what do they mean? could you please change into a modern language?
ROM:
If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand(100)
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
JUL:
Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
For saints have hands that pilgrims¡¯ hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers¡¯ kiss.(105)
ROM:
Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
JUL:
Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
ROM:
O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do!
They pray; grant thou, lest faith turn to despair
JUL:
Saints do not move, though grant for prayers¡¯ sake.(110)
JUL:
Then have my lips the sin that they have took.
ROM:
Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urg'd!
Give me my sin again.
JUL:
You kiss by th¡¯ book.
http://nfs.sparknotes.com/
At this website, choose the play, and then the act in that play. In the left column, you'll see original Shakespearean English, and in the right column you'll find a modern English "translation."
Let us know what you discover.
In modern language, the conversation would sound like this:
ROM:
If I touch this sacred shrine with my unworthy hand,
The penalty is this:
My lips, two blushing travelers, are ready
To soothe that rough touch with a tender kiss.
JUL:
Good traveler, you underestimate your hand,
Which shows respectful devotion in this act;
For saints have hands that travelers' hands touch,
And holding palms together is a holy pilgrims' kiss.
ROM:
Don't saints also have lips, just like holy pilgrims?
JUL:
Yes, pilgrim, they have lips that they use for prayer.
ROM:
Then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do!
They pray; grant me a kiss, or else faith will turn to despair.
JUL:
Saints do not move, even if granted for the sake of prayers.
JUL:
Then my lips have committed the sin that you have taken.
ROM:
Sin from my lips? Oh, delightfully provoked trespass!
Give me back my sin.
JUL:
You are kissing as if following the rules from a book.