Did I not tell you she was innocent?
Didn't I tell you she was innocent?
Didn't I say she was innocent?
told you she was innocent
So are the Prince and Claudio, who accus’d her
Upon the error that you heard debated:
But Margaret was in some fault for this,
Although against her will, as it appears
In the true course of all the question.
The Prince and Claudio are equally innocent; they were mistaken based on the error you all heard discussed. But Margaret was somewhat at fault for this, though not intentionally, as the investigation clearly showed.
The Prince and Claudio are as innocent as she is—they were just wrong about what they thought they heard. Margaret did mess up a bit, but she didn't do it on purpose.
prince & claudio got it wrong margaret messed up but not on purpose
Well, I am glad that all things sort so well.
Well, I'm glad everything turned out so well.
I'm really happy everything worked out.
glad everything worked out
And so am I, being else by faith enforc’d
To call young Claudio to a reckoning for it.
And so am I, since otherwise I would have felt obligated by my honor to demand that Claudio answer for what he did.
And I am too—otherwise I would've had to challenge Claudio to a duel over it.
would've had to fight claudio otherwise
Well, daughter, and you gentlewomen all,
Withdraw into a chamber by yourselves,
And when I send for you, come hither mask’d:
The Prince and Claudio promis’d by this hour
To visit me.
Well, daughter and all of you ladies, go into a private room together. When I send for you, come back wearing masks. The Prince and Claudio promised to visit me at this hour.
Alright, sweetheart and ladies, go into a private room and wait. When I call you, come back out wearing masks. The Prince and Claudio said they'd stop by soon.
go wait in a room masks on when we call
You know your office, brother;
You must be father to your brother’s daughter,
And give her to young Claudio.
You know your responsibilities, brother. You must act as a father to your brother's daughter and give her in marriage to young Claudio.
Listen, you know what you need to do. You're going to walk your niece down the aisle and hand her over to Claudio.
u gotta give ur niece to claudio just do ur part as dad
Which I will do with confirm’d countenance.
Which I will do while maintaining a confident expression.
Which I'll do while keeping a straight face.
i'll keep it together
Friar, I must entreat your pains, I think.
Friar, I must ask for your help, I think.
Friar, I think I'm going to need your help.
friar need your help
To do what, signior?
To do what, sir?
What do you need help with?
with what?
To bind me, or undo me; one of them.
Signior Leonato, truth it is, good signior,
Your niece regards me with an eye of favour.
To marry me or to leave me unmarried—one of the two. Signior Leonato, to tell the truth, your niece looks at me with favor.
To marry me or not—one or the other. Leonato, honestly, your niece looks at me pretty fondly.
beatrice looks at me with real affection
That eye my daughter lent her. ’Tis most true.
That affectionate look she borrowed from my daughter. That's absolutely true.
That's Hero's eye she's using. It's totally true.
hero's look not beatrice's lol
And I do with an eye of love requite her.
And I return that affection with love.
And I look at her with just as much love back.
i love her too
The sight whereof I think, you had from me,
From Claudio, and the Prince. But what’s your will?
I think you got that loving look from me, from Claudio, and from the Prince. But what do you want from us?
I think you learned to look at her that way from me, Claudio, and the Prince. What are you asking for?
anyway what do you want
Your answer, sir, is enigmatical:
But, for my will, my will is your good will
May stand with ours, this day to be conjoin’d
In the state of honourable marriage:
In which, good friar, I shall desire your help.
Your question is confusing, but what I want is that your goodwill may be united with ours on this day in an honorable marriage. For this, good friar, I'll need your help.
You're being pretty cryptic, but all I want is for you to want what we want—to get married today with the friar's help.
can we get married today with the friar's blessing
My heart is with your liking.
My heart is with your love.
I'm completely for it.
i'm all for it
And my help. Here comes the Prince and Claudio.
And you'll have my help. Here come the Prince and Claudio.
And you've got mine too. Oh, here come the Prince and Claudio.
and mine prince & claudio are here
with Attendants.
With attendants.
They arrive with their attendants.
they come w attendants
Good morrow to this fair assembly.
Good morning to this fine group.
Good morning, everyone.
hey all
Good morrow, Prince; good morrow, Claudio:
We here attend you. Are you yet determin’d
Today to marry with my brother’s daughter?
Good morning, Prince and Claudio. We're ready for you. Are you still going through with marrying my brother's daughter today?
Morning, Prince and Claudio. We're all set. Are you still planning to marry my brother's daughter today?
ready? still marrying hero today?
I’ll hold my mind, were she an Ethiope.
I'd keep my commitment even if she were from Ethiopia.
I'd marry her even if she were from anywhere.
idgaf where she's from i'm doing this
Call her forth, brother: here’s the friar ready.
Call her out, brother. The friar is ready.
Bring her out, brother. The friar's ready.
bring her out friar's ready
Good morrow, Benedick. Why, what’s the matter,
That you have such a February face,
So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness?
Good morning, Benedick. Why do you have such a gloomy face, full of cold, storms, and clouds?
Morning, Benedick. Why do you look so miserable, all cold and gloomy?
why are you so sad and miserable looking
I think he thinks upon the savage bull.
Tush! fear not, man, we’ll tip thy horns with gold,
And all Europa shall rejoice at thee,
As once Europa did at lusty Jove,
When he would play the noble beast in love.
I think he's worried about becoming a cuckold—a man with an unfaithful wife. Don't worry, man, we'll cover your horns in gold, and all of Europa will celebrate you the way she once celebrated Jupiter when he disguised himself as a bull to seduce her.
I bet he's thinking about becoming a cuckold—you know, a guy whose wife cheats on him. Don't sweat it, we'll gold your horns and everyone'll think you're great, like Europa did when Jupiter pretended to be a sexy bull.
bet he's worried about being a cuckold don't worry we got you
Bull Jove, sir, had an amiable low:
And some such strange bull leap’d your father’s cow,
And got a calf in that same noble feat,
Much like to you, for you have just his bleat.
Bull Jupiter had a charming moo, and apparently some similar bull jumped your father's cow and produced a calf from that same noble deed—much like you, since you sound just like that calf bleating.
Jupiter's bull had a cute moo, and sounds like some bull got with your dad's cow and made a calf—kind of like you, since you've got that same whiny sound.
your dad's cow got with a bull made you bleating like a calf lol
For this I owe you: here comes other reckonings.
I'll remember that joke; there are other debts to settle.
I owe you for that one; we'll settle up later.
i owe you for that we'll square up
Which is the lady I must seize upon?
Which one is the woman I must take?
So which one is the bride I'm getting?
which one's the lady?
This same is she, and I do give you her.
This is she, and I give her to you.
That's the bride, and she's all yours.
there she is she's yours
Why then, she’s mine. Sweet, let me see your face.
Then she's mine. Sweetheart, let me see your face.
So she's mine. Let me see that face.
she's mine let me see your face
No, that you shall not, till you take her hand
Before this friar, and swear to marry her.
No, you won't, not until you take her hand before this friar and swear to marry her.
Not yet, not until you take her hand in front of the friar and actually marry her.
not til you marry her first in front of the friar
Give me your hand: before this holy friar,
I am your husband, if you like of me.
Give me your hand. Before this holy friar, I take you as my husband, if you'll have me.
Give me your hand. Before this friar, I'm your husband—if you want me to be.
marry me if you want
And when I liv’d, I was your other wife:
[Unmasking.] And when you lov’d, you were my other husband.
When I was alive, I was already your wife. And when you loved me, you were already my husband.
I was basically your wife already, and you were basically my husband. We were as good as married.
i was already your wife you were already my husband
Another Hero!
Another Hero!
Another Hero!
another hero!
Nothing certainer:
One Hero died defil’d, but I do live,
And surely as I live, I am a maid.
Nothing is more certain: one version of Hero died ruined by slander, but I live now, and I swear I'm still a virgin.
There's nothing more sure—the other Hero died with a ruined reputation, but I'm alive and I promise I'm still pure.
the fake hero died i'm real i'm still a virgin
The former Hero! Hero that is dead!
The earlier Hero! Hero who was dead!
The Hero from before! The one who was dead!
the old hero the dead one
She died, my lord, but whiles her slander liv’d.
She died, my lord, but only while the slander against her lived.
She died, my lord, but only while the rumors about her were still alive.
she died but the rumors lived
All this amazement can I qualify:
When after that the holy rites are ended,
I’ll tell you largely of fair Hero’s death:
Meantime, let wonder seem familiar,
And to the chapel let us presently.
I can explain all this amazement. When the wedding ceremony is finished, I'll tell you the full story of Hero's death. For now, let's accept this as normal and go to the chapel right away.
I can explain all this. After the ceremony, I'll tell you everything about what happened to Hero. For now, just accept it and let's go to the chapel.
i'll explain after let's go to chapel now
Soft and fair, friar. Which is Beatrice?
Hold on, friar. Which one is Beatrice?
Wait a second, friar. Which one's Beatrice?
hold up which one is beatrice
[Unmasking.] I answer to that name. What is your will?
Yes, I'm Beatrice. What is it you want?
That's me. What do you need?
yeah thats me what do you want
Do not you love me?
Don't you love me?
You're seriously saying you don't love me?
u dont love me?
Why, no; no more than reason.
No, no more than is reasonable.
No, just as much as makes sense.
no just the reasonable amount
Why, then, your uncle and the Prince and Claudio
Have been deceived; for they swore you did.
Then your uncle and the Prince and Claudio were lying, because they swore you did love me.
Then your uncle, the Prince, and Claudio were all lying, because they swore you loved me.
but they all swore you loved me so they lied
Do not you love me?
Don't you love me?
You're not saying you love me?
wait really you don't?
Troth, no; no more than reason.
Truly, no, no more than is reasonable.
Honestly, no, just as much as makes sense.
no just reasonable amounts
Why, then my cousin, Margaret, and Ursula,
Are much deceiv’d; for they did swear you did.
Then my cousin Margaret and Ursula are deeply mistaken, because they swore you loved me.
Then Margaret and Ursula are totally wrong, because they swore you loved me.
but margaret & ursula swore you loved me
They swore that you were almost sick for me.
They swore you were almost ill with longing for me.
They said you were almost dying for me.
they said u were dying for me
They swore that you were well-nigh dead for me.
They swore you were nearly dead with love for me.
They said you were nearly dead from loving me.
they said u were nearly dead for me
’Tis no such matter. Then you do not love me?
That's not true. So you don't love me?
That's not how it is. So you don't love me?
nah that can't be right do you not love me
No, truly, but in friendly recompense.
No, truly, except in the sense of friendly affection.
No, honestly, just as a friend.
nah just as friends
Come, cousin, I am sure you love the gentleman.
Come, cousin, I'm sure you love this gentleman.
Come on, cousin, I know you love him.
come on you love him
And I’ll be sworn upon ’t that he loves her;
For here’s a paper written in his hand,
A halting sonnet of his own pure brain,
Fashion’d to Beatrice.
And I'll swear to it that he loves her, because here's a paper written in his own hand—an imperfect sonnet from his own mind, written about Beatrice.
And I'll swear he loves her because here's a paper in his handwriting—an awkward sonnet he wrote himself about Beatrice.
here's his sonnet he wrote it for beatrice proof he loves her
And here’s another,
Writ in my cousin’s hand, stolen from her pocket,
Containing her affection unto Benedick.
And here's another one, written in my cousin's hand, stolen from her pocket, showing her love for Benedick.
And here's one she wrote—in her handwriting, we stole it from her pocket—where she says she loves Benedick.
here's hers she wrote she loves benedick
A miracle! here’s our own hands against our hearts. Come,
I will have thee; but, by this light, I take thee for pity.
A miracle! Here's proof that we deny our feelings, but we've been caught. Come, I will have you, though I'll joke and say I'm doing it out of pity.
A miracle! Our own words prove we were lying, but okay. Come on, I'll take you—though I'll pretend it's just out of pity.
gotcha we both lied i'll marry you anyway
I would not deny you; but, by this good day, I yield upon great
persuasion, and partly to save your life, for I was told you were in a
consumption.
I won't refuse you, but I'm only agreeing because I was so thoroughly convinced, and partly because I was told you were dying of a wasting disease.
I won't say no, but only because they convinced me so much, and partly because I heard you were dying of some disease.
fine i'll marry you they convinced me also heard u were dying
Peace! I will stop your mouth. [Kisses her.]
Quiet! I'll stop your mouth.
Hush! I'll shut you up.
shush [kisses]
How dost thou, Benedick, the married man?
How are you, Benedick the married man?
So how does it feel, Benedick the married man?
how's married life
I’ll tell thee what, Prince; a college of witcrackers cannot flout me
out of my humour. Dost thou think I care for a satire or an epigram?
No; if man will be beaten with brains, a’ shall wear nothing handsome
about him. In brief, since I do purpose to marry, I will think nothing
to any purpose that the world can say against it; and therefore never
flout at me for what I have said against it, for man is a giddy thing,
and this is my conclusion. For thy part, Claudio, I did think to have
beaten thee; but, in that thou art like to be my kinsman, live
unbruised, and love my cousin.
I'll tell you what, Prince—a whole group of comedians couldn't make me abandon my good mood. Do you think I care about mockery or an insulting poem? No. If a man can be beaten down by clever insults, he shouldn't wear anything impressive about him. To be brief, since I've decided to marry, I won't let anything the world says change my mind, and you should never mock me for my previous words against marriage, because people are changeable, and this is my final word. As for you, Claudio, I did plan to beat you up, but since you're going to be my relative, stay healthy and love my cousin.
Here's the thing, Prince—no amount of smart jokes could ruin my mood now. Do you really think I care about jokes or mean poems? No. If men can be knocked down by insults, nobody should wear anything nice. Look, I've decided to get married, so I don't care what anyone says about it, and don't you dare joke about the stuff I said against marriage before, because people change, and that's final. Claudio, I was planning to beat you up, but since you're marrying my cousin, let's just stay friends.
i don't care what people think i'm getting married don't judge me for changing my mind
I had well hoped thou wouldst have denied Beatrice, that I might
have cudgelled thee out of thy single life, to make thee a double-dealer;
which, out of question, thou wilt be, if my cousin do not look exceeding
narrowly to thee.
I'd hoped you'd reject Beatrice so I could beat you until you got married and became a cheater—which you definitely will be if my cousin doesn't watch you like a hawk.
I was hoping you'd say no so I could beat you until you got married and became a two-faced guy—which you definitely will be unless my cousin keeps a really close eye on you.
hoped u'd say no so i could beat you then you'd cheat anyway
Come, come, we are friends. Let’s have a dance ere we are
married, that we may lighten our own hearts and our wives’ heels.
Come on, we're friends. Let's dance before we're married so we can lift our own spirits and make our wives happy with dancing.
Come on, we're friends. Let's dance before we get married—it'll cheer us up and tire out our future wives.
let's dance cheer up and tire out the ladies
We’ll have dancing afterward.
We'll have dancing after.
We'll dance later.
dancing later
First, of my word; therefore play, music! Prince, thou art sad;
get thee a wife, get thee a wife: there is no staff more reverent than one
tipped with horn.
On my word, first. So play music! Prince, you look unhappy. Get yourself a wife—get yourself a wife. There's no walking stick more dignified than one topped with horns.
First, I'm telling you. Play the music! Prince, you look sad. Get yourself a wife, get yourself a wife. Nothing's more respectful than a walking stick with horns on top.
play music prince get a wife horns are respectful
My lord, your brother John is ta’en in flight,
And brought with armed men back to Messina.
My lord, your brother John was captured while fleeing and has been brought back to Messina by armed men.
My lord, your brother John was caught running away and they brought him back to Messina with guards.
your brother was caught brought back to messina
Think not on him till tomorrow: I’ll devise thee
brave punishments for him. Strike up, pipers!
Don't think about him until tomorrow. I'll come up with creative punishments for him. Start playing, musicians!
Don't worry about him now, we'll deal with him tomorrow. I've got plenty of punishment ideas. Musicians, play!
ignore him til tomorrow i'll punish him later musicians play!
The Reckoning
The final scene orchestrates redemption and renewal: false accusations unmask to reveal truth; denial yields to confession; the play moves from shame to celebration, from anger to dance.
If this happened today…
Public wrongs require public correction; happy endings come not from denial but from facing truth and choosing each other anew.