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

by William Shakespeare

  RICHARD.

  Look to the drawbridge there!

  Make sure that drawbridge is up!

  BUCKINGHAM.

  Hark! a drum.

  Listen!A drum.

  RICHARD.

  Catesby, o'erlook the walls.

  Catesby, look over the walls.

  BUCKINGHAM.

  Lord Mayor, the reason we have sent-

  Lord Mayor, the reason we have sent–

  RICHARD.

  Look back, defend thee; here are enemies.

  Look back, defend yourself; here are the enemies.

  BUCKINGHAM.

  God and our innocence defend and guard us!

  May God and our innocence defend and guard us!

  Enter LOVEL and RATCLIFF, with HASTINGS' head

  RICHARD.

  Be patient; they are friends-Ratcliff and Lovel.

  Calm yourself; they are friends–Ratcliff and Lovel.

  LOVEL.

  Here is the head of that ignoble traitor,

  The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.

  Here is the head of that despicable traitor,

  the dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.

  RICHARD.

  So dear I lov'd the man that I must weep.

  I took him for the plainest harmless creature

  That breath'd upon the earth a Christian;

  Made him my book, wherein my soul recorded

  The history of all her secret thoughts.

  So smooth he daub'd his vice with show of virtue

  That, his apparent open guilt omitted,

  I mean his conversation with Shore's wife-

  He liv'd from all attainder of suspects.

  I love that man so dearly that I must weep.

  I thought he was the most simple harmless creature

  out of all the Christians on earth;

  he was my confidant, to whom I told all the

  deepest secret thoughts of my soul.

  He covered over his evil with a show of goodness so well

  that, leaving aside the obvious evidence of his guilt,

  I mean his conversation with Shore's wife–

  he lived free of all taint of suspicion.

  BUCKINGHAM.

  Well, well, he was the covert'st shelt'red

  traitor

  That ever liv'd.

  Would you imagine, or almost believe-

  Were't not that by great preservation

  We live to tell it-that the subtle traitor

  This day had plotted, in the council-house,

  To murder me and my good Lord of Gloucester.

  Well, well, he was the most secret hidden traitor

  that ever lived.

  Could you imagine, could you even believe–

  it's only through divine intervention

  where alive to tell it–that the cunning traitor

  was planning to murder myself and my good

  Lord of Gloucester at today's meeting.

  MAYOR.

  Had he done so?

  Would he have done it?

  RICHARD.

  What! think you we are Turks or Infidels?

  Or that we would, against the form of law,

  Proceed thus rashly in the villain's death

  But that the extreme peril of the case,

  The peace of England and our persons' safety,

  Enforc'd us to this execution?

  What! Do you think we are Turks or infidels?

  Do you think we would illegally

  rush this villain to his death

  if it wasn't for the great danger of the matter,

  the risk to the peace of England and ourselves,

  which forced us to execute him?

  MAYOR.

  Now, fair befall you! He deserv'd his death;

  And your good Graces both have well proceeded

  To warn false traitors from the like attempts.

  I never look'd for better at his hands

  After he once fell in with Mistress Shore.

  Now, may you have good luck! He deserved to die;

  and your good graces have both done well

  in warning. It is not to try the same thing.

  I didn't expect any better from him

  once he had fallen in with Mistress Shore.

  BUCKINGHAM.

  Yet had we not determin'd he should die

  Until your lordship came to see his end-

  Which now the loving haste of these our friends,

  Something against our meanings, have prevented-

  Because, my lord, I would have had you heard

  The traitor speak, and timorously confess

  The manner and the purpose of his treasons:

  That you might well have signified the same

  Unto the citizens, who haply may

  Misconstrue us in him and wail his death.

  But we had decided that he should not die

  until your Lordship came to see him finished–

  but the loving host of our friends here has

  prevented that, somewhat against our intentions bash

  because, my lord, I wanted you to hear

  the traitors speak, and cringingly confess

  the type and purpose of his treason:

  then you could have reported the same

  to the systems, who perhaps might

  misunderstand the case and mourn for his death.

  MAYOR.

  But, my good lord, your Grace's words shall serve

  As well as I had seen and heard him speak;

  And do not doubt, right noble Princes both,

  But I'll acquaint our duteous citizens

  With all your just proceedings in this cause.

  But, my good lord, your Grace's words will do

  just as well as if I had seen and heard him speak;

  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.

  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;