The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 172
for this is where our friends will come to us.
HASTINGS.
My liege, I'll knock once more to summon them.
My lord, I'll knock once again to call them.
[Enter on the walls, the Mayor of York and his Brethren.]
MAYOR.
My lords, we were forewarned of your coming
And shut the gates for safety of ourselves,
For now we owe allegiance unto Henry.
My lords, we were given advance notice of your coming
and shut the gates to protect ourselves,
for we are now supporters of Henry.
KING EDWARD.
But master mayor, if Henry be your king,
Yet Edward, at the least, is Duke of York.
But Master Mayor, if Henry is your king,
Edward is at least the Duke of York.
MAYOR.
True, my good lord; I know you for no less.
True, my good lord; I recognise you as such.
KING EDWARD.
Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom,
As being well content with that alone.
Why then, I am just asking for the rights of my dukedom,
being happy with just that.
GLOSTER.
[Aside.] But when the fox hath once got in his nose,
He'll soon find means to make the body follow.
But once the fox has got his nose through the door,
he'll soon find a way to get his body in as well.
HASTINGS.
Why, master mayor, why stand you in a doubt?
Open the gates; we are King Henry's friends.
Why, master Mayor, are you uncertain?
Open the gates; we are friends to King Henry.
MAYOR.
Ay, say you so? the gates shall then be open'd.
Is that so? Then the gates will be opened.
[Exeunt from above.]
GLOSTER.
A wise, stout captain, and soon persuaded.
A wise and solid captain, easily persuaded.
HASTINGS.
The good old man would fain that all were well,
So 't were not long of him; but, being enter'd,
I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade
Both him and all his brothers unto reason.
The good old man hopes everything is all right,
as long as nothing happens to him; but, once we are in,
I do not doubt that I will soon be able to persuade
both him and all his brothers to see reason.
[Enter the Mayor and two Aldermen, below.]
KING EDWARD.
So, master mayor; these gates must not be shut
But in the night or in the time of war.
What! fear not, man, but yield me up the keys;
[Takes his keys.]
For Edward will defend the town and thee,
And all those friends that deign to follow me.
So, Master Mayor; these gates must not be shut
except at night time or when there is a war.
What! Don't be afraid, man, give me the keys;
Edward will defend the town and you,
and everyone here who agrees to follow me.
[March. Enter MONTGOMERYand Forces.]
GLOSTER.
Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery,
Our trusty friend unless I be deceiv'd.
Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery,
a loyal friend unless I am mistaken.
KING EDWARD.
Welcome, Sir John; but why come you in arms?
Welcome, Sir John; but why have you come armed?
MONTGOMERY.
To help King Edward in his time of storm,
As every loyal subject ought to do.
To help King Edward in his time of trouble,
as every loyal subject ought to do.
KING EDWARD.
Thanks, good Montgomery; but we now forget
Our title to the crown, and only claim
Our dukedom till God please to send the rest.
Thanks, good Montgomery; but I now relinquish
my claim on the crown, and I only ask
for my dukedom, until God decides to give me the rest.
MONTGOMERY.
Then fare you well, for I will hence again;
I came to serve a king, and not a duke.--
Drummer, strike up, and let us march away.
Then farewell, I will go away again;
I came to serve a king, not a duke.
Drummer, play, and let's march away.
[A march begun.]
KING EDWARD.
Nay, stay, Sir John, awhile, and we'll debate
By what safe means the crown may be recover'd.
No, Sir John, stay here a while, and we'll discuss
how we can safely recapture the crown.
MONTGOMERY.
What talk you of debating? in few words,
If you'll not here proclaim yourself our king,
I'll leave you to your fortune and begone
To keep them back that come to succour you.
Why shall we fight if you pretend no title?
Why are you talking about discussing? I'll tell you straight,
if you don't declare that you are our King,
I will leave you to your fate and go
and fight those who come to help you.
Why should we fight if you don't claim any title?
GLOSTER.
Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points?
Why, brother, why are you being so pernickety?
KING EDWARD.
When we grow stronger, then we'll make our claim;
Till then 't is wisdom to conceal our meaning.
When I have greater forces, then I will make my claim;
until then it's sensible to hide my intentions.
HASTINGS.
Away with scrupulous wit! now arms must rule.
Enough with clever thoughts! Now the military must rule.
GLOSTER.
And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns.--
Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand;
The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.
And fearless men are the ones who win their crowns quickest.
Brother, we will announce that you have come to reclaim your crown;
hearing that many friends will flock to you.
KING EDWARD.
Then be it as you will; for 't is my right,
And Henry but usurps the diadem.
Then let it be as you say; it is my right,
and Henry has only stolen my crown.
MONTGOMERY.
Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself,
And now will I be Edward's champion.
Yes, now you're speaking like the King,
and now I will fight for Edward.
HASTINGS.
Sound, trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim'd.--
Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation.
Blow, trumpet; Edward shall be announced as king.
Come, fellow soldier, make the announcement.
[Gives him a paper. Flourish.]
SOLDIER.
[Reads.] 'Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God,
King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland,' etc.
" Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God,
King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland," etc.
MONTGOMERY.
And whoso'er gainsays King Edward's right,
By this I challenge him to single fight.
And if anybody denies King Edward's rights,
by this I challenge him to single combat.
[Throws down gauntlet.]
ALL.
Long live Edward the Fourth!
Long live Edward the Fourth!
KING EDWARD.
Thanks, brave Montgomery, and thanks unto
you all;
If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness.
Now for this night let's harbour here in York;
And when the morning sun shall raise his car
Above the border of this horizon
We'll forward towards Warwick and his mates,
For well I wot that Henry is no soldier.--
Ah, froward Clarence! how evil it beseems thee
To flatter Henry and forsake thy brother!
Yet, as we may, we'll meet both thee and Warwick.--
Come on, brave soldiers; doubt not of the day,
And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay.
Thanks, brave Montgomery, and thanks to you all;
if fate allows me, I will repay this kindness.
Now for tonight let's shelter here in York;
and when the morning sun comes above
the horizon
we shall march towards Warwick and his friends,
for I know perfectly well that Henry is not a soldier.
Ah, ambitious Clarence! How wrong it is for you
to support Henry and abandon your brother!
But, if we can, we shall fight with both you and Warwick.
Come on, brave soldiers; you can be certain we will win,
and, once we have, you can be certain of good pay.
[Exeunt.]
[Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, WARWICK, CLARENCE, MONTAGUE,
EXETER, and OXFORD.]
WARWICK.
What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia,
With hasty Germans and blunt Hollanders,
Hath pass'd in safety through the narrow seas,
And with his troops doth march amain to London;
And many giddy people flock to him.
What advice, lords? Edward has safely
crossed over the channel from Belgium,
with reckless Germans and rough Dutch,
and is marching his army straight towards London;
and many stupid people are joining him.
KING HENRY.
Let's levy men and beat him back again.
Let's raise a force and beat him back.
CLARENCE.
A little fire is quickly trodden out,
Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench.
You can quickly extinguish a small fire,
if you leave it, it can't be put out by rivers.
WARWICK.
In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends,
Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war.
Those will I muster up;--and thou, son Clarence,
Shalt stir up in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent
The knights and gentlemen to come with thee.--
Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham,
Northampton, and in Leicestershire shalt find
Men well inclin'd to hear what thou command'st. --
And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well belov'd,
In Oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends.--
My sovereign, with the loving citizens,
Like to his island girt in with the ocean,
Or modest Dian circled with her nymphs,
Shall rest in London till we come to him.--
Fair lords, take leave and stand not to reply.--
Farewell, my sovereign.
I have loyal friends in Warwickshire,
who are well behaved in peace, but good fighters.
I will gather them; and you, my son Clarence,
shall raise the knights and gentlemen of
Suffolk, Norfolk and Kent to come with you–
you, brother Montague, will find men who are
very willing to do as you say in Buckingham,
Northampton and in Leicestershire.
And you, brave Oxford, who is so amazingly loved,
will gather up your friends in Oxfordshire.
My lord, with his loving citizens,
will stay in London until we come to him,
like his island encircled by the ocean,
or modest Diana encircled by her nymphs.
Fair lords, go and don't wait to answer.
Farewell, my sovereign.
KING HENRY.
Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's true hope.
Farewell, my Hector, the true hope of my Troy.
CLARENCE.
In sign of truth I kiss your highness' hand.
I kiss your Highness' hand to show my loyalty.
KING HENRY.
Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate!
Straight thinking Clarence, have good fortune!
MONTAGUE.
Comfort, my lord;--and so I take my leave.
Don't worry, my lord; and so I leave.
OXFORD.
And thus [kissing Henry's hand] I seal my truth, and bid
adieu.
And so I pledge my loyalty, and say
goodbye.
KING HENRY.
Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague,
And all at once, once more a happy farewell.
Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague,
and all of you, I say again a sweet goodbye.
WARWICK.
Farewell, sweet lords; let's meet at Coventry.
Farewell, sweet lords; let's meet at Coventry.
[Exeunt Warwick, Clarendon, Oxford, and Montague.]
KING HENRY.
Here at the palace will I rest a while.--
Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship?
Methinks the power that Edward hath in field
Should not be able to encounter mine.
I shall rest here at the Palace for a while.
Cousin Exeter, what does your lordship think?
I think that the forces that Edward has on the battlefield
should not be able to cope with mine.
EXETER.
The doubt is that he will seduce the rest.
The worry is that he will persuade the rest to come to him.
KING HENRY.
That's not my fear; my meed hath got me fame.
I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands,
Nor posted off their suits with slow delays;
My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds,
My mildness hath allay'd their swelling griefs,
My mercy dried their water-flowing tears.
I have not been desirous of their wealth
Nor much oppress'd them with great subsidies,
Nor forward of revenge, though they much err'd;
Then, why should they love Edward more than me?
No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace;
And when the lion fawns upon the lamb
The lamb will never cease to follow him.
That doesn't worry me; my generosity is well known.
I have not refused to listen to their demands,
nor have I postponed their requests with delays;
my pity has been like an ointment on their wounds,
my kindness has removed their growing sorrows,
my mercy has dried up their with tears.
I have never wanted to take away their wealth
or oppressed them with great taxes,
nor have I been quick to take revenge, although they were much in the wrong;
so, why should they love Edward more than me?
No, Exeter, we have been as graceful as God;
when the lion shows kindness to the lamb
the lamb will never stop following him.
[Shout within 'A Lancaster! A Lancaster!']
EXETER.
Hark, hark, my lord! what shouts are these?
Listen, listen, my lord! What are these shouts?
[Enter KING EDWARD, GLOSTER, and Soldiers.]
KING EDWARD.
Seize on the shame-fac'd Henry! bear him hence,
And once again proclaim us king of England.--
You are the fount that makes small brooks to flow.
Now stops thy spring; my sea shall suck them dry
And swell so much the higher by their ebb.--
Hence with him to the Tower! let him not speak.--
[Exeunt some with King Henry.]
And, lords, towards Coventry bend we our course,
Where peremptory Warwick now remains.
The sun shines hot, and, if we use delay,
Cold biting winter mars our hop'd-for hay.
Grab the shameful Henry! Take him away,
and announce me once again as the King of England.
You are the fountain from which the small streams flow.
Now your spring is blocked; my sea will drink them up
and so rise even higher as they decline.
Take him away to the Tower! Don't let him speak.
And, lords, let us go to Coventry,
Where the arrogant Warwick is waiting.
We should make hay while the sun shines.
GLOSTER.
Away betimes, before his forces join,
And take the great-grown traitor unawares.
Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry.
Let's go, before his forces assemble,
and catch this arrogant traitor unawares.
Brave warriors, march straight towards Coventry.
[Exeunt.]