The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (7 page)

And let us in-your King, whose labour'd spirits,

Forwearied in this action of swift speed,

Craves harbourage within your city walls.

For our advantage; so listen to us first.

These French forces, that have been brought here

and placed in front of your town

have come here to do you harm.

Their cannons are fully loaded

and they are ready to hurl their

iron anger against your walls:

you can see from your closed gates

the merciless plans of these French,

all ready for a bloody siege;

if it wasn't for our arrival

these sleeping stones which surround you

like a belt would have been smashed

to pieces by their artillery,

a great breach would have been blown

so that their bloody forces could rush in on your peace.

But at the sight of me,

who has through a hard swift march

brought a defence in front of your gates,

to protect you from the threats against your city,

look, the startled French agreed to talk;

and now,instead of fiery bullets

smashing through your walls

they are only shooting quiet deceptive words,

to deceive you and make you make mistakes:

trust them accordingly, kind citizens,

and let me in, your king, whose tired spirits

have been exhausted by our swift march here

and begs for shelter inside your city walls.

KING PHILIP.

When I have said, make answer to us both.

Lo, in this right hand, whose protection

Is most divinely vow'd upon the right

Of him it holds, stands young Plantagenet,

Son to the elder brother of this man,

And king o'er him and all that he enjoys;

For this down-trodden equity we tread

In warlike march these greens before your town,

Being no further enemy to you

Than the constraint of hospitable zeal

In the relief of this oppressed child

Religiously provokes. Be pleased then

To pay that duty which you truly owe

To him that owes it, namely, this young prince;

And then our arms, like to a muzzled bear,

Save in aspect, hath all offence seal'd up;

Our cannons' malice vainly shall be spent

Against th' invulnerable clouds of heaven;

And with a blessed and unvex'd retire,

With unhack'd swords and helmets all unbruis'd,

We will bear home that lusty blood again

Which here we came to spout against your town,

And leave your children, wives, and you, in peace.

But if you fondly pass our proffer'd offer,

'Tis not the roundure of your old-fac'd walls

Can hide you from our messengers of war,

Though all these English and their discipline

Were harbour'd in their rude circumference.

Then tell us, shall your city call us lord

In that behalf which we have challeng'd it;

Or shall we give the signal to our rage,

And stalk in blood to our possession?

When I have spoken then answer us both.

See, on my right hand, that right hand which is

solemnly devoted to protecting the rights of the one

next to him, stands the young Plantagenet,

the son of the elder brother of this man,

king over him and everything he has:

it's because of his stolen rights that we

have marched here with our army onto the fields in front of your town,

we have no other quarrel with you

apart from what we are obliged to do

by God to help this

oppressed child. So you should be happy

to do true service to the one who deserves it,

namely this young Prince:

and then our artillery will be like

a muzzled bear, apart from its looks;

the anger of our cannons will harmlessly

be blown into the invulnerable sky;

and with a blessed and unmolested retreat,

with our swords unnotched and our helmets undamaged,

we will take home our lusty blood,

which we were going to spend attacking this town,

and leave your children, your wives and you in peace.

But if you foolishly reject this offer we are making,

these round ancient stones will not

protect you against our attacks,

even if all these English with their military skills

were sheltering inside them.

So tell us, will your city acknowledge me as lord,

on behalf of the person for whom I demand it?

Or shall I let my rage run free

and take what's mine by spilling blood?

CITIZEN.

In brief: we are the King of England's subjects;

For him, and in his right, we hold this town.

Briefly: we are subjects of the King of England;

we hold this town for him, in his name.

KING JOHN.

Acknowledge then the King, and let me in.

Then acknowledge the King, and let me in.

CITIZEN.

That can we not; but he that proves the King,

To him will we prove loyal. Till that time

Have we ramm'd up our gates against the world.

We can't do that; we will only be loyal

to someone who proves himself as a king. Until that time

we are not letting anyone in.

KING JOHN.

Doth not the crown of England prove the King?

And if not that, I bring you witnesses:

Twice fifteen thousand hearts of England's breed-

Doesn't the Crown of England make me the King?

And if it doesn't, I bring you witnesses:

thirty thousand hearts bred by England–

BASTARD.

Bastards and else.

Bastards and others.

KING JOHN.

To verify our title with their lives.

To confirm our rights with their lives.

KING PHILIP.

As many and as well-born bloods as those-

There are as many here, and just as well born–

BASTARD.

Some bastards too.

And some bastards as well.

KING PHILIP.

Stand in his face to contradict his claim.

Standing against him to contradict his claim.

CITIZEN.

Till you compound whose right is worthiest,

We for the worthiest hold the right from both.

Until you show who is the most deserving,

we will not bow down to either of you.

KING JOHN.

Then God forgive the sin of all those souls

That to their everlasting residence,

Before the dew of evening fall shall fleet

In dreadful trial of our kingdom's king!

Then may God show mercy to all those souls

who will be going to their eternal rest

before the evening dew falls,

in this dreadful battle to see who is king of our kingdom!

KING PHILIP.

Amen, Amen! Mount, chevaliers; to arms!

Amen, amen! Knights, mount; to battle!

BASTARD.

Saint George, that swing'd the dragon, and e'er since

Sits on's horse back at mine hostess' door,

Teach us some fence![To AUSTRIA]Sirrah, were I at home,

At your den, sirrah, with your lioness,

I would set an ox-head to your lion's hide,

And make a monster of you.

St George, who killed the dragon, and has ever since

been sitting on a horse's back outside the pub,

teach me some fencing![To Austria] Sir, if I was at home,

at your house, sir, with your wife,

I would make a cuckold out of you.

AUSTRIA.

Peace! no more.

Peace! That's enough.

BASTARD.

O, tremble, for you hear the lion roar!

Oh, tremble, you can hear the lion roar!

KING JOHN.

Up higher to the plain, where we'll set forth

In best appoint

ment all our regiments.

Let's go up higher to the plain, where we will

draw up our regiments in the best battle order.

BASTARD.

Speed then to take advantage of the field.

Let's hurry to get the best position.

KING PHILIP.

It shall be so; and at the other hill

Command the rest to stand. God and our right!

This shall be so; and on the other hill

we will tell the rest to wait. We're fighting for God and our rights!

Exeunt

Here, after excursions, enter the HERALD OF FRANCE,with trumpets, to the gates

FRENCH HERALD.

You men of Angiers, open wide your gates

And let young Arthur, Duke of Britaine, in,

Who by the hand of France this day hath made

Much work for tears in many an English mother,

Whose sons lie scattered on the bleeding ground;

Many a widow's husband grovelling lies,

Coldly embracing the discoloured earth;

And victory with little loss doth play

Upon the dancing banners of the French,

Who are at hand, triumphantly displayed,

To enter conquerors, and to proclaim

Arthur of Britaine England's King and yours.

You men of Angiers, open your gates wide

and let young Arthur, Duke of Brittany, in,

who through the efforts of the French king has today

made many English mothers shed many tears,

as their sons are lying scattered on the bloody ground;

the husbands of many widows are lying grovelling

cold upon the bloody earth;

and victory with little damage has lighted

upon the dancing banners of the French,

who are close by, paraded in triumphant,

come to enter as conquerors, and to proclaim

Arthur of Brittany as the King of England and of you.

Enter ENGLISH HERALD, with trumpet

ENGLISH HERALD.

Rejoice, you men of Angiers, ring your bells:

King John, your king and England's, doth approach,

Commander of this hot malicious day.

Their armours that march'd hence so silver-bright

Hither return all gilt with Frenchmen's blood.

There stuck no plume in any English crest

That is removed by a staff of France;

Our colours do return in those same hands

That did display them when we first march'd forth;

And like a jolly troop of huntsmen come

Our lusty English, all with purpled hands,

Dy'd in the dying slaughter of their foes.

Open your gates and give the victors way.

Rejoice, you men of Angiers, ring your bells:

King John, King of England and you, is coming,

the victor of this bloody battle.

The armour in which they marched away so shining silver

is coming back covered with the blood of Frenchmen.