The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (94 page)

And given in earnest what I begg'd in jest.

Thus doth He force the swords of wicked men

To turn their own points in their masters' bosoms.

Thus Margaret's curse falls heavy on my neck.

'When he' quoth she 'shall split thy heart with sorrow,

Remember Margaret was a prophetess.'

Come lead me, officers, to the block of shame;

Wrong hath but wrong, and blame the due of blame.

Why then, All–Souls' day is judgement day for my body.

This is the day which I wished in King Edward's

time might fall on me when I was discovered to be

false to his children and his wife's allies;

this is the day when I wished to fall

by the treacherous ways of the one whom I most trusted;

this All–Souls' day is the date set for the punishments

of my fearful soul for everything I have done wrong;

the omnipotent God whom I tried to joke with

has turned my pretend prayer back on me

and given for real what I begged for as a joke.

So he forces the swords of wicked men

to turn their points back against their masters.

So Margaret's curse has fallen heavily upon me:

she said, ‘When he splits your heart with sorrow,

remember that Margaret predicted it!’

Come, officers, lead me to the shameful place of execution;

wrong has bred wrong, and blame gets the blame it deserves.

Exeunt

Camp near Tamworth

Enter RICHMOND, OXFORD, SIR JAMES BLUNT, SIR WALTER HERBERT, and

others,

with drum and colours

RICHMOND.

Fellows in arms, and my most loving friends,

Bruis'd underneath the yoke of tyranny,

Thus far into the bowels of the land

Have we march'd on without impediment;

And here receive we from our father Stanley

Lines of fair comfort and encouragement.

The wretched, bloody, and usurping boar,

That spoil'd your summer fields and fruitful vines,

Swills your warm blood like wash, and makes his trough

In your embowell'd bosoms-this foul swine

Is now even in the centre of this isle,

Near to the town of Leicester, as we learn.

From Tamworth thither is but one day's march.

In God's name cheerly on, courageous friends,

To reap the harvest of perpetual peace

By this one bloody trial of sharp war.

My fellow soldiers, and my most loving friends,

bruised beneath the weight of tyranny;

so far we have marched into the centre

of the country without facing opposition;

and I have received from our father Stanley

a message which gives both comfort and encouragement.

The wretched, bloody and thieving boar,

who ruined your summer fields and prospering vines,

who drinks your warm blood like pig swill, and makes your

disembowelled torsos his trough–this foul pig

is right now in the middle of the country,

we have learned, near to the town of Leicester.

From Tamworth to there is just one day's march:

go happily on, brave friends, in the name of God,

so that we can create a lasting peace

through one bloody battle.

OXFORD.

Every man's conscience is a thousand men,

To fight against this guilty homicide.

Every man becomes like a thousand men,

being so determined to fight this guilty murder.

HERBERT.

I doubt not but his friends will turn to us.

I don't doubt that his friends will come over to our side.

BLUNT.

He hath no friends but what are friends for fear,

Which in his dearest need will fly from him.

The only friends he has stay with him out of fear,

when he needs them most they will run from him.

RICHMOND.

All for our vantage. Then in God's name march.

True hope is swift and flies with swallow's wings;

Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings.

This is all to our advantage. So march on in God's name.

Good hope is swift and flies with a swallow's wings;

it makes kings into gods, and lower creatures into kings.

Exeunt

Bosworth Field

Enter KING RICHARD in arms, with NORFOLK, RATCLIFF,

the EARL of SURREYS and others

KING RICHARD.

Here pitch our tent, even here in Bosworth

field.

My Lord of Surrey, why look you so sad?

Pitch my tent here, right here on Bosworth Field.

Lord Surrey, why do you look so sad?

SURREY.

My heart is ten times lighter than my looks.

My heart is ten times lighter than I look.

KING RICHARD.

My Lord of Norfolk!

My Lord of Norfolk!

NORFOLK.

Here, most gracious liege.

Here, my most gracious lord.

KING RICHARD.

Norfolk, we must have knocks; ha! must we

not?

Norfolk, we're going to take some blows, we're going to have to, aren't we?

NORFOLK.

We must both give and take, my loving lord.

We're going to have to give them and take them, my loving lord.

KING RICHARD.

Up With my tent! Here will I lie to-night;

[Soldiers begin to set up the KING'S tent]

But where to-morrow? Well, all's one for that.

Who hath descried the number of the traitors?

Put my tent up! I will sleep here tonight;

but where tomorrow? Well, we'll see.

Who has counted the number of the traitors?

NORFOLK.

Six or seven thousand is their utmost power.

Six or seven thousand at most.

KING RICHARD.

Why, our battalia trebles that account;

Besides, the King's name is a tower of strength,

Which they upon the adverse faction want.

Up with the tent! Come, noble gentlemen,

Let us survey the vantage of the ground.

Call for some men of sound direction.

Let's lack no discipline, make no delay;

For, lords, to-morrow is a busy day.

Why, our army is three times that size;

besides, having the King on your side is great strength,

and those on the other side do not have it.

Get the tent up! Come, noble gentlemen,

let us have a look at the battlefield.

Call up some good strategists.

Let's keep our discipline and not waste time;

for, lords, tomorrow is a busy day.

Exeunt

Enter, on the other side of the field,

RICHMOND, SIR WILLIAM BRANDON, OXFORD, DORSET,

and others. Some pitch RICHMOND'S tent

RICHMOND.

The weary sun hath made a golden set,

And by the bright tract of his fiery car

Gives token of a goodly day to-morrow.

Sir William Brandon, you shall bear my standard.

Give me some ink and paper in my tent.

I'll draw the form and model of our battle,

Limit each leader to his several charge,

And part in just proportion our small power.

My Lord of Oxford-you, Sir William Brandon-

And you, Sir Walter Herbert-stay with me.

The Earl of Pembroke keeps his regiment;

Good Captain Blunt, bear my good night to him,

And by the second hour in the morning

Desire the Earl to see me in my tent.

Yet one thing more, good Captain, do for me-

Where is Lord Stanley quarter'd, do you know?

The tired sun has made a golden sunset,

and the bright path of his burning light

says there will be fine weather tomorrow.

Sir William Brandon, you shall carry my banner.

Bring some ink and paper to my tent.

I shall draw out the strategy for our battle,

tell each leader what he has to do,

and divide our small forces up equally.

My Lord of Oxford–you, Sir William Brandon–

and you, Sir Walter Herbert–stay with me.

The Earl of Pembroke is with his regiment;

good Captain Blunt, wish him good night from me,

and say that by the second hour of the morning

I want to see him in my tent.

Just one more thing I'd like you to do for me, good captain:

do you know where Lord Stanley is staying?

BLUNT.

Unless I have mista'en his colours much-

Which well I am assur'd I have not done-

His regiment lies half a mile at least

South from the mighty power of the King.

Unless I have mistaken his banners–

which I'm sure I haven't–

his regiment is at least half a mile

south of the mighty forces of the King.

RICHMOND.

If without peril it be possible,

Sweet Blunt, make some good means to speak with him

And give him from me this most needful note.

If you can do it without danger,

sweet Blunt, find an opportunity to speak with him

and give him this very important note from me.

BLUNT.

Upon my life, my lord, I'll undertake it;

And so, God give you quiet rest to-night!

I swear on my life, my lord, I'll do it;