| English 366C, Section F01: Shakespeare's Comedies and Romances > Measure for Measure > Adaptation |
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Here is a comparison between a passage in Shakespeare's play and the adaptation of it by John Davenant, A Law for Lovers. Consider what it tells us about changes in taste between the writing of the play and the Restoration when Davenant was writing.
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[Davenant] Claudio: . . .But Isabel -- Isabella: What says my brother? Claudio: Death is a fearful thing. Isabella: And living shame more hateful. Sure you have studied what it is to die. Claudio: Oh sister, 'tis to go we know not whither. We lie in silent darkness, and we rot; Where long our motion is not stopt; for though In graves none walk upright (proudly to face The stars) yet there we move again, when our Corruption makes those worms in whom we crawl. Perhaps the spirit (which is future life) Dwells salamander-like, unharmed in fire: Or else with wand'ring winds is blown about The world. But if condemned like those Whom our incertain thought imagines howling; Th[e]n the most loathed and the most weary life Which age, or ache, want or imprisonment Can lay on nature, is a paradise To what we fear of death. |
[Shakespeare] Claudio: O Isabel! Isabella: What says my brother? Claudio: Death is a fearful thing. Isabella: And shamed life a hateful. Claudio: Ay, but to die, and go we know not where; To lie in cold obstruction and to rot; This sensible warm motion to become A kneaded clod; and the delighted spirit To bathe in fiery floods, or to reside In thrilling region of thick-ribbed ice; To be imprison'd in the viewless winds, And blown with restless violence round about The pendent world; or to be worse than worst Of those that lawless and incertain thought Imagine howling: 'tis too horrible! The weariest and most loathed worldly life That age, ache, penury and imprisonment Can lay on nature is a paradise To what we fear of death. |
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