The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (320 page)

Shall still be doubled on her: truth shall nurse her,

Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her:

She shall be loved and fear'd: her own shall bless her;

Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn,

And hang their heads with sorrow: good grows with her:

In her days every man shall eat in safety,

Under his own vine, what he plants; and sing

The merry songs of peace to all his neighbours:

God shall be truly known; and those about her

From her shall read the perfect ways of honour,

And by those claim their greatness, not by blood.

Nor shall this peace sleep with her: but as when

The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phoenix,

Her ashes new create another heir,

As great in admiration as herself;

So shall she leave her blessedness to one,

When heaven shall call her from this cloud of darkness,

Who from the sacred ashes of her honour

Shall star-like rise, as great in fame as she was,

And so stand fix'd: peace, plenty, love, truth, terror,

That were the servants to this chosen infant,

Shall then be his, and like a vine grow to him:

Wherever the bright sun of heaven shall shine,

His honour and the greatness of his name

Shall be, and make new nations: he shall flourish,

And, like a mountain cedar, reach his branches

To all the plains about him: our children's children

Shall see this, and bless heaven.

Let me speak Sir,

for heaven orders me; and let nobody think

that the words I say flattery, for they will find them to be true.

This royal infant, may God always be near her,

although she's in her cradle, promises

to bring a million blessings upon this land

in the fullness of time: she shall be–

though few now living can see her goodness–

a model for all princes of her time,

and all who follow her: the Queen of Sheba

never had as much wisdom and beautiful virtues

as this pure soul shall have. All the princely graces

which go to make up a person like this,

with all the virtues good people have,

will be doubled in her. Truth shall be her nurse,

holy and heavenly thoughts her advisers;

she shall be loved and feared: her own people shall bless her;

her enemies will shake like a field of corn in a storm,

and hang their heads in sorrow: she shall bring good;

in her time every man will be safe to eat

what he has grown under his own trees, and to sing

the merry songs of peace to all his neighbours.

God will be properly worshipped, and those around her

shall see the perfect way to behave with honour, and derive their greatness from that, not from their ancestry.

This peace shall not die with her; it shall be

like that wondrous bird, the maiden Phoenix,

another heir shall spring from her ashes

as much admired as herself,

so she shall pass on her greatness to someone–

when heaven calls her from this dark life–

who shall rise like a star from the

sacred ashes of her honour, as famous as she was,

that's how he shall be. Peace, plenty, love, truth, terror,

that all served this chosen child,

will then be his, and grow around him like a vine;

wherever the bright sun of heaven shall shine,

his honour and the greatness of his name will also

shine there, and establish new countries. He shall grow

like a mountain cedar, his branches will hang over the plains all around him: our grandchildren

shall see this, and thank heaven for it.

KING HENRY VIII

Thou speakest wonders.

You are speaking of amazing things.

CRANMER

She shall be, to the happiness of England,

An aged princess; many days shall see her,

And yet no day without a deed to crown it.

Would I had known no more! but she must die,

She must, the saints must have her; yet a virgin,

A most unspotted lily shall she pass

To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her.

She shall live to a great age, to the

joy of England; she shall have many days,

and there won't be one day without some good deed in it.

I wish I knew no more! But she must die,

she must, the saints want her with them; she'll die a virgin,

she'll go to her grave an unblemished flower,

and all the world shall mourn for her.

KING HENRY VIII

O lord archbishop,

Thou hast made me now a man! never, before

This happy child, did I get any thing:

This oracle of comfort has so pleased me,

That when I am in heaven I shall desire

To see what this child does, and praise my Maker.

I thank ye all. To you, my good lord mayor,

And your good brethren, I am much beholding;

I have received much honour by your presence,

And ye shall find me thankful. Lead the way, lords:

Ye must all see the queen, and she must thank ye,

She will be sick else. This day, no man think

Has business at his house; for all shall stay:

This little one shall make it holiday.

Oh Lord Archbishop,

you have ensured my prosperity! I never had

anything before I had this fortunate child:

these words of comfort have made me so happy,

that when I am in heaven I shall ask

to see what this child does, and praise my maker for it.

I thank you all. I'm most indebted to you

my good Lord Mayor, and your good brothers;

your presence is a great honour,

and you will find me grateful. Lead the way, lords:

you must all see the Queen, and she must thank you,

she will be upset otherwise. Let no man do

any work today; everyone should stay here:

this little child makes it a holiday.

Exeunt

EPILOGUE

'Tis ten to one this play can never please

All that are here: some come to take their ease,

And sleep an act or two; but those, we fear,

We have frighted with our trumpets; so, 'tis clear,

They'll say 'tis naught: others, to hear the city

Abused extremely, and to cry 'That's witty!'

Which we have not done neither: that, I fear,

All the expected good we're like to hear

For this play at this time, is only in

The merciful construction of good women;

For such a one we show'd 'em: if they smile,

And say 'twill do, I know, within a while

All the best men are ours; for 'tis ill hap,

If they hold when their ladies bid 'em clap.

It's ten to one this play will never please

everyone who's here: some have come for a rest,

and to sleep through an act or two; but I'm afraid

we have startled them with our trumpets; so obviously

they'll say it's rubbish: others came to hear the city

insulted, so they could shout, ‘That's witty!’

and we haven't done that either: I'm afraid

that the only good opinion we're likely to hear

of this play at the moment will come from

the kind interpretation of good women;

for we showed them someone like them: if they smile,

and say it's good, I know that within a while

all the best men will be on our side; for it goes badly

for them if they hold back when their ladies tell them to clap.

THE END

William Shakespeare’s

In Plain and Simple English

KING OF FRANCE.

THE DUKE OF FLORENCE.


BERTRAM, Count of Rousillon.

LAFEU, an old Lord.

PAROLLES, a follower of Bertram.

Several young French Lords, that serve with Bertram in the


Florentine War.

Steward, Servant to the Countess of Rousillon.

Clown, Servant to the Countess of Rousillon.

A Page, Servant to the Countess of Rousillon.

COUNTESS OF ROUSILLON, Mother to Bertram.

HELENA, a Gentlewoman protected by the Countess.

An old Widow of Florence.

DIANA, daughter to the Widow.

VIOLENTA, neighbour and friend to the Widow.

MARIANA, neighbour and friend to the Widow.

Lords attending on the KING; Officers; Soldiers, &c., French and Florentine.