The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (82 page)

When he had done, some followers of mine own

At lower end of the hall hurl'd up their caps,

And some ten voices cried 'God save King Richard!'

And thus I took the vantage of those few-

'Thanks, gentle citizens and friends,' quoth I

'This general applause and cheerful shout

Argues your wisdoms and your love to Richard.'

And even here brake off and came away.

No, God help me, they didn't say a word;

they just stared at each other and looked deathly pale,

like dumb statues or living stones.

When I saw this, I reprimanded them,

and asked the mayor what the deliberate silence meant.

He answered that the people were not used

to being spoken to by anybody but the magistrate.

So I told him to repeat what I have said,

‘The Duke has said this, the Duke has explained’–

but he didn't say anything on his own behalf.

When he had finished, some of my followers

at the far end of the hall threw up their caps,

and some ten voices cried ‘God save King Richard!’

And so I used those few for my purposes:

‘Thank you kind citizens and friends,’ I said;

‘this universal applause and happy shouting

shows your intelligence and your love for Richard.’

And I stopped there, and came away.

RICHARD.

What, tongueless blocks were they? Would

they not speak?

Will not the Mayor then and his brethren come?

What, lost their tongues had they? Would they not speak?

So will the mayor and his associates not come?

BUCKINGHAM.

The Mayor is here at hand. Intend some fear;

Be not you spoke with but by mighty suit;

And look you get a prayer-book in your hand,

And stand between two churchmen, good my lord;

For on that ground I'll make a holy descant;

And be not easily won to our requests.

Play the maid's part: still answer nay, and take it.

The mayor is right here.Pretend to be afraid;

only listen to powerful entreaties;

take a prayer book in your hand

and stand between two churchmen, my good lord;

I'll build a good fantasy on those foundations;

don't be easily won over by our requests.

Act like a woman: keep refusing, but take what is offered.

RICHARD.

I go; and if you plead as well for them

As I can say nay to thee for myself,

No doubt we bring it to a happy issue.

I shall go; and if you speak for them

as well as I can pretend to refuse,

no doubt we shall get a good outcome.

BUCKINGHAM.

Go, go, up to the leads; the Lord Mayor

knocks.

Go, go, up to the gallery; the Lord Mayor is knocking.

Exit RICHARD

Enter the LORD MAYOR, ALDERMEN, and citizens

Welcome, my lord. I dance attendance here;

I think the Duke will not be spoke withal.

Enter CATESBY

Now, Catesby, what says your lord to my request?

Welcome, my lord. I'm kicking my heels here.

I don't think the Duke wants to speak with you.

Now, Catesby, what does your lord say to my request?

CATESBY.

He doth entreat your Grace, my noble lord,

To visit him to-morrow or next day.

He is within, with two right reverend fathers,

Divinely bent to meditation;

And in no worldly suits would he be mov'd,

To draw him from his holy exercise.

He begs your Grace, my noble lord,

to visit him tomorrow or the next day.

He's inside, with two very holy priests,

in divine meditation;

he will not allow any earthly things

to distract him from his devotions.

BUCKINGHAM.

Return, good Catesby, to the gracious Duke;

Tell him, myself, the Mayor and Aldermen,

In deep designs, in matter of great moment,

No less importing than our general good,

Are come to have some conference with his Grace.

Good Catesby, go back to the gracious Duke;

tell him that myself, the Mayor and aldermen,

have all come to speak to his Grace about

weighty matters, extremely important things,

which are most important for the general good.

CATESBY.

I'll signify so much unto him straight.

I'll go and let himknow at once.

Exit

BUCKINGHAM.

Ah ha, my lord, this prince is not an Edward!

He is not lolling on a lewd love-bed,

But on his knees at meditation;

Not dallying with a brace of courtezans,

But meditating with two deep divines;

Not sleeping, to engross his idle body,

But praying, to enrich his watchful soul.

Happy were England would this virtuous prince

Take on his Grace the sovereignty thereof;

But, sure, I fear we shall not win him to it.

Ah ha, my lord, this prince is not like Edward!

He is not lying around on a lustful bed,

but is on his knees praying;

not playing with a pair of tarts,

but praying with two holy men;

not sleeping as his idle body gets fatter,

but praying, to expand his holy soul.

England would be very lucky if this good prince

agreed to become its monarch;

but I'm afraid I'm certain we won't persuade him.

MAYOR.

Marry, God defend his Grace should say us nay!

Well, heaven forbid that he should refuse us!

BUCKINGHAM.

I fear he will. Here Catesby comes again.

Re-enter CATESBY

Now, Catesby, what says his Grace?

I'm afraid he will. Here comes Catesby again.

Now, Catesby, what does his Grace say?

CATESBY.

My lord,

He wonders to what end you have assembled

Such troops of citizens to come to him.

His Grace not being warn'd thereof before,

He fears, my lord, you mean no good to him.

My Lord,

he is asking why you have gathered

such an army ofcitizens to come to him.

As his Grace was not told they were coming,

he is afraid, my lord, that you mean him harm.

BUCKINGHAM.

Sorry I am my noble cousin should

Suspect me that I mean no good to him.

By heaven, we come to him in perfect love;

And so once more return and tell his Grace.

Exit CATESBY

When holy and devout religious men

Are at their beads, 'tis much to draw them thence,

So sweet is zealous contemplation.

I'm sorry my noble cousin can

suspect me of intending to harm him.

By heaven, we come to him out of perfect love;

please go back and tell his Grace that.

When holy and devout religious men

are praying, it's very difficult to get them away,

their holy meditations are so sweet.

 Enter RICHARD aloft, between two BISHOPS.

CATESBY returns

MAYOR.

See where his Grace stands 'tween two clergymen!

Look where his Grace is standing between two clergymen!

BUCKINGHAM.

Two props of virtue for a Christian prince,

To stay him from the fall of vanity;

And, see, a book of prayer in his hand,

True ornaments to know a holy man.

Famous Plantagenet, most gracious Prince,

Lend favourable ear to our requests,

And pardon us the interruption

Of thy devotion and right Christian zeal.

Two good supports for a Christian prince,

to stop him turning to sin;

and, see, a prayer book in his hand,

a true sign of a holy man.

Famous Plantagenet, most gracious prince,

look favourably on our requests,

and excuse us for interrupting

your devotions and your proper Christian passion.

RICHARD.

My lord, there needs no such apology:

I do beseech your Grace to pardon me,

Who, earnest in the service of my God,

Deferr'd the visitation of my friends.

But, leaving this, what is your Grace's pleasure?

My lord, there is no need for an apology:

I beg your Grace to pardon me,

for, in my deep devotion to God,

making my friends wait.

But forget that, what can I do for your Grace?

BUCKINGHAM.

Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God above,

And all good men of this ungovern'd isle.

Something that, I hope, will please God above,

and all good men on this leaderless island.

RICHARD.

I do suspect I have done some offence

That seems disgracious in the city's eye,

And that you come to reprehend my ignorance.

I suspect I have done something wrong

which seems displeasing to the city,

and that you have come to criticise my ignorance.

BUCKINGHAM.

You have, my lord. Would it might please

your Grace,

On our entreaties, to amend your fault!

You have, my lord. We hope it will please your Grace,

when we ask you, to make things right!

RICHARD.

Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land?

Why else am I here in this Christian land?

BUCKINGHAM.

Know then, it is your fault that you resign

The supreme seat, the throne majestical,

The scept'red office of your ancestors,

Your state of fortune and your due of birth,

The lineal glory of your royal house,

To the corruption of a blemish'd stock;

Whiles in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts,

Which here we waken to our country's good,

The noble isle doth want her proper limbs;

Her face defac'd with scars of infamy,

Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants,

And almost should'red in the swallowing gulf

Of dark forgetfulness and deep oblivion.

Which to recure, we heartily solicit

Your gracious self to take on you the charge

And kingly government of this your land-

Not as protector, steward, substitute,

Or lowly factor for another's gain;

But as successively, from blood to blood,

Your right of birth, your empery, your own.

For this, consorted with the citizens,

Your very worshipful and loving friends,

And by their vehement instigation,

In this just cause come I to move your Grace.

Know then that your fault is your rejection