Review the following tips for ‘translating’ Shakespeare; then rephrase the sentences that follow into contemporary English.
Helpful Tips
Translate groups of words between punctuation marks.
Ex. There be some sports are painful, and their labor/ Delight in them [sets] off; ...
Some games are painful but enjoyment makes up for the challenge
Be on the lookout for contracted words where a letter is replaced by an apostrophe
Ex. be’t = be it on’t = on it; wi’ = with
’gainst = against ta’en = taken i’ = it, in, or is (!)
Reword inverted sentences: identify the subject of a sentence and place it in front of the verb(s).
Ex. “Never was seen so black a day as this:” (Romeo and Juliet, Act IV, Scene v)
translates to
“A day as black as this was never seen:”
DIRECTIONS: Re-read the following passages from Act 3, Scene 1 and reword them into contemporary English so they read as if being spoken today.
You will need to view the quote in context in order to identify who is speaking and where in the scene it is taking place.
“My sweet mistress weeps when she sees me work, and says such baseness/ Had never like executor.” (3.1.11-14)
“No, noble mistress, ‘tis fresh morning with me/ When you are by at night.” (3.1.41-42)
“For several virtues/ Have I liked several women, never any/ With so full soul but some defect in her/ Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed,/ And put it to the foil.” (3.1.52-56)
“But I prattle/ Something too wildly, and my father’s precepts/ I therein do forget.” (3.1.68-70)
“The very instant that I saw you did/ My heart fly to your service, there resides/ To make me slave to it, and for your sake/ Am I this patient log-man.” (3.1.76-79)
“So glad of this as they I cannot be,/ Who are surprised withal; but my rejoicing/ At nothing can be more.” (3.1.111-113)
