The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (279 page)

Brother, the time and the situation needs speed;

your horse is ready at the corner of the park.

KING EDWARD.

But whither shall we then?

But then where shall we go?

HASTINGS.

To Lynn, my lord, and shipt from thence to Flanders.

To Lynn, my lord, and take a ship from there to Flanders.

GLOSTER.

Well guess'd, believe me, for that was my meaning.

Good thinking, that was my idea as well.

KING EDWARD.

Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness.

Stanley, I shall pay you for this.

GLOSTER.

But wherefore stay we? 't is no time to talk.

But why are we waiting? This is no time for discussion.

KING EDWARD.

Huntsman, what say'st thou? wilt thou go along?

Huntsman, what do you say? Will you come along with us?

HUNTSMAN.

Better do so than tarry and be hang'd.

Better to do that than stay here and be hanged.

GLOSTER.

Come then; away! let's have no more ado.

Come on then; let's go! Let's have no more fuss.

KING EDWARD.

Bishop, farewell; shield thee from Warwick's frown,

And pray that I may repossess the crown.

Bishop, farewell; guard yourself against Warwick's anger,

and pray that I will recapture the crown.

[Exeunt.]

[Enter KING HENRY, CLARENCE, WARWICK, SOMERSET, Young

RICHMOND, OXFORD, MONTAGUE, Lieutenant of the Tower, and

Attendants.]

KING HENRY.

Master Lieutenant, now that God and friends

Have shaken Edward from the regal seat

And turn'd my captive state to liberty,

My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys,

At our enlargement what are thy due fees?

Master lieutenant, now that God and my friends

have thrown Edward off the throne

and set me free from captivity,

changed my fear to hope, my sorrow to joy,

what do I owe you for my freedom?

LIEUTENANT.

Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns;

But if an humble prayer may prevail,

I then crave pardon of your Majesty.

Subjects should ask nothing from their sovereigns;

but if I can make a humble petition,

then I ask your Majesty for your pardon.

KING HENRY.

For what, lieutenant? for well using me?

Nay, be thou sure I'll well requite thy kindness,

For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure;

Ay, such a pleasure as incaged birds

Conceive when, after many moody thoughts,

At last by notes of household harmony

They quite forget their loss of liberty.--

But, Warwick, after God thou sett'st me free,

And chiefly therefore I thank God and thee;

He was the author, thou the instrument.

Therefore, that I may conquer fortune's spite,

By living low where fortune cannot hurt me,

And that the people of this blessed land

May not be punish'd with my thwarting stars,

Warwick, although my head still wear the crown,

I here resign my government to thee,

For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds.

 For what, Lieutenant? For treating me well?

No, you can be sure I will pay you well for your kindness,

for it made my imprisonment a pleasure;

a pleasure such as caged birds

feel when, after many gloomy thoughts,

the harmony of the household makes them

quite forget they have lost their freedom.

But Warwick, apart from God you were most instrumental

in setting me free, and so I thank God and you;

he planned it, you did the deed.

Therefore, so that I can triumph over the spite of fortune,

by living a quiet life where fortune cannot hurt me,

and so that the people of this blessed land

will not be punished by my obstructive stars,

Warwick, although my head still wears the crown,

I hereby hand over my government to you,

for you are lucky in everything you do.

WARWICK.

Your grace hath still been fam'd for virtuous,

And now may seem as wise as virtuous

By spying and avoiding fortune's malice,

For few men rightly temper with the stars;

Yet in this one thing let me blame your grace,

For choosing me when Clarence is in place.

Your Grace is still famous for his goodness,

and now you are being as wise as you are good

by seeing and avoiding the opposition of fortune,

for few men properly understand the stars;

but let me oppose your grace in this one thing,

you should not choose me when Clarence is available.

CLARENCE.

No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway,

To whom the heavens in thy nativity

Adjudg'd an olive branch and laurel crown,

As likely to be blest in peace and war;

And therefore, I yield thee my free consent.

No, Warwick, you deserve the position,

when you were born the heavens

gave you an olive branch and a laurel wreath,

showing that you would be blessed in peace and in war;

and so, I freely cede the position to you.

WARWICK.

And I choose Clarence only for protector.

And I choose Clarence as regent.

KING HENRY.

Warwick and Clarence, give me both your hands.

Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts,

That no dissension hinder government.

I make you both protectors of this land,

While I myself will lead a private life

And in devotion spend my latter days,

To sin's rebuke and my Creator's praise.

Warwick and Clarence, give me both your hands.

Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts,

so that no disagreement will damage the government.

I make you both regents of this land,

while I myself will lead a private life,

and spend my last days in devotion,

rejecting sin and praising my creator.

WARWICK.

What answers Clarence to his sovereign's will?

What does Clarence say to his sovereign's wishes?

CLARENCE.

That he consents if Warwick yield consent,

For on thy fortune I repose myself.

That he will agree if Warwick agrees,

for I place myself in your hands.

WARWICK.

Why, then, though loath, yet I must be content.

We'll yoke together, like a double shadow

To Henry's body, and supply his place,--

I mean in bearing weight of government

While he enjoys the honour and his ease.

And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful

Forthwith that Edward be pronounc'd a traitor,

And all his lands and goods confiscated.

Why then, though I disagree, I must be satisfied.

We shall work together, like a double shadow

of Henry's body, and work in his place,

I mean carrying the burden of government

while he enjoys honour and safety.

And, Clarence, it is now essential

that Edward is proclaimed a traitor at once,

and all his lands and goods be confiscated.

CLARENCE.

What else? and that succession be determin'd.

What else? And that the line of succession should be determined.

WARWICK.

Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.

Yes, Clarence will play his part in that.

KING HENRY.

But with the first of all your chief affairs,

Let me entreat--for I command no more--

That Margaret your queen, and my son Edward,

Be sent for to return from France with speed;

For, till I see them here, by doubtful fear

My joy of liberty is half eclips'd.

May I beg you to make the most important

business–I beg because I command no longer–

that your Queen Margaret, and my son Edward,

are sent for to be brought back from France at once;

for, until I see them here, my joy at freedom

is partly covered by doubtful fear.

CLARENCE.

It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.

It shall be done, my sovereign, as quickly as possible.

KING HENRY.

My Lord of Somerset, what youth is that

Of whom you seem to have so tender care?

My Lord of Somerset, who is that youth

whom you seem so fond of?

SOMERSET.

My liege, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond.

My Lord, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond.

KING HENRY.

Come hither, England's hope.--If secret powers

[Lays his hand on his head.]

Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts,

This pretty lad will prove our country's bliss.

His looks are full of peaceful majesty,

His head by nature fram'd to wear a crown,

His hand to wield a sceptre, and himself

Likely in time to bless a regal throne.

Make much of him, my lords; for this is he

Must help you more than you are hurt by me.

Come here, hope of England. If secret powers

have given me any insight to the future,

this handsome lad will bring joy to our country.

His looks are full of peaceful Majesty,

his head has been shaped by nature to wear a crown,

his hand to hold a sceptre, and he looks

likely to bless a royal throne in time.

Look after him, my lords; this is the one

who will do you more good than I have done you harm.

[Enter a Messenger.]

WARWICK.

What news, my friend?

What's the news, my friend?

MESSENGER.