The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (81 page)

and do not doubt, truly noble princes as you both are,

that I shall inform our loyal citizens

of how correctly you acted in this case.

RICHARD.

And to that end we wish'd your lordship here,

T' avoid the the the censures of the carping world.

That is why we wanted your lordship here,

to stop the sniping world from criticising us.

BUCKINGHAM.

Which since you come too late of our intent,

Yet witness what you hear we did intend.

And so, my good Lord Mayor, we bid farewell.

You came too late to see what we did,

but you can tell them the reasons for it.

And so, my good Lord Mayor, we bid farewell.

 Exit LORD MAYOR

RICHARD.

Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham.

The Mayor towards Guildhall hies him in an post.

There, at your meet'st advantage of the time,

Infer the bastardy of Edward's children.

Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen

Only for saying he would make his son

Heir to the crown-meaning indeed his house,

Which by the sign thereof was termed so.

Moreover, urge his hateful luxury

And bestial appetite in change of lust,

Which stretch'd unto their servants, daughters, wives,

Even where his raging eye or savage heart

Without control lusted to make a prey.

Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person:

Tell them, when that my mother went with child

Of that insatiate Edward, noble York

My princely father then had wars in France

And, by true computation of the time,

Found that the issue was not his begot;

Which well appeared in his lineaments,

Being nothing like the noble Duke my father.

Yet touch this sparingly, as 'twere far off;

Because, my lord, you know my mother lives.

Follow him, cousin Buckingham:

the mayor is rushing towards the Guildhall.

There, when you get a chance,

imply that Edward's children are illegitimate;

tell them how he put a citizen to death

just for saying that he would make his son

heir to the Crown–when all he meant was his house,

which was called by that name.

What's more, mention his horrible lustfulness

and his bestial appetite for new sexual adventures,

which made him approach their servants, daughters, wives,

wherever his angry eye or savage heart

lasted without control afternew prey.

If you have to, you may talk about me:

tell them that when my mother was pregnant

by the insatiable Edward, noble York,

my princely father, was then at war in France,

and by calculating the time

he found that he was not the father;

it showed obviously in his face,

he was nothing like the noble duke, my father–

but only speak of this a little, just hint at it;

because, my lord, you know my mother is still alive.

BUCKINGHAM.

Doubt not, my lord, I'll play the orator

As if the golden fee for which I plead

Were for myself; and so, my lord, adieu.

Don't worry, my lord, I'll speak

as if the golden prize I am asking for

work for myself; and so, my lord, goodbye.

RICHARD.

If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard's

Castle;

Where you shall find me well accompanied

With reverend fathers and well learned bishops.

If you do well, bring them to Baynard's Castle;

there you will find me in good company

with reverend fathers and well learned bishops.

BUCKINGHAM.

I go; and towards three or four o'clock

Look for the news that the Guildhall affords.

I'm going; and about three or four o'clock

look out for news from the Guildhall.

Exit

RICHARD.

Go, Lovel, with all speed to Doctor Shaw.

[To CATESBY]Go thou to Friar Penker. Bid them both

Meet me within this hour at Baynard's Castle.

Exeunt all but RICHARD

Now will I go to take some privy order

To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight,

And to give order that no manner person

Have any time recourse unto the Princes.

Go, Lovel, as quick as you can to Doctor Shaw.

[To Catesby] You go to Friar Penker. Tell them both

to meet me within the hour at Baynard's Castle.

Now I shall make arrangements

to get the brats of Clarence out of sight,

and to give orders that absolutely nobody

can see the Princes at any time.

Exit

London. A street

Enter a SCRIVENER

SCRIVENER.

Here is the indictment of the good Lord Hastings;

Which in a set hand fairly is engross'd

That it may be to-day read o'er in Paul's.

And mark how well the sequel hangs together:

Eleven hours I have spent to write it over,

For yesternight by Catesby was it sent me;

The precedent was full as long a-doing;

And yet within these five hours Hastings liv'd,

Untainted, unexamin'd, free, at liberty.

Here's a good world the while! Who is so gros

That cannot see this palpable device?

Yet who's so bold but says he sees it not?

Bad is the world; and all will come to nought,

When such ill dealing must be seen in thought.

Here is the indictment of the good Lord Hastings;

which has been written out in large letters

and it can be read today at St Paul's.

And make a note of how things have worked out:

I took 11 hours writing it out,

for Catesby sent it to me yesterday night;

the original took that long again to write.

And yet less than five hours ago Hastings was alive,

untainted, unexamined, free, at liberty.

What a fine world this is! Who is so stupid

that they can't see this obvious trick?

Who's so shameless that he says he can't see it?

It's a bad world, and we'll all come to a bad end

when we can only think about these things, and don't say them.

Exit

London. Baynard's Castle

Enter RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM, at several doors

RICHARD.

How now, how now! What say the citizens?

Hello there, hello! What do the citizens say?

BUCKINGHAM.

Now, by the holy Mother of our Lord,

The citizens are mum, say not a word.

By the holy mother of our Lord,

the citizens are silent, they don't say a word.

RICHARD.

Touch'd you the bastardy of Edward's

children?

Did you mention how Edward's children are bastards?

BUCKINGHAM.

I did; with his contract with Lady Lucy,

And his contract by deputy in France;

Th' insatiate greediness of his desire,

And his enforcement of the city wives;

His tyranny for trifles; his own bastardy,

As being got, your father then in France,

And his resemblance, being not like the Duke.

Withal I did infer your lineaments,

Being the right idea of your father,

Both in your form and nobleness of mind;

Laid open all your victories in Scotland,

Your discipline in war, wisdom in peace,

Your bounty, virtue, fair humility;

Indeed, left nothing fitting for your purpose

Untouch'd or slightly handled in discourse.

And when mine oratory drew toward end

I bid them that did love their country's good

Cry 'God save Richard, England's royal King!'

I did, and his engagement to Lady Lucy,

and his other engagement in France;

the insatiable greed of his desires,

and the way he forces himself on the wives of the townsmen;

his tyrannous behaviour in small matters; the fact that he himself was illegitimate,

having been conceived when your father was in France,

and how he did not look like the Duke.

Furthermore, I mentioned your looks–

saying that you were the image of your father,

both in your body and the nobleness of your mind–

I spoke of your victories in Scotland,

your discipline in war, wisdom in peace,

your generosity, goodness, sweet modesty;

indeed, I left nothing to your advantage

unmentioned, neither did I only mention it fleetingly.

And when my speech came to an end,

I called on those who wanted the best for their country

to shout, ‘God save Richard, England's Royal King!’

RICHARD.

And did they so?

And did they?

BUCKINGHAM.

No, so God help me, they spake not a word;

But, like dumb statues or breathing stones,

Star'd each on other, and look'd deadly pale.

Which when I saw, I reprehended them,

And ask'd the Mayor what meant this wilfull silence.

His answer was, the people were not used

To be spoke to but by the Recorder.

Then he was urg'd to tell my tale again.

'Thus saith the Duke, thus hath the Duke inferr'd'-

But nothing spoke in warrant from himself.