Much Ado About Nothing, Act 1, Scene 3

What the good-year, my lord! why are you thus out of measure sad?

What on earth, my lord! Why are you so immeasurably gloomy?

There is no measure in the occasion that breeds; therefore the sadness is without limit.

There is no measure in the cause that produces it, so the gloom has no limit.

You should hear reason.

You ought to listen to reason.

And when I have heard it, what blessings brings it?

And once I have listened to it, what benefits does it bring?

If not a present remedy, at least a patient sufferance.

If not an immediate cure, at least the patience to endure.

I wonder that thou (being as thou say’st thou art, born under Saturn) goest about to apply a moral medicine to a mortifying mischief. I cannot hide what I am: I must be sad when I have cause, and smile at no man’s jests; eat when I have stomach, and wait for no man’s leisure; sleep when I am drowsy, and tend on no man’s business; laugh when I am merry, and claw no man in his humour.

I'm amazed that you—being, as you say you are, born under Saturn—try to apply a moral medicine to a deadly disease. I cannot hide what I am: I must be serious when I have reason to be, and smile at no man's jokes; eat when I'm hungry, and wait for no man's convenience; sleep when I'm drowsy, and attend to no man's business; laugh when I'm cheerful, and flatter no man's mood.

Yea; but you must not make the full show of this till you may do it without controlment. You have of late stood out against your brother, and he hath ta’en you newly into his grace; where it is impossible you should take true root but by the fair weather that you make yourself: it is needful that you frame the season for your own harvest.

Yes, but you must not display all this openly until you can do it without being checked. You have lately rebelled against your brother, and he has just taken you back into his favour; and there it is impossible for you to take real root except through the fine weather you make for yourself. You need to shape the season for your own harvest.

I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace; and it better fits my blood to be disdained of all than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any: in this, though I cannot be said to be a flattering honest man, it must not be denied but I am a plain-dealing villain. I am trusted with a muzzle and enfranchised with a clog; therefore I have decreed not to sing in my cage. If I had my mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do my liking: in the meantime, let me be that I am, and seek not to alter me.

I would rather be a wild rose in a hedge than a garden rose in his favour; and it suits my nature better to be despised by everyone than to put on a manner that steals affection from anyone. In this, though I can't be called a flattering honest man, it can't be denied that I am a straightforward villain. I'm trusted with a muzzle on and set free with a weight chained to my leg; so I have decided not to sing in my cage. If my mouth were free, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do what I please. In the meantime, let me be what I am, and don't try to change me.

Can you make no use of your discontent?

Can you make no use of your discontent?

I make all use of it, for I use it only. Who comes here?

I make every use of it, since it's all I use. Who's coming here?

What news, Borachio?

What news, Borachio?

I came yonder from a great supper: the Prince your brother is royally entertained by Leonato; and I can give you intelligence of an intended marriage.

I've just come from a grand supper over there: the Prince your brother is being royally entertained by Leonato, and I can give you information about a marriage that's planned.

Will it serve for any model to build mischief on? What is he for a fool that betroths himself to unquietness?

Will it serve as any foundation to build trouble on? What kind of fool is he who engages himself to a life of unrest?

Marry, it is your brother’s right hand.

Why, it's your brother's right-hand man.

Who? the most exquisite Claudio?

Who? The utterly perfect Claudio?

Even he.

That's the one.

A proper squire! And who, and who? which way looks he?

A fine young gentleman! And who's the woman, who? Which way is he looking?

Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonato.

Why, at Hero, Leonato's daughter and heir.

A very forward March-chick! How came you to this?

A very precocious chick hatched in March! How did you find this out?

Being entertained for a perfumer, as I was smoking a musty room, comes me the Prince and Claudio, hand in hand, in sad conference: I whipt me behind the arras, and there heard it agreed upon that the Prince should woo Hero for himself, and having obtained her, give her to Count Claudio.

I'd been hired to perfume the rooms, and as I was fumigating a stale-smelling room, along come the Prince and Claudio, hand in hand, in serious conversation. I slipped behind the wall hanging, and there I heard them agree that the Prince should court Hero for himself, and, having won her, give her to Count Claudio.

Come, come; let us thither: this may prove food to my displeasure. That young start-up hath all the glory of my overthrow: if I can cross him any way, I bless myself every way. You are both sure, and will assist me?

Come on, come on, let's go there: this may turn out to be food for my resentment. That young upstart gets all the credit for my defeat. If I can thwart him in any way, I do myself good in every way. You are both reliable, and will help me?

To the death, my lord.

To the death, my lord.

Let us to the great supper: their cheer is the greater that I am subdued. Would the cook were of my mind! Shall we go to prove what’s to be done?

Let's go to the grand supper: their good cheer is all the greater because I've been beaten. I wish the cook shared my mind! Shall we go and find out what can be done?

We’ll wait upon your Lordship.

We'll follow your Lordship.