Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Modern translation of Shakespearean language


FRIAR LAURENCE 
Original Text:
Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here!
Is Rosaline, whom thou didst love so dear,
So soon forsaken? young men's love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.
Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine
Hath wash'd thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline!
How much salt water thrown away in waste,
To season love, that of it doth not taste!
The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears,
Thy old groans ring yet in my ancient ears;
Lo, here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit
Of an old tear that is not wash'd off yet:
If e'er thou wast thyself and these woes thine,
Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline:
And art thou changed? pronounce this sentence then,
Women may fall, when there's no strength in men.

Modified Version:

Oh my god, this changes everything!
Is Rosaline, who you loved so dearly
Already forgotten?  Young men must then love
Not based on true feelings, but by attractiveness.
My god, was that a lot of tears
That you used to cry over Rosaline!
How much tears have you wasted,
To distasteful temporary love.
Your sighs are still echoing in the sky,
I can still hear your groans.
See, here on your cheek is a tear stain
That you haven’t washed off yet.
If it was really you and your problems,
You and your problems are for Rosaline.
Have you changed? Say this then:
Women fall when men are weak.



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