The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (282 page)

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.]

[Enter, upon the walls, WARWICK, the Mayor of Coventry, two

Messengers, and others.]

WARWICK.

Where is the post that came from valiant Oxford?--

How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow?

Where is the message that came from brave Oxford?

How far away  is your lord, my honest fellow?

1 MESSENGER.

By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward.

He sent this from Dunsmore, marching this way.

WARWICK.

How far off is our brother Montague?

Where is the post that came from Montague?

How far away is my brother Montague?

Where is the messenger who came from Montague?

2 MESSENGER.

By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop.

He sent this from Daintry, with a strong force.

[Enter SIR JOHN SOMERVILLE.]

WARWICK.

Say, Somerville, what says my loving son?

And, by thy guess, how nigh is Clarence now?

Somerville, what does my loving son say?

And how far away do you estimate Clarence is now?

SOMERVILLE.

At Southam I did leave him with his forces

And do expect him here some two hours hence.

I left him at Southam with his forces

and I expect him to be here two hours from now.

[Drum heard.]

WARWICK.

Then Clarence is at hand; I hear his drum.

So Clarence is nearby; I can hear his drum.

SOMERVILLE.

It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies.

The drum your honour hears marcheth from Warwick.

That's not his, my lord; Southam is over there.

The  drum you can hear is coming from Warwick.

WARWICK.

Who should that be? belike, unlook'd-for friends.

Who would that be? Probably unexpected friends.

SOMERVILLE.

They are at hand, and you shall quickly know.

They are nearby, you shall soon know.

[March. Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD, GLOSTER, and Forces.]

KING EDWARD.

Go, trumpet, to the walls and sound a parle.

Trumpeter, go up to the walls and call for a meeting.

GLOSTER.

See how the surly Warwick mans the wall.

Look how the angry Warwick walks on the wall.

WARWICK.

O, unbid spite! Is sportful Edward come?

Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduc'd,

That we could hear no news of his repair?

Oh, unwanted problem! Has the game Edward come?

Where were our spies sleeping, or how have they been bribed,

that we did not get any news of his coming?

KING EDWARD.

Now, Warwick, wilt thou ope the city gates?

Speak gentle words and humbly bend thy knee,

Call Edward king and at his hands beg mercy?

And he shall pardon thee these outrages.

Now, Warwick, will you open the city gates?

Will you be polite and humbly bend your knees,

call Edward King and ask for mercy from him?

He will forgive you for these outrages.

WARWICK.

Nay, rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence,

Confess who set thee up and pluck'd thee down?

Call Warwick patron and be penitent,

And thou shalt still remain the Duke of York.

No, I'm asking you if you will take your forces away,

and admit who set you up and pulled you down?

Call Warwick your patron and ask for forgiveness,

and you shall still be called the Duke of York.

GLOSTER.

I thought, at least, he would have said the king;

Or did he make the jest against his will?

I thought he would at least offered the kingship;

or is he accidentally making a joke?

WARWICK.

Is not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift?

Isn't a dukedom, sir, a good gift?

GLOSTER.

Ay, by my faith, for a poor earl to give;

I'll do thee service for so good a gift.

Yes, certainly, when given by a poor earl;

I'll pay you back for such a good gift.

WARWICK.

'T was I that gave the kingdom to thy brother.

It was me who gave your brother the kingdom.

KING EDWARD.

Why, then, 't is mine, if but by Warwick's gift.

Well then, it's mine, if Warwick gave it.

WARWICK.

Thou art no Atlas for so great a weight,

And, weakling, Warwick takes his gift again;

And Henry is my king, Warwick his subject.

You're not strong enough to cope with it,

and, weakling, Warwick is taking his gift back again;

Henry is my king, and Warwick is his subject.

KING EDWARD.

But Warwick's king is Edward's prisoner;

And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this:

What is the body when the head is off?

But Warwick's king is a prisoner of Edward;

and, brave Warwick, answer me this:

what is a body without its head?

GLOSTER.

Alas! that Warwick had no more forecast,

But, whiles he thought to steal the single ten,

The king was slily finger'd from the deck!

You left poor Henry at the Bishop's palace,

And ten to one, you'll meet him in the Tower.

Alas! Warwick didn't predict that,

and while he thought he was stealing a single ten,

the King was slyly lifted from the deck!

You left for Henry at the Bishop's Palace,

and it's ten to one that you'll meet him at the Tower.

KING EDWARD.

'T is even so; yet you are Warwick still.

That's right; but you are still Warwick.

GLOSTER.

Come, Warwick, take the time; kneel down, kneel down.

Nay, when? strike now, or else the iron cools.

Come, Warwick, take advantage; kneel down, kneel down.

When will you do it otherwise? Strike while the iron is hot.

WARWICK.

I had rather chop this hand off at a blow,

And with the other fling it at thy face,

Than bear so low a sail, to strike to thee.

I would rather chop this hand off with a blow,

and use the other one to throw it at your face,

than to be so humble as to bow down to you.

KING EDWARD.

Sail how thou canst, have wind and tide thy friend,

This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black hair,

Shall, whiles thy head is warm and new cut off,

Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood,

'Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more.'

Sail whichever way you want, have the wind and the tides as your friend,

this hand, wrapped in your coal black hair,

shall, when your head has just been cut off and is still warm,

write this sentence in the dust with your blood,

“Changeable Warwick can now change no more."

[Enter OXFORD, with Forces.]

WARWICK.

O cheerful colours! see where Oxford comes.

What happy colours! Look, here comes Oxford.

OXFORD.

Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster!

Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster!

[He and his forces enter the city.]

GLOSTER.

The gates are open; let us enter too.

The gates are open; let us go in too.

KING EDWARD.

So other foes may set upon our backs.

Stand we in good array, for they no doubt

Will issue out again and bid us battle;

If not, the city being but of small defence,

We'll quietly rouse the traitors in the same.

Then other enemies could attack us from behind.

Keep our battle order, for there is no doubt

they will come out again and challenge us to fight;

if they don't, the city is not well defended,

and we will easily beat the traitors in there.

WARWICK.

O, welcome, Oxford, for we want thy help.

You are welcome, Oxford, we need your help.

[Enter MONTAGUE, with Forces.]

MONTAGUE.

Montague, Montague, for Lancaster!

Montague, Montague, for Lancaster!

[He and his forces enter the city.]

GLOSTER.

Thou and thy brother both shall buy this treason,

Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear.