The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (287 page)

You had teeth in your head when you were born,

to show that you have come to bite the world;

and, if everything else I've heard is true,

you came–

GLOSTER.

I'll hear no more. Die, prophet, in thy speech.

[Stabs him.]

For this, amongst the rest, was I ordain'd.

I won't listen to any more. Die, prophet, as you speak.

I was born to do this, amongst other things.

KING HENRY.

Ay, and for much more slaughter after this.

O, God forgive my sins, and pardon thee!

Yes, and for much more slaughter after this.

Oh, God forgive my sins, and pardon you!

[Dies.]

GLOSTER.

What! will the aspiring blood of Lancaster

Sink in the ground? I thought it would have mounted.

See, how my sword weeps for the poor King's death!

O, may such purple tears be always shed

From those that wish the downfall of our house!--

If any spark of life be yet remaining,

Down, down to hell; and say I sent thee thither,

[Stabs him again.]

I, that have neither pity, love, nor fear.

Indeed, 't is true that Henry told me of;

For I have often heard my mother say

I came into the world with my legs forward.

Had I not reason, think ye, to make haste

And seek their ruin that usurp'd our right?

The midwife wonder'd; and the women cried

'O, Jesus bless us, he is born with teeth!'

And so I was, which plainly signified

That I should snarl and bite and play the dog.

Then, since the heavens have shap'd my body so,

Let hell make crook'd my mind to answer it.

I have no brother, I am like no brother,

And this word 'love,' which greybeards call divine,

Be resident in men like one another,

And not in me! I am myself alone.--

Clarence, beware! thou keep'st me from the light;

But I will sort a pitchy day for thee;

For I will buzz abroad such prophecies

That Edward shall be fearful of his life,

And then, to purge his fear, I'll be thy death.

King Henry and the prince his son are gone;

Clarence, thy turn is next, and then the rest,

Counting myself but bad till I be best.

I'll throw thy body in another room,

And triumph, Henry, in thy day of doom.

What! Will the holy blood of Lancaster

sink into the ground? I thought it would have risen up.

See how my sword weeps for the death of the poor king!

Oh, I hope these purple tears will always come

from those who want our house to fall!

If there is any spark of life left in you,

go down to hell; and say that I sent you there.

I, who have neither pity, love nor fear.

It's true what Henry said about me;

for I have often heard my mother say

that I was born feet first.

Don't you think I had a good reason to hurry

to bring down those who stole our rights;

the midwife was amazed; and the women cried out,

“Oh, Jesus bless us, he has been born with teeth!"

And so I was, which clearly showed

that I would snarl and bite and be like a dog.

So, since the heavens have made my body like this,

let hell make my mind crooked to match it.

I have no brother, I'm not like any of my brothers,

and this word “love," which greybeards call divine,

is only present in men who are like each other,

and not in me! I am all alone.

Clarence, beware! You're keeping me from the light;

but I will create a black day for you;

I will create rumours of such prophecies

that Edward will be afraid for his life,

and then, to ease his fear, I shall kill you.

King Henry and his son Prince Edward have gone;

Clarence, it's your turn next, and then the rest,

I shall hate myself until I am at the top.

I'll throw your body in another room,

and the day of your death shall be my day of victory, Henry.

[Exit with the body.]

[KING EDWARD is discovered sitting on his throne; QUEEN ELIZABETH

with the infant Prince, CLARENCE, Gloster, HASTINGS, and

others, near him.]

KING EDWARD.

Once more we sit in England's royal throne,

Re-purchas'd with the blood of enemies.

What valiant foemen, like to autumn's corn,

Have we mow'd down in tops of all their pride!

Three Dukes of Somerset, threefold renown'd

For hardy and undoubted champions;

Two Cliffords, as the father and the son;

And two Northumberlands,--two braver men

Ne'er spurr'd their coursers at the trumpet's sound;

With them the two brave bears, Warwick and Montague,

That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion

And made the forest tremble when they roar'd.

Thus have we swept suspicion from our seat

And made our footstool of security.--

Come hither, Bess, and let me kiss my boy.--

Young Ned, for thee thine uncles and myself

Have in our armours watch'd the winter's night,

Went all afoot in summer's scalding heat,

That thou mightst repossess the crown in peace;

And of our labours thou shalt reap the gain.

Once more I am sitting on England's royal throne,

bought back with the blood of enemies.

What brave enemies, whom we have chopped down like

autumn corn at the height of their arrogance!

Three Dukes of Somerset, triply famous

as strong and unquestioned champions;

two Cliffords, the father and son;

and two Northumberlands–two braver men

never spurred on their horses when the trumpet sounded;

with them we got the two brave bears, Warwick and Montague,

who put the kingly lion in chains

and made the forest tremble when they roared.

So we have removed all doubt from our claim

and made the throne safe for ourselves.

Come here, Bess, and let me kiss my boy.

Young Ned, myself and your uncles have

sat up through the winter's night in our armour,

marched through the scalding heat of summer,

so that you could get back the crown and have it peacefully;

you shall reap the rewards of all our work.

Gloster.

[Aside.]  I'll blast his harvest if your head were laid;

For yet I am not look'd on in the world.

This shoulder was ordain'd so thick to heave;

And heave it shall some weight or break my back.--

Work thou the way,--and that shall execute.

If you get the crown I shall destroy your harvest;

as yet nobody thinks anything of me.

This shoulder was made so thick to shove;

and it will shove some people out of the way or I will break my back.

You think of the way and it will do the job.

KING EDWARD.

Clarence and Gloster, love my lovely queen;

And kiss your princely nephew, brothers both.

Clarence and Gloucester, love my lovely Queen;

and kiss your princely nephew, my two brothers.

CLARENCE.

The duty that I owe unto your Majesty

I seal upon the lips of this sweet babe.

The respect that I should pay to your Majesty

I put on the lips of this sweet baby.

QUEEN ELIZABETH.

Thanks, noble Clarence; worthy brother, thanks.

Thanks, noble Clarence; worthy brother, thanks.

Gloster.

And, that I love the tree from whence thou sprang'st,

Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit.--

[Aside.]  To say the truth, so Judas kiss'd his Master,

And cried, all hail! when as he meant all harm.

And I, to show my love for the tree from which you have grown,

give this loving kiss to the fruit.

[Aside] To tell the truth, this is how Judas kissed his master,

crying, “all hail!" when what he meant was “all harm."

KING EDWARD.

Now am I seated as my soul delights;

Having my country's peace and brothers' loves.

Now I have everything I want;

my country at peace and the love of my brothers.

CLARENCE.

What will your Grace have done with Margaret?

Reignier, her father, to the King of France

Hath pawn'd the Sicils and Jerusalem,

And hither have they sent it for her ransom.

What does your Grace want to do with Margaret?

Reignier, her father, has pawned Sicily and Jerusalem

to the King of France,

and they have sent the price here as her ransom.

KING EDWARD.

Away with her and waft her hence to France.--

And now what rests but that we spend the time

With stately triumphs, mirthful comic shows,

Such as befits the pleasure of the court?

Sound drums and trumpets!--farewell sour annoy!

For here, I hope, begins our lasting joy.

Take her away and send her over to France.

And now what remains but for us to pass the time

with stately processions, amusing comedies,

suitable for the pleasure of the court?

Sound the drums and trumpets! Goodbye to strife!

For here, I hope, our lasting happiness begins.

[Exeunt.]