How use doth breed a habit in a man!
This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods,
I better brook than flourishing peopled towns.
Here can I sit alone, unseen of any,
And to the nightingale’s complaining notes
Tune my distresses and record my woes.
O thou that dost inhabit in my breast,
Leave not the mansion so long tenantless,
Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall
And leave no memory of what it was.
Repair me with thy presence, Silvia;
Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain.
How custom creates a habit in a man! These shadowy deserts and unfrequented woods I prefer to flourishing populated towns. Here I can sit alone, unseen by anyone, And to the nightingale's sad notes tune my suffering and record my sorrows. O you that inhabit in my breast, don't leave the mansion so long empty, in case it becomes ruined and crumbles and leaves no memory of what it was. Repair me with your presence, Silvia; you gentle nymph, cherish your unhappy lover.
You know how things become habits through repetition? This empty, lonely desert and these unfrequented woods are way better to me than any busy, crowded city. Here I can sit alone and nobody sees me—I just pour out my sadness to the nightingale. O Silvia, you live in my heart, so don't just abandon it. If you leave it empty for too long, it'll fall apart and there won't be anything left. Please come back and heal me with your presence—you beautiful woman, take care of your sad guy.
habit forms from use i like the empty woods more than cities i sit alone and cry 2 nightingales silvia dont leave my heart empty or it'll fall apart come heal me with ur presence
What hallowing and what stir is this today?
These are my mates, that make their wills their law,
Have some unhappy passenger in chase.
They love me well; yet I have much to do
To keep them from uncivil outrages.
Withdraw thee, Valentine. Who’s this comes here?
What's all this noise and commotion? Those are my fellow outlaws—they do whatever they want, and they're chasing some poor traveler. They like me well enough, but I have to work hard to stop them from getting rough. I need to hide. Who's that coming here?
What's all that noise? That's my gang of outlaws out there chasing somebody. They're good to me, but they're rough and I can barely keep them from hurting people. I should hide. Who's coming over here?
what's all that noise? my outlaw crew's chasing someone they're violent i can barely control them who's that coming
Madam, this service I have done for you—
Though you respect not aught your servant doth—
To hazard life, and rescue you from him
That would have forced your honour and your love.
Vouchsafe me for my meed but one fair look;
A smaller boon than this I cannot beg,
And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give.
Madam, this service I have done for you, although you don't respect anything your servant does, I risked my life to rescue you from him who would have forced your honor and your love. Grant me for my reward just one kind look; I cannot ask for anything smaller, and I'm sure you cannot give me less than this.
Madam, I've done this for you—even though you don't care what I do for you—I risked my life to save you from someone who would have assaulted you. All I'm asking for as a reward is one kind look from you. I can't ask for anything smaller than that, and I know you can't give me less.
i saved ur life from someone who woulda hurt u all i want is one kind look i can't ask 4 less please
[_Aside_.] How like a dream is this I see and hear!
Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile.
This is like a dream, what I see and hear! Love, grant me patience to hold back for a moment.
This feels like a nightmare. Love, give me the strength to wait before I react.
this is a dream love give me patience to hold back
O miserable, unhappy that I am!
I'm miserable and unlucky!
I'm ruined!
i'm destroyed
Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came;
But by my coming I have made you happy.
You were already miserable before I came, but my arrival has made you happy.
You were sad before. I'm making you happy.
you were sad now i'm making you happy
By thy approach thou mak’st me most unhappy.
No—your arrival makes me most unhappy.
You're making me miserable.
you're making it worse
[_Aside_.] And me, when he approacheth to your presence.
And he brings me misery too, as he approaches you.
And he makes me miserable too whenever he gets close to you.
and he hurts me too when he's near u
Had I been seized by a hungry lion,
I would have been a breakfast to the beast
Rather than have false Proteus rescue me.
O heaven, be judge how I love Valentine,
Whose life’s as tender to me as my soul!
And full as much, for more there cannot be,
I do detest false perjured Proteus.
Therefore be gone, solicit me no more.
If I had been seized by a hungry lion, I would have been eaten by the beast rather than be rescued by false Proteus. O heaven, judge how I love Valentine, whose life is as precious to me as my soul! And as completely, for there cannot be more, I hate false, oath-breaking Proteus. Therefore leave me alone and stop asking.
I would rather have been eaten alive by a lion than have you save me, you fake Proteus. Heaven knows how much I love Valentine—his life means everything to me, just like my own soul. I hate you just as much as I could possibly hate anyone. Now please just leave me alone and stop trying to convince me.
id rather be eaten by a lion than saved by u i love valentine more than life itself i hate u so much leave me alone
What dangerous action, stood it next to death,
Would I not undergo for one calm look!
O, ’tis the curse in love, and still approved,
When women cannot love where they’re beloved.
What danger, what risk of death—I would face it all for one calm look from you. This is love's curse and punishment: we want what we can't have.
I'd face anything—death—for one nice look from you. That's the curse of love.
i'd face anything for one look that's the curse of love
When Proteus cannot love where he’s beloved.
Read over Julia’s heart, thy first best love,
For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith
Into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths
Descended into perjury to love me.
Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou’dst two,
And that’s far worse than none; better have none
Than plural faith, which is too much by one.
Thou counterfeit to thy true friend!
When Proteus cannot love where he is loved. Look at Julia's heart, your first and best love, for whose sake you broke your faith into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths turned into betrayal to love me. You have no faith left now, unless you have two, and that's far worse than having none; it's better to have none than to have split faith, which is one too many. You're a fake to your true friend!
You can't even love the people who love you. Just look at Julia—your first and greatest love. You swore a thousand oaths to her, and then you broke every single one of them to chase after me. Now you have no honor left, or worse, you've split your loyalty between us, which is actually worse than having no loyalty at all. You've betrayed your real friend.
u cant love ppl who love u julia was ur first love u broke all ur oaths 4 her to chase me now u got no loyalty or worse loyalty 2 both of us u betrayed ur best friend
In love
Who respects friend?
In love, who thinks of friends?
When you're in love, friends don't matter.
in love friends don't matter
All men but Proteus.
Every man does, except Proteus.
Every guy except you.
every guy but you
Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words
Can no way change you to a milder form,
I’ll woo you like a soldier, at arms’ end,
And love you ’gainst the nature of love—force ye.
If gentle words and romantic promises won't change you, I'll take you by force like a soldier.
If talking doesn't work, I'll take you by force.
words aren't working i'm forcing you
O heaven!
Oh heaven!
God help me!
god
I’ll force thee yield to my desire.
I'll make you surrender to what I want.
I'm forcing you.
i'm taking you
[_Comes forward_.] Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch,
Thou friend of an ill fashion!
You brute, let go of that crude, uncivil grip! You call yourself a friend, yet you act shamefully!
Get your hands off her, you thug! Some friend you turned out to be!
let her go u creep u're no real friend at all
Valentine!
Valentine!
Valentine!
valentine
Thou common friend, that’s without faith or love,
For such is a friend now. Treacherous man,
Thou hast beguiled my hopes; nought but mine eye
Could have persuaded me. Now I dare not say
I have one friend alive; thou wouldst disprove me.
Who should be trusted, when one’s right hand
Is perjured to the bosom? Proteus,
I am sorry I must never trust thee more,
But count the world a stranger for thy sake.
The private wound is deepest. O time most accurst,
’Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst!
You disloyal friend, without faith or love, for that's what a friend is now. Treacherous man, you've deceived my hopes; only my own eye could have convinced me of this. Now I don't dare say I have one living friend; you'd prove me wrong. Who can be trusted when your closest friend betrays your heart? Proteus, I'm sorry but I can never trust you again, and I'll count the world as a stranger for your sake. A wound from a friend cuts deepest. O cursed time, when a friend becomes your worst enemy!
You're an unfaithful friend without any honor or love—that's what friendship means now. You've lied to me and destroyed my trust. The only reason I believe this is because I'm seeing it with my own eyes. I can't even say I have one real friend left alive, because you'd just prove that wrong too. How can anyone trust anyone when your best friend can stab you in the back like this? Proteus, I'm so sorry, but I can never trust you again. Because of you, I'm going to treat the entire world like strangers. And you know what? The hurt from a friend cuts deeper than anything else. This is such a cursed time, when your own friend becomes your worst enemy.
u have no faith u betrayed me u lied 2 me i only believe it cuz i saw it i can't say i have any real friends who can u trust if ur best friend betrays u i can't trust u ever again friends hurt u the most u became my worst enemy
My shame and guilt confounds me.
Forgive me, Valentine; if hearty sorrow
Be a sufficient ransom for offence,
I tender ’t here. I do as truly suffer
As e’er I did commit.
My shame and guilt overwhelm me. Forgive me, Valentine; if genuine sorrow is enough payment for my offense, I offer it here. I suffer as much as I ever wronged you.
I'm overwhelmed by shame and guilt. Forgive me, Valentine; if real regret can make up for what I did, I'm truly sorry. I'm suffering as much as I hurt you.
i'm ashamed and guilty forgive me valentine if my sorrow counts i'm suffering like i hurt you
Then I am paid,
And once again I do receive thee honest.
Who by repentance is not satisfied
Is nor of heaven nor earth, for these are pleased;
By penitence th’ Eternal’s wrath’s appeased.
And that my love may appear plain and free,
All that was mine in Silvia I give thee.
Then my debt is paid, and I accept you again as honest. Whoever is not satisfied by sincere repentance has no place in heaven or earth, because both are pleased; through repentance God's anger is calmed. And so my love may appear genuine and free, everything that was mine in Silvia, I give to you.
Then I'm satisfied, and I believe you again. Anyone who can't accept sincere apology has no place in heaven or on earth—both accept repentance. When you truly repent, even God's anger is appeased. To show that my love is genuine and not selfish, everything I had with Silvia, I'm giving to you.
ok im satisfied i believe u again whoever won't accept apology has no place anywhere repentance fixes everything so my love is true and free i give u silvia
O me unhappy!
Oh, I'm so miserable!
No!
no
Look to the boy.
Look after the boy.
Check on the boy.
help him
Why, boy!
Why, wag! How now? What’s the matter? Look up; speak.
Boy! Why are you like this? What's wrong? Come on, look up and speak.
Hey, what's wrong? Look at me. Are you okay?
what's wrong look up talk to me
O good sir, my master charged me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia,
which out of my neglect was never done.
Sir, my master told me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia, but I forgot to do it because of my carelessness.
My master told me to give a ring to Silvia. I never did. It's my fault.
i was supposed to deliver a ring to silvia i forgot
Where is that ring, boy?
Where's the ring, boy?
Where did you put that ring, boy?
where's the ring?
Here ’tis; this is it.
Here it is; this is the one.
Here it is.
got it
How, let me see.
Why, this is the ring I gave to Julia.
Wait, let me look at this. This is the ring I gave to Julia.
Hold on, let me see that. This is the ring I gave Julia.
wait that's the ring i gave julia
O, cry you mercy, sir, I have mistook.
This is the ring you sent to Silvia.
Oh, I'm sorry, I made a mistake. This is the ring you sent to Silvia.
Sorry, I got confused. This is the one you sent to Silvia.
sorry i'm confused this is silvia's
But how cam’st thou by this ring? At my depart
I gave this unto Julia.
But how did you get this ring? When I left, I gave this to Julia.
How'd you come by this? I left it with Julia.
how'd you get this? i gave it to julia
And Julia herself did give it me,
And Julia herself have brought it hither.
Julia herself gave it to me. And Julia herself has brought it to you.
Julia gave it to me. And I'm Julia.
julia gave it i'm julia
How? Julia?
What? Julia?
What? You're Julia?
you're julia
Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths
And entertained ’em deeply in her heart.
How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root!
O Proteus, let this habit make thee blush.
Be thou ashamed that I have took upon me
Such an immodest raiment, if shame live
In a disguise of love.
It is the lesser blot, modesty finds,
Women to change their shapes than men their minds.
Look at me—I believed all your oaths and held them deep in my heart. How many times you've broken those oaths! O Proteus, let this disguise make you ashamed. Be ashamed that I've had to wear such an immodest disguise, if shame exists in disguising yourself for love. It's a lesser shame, decency finds, for women to change their appearance than for men to change their hearts.
Look at me—I believed every single oath you made and I kept them all in my heart. And how many times have you broken those oaths? O Proteus, you should be ashamed just looking at me dressed like this. I've had to wear a man's clothes, which is immodest, all because of love. But you know what? It's less shameful for a woman to change how she looks than for a man to change who he is.
look at me i believed all ur oaths u broke them so many times u should be ashamed i had 2 dress as a man 4 u women changing appearance < men changing hearts
Than men their minds! ’Tis true. O heaven, were man
But constant, he were perfect. That one error
Fills him with faults, makes him run through all th’ sins;
Inconstancy falls off ere it begins.
What is in Silvia’s face but I may spy
More fresh in Julia’s with a constant eye?
Women change more than men! But it's true—if men were constant, they'd be perfect. One single mistake fills him with faults and sin.
Maybe women are inconsistent too, but you're right—if men never changed, they'd be perfect. One mistake ruins everything.
women change too but you're right one mistake makes you wrong
Come, come, a hand from either.
Let me be blest to make this happy close.
’Twere pity two such friends should be long foes.
Come here, both of you. Let me bring this to a happy ending. It's sad to see two such friends separated for so long.
Come on, both of you. Let's fix this. You two shouldn't be apart.
come together let's end this you two shouldn't be apart
Bear witness, heaven, I have my wish for ever.
Heaven witness—I have everything I want now.
I finally have what I want.
i have everything i want now
And I mine.
And I have mine.
Me too.
me too
A prize, a prize, a prize!
We found a prize, we found a prize, we found a prize!
We caught someone! We caught someone! We caught someone!
we got a prize
Forbear, forbear, I say! It is my lord the Duke.
Your Grace is welcome to a man disgraced,
Banished Valentine.
Stop! That's the Duke. Your Grace, welcome to a disgraced and banished Valentine.
Wait! That's the Duke. Your Grace, sorry for the state of things.
that's the duke welcome to a banished man
Sir Valentine!
Sir Valentine!
Valentine!
valentine
Yonder is Silvia, and Silvia’s mine.
There is Silvia, and Silvia belongs to me.
That's Silvia over there, and she's mine.
there's silvia and she's mine
Thurio, give back, or else embrace thy death;
Come not within the measure of my wrath.
Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,
Verona shall not hold thee. Here she stands;
Take but possession of her with a touch—
I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.
Thurio, back away or accept your death; don't come within range of my anger. Don't call Silvia yours; if you say it again, Verona won't hold you. Here she stands; if you even touch her, I dare you—even breathe upon my love.
Thurio, get out of here or die. Don't come anywhere near me—you don't want to see me angry. Don't call Silvia yours. If you say that one more time, you're dead—Verona won't keep you alive. Here she is. You try to touch her, you try to even breathe on her, and I swear I'll kill you.
thurio back off or die dont get near me silvia isnt urs say it again ill kill u try 2 touch her ill dare u 2 breathe near her
Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I.
I hold him but a fool that will endanger
His body for a girl that loves him not.
I claim her not, and therefore she is thine.
Valentine, honestly I don't care about her. I think only a fool would risk death for a girl who doesn't love him anyway.
You can have her. Only an idiot would die for someone who doesn't love him.
take her only a fool would die for someone who doesn't love him
The more degenerate and base art thou
To make such means for her as thou hast done,
And leave her on such slight conditions.—
Now, by the honour of my ancestry,
I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine,
And think thee worthy of an empress’ love.
Know then, I here forget all former griefs,
Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again,
Plead a new state in thy unrivalled merit,
To which I thus subscribe: Sir Valentine,
Thou art a gentleman, and well derived;
Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserved her.
You are more dishonorable and base for making such an effort for her as you did and then abandoning her so easily. Now, by my family's honor, I applaud your spirit, Valentine, and think you worthy of an empress' love. Understand then, I here forget all past griefs, cancel all grudges, and bring you home from exile, and give you a new status based on your unmatched merit. Sir Valentine, you are a gentleman of good birth; take your Silvia, because you have earned her.
Thurio, you're a total coward—you pursued her hard and then just gave up on her with barely any resistance. [To Valentine:] But you—I swear by my family's honor, I respect you so much. I think you're worthy of an empress' love. So here's what I'm doing: I'm forgiving everything that happened before, I'm canceling all the grudges I had against you, you're no longer banished—come back home. I'm giving you a new position based on how worthy you are. Sir Valentine, you're clearly a man of good breeding and honor. Take Silvia. You've earned her.
thurio ur a coward u pursued her then gave up so easy valentine i respect u so much u deserve an empress i forgive everything come home from exile u have a new high position take silvia u earned her
I thank your Grace; the gift hath made me happy.
I now beseech you, for your daughter’s sake,
To grant one boon that I shall ask of you.
Thank you, Your Grace. Your gift has made me happy. I ask you for one favor for your daughter's sake.
Thank you, Your Grace. One thing—could you help me with something?
thank you one favor for your daughter
I grant it for thine own, whate’er it be.
I grant it, whatever it is.
Sure, whatever you need.
whatever you want
These banished men, that I have kept withal,
Are men endued with worthy qualities.
Forgive them what they have committed here,
And let them be recalled from their exile.
They are reformed, civil, full of good,
And fit for great employment, worthy lord.
These men I've lived with—they're good men with fine qualities. Forgive them for what they've done. They deserve it.
These outlaws are good guys. Can you pardon them?
pardon these outlaws they're good men
Thou hast prevailed; I pardon them and thee.
Dispose of them as thou know’st their deserts.
Come, let us go; we will include all jars
With triumphs, mirth, and rare solemnity.
You've convinced me. I pardon them and you. Do what you think is right with them. Come, let's go celebrate the marriages and the happiness we've found.
Fine. I pardon all of you. Let's go celebrate.
i pardon everyone let's celebrate
And as we walk along, I dare be bold
With our discourse to make your Grace to smile.
What think you of this page, my lord?
And as we walk, I'll tell you a story that will make you smile. By the way, what do you think of this page?
Wait till you hear what happened. So, what do you think of this boy?
you won't believe what happened what about him
I think the boy hath grace in him; he blushes.
The boy has grace—he's blushing.
He's got good manners. And he's blushing.
nice manners and he's blushing
I warrant you, my lord, more grace than boy.
I assure you, Your Grace, more grace than boy.
More grace than you think. If you know what I mean.
more grace than boy
What mean you by that saying?
What's the meaning behind your words?
What are you trying to say?
what do you mean?
Please you, I’ll tell you as we pass along,
That you will wonder what hath fortuned.
Come, Proteus, ’tis your penance but to hear
The story of your loves discovered.
That done, our day of marriage shall be yours,
One feast, one house, one mutual happiness.
If you'll listen as we walk, I'll tell you, and you'll be amazed at what has happened. Come, Proteus—this is your penance: to hear the whole story.
I'll explain on the way. You won't believe what happened. Proteus, come on—you need to hear this.
i'll explain you won't believe it proteus listen up
The Reckoning
The final scene rushes everything to a happy ending: an attempted assault, an instant forgiveness, a revealed disguise and a double wedding, all in a few minutes. Proteus's threat to 'force' Silvia is the ugliest moment in the play, and Valentine's reply, pardoning him and then offering him 'all that was mine in Silvia', has troubled audiences for centuries. Notice that Silvia never speaks again once Valentine comes forward, while Julia, in her page's clothes, is the one who shames Proteus into changing. Her line that it is a lesser fault for 'women to change their shapes than men their minds' sums up the play. The comedy ends in a feast, but whether the happy ending is earned is the real question for readers.
If this happened today…
Your best friend goes after the person you're dating, and you walk in on him crossing a line he can never take back. He says sorry. You say 'that's all I needed' and, to prove there are no hard feelings, tell him he can have her. Meanwhile his ex, who has been quietly standing in the room the whole time, finally reveals who she is and shames him into coming back to her. Then her dad shows up, approves of everyone, and pays for the party. Everybody hugs. The one person nobody asked is the woman at the center of it all.