and God bless you!

Exit

DUKE VINCENTIO exits.

JULIET

Must die to-morrow! O injurious love, That respites me a life, whose very comfort Is still a dying horror!

JULIET

He dies tomorrow! Oh, unjust love: because I'm carrying Claudio's child, my life has been spared. But any comfort I gain from that turns to horror because of Claudio's death!

PROVOST

'Tis pity of him.

PROVOST

It's a shame about him.

Exeunt

They exit.