2017-11-09

〖Modern Translation of Romeo & Juliet Act II Scene iv: 

Street Conversation/Battle of Wits Scene〗

【Aiden in English】

        Mercutio. Where the heck is Romeo?

        Benvolio. He’s not at his dad’s place, and his servant didn’t see him.

        Mercutio. It’s that goddamn Rosaline again. She’s got Romeo messed up.

        Benvolio. Yeah, you’re right. Oh, and by the way, Tybalt sent Dad a letter.

        Mercutio. For what, a duel?

        Benvolio. Yes, and anyone can accept it, so...

        Mercutio. No. Romeo will accept. It’s like he never turns down a dare... 

        Benvolio. Whatever. Romeo is messed up already. He’s cuckoo for Rosaline. Can he handle a duel with Tybalt as well?

        Mercutio. Tybalt… who?

        Benvolio. What-what do you mean, ‘who’? Tybalt, that knight of honor, that teller of truth, that doer of good…

        Mercutio. Still have no idea.

        Benvolio. What I’m trying to say is that he’s a good person.

        Mercutio. Hey, that’s my boy! Romeo!

        Benvolio. You know, love is strange. It sometimes isn’t as good as we think. Like, look at all the great historical figures. Cleopatra, Dido, heck, even Helen manipulated her boyfriend. Oh, and here he comes. Romeo! Why’d ya runoff last night? I saw your slip.

        Romeo. What do you mean, slip?

        Benvolio. What do you mean, ‘what do you mean’? Did you forget?

        Romeo. Ohhhh… my bad. It was important stuff, as I am an important man...

        Mercutio. And that’s like saying you’ll do your homework.

        Romeo. Just as a phrase.

        Mercutio. Well, you probably went a bit overboard.

        Romeo. Interesting interpretation. 

        Mercutio. Just tryin’ to be polite.

        Romeo. You certainly boosted my ego.

        Mercutio. After this conversation, that big ego will be all that’s left.

        Romeo. A small roast, even for you.

        Mercutio. Ben, help me. It appears that I’ve lost this grand battle.

        Romeo. C’mon, I was just having fun!

        Mercutio. His contest of wits is like a wild goose chase. I’ll never win...

        Romeo. We would’ve never been friends if it weren’t me being a goose.

        Mercutio. I’ll bite you for that one!

        Romeo. I don’t particularly like goose bites.

〖《羅密歐與朱麗葉》第二幕第四場演義─私聊/鬥心眼〗

【紅霞譯文】

        茂丘西奧(羅密歐好友)：羅密歐到哪裡鬼混去了？

        班伏里奧(羅密歐表弟) ：他不在老爸那裡，僕人也沒見到他。

        茂丘西奧：又是那個該死的羅塞琳（羅密歐前女友、朱麗葉表姐），她可把羅密歐折騰得夠嗆。

        羅密歐：我特別不喜歡胡來。

        班伏里奧：對哩，你說得沒錯。哦，順便說一句，提伯爾（朱麗葉表哥）送給羅密歐老爸一封信。

        茂丘西奧：莫非想要決鬥？

        班伏里奧：對喲，小菜一碟，那就……

        茂丘西奧：不，羅密歐肯定上陣，他好像從未裝慫過……

        班伏里奧：隨你怎麼說，羅密歐算是掉了魂，羅塞琳叫他抓狂。他肯和提伯爾決鬥嗎？

        茂丘西奧：提伯爾……哪位？

        班伏里奧：你問“哪位”是什麼意思？提伯爾，不就是那個榮譽騎士、直腸子、愛做善事……

        茂丘西奧：還是沒弄明白。

        班伏里奧：我想說他人不錯。

        茂丘西奧：嘿，好傢夥！羅密歐！

        班伏里奧：你曉得，愛很奇怪，它有時沒我們想得那麼妙。看看歷史上所有偉人，譬如：埃及豔后克莉奧佩特拉、古迦太基女王狄多、甚至連特洛伊“世上最美的女人”海倫都讓男朋友吃不了兜着走。哦，他來了，羅密歐！昨天你為何溜號？我看見你顛了。

        羅密歐：你說溜號什麼意思？

        班伏里奧: 什麼“什麼意思”？你忘了？

        羅密歐：哦哦哦哦……怪我不好，要事纏身，誰叫我是名人……

        茂丘西奧：跟真事似的。

        羅密歐：隨便說說而已。

        茂丘西奧：那你可有些過分。

        羅密歐：語調這麼滑稽。

        茂丘西奧：至少講點風度嘛。

        羅密歐：你確實讓我感覺良好。

        茂丘西奧：聊完之後，留着自戀去吧。

        羅密歐：打包送你得嘞。

        茂丘西奧：班，救救我，看來我甘拜下風。

        羅密歐：快來，我正想找樂子！

        茂丘西奧：跟他鬥心眼簡直瞎掰，我肯定玩完……

        羅密歐：我可沒撒野，不然咱們怎麼做朋友。

        茂丘西奧：這話我信！

Crosslink(相關博文):

2017: Context Analysis─Romeo & Juliet(語境分析─羅密歐與朱麗葉)