The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (296 page)

Second Gentleman

Is he found guilty?

Has he been found guilty?

First Gentleman

Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon't.

He certainly has, and condemned to death for it.

Second Gentleman

I am sorry for't.

I'm sorry to hear it.

First Gentleman

So are a number more.

So are several others.

Second Gentleman

But, pray, how pass'd it?

But, please, what happened?

First Gentleman

I'll tell you in a little. The great duke

Came to the bar; where to his accusations

He pleaded still not guilty and alleged

Many sharp reasons to defeat the law.

The king's attorney on the contrary

Urged on the examinations, proofs, confessions

Of divers witnesses; which the duke desired

To have brought viva voce to his face:

At which appear'd against him his surveyor;

Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor; and John Car,

Confessor to him; with that devil-monk,

Hopkins, that made this mischief.

I can tell you briefly. The great Duke

was brought to the court; he pleaded not guilty

to the accusations and gave

many good reasons in his defence.

Against him the King's attorney

emphasised the interrogations, proofs and confessions

of several witnesses; the Duke wanted

them to be brought to give evidence to his face:

at that point his surveyor appeared against him;

so did Gilbert Peck, his Chancellor; and John Car,

his confessor; along with that devilish monk

Hopkins, who started all this mischief.

Second Gentleman

That was he

That fed him with his prophecies?

The one who

stuffed him with prophecies?

First Gentleman

The same.

All these accused him strongly; which he fain

Would have flung from him, but, indeed, he could not:

And so his peers, upon this evidence,

Have found him guilty of high treason. Much

He spoke, and learnedly, for life; but all

Was either pitied in him or forgotten.

That's him.

They all made strong accusations against him;

he tried to reject them, but, in fact, he couldn't:

and so his peers, looking at the evidence,

have found him guilty of high treason. He made

a long and learned speech for his life; but everything

he said either had no effect or just made them pity him.

Second Gentleman

After all this, how did he bear himself?

After all this, how did he conduct himself?

First Gentleman

When he was brought again to the bar, to hear

His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirr'd

With such an agony, he sweat extremely,

And something spoke in choler, ill, and hasty:

But he fell to himself again, and sweetly

In all the rest show'd a most noble patience.

When he was brought back to the bar, to hear

the death bell of his sentence, he was agitated

by such agony, he sweated a great deal,

and said something in anger, bad and hasty:

but he soon became himself again, and in

everything else he showed a sweet and noble calm.

Second Gentleman

I do not think he fears death.

I don't think he's afraid of death.

First Gentleman

Sure, he does not:

He never was so womanish; the cause

He may a little grieve at.

He certainly doesn't;

he was never so effeminate; he may be

a little upset by the cause of it.

Second Gentleman

Certainly

The cardinal is the end of this.

Certainly

the cardinal is at the bottom of this.

First Gentleman

'Tis likely,

By all conjectures: first, Kildare's attainder,

Then deputy of Ireland; who removed,

Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too,

Lest he should help his father.

Everything

points to it: firstly, Kildare losing his

position as deputy of Ireland; when he was removed

the Earl of Surrey was sent there, and quickly too,

in case he should help his father.

Second Gentleman

That trick of state

Was a deep envious one.

That political trick

was a cunning and malicious one.

First Gentleman

At his return

No doubt he will requite it. This is noted,

And generally, whoever the king favours,

The cardinal instantly will find employment,

And far enough from court too.

No doubt he will

repay it when he comes back. Everybody has

noticed that whenever the King favours someone

the cardinal will instantly find him a job

far away from the court.

Second Gentleman

All the commons

Hate him perniciously, and, o' my conscience,

Wish him ten fathom deep: this duke as much

They love and dote on; call him bounteous Buckingham,

The mirror of all courtesy;--

All the common people

hate him deeply, and, I swear,

wish he was  drowned ten fathoms down: they love

and esteem this duke just as much; they call him bounteous Buckingham,

the image of courtesy;

First Gentleman

Stay there, sir,

And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of.

Wait there, Sir,

and see the ruined nobleman you speak of.

Enter BUCKINGHAM from his arraignment; tip-staves before him; the axe with the edge towards him; halberds on each side: accompanied with LOVELL, VAUX, SANDS, and common people

Second Gentleman

Let's stand close, and behold him.

Let's stand nearby, and watch him.

BUCKINGHAM

All good people,

You that thus far have come to pity me,

Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me.

I have this day received a traitor's judgment,

And by that name must die: yet, heaven bear witness,

And if I have a co nscience, let it sink me,

Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful!

The law I bear no malice for my death;

'T has done, upon the premises, but justice:

But those that sought it I could wish more Christians:

Be what they will, I heartily forgive 'em:

Yet let 'em look they glory not in mischief,

Nor build their evils on the graves of great men;

For then my guiltless blood must cry against 'em.

For further life in this world I ne'er hope,

Nor will I sue, although the king have mercies

More than I dare make faults. You few that loved me,

And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham,

His noble friends and fellows, whom to leave

Is only bitter to him, only dying,

Go with me, like good angels, to my end;

And, as the long divorce of steel falls on me,

Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice,

And lift my soul to heaven. Lead on, o' God's name.

All you good people,

you who have come so far to show your pity for me,

hear what I have to say, and then go home and forget about me.

I have been adjudged to be a traitor today,

and must die with that name; but as heaven is my witness,

and if I have a conscience, let it destroy me,

even as the axe falls, if I am not faithful.

I have nothing against the law for my death,

the forms of justice were followed:

but those who wanted me dead, I wish they were more Christian:

whatever they are, I heartily forgive them;

but let them make sure they do not glory in mischief,

nor use the graves of great men as foundations for their evils,

for then my guiltless blood will cry out against them.

I do not hope for any more life in this world,

and I will not beg, although the King has more mercy

than I have committed offences. You few who loved me,

and are brave enough to weep for Buckingham,

my noble friends and companions, whom having to leave

is my only cause of bitterness, my only death;

come with me to my end like good angels,

and as the steel sword falls upon me,

make a great offering of your prayers

to lift my soul to heaven. Lead on in God's name.

LOVELL

I do beseech your grace, for charity,

If ever any malice in your heart

Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly.

I must beg your grace, out of kindness,

that if there was ever any malice hidden in your heart

against me, openly forgive me.

BUCKINGHAM

Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you

As I would be forgiven: I forgive all;

There cannot be those numberless offences

'Gainst me, that I cannot take peace with:

no black envy

Shall mark my grave. Commend me to his grace;

And if he speak of Buckingham, pray, tell him

You met him half in heaven: my vows and prayers

Yet are the king's; and, till my soul forsake,

Shall cry for blessings on him: may he live

Longer than I have time to tell his years!

Ever beloved and loving may his rule be!

And when old time shall lead him to his end,

Goodness and he fill up one monument!

Sir Thomas Lovell, I forgive you as freely

as I would like to be forgiven: I forgive everyone;

I will not have any offences against me

of that kind, I will make truce with everyone:

no black envy will hang over my grave.

Give his grace my compliments;

and if he talks of Buckingham, please tell him

when you saw him he was halfway to Heaven: my vows and my prayers

are still with the king; and, until my soul departs,

I shall ask for blessings on him: may he live

for longer than I have time now to count his years;

May his reign always be loving and beloved;

and when he finally reaches the end of his days,

may he and goodness share the same grave!

LOVELL

To the water side I must conduct your grace;

Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux,

Who undertakes you to your end.

I must escort your Grace to the waterside;

then I must hand responsibility over to Sir Nicholas Vaux,

who will take you to your end.

VAUX

Prepare there,

The duke is coming: see the barge be ready;