Nay, good my lord, put him to’t; let him have his way.
No, my lord, push him to it; let him try.
Come on, let the guy give it a shot.
let him try
If your lordship find him not a hilding, hold me no more in your
respect.
If you don't find him to be a worthless person, stop respecting me anymore.
If he turns out not to be pathetic, you can lose respect for me.
if hes not useless, stop respecting me
On my life, my lord, a bubble.
I stake my life on it, my lord—he's a complete fraud.
I'd bet my life he's a total fake.
hes definitely a fraud
Do you think I am so far deceived in him?
Do you think I'm so completely deceived about him?
You think I'm that blind about the guy?
you think im that fooled?
Believe it, my lord, in mine own direct knowledge, without any malice,
but to speak of him as my kinsman, he’s a most notable coward, an
infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise-breaker, the owner of no
one good quality worthy your lordship’s entertainment.
Believe me, my lord, from my own direct knowledge with no ill intent—speaking as his kinsman—he's a remarkably cowardly man, an endless and constant liar, someone who breaks promises constantly, and he doesn't own a single good quality worth your time.
Look, I know him well and I'm not trying to be mean, but he's a complete coward, constantly lies, breaks every promise, and has absolutely nothing good about him.
hes a coward liar & breaks promises with zero good qualities
It were fit you knew him; lest, reposing too far in his virtue, which
he hath not, he might at some great and trusty business, in a main
danger fail you.
It's important that you know his true character; otherwise, if you relied too much on virtues he doesn't have, he might fail you in some great and crucial business when you're in real danger.
You should know what he's really like, because if you trust in virtues he doesn't have, he could let you down at the worst possible time.
know what hes really like or hed fail u when it matters
I would I knew in what particular action to try him.
I wish I knew what specific action to use to test him.
I wish I knew exactly what to have him do to prove what he is.
wish i knew how to test him
None better than to let him fetch off his drum, which you hear him so
confidently undertake to do.
There's no better way than to let him retrieve his drum, which you hear him promise so confidently he will do.
Nothing would be better than letting him try to get his drum back—you know he's completely confident he can do it.
let him get his drum back hes super confident
I with a troop of Florentines will suddenly surprise him; such I will
have whom I am sure he knows not from the enemy; we will bind and
hoodwink him so that he shall suppose no other but that he is carried
into the leaguer of the adversaries when we bring him to our own tents.
Be but your lordship present at his examination; if he do not for the
promise of his life, and in the highest compulsion of base fear, offer
to betray you, and deliver all the intelligence in his power against
you, and that with the divine forfeit of his soul upon oath, never
trust my judgment in anything.
I'll suddenly surprise him with a troop of Florentines—soldiers who I'm sure he doesn't know as enemies—we'll bind and blindfold him so that he thinks nothing else but that he's been taken to the enemy camp when we bring him to our tents. Just be present when we question him; if he doesn't—for the sake of his life and driven by extreme fear—offer to betray you and deliver all the intelligence he has against you, and all of it under oath swearing his soul on it, then never trust my judgment again.
I'll ambush him with some Florentine soldiers he doesn't know—we'll blindfold him so he thinks he's been captured and taken to the enemy camp. Just watch when we question him. If he doesn't try to betray you and give up all his secrets to save his own life—and I mean, extreme fear should make him do that—then you can never trust what I say again.
well blindfold him he'll think hes captured & hell betray u to stay alive
O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch his drum; he says he has a
stratagem for’t. When your lordship sees the bottom of his success
in’t, and to what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will be melted, if
you give him not John Drum’s entertainment, your inclining cannot be
removed. Here he comes.
For goodness sake, let him retrieve his drum; he says he has a strategy for it. When you see the reality of what he accomplishes and what this fake piece of material is actually made of, if you don't give him what he deserves, your judgment can't be wrong. Here he comes.
Come on, let him go get his drum back—he says he has a plan. When you see how this actually turns out and discover what he's really made of, if you don't give him what he deserves for trying, nobody could blame you. Here he is.
let him try for his drum youll see hes fake when it goes wrong
O, for the love of laughter, hinder not the honour of his design: let
him fetch off his drum in any hand.
For goodness sake, don't get in the way of his proud attempt: let him retrieve his drum no matter what.
Come on, don't stop him from trying this—let him go get his drum back.
dont stop him let him get his drum
How now, monsieur! This drum sticks sorely in your disposition.
How now, sir! This drum is really bothering you.
So, what's up? This drum thing is really on your mind.
u seem rly upset about the drum
The scene is structured around two parallel schemes: the lords trapping Parolles, and Bertram pursuing Diana. The parallelism is deliberate and dark. In both cases, a target is being observed and assessed without knowing it. In both cases, the scheme involves deception. In both cases, the goal is exposure of something false. But the moral valuation of the two schemes is entirely different: the Parolles trap is treated as admirable (exposing a genuine fraud, protecting Bertram), while Bertram's pursuit of Diana is treated as normal male behavior (she's 'a fair creature,' her virtue is 'the fault'). Nobody in the scene notices the parallel. Shakespeare trusts the audience to make it. The play is quietly asking: if it's wrong to pretend you're a soldier when you're not, what is it when you pursue a woman's honor while already married to another? Nobody names this as a trap. It is one.
A pox on ’t; let it go; ’tis but a drum.
A curse on it; let it go; it's just a drum.
Forget about it; it's just a drum.
forget it its just a drum
But a drum! Is’t but a drum? A drum so lost! There was excellent
command, to charge in with our horse upon our own wings, and to rend
our own soldiers.
Just a drum! Is it just a drum? A drum so lost! There was excellent command, to charge in with our cavalry against our own troops and wound our own soldiers.
Just a drum? Just a drum?! A drum that's gone! The command was perfect—to charge at our own people with our cavalry and hurt our own soldiers.
just a drum? we charged our own troops and hurt our own soldiers
That was not to be blam’d in the command of the service; it was a
disaster of war that Caesar himself could not have prevented, if he had
been there to command.
That wasn't something to blame in the command of the battle; it was a disaster of war that even Caesar himself couldn't have prevented if he had been there commanding.
That wasn't the commander's fault; it was just one of those things in war that even Caesar couldn't have stopped.
it wasnt the commanders fault even caesar couldnt stop it
Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success: some dishonour we had in
the loss of that drum, but it is not to be recovered.
Well, we can't greatly blame our success: we had some shame in losing that drum, but it can't be recovered.
Look, we can't really criticize how things went: sure, losing the drum is embarrassing, but it's gone now.
we cant blame ourselves losing the drum sucks but its gone
It might have been recovered.
It could have been recovered.
It could've been gotten back.
it couldve been retrieved
It might, but it is not now.
It might have been, but it's not now.
Yeah, but it's not anymore.
couldve been but it aint
It is to be recovered. But that the merit of service is seldom
attributed to the true and exact performer, I would have that drum or
another, or _hic jacet_.
It can be recovered. But because credit for service is rarely given to the person who actually does the work, I would want either that drum or another one, or I'm done for.
It can be gotten back. But since people never give credit where it's due, I want either that drum or something to replace it, or I'm finished.
it can be retrieved but nobody credits real work so i need that drum or im done
Why, if you have a stomach, to’t, monsieur, if you think your mystery
in stratagem can bring this instrument of honour again into his native
quarter, be magnanimous in the enterprise, and go on; I will grace the
attempt for a worthy exploit; if you speed well in it, the duke shall
both speak of it and extend to you what further becomes his greatness,
even to the utmost syllable of your worthiness.
Well, if you have the courage to try, sir, if you believe your skill in strategy can bring this instrument of honor back to its home, be brave in this task and go forward; I will praise this attempt as a worthy achievement; if you succeed in it, the duke will speak of it and give you rewards that match his greatness, even to the fullest extent of what you deserve.
Look, if you've got the guts to do this, if you think your skill at planning can get this important drum back where it belongs, then be bold and go for it; I'll credit this as a real achievement; if you pull it off, the duke will talk about it and give you everything you've earned.
if u can get the drum back ill praise it & the duke will reward u
By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it.
I swear on my honor as a soldier, I will do it.
I swear as a soldier, I'll do it.
i swear ill do it
But you must not now slumber in it.
But you must not fall asleep on it.
But don't slack on it.
but dont slack on it
I’ll about it this evening; and I will presently pen down my dilemmas,
encourage myself in my certainty, put myself into my mortal
preparation; and by midnight look to hear further from me.
I'll do it tonight; and I will immediately write down my doubts, encourage myself through my confidence, prepare myself mentally for death; and by midnight expect to hear more from me.
I'll work on it tonight; I'll write down what worries me, psych myself up with confidence, get ready for anything; and I'll update you by midnight.
ill do it tonight get my head right & update u by midnight
May I be bold to acquaint his grace you are gone about it?
Can I tell his grace that you've begun on this?
Can I tell the duke you've started on this?
should i tell the duke ur doing this?
I know not what the success will be, my lord, but the attempt I vow.
I don't know what the result will be, my lord, but I promise to make the attempt.
I don't know if it'll work, but I promise I'll try.
idk if ill succeed but ill try
I know th’art valiant; and to the possibility of thy soldiership, will
subscribe for thee. Farewell.
I know you're brave; and I'll vouch for your fighting ability. Goodbye.
I know you're brave; I'll stand behind your skills. Goodbye.
i know ur brave goodbye
The lost drum that drives this scene is one of the play's cleverest pieces of stagecraft. A military drum was literally the instrument of command in battle — it set the pace of marching, signaled the attack, maintained order. To lose a drum was to lose the symbol of organized martial courage. Parolles has been obsessing over this lost drum because it's the one visible military failure he can use to perform his warrior credentials — by claiming he could get it back. The lords recognize this immediately: the drum mission is perfect precisely because it requires actual courage, which Parolles doesn't have. When they let him go 'get his drum,' they already know he'll invent an elaborate excuse. What they don't know is just how spectacularly he'll cave under pressure. The drum mission exposes Parolles's hollow core — and the scene asks you to notice that Bertram, watching his companion be exposed, is pursuing his own hollow mission across town.
I love not many words.
I don't like to use many words.
I'm a person of few words.
i dont talk much
No more than a fish loves water. Is not this a strange fellow, my lord,
that so confidently seems to undertake this business, which he knows is
not to be done; damns himself to do, and dares better be damn’d than to
do’t.
No more than a fish loves water. Isn't this a strange person, my lord, one who seems so confidently to undertake this business that he knows can't be done; damns himself to do it, and would rather be damned than not try.
About as much as a fish loves water. Isn't this guy crazy, acting so confident about doing something he knows is impossible; like he's willing to damn himself just to make the attempt.
hes willing to damn himself trying to do something thats impossible
You do not know him, my lord, as we do; certain it is that he will
steal himself into a man’s favour, and for a week escape a great deal
of discoveries, but when you find him out, you have him ever after.
You don't know him like we do; it's certain that he can charm his way into someone's favor, and for a week he can avoid being found out, but once you figure him out, you know what he's really like forever.
You don't know him like we do; he can totally charm people at first, and he can fool them for a week or so, but once you see through him, that's it—you know what he really is.
hell charm u at first but once u figure him out thats it
Why, do you think he will make no deed at all of this, that so
seriously he does address himself unto?
Do you think he won't actually do anything with this task that he's approaching so seriously?
You think he's not gonna actually do anything with this thing he's being so serious about?
u think hell actually do nothing about this?
None in the world; but return with an invention, and clap upon you two
or three probable lies; but we have almost embossed him; you shall see
his fall tonight; for indeed he is not for your lordship’s respect.
Nothing at all in the world; but he'll return with a made-up story and throw two or three believable lies at you; but we've almost trapped him; you'll see him fail tonight; because he's not worthy of your respect.
Nothing at all; he'll come back with some story and some lies that sound pretty good; but we've basically got him cornered; you'll see him fall apart tonight; he's not worth your time.
hell come back with lies but hell fail tonight hes not worth ur time
We’ll make you some sport with the fox ere we case him. He was first
smok’d by the old Lord Lafew; when his disguise and he is parted, tell
me what a sprat you shall find him; which you shall see this very
night.
We'll have some fun catching this fox before we strip him. He was first exposed by the old Lord Lafew; when his disguise falls away from him, you'll see what a small, insignificant person he is; which you'll see tonight.
We'll have some fun with this guy before we catch him. Old Lord Lafew already had him figured out; when his mask comes off, you'll see he's basically nothing; you'll see it tonight.
well have fun with this guy tonight & youll see hes nothing
I must go look my twigs. He shall be caught.
I need to go check my traps. He'll be caught.
I need to go set up. He's going to be caught.
gotta set up my traps hes gonna get caught
Your brother, he shall go along with me.
Your brother will come with me.
Your brother's coming with me.
ur brother comes with me
As’t please your lordship. I’ll leave you.
As you wish. I'll leave.
Whatever you want. I'm going.
ok ill go
Now will I lead you to the house, and show you
The lass I spoke of.
Now I will take you to the house and show you the girl I told you about.
Now I'll take you to see the girl I mentioned.
come see the girl i told u about
But you say she’s honest.
But you say she's virtuous.
But you said she's honest.
but u said shes honest?
That’s all the fault. I spoke with her but once,
And found her wondrous cold, but I sent to her
By this same coxcomb that we have i’ the wind
Tokens and letters which she did re-send,
And this is all I have done. She’s a fair creature;
Will you go see her?
That's all the problem. I spoke with her only once, and found her extremely cold, but I sent to her through this same fool we have here gifts and letters which she sent back, and that's all I've done. She's a beautiful woman; will you come see her?
That's the whole issue. I talked to her once and she was totally cold to me, but I sent her stuff and letters through this idiot we've got and she sent them back, and that's it. She's gorgeous; want to go see her?
shes cold to me i sent her gifts via that fool & thats it shell u see her?
With all my heart, my lord.
Absolutely, my lord.
Totally, let's go.
yeah lets go
The Reckoning
A scene of male conspiracy on two tracks: the lords setting up Parolles's humiliation, and Bertram casually describing his pursuit of Diana's honor as if it's the same kind of game. There's a dark parallel running through this scene that the lords don't quite notice — they are taking elaborate care to expose a fraud, while Bertram is committing a different kind of fraud against Diana and no one treats it the same way. The scene ends with Bertram leading the Second Lord to view Diana, his intended victim, as if she's a sporting trophy.
If this happened today…
At a work retreat, two colleagues convince a third that his best friend and sidekick is actually a fraud who has been lying about his credentials and will sell out everyone if pressured. They set up an elaborate fake interview to expose him. Then the same man who just agreed to entrap his friend mentions, as an afterthought, that there's a girl at the hotel he's been trying to seduce — 'she's playing hard to get but I'll get there.' His colleague says 'I'll come have a look.' Nobody treats this as connected to the conversation they just had.