The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (263 page)

carrying the King along with me;

I had been warned by my spies

that she was coming intending to

revoke our recent order in Parliament

relating to King Henry's promise and your succession.

To make the story short, we met at St Albans,

we joined in battle, and both sides fought fiercely;

but whether it was the coolness of the king,

who looked kindly on his warlike Queen,

that extinguished the passion of my soldiers,

or whether it was reports of her success,

or unusual fear of Clifford's strength,

who threatens his captives with blood and death,

I cannot tell; but, to tell you the truth,

their weapons flashed around like lightning,

those of our soldiers–like the lazy flight of a night owl,

or like a lazy thresher with his flail–

gave gentle blows, as if they were hitting their friends.

I roused them by telling them of the justice of our cause,

and promising them high pay and great rewards,

but it was all in vain; they had no heart for the fight,

and gave us no hope that we could be triumphant;

so we fled: the King went to the Queen;

Lord George your brother, Norfolk, and myself,

have come here as quickly as we could to join with you;

for we heard that you were preparing to raise

another force here to fight again.

EDWARD.

Where is the Duke of Norfolk, gentle Warwick?

And when came George from Burgundy to England?

Where is the Duke of Norfolk, gentle Warwick?

And when did George come from Burgundy to England?

WARWICK.

Some six miles off the duke is with the soldiers;

And for your brother, he was lately sent

From your kind aunt, Duchess of Burgundy,

With aid of soldiers to this needful war.

The Duke is about six miles away with his soldiers;

as for your brother, he was recently sent

by your kind aunt, Duchess of Burgundy,

with soldiers to fight in this essential war.

RICHARD.

'T was odds, belike, when valiant Warwick fled;

Oft have I heard his praises in pursuit,

But ne'er till now his scandal of retire.

It's strange to hear that brave Warwick fled;

I've often heard him praised for his pursuits,

but never until now have I heard of the scandal of his retreat.

WARWICK.

Nor now my scandal, Richard, dost thou hear;

For thou shalt know, this strong right hand of mine

Can pluck the diadem from faint Henry's head

And wring the awful sceptre from his fist,

Were he as famous and as bold in war

As he is fam'd for mildness, peace, and prayer.

And you are not hearing that scandal now, Richard;

for you should know, this strong right hand of mine

can pull the crown off the head of weak Henry

and tear the awesome sceptre from his fist,

even if he was as famous and strong in war

as he is famous for mildness, peace and prayer.

RICHARD.

I know it well, Lord Warwick, blame me not;

'T is love I bear thy glories makes me speak.

But in this troublous time what's to be done?

Shall we go throw away our coats of steel

And wrap our bodies in black mourning-gowns,

Numbering our Ave-Maries with our beads?

Or shall we on the helmets of our foes

Tell our devotion with revengeful arms?

If for the last, say ay, and to it, lords.

I certainly know that, Lord Warwick, don't be angry;

it's the love I have for your honour that makes me speak.

But what should we do in this troubled time?

Should we throw away our suits of armour

and wrap our bodies in black mourning gowns,

counting the Ave Marias on our rosaries?

Or should we show our devotion by beating

upon the helmets of our enemies?

If you agree with that last, say so, and let's get to it, lords.

WARWICK.

Why, therefore Warwick came to seek you out,

And therefore comes my brother Montague.

Attend me, lords. The proud insulting queen,

With Clifford and the haught Northumberland,

And of their feather many moe proud birds,

Have wrought the easy-melting king like wax.

He swore consent to your succession,

His oath enrolled in the parliament;

And now to London all the crew are gone,

To frustrate both his oath and what beside

May make against the house of Lancaster.

Their power, I think, is thirty thousand strong;

Now, if the help of Norfolk and myself,

With all the friends that thou, brave Earl of March,

Amongst the loving Welshmen canst procure,

Will but amount to five and twenty thousand,

Why, Via! to London will we march amain,

And once again bestride our foaming steeds,

And once again cry 'Charge upon our foes!'

But never once again turn back and fly.

Why, that's why I've come to look for you,

and that's why my brother Montague has come.

Listen to me, lords. The arrogant insulting Queen,

with Clifford and the haughty Northumberland,

and many other arrogant birds of the same feather,

have moulded the soft king like wax.

He swore his agreement to your succession,

took his oath in Parliament;

and now the whole group of them have gone to London,

to block his oath and do everything else

they can do against the house of Lancaster.

I think they have a force of thirty thousand men;

now, if with the help of Norfolk and myself,

and all the friends that you, brave Earl of March,

can raise amongst the loving Welshmen,

we can just get a force of twenty-five thousand,

why, we shall march straight to London,

we shall mount again on our foaming horses,

and once again we shall sound the charge,

and never retreat again.

RICHARD.

Ay, now, methinks, I hear great Warwick speak.

Ne'er may he live to see a sunshine day

That cries 'Retire,' if Warwick bid him stay.

That's the true voice of great Warwick, I think.

May nobody ever live to see another sunrise

if he sounds the retreat when Warwick tells him to stand.

EDWARD.

Lord Warwick, on thy shoulder will I lean;

And when thou fail'st--as God forbid the hour!--

Must Edward fall, which peril heaven forfend!

Lord Warwick, I will lean on your shoulder;

and when you fall–God forbid!–

Edward must fall, may heaven protect us from that danger!

WARWICK.

No longer Earl of March, but Duke of York.

The next degree is England's royal throne;

For King of England shalt thou be proclaim'd

In every borough as we pass along,

And he that throws not up his cap for joy

Shall for the fault make forfeit of his head.

King Edward,--valiant Richard,-- Montague,--

Stay we no longer dreaming of renown,

But sound the trumpets and about our task.

You are no longer Earl of March, you are Duke of York.

The next step is the royal throne of England;

for you shall be proclaimed the King of England

in every borough we pass through,

and anyone who doesn't throw up his hat in happiness

shall pay for his mistake with his head.

King Edward–brave Richard–Montague–

let's not stop here dreaming of fame,

but sound the trumpets and go about our work.

RICHARD.

Then, Clifford, were thy heart as hard as steel,

As thou hast shown it flinty by thy deeds,

I come to pierce it, or to give thee mine.

Then, Clifford, if your heart was as hard as steel,

as hard as you have shown it through your deeds,

I am coming to pierce it, or to give you mine.

EDWARD.

Then strike up, drums!--God and Saint George for us!

Then strike up the drums! God and St George are on our side!

[Enter a Messenger.]

WARWICK.

How now! what news?

Hello there! What's the news?

MESSENGER.

The Duke of Norfolk sends you word by me,

The queen is coming with a puissant host,

And craves your company for speedy counsel.

The Duke of Norfolk sends me with this message,

that the Queen is coming with a strong force,

and he begs you to go to him to give him your help.

WARWICK.

Why then it sorts; brave warriors, let's away.

Then that's what we'll do; brave warriors, let's go.

[Exeunt.]

[Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, QUEEN MARGARET, the

PRINCE OF WALES, CLIFFORD, and NORTHUMBERLAND,

with drums and trumpets.]

QUEEN MARGARET.

Welcome, my lord, to this brave town of York.

Yonder's the head of that arch-enemy

That sought to be encompass'd with your crown;

Doth not the object cheer your heart, my lord?

Welcome, my lord, to this great town of York.

There is the head of the arch enemy

who tried to steal your crown;

doesn't the sight of that make you rejoice, my lord?

KING HENRY.

Ay, as the rocks cheer them that fear their wreck;

To see this sight, it irks my very soul.--

Withhold revenge, dear God! 't is not my fault,

Nor wittingly have I infring'd my vow.

Yes, as rocks cheer up those who are facing a shipwreck;

the sight of this cuts me to my very soul;

do not take revenge, dear God! It is not my fault,

I did not deliberately renege on my promise.

CLIFFORD.

My gracious liege, this too much lenity

And harmful pity must be laid aside.

To whom do lions cast their gentle looks?

Not to the beast that would usurp their den.

Whose hand is that the forest bear doth lick?