Much Ado About Nothing
Shakescleare Translation

Much Ado About Nothing Translation Act 5, Scene 3

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Enter DON PEDRO, CLAUDIO, three or four LORDS with tapers, and musicians

CLAUDIO

Is this the monument of Leonato?

CLAUDIO

Is this Leonato's family tomb?

FIRST LORD

It is, my lord.

FIRST LORD

It is, my lord.

CLAUDIO

[reading an epitaph] Done to death by slanderous tongues Was the Hero that here lies. Death, in guerdon of her wrongs, Gives her fame which never dies. So the life that died with shame Lives in death with glorious fame.

CLAUDIO

[Reading an epitaph]
Here lies Hero,
A hero killed by slanderous tongues.
To repay her for her wrongs,
Death gives her fame, which never dies.
So the life that died with shame
Lives in death with glorious fame.

Hangs the scroll

Hang thou there upon the tomb, Praising her when I am dumb. Now, music, sound, and sing your solemn hymn. [sings] Pardon, goddess of the night , Those that slew thy virgin knight , For the which with songs of woe Round about her tomb they go . Midnight, assist our moan . Help us to sigh and groan Heavily, heavily . Graves, yawn and yield your dead , Till death be utterèd , Heavily, heavily . Now, unto thy bones good night! Yearly will I do this rite.

Stay there on the tomb, scroll, and keep praising Hero even when I can no longer speak.

[To the musicians] Now start the music, and sing your solemn hymn.
[Singing]
Pardon, goddess of the night,
We who killed your virgin knight.

Now singing songs of woe
Around about her tomb we go.
Oh, midnight, assist our grief.
Help us to sigh and groan
Mournfully, mournfully.
Oh, graves, open wide and release your dead,
Until her death is fully lamented,
Mournfully, mournfully.

Goodnight to your bones for now, Hero! I will perform this ceremony every year.

DON PEDRO

Good morrow, masters. Put your torches out. The wolves have preyed, and look, the gentle day, Before the wheels of Phoebus, round about Dapples the drowsy east with spots of grey. Thanks to you all, and leave us. Fare you well.

DON PEDRO

Good morning, sirs. Put your torches out. The wolves have finished their night's hunting, and look—the gentle dawn precedes Phoebus' chariot, and dapples the drowsy eastern sky with spots of light. Thanks to you all. Now leave us. Farewell.

CLAUDIO

Good morrow, masters. Each his several way.

CLAUDIO

Good morning, sirs. Let each of us go his separate ways.

Exeunt LORDS and Musicians

DON PEDRO

Come, let us hence, and put on other weeds,And then to Leonato’s we will go.

DON PEDRO

Come, let's go and put on different clothes, and then we'll go to Leonato's.

CLAUDIO

And Hymen now with luckier issue speed ’sThan this for whom we rendered up this woe.

CLAUDIO

And may Hymen give us better luck with this wedding than poor Hero had.

Exeunt