Counsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist me,
And ev’n in kind love I do conjure thee,
Who art the table wherein all my thoughts
Are visibly charactered and engraved,
To lesson me and tell me some good mean
How with my honour I may undertake
A journey to my loving Proteus.
Help me, Lucetta, kind girl, I'm asking you for this. You are the mirror in which all my thoughts Are clearly written and carved. Teach me and tell me some good way How with my honor I can undertake A journey to my beloved Proteus.
Listen, Lucetta, help me out here. You know all my thoughts because you can read me like a book. Tell me how I can travel to Proteus Without ruining my reputation.
help lucetta you know all my thoughts how can i go to proteus without losing my honor
Alas, the way is wearisome and long.
Unfortunately, the journey is tiring and long.
The journey is really exhausting and takes forever.
its a long tiring trip
A true-devoted pilgrim is not weary
To measure kingdoms with his feeble steps;
Much less shall she that hath Love’s wings to fly,
And when the flight is made to one so dear,
Of such divine perfection, as Sir Proteus.
A pilgrim truly devoted is not tired Walking across kingdoms on his weak legs; Much less should she who has Love's wings to fly Especially when flying to someone so dear, Of such heavenly perfection, as Sir Proteus.
A dedicated pilgrim doesn't mind walking across whole countries. I've got love carrying me on wings— And I'm flying to Proteus, who's the most perfect man alive.
pilgrims dont get tired i got loves wings flying to proteus
Better forbear till Proteus make return.
Better to wait until Proteus comes back.
You should just wait for him to come back.
just wait til he comes back
O, know’st thou not his looks are my soul’s food?
Pity the dearth that I have pined in
By longing for that food so long a time.
Didst thou but know the inly touch of love
Thou wouldst as soon go kindle fire with snow
As seek to quench the fire of love with words.
Don't you know his face is what sustains my soul? Feel sorry for the starvation I've suffered Longing for that nourishment all this time. If you only knew the inner feeling of love, You'd sooner start fire with snow Than try to quench love's fire with mere words.
Don't you get it? Seeing him is everything to me. I've been starving without him. If you really understood love, you'd know That words can't stop it any more than snow can make fire.
i need to see him im starving without him words cant stop love sno dont make fire
I do not seek to quench your love’s hot fire,
But qualify the fire’s extreme rage,
Lest it should burn above the bounds of reason.
I'm not trying to put out your love's hot flame, But tone down the fire's extreme intensity, Lest it burn beyond the limits of reason.
I'm not trying to kill your love— I just want to calm it down so it doesn't make you do something crazy.
not killing your love just calm it down keep it reasonable
The more thou damm’st it up, the more it burns.
The current that with gentle murmur glides,
Thou know’st, being stopped, impatiently doth rage;
But when his fair course is not hindered,
He makes sweet music with th’ enamelled stones,
Giving a gentle kiss to every sedge
He overtaketh in his pilgrimage;
And so by many winding nooks he strays
With willing sport to the wild ocean.
Then let me go and hinder not my course.
I’ll be as patient as a gentle stream
And make a pastime of each weary step
Till the last step have brought me to my love,
And there I’ll rest as after much turmoil
A blessed soul doth in Elysium.
The more you hold it back, the more it burns. A stream that flows gently with a soft murmur— You know that when stopped, it rages impatiently; But when its course is not blocked, It makes sweet music against the decorated stones, Giving a gentle kiss to every sedge It passes in its journey; And so winding through many hidden places it flows With willing pleasure to the wild ocean. So let me go and don't obstruct my path. I'll be as patient as a gentle stream And make a game of each exhausting step Until the last step brings me to my love, And there I'll rest as after much hardship A blessed soul does in heaven.
The more you try to stop it, the more desperate it gets. You know a river—when you block it, it rages. But when it's free, It flows beautifully and makes everything it touches sing. That's me. Let me go and I'll be calm and patient. Every step toward him will be like a pleasure, And when I finally get there, I'll have found peace.
more you block it more it burns river blocked = rages river free = beautiful let me go ill be patient every step brings me closer to him
But in what habit will you go along?
But what clothing will you travel in?
So what are you going to wear?
what clothes you wearing?
Not like a woman, for I would prevent
The loose encounters of lascivious men.
Gentle Lucetta, fit me with such weeds
As may beseem some well-reputed page.
Not like a woman, because I want to avoid The inappropriate encounters with lustful men. Kind Lucetta, dress me in such clothes As would suit some well-respected young man.
Not as a woman—I don't want creepy guys hitting on me. Get me dressed up like a proper young man instead.
not as a woman that attracts creepy guys dress me like a young man
Why then, your ladyship must cut your hair.
Then you'll need to cut your hair, my lady.
Well, you'll have to cut your hair then.
gotta cut your hair
No, girl, I’ll knit it up in silken strings
With twenty odd-conceited true-love knots.
To be fantastic may become a youth
Of greater time than I shall show to be.
No, girl, I'll tie it up with silk ribbons With twenty cleverly-tied true-love knots. Being fancy might suit a youth Older than I appear to be.
No way, I'm just going to tie it up with ribbons and knots. Looking fancy is fine for a young guy my age.
nah ill tie it with ribbons and love knots looking fancy works for young guys
What fashion, madam, shall I make your breeches?
What style should I make your breeches, my lady?
What kind of pants do you want?
what style pants you want?
That fits as well as “Tell me, good my lord,
What compass will you wear your farthingale?”
Why e’en what fashion thou best likes, Lucetta.
That's like asking, "Tell me, good sir, What width will you wear your petticoat?" Why, just whatever style you think best, Lucetta.
That's like asking a guy what kind of skirt he wants. Just make whatever looks good to you.
thats like asking a guy bout his skirt lol just make what looks best
You must needs have them with a codpiece, madam.
You absolutely must have a codpiece, my lady.
You're going to need a codpiece with those.
gotta have a codpiece
Out, out, Lucetta, that will be ill-favoured.
No, no, Lucetta, that will look ugly.
Ugh, no way, that's going to look awful.
no thats gonna look bad
A round hose, madam, now’s not worth a pin
Unless you have a codpiece to stick pins on.
Round-legged pants, my lady, aren't worth a thing Unless you have a codpiece to, well, use as a pincushion.
Men's pants are useless without something to... you know what I mean.
pants useless without a codpiece you know what i mean
Lucetta, as thou lov’st me, let me have
What thou think’st meet and is most mannerly.
But tell me, wench, how will the world repute me
For undertaking so unstaid a journey?
I fear me it will make me scandalized.
Lucetta, if you love me, give me What you think is appropriate and most proper. But tell me, how will people judge me For taking on such a bold journey? I'm afraid it will make me a scandal.
Okay, just get me whatever looks right. But I'm worried—what will people think If they find out I traveled alone like this? Won't it ruin my reputation?
get proper clothes for me im worried though people gonna judge me traveling alone
If you think so, then stay at home and go not.
If that's what you think, then stay home and don't go.
If you're that worried, just stay home.
then stay home
Nay, that I will not.
No, I won't do that.
I'm not staying.
no way
Then never dream on infamy, but go.
If Proteus like your journey when you come,
No matter who’s displeased when you are gone.
I fear me he will scarce be pleased withal.
Then stop worrying about your reputation and go. If Proteus is pleased with you when you arrive, It doesn't matter who's upset while you're away. But I'm afraid he might not be pleased.
Fine, then stop worrying about being scandalous and just go. If he's happy to see you, that's all that matters. Though honestly, I think he might not care.
stop worrying and go then if hes happy thats all that matters but he might not care honestly
That is the least, Lucetta, of my fear.
A thousand oaths, an ocean of his tears,
And instances of infinite of love,
Warrant me welcome to my Proteus.
That's my least worry, Lucetta. A thousand of his oaths, an ocean of his tears, And infinite proof of his love, All guarantee me a welcome from my Proteus.
That's the least of my concerns. He's sworn a thousand times he loves me, Cried for me, shown me endless proof. He'll definitely be happy to see me.
thats my least worry he swore a thousand times cried endless tears proved his love hell welcome me
All these are servants to deceitful men.
All of these things are used by deceitful men.
Deceitful men use all those things all the time.
liars use all that stuff
Base men that use them to so base effect!
But truer stars did govern Proteus’ birth.
His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles,
His love sincere, his thoughts immaculate,
His tears pure messengers sent from his heart,
His heart as far from fraud as heaven from earth.
Base men use them for base ends! But better stars controlled Proteus' birth. His words are contracts, his oaths are divine truths, His love is genuine, his thoughts are pure, His tears are genuine messengers sent from his heart, His heart is as far from deception as heaven is from earth.
That's what deceitful men do. But Proteus is different—he was born under good stars. His promises mean something, His oaths are sacred, His love is real, His tears are genuine. He's as far from being fake as you can get.
liars do that proteus is different born under good stars his promises mean it he cant lie his heart is pure
Pray heav’n he prove so when you come to him.
I pray heaven that's true when you reach him.
Let's hope that's actually true when you get there.
hope thats true when you see him
Now, as thou lov’st me, do him not that wrong
To bear a hard opinion of his truth.
Only deserve my love by loving him.
And presently go with me to my chamber
To take a note of what I stand in need of
To furnish me upon my longing journey.
All that is mine I leave at thy dispose,
My goods, my lands, my reputation;
Only, in lieu thereof, dispatch me hence.
Come, answer not, but to it presently.
I am impatient of my tarriance.
Now, if you love me, don't wrong him By doubting his faithfulness. Please deserve my love by loving him too. And right now come with me to my room To list what I need To prepare me for this journey I long for. Everything I own I leave in your care— My property, my lands, my reputation; In return, just help me leave now. Don't answer back, just do it immediately. I can't wait to go.
Please trust him like I do. Show me you love me by loving him. Now come to my room with me And help me pack everything I need for this trip. You can have everything I own—my money, my land, my reputation— Just help me get ready and let me leave. Don't argue, just do it. I need to go now.
trust him like i do love him for me help me pack now you can have everything my money land and honor just help me leave i cant wait anymore
The Reckoning
Julia decides to chase Proteus to Milan, and her faith in him is the most moving and most painfully ironic thing in the play. The audience has just watched Proteus decide to betray her, so every line praising his 'immaculate' thoughts and oath-like words lands as dramatic irony. Her lovely speech about the stream that rages when dammed and wanders gently to the sea when left free is the play's best statement of love as a natural force. Lucetta plays the realist, and her dry 'Pray heav'n he prove so' says what we already know. The bawdy codpiece jokes set up the cross-dressing comedy to come. Notice that Julia worries about her reputation, not about Proteus. That is exactly the wrong fear.
If this happened today…
Your boyfriend moved across the country for a new job, and his texts have gone quiet. You decide to surprise him by flying out unannounced. Your roommate helps you pack while gently asking whether that's a good idea. You tell her he has sworn a thousand times that he loves you, so he is obviously the one guy who means it. She says, "I hope so," and hands you your suitcase. What you don't know is that he has been posting photos with someone new all week.