Much Ado About Nothing, Act 3, Scene 5

What would you with me, honest neighbour?

What do you want with me, honest neighbour?

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

Well, sir, I'd like to have some confidence with you, something that decerns you closely.

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

Be brief, please; you can see this is a busy time for me.

Marry, this it is, sir.

Well, sir, here it is.

Yes, in truth it is, sir.

Yes, truly it is, sir.

What is it, my good friends?

What is it, my good friends?

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

Goodman Verges here, sir, wanders a little off the point: he's an old man, sir, and his wits are not as blunt as, God help him, I'd like them to be; but honestly, he's as honest as the skin between his eyebrows.

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

Yes, thank God, I'm as honest as any man alive who is an old man and no more honest than I am.

Comparisons are odorous: palabras, neighbour Verges.

Comparisons are odorous: palabras, neighbour Verges.

Neighbours, you are tedious.

Neighbours, you are tedious.

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 in my heart to bestow it all of your worship.

It's good of your worship to say so, but we're only the poor Duke's officers; still, truly, for my own part, if I were as tedious as a king, I could find it in my heart to bestow it all on your worship.

All thy tediousness on me! ah?

All your tediousness on me! Eh?

Yea, and ’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 but a poor man, I am glad to hear it.

Yes, even if it were a thousand pounds more than it is; for I hear as good exclamation of your worship as of any man in the city, and though I'm only a poor man, I'm glad to hear it.

And so am I.

And so am I.

I would fain know what you have to say.

I would very much like to know what you have to say.

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

Well, sir, our watch last night, saving your worship's presence, have arrested a couple of as complete villains as any in Messina.

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, neighbour Verges: well, God’s a good man; and two 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 worshipped: all men are not alike; alas! good neighbour.

He's a good old man, sir; he will keep talking; as they say, 'when the age is in, the wit is out.' God help us! It's a wonder to see! Well said, honestly, neighbour Verges: well, God's a good man; and if two men ride one horse, one must ride behind. An honest soul, honestly, sir; on my word he is, as honest as any man that ever broke bread; but God must be worshipped: all men are not alike; alas, good neighbour.

Indeed, neighbour, he comes too short of you.

Indeed, neighbour, he falls far short of you.

Gifts that God gives.

Those are gifts that God gives.

I must leave you.

I have to leave you.

One word, sir: our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two aspicious persons, and we would have them this morning examined before your worship.

One word, sir: our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two aspicious persons, and we'd like them examined this morning in front of your worship.

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

Take their examination yourself and bring it to me: I'm in great haste now, as you can see.

It shall be suffigance.

That shall be suffigance.

Drink some wine ere you go: fare you well.

Have some wine before you go: goodbye.

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

My lord, they're waiting for you to give your daughter to her husband.

I’ll wait upon them: I am ready.

I'll go and attend them: I'm ready.

Go, good partner, go get you to Francis Seacoal; bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the gaol: we are now to examination these men.

Go, good partner, go and find Francis Seacoal; tell him to bring his pen and inkhorn to the jail: we're now to examination these men.

And we must do it wisely.

And we must do it wisely.

We will spare for no wit, I warrant you; here’s that shall drive some of them to a non-come: only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication, and meet me at the gaol.

We won't hold back any wit, I promise you; here's something that will drive some of them to a non-come: just get the learned writer to write down our excommunication, and meet me at the jail.