Measure for Measure: Act 4, Scene 4 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 4, Scene 4 of Measure for Measure from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Angelo and Escalus. ESCALUS Every letter he hath writ hath disvouched other. ANGELO In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions show much like to madness. Pray heaven his wisdom be not tainted. And why meet him at the 5 gates and deliver our authorities there? ESCALUS I guess not. ANGELO And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the 10 street? ESCALUS He shows his reason for that: to have a dispatch of complaints, and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us. 15 ANGELO Well, I beseech you let it be proclaimed. Betimes i’ th’ morn, I’ll call you at your house. Give notice to such men of sort and suit as are to meet him. ESCALUS I shall, sir. Fare you well. 20 ANGELO Good night. Escalus exits. This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant And dull to all proceedings. A deflowered maid, And by an eminent body that enforced The law against it. But that her tender shame 25 Will not proclaim against her maiden loss, How might she tongue me! Yet reason dares her no, For my authority bears of a credent bulk That no particular scandal once can touch But it confounds the breather. He should have lived, 30 Save that his riotous youth with dangerous sense Might in the times to come have ta’en revenge By so receiving a dishonored life With ransom of such shame. Would yet he had lived. Alack, when once our grace we have forgot, 35 Nothing goes right. We would, and we would not. He exits.	At Angelo's house, Escalus and Angelo read a letter from the Duke and note that Vincentio's letters don't seem to make any sense. They wonder if he's losing it. Angelo also wonders why the Duke wants them to meet him at the city's gate and why the Duke wants them to make an announcement that anyone who's got a beef with Angelo's version of justice should make a public declaration. Escalus reasons, incorrectly, that the Duke just wants to make things easier for them. Escalus says so long to Angelo and heads home for the night. Alone on stage, Angelo tells us that he knows he's in deep, deep trouble. He hopes that Isabella will be too ashamed to accuse him of taking her virginity. (OK. Now we know that Angelo and Mariana have had their secret rendezvous in the garden, where Angelo thought he was hooking up with Isabella.) Angelo also confesses that he didn't hold up his end of the bargain (by freeing Claudio) because he was afraid Claudio would want revenge.

Original Text

Translated Text

Enter Angelo and Escalus.

ESCALUS
Every letter he hath writ hath disvouched
other.

ANGELO
In most uneven and distracted manner. His
actions show much like to madness. Pray heaven his
wisdom be not tainted. And why meet him at the 5
gates and deliver our authorities there?

ESCALUS
I guess not.

ANGELO
And why should we proclaim it in an hour
before his entering, that if any crave redress of
injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the 10
street?

ESCALUS
He shows his reason for that: to have a dispatch
of complaints, and to deliver us from devices
hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand
against us. 15

ANGELO
Well, I beseech you let it be proclaimed.
Betimes i’ th’ morn, I’ll call you at your house. Give
notice to such men of sort and suit as are to meet
him.

ESCALUS
I shall, sir. Fare you well. 20

ANGELO Good night.

Escalus exits.

This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant
And dull to all proceedings. A deflowered maid,
And by an eminent body that enforced
The law against it. But that her tender shame 25
Will not proclaim against her maiden loss,
How might she tongue me! Yet reason dares her no,
For my authority bears of a credent bulk
That no particular scandal once can touch
But it confounds the breather. He should have lived, 30
Save that his riotous youth with dangerous sense
Might in the times to come have ta’en revenge
By so receiving a dishonored life
With ransom of such shame. Would yet he had lived.
Alack, when once our grace we have forgot, 35
Nothing goes right. We would, and we would not.

He exits.

At Angelo's house, Escalus and Angelo read a letter from the Duke and note that Vincentio's letters don't seem to make any sense. They wonder if he's losing it.

Angelo also wonders why the Duke wants them to meet him at the city's gate and why the Duke wants them to make an announcement that anyone who's got a beef with Angelo's version of justice should make a public declaration.

Escalus reasons, incorrectly, that the Duke just wants to make things easier for them.

Escalus says so long to Angelo and heads home for the night.

Alone on stage, Angelo tells us that he knows he's in deep, deep trouble. He hopes that Isabella will be too ashamed to accuse him of taking her virginity. (OK. Now we know that Angelo and Mariana have had their secret rendezvous in the garden, where Angelo thought he was hooking up with Isabella.)

Angelo also confesses that he didn't hold up his end of the bargain (by freeing Claudio) because he was afraid Claudio would want revenge.

Measure for Measure: Act 4, Scene 4 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 4, Scene 4 of Measure for Measure from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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