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

Page 79

by William Shakespeare


  if we die, what a good death when princes die with us!

  We can fight with good conscience

  knowing that our intentions are pure.

  [Enter another Messenger.]

  MESS.

  My lord, prepare:the King comes on apace.

  My Lord, get ready: the King is approaching quickly.

  HOT.

  I thank him, that he cuts me from my tale,

  For I profess not talking; only this,

  Let each man do his best:and here draw I

  A sword, whose temper I intend to stain

  With the best blood that I can meet withal

  In the adventure of this perilous day.

  Now, Esperance! Percy! and set on.

  Sound all the lofty instruments of war,

  And by that music let us all embrace;

  For, Heaven to Earth, some of us never shall

  A second time do such a courtesy.

  I thank him for stopping my speech,

  for I am not a good talker; I'll just say this,

  let every man do his best: and here I draw

  a sword, whose steel I intend to stain

  with the best blood that I can find

  on this dangerous day.

  Now, cry Hope! Percy! And set to.

  Play all the great instruments of war,

  and let us all embrace tothat music;

  for it's odds-on that some of us will never

  have a chance to do this again.

  [The trumpets sound.They embrace, and exeunt.]

  [Excursions, and Parties fighting.Alarum to the battle.

  Then enter Douglas and Sir Walter Blunt, meeting.]

  BLUNT.

  What is thy name, that in the battle thus

  Thou crossest me? what honour dost thou seek

  Upon my head?

  What is your name, you who crosses me

  in battle? What honour do you seek

  by taking my head?

  DOUG.

  Know, then, my name is Douglas,

  And I do haunt thee in the battle thus

  Because some tell me that thou art a king.

  I tell you that my name is Douglas,

  and I am pursuing you in the battle

  because I have been told that you are a king.

  BLUNT.

  They tell thee true.

  You have heard right.

  DOUG.

  The Lord of Stafford dear to-day hath bought

  Thy likeness; for, instead of thee, King Harry,

  This sword hath ended him:so shall it thee,

  Unless thou yield thee as my prisoner.

  The Lord of Stafford paid a high price today for

  looking like you; for, instead of you, King Harry,

  this sword killed him: it shall do the same to you,

  unless you surrender as my prisoner.

  BLUNT.

  I was not born a yielder, thou proud Scot;

  And thou shalt find a king that will revenge

  Lord Stafford's death.

  I was not born to surrender, you proud Scot;

  and you will find a king who will avenge

  Lord Stafford's death.

  [They fight, and Blunt is slain. Enter Hotspur.]

  HOT.

  O Douglas, hadst thou fought at Holmedon thus,

  I never had triumphed o'er a Scot.

  Oh Douglas, if you had fought like this at Holmedon

  I would never have beaten a single Scot.

  DOUG.

  All's done, all's won; here breathless lies the King.

  It's over, we've won; here lies the King, dead.

  HOT.

  Where?

  Where?

  DOUG.

  Here.

  Here.

  HOT.

  This, Douglas? no; I know this face full well:

  A gallant knight he was, his name was Blunt;

  Semblably furnish'd like the King himself.

  This, Douglas? No; I recognise this man:

  he was a gallant knight, he was called Blunt;

  he is dressed the same as the King.

  DOUG.

  A fool go with thy soul, where're it goes!

  A borrow'd title hast thou bought too dear:

  Why didst thou tell me that thou wert a king?

  May you be called a fool, wherever your soul goes!

  You have paid too dearly for that borrowed title:

  why did you tell me that you were a king?

  HOT.

  The King hath many marching in his coats.

  The King has many soldiers wearing his uniform.

  DOUG.

  Now, by my sword, I will kill all his coats;

  I'll murder all his wardrobe piece by piece,

  Until I meet the King.

  I swear by my sword I'll kill all his uniforms;

  I'll murder his wardrobe piece by piece,

  until I meet the King.

  HOT.

  Up, and away!

  Our soldiers stand full fairly for the day.

  Up, and away!

  Our soldiers are fully engaged.

  [Exeunt.]

  [Alarums. Enter Falstaff.]

  FAL.

  Though I could 'scape shot-free at London, I fear the shot

  here; here's no scoring but upon the pate.--Soft! who are you?

  Sir Walter Blunt:there's honour for you! here's no vanity! I am

  as hot as molten lead, and as heavy too:God keep lead out of me!

  I need no more weight than mine own bowels. I have led my

  ragamuffins where they are peppered:there's not three of my

  hundred and fifty left alive; and they are for the town's end, to

  beg during life. But who comes here?

  I could have stayed out of range in London, I fear the

  shooting here; our heads are the only targets. Wait! Who are you?

  Sir Walter Blunt: that's what honour gets you! No vanity here! I am

  as hot as molten lead, and as heavy too: may God keep lead out of me!

  I don't need any more ballast than my own stomach. I have led my

  ragamuffins into dangerous places: there are not three of my

  hundred and fifty left alive; and they will end up begging on the

  outskirts of town. But who's this?

  [Enter Prince Henry.]

  PRINCE.

  What, stand'st thou idle here? lend me thy sword:

  Many a nobleman lies stark and stiff

  Under the hoofs of vaunting enemies,

  Whose deaths are yet unrevenged:I pr'ythee,

  Lend me thy sword.

  What, are you standing here doing nothing? Lend me your sword:

  there are many noblemen lying stiff and cold

  under the hooves of their proud enemies,

  whose deaths have not yet been revenged: I beg you,

  lend me your sword.

  FAL.

  O Hal, I pr'ythee give me leave to breathe awhile. Turk

  Gregory never did such deeds in arms as I have done this

  day. I have paid Percy, I have made him sure.

  Oh Hal, please give me time to catch my breath.

  The angry Gregory never performed such feats of arms as

  I have today. I have killed Percy, I have made sure of him.

  PRINCE.

  He is indeed; and living to kill thee.

  I pr'ythee, lend me thy sword.

  It's certainly sure that he's still alive to kill you.

  Please, lend me your sword.

  FAL.

  Nay, before God, Hal, if Percy be alive, thou gett'st not

  my sword; but take my pistol, if thou wilt.

  No, I swear, Hal, if Percy is alive, you're not getting

  my sword; but take my pistol, if you want.

  PRINCE.

  Give it me:what, is it in the case?

  Give it to me: what, is it in its holster?

 
FAL.

  Ay, Hal. 'Tis hot, 'tis hot:there's that will sack a city.

  Yes Hal. It's cooling down: there is something there that could sack a city.

  [The Prince draws out a bottle of sack.]

  PRINCE.

  What, is't a time to jest and dally now?

  What, is this a time for silly jokes?

  [Throws it at him, and exit.]

  FAL.

  Well, if Percy be alive, I'll pierce him. If he do come in my

  way, so; if he do not, if I come in his willingly, let him make

  a carbonado of me. I like not such grinning honour as Sir

  Walter hath:give me life; which if I can save, so; if not,

  honour comes unlooked for, and there's an end.

  Well, if Percy is alive, I'll stab him. If he comes in my

  way, good; if he doesn't, I'll willingly come in his, and he can

  make mincemeat of me. I don't like the sort of honour that Sir

  Walter has: give me life; if I can save it, good; if not,

  honour will come without me looking for it, that's all there is to it.

  [Exit.]

  [Alarums. Excursions. Enter King Henry, Prince Henry,

  Lancaster, and Westmoreland.]

  KING.

  I pr'ythee,

  Harry, withdraw thyself; thou bleedest too much.--

  Lord John of Lancaster, go you unto him.

  Please, Harry,

  retire; you are bleeding too much.

  Lord John of Lancaster, you help him.

  LAN.

  Not I, my lord, unless I did bleed too.

  Not me, my lord, unless I am bleeding too.

  PRINCE.

  I do beseech your Majesty, make up,

  Lest your retirement do amaze your friends.

  I beg your Majesty, go to the front,

  so your retreat doesn't worry your friends.

  KING.

  I will do so.--

  My Lord of Westmoreland, lead him to his tent.

  I will do so.

  My Lord of Westmorland, take him to his tent.

  WEST.

  Come, my lord, I'll lead you to your tent.

  Come, my lord, I'll take you to your tent.

  PRINCE.

  Lead me, my lord?I do not need your help:

  And God forbid, a shallow scratch should drive

  The Prince of Wales from such a field as this,

  Where stain'd nobility lies trodden on,

  And rebels' arms triumph in massacres!

  Take me, my lord? I do not need your help:

  and God forbid that a little scratch would drive

  the Prince of Wales from a battlefield like this,

  where nobility has been insulted and trodden on,

  and the rebels are triumphing in a massacre!

  LAN.

  We breathe too long:--come, cousin Westmoreland,

  Our duty this way lies; for God's sake, come.

  We have been talking too long: come, cousin Westmoreland,

  this is where our duty lies; for God's sake, come.

  [Exeunt Lancaster and Westmoreland.]

  PRINCE.

  By Heaven, thou hast deceived me, Lancaster;

  I did not think thee lord of such a spirit:

  Before, I loved thee as a brother, John;

  But now I do respect thee as my soul.

  By heaven, you have deceived me, Lancaster;

  I did not think you were a Lord of such spirit:

  before, I loved you as a brother, John;

  but now I respect you as my equal.

  KING.

  I saw him hold Lord Percy at the point

  With lustier maintenance than I did look for

  Of such an ungrown warrior.

  I saw him fighting Lord Percy with his sword

  with more fortitude than I expected

  from such a young soldier.

  PRINCE.

  O, this boy

  Lends mettle to us all!

  Oh, this boy

  puts spirit in us all!

  [Exit.]

  [Alarums. Enter Douglas.]

  DOUG.

  Another king! they grow like Hydra's heads:

  I am the Douglas, fatal to all those

  That wear those colours on them.--What art thou,

  That counterfeit'st the person of a king?

  Another king! They grow like the heads of a Hydra–

  I am Douglas, fatal to all those

  who wear the uniform. Who are you,

  who imitates the King?

  KING.

  The King himself; who, Douglas, grieves at heart

  So many of his shadows thou hast met,

  And not the very King. I have two boys

  Seek Percy and thyself about the field:

  But, seeing thou fall'st on me so luckily,

  I will assay thee; so, defend thyself.

  I am the King himself; and Douglas, I am very sorry

  that you have met so many of my imitators,

  and not the true king. I have two boys

  who are looking for you and Percy on the battlefield:

  but, as you have so fortunately found me,

  I'll put you to the test; so, defend yourself.

  DOUG.

  I fear thou art another counterfeit;

  And yet, in faith, thou bear'st thee like a king:

  But mine I'm sure thou art, whoe'er thou be,

  And thus I win thee.

  I fear you're another imposter;

  and yet, I swear, you carry yourself like a king:

  but whoever you are, I'm sure you're mine,

  and so I will finish you.

  [They fight; the King being in danger, re-enter Prince Henry.]

  PRINCE.

  Hold up thy head, vile Scot, or thou art like

  Never to hold it up again! the spirits

  Of valiant Shirley, Stafford, Blunt are in my arms:

  It is the Prince of Wales that threatens thee;

  Who never promiseth but he means to pay.--

  [They fight:Douglas flies.]

  Cheerly, my lord:how fares your Grace?

  Sir Nicholas Gawsey hath for succour sent,

  And so hath Clifton:I'll to Clifton straight.

  Lift up your head, vile Scot, or you may

  never hold it up again! The ghosts

  of brave Shirley, Stafford and Blunt strengthened me:

  it is the Prince of Wales who threatens you;

  who never makes threats without backing them up.

  Hello, my lord: how is your Grace doing?

  Sir Nicholas Gawsey has called for assistance,

  and so has Clifton: I'll go straight to Clifton.

  KING.

  Stay, and breathe awhile:

  Thou hast redeem'd thy lost opinion;

  And show'd thou makest some tender of my life,

  In this fair rescue thou hast brought to me.

  Wait, and catch your breath:

  you have won back my good opinion of you;

  and showed that you care about my life,

  by undertaking this good rescue.

  PRINCE.

  O God, they did me too much injury

  That ever said I hearken'd for your death!

  If it were so, I might have let alone

  Th' insulting hand of Douglas over you,

  Which would have been as speedy in your end

  As all the poisonous potions in the world,

  And saved the treacherous labour of your son.

  Oh God, anyone who said I yearned for your death

  was doing me an injustice!

  If that were the case, I could have let

  the haughty hand of Douglas remain over you,

  which would have given you as quick a death

  as all the poisons in the world,

  and saved your son having to commit any treachery.

  KING.

  Make up to Clifton:I
'll to Sir Nicholas Gawsey.

  You go to Clifton: I'll go to Sir Nicholas Gawsey.

  [Exit.]

  [Enter Hotspur.]

  HOT.

  If I mistake not, thou art Harry Monmouth.

  If I'm not mistaken, you are Harry Monmouth.

  PRINCE.

  Thou speak'st as if I would deny my name.

  You speak as if I would deny it.

  HOT.

  My name is Harry Percy.

  My name is Harry Percy.

  PRINCE.

  Why, then I see

  A very valiant rebel of the name.

  I am the Prince of Wales; and think not, Percy,

  To share with me in glory any more:

  Two stars keep not their motion in one sphere;

  Nor can one England brook a double reign,

  Of Harry Percy and the Prince of Wales.

  Well then, I see

  a very brave rebel of that name.

  I am the Prince of Wales; and do not think, Percy,

  that you can be equal with me in glory any more:

  two stars cannot share the same orbit;

  and England cannot be ruled by both

  Harry Percy and the Prince of Wales.

  HOT.

  Nor shall it, Harry; for the hour is come

  To end the one of us; and would to God

 

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